Bible Gem 1419 – Jesus Christ the Cornerstone (Acts 4:11)

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” [NLT]Acts 4:8-12

Now it is time for us to look at verse 11 – where Jesus is referred to as ‘The stone you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ Jesus the Cornerstone: –

• Now what does that mean?
• What does it refer to?
• Why does Peter use this statement here?
• Why is the Cornerstone saying used here?

You may wonder too why I don’t just use verse 11 here in the passage I have given you. Simply because all of this goes together in the end. I will pull it all together for you when we have examined all the pieces and discovered their significance. So I keep giving you the bigger passage rather than just the piece we are investigating at the time. Now for the Corner Stone.

• Why does Peter use this reference?
• Where does he get it from and what does it mean?

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the LORD. These gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there. I thank You for answering my prayer and giving me victory! The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success. Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.

Psalm 118:19-26

Here are the other Cornerstone verses:

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Isaiah 28:16

From Judah will come the cornerstone, the tent peg, the bow for battle, and all the rulers.

Zechariah 10:4

Then Jesus asked them,”Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’

Matthew 21:42

Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

Mark 2:10

Jesus looked at them and said,”Then what does this Scripture mean? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’

Luke 20:17

Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself.

Ephesians 2:20

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for great honor. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced. Yes, you who trust Him recognize the honour God has given Him. But for those who reject Him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

1 Peter 2:4, 6-7

I have given you a synopsis of the biblical statements about the Christ and the Cornerstone. In addition to that I will give you a summary of the meaning or significance of the cornerstone here below.

There is much debate as to what these terms mean.

[γωνία] gōnia an angle, corner, quarter. (Acts 4:11)

[פּנּה] pinnâh an angle; by implication a pinnacle; figuratively a chieftain: -bulwark, chief, corner, stay, tower. (Psalm 118:22)

[Ακρογωνιαῖος] akrogōniaios belonging to the extreme corner:- chief corner. (1 Pet 2)

There are a number of options regarding the interpretation of what the cornerstone actually is:

1. Corner Stone – This stone was placed in the uppermost top corner of the structure which formed the furthest part of the extension. (Which means what? – The gooble-de-gook of the experts)
2. Head of the Corner– This stone appears to have been placed at the intersecting corner of a parapet. The one which effectively becomes the alignment stone in two directions at the point where walls meet. This was a key stone in defence against attack during warfare. This is the strongest point in the battlements, built the strongest to withstand the force of battering rams or boulders hurled by catapults.
3. Head Foundation Stone – This stone is the first laid stone at the key point of construction at ground level. It was the first stone laid in the foundations. Great care was taken with its placement.It had to be level and rightly aligned in order to set the lines and levels for the stones which were to be laid beside the head foundation stone. The first foundation stone governed all the angles and lines of all other stones. The lines, levels and plumb lines of the completed building all depend on their alignment to the foundation stone.
4. The Most Important Stone (TEV) -is used in a generic sense in this particular translation. It could refer to any one of the other stones mentioned.
5. Keystone (NEB) -a similar use to the TEV’s use of “important” above.
6. The Capstone of the Arch

Joachim Jeremias considers it to be the capstone in the middle of the arch. The angled, tapered stone which completes the arch and holds it together with the pressure of each stone against the others in the arch segment locked together.

Take a moment to put all these pieces together before we move on.

Thus He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The LORD said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said,”A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.

Amos 7:7-8

Look to Jesus as your standard. Take your cue from Him and align yourself to His Word and His Spirit.

Ian Vail

You cannot go left and right at the same time. Align yourself, you can’t sit on the fence.

Ian Vail

We choose who we wish to align with, Christ or satan. We are either for Christ or against Him. There is no middle ground, neutrality in this spiritual battle is not an option.

Ian Vail

How is your alignment with the cornerstone? Are you plumb with Him on the vertical line? Is your vertical relationship with God sound and aligned rightly?

Ian Vail

How is your alignment on the horizontal plane with your fellow believers? Do you love your brothers and sisters as Jesus commands?

Ian Vail