Chapter Four
Peter and John Arrested and Brought Before the Sanhedrin
4:1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Continuing from chapter three where after God healed the lame man and the crowd at the Temple being loudly astonished, the Temple authorities respond to the commotion. We see that the captain of the Temple (believed to be the man in charge of the Temple’s guards and was responsible for maintaining order on the Temple grounds) and the Sadducees came and they were angry because Peter and John were proclaiming that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead (Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, click here to read about the Jewish sects).
4:3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
So the Temple guards arrested Peter and John and since it was already evening they spent the night in jail. Luke tells us that several heard the message and believed, bringing the total of believing men to be approximately five thousand.
4:5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
Note those in attendance: rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the high priest, Caiaphas (also a high priest, see below), John (some manuscripts state this name as Jonathan, believed to be Annas’ son, who according to Josephus later became the high priest),[1] Alexander (unknown), and all who were of the high-priestly family. Although not identified yet as such, this group is none other than the Sanhedrin (the supreme council of Judaism at this time, click here to read more about the Sanhedrin). They were the “watch dogs” that governed over protocols and teaching. This authority was granted by God Himself, as we read in Deuteronomy: “1 If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, ESV) The council needed to know what Peter and John were teaching so that they could evaluate per these instructions.
4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “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 crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
They ask them, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said, “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” the one they had crucified and God raised from the dead. Peter, referring to Psalm 118:22 (understood to be a Messianic Psalm), identifies Jesus as the stone that was rejected by them (representing the builders) that has become the cornerstone and that there is no other name under heaven given to mankind that can provide salvation.
4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
The council noted the boldness of Peter and John and since they perceived them to be uneducated common men, they were astonished. Luke adds that they were recognized as being followers of Jesus a person they were responsible for arranging His execution (possibly thinking that all of those issues brought up during the debates regarding Jesus would start all over again), but they had a more urgent matter to contend with, and that was the man that was healed, so they said nothing against them.
4:15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
They sent Peter, John, and the healed man outside of the meeting room. This is the first time this group is identified as a council (synedrion, means sitting together, an assembly, and is the root word for Sanhedrin, which this same word is often translated as in some Bible versions). They ask among themselves, “What shall we do with these men?” The evidence of the healing was both obvious and seen by many, they could not deny it! So they decided that the best way to stop the spread the news about Jesus was to tell them to stop talking about Him.
4:18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
The council told them their decision and Peter and John responded, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19b-20, NLT) The council then threatened with something that is not recorded followed by letting them go. Because the people were praising God for the miracle for the man that was healed was older than forty years old and well known.
Considerations
The High Priests
According to the Torah (God’s law) that all priests that served under the law would come from line of Aaron (Moses’ brother) and that there would be one priest designated by God to be the high priest. By the time of Jesus’ ministry, the position was politically maneuvered and was typically selected by their oppressors (a king, governor, etc.) In each of the gospel accounts and the book of Acts, there is reference to more than one high priest (as evidenced by the use of the plural, see verse 23 for example). In verse six Annas is called the high priest, but in Matthew’s gospel account that would be Caiaphas (see Matthew 26:3). Apparently Annas was high priest and then at some point his son-in-law Caiaphas was appointed (see John 11:49; 18:13-14). Some believe Annas had the respect of the people (and may have been the legitimate high priest) and Caiaphas had the political power, thus two high priests, which would explain the plural “high priests.”
The Believers Pray for Boldness
4:23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
When Peter and John were released they went back to their friends and told them about the healing, the arrest, and their encounter with the chief priests and the Sanhedrin.
4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Upon hearing about the arrest and the warning the Sanhedrin made against them speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus, the group began to pray. They called on God the Creator who through their ancestor David said by the Holy Spirit the first two verses of Psalm 2, which essentially asks why do people plot in vain against God’s anointed? He’s God, He will always win! Their prayer continues by recognizing that there are leaders and people in Jerusalem that were against Jesus, God’s anointed (the words ‘Messiah’ and ‘Christ’ mean ‘Anointed’), they mention two by name, Herod and Pontius Pilate (both of which were involved in Jesus’ crucifixion). They acknowledge that they did those things in accordance with His will.
4:29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out 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 together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
They conclude their prayer by asking God to consider their threats and grant them the ability to continue speaking His Word with great boldness all while He stretches out His hand for healing, and signs and wonders done through the name of Jesus. When they finished praying the place was shaken and were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to preach the gospel message with boldness.
Considerations
Spiritual Warfare
Sadly, this topic is often neglected by many Christians and churches. While it can be over-emphasized (for example, seeing the devil in every shadow), the subject of spiritual warfare can help formulate a healthy worldview. If we understand that there are enemies of God out there that want to destroy anything and everything of God’s, it helps us understand why believers often face adversity, persecution, problems, etc., as well as hostility or rejection when attempting to share the gospel. The apostle Paul gave us insight as to what is going on behind the scenes in his epistle to the church in Ephesus, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT) Paul also wrote about how to prepare and fight in this spiritual war (see Ephesians 6:10-18, click here to read the commentary).
The Believers Had Everything in Common
4:32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
Luke reports that all of the believers (approximately 5,000 according to verse four) did not consider their possessions something that only belonged to them. They shared what each had with other believers.
4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
The apostles testified to the resurrection of Jesus with powerful results and His blessing of grace was upon each one. Luke also reports that there were no needy persons among them, as many of them who owned land and houses sold them and gave the money from the sales to the apostles to distribute to any of them that may have any needs.
4:36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Luke reports about one person named Joseph, but was called Barnabas which means “son of encouragement” (probably a nick name), who was a Levite from Cyprus, he sold a field and gave the money to the apostles. This example of generous giving is in stark contrast to the following eleven verses.
Considerations
Wait a Minute! What?
The idea of liquidating large assets and selling properties to provide money and provisions to give to other believers seems very foreign to many today. How can we reconcile what the believers did in the early church to what money is used for in today’s churches? First, they had no dedicated structures to gather in, that concept came much later, possibly over two-hundred years later. Secondly, there was no clergy as we define it today, so there was no “infrastructure” to support. But that still leaves the question does the church today help support fellow believers? Many do, this is one sign of a healthy church.
⇐Previous (Introduction) Next⇒
[1] Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 483) (18.95). Hendrickson.”