Acts 4

Peter and John Arrested

1 And [while] they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees approached them,

2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them and put [them] in custody until the next day, because it was already evening.

4 But many of those who listened to the message believed, and the number of the men was approximately five thousand.

Peter and John on Trial Before the Sanhedrin

5 And it happened that on the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes came together in Jerusalem,

6 and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all those who were from the high priest's family.

7 And they made them stand in [their] midst [and] began to ask, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,

9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed [done to] a sick man--by what [means] this man was healed--

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man stands before you healthy!

11 This one is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become {the cornerstone}.

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among people by which we must be saved."

13 Now [when they] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were astonished, and recognized them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And [because they] saw the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in return.

15 But [after they] had ordered them to go outside the Sanhedrin, they began to confer with one another,

16 saying, "What should we do with these men? For that a remarkable sign has taken place through them [is] evident to all those who live [in] Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny [it]!

17 But in order that it may not spread much [further] among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name {to anyone at all}."

18 And they called them [back] [and] commanded [them] not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered [and] said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you decide!

20 For we are not able to refrain from speaking about [the things] that we have seen and heard."

21 So [after] threatening [them] further, they released them, finding no way to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened.

22 For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more [than] forty years [old].

The Believers Pray for Continued Bold Witness

23 And [when they] were released, they went to their own [people] and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24 And [when they] heard [it], they lifted [their] voices with one mind to God and said, "Master, you [are] the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,

25 the one who said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant, 'Why do the nations rage, and the peoples conspire in vain?

26 The kings of the earth stood opposed, and the rulers assembled together at the same [place], against the Lord and against his Christ.'

27 For in truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,

28 to do all that your hand and plan had predestined to take place.

29 And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness,

30 [as] you extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31 And [when] they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

The Believers Share All Things in Common

32 Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all [things] were theirs in common.

33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony [to] the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.

34 For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling [them] [and] bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold

35 and placing [them] at the feet of the apostles. And it was being distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 So Joseph, who was called Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated "son of encouragement"), a Levite of Cyprus by nationality,

37 sold a field that belonged to him [and] brought the money and placed [it] at the feet of the apostles.

Acts 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]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were speaking")
• [b]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [c]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [d]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("stand") has been translated as a finite verb
• [e]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to ask")
• [f]. Or "through whom"
• [g]. "This one" refers to Jesus
• [h]. Literally "the head of the corner"; this verse is an allusion to Ps 118:22
• [i]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
• [j]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as causal
• [k]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had ordered") which is understood as temporal
• [l]. Or "council"
• [m]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to confer")
• [n]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [o]. Literally "to no man"
• [p]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("called") has been translated as a finite verb
• [q]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [r]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [s]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("threatening ... further") which is understood as temporal
• [t]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [u]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("were released") which is understood as temporal
• [v]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
• [w]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [x]. Or "Messiah"; this is a quotation from Ps 2:1-2
• [y]. Some manuscripts have "and your plan"
• [z]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("had prayed")
• [aa]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to speak")
• [ab]. Or "message"
• [ac]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [ad]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("were selling") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ae]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [af]. Or "a farm"
• [ag]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("sold") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ah]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation