A Study in Acts...Chapter 4

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Peter and John on trial

Acts (Peter and John Before the Council / 4:1–22)
While Acts is a record of powerful sermons, astounding miracles, and the rapid spread of the Christian church throughout the world, it is also a reminder of the truth of spiritual warfare. Whenever believers are seeking to impact their culture, whenever the gospel is preached in power, wherever the church is growing and making inroads, the enemy stirs up fierce opposition. Persecution is the proof that the gates of hell are being stormed and that spiritual captives are being set free.In these verses the same authorities who had tried and killed a “dangerous” rabbi from Nazareth (named Jesus) now sought to intimidate and silence his followers.
The New King James Version (Chapter 4)
Acts 4:1-12 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.Addressing the Sanhedrin 5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts: A Logion Press Commentary (4. Peter and John Brought to Trial 4:5–12)
They made Peter and John stand in the midst of the assembled court, which was basically the same one that convicted Jesus. (Their meeting place, according to Josephus, was just west of the temple area.) Then they began their inquiry by asking them, “By what [sort of] power [dunamis, “mighty power”] or what name [“authority”] did you [plural, emphatic] do this?”
“What” (power, name) is used here in a derogatory way. The emphasis on “you” shows contempt. They were trying to awe the disciples or even scare them. Perhaps they remembered how the disciples had fled in fear when Jesus was arrested. Verse 13 shows the reason for the Sandhedrin’s contempt—the disciples were “unschooled, ordinary men,” not educated in their schools.
Acts Peter and John Before the Council / 4:1–22

RISKS AND REWARDS

Peter and John shared the gospel and ended up in jail. That’s not likely to happen to Western believers today. Still, there are risks in trying to win others to Christ—being misunderstood, rejected, ridiculed, ostracized, stared at, whispered about. We might be willing to face a night in jail if it would bring five thousand people to Christ, but shouldn’t we also be willing to suffer for the sake of one lost soul? What do you risk in witnessing? Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted. And no matter how great the risk, the reward will certainly be greater.

Acts Peter and John Before the Council / 4:1–22

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” Jesus had told his disciples, “On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:18–20 NIV). Peter, the rough ex-fisherman, stood before a room of disapproving, scowling faces and, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak. There are two kinds of courage: reckless courage that is unaware of the dangers it faces, and the courage that knows the peril and yet is undaunted. Peter’s boldness is of the latter variety.

Empowered with supernatural boldness by the Holy Spirit, Peter:

• demonstrated respect for his opponents (rulers and elders of the people);

• noted with irony his and John’s imprisonment for merely having performed an act of kindness;

• called attention to the former cripple (he had been either imprisoned with the apostles or brought in to testify);

• attributed the man’s healing to the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.

The New King James Version (Chapter 10)
Matthew 10:18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Acts: A Logion Press Commentary 4. Peter and John Brought to Trial 4:5–12

Then Peter explains what this means: There is no salvation in anyone else (the salvation which they hoped to be brought by the Messiah is not in anyone other than Jesus), “for there is no other name under heaven given to men [human beings] by which we must be saved.” “Must” (Gk. dei) is an emphatic word indicating compelling necessity. If we do not find salvation through the name (Person) of Jesus, we shall never find it. Nowhere in the entire world is there another Savior—there never has been and never will be.

The New King James Version (Chapter 53)
Isaiah 53 Who has believed our report?And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,And as a root out of dry ground.He has no form or comeliness;And when we see Him,There is no beauty that we should desire Him.3 He is despised and rejected by men,A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken,Smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray;We have turned, every one, to his own way;And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,Yet He opened not His mouth;He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,So He opened not His mouth.8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,And who will declare His generation?For He was cut off from the land of the living;For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.9 And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death,Because He had done no violence,Nor was any deceit in His mouth.10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;He has put Him to grief.When You make His soul an offering for sin,He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,For He shall bear their iniquities.12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,Because He poured out His soul unto death,And He was numbered with the transgressors,And He bore the sin of many,And made intercession for the transgressors.
The New King James Version (Chapter 10)
Hebrews 10:12-22 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.Hold Fast Your Confession19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The New King James Version (Chapter 14)
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The New King James Version (Chapter 4)
Acts 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:‘Why did the nations rage,And the people plot vain things?26 The kings of the earth took their stand,And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts: A Logion Press Commentary a. Praying for Boldness and Miracles 4:23–30

As soon as they were released, Peter and John “went back to their own people,” the assembled believers who most certainly had gathered to pray for them. The Early Church was a close-knit body. When one of their members was in trouble or having difficulty they did more than say a brief prayer. They learned on the Day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit works powerfully through a body of believers who are in one accord in one place. So Peter and John reported all the high priest and elders had said to them, holding nothing back.

Acts The Believers Pray for Boldness / 4:23–31

PRAYING THROUGH PROBLEMS

Notice how the believers prayed. First they praised God; then they told God their specific problem and asked for his help. They did not ask God to remove the problem but to help them deal with it. This is a model for us to follow when we pray. We may ask God to remove our problems, and he may choose to do so. But we must recognize that often he chooses to leave our problems in place and then give us the strength and courage to deal with them.

Acts: A Logion Press Commentary b. A Fresh Filling with the Holy Spirit 4:31

God did not fail them. After they prayed the place where they were gathered “was shaken” (by the Spirit, not by an earthquake),62 indicating a mighty move of God. At the same time they were all “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and in His power they all continued speaking the Word of God “with boldness” (KJV et al.; Gk. parrēsias; see v. 13 and 28:31). This was as great a work of the Spirit as the miracles. That they continued to speak with great boldness is further emphasized in 5:42.

The Greek (of v. 31) indicates again a new, fresh filling of the Spirit. Some writers contend that only the new believers (the five thousand mentioned in 4:4) were filled at this time. But the Greek does not uphold this. All the believers, including the apostles, received this fresh filling, empowering them to meet the continued need and the pressures upon them. New, fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit are part of God’s wonderful provision for all believers. Just as we can give more of ourselves to Him, He can give more of himself to us.

Acts The Believers Pray for Boldness / 4:23–31

BIBLICAL BOLDNESS

Boldness is not reckless impulsiveness. Boldness requires courage to press on through our fears and do what we know is right. How can we be more bold? Like the disciples, we need to pray with others for that courage. To gain boldness, you can:

• pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to give you courage;

• look for opportunities in your family and neighborhood to talk about Christ;

• realize that rejection, social discomfort, and embarrassment are not necessarily persecution; and

• start where you are by being bolder in small ways.

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