Acts 4)

1: Now as they (i.e. Peter and John) spoke to the people (see 2:47), the priests, and the captain (officers of the Levitical Temple guards. See Luke 22:4. Cp. Jer.20:1) of the temple, and the Sadducees (the word Sadducee is from the Greek form of the Heb. zaddûkîm, which is derived from one Zadôk, said to be the founder of the sect, who was a disciple of Antigonus of Socoh [200-170 B.C.]. The were the aristocratic and conservative party politically; and, doctrinally [generally speaking] they negatived the teaching of the Pharisees, even denying the doctrine of the resurrection. Neither of these sects had any existence, as such, till the return from Babylon. The Lord was opposed by the Pharisees. Now the opponents are the Sadducees, because of their hatred of the truth of the resurrection, of which the Apostles were witness. See 1:22; 23:6-8), came upon them (The word had gotten around about the miracle to the high muckedy-ducks),
2: Being grieved (= exasperated. Gr. diaponeomai) because they taught the people, and preached (Gr. katangellô = to bring word down to any one, bring it home by setting it forth) in Jesus (Yeshua, or Iesous in the Greek) the resurrection (Gr. Noun. anastasis = is either transitive or intransitive, according to the tense &c., and means to make to stand up, i.e. to raise up, or to rise up, arise, rise again) from the dead.
3: And they laid hands on them (i.e. Peter & John), and put them in hold (= ward. See 5:18 and 1 Cor.7:19) until the next day: for it was already eventide. (Nice religious community, right!?)
4: But many of them which heard the word (Gr. logos = the word spoken, as a means or instrument, not as a product) believed (Gr. pisteuo = to have faith in); and the number of the men was about five thousand. (There is safety [amongst believers] in numbers)
5: And it came to pass on the next day (a Hebraism, very common in Luke, about 15 times in his Gospel, and some 15 times in Acts), that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, (An assembly of the Sanhedrin. Cp. Matt.26:3. Mark 14:53, and see note on Mark 2:4)
6: And Annas the high priest (Not appointed by God, but by a Roman governor. Not a Levitical priest. Caiaphas was the high priest [as successor of Aaron]; while Annas was the Nasi, or head of the Sanhedrin [as successor of Moses], and thus associated with Caiaphas in government. This explains John 18:13,24 and here in Acts), and Caiphas (see John 11:49-53; 18:13), and John (nothing certainly known of him. Dr Lightfoot supposes him to be Johanan Ben Laccai, a famous Rabbi of that time [Works, viii. p. 392]), and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred (= race. Gr. genos. Not the same word as in 3:25) of the high priest (= high-priestly race. Gr. archieratikos), were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7: And when they had set them in the midst, they were inquiring, “By (= In) what kind of power, or in what kind of name, did you all this?” (i.e. "What are your credentials, doctorate?". This is an important question for us today. We had better realize the power is in the name of Jesus Christ.)

8: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit (see 2:4), said to them, “All you rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, (Notice he did not slight them. Annas, Caiphas, and the other church leaders weren't appointed by God, nor elected to office by Israel. They were appointed by the Romans.)
9: If we this day be examined (Cp. Luke 23:14) of the benefit of the impotent man, by whom this one has been saved (Gr. sôzô. Cp. John 11:12);
10: Be it known to you all (see note on 1:19), and to all the people of Israel, that by the name (see 2:28) of Jesus the Messiah the Nazarene, Whom you all crucified (see 2:23), Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this one stand here in your presence whole (Cp. Matt.12:13. Tit.2:8 "sound". There were a number of Sadducees among these rulers. They didn't believe in life after death. Peter's state was bound to "light their wicks".)
11: This is the Stone Which was treated with contempt (Gr. exoutheneô. Cp. Luke 18:9; 23:11) by you builders(a reference to Ps.118:22), Which is become the head of the corner (Lit. unto a head of a corner, i.e. a corner-stone. Cp. Isa.28:16) (The Holy Spirit is speaking. Think of the pyramid. The capstone is not there. He will be when He returns).
12: Neither is there salvation in any other (= And there is not any. A double negative used for emphasis): for neither is there other (Gr. heteros = another of a different kind) name under the heaven (see Matt. 6:9,10) given among men, in which we must be saved.” (These rulers considered Christ worthless. They crucified Him.And now His name, Jesus Christ, is the power that brings about salvation. Some people worry about those other nations that do not know God. Don't get overly excited or nervous, we have the entire millennium to go through [i.e. the 1,000 year reign of Christ])
13: And beholding the boldness (= outspokenness, Gr. parrhêsia. Same word as "freely", in 2:29.) of Peter and John, and perceived (cp. John 1:5. Eph.3:18) that they were illiterate (Cp. John 7:15) and obscure men (Gr. idiôtês. Lit. private, i.e. unprofessional), they marveled; and they recognized of them, that they had been with Jesus. (They didn't study with them, but they [Peter and John] did study with Yahshua, the best seminary in the world! They possessed a much higher knowledge)

14: And beholding the man which had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it. (They couldn't discredit it. How could they dispute the power that had healed a man that had been paralyzed for 40 years? They couldn't.)
15: But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council (= Sanhedrin. See note on Mark 5:22), they conferred among themselves (= towards one another) (They did this in secret. When you find types like these today - vote them out of office if they are against God),
16: Saying, “What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle has come to pass by them is manifest to all them that inhabit Jerusalem; and we are not able to deny it. (The people in Jerusalem witnessed the miracle. What would these appointed Roman leaders do about this?)
17: But in order that it spread not more unto the people, let us threaten them threats, that they speak henceforth to no man (Lit. no longer to speak to no man. A double negative, for emphasis) in this name.” (Why would a religious community snuff out good news? They are against God! There is nothing new under the sun. They are try and have taken God's name out of our schools. They don't want the pledge of allegiance to "one nation under God". They want to remove God's name from our coins. Do you think the apostle will stop speaking in the name of Jesus? Will we stop speaking in the name of Jesus today? No way!)
18: And they called them, and commanded them not to speak forth at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (This will happen to you if you teach against the traditions of men)

19: But Peter and John answered and said to them, “If it be right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge you all. (Do you think the apostles thought it more important to listen to men or God? A servant of God always listens to God.)
20: For we cannot not speak the things which we have saw and heard.” (The truth is going to prevail. The apostles were going to the truth regardless of what the fake church rulers thought about them doing so. We, as servants of God, should do the same, today.)

21: But having further threatened them, they let them go, finding no further means of punishing them, because of the people: (The people had seen the healing of the man by the gate Beautiful)

for all men glorified (see 3:13) God for that which had taken place. (The church leaders feared the people who would rebel against them, after they witnessed a miracle they knew was of God. The people realized the fact of the work of can-do type people. Don't forget, done of course by the Holy Spirit through His can-do people.)

22: For the man was above forty years old (#40 = probation), on whom this miracle of healing had been wrought.

4:23–5:11. Among the Brethren.

C²  P¹  4:23-31. Return of the Apostles.
    P²  4:32–5:11. Unity.

4:23-31. Return of the Apostles.

P¹  Q  23. Report.
     R  24-30. Prayer.
     R  31-. Answer.
    Q  -31. Testimony.

23: And having been let go, they went to their own, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. (Always use that which is necessary)

24-30. Prayer.

R  t  24. God's power. Creation.
    u  25-. Word by David.
     v  -25,26. Man's rage predicted.
     v  27,28. Man's rage accomplished.
    u  29. Word by Apostles.
   t  30. God's power. Healing.

24: And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord(see 1:14), and said, “God (used of Yehovah. Gr. Despotês. Like Kurios, it denotes owner; but includes when used of God the exercise of more absolute, unlimited and despotic authority and power in heaven and on earth. It is derived from deô = to bind, and pous = the foot), You are God (the text omit), Which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: (Not only was the 40 year old man rejoicing, all who knew of the miracle were rejoicing and worshiping God.)

25: Who by the mouth of Your servant David said (this quotation is from Ps.2:1,2),

‘Why did the nations (Gr. ethnos) rage, and the people meditate vain things?
26: The kings (i.e. Gentiles) of the earth stood up, and the rulers (i.e. Jews [i.e. Kenites not of our brother Judah) were gathered together (see note on 1:15) against the Lord, and against His Messiah.’
(Do you think the actions of the rulers shook God up? David wrote this prophecy in Psalm 2. The apostles knew this prophecy was being fulfilled. The heathen were raging. No, God wasn't shook up. Make a note of Psalm 2:4, "He That sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision". That day is coming.)

27: For of a truth (Lit. upon truth. the text adds "in this city") against Your holy Servant (Gr. pais, as v.25) Jesus, Whom You did anoint (see note on Luke 4:18), both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles (= nations, Gr. ethnos as in v.25), and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28: For to do whatsoever Your hand and Your counsel (cp. 2:23) determined before (Gr. proorizø. Generally translated "predestinate". See Rom.8:29,30. 1 Cor.2:7. Eph.1:5,11) to be done. (Showing God was totally in control, i.e. stipulated before these events would transpire. God's plan has and always will come to pass as it is written. Have you read? Have you absorbed?)

29: And as to the present, Lord, behold their threatenings: and give to Your bond-servants, that with all outspokenness they may speak Your Word,

30: In stretching forth Your hand for healing; and that signs (as in v.16,22) and wonders (Gr. teras. This word has regard to the effect produced on those who witnessed the mighty work. The rendering "miracle" should be confined to this word, teras) may be done by the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (As a servant of God, you can boldly speak God's Word. You can plug into the power of the name of Jesus Christ for healings, sign and wonders. As it was at the beginning of Christianity, so it is at this time.)

31: And while they prayed, the place was shaken in which they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,

and they spoke the Word of God with outspokenness. (Be a servant of God as Christ, our example, is a servant of God. Speak His Word boldly. The Holy Spirit was speaking through them as on Pentecost Day, and like it will be in the end times when some are delivered up before Satan. See Mark 13:9-11)

4:32–5:11. Unity.

P²  S  4:32-. Unity.
     T  4:-32. Community of goods.
    S  4:33. Power and Grace.
     T  4:34–5:11 Community of goods.

32: And the multitude of them that believed (= of the full number of the believing ones) were of one heart (= mind) and of one soul:

and not even said one of them that any one of the things which he possessed (= his possessions. Cp. Luke 9:48 and 12:15) was his own; but they had all things common.

33: And with great power were given forth the apostles witness (= the testimony) of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (the witnessed Life defeating Death): and great grace was upon them all.

4:34–5:11. Community of Goods.

T  U¹  4:34,35. General.
   U²  4:36–5:11. Particular.

34: For neither were there any among them in need: for as many as were possessors of lands (Gr. chôrion = field, or farmstead) or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35: And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and it was distributed to every man according as any one had need. (This was the establishing of the Church)

4:36–5:11. Particular.

U²  V¹  4:36-37. Devotedness.
    V²  5:1-11. Deceit.

(The next next Chapter should begin here)

36: And Joses (the text reads Joseph, as in 1:23), who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (It is possible that Joseph Barnabas, or Barnabbas, is the same as Joseph Barnabbas of 1:23, and that he was reserved for a better lot by the Holy Spirit. Also known as Barney the preacher), {which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation (or exhortation. See Luke 2:25; 6:24. 1 Chron14:3),} a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus (= a Cypriote by race), (Some ciphers such as fish brought forward at this time for security)
37: Having land (Lit. a field, as in Luke 14:18), sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Next page

Home