Commentary on Acts 4:1-12

By Bob Myhan

1 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.

Peter and John are still speaking to the people outside the temple. Remember, this is where the earliest Christians (all of whom were Jews or proselytes) were worshiping (2:46-47). Remember, also, that Peter and John had just healed a man who had never walked.

Understandably, a crowd had gathered round as news of the miracle spread. Peter and John took advantage of the crowd and began to preach “in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” They pointed out that Jesus had given them the power to heal the man. They also pointed out that all of the Old Testament prophets had foretold of the New Testament age and the events that would usher it in.

The arrival of “the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees” interrupted the speaking. The teaching of the apostles disturbed these Jews. The Sadducees did not believe Jesus to be the Messiah and did not believe the idea of resurrection from the dead. It is interesting that there is no indication of Pharisees being involved in the persecution of the saints, at this point. It is actually a Pharisee, who stops the council from killing the apostles in the next chapter. The priests, regardless of party affiliation, would be disturbed over the mere fact of their work being interrupted.

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

Peter and John arrived at the temple at 3pm. It probably took an hour or two for the crowd to gather. Luke, in all likelihood, compresses the time by his reference to the once lame man “walking, leaping and praising God.” It is also probable that Luke gave an abridged version of the sermon preached. At any rate, the apostles and the man they healed had moved inside the temple enclosure and had reached Solomon’s porch. It is possible that 3-4 hours had passed since the healing. Thus, it was too late to begin another legal case. The phrase, “the next day,” refers to the next period of daylight. The “24-hour day” had just recently begun.

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

Luke makes a brief reference to the result of the sermon. Many believed the gospel. The number “five thousand” probably refers to the totality of believers. There is no suggestion of this being a day on which there would be as many as 5,000 people at the temple; it does not seem to be a feast day of any kind. Luke does not inform us as to how long it has been since Pentecost but it has probably been only a few days or weeks. The next special occasion would be the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur, which occurred four-and-a-half months after Pentecost.

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.

“These three groups of officers made up the body called the Sanhedrin. ‘Sanhedrin” comes from the Greek sun and hedra, which means ‘to sit together.’ The Sanhedrin was the high court of the Jewish people.” (Gareth L. Reese, New Testament History: Acts, p. 174) The Sanhedrin was composed of 70-72 members. Luke generally refers to it as “the council.” It would customarily meet at 10:00 A.M. “Rulers would be the chief priests, the heads of the 24 courses,” set up by David. (1 Chronicles 24:3-18) “The elders were the 24 elderly men picked by the people to sit on the court. These would be men of age, influence, and position. The scribes were 24 lawyers, men who transcribed the law.” (Reese) These were, with those mentioned below the same group who condemned Jesus to death just a couple of months earlier.

Annas was the high priest according to the law, while Caiaphas – son-in-law to Annas (John 18:13) – was appoint high priest by the Roman governor. Of course, the people would recognize only Annas as such and would use Caiaphas only as a sort of liaison with Rome.

The identities of John and Alexander are unknown to us but Theophilus probably knew who they were.

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"

They ask a leading question in hopes of eliciting from the apostles self-incriminating testimony. This they had no right to do; they had done the same to Jesus before taking Him to Pilate. (Matthew 26:62-65)

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.

The Greek tense of the word for “filled” does not indicate, necessarily, that the filling had just taken place but could refer to the filling on Pentecost (2:4). It could also mean, however, that the Holy Spirit is, on this occasion, filling Peter’s mind with the most suitable answer to the question. (See Matthew 10:17-20; Luke 21:10-15; John 15:26)

Because the question was vague, Peter could interpret it in a diversity of ways before answering. By inspiration, he put just such a construction on it that best suited his duty and purpose to bear witness to these officials.

By interpreting it in this way, the Holy Spirit – through Peter – makes the members of the council appear to be extremely foolish. Though that which had been done was certainly a miracle, it was “a good deed done to a helpless man,” also. Jesus did the same thing when he compared healing a person on the Sabbath to pulling a sheep out of a pit on the same day. (Matthew 12:9-12)

Without equivocation, Peter attributes the healing of the lame man to “the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” and, in the same breath, accuses the council members of crucifying Jesus, “whom God raised from the dead.”

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."

Peter alludes to Psalm 118:22, with which the scribes were very familiar because, no doubt, they had copied it many times. The Jewish ruling class did not want Jesus as their Messiah, yet He had become “chief cornerstone” in the foundation of the kingdom that they had long awaited. The Jews did not understand the concept of salvation because they did not appreciate the enslaving nature of sin. Nor did they appreciate the enormity of sin, although one purpose of the law was to demonstrate that sin was “exceedingly sinful.” (Romans 7:9-13)

Peter affirms that there is salvation in no other name but that of Jesus Christ. However, one must be baptized in that name to be saved by it. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 10:47-48)

 (To be continued)

Benevolence and Relief (Part 2)

By Bob Myhan

An individual Christian who finds himself either temporarily unable to work or unable to find work may be the object of benevolence. The phrase “may be the object of benevolence” is key. The primary work of the local church is not benevolence but edification and evangelism. Every able-bodied male ought to strive to find gainful employment to support himself and his family.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Tim 5:8)

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (2 Thess 3:6-10)

One should not only work to benefit himself and his family but also to benefit others.

Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Eph 4:28)

“Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:30-35)

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:16-17)

The phrase “unable to work or unable to find work” is also key. One may be temporarily unable to do what he does best yet still be able to work at something to support his family. And one who is looking for work should think long and hard before turning down any honest job, even if he has to work for less money than he would like. Neither a Christian nor a local church should enable a person who is not doing everything he can to find work that he is physically capable of performing.

(To be continued)