What does Acts 4:12 mean?

Peter is explaining to the Sanhedrin whose authority he used to heal a lame man (Acts 3:1–10). Specifically, the council asks, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" (Acts 4:7). Peter claims that he did it through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 4:10). One's "name" includes the sense of one's identity, power, authority, and reputation. Jesus' name is the only name that saves.

"Salvation" is from the Greek root word sōtēria. It means "deliverance and preservation" and can imply rescue in a worldly, physical context, such as from enemies, or it can suggest eternal spiritual rescue. The salvation that Christ offers delivers us from sin and hell and preserves us, or keeps us safe, for heaven (John 10:28). "Men" is from the Greek root word Anthrōpos and means "human being;" this is the non-gender-specific reference for all human beings.

In Acts 4:11, Peter calls the Sanhedrin the "builders" who are responsible for the Jewish people and the proper observance of the Jewish religion. As "builders," the elders, priests, and scribes should have recognized Jesus. Several places in their Scripture—our Old Testament—give very specific descriptions that identity Jesus as the Messiah they have been waiting for. In just the last week of His life He fulfilled prophecies of the donkey He rode into Jerusalem on (Zechariah 9:9; Mark 11:1–7), the way the Roman guards cast lots for His clothing (Psalm 22:18; Mark 15:24), and the fact that His bones were not broken (Psalm 22:17; John 19:31–37).

Sadly, the Jews had a long history of ignoring, abusing, and killing their prophets (1 Kings 19:10; 2 Chronicles 36:16; Jeremiah 2:30). And so they missed the coming of the One they had waited so long for—the only one who could bring them salvation.