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.”
Acts 4:8-12
- Why does Peter use this reference?
- Where does he get it from and what does it mean?
Matt 21:42 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.’
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
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
Did you notice what has happened here? Peter has taken his quote from a different context. And did you notice that he has changed it ever so slightly? Notice that all quotes above are essentially the same words. The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. These are indeed the same words found in Psalm 118:22. But the context is very different. The context of the Gospel accounts has a different twist on the original setting. Each of the Gospel references are taken from the story of the tenant farmers and the landlord’s heir who was ultimately sent to collect the percentage from the vineyard. In the end the tenant farmers kill the heir thinking they will get to keep all the money for themselves. Jesus said to them,
Haven’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized He was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
Luke 20:17-19
All gospels record the same setting and finish with the statement that the religious teachers and priest realized Jesus was telling the story against them. The flow continues with them increasing their opposition against Him, waiting for the time when they can trap Him. It is the same in all three gospel accounts. But that is not what Peter is thinking. He has taken his ideas from the Psalm. Notice that Luke wrote both the account in Luke and the account in Acts. Is Luke making the change? No I don’t think so. I think the setting and thrust of the sermon comes directly from Peter.
It is Peter who is creatiing this sermon under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Peter has heard before the message Jesus spoke in using the story of vineyard and the tenant farmers and he knew the spin Jesus put on it. It was a statement of judgment coming on those who are against God by virtue of their own wickedness. The religious leaders knew immediately Jesus was speaking against them. However Peter doesn’t use that setting. He bypasses Jesus’ context for the quote in favour of its original setting in Psalm 118. He was truly being inspired by the Holy Spirit. The context Peter gives this little quote is lifted straight from Psalm 118. Notice the context of the Psalm is very Messianic and and heralding the coming Messiah who will usher in the Presence of God and His accompanying salvation. It is an Advent and Salvation Psalm. Hence Peter’s sermon takes that flavour and not the tone of the judgment that Jesus used.
Here are the other Cornerstone verses which this time I have clipped for you:
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
Zechariah 10:4
Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. The cornerstone is Christ Jesus Himself.
Ephesians 2:20
Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people but chosen by God I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem . . .anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” You who trust Him recognise the honour God has given Him. For those who reject Him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.“
1 Pet 2:4, 6-7
Little wonder that Peter makes the connection between the Cornerstone and Salvation given the context of the background verses Peter is thinking of or prompted about. But did you notice the change Peter made to the quote. I alluded to it above but now want to highlight it. I wonder if you stopped to notice or just rushed right past on your way to bigger and better things. Don’t miss the details of Scripture. As my Greek Professor Basil Brown used to say, “Class don’t miss the details, each detail was put there for a purpose by God. Take every verse of Scripture and suck it like a sweetie.”
The quote in every other case is: The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
The quote in every other case is: The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
But Peter has changed the quote to: The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
He directs the things he has to say straight at the Jewish leaders gathered in front of him at the morning hearing. What’s remarkable is they take it on the nose and don’t seem to get upset. Remember I asked the questions as to why? I.e. Why don’t the Rulers and Elders respond to Peter’s boldness in other ways? Why do they just marvel? Why is the cornerstone saying used here? Look back over Peter’s speech. You have to admit it is pretty “in-your-face”. He doesn’t soften his words but goes straight for the jugular. It is hard hitting stuff. As these allegations are levelled at the leaders, I wonder if they thought back to Jesus encounter with them and His use of the same saying. For Peter the cornerstone ushers in salvation; for Jesus the cornerstone brings with it judgment. Hmm that is interesting.In the next Gem I will start to pull it all together. We still haven’t resolved the meaning of the Cornerstone. Is it?
- Corner Stone
- Head of the Corner
- Head Foundation Stone
- The Most Important Stone (TEV)
- Keystone (NEB)
- The Capstone of the Arch
There is more to come. Ponder these things in your heart.
And when He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
John 16:8
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
Every builder wants the house they build to be level on the horizontal axis and plumb on the vertical axis. Why should God be any different?
Ian Vail
But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
1 Corinthians 3:13
Will what you are building stand the test? Is it square and level? What building materials have you used – eternal or temporal?
Ian Vail