Acts 4:1-22 "Silencing the Sanhedrin"

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Please open your Bible to Acts 4, as we continue verse-by-verse through the Bible observing Acts 4:1-22 today.

Over the last two weeks, we have been blessed to be in Acts 3 where we looked at the account of the man who was lame since his mother’s womb…

Daily laid at the Beautiful Gate asking alms… begging before the Temple of a religion that offered him No hope… No healing.

Likely, the man even scoffed at the name of Jesus, for even Jesus never healed this man.

But, God had a different plan… God would use Peter to proclaim… “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

And, the man was healed which led many Jews to marvel and gaze upon Peter and John as though they had the power to perform miracles.

This led to Peter’s second sermon Post Pentecost… a sermon only about 3 minutes long where Peter met the Jews where they were… preaching a sermon that would resonate in their hearts… because of the many Jewish themes.

Peter spoke of Yahweh, the Patriarchs, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Jewish Messiah, and Messianic Prophetic Scriptures.

And, Peter credited the healing of this man by faith in the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus whom God approved and sent to bless them… whom they denied and killed.

And, in this sermon that clearly lays out the wrong that these Jews did… there is a simultaneous grace filled invitation for the Jews to turn to Jesus.

Even the Jews who denied and killed Jesus… they were invited to accept Him and He would blot out their sins… obliterate their sins.

This invitation still stands today. There is nothing “…able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

But, sadly… as we look at Chapter 4… separation from Jesus is the intention of the religious leaders who try to stop Peter and John.

But, they could not stop God working through the disciples… and they could not stop the multitudes of people coming to Christ.

So, they arrest Peter and John… question them… and even threaten them to stop speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus.

But, it will not be Peter and John who are silenced...

The title of today’s message is “The Silencing of the Sanhedrin.”

Let’s Pray!

Acts 4:1-4 “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.”

Following the glorious scene of the lame man being healed by faith in Jesus’ name… and God working through Peter to heal this man… setting the stage for Peter to share the gospel with many Jews…

After the miraculous… now comes persecution… which is the first recorded persecution of the early church… and notice the origin of the persecution… they are arrested by Religious leaders.

Just as Jesus foretold in John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”

V1 lists the persecutors… the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees.

Scholar W. Graham Scroggie suggests that the priests represent religious intolerance; the captain of the temple, political enmity; and the Sadducees, rationalistic unbelief.

The priests were the religious leaders of Israel… most were Sadducees.. and they were mostly responsible for all aspects of the Temple.

All priests were from the Tribe of Levi (including the High Priest), but not all Levites served as Priests. Some Levites had other roles.... such as Temple Police.

It’s not surprising that these priests were present… their whole Old Testament system was threatened by Jesus’ teachings which continued through the disciples.

And, the Sadduccees wanted to maintain status quo… they were living it up… ‘they were large and in charge.’

When a way of life is threatened, the human response is to put up a fight, and that’s what these priest were doing by arresting Peter and John.

But, it was a losing battle. Jesus said in Matt 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

These priests lost because Jesus fulfilled the law… just as He said He would. Whatever Jesus says, you can take it to the bank.

When you go to Israel today… there is no sacrificial system because Jesus also said in Matt 24:2 “Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

And, about 40 years later (in 70 A.D.) the temple was destroyed by Rome.

Let me point out a few verses that explain why Jesus fulfilled the law…

Heb 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”

The sacrifice of animals was a key role of the priests… but, a new day had dawned when Messiah came.

At the last supper, Jesus explained why sacrifice was ending… Matt 26:28 “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission [or forgiveness] of sins.”

No longer was animal sacrifice or even the Priests required… Jesus’ blood and faith in His name actually did take away sins.

We read last week in Acts 3:19 Peter said to the Jews, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...”

Anyone who turns to faith in Jesus has their sins blotted out… by def. “obliterated.”

The priests and animal sacrifice did not have the power to obliterate sins.

Thus, the New Covenant was ushered in.

Heb 8:13 states, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

Some people today still try to live under OT Jewish law… why?

Jesus said He fulfilled the Old Covenant… Heb 8:13 states the Old Covenant is obsolete and ready to vanish away.

In Acts… OT priests were becoming obsolete as well. A new system was ushered in… and they were feeling it.

They had killed Jesus, and even that did not stop Him. His disciples continue preaching in His name, and people are flocking to Jesus by the thousands.

And, while the OT priests were no longer needed, Jesus would not completely do away with the priesthood, but it too would be changed… it would become a calling for all His followers.

It’s a calling that stands today… I want you to grasp this, because if you claim Christ as your Savior… if He is your High Priest as the Book of Hebrews titles Jesus… then you as His follower are part of His priesthood today.

That’s what 1 Pet 2:5 proclaims “… you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ… “

And, 1 Pet 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

You thought you were just coming to church today… you had no idea you were leaving with a title… you’re a Royal Priest.

The other two parties that came to arrest Peter and John, were the Captain of the Temple and the Sadducees… and I won’t be going down a rabbit trail like I did talking about the priests… but I will say this…

The Captain of the Temple maintained order in the temple. He was Captain over the Temple Police (who were all Levites), and he was a high ranking official… a Sadducee from a prominent family… only second to the High Priest.

The Sadduccees often stood in conflict to the Pharisees (the religious rulers), as the Sadducees were the political rulers… leaned toward Rationalism… even cooperating with Rome.

The Sadduccees were the economic elite and prominent land owners.

They held only to the ancient doctrine of the Torah… the first 5 books of the Bible… the Mosaic Law… rejecting new “Oral Law”, and teachings on spirits, the angelic or demonic, and resurrection.

And, that’s why people say they were “sad u see.”

Listen, I last told that joke two years ago… and I reserve the right to tell it at least once every two years!

All this should give you insight into V2 where it states they were “greatly disturbed” by the teaching on the resurrection.

They neither wanted new teachings… especially not from unlearned fisherman…

Nor did they want the topic of resurrection being taught.

Especially they did not want to hear about Jesus’ resurrection whom they killed!

Further, Sadducees rejected a literal Messiah in the flesh, holding that the Maccabees (their Hasmonean ancestors) already ushered in the Messianic Age which they considered an ideal… not a person… and they considered themselves caretakers of the Messianic Age.

Imagine how difficult it was for them and how threatened they felt when the actual Messiah appeared.

Quite the crew… highly religious… highly political and in power… very wealthy… these were those that began persecuting the infant church.

In V3, notice they (the temple guard… with the Sadduccees overseeing) “laid hands on” Peter and John… and that’s not prayer… they arrested Peter and John… and imprisoned them until the next day.

By Jewish law… trials by the Jewish High Council… the Sanhedrin were to occur during the day… not at night.

This should remind you of the illegalities of Jesus’ trials… first before Annas the high priest, then before Caiphas the Roman appointed high priest. Both were at night… both were illegal trials.

There were at least 7 Jewish laws carelessly disregarded in the trials of Jesus, but here in Acts… the Sanhedrin wait until the next day to try Peter and John.

Now in V4… the beautiful contrast… “However...”

Despite the religious and political Jews trying to stop… trying to thwart the message of Jesus Christs through the disciples… thousands more come to Christ.

“However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”

How “However” is used here is comparable to the many “But God” statements in the bible… 46x we read “But God” in the Bible, and typically it is a stark contrast to what man had done or what man was attempting to do -versus- what God actually did or will do.

God’s sovereignty is pictured here. The Sadducees arrest Peter and John… in effect- attempting to arrest the Gospel Message… however… it was God’s will that the Sadducees would not succeed.

In my life, I have learned to wait on the Lord and watch His sovereign will unfold. The last two job interviews I had… I expressed… “If it’s God’s will for me to work here… who can stop it?” I said that unashamedly because it’s right.

James 4:13-15 states, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

God is in control…

I love the opening remarks in Rev 3:7 to the faithful church of Philadelphia… “‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.”

No one can shut a door God has opened, and no one can open a door God has shut.

The Sadduccees attempt to close the door, yet the number of believers grows to be about 5000 men. God is sovereign.

A more minor detail… kind of a “Bible Nerd” thought. But, have you ever wondered, “How many people are actually in the church now?”

After Peter’s first sermon… Acts 2:41 states “… that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” So, I take that as a total of 3000 men and women.

Now, that number grows to a total of 5000 men…

So, is that a total of 8000… or now the number has grown to 5000?

Has anyone else thought about this? (Just me? | Two of us?)

Well, the way I see it (since you’re asking)… of the 3000 total… now there are 5000 men, but more than 5000 if you include the women who also accepted Christ.

Peter preached at Solomon’s Portico in the Court of the Gentiles, where Jewish men, Jewish women, and even Gentiles (you and I) were permitted… so ALL heard this message.

The big point is God’s sovereign plan was happening… an early church is growing by the thousands as His Holy Spirit is poured out.

You’re welcome for that “Nerd point” by the way… I’m sure you will be a better person for it!

It will probably be one of my kids “take aways” from the sermon.

Now, don’t miss the balance of God’s sovereignty with man’s responsibility… man’s free will. V4 also states, “… many of those who heard the word believed…”

God’s sovereign plan… His gracious invitation to forgive sins… extended to all who heard… but just a few thousand accepted and believed.

His gracious invitation outlived the Sadducees… it still extends to anyone hearing His word today… anyone who says, “Yes” to Jesus.

Let’s continue on…

Acts 4:5-7 “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?”

Now the next day… Peter and John stand before the Sanhedrin… the Jewish Supreme Court composed of 70 men plus the high priest…

The trial would be located in the Chamber of Hewn Stone… #6 on the slide… located in the Temple Court of the Israelites.

We can assume Peter and John are before the Sanhedrin because of the imprisonment and trial context… as well as by observing those present, “rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest [the true high priest since it was a lifelong appointment], Caiaphas [Annas’ son-in-law and Roman appointed high priest], John, and Alexander [Ambiguous characters. John may have been Annas’ son Jonathan who replaced Caiaphas in A.D. 36], and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. [The Sanhedrin was comprised of men of high priestly families… experts in the law… men of influence… heavily Sadducean, but also there were Pharisees in the ranks].

V7 states, “And when they had set them in the midst...”

Peter and John now stand in the midst of the Sanhedrin… an intimidating scene… surrounded by 71 of the most wealthy and influential men in power.

Brilliant and dangerous minds… men who plotted against Jesus Himself… now they press Peter and John with an interrogation…

Continuing in V7, “…they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

The question seeks to understand authority.

One under authority acted on behalf of a higher name. The Sanhedrin want to know who Peter and John submit to.

Lightfoot, based on the grammar, states this is an “interrogative question” and “implies incredulity, or perplexity on the part of the enquirer.”

Incredulity… meaning “the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something.”

So, the Sanhedrin ask this question, not with the desire to understand, but with a hard heart… they are unwilling to believe.

We will read in V16 that they “cannot deny” the miracle… they call it a “notable miracle”… but they despise the name of Jesus. V2 states they were “greatly disturbed” by def. “greatly annoyed”… even “grieved”… at the teaching in Jesus’ name.

So, that’s where their hearts are, but still… it’s a legitimate question… it’s a question we all face in life…

“By what power or what name is your life submitted to?” It’s not a multiple choice test. It’s not graded on a curve.

It’s a pass / fail question… and there is one right answer. Jesus Christ… “the name which is above every name” (Phil 2:9)… “the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:16).

They ask, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

And, I love the next verse… it starts “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,

Observe true authority. Peter’s words carry the authority of God because he is filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Sanhedrin with their 71 men think they have Peter and John on trial, but Peter will put them on trial.

Let’s look at VSS 8-12…

Acts 4:8-12 “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, [The Holy Spirit rightly charges the Sanhedrin for the crime of crucifying Jesus] whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. [So, the formerly lame man was there as well!]. 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.”

Luke records yet another Spirit-filled speech by Peter.

Have you ever wondered why Peter needed to be “filled with the Holy Spirit” when he was previously “baptized with the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2?

We will see this “filling of the Holy Spirit” several more time in Acts… and it would seem that there is a re-filling after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit for specific times… like before Peter speaks to the Sanhedrin.

This experience seems reminiscent of Jesus’ words in Luke 12:11-12 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Is this not what we are witnessing here in Acts 4?

Some people reject the idea of needing to be refilled with the Holy Spirit…

“I got filled back in 1982, and I’ve never been filled since!”

Oh we know… you’re attitude confirms that.

I pray over my family about every morning for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit because it’s biblical!

Paul said in Eph 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation [ruin]; but be filled with the Spirit...”

The words “be filled”…is 1 Greek word (play-rah-o; plērŏō)… and it’s a “present imperative verb”…

Which means it’s not only a command… but the idea is “be doing something”… not in the past tense… not what happened back in 1982… it’s a present tense verb… today… be filled with the Spirit.

D.L. Moody was once asked why he urged Christians to be filled constantly with the Holy Spirit. “Well,” he said, “I need a continual infilling because I leak!”

He pointed to a water tank which had sprung a leak. “I’m like that!... It’s a fact that living in this sinful world we do need to be replenished by the Spirit. The fact is, we are leaky vessels, and we have to keep right under the fountain all the time to keep full of Christ, and so have fresh supply.”

So, Peter- freshly filled with the Holy Spirit… addresses the religious and political might of Israel…

First, in V9, he points out how ludicrous this trial is. The lame man was helpless for over forty years… and now he walks… and they are being tried for this???

Then, Peter answers their question- they asked a direct question, V7 “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

Peter gives them a direct response- V10 “...by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth… by Him this man stands here before you whole.”

But also notice what else Peter says… in V10.. Peter charges the Sanhedrin for their crime “whom you crucified”…

And then Peter shares God’s response… “whom God raised from the dead...”

This is like a dagger to the heart of the Sadducees… death would be the end of ANY MAN, but Jesus was raised again.

They did not believe in resurrection, but Jesus had over 500 eye witnesses… probably why they don’t argue against the resurrection here.

Not only that… but also it’s hard to come against Peter and John... when before their very eyes STANDS the lame man. HE STANDS… over forty years old… most of his life daily begging before the beautiful gate… now he stands…

Every time they look upon him… they are silenced.

The enemies of the Lord then were silenced by what He did through Peter… and today the enemies of our Lord are silenced by what He does through us.

1 Pet 2:15… great verse… “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men...”

Silence… by def. “to muzzle.”

When you are submitted to God’s Holy Spirit working through you… the ignorant talk of foolish men will be silenced.

Notice that verse does not state the “...ignorance of foolish women...” because it is assumed only us men are foolish and ignorant. Women are NEVER that way!

Oh, I wish it were so, but the word “men” by def. means “people, human, or mankind.”

And, we know that is true. We are surrounded by a foolish world…

And the most foolish thing about the world is what Paul writes in 1 Cor 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

There is nothing more foolish than denying the savior of the world, Jesus Christ, who came to bless us…

And, the members of the Sanhedrin in Acts 4 are guilty of this same foolishness… at least most of them (I suspect some got saved… how else would we have their private conversation in VSS 15-17?)

In V11… Peter, the Galilean fisherman (thought an ignorant fool by these prideful and educated leaders)… Peter does something that surprises them… Peter quotes Scripture to the mighty Sanhedrin…

Namely, Ps 118:22… “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.”

Whatever David’s original intent in writing this Psalm, Peter now filled with the Holy Spirit applies this Psalm to the Religious Leaders… they are the builders who rejected their Messiah… Jesus is the stone who became the chief cornerstone… the foundation stone on which all else stands.

Ps 118 is a messianic Psalm… it’s not accidental that Peter quotes this verse.

This verse should still be ringing in their ears, as just a couple months prior, a whole Jewish multitude cried out quoting this same verse during Jesus’ triumphal entry… Ps 118:24-26 “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!”

Luke records… At that time the Pharisees called to Jesus saying, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples” And, Jesus replied, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Matthew records… The Chief Priests and scribes were indignant and said to Jesus, “Do You hear what these are saying? And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”

I love that. “Yes… yes I do hear what they are saying.” And, then Jesus quotes Ps 8 to “...put to silence the ignorance of foolish men...”

And, Peter follows the example of Jesus… also quoting scripture… also silencing them.

Peter concludes his defense in V12… “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Just as there is one cornerstone, or capstone that completes the structure and takes the weight of the structure.

So too, Jesus holds the exclusive rights to eternity… only granting salvation to those who professes His holy name.

If you’ve never professed His name… let today be the day!

And, now the response of the Sanhedrin...

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness [or “freedom in speaking”] of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

Your time spent with Jesus makes up for your Earthly deficiencies. Peter and John were not men of letters… they were not educated…

And, yet… the most educated… the most influential men of Israel marveled at them…

God’s Holy Spirit dwells in ALL of us… and if we can just yield our lives to Him… no matter your standing… people will marvel as they realize you have been with Jesus.

I love Paul’s word in 1 Cor 1:26-27 “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty...”

Why? V29… “that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

When two fisherman stand boldly before the wise and mighty Sanhedrin... boldly quoting scripture… defying them… silencing them… when that happens… God gets all the glory.

The Sanhedrin did not recognize them, but recognized “they had been with Jesus.”

And, not only do Peter and John stand there… but there is the living testimony of a lame man healed… he stands there as well…

Acts 4:14-17 “And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. [they are silenced] 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

And, at this moment God shakes His head and says, “Oy vey!”

The hard-heartedness of these religious leaders is unbelievable! It makes me marvel.

Expositors commented on this “… even the miraculous is not self-authenticating apart from an openness of heart and mind; and the Sadducees’ preoccupation with protecting their vested interests shut them off from really seeing the miracle that occurred.”

William MacDonald commented, “Dry, formal religion is ever intolerant of enthusiastic, vital evangelism that produces results in hearts and lives.”

Even though the Sanhedrin could not deny the notable miracle… and even though they knew it was having a ripple effect in all of Jerusalem…

Still… they would not yield to this work of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:18-20 “So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. [Be silent! Isn’t that what the enemy wants from us?] 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

The threat and command of the Sanhedrin is to ban Peter and John from speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus.

Peter & John’s response is to defy their Jewish religious & political leaders… for they answer to a Higher Authority… God Himself.

And, there may come a day… not yet, and I hope never... when we must choose to either bend the knee to Caesar… or to stand boldly and acknowledge only our Lord… even at personal cost.

I may have a thriving prison ministry one day.

Paul clearly taught for us to “be subject to the governing authorities.” Rom 13:1

And, yet Paul was repeatedly imprisoned for he would not stop speaking in the name of Jesus. Just like Peter & John here in Acts 4.

We are to submit, but not when government attempts to overstep our God.

I love that the Sanhedrin commands Peter and John to be silent, and they will not. The only group silenced is the Sanhedrin… as observed in V14 “they could say nothing against it.”

And, in our closing verses… we see the mighty Sanhedrin powerless even in enforcement…

Acts 4:21-22 “So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”

The Sanhedrin did not fear God… they feared the people. Very sad.

They noticed the people glorified God because of this notable miracle, thus they likely feared the people rioting… IF the Sanhedrin punished Peter & John.

So, they do nothing. The Sanhedrin are silenced and powerless before two fisherman filled with the Holy Spirit.

The formerly lame man was over forty years old… never healed directly by Jesus, because God had a plan and look at the result.

God’s timing is perfect! His ways are mysterious, but they are higher than ours.

God had a plan to reach the hearts of thousands through this miracle, and to silence the Sanhedrin who would not believe.

Trust in God.

Let’s Pray!

If you are hear today, and you are in the midst of waiting on God for your miracle… and you need prayer, let’s take it before Him in prayer.

If you have been told to be silent… remember the boldness of Peter & John.

The Religious may not hear your voice, but there is a world out there desperate for truth.

Be bold in your faith this week!