When someone asks what evidence there is to prove a point they are asking for the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. In a court of law in the Old Testament a person could not be convicted of a crime by the word of one witness. There must be two or three to establish a guilty verdict. It is still almost impossible to convict someone of a crime without eyewitnesses or evidence that directly links a person to the crime.
Deuteronomy 19:15 “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”
In Acts 4:1-4 we see Peter and John preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. They had entered the temple for their afternoon prayers. When they finished praying, they began preaching to those who were there. They preached Jesus Christ the resurrected Savior. They dealt with opposition of those who held to the position that Jesus was not the Son of God and the Sadducees who believed there would be no life after death. The Sanhedrin would be the ones to gather and have them thrown into jail for heresy, but it was too late in the day to gather them together, so the priests and Jewish leaders of the Sadducee sect had the guards put them in prison for the night.
Act 4:1-4 “And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.”
They were fervent in their preaching because they knew their message was the truth. It was what the people needed. They were preaching to those who were steeped in Judaism, they had religion, but not a relationship with God. The next day all the powers that be were gathered and asked Peter and John what authority they had to preach about Jesus and the resurrection. In verse 8, Peter, being filled with the Holy Ghost preaches to them. He reminds them of the impotent man that was healed at the gate and asks them how they believed this man was made whole. Before they had a chance to answer he informed them it was Jesus Christ the one they had murdered and who had risen from the dead.
Act 4:5-10 “And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”
Peter informs them this Jesus was the “stone” they had rejected and this stone was the chief cornerstone. They were familiar with what Peter was saying because it was an Old Testament quote from Psalm 118:22, “The stone which the builders refused is become the headstone.” This one they rejected was the one who rose from the dead and the only one by which everyone must be saved.
Act 4:11-12 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
What evidence did Peter have to be so bold as to declare Jesus as the healer, the only means of salvation, and the one who rose from the dead to prove He had power over death and the grave? Peter was an eyewitness to the powers of Jesus and to the resurrection.
John 20:1-2 “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone was taken away from the sepulcher. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.”
In I Corinthians 15:6-7, Jesus was seen after the resurrection by more than 500 followers at once. There were multiple times His disciples saw Him and even ate with Him. The evidence was overwhelming that Jesus was alive and that He was the Messiah.
I Corinthians 15:6 “After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remains unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”
When Peter and John healed a man in the name of Jesus, there were many witnesses who had known the man before and after he was healed. The evidence of the healing in the name of Jesus was unrefuted.
Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Today, the evidence is even more powerful that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the only way to Heaven. Yet, most will not believe and trust Him as their Savior. They argue and deny the evidence exists but one day their argument will be futile as they stand before Him and are doomed to Hell. It is our responsibility to be like Peter and John and declare the truth of Christ until all have heard. When they have the evidence, it is still their choice to believe or not believe.
