Acts 4 Satan is a master at deception and pride. He uses both to place power in the hands of a few and when the sin of pride takes hold, corruption is the end product.

The religious leaders thought they were done with this “Jesus thing” by crucifying him, but now before them stands a man who has been healed by this same “dead” Jesus. They realized that they had no body to use as evidence to refute his claims. They noted that uneducated and unlearned Peter and John had been with this Jesus.  They were living proof of “do not worry about how to speak or what to say for what you should say will be given to you.” [Mt 10:19] God provided the religious leaders evidence of a man healed by His power and they could not deny it.  

It is only by the grace of God that once again these leaders heard the truth that salvation takes place  “not by works of righteousness … but on the basis of his mercy” [Tit 3:5] and  “there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” [Acts 4:12] Yet, Satan blinds the minds of those who refuse to believe, so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel. [2Cor 4:4] It is because of the evidence they now stand without excuse. They saw and chose to deny it.

When the evidence is before you, will you believe?