The Book of Acts Chapter 4

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The Book of Acts Chapter 4

Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.4.NIV

Fighting Against Powers with Gospel

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin(1)

1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees (social leaders of the time) came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.

2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. (This caused the rise of believers which was challengint their authority.)

3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. (Peter and John were prisoned.)

4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. (Even more believers in spite of the oppression of Sadducees.)

5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.

6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. (The most prominent Jewish leaders gathered together to condemn the disciples.)

7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” (They questioned the authenticity of the actions of Peter and John.)

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, (It was so as Peter said, but Peter made this chance to preach the Gospel.) 10 then 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. (Jesus was killed by the Jews but rose again from the death.)

11 Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ (The rejected Jesus became the cornerstone by God.)

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (There was no other savior than Jesus; the true Messiah.)

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men (fishermen), they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Peter was an ordinary man without professional study but filled with the Holy Spirit, which caused his knowledge, wisdom, and courage. v.8)

14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. (But the healed man is the most powerful evidence of the authenticity of disciples.)

15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. (Sanhedrin members discussed what they were supposed to do for disciples in private session.)

17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (After discussion, they told Peter and John not to preach Jesus.)

19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! (But the two disciples challenged them who, they or God, should be honored more than any other.)

20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After 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. (The most powerful people could not condemn the disciples legally, socially, morally, and even logically.)

22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. (He had been a begger for forty some years but became a normal person now.)

The Believers Pray

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. (They reported what they'd got through due to their faith in Christ to the fellow believers.)

24 When they heard this, (It was a great testimony and encouragement to the believers.) they raised their voices together in prayer to God (Prayer begins). “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

25 You 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?

26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ (Ps. 2:1-2)

27 Indeed 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. (All the worldly power had worked together to kill Jesus.)

28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (But it's all within the Sovereignty of God.)

29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. (God knows every course of the mission journey of the disciples.)

30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (We must stay in His grace and mercy, and protection and provision.)

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. (Spirit caused physical phenomenon.) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Filled again with the Holy Spirit for bold preaching.)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. (Individual believers became a faith community; the second family, Church.)

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Preaching; Believing Together). And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Living Together)

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. (Serving Together)

(1)Sanhedrin:

   The Sanhedrin was ancient Israel's supreme Jewish judicial, legislative, and administrative council, centered in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, composed of 71 members (high priests, elders, scribes) and functioning as a supreme court, handling religious, civil, and criminal matters, though its power to execute diminished under Roman rule, famously leading to Jesus' trial and eventual execution by Romans after being condemned by the Sanhedrin for blasphemy. After the Temple's destruction, it continued in various forms in Palestine until the 5th century CE, with modern attempts to revive it. (Google AI)

Eph. 6:12

   'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.