New Testament Commentary - Acts 4

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 4 Peter and John are arrested and brought before the council—Peter testifies that salvation comes because of Christ—Sadducees strive to silence them—Saints glory in the testimony of Jesus—They practice a united order.
1 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 ^aresurrection^a from the dead.	2^a Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection This event was a witness against the priests, Sadducees and Pharisees who had caused the death of Jesus Christ. And those in authority recognized the threat to their positional authority. It was not so much what Peter had done in healing the lame man, but that he used the healing as witness to his peaching in the name of Jesus and as to the resurrection of Jesus whom the Jewish leaders had put to death. And it would be the 'undermining' of their false authority which the priests, Saducees and Pharisees would seek to protect even by the meanings of lying against the truth.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
3 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 ^afive thousand.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
5 ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and ^ascribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high ^apriest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what ^apower, or by what ^bname, have ye done this?		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
8 Then Peter, filled with the ^aHoly 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 ^aname 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.
11 This is the ^astone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there ^asalvation in any other: for there is none other ^bname under heaven given among men, whereby we must be ^csaved.
13 ¶ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were ^aunlearned and ^bignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 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 ^amiracle 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 ^acommanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to ^ahearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but ^aspeak the things which we have ^bseen and heard.
21 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.
23 ¶ 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 ^aearth, 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 ^akings 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 ^aanointed, 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.
31 ¶ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were ^aassembled together; and they were all filled with the ^bHoly Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of ^aone heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ^bought of the things which he ^cpossessed was his own; but they had all things ^dcommon. 33 And with great power gave the apostles ^awitness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great ^bgrace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses ^asold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and ^adistribution was made unto every man according as he had ^bneed.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed ^aBarnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the ^amoney, and laid it at the apostles' feet.