1Während sie aberG1161 zuG4314 dem VolkeG2992 redetenG2980, kamenG2186 die PriesterG2409 undG2532 der HauptmannG4755 des TempelsG2411 undG2532 die SadducäerG4523 aufG2186 sieG846 zuG2186, 2welche es verdroßG1278, daßG1223 sieG846 das VolkG2992 lehrtenG1321 undG2532 inG1722 JesuG2424 die AuferstehungG386 ausG1537 den TotenG3498 verkündigtenG2605. 3UndG2532 sie legtenG1911 die HändeG5495 anG1911 sieG846 undG2532 setztenG5087 sie inG1519 GewahrsamG5084 bis anG1519 den MorgenG839, dennG1063 es warG2258 schonG2235 AbendG2073. 4VieleG4183 aberG1161 von denen, welche das WortG3056 gehörtG191 hatten, wurden gläubigG4100; undG2532 es wurdeG1096 die ZahlG706 der MännerG435 [bei]G5616 fünftausendG4002 G5505. 5Es geschahG1096 aberG1161 desG1909 folgenden TagesG839, daß ihre OberstenG758 undG2532 ÄltestenG4245 undG2532 SchriftgelehrtenG1122 sichG4863 inG1519 JerusalemG2419 versammeltenG4863, 6undG2532 AnnasG452, der HohepriesterG749, undG2532 KajaphasG2533 undG2532 JohannesG2491 undG2532 AlexanderG223, undG2532 so vieleG3745 vomG1537 hohenpriesterlichenG748 GeschlechtG1085 warenG2258. 7UndG2532 nachdem sie sieG846 inG1722 die MitteG3319 gestelltG2476 hatten, fragtenG4441 sie: InG1722 welcherG4169 KraftG1411 oderG2228 inG1722 welchemG4169 NamenG3686 habtG4160 ihrG5210 diesG5124 getanG4160 ? 8DaG5119 sprachG2036 PetrusG4074, erfülltG4130 mit HeiligemG40 GeisteG4151, zuG4314 ihnenG846: ObersteG758 des VolkesG2992 undG2532 ÄltesteG4245 [von Israel]G2474! 9WennG1487 wirG2249 heuteG4594 überG1909 die WohltatG2108 an einem krankenG772 MenschenG444 verhört und gefragtG350 werden, wodurchG1722 G5101 dieserG3778 geheiltG4982 worden ist, 10so seiG2077 euchG5213 allenG3956 undG2532 dem ganzenG3956 VolkeG2992 IsraelG2474 kundG1110, daßG3754 inG1722 dem NamenG3686 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547, des NazaräersG3480, welchenG3739 ihrG5210 gekreuzigtG4717 habt, denG3739 GottG2316 auferwecktG1453 hat ausG1537 den TotenG3498, daß durchG1722 ihnG5129 dieserG3778 gesundG5199 vorG1799 euchG5216 stehtG3936. 11DieserG3778 istG2076 der SteinG3037, derG3588 vonG5259 euchG5216, den BauleutenG3618, für nichts geachtetG1848, derG3588 zumG1519 EcksteinG1137 G2776 gewordenG1096 ist. 12UndG2532 es istG2076 inG1722 keinemG3762 G3756 anderenG243 das HeilG4991; dennG1063 auch keinG3777 andererG2087 NameG3686 istG2076 unterG5259 dem HimmelG3772, der unterG1722 denG1722 MenschenG444 gegebenG1325 ist, inG1722 welchemG3739 wirG2248 errettetG4982 werden müssenG1163. 13Als sie aberG1161 die FreimütigkeitG3954 des PetrusG4074 undG2532 JohannesG2491 sahenG2334 undG2532 inneG2638 wurden, daßG3754 es ungelehrteG62 undG2532 ungebildeteG2399 LeuteG444 seienG1526, verwunderten sie sichG2296; undG5037 sie erkanntenG1921 sieG846, daßG3754 sie mitG4862 JesuG2424 gewesen warenG2258. 14UndG1161 da sie den MenschenG444, der geheiltG2323 worden war, beiG4862 ihnenG846 stehenG2476 sahenG991, hattenG2192 sie nichtsG3762 dawider zu sagenG471. 15Nachdem sie ihnenG846 aberG1161 befohlenG2753 hatten, ausG1854 dem SynedriumG4892 zu gehenG565, überlegtenG4820 sie miteinanderG240 G4314 und sagtenG3004: 16WasG5101 sollenG4160 wir diesenG5125 MenschenG444 tunG4160 ? DennG1063 daßG3754 wirklichG3303 ein kundbaresG1110 ZeichenG4592 durchG1223 sieG846 geschehen istG1096, istG5318 allenG3956 offenbarG5318, die zu JerusalemG2419 wohnenG2730, undG2532 wir könnenG1410 es nichtG3756 leugnenG720. 17AberG235 auf daß es nichtG3363 weiterG1909 G4119 unterG1519 dem VolkeG2992 ausgebreitetG1268 werde, laßtG546 uns sieG846 ernstlichG547 bedrohenG546, daß sie nicht mehrG3371 inG1909 diesemG5129 NamenG3686 zu irgend einemG3367 MenschenG444 redenG2980. 18UndG2532 als sie sieG846 gerufenG2564 hatten, gebotenG3853 sie [ihnen]G846, durchaus nichtG2527 G3361 inG1909 dem NamenG3686 JesuG2424 zu redenG5350 nochG3366 zu lehrenG1321. 19PetrusG4074 aberG1161 undG2532 JohannesG2491 antwortetenG611 und sprachenG2036 zuG4314 ihnenG846: ObG1487 es vorG1799 GottG2316 rechtG1342 istG2076, aufG191 euchG5216 mehrG3123 zu hörenG191, alsG2228 aufG191 GottG2316, urteiletG2919 ihr; 20dennG1063 es ist unsG2249 unmöglichG3756 G1410, von dem, wasG3739 wir gesehenG1492 undG2532 gehörtG191 haben, nichtG3361 zu redenG2980. 21Sie aberG1161 bedrohtenG4324 sieG846 noch mehr und entließenG630 sieG846, indem sie nichtG3367 fandenG2147, auf welche WeiseG4459 sie sieG846 strafenG2849 sollten, umG1223 des VolkesG2992 willenG1223; dennG3754 alleG3956 verherrlichtenG1392 GottG2316 überG1909 das, was geschehenG1096 war. 22DennG1063 der MenschG444 warG2258 mehr alsG4119 vierzigG5062 Jahre altG2094, anG1909 welchemG3739 diesesG5124 ZeichenG4592 der HeilungG2392 geschehenG1096 war. 23Als sie aberG1161 entlassenG630 waren, kamenG2064 sie zuG4314 den IhrigenG2398 undG2532 verkündetenG518 allesG3745, was die HohenpriesterG749 undG2532 die ÄltestenG4245 zuG4314 ihnenG846 gesagtG2036 hatten. 24Sie aberG1161, als sie es hörtenG191, erhobenG142 einmütigG3661 ihre StimmeG5456 zuG4314 GottG2316 undG2532 sprachenG2036: HerrscherG1203, duG4771 bist [der Gott]G2316, derG3588 den HimmelG3772 undG2532 die ErdeG1093 undG2532 das MeerG2281 gemachtG4160 hat undG2532 allesG3956, was inG1722 ihnenG846 ist; 25derG3588 du durchG1223 den MundG4750 deinesG4675 KnechtesG3816 DavidG1138 gesagtG2036 hast: "WarumG2444 tobtenG5433 die NationenG1484, undG2532 sannenG3191 EitlesG2756 die VölkerG2992 ? 26Die KönigeG935 der ErdeG1093 standen daG3936, undG2532 die OberstenG758 versammelten sichG4863 widerG2596 den HerrnG2962 undG2532 widerG2596 seinenG846 ChristusG5547 ". 27DennG1063 in dieser Stadt versammelten sichG4863 inG1909 WahrheitG225 widerG1909 deinenG4675 heiligenG40 KnechtG3816 JesusG2424, denG3739 du gesalbtG5548 hast, sowohlG5037 HerodesG2264 alsG2532 PontiusG4194 PilatusG4091 mitG4862 den NationenG1484 undG2532 den VölkernG2992 IsraelsG2474, 28alles zu tunG4160, wasG3745 deineG4675 HandG5495 undG2532 deinG4675 RatschlußG1012 zuvorbestimmtG4309 hat, daß es geschehenG1096 sollte. 29UndG2532 nunG3569, HerrG2962, sieh anG1896 G1909 ihreG846 DrohungenG547 undG2532 gibG1325 deinenG4675 KnechtenG1401, deinG4675 WortG3056 zu redenG2980 mitG3326 allerG3956 FreimütigkeitG3954, 30indemG1722 duG4571 deineG4675 HandG5495 ausstreckstG1614 zurG1519 HeilungG2392, undG2532 daß ZeichenG4592 undG2532 WunderG5059 geschehenG1096 durchG1223 den NamenG3686 deinesG4675 heiligenG40 KnechtesG3816 JesusG2424. 31UndG2532 als sieG846 gebetetG1189 hatten, bewegte sichG4531 die StätteG5117, woG1722 G3739 sie versammeltG4863 warenG2258; undG2532 sie wurdenG4130 alleG537 mit HeiligemG40 GeisteG4151 erfülltG4130 undG2532 redetenG2980 das WortG3056 GottesG2316 mitG3326 FreimütigkeitG3954. 32Die MengeG4128 derer aberG1161, die gläubig gewordenG4100, warG2258 ein HerzG2588 undG2532 eineG3391 SeeleG5590; und auchG2532 nichtG3761 einerG1520 sagteG3004, daß etwasG5100 von seiner HabeG5224 sein eigenG2398 wäreG1511, sondernG235 es warG2258 ihnen allesG537 gemeinG2839. 33UndG2532 mit großerG3173 KraftG1411 legtenG591 die ApostelG652 das ZeugnisG3142 von der AuferstehungG386 des HerrnG2962 JesuG2424 abG591; undG5037 großeG3173 GnadeG5485 warG2258 aufG1909 ihnenG846 allenG3956. 34DennG1063 es warG5225 auch keinerG3761 G5100 dürftigG1729 unterG1722 ihnenG846; dennG1063 so vieleG3745 BesitzerG2935 von ÄckernG5564 oderG2228 HäusernG3614 warenG5225, verkauftenG4453 sie und brachtenG5342 den PreisG5092 des VerkauftenG4097 35undG2532 legten ihn niederG5087 zuG3844 den FüßenG4228 der ApostelG652; es wurdeG1239 aberG1161 einem jedenG1538 ausgeteiltG1239, so wieG2530 einerG5100 irgendG302 BedürfnisG5532 hatteG2192. 36JosephG2500 aberG1161, derG3588 vonG5259 den ApostelnG652 BarnabasG921 zubenamtG1941 wurde (wasG3739 verdolmetschtG3177 heißtG2076: SohnG5207 des TrostesG3874 ), ein LevitG3019, ein CyprierG2953 von GeburtG1085, 37derG846 einen AckerG68 besaßG5225, verkaufteG4453 ihn, brachteG5342 das GeldG5536 undG2532 legte es niederG5087 zuG3844 den FüßenG4228 der ApostelG652.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 PETER AND JOHN BEFORE THE SAMHEDRIM. (
Acts 4:1-
Acts 4:13)
the captain--of the Levitical guard.
of the temple--annoyed at the disturbance created around it.
and the Sadducees--who "say that there is no resurrection" (
Acts 23:8), irritated at the apostles "preaching through (rather, 'in') Jesus the resurrection from the dead"; for the resurrection of Christ, if a fact, effectually overthrew the Sadducean doctrine.
4 the number of the men--or males, exclusive of women; though the word sometimes includes both.
about five thousand--and this in Jerusalem, where the means of detecting the imposture or crushing the fanaticism, if such it had been, were within everyone's reach, and where there was every inducement to sift it to the bottom.
5 their rulers, &c.--This was a regular meeting of the Sanhedrim (see on
Matt 2:4).
6 Annas . . . and Caiaphas--(See on
Luke 3:2).
John and Alexander--of whom nothing is known.
7 By what power or . . . name have ye done this--thus admitting the reality of the miracle, which afterwards they confess themselves unable to deny (
Acts 4:16).
8 Then, filled with the Holy Ghost, said--(See
Mark 13:11;
Luke 21:15).
10 Be it known unto you . . . and to all the people of Israel--as if emitting a formal judicial testimony to the entire nation through its rulers now convened.
by the name of Jesus, &c.--(See on
Acts 3:13, &c.).
even by him doth this man stand before you whole--for from
Acts 4:14 it appears that the healed man was at that moment before their eyes.
11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, &c.--This application of
Ps 118:22, already made by our Lord Himself before some of the same "builders" (
Matt 21:42), is here repeated with peculiar propriety after the deed of rejection had been consummated, and the rejected One had, by His exaltation to the right hand of the Majesty on high, 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--How sublimely does the apostle, in these closing words, shut up these rulers of Israel to Jesus for salvation, and in what universal and emphatic terms does he hold up his Lord as the one Hope of men!
13 perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men--that is, uninstructed in the learning of the Jewish schools, and of the common sort; men in private life, untrained to teaching.
took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus--recognized them as having been in His company; remembering possibly, that they had seen them with Him [MEYER, BLOOMFIELD, ALFORD]; but, more probably, perceiving in their whole bearing what identified them with Jesus: that is, "We thought we had got rid of Him; but lo! He reappears in these men, and all that troubled us in the Nazarene Himself has yet to be put down in these His disciples." What a testimony to these primitive witnesses! Would that the same could be said of their successors!
16 a notable miracle . . . done by them is manifest to all . . . in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it--And why should ye wish to deny it, O ye rulers, but that ye hate the light, and will not come to the light lest your deeds should be reproved?
17 But that it spread no further . . . let us straitly--strictly.
threaten . . . that they speak henceforth to no man in this name--Impotent device! Little knew they the fire that was burning in the bones of those heroic disciples.
18 Whether it be right . . . to hearken to you more than . . . God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard--There is here a wonderful union of sober, respectful appeal to the better reason of their judges, and calm, deep determination to abide the consequences of a constrained testimony, which betokens a power above their own resting upon them, according to promise.
21 finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people--not at a loss for a pretext, but at a loss how to do it so as not to rouse the opposition of the people.
23 PETER AND JOHN DISMISSED FROM THE SAMHEDRIM, REPORT THE PROCEEDINGS TO THE ASSEMBLED DISCIPLES--THEY ENGAGE IN PRAYER--THE ASTONISHING ANSWER AND RESULTS. (
Acts 4:23-
Acts 4:37)
being let go, they went to their own company--Observe the two opposite classes, representing the two interests which were about to come into deadly conflict.
24 they lifted up their voice--the assembled disciples, on hearing Peter's report.
with one accord--the breasts of all present echoing every word of this sublime prayer.
Lord--(See on
Luke 2:29). Applied to God, the term expresses absolute authority.
God which hast made heaven and earth--against whom, therefore, all creatures are powerless.
25 by the mouth of . . . David--to whom the Jews ascribed the second Psalm, though anonymous; and internal evidence confirms it. David's spirit sees with astonishment "the heathen, the people, the kings and princes of the earth," in deadly combination against the sway of Jehovah and His Anointed (his Messiah, or Christ), and asks "why" it is. This fierce confederacy our praying disciples see in full operation, in the "gathering together of Herod and Pilate, the Gentiles (the Roman authority), and the people of Israel, against God's holy Child ('Servant') Jesus." (See on
Acts 3:13). The best ancient copies read, after "were gathered together," "in this city," which probably answers to "upon my holy hill of Zion," in the
Ps 2:6.
28 thy hand and thy counsel determined . . . to be done--that is, "Thy counsel" determined to be done by "Thy hand."
29 now, Lord, behold their threatenings--Recognizing in the threatenings of the Sanhedrim a declaration of war by the combined powers of the world against their infant cause, they seek not enthusiastically to hide from themselves its critical position, but calmly ask the Lord of heaven and earth to "look upon their threatenings."
that with all boldness they may speak thy word--Rising above self, they ask only fearless courage to testify for their Master, and divine attestation to their testimony by miracles of healing, &c., in His name.
31 place was shaken--glorious token of the commotion which the Gospel was to make (
Acts 17:6; compare
Acts 16:26), and the overthrow of all opposing powers in which this was to issue.
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake, &c.--The Spirit rested upon the entire community, first, in the very way they had asked, so that they "spake the word with boldness" (
Acts 4:29,
Acts 4:31); next, in melting down all selfishness, and absorbing even the feeling of individuality in an intense and glowing realization of Christian unity. The community of goods was but an outward expression of this, and natural in such circumstances.
33 with great power--effect on men's minds.
great grace was upon them all--The grace of God copiously rested on the whole community.
35 laid . . . at the apostles' feet--sitting, it may be, above the rest. But the expression may be merely derived from that practice, and here meant figuratively.
36 Joses, &c.--This is specified merely as an eminent example of that spirit of generous sacrifice which pervaded all.
son of consolation--no doubt so surnamed from the character of his ministry.
a Levite--who, though as a tribe having no inheritance, might and did acquire property as individuals (
Deut 18:8).
Cyprus--a well-known island in the Mediterranean.
