The beginning of this chapter (v1-4) reveals the results of Peter’s sermon from the previous chapter. We also see the courage of Peter and John, the prayerful gathering of the early church disciples, and their unity in lifestyle and community fellowship. Let’s take a look.
1) V1-4 – 1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
The “important and qualified” people overheard the “unimportant and unqualified” people teaching the “regular” people, even proclaiming the resurrection, which explains especially why the Sadducees got involved, and they were “greatly disturbed.” Despite their efforts to silence the apostles by imprisoning them, “many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”
2) V5-12 – 5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then 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. 11He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Again, the esteemed people of the Jewish world gathered to question the illicit teachers, Peter and John. Their question was in regard to the healing miracle Peter performed in chapter three. They wanted to how he did it; notice there was no doubt that the man was miraculously healed. Peter did not plan his speech, nor did he even know what to say when the time. Rather, filled with the Holy Spirit, he was given a response at the right time. He showed no disrespect in his initial address, confirming his questioners as “rulers and elders of the people” (v8). And he gives a very clear, direct answer to their question: “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…that this man stands before you healed.” But his interjection in the middle of his answer must have been offensive. Paraphrasing, Peter said, “You crucified Jesus, but God raised Him from the dead.” And then Peter continues to explain their sin in crucifying Jesus, that it was according to the Scriptures. Peter calls Jesus “the capstone,” and “the stone you builders rejected.” He’s not encouraging them to repent with these words; rather, he is convicting them and attempting to put the fear of God in them, much as he did with that first sermon in chapter two. But here, he’s speaking to the High Priest and the leaders of the church; he doesn’t back down, because he’s filled with the Holy Spirit. And Peter’s conclusion to the leadership is a message of the exclusivity of Jesus as Savior. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
3) V13-22 – 13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The response of the Jewish leaders was not conviction at the message, at it had been for the laity before; but they were simply astonished at the type of men that were speaking such a message and with such boldness. It seemed impossible! And it was – apart from the Holy Spirit. With nothing to say in response, since repentance was out of the question thanks to their hard-hearted pride, the leaders sent Peter and John away and talked amongst themselves. (This was something they often did in response to Jesus Himself.) They could not deny the miraculous healing, but they would never have submitted to the idea of power from a resurrected Jesus. So they decided simply to demand that Peter and John immediately cease from speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus. Great solution, right!?!
Peter and John must have heard this command and thought how foolish it was, for they said, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” They experienced further threats but were released without punishment, because so many people were rejoicing at the healing miracle.
4) V23-31 – 23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’ 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. 28They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Upon release, Peter and John went back to the believers with the news of what had been said. Perhaps the threats made toward them, or the joy of being released unharmed, drove the believers to prayer – and what a prayer they prayed. Consider their words:
They address God as “Sovereign Lord.” They easily recognized His sovereignty after what had happened to Peter and John. But they point first to God’s creation, that He “made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.” It’s an example of His omnipotence, which falls under the category of sovereignty, and it’s recognition that everything belongs to God. Then they glorify the Holy Spirit by acknowledging David’s words under His inspiration. He prophesied that nations rage and people plot against the Lord, but it’s in vain, because the Lord is sovereign. His will cannot be thwarted. No one can bring down the Lord and His Anointed One – Jesus. And they continue praising God for His sovereignty declaring that even when Pontius Pilate and the Gentiles (Romans) and even the Jews of Jerusalem conspired against and crucified Jesus, the Anointed One, they merely did what God had foreordained. Therefore, because of God’s sovereignty, the prayer warriors make a request of God.
They again address God as “Lord,” and they ask Him to consider the threats made against Peter and John for proclaiming Jesus, and they ask for boldness for them to continue speaking in the name of Jesus. In other words, “God, You see these threats, because You see everything; You know these threats, because You know everything; You are sovereign even over these threats, because You are sovereign over everything – even the crucifixion of Jesus. And because You are sovereign, “enable Your servants to speak Your word with great boldness.” And they ask for God to work miracles in the name of Jesus. They don’t ask for protection; they just want Jesus to be proclaimed to all men. They don’t ask specifically for more people to believe the gospel; they just want miracles to be granted, so that the name of Jesus will be glorified.
When their prayer was finished, the place where they had gathered was shaken. The Holy Spirit filled them, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. It was an immediately answered prayer. Can you give an example of an immediate answered prayer in your life?
5) V32-37 – 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Luke sums up the experience of the thriving and growing early church with this final series of verses from chapter four. “All believers were one in heart and mind” (Philippians 2:1-2). No one claimed personal property in the circle of believers, but they shared everything they had. Interestingly, some have even used this passage to justify communism (see http://www.studytoanswer.net/contemporary/christian_communism.html).
The apostles powerfully testified to the resurrection of Jesus, and the group of believers was blessed with God’s grace. In other words, they weren’t perfect, and they didn’t deserve the favor of God for their efforts to proclaim Jesus. Again, returning to theme of God’s sovereignty, the growing church did not merit the favor of God; God had determined this route for glorifying Himself, through His Son and the Holy Spirit, and for advancing His Kingdom long before and without consideration of how people would behave or what kind of attitude people would have. They were blessed by His unmerited favor, just as we who believe in Jesus are blessed today. And some are blessed more than others; and some will be used as an example of what to do (chapter 4:36-37), while others as an example of what not to do (chapter 5:1-11). One confirmation of God’s grace may be seen in the fact that “there were no needy persons among them.” The explanation of how this was so is credited to land owners selling their property and giving the proceeds to the apostles to distribute to the needy. But this was God’s doing. We thank both those who give and God who turns them into givers. We don’t rob God of glory by keeping the glory for those who gave only – as we see in the next chapter.
But first, in v36-37, we get an example of a man who gave in the right spirit, with the right motive. And it’s no coincidence that this man is Barnabas, or Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whose name meant “Son of Encouragement.” It is fitting that we should meet him here, as he will play a major role in the growth of the church over the next 25 years (and over the next 12 chapters of Acts).
Footnotes
- 4:11 Or cornerstone
- 4:11 Psalm 118:22
- 4:26 That is, Christ or Messiah
- 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2
- 4:27 The Greek is plural.
Bible text from Gospelcom.net. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.