Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

4:1 The captain of the temple was second in rank to the high priest. The Sadducees may have accepted only the Pentateuch as Scripture; they also denied the resurrection (see 23:8), and represented the privileged aristocracy who worked closely with the Romans to protect their own political and economic interests. (See Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 13.297; 18.17-18; see also Jewish Groups at the Time of the New Testament.)

4:2 Though the Sadducees did not themselves believe in a resurrection, most other Jews did, including the Pharisees (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 18.14). The Sadducees were upset with Peter's preaching that in Jesus the general resurrection had begun, a message with definite messianic implications that was liable to be viewed by the Romans as revolutionary.

4:3 The Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, met in the mornings. Since it was evening, the two apostles were placed in detention for the night.

4:4 Luke continues his catalog of Christian growth: 120 (1:15); then 3,000 (2:41); and now the men alone were about five thousand, suggesting that the total number of Christians would have been well in excess of 10,000. The incredible growth of the church occurred in response to two activities empowered by the Holy Spirit: the powerful preaching of the gospel message about Jesus and the "many wonders and signs" (2:43; cf. 4:14, 16).

4:5 The Jewish high court consisted of 71 members--70 elders according to the pattern of Num. 11:16 plus the high priest as presiding officer. It was dominated by the priestly Sadducees with a Pharisaic minority, represented mainly by the scribes (lawyers) of the court.

4:6 Annas is designated as high priest. (Much like U.S. presidents, high priests seem to have retained their title for life.) He had served in that role earlier (a.d. 6-15) and was the controlling figure in the high-priestly circle, which may also explain why he is given the title here. His son-in-law Caiaphas was the official high priest at this time (serving a.d. 18-36), and Annas's son John would serve in the role later (36-37). See also note on John 18:13.

4:8 filled with the Holy Spirit, said. Cf. Luke 12:11-12.

4:10 whom you crucified. As he had accused the Jews in his two temple sermons (2:23; 3:15), Peter now accused the Sanhedrin judges of their role in Jesus' death and pointed to the divine power that had raised him from the dead.

4:11 cornerstone. Cf. Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16.

4:12 Peter's statement that there was salvation in no other name was an implicit invitation to the Sanhedrin to place their faith in Jesus. It was Jesus' name that brought physical deliverance to the lame man (3:1-10)--the same powerful and exclusive name that brings eternal salvation to all who call upon him. Peter emphasizes this by saying that it is the only name under heaven (that is, throughout the whole earth) by which a person can be saved. Further, there is no other name among men (that is, in all of human society) that saves. On Christ as the exclusive way of salvation, see also Matt. 11:27; John 3:18; 14:6; 1 John 5:12. This verse also suggests that salvation comes only through conscious faith in Jesus.

4:13 Boldness (Gk. parrēsia) is an important word in Acts which depicts Spirit-inspired courage and confidence to speak in spite of any danger or threat. It also occurs at 2:29; 4:29, 31; 28:31; cf. 2 Cor. 3:12. Uneducated and common ("nonprofessional") men like Peter and John were not expected to speak so confidently before the supreme court of the land. The two words do not mean that they were illiterate or unintelligent but rather that they had not gone through the advanced training of the rabbinic schools. they had been with Jesus. It is impossible to imagine how much the disciples would have learned from spending three years in close association with the Son of God living on earth, listening to him teach, hearing him pray, and watching him interact with the most difficult challenges. They knew Jesus, and in knowing him they knew much more than all the learned scribes of the Sanhedrin.

4:16 What shall we do with these men? The religious leaders didn't know what action to take, since the healing of the man was well known and punishing his healers would displease the populace. Official leaders often act from fear of the people rather than from fear of God: see Matt. 14:5; 21:26, 46; Luke 19:48; 22:2; Acts 4:21; 5:26; cf. John 12:42-43.

4:17 in order that it may spread no further among the people. Sadly, the leaders were motivated by fear of losing power and influence rather than by a desire to glorify God, to be faithful to his Word, or to spread the true knowledge of salvation.

4:18-20 Though the leaders of the council charged them not to speak or teach . . . in the name of Jesus, Peter realized the impossibility of abiding by this prohibition, thus demonstrating that believers have the responsibility not to obey authorities when such authorities prohibit preaching the gospel or otherwise require Christians to disobey God's explicit commandments (cf. 5:29).