Hechos 4

Pedro y Juan ante el Consejo

1 Mientras Pedro y Juan le hablaban a la gente, se les presentaron los sacerdotes, el capitán de la guardia del templo y los saduceos.

2 Estaban muy disgustados porque los apóstoles enseñaban a la gente y proclamaban la resurrección, que se había hecho evidente en el caso de Jesús.

3 Prendieron a Pedro y a Juan y, como ya anochecía, los metieron en la cárcel hasta el día siguiente.

4 Pero muchos de los que oyeron el mensaje creyeron, y el número de estos, contando solo a los hombres, llegaba a unos cinco mil.

5 Al día siguiente se reunieron en Jerusalén los gobernantes, los ancianos y los maestros de la ley.

6 Allí estaban el sumo sacerdote Anás, Caifás, Juan, Alejandro y los otros miembros de la familia del sumo sacerdote.

7 Hicieron que Pedro y Juan comparecieran ante ellos y comenzaron a interrogarlos:—¿Con qué poder, o en nombre de quién, hicieron ustedes esto?

8 Pedro, lleno del Espíritu Santo, les respondió:—Gobernantes del pueblo y ancianos:

9 Hoy se nos procesa por haber favorecido a un inválido, ¡y se nos pregunta cómo fue sanado!

10 Sepan, pues, todos ustedes y todo el pueblo de Israel que este hombre está aquí delante de ustedes, sano gracias al nombre de Jesucristo de Nazaret, crucificado por ustedes pero resucitado por Dios.

11 Jesucristo es“la piedra que desecharon ustedes los constructores,y que ha llegado a ser la piedra angular”.^[a]

12 De hecho, en ningún otro hay salvación, porque no hay bajo el cielo otro nombre dado a los hombres mediante el cual podamos ser salvos.

13 Los gobernantes, al ver la osadía con que hablaban Pedro y Juan, y al darse cuenta de que eran gente sin estudios ni preparación, quedaron asombrados y reconocieron que habían estado con Jesús.

14 Además, como vieron que los acompañaba el hombre que había sido sanado, no tenían nada que alegar.

15 Así que les mandaron que se retiraran del Consejo, y se pusieron a deliberar entre sí:

16 «¿Qué vamos a hacer con estos sujetos? Es un hecho que por medio de ellos ha ocurrido un milagro evidente; todos los que viven en Jerusalén lo saben, y no podemos negarlo.

17 Pero para evitar que este asunto siga divulgándose entre la gente, vamos a amenazarlos para que no vuelvan a hablar de ese nombre a nadie».

18 Los llamaron y les ordenaron terminantemente que dejaran de hablar y enseñar acerca del nombre de Jesús.

19 Pero Pedro y Juan replicaron:—¿Es justo delante de Dios obedecerlos a ustedes en vez de obedecerlo a él? ¡Júzguenlo ustedes mismos!

20 Nosotros no podemos dejar de hablar de lo que hemos visto y oído.

21 Después de nuevas amenazas, los dejaron irse. Por causa de la gente, no hallaban manera de castigarlos: todos alababan a Dios por lo que había sucedido,

22 pues el hombre que había sido milagrosamente sanado tenía más de cuarenta años.

La oración de los creyentes

23 Al quedar libres, Pedro y Juan volvieron a los suyos y les relataron todo lo que les habían dicho los jefes de los sacerdotes y los ancianos.

24 Cuando lo oyeron, alzaron unánimes la voz en oración a Dios: «Soberano Señor, creador del cielo y de la tierra, del mar y de todo lo que hay en ellos,

25 tú, por medio del Espíritu Santo, dijiste en labios de nuestro padre David, tu siervo:»“¿Por qué se sublevan las nacionesy en vano conspiran los pueblos?

26 Los reyes de la tierra se rebelany los gobernantes se confabulancontra el Señory contra su ungido”.^[b]

27 En efecto, en esta ciudad se reunieron Herodes y Poncio Pilato, con los gentiles y con el pueblo^[c] de Israel, contra tu santo siervo Jesús, a quien ungiste

28 para hacer lo que de antemano tu poder y tu voluntad habían determinado que sucediera.

29 Ahora, Señor, toma en cuenta sus amenazas y concede a tus siervos el proclamar tu palabra sin temor alguno.

30 Por eso, extiende tu mano para sanar y hacer señales y prodigios mediante el nombre de tu santo siervo Jesús».

31 Después de haber orado, tembló el lugar en que estaban reunidos; todos fueron llenos del Espíritu Santo, y proclamaban la palabra de Dios sin temor alguno.

Los creyentes comparten sus bienes

32 Todos los creyentes eran de un solo sentir y pensar. Nadie consideraba suya ninguna de sus posesiones, sino que las compartían.

33 Los apóstoles, a su vez, con gran poder seguían dando testimonio de la resurrección del Señor Jesús. La gracia de Dios se derramaba abundantemente sobre todos ellos,

34 pues no había ningún necesitado en la comunidad. Quienes poseían casas o terrenos los vendían, llevaban el dinero de las ventas

35 y lo entregaban a los apóstoles para que se distribuyera a cada uno según su necesidad.

36 José, un levita natural de Chipre, a quien los apóstoles llamaban Bernabé (que significa: Consolador^[d]),

37 vendió un terreno que poseía, llevó el dinero y lo puso a disposición de los apóstoles.

Hechos 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

Peter and John imprisoned. (1-4) The apostles boldly testify to Christ. (5-14) Peter and John refuse to be silenced. (15-22) The believers unite in prayer and praise. (23-31) The holy charity of the Christians. (32-37)

Verses 1-4 The apostles preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. It includes all the happiness of the future state; this they preached through Jesus Christ, to be had through him only. Miserable is their case, to whom the glory of Christ's kingdom is a grief; for since the glory of that kingdom is everlasting, their grief will be everlasting also. The harmless and useful servants of Christ, like the apostles, have often been troubled for their work of faith and labour of love, when wicked men have escaped. And to this day instances are not wanting, in which reading the Scriptures, social prayer, and religious conversation meet with frowns and checks. But if we obey the precepts of Christ, he will support us.

Verses 5-14 Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost, would have all to understand, that the miracle had been wrought by the name, or power, of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, whom they had crucified; and this confirmed their testimony to his resurrection from the dead, which proved him to be the Messiah. These rulers must either be saved by that Jesus whom they had crucified, or they must perish for ever. The name of Jesus is given to men of every age and nation, as that whereby alone believers are saved from the wrath to come. But when covetousness, pride, or any corrupt passion, rules within, men shut their eyes, and close their hearts, in enmity against the light; considering all as ignorant and unlearned, who desire to know nothing in comparison with Christ crucified. And the followers of Christ should act so that all who converse with them, may take knowledge that they have been with Jesus. That makes them holy, heavenly, spiritual, and cheerful, and raises them above this world.

Verses 15-22 All the care of the rulers is, that the doctrine of Christ spread not among the people, yet they cannot say it is false or dangerous, or of any ill tendency; and they are ashamed to own the true reason; that it testifies against their hypocrisy, wickedness, and tyranny. Those who know how to put a just value upon Christ's promises, know how to put just contempt upon the world's threatenings. The apostles look with concern on perishing souls, and know they cannot escape eternal ruin but by Jesus Christ, therefore they are faithful in warning, and showing the right way. None will enjoy peace of mind, nor act uprightly, till they have learned to guide their conduct by the fixed standard of truth, and not by the shifting opinions and fancies of men. Especially beware of a vain attempt to serve two masters, God and the world; the end will be, you can serve neither fully.

Verses 23-31 Christ's followers do best in company, provided it is their own company. It encourages God's servants, both in doing work, and suffering work, that they serve the God who made all things, and therefore has the disposal of all events; and the Scriptures must be fulfilled. Jesus was anointed to be a Saviour, therefore it was determined he should be a sacrifice, to make atonement for sin. But sin is not the less evil for God's bringing good out of it. In threatening times, our care should not be so much that troubles may be prevented, as that we may go on with cheerfulness and courage in our work and duty. They do not pray, Lord let us go away from our work, now that it is become dangerous, but, Lord, give us thy grace to go on stedfastly in our work, and not to fear the face of man. Those who desire Divine aid and encouragement, may depend upon having them, and they ought to go forth, and go on, in the strength of the Lord God. God gave a sign of acceptance of their prayers. The place was shaken, that their faith might be established and unshaken. God gave them greater degrees of his Spirit; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, more than ever; by which they were not only encouraged, but enabled to speak the word of God with boldness. When they find the Lord God help them by his Spirit, they know they shall not be confounded, ( Isaiah 1.7 ) .

Verses 32-37 The disciples loved one another. This was the blessed fruit of Christ's dying precept to his disciples, and his dying prayer for them. Thus it was then, and it will be so again, when the Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high. The doctrine preached was the resurrection of Christ; a matter of fact, which being duly explained, was a summary of all the duties, privileges, and comforts of Christians. There were evident fruits of Christ's grace in all they said and did. They were dead to this world. This was a great evidence of the grace of God in them. They did not take away others' property, but they were indifferent to it. They did not call it their own; because they had, in affection, forsaken all for Christ, and were expecting to be stripped of all for cleaving to him. No marvel that they were of one heart and soul, when they sat so loose to the wealth of this world. In effect, they had all things common; for there was not any among them who lacked, care was taken for their supply. The money was laid at the apostles' feet. Great care ought to be taken in the distribution of public charity, that it be given to such as have need, such as are not able to procure a maintenance for themselves; those who are reduced to want for well-doing, and for the testimony of a good conscience, ought to be provided for. Here is one in particular mentioned, remarkable for this generous charity; it was Barnabas. As one designed to be a preacher of the gospel, he disentangled himself from the affairs of this life. When such dispositions prevail, and are exercised according to the circumstances of the times, the testimony will have very great power upon others.

Footnotes

• [a]. Sal 118:22
• [b]. "ungido" . Lit. "Cristo" ; Sal 2:1-2.
• [c]. "el pueblo" . Lit. "los pueblos" .
• [d]. "Consolador" . Lit. "Hijo de consolación" .