Acts 4

Peter and John before the Sanhedrin

I. Prison for Upsetting the Religious Leaders (4: 1-22)

4:1-2 The Disturbance:

  • NET Acts 3:11 While the man was hanging on to Peter and John, all the people, completely astounded, ran together to them in the covered walkway called Solomon's Portico.
  • Three groups: priests, guards and Sadducees
  • Sadducees, characteristics:
  1. Disbelief in a bodily resurrection and denial of existence of angels or spirits (23:8)
  2. Loyal to Roman govt.
  3. Desire to maintain the status quo, since they had the power
  4. Associated with the wealthy class
  5. Adhered only to the Pentateuch

4:3 Incarcerated because it was late (3 PM – 3:1), too late for a trial

4:4 Growth of the Word of God in spite of opposition

  • NET Philippians 1:12 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel: 13 The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ, 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.

4:5-6 Simple fishermen faced with the pomp of the highest court of the land: Sanhedrin – the supreme court (NIV Acts 4:15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin)

  • Annas was Caiaphas’ father-in-law (High Priest from AD 6-15), but was deposed by Caiaphas (AD 18-36). Annas evidently still had religious following. Nothing is known of John and Alexander.

4:7-10 Questioned by what authority did they act

  • Peter was “filled with the Spirit” (filling and boldness associated in Acts 4:31)
  • Peter’s 4th message in Acts
  • Ironic: on trial for doing good to a cripple!!
  • Miracle done in the power of the name of Jesus, who God raised from the dead (2:23-24; 3;15)

4:11 The one who healed was the “Stone the builders rejected” (Psa 118:22)

  • In its context Psalm 118 may be a real stone used as a metaphor
  • Psa 118 may refer to Israel which was rejected by other nations
  • Psa 118 may refer to David, and ultimately to the Messiah (the “ideal” Israel) referred to by Jesus in Matt 21;42 prophesizing his crucifixion, and becomes the Capstone

4:12 Continuing the emphasis from Ps 118: 22-29 where the prophecy anticipates the millennial deliverance, thus the leadership was responsible for destroying the national salvation by rejecting the only Savior.

  • There would be no other way of salvation
  • NET John 14:6 Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
  • NIV 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

4:13-14 Sanhedrin was astonished

Peter and John were unschooled (agrammatoi, “illiterate”), ordinary (idiotai), courageous or confident (parresia, “able to speak openly and frankly”

  • Note the relationship:
  • NET Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage,
  • NAS Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
  • Great observation: 4:13, “ recognized these men had been with Jesus.”—The had been equally amazed at Jesus in John 7:15, “The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"
  • Experienced what Jesus promised them: NET Luke 12:11-12 But when they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you must say."

4:15-17 Sanhedrin in Private Council

  • They could not deny the reality of the miracle, but refused to mention the word “Jesus” = “this name” – also in 5:28
  • Paul may have known of these deliberations or others who were converted (i.e. Nicodemus)
  • Sanhedrin was supreme court, made up of 71 members, including High Priest, mostly Sadducees
  • This was 1st of 4 times Jesus’ followers brought to Sanhedrin (Peter and apostles, 5:27; Stephen 6:12 and Paul, 22:30)

4:18-22 Peter and John commanded not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus

  • Principle of obedience to the Highest Authority, “must obey God rather than human authorities” (NKJ Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.)
  • Simply being witnesses as Christ commanded them (1:8)
  • Threatened with punishment if they continued – What would you do?
  • Everyone was praising God – for their release, for answered prayer,

II. The Supplication (4:23-31)

Three parts to the prayer of the early church:

4:23-24 Though God is sovereign in creative power, the believers understood that God allowed and was with them in their sufferings.

4:25-27 The phrase, “by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of … David” = description of divine inspiration through human agents

  • (NET Acts 28:25 … Paul made one last statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah”).
  • Peter quotes from Psa 2:1-2 which is Tribulation, but the same attitude applied to Jesus’ coming. This is a “preliminary” sense of the OT prophecy, not an ultimate fulfillment
  • “Nations, heathen” (ethne, 4:25) are compared to “Gentiles (ethnesin, 4:27)
  • “Peoples” (laoi, 4:25) are compared to “people of Israel” (laois israel, 4:27)
  • “Kings” (4:26) are compared to “Herod” (4:27)
  • “rulers” (4:26) are compared with “Pontius Pilate” (4:27)

4:28-30 God’s sovereign power and will had decided beforehand

  • People did precisely what God’s power (cheir, “hand”) and counsel or purpose (boule, “will”) had determined or predestinated (prorisen, “decided beforehand”)
  • In the face of threats, Peter prays for “enabled” boldness (parresias, “outspokenness, frankness, plainness of speech, public confidence, fearlessness”)
  • Priority on the spoken message (not friendship, relationship, or popularity)
  • Prayer for evident signs of healings, signs and wonders to be done in the name of Jesus
  • NET 2 Corinthians 12:12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.

4:31 Shaking and boldness accompanied the filling experience

  • Filling of the Spirit AND (kai, can mean sequential or simultaneous conjunction) spoke boldly. They are not unrelated. Filling occurs when obedience is practiced.

III. The Mutual Care among the believers (4:32-37)

  • Luke introduces Barnabas in a minor role before he is seen in a major role.

4:32-35 Believers were unified spiritually (“one heart and mind”) and materially

  • Acts 2:44-45, “… had everything in common. And they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.”
  • This is not Christian communism where everyone had things equally, but all needs were met.
  • Great power accompanied the apostolic preaching of the resurrection
  • Great grace was on all of them – “favor, acceptance”
  • Whenever there was a need, land or house owners would sell them and bring the proceeds to the apostles for distribution (a task that got out-of-hand by Acts 6)

4:36-37Example: Joseph (Barnabas) from island of Cyprus, owned some land that he sold and brought to the apostles.

  • Levites were not to own land in Israel (Num 18:20,24). It could be that his wife owned land in Israel and together they sold it. It is likely, however, that the restriction of Num 18 were no long observed as in the case of Jeremiah (1:1; 32:6-15)

Logos Adult Bible ClassActs 4Dr Don Fanning