Verses 1-2 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
The Greek word translated as “Sadducees” is “Saddoukaios” and it means “the righteous”. The Sadducees were a religious party among the Jews who denied that the oral law was a revelation of God and who believed only the written law to be obligatory on the nation of Israel as it was the divine authority. They did not believe in the resurrection of the body, the immortality of the soul, or the existence of spirits and angels. They did not live up to the meaning of their name as they were anything but righteous as they had rejected the Son of God and condoned His murder. However, along with the Pharisees, they were a powerful group of men. So here came the religious leadership and the policing force of the Temple to confront the Apostles because they did not like or approve of what they were saying to the people. The Pharisees hated and disapproved of Jesus and anything He had taught during His ministry. The Sadducee also hated Jesus and His teaching that He would rise from the dead. These two religious/political groups had believed their killing of the LORD Jesus Christ would solve their problem of the threat to their power and authority by the Gospel, but now the same Gospel message was being spread by these men who had been with Jesus. Something had to be done.
Verses 3-4 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
The Greek word translated as “hold” is “teresis” and it means a watching, a place where prisoners are kept, or a prison. So the Apostle Peter and the Apostle John were arrested and thrown into jail. In the days of the early Church, there was no guarantee of freedom of speech. Preaching a doctrine contrary to what the power elite taught could be a dangerous thing.
Application: True Christianity has always been met with opposition from the religious establishment and Christians down through the centuries have been jailed, tortured, and killed for their commitment to the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, the sufferings of martyrs and those following the LORD Jesus Christ has led to the salvation of many souls. This was true of this sermon given by the Apostle Peter as many who heard his words believed. It is commonly thought that about 5,000 men became believers over this incident with the healing of the lame man. But really verse 4 above does not say how many men became believers, but only that there were about 5,000 men present.
Verses 5-7 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred 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 ye done this?
The Jewish leadership, the members of the Sanhedrin, and the recorders gathered together to basically hold a type of court regarding the Apostles Peter and John. Annas and Caiaphas were priests, but little is known about John and Alexander. They may have been members of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was composed of 71 members and it was the supreme council of the Jews, usually meeting in a chamber in the Temple in Jerusalem. They were the final authority on all things religious and political in the lives of the Jewish people. They were a formidable force and should have been very intimidating to the Apostles who were basically young fishermen without any experience with governmental agencies or authorities.
Application: Why was the Jewish leadership so upset at the preaching of the Apostles? Because the Apostles spoke the truth regarding the Jew’s conspiracy and murder of the LORD Jesus Christ. They were not ignorant of the Old Testament prophesies regarding the coming Messiah, and they knew Jesus, as man, was a direct descendant of King David. They knew by the miracles Jesus did that He was the I AM and therefore, as spirit, He was God. They were operating at the behest of Satan and they did not want to give up any power or wealth, so the threat to their leadership had to be silenced. But now, the silence was being filled with the voices of the men who had been with Jesus, and these men were continuing to preach the truth of the Gospel and the Kingdom of Heaven just as Jesus had done.
Application: Why was the first question to the Apostles one regarding the name they were using to bring about miracles? Today, the English name of Jesus is being challenged and multiple religious groups are choosing to use the name Joshua or Yahweh, and so forth. This writer has seen miracles happen at the use of the name, Jesus. This writer has not seen miracles happen at the use of any other name. In English, the name is Jesus. Plain and simple. It brings about results.
Verses 8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
“But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” Mark 13:11
Imagine what it would be like to do a miracle that changes a man’s life, then get arrested by authorities who have the power to hurt and imprison, spend a night in a filthy prison, and then be placed in the middle of over 70 powerful men who could pass judgement that might affect the rest of one’s life. A little intimidating to say the least, and how does one answer these men’s questions and yet protect oneself from further abuse? Well, the answer is in the verse above. Basically, don’t rehearse a speech and don’t worry about what to say because the LORD will speak through His children via His Holy Ghost and then the right words will come forth. This is exactly what happened to the Apostle Peter. He was filled with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost when in the upper room with the rest of the disciples, and therefore He had no fear of these elite men and of anything they might want to do to him. So he spoke the truth and answered their question. In so doing, he again laid the guilt of the murder of Jesus on these evil, devil-filled men. “. . . whom ye crucified” was pretty clear to these men, and they could not deny their involvement in the conspiracy that they had engaged in for most of the 3 1/2 years of Jesus’ ministry on Earth. The Apostle Peter also made it clear that it was Jesus Christ of Nazareth who had healed the man, and not the apostles. He had risen from the dead and was alive and still bringing forth miracles. The power was in the name.
Verses 11-12 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The phrase “set at nought” was translated from the Greek word, “exoutheneo”, and it means to make of no account and to despise utterly. The Greek word translated as “stone” is “lithos” and although it means a stone or building stone in the natural sense, it is metaphor in the verse above for Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter was quoting from Psalms 118:22 which says, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” Jesus also said in Matthew 21:42, “Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?”
Application: Stone masons know that the most important stone in any structure is the corner stone from which the rest of the structure is measured and built. If that stone is oriented a fraction incorrectly or if it isn’t perfectly level, the entire structure will end up being crooked and weak. One can perhaps manage to be imprecise if just building a short garden wall, but precision must be present when building structures like cathedrals and multiple story buildings. Today lazer levels and other devices are used to ensure the correct placement and orientation of the corner stone of any stone structure. The Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and the rest of the power elite were building their political/religious system and they were doing it under the direction of Satan whom they served. But everything Satan does falls apart as his plan is to destroy all that God created. Only by having the LORD Jesus Christ as the foundation stone will any endeavor of mankind be successful. Only by having the LORD Jesus Christ in one’s life will an individual have joy and peace, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of eternity in Heaven. He is the foundation and corner stone upon which the converted Christian believer needs to rest.
Application: “Neither is there salvation in any other.” Scripture is so clear, concise, and easy to understand. So what do people do? They create all kinds of conflicting doctrines that complicate and confuse unbelievers and believers alike. Major religious leaders have stated, for instance, that Jews have their own covenant and do not need Jesus in order to get to Heaven. Mainstream organized religious denominations have developed “works” doctrines to guarantee salvation: do this and do that and you will be saved. And of course, there is salvation through supporting a church with one’s time and treasure. The good news is that no one is saved by another or separate covenant, by performing various works, and no one can buy their salvation. Salvation from sin, death and Hell is only through the name of Jesus. He shed His blood and paid everyone’s debt of sin. But to benefit from His sacrifice, one has to follow the Gospel which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. How does one follow the Gospel? By truly repenting (dying to self) of all sin, by being baptized in Jesus’ name (a type of burial in the water), and by being filled with His Spirit (a resurrection unto righteousness). When one has obeyed the Gospel and put on Christ by having His Holy Ghost/Spirit dwelling inside, then there is salvation. Nothing could be simpler. And yes, the Jews need to accept Jesus Christ too “for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Plain and simple.
Verse 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
People forget that the Apostles of the LORD Jesus Christ for the most part were young men without much education. But through the power of the Holy Ghost/Spirit they could witness and testify of what they believed, they could quote Scripture from the Old Testament that they had neither read nor memorized, and they could confront the evil men who were in power in Israel without fear. That is why the verse above states that the priests, scribes, and members of the Sanhedrin marvelled. The Greek word translated as “marvelled” is “thaumazo” and it means to wonder at, to marvel, or to be had in admiration. Even though the religious leaders were upset at the Apostles Peter and John because they were promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they had no choice but to admire them. They had to know that this was the working of God Almighty. And yet they still opposed both the apostles and the message they carried. They rejected their Messiah, the One who offered them salvation and eternity in Heaven.
Verse 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
One has to wonder what was going through the mind of the man who had been healed in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ. Since this was the day after his healing, it is probable that the Temple guard was sent to bring him to this mock trial. But he was a witness to the power of the LORD Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word.
Application: Why is the Church in the western countries of the world so weak and ineffective? Two men upset the entire city of Jerusalem and upset the leadership, both religious and political so that no one could deny the power of the name of Jesus and that He was risen from the dead and still ministering miracles through His apostles or servants. The answer is that there is little faith in the Word of God. Many mainstream denominations deny the gifts of the Spirit as recorded in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and claim that these were manifested just in the early days of the apostolic Church and that they do not apply to today. So people are not being healed, miracles are not happening, Christian believers lack the ability to discern spirits, good and bad, and there is a lack of wisdom and knowledge. People do not know what the Bible says and are relying on pastors to tell them instead of reading God’s Word for themselves and hearing what God has to tell them through His Word. Hence, without believing and using the tools God has provided for His people, the Church is weak and ineffective in reaching the masses for Christ. This is just what Satan wants, and he has infiltrated the churches worldwide with false bibles, false doctrines, witchcraft, and worldly beliefs and practices. It is time for God’s people to purify themselves and stand up for righteousness and for the Word of God.
Verses 15-18 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 that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
The power elite had a problem. The people of the city were aware of what had happened to the disabled man and they were aware the Apostles Peter and John had been arrested for doing a good thing in the name of Jesus. So to punish them would incur the anger of the people against these leaders. So they removed the apostles and conspired together as to how to curb what they viewed as a serious problem and a threat to their power and rule. So they decided to just use threatening words.
Application: Notice that the rulers did not order the apostles to not talk about Jesus or teach about Him, but they ordered them not to use His name. Why were they concerned about the name? They recognized that there was power in the name of Jesus and they wanted any further ministry stopped. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 Through Jesus’ name people were being saved from their sins and being set free from the devilish doctrines taught by the Pharisees and Sadducees. In their arrogance these rulers thought they could “muzzle” God and His Word. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, and Luke 21:33
Verses 19-20 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
The religious and political leaders still had a problem. They pretended to serve God and they had control over the activities of the Temple and they had control over the people as a result of their deception. So here were the apostles telling them that they had to obey the God these rulers claimed to also obey and serve rather than obey their command to not use the name of Jesus. This was not the answer they were hoping for. Their threats were not working.
Verses 21-22 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
So the only plan these rulers had was to threaten more as it would be religious and political suicide to punish them as the people would not stand for this and would rebel against them. If there was an uprising, Rome would not be happy and things would just escalate and be out of their control. They knew that Roman law would not condemn these men for their actions and their speech, so how could they?
Verses 23-30 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Application: Notice how the early Christians prayed and praised God for all that He had and would do. They recognized Him as Creator and they recognized His Word by quoting Psalm 2. They recognized His sovereignty over the events of the crucifixion of Jesus and therefore over the events that were coming to them in the form of persecutions: threatenings. Then, instead of “begging” God to remove their tribulations, they accepted them and asked God to grant them greater boldness to obey Jesus’ command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. And how were they going to spread the Gospel? Through healings, and signs and wonders done in the name of Jesus.
Application: Today it is rare to find a Christian church who evangelizes in the same manner as the early Church. The Gospel may be preached but the needs of the recipients hearing the Word of God are usually not met because there is a lack of Holy Ghost power. The early Church went about healing, raising the dead, and casting out devils. People receiving these miracles then believed in the name of Jesus and wanted to have what the Christians had. It is easy to present the Gospel message when an individual’s needs have been met. When an unbeliever is dying of cancer, it is hard to believe that God loves and cares about him/her. But when the cancer is healed, it is easy to believe in the love of God. Think about it.
Verse 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
God’s power came down in response to the prayers of these saints and manifested His presence through the Holy Ghost who strengthened them so that they were not afraid of the power elite and went forth preaching the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verse 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
As the power of the Gospel spread among the people and they experienced a Heavenly relationship with the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the things of this world became unimportant and their earthly possessions which would pass away in time no longer controlled them. They had freedom in the Kingdom of God. They were unselfish and shared what they had with others less fortunate. They were in love with Jesus and with each other.
Verses 33-35 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Application: An entire financial system was eventually set up so that all the believers were cared for and their needs met so that they could then use their time and energy in sharing the Gospel with others. No one lacked anything. This is how the Church is to function. Sadly, today this is not the case and so there is a lack of power among the body of Christ.
Verses 36-37 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4)
Here the reader is introduced to the Apostle Barnabas who was to become the Apostle Paul’s fellow-worker in the ministry.