Acts 4 Study Notes

4:16-18 Remarkably, the Sanhedrin admitted that an obvious sign had been done through them (the apostles), and yet rather than repent and believe, they focused on damage control among the people. They sought to halt the spread of Christianity at all costs, so they ordered the apostles not to speak or teach any more about Jesus. It seems they wished to guard their status as religious authorities even at the expense of obvious truth.

4:19-20 Peter and John’s reference to what they had seen and heard included their experiences with Jesus plus what they had witnessed since the founding of the church at Pentecost. All told, they had been eyewitnesses to many of God’s revelatory acts.

4:21-23 The fact that the man was over forty years old seemed to the Jews to rule out the likelihood of healing.

4:24-28 When Peter and John told the members of their fellowship what had happened, they all recognized this persecution as fulfillment of Ps 2:1-2. Gentiles and the people of Israel had united in opposition to God’s holy servant Jesus and his followers. Then and now, believers take comfort in knowing that Jesus’s sufferings (as well as their own) are not by chance, but are predestined by God. This is another place in Scripture where divine sovereignty and human responsibility are simultaneously affirmed (see also 2:23).

4:29 The early Christians recognized that just as Jesus had been promised trouble, they too would encounter persecution for proclaiming him as the Messiah. They asked God for the power to speak with all boldness, even if punishment should follow.

4:30 Besides boldness in testifying, the early Christians expected to receive power from God to perform healing, and signs and wonders through the name of . . . Jesus.

4:31 Their prayer was answered immediately.

4:32-35 As long as there was complete unanimity of purpose and intention among them, the early Christians shared their possessions freely, such that there was not a needy person among them. They were able to do this not because of their own strength, but because great grace was on all of them. Therefore the generosity was above all a work of God. Yet trouble was coming (5:1-11).

4:36-37 Joseph (aka Barnabas) led by example, selling his field and donating all the proceeds to the church. Such charitable acts inspired others to do good but also incited some to seek acclaim.