1AndG1161 as theyG846 were speakingG2980 toG4314 the peopleG2992, the priestsG2409, andG2532 the captainG4755 of the templeG2411, andG2532 the SadduceesG4523, came uponG2186 themG846, 2Being grievedG1278 thatG1223 theyG846 taughtG1321 the peopleG2992, andG2532 preachedG2605 throughG1722 JesusG2424 the resurrectionG386 fromG1537 the deadG3498. 3AndG2532 they laidG1911 handsG5495 on themG846, andG2532 putG5087 them inG1519 custodyG5084 toG1519 the next dayG839: forG1063 it wasG2258 nowG2235 eveningG2073. 4ButG1161 manyG4183 of them who heardG191 the wordG3056 believedG4100; andG2532 the numberG706 of the menG435 wasG1096 aboutG5616 fiveG4002 thousandG5505. 5AndG1161 it came to passG1096 onG1909 the next dayG839, that theirG846 rulersG758, andG2532 eldersG4245, andG2532 scribesG1122, 6AndG2532 AnnasG452 the high priestG749, andG2532 CaiaphasG2533, andG2532 JohnG2491, andG2532 AlexanderG223, andG2532 as many asG3745 wereG2258 ofG1537 the kindredG1085 of the high priestG748, were gathered togetherG4863 atG1519 JerusalemG2419. 7AndG2532 when they had setG2476 themG846 inG1722 the midstG3319, they askedG4441, ByG1722 whatG4169 powerG1411, orG2228 byG1722 whatG4169 nameG3686, haveG4160 yeG5210 doneG4160 thisG5124? 8ThenG5119 PeterG4074, filledG4130 with the HolyG40 SpiritG4151, saidG2036 toG4314 themG846, Ye rulersG758 of the peopleG2992, andG2532 eldersG4245 of IsraelG2474, 9IfG1487 weG2249 this dayG4594 are examinedG350 concerningG1909 the good deed doneG2108 to the impotentG772 manG444, byG1722 what meansG5101 heG3778 is made wellG4982; 10Be itG2077 knownG1110 to youG5213 allG3956, andG2532 to allG3956 the peopleG2992 of IsraelG2474, thatG3754 byG1722 the nameG3686 of JesusG2424 ChristG5547 of NazarethG3480, whomG3739 yeG5210 crucifiedG4717, whomG3739 GodG2316 raisedG1453 fromG1537 the deadG3498, even byG1722 himG5129 dothG3936 this manG3778 stand hereG3936 beforeG1799 youG5216 in good healthG5199. 11ThisG3778 isG2076 the stoneG3037 whichG3588 was rejectedG1848 byG5259 youG5216 buildersG3618, whichG3588 is becomeG1096 the headG2776 ofG1519 the cornerG1137. 12NeitherG2532 G3756 is thereG2076 salvationG4991 inG1722 anyG3762 otherG243: forG1063 there isG2076 noG3777 otherG2087 nameG3686 underG5259 heavenG3772 givenG1325 amongG1722 menG444, byG1722 whichG3739 weG2248 mustG1163 be savedG4982. 13NowG1161 when they sawG2334 the boldnessG3954 of PeterG4074 andG2532 JohnG2491, andG2532 perceivedG2638 thatG3754 they wereG1526 unlearnedG62 andG2532 ignorantG2399 menG444, they marvelledG2296; andG5037 they took knowledgeG1921 of themG846, thatG3754 they had beenG2258 withG4862 JesusG2424. 14AndG1161 beholdingG991 the manG444 who was healedG2323 standingG2476 withG4862 themG846, they couldG2192 sayG471 nothingG3762 against itG471. 15ButG1161 when they had commandedG2753 themG846 to go asideG565 out ofG1854 the councilG4892, they conferredG4820 amongG4314 themselvesG240, 16SayingG3004, WhatG5101 shall we doG4160 to theseG5125 menG444? forG1063 thatG3754 indeedG3303 a notableG1110 miracleG4592 hath been doneG1096 byG1223 themG846 is apparentG5318 to all themG3956 that dwellG2730 in JerusalemG2419; andG2532 we cannotG3756 G1410 denyG720 it. 17ButG235 thatG3363 it may spreadG1268 noG3363 furtherG1909 G4119 amongG1519 the peopleG2992, let us strictlyG547 threatenG546 themG846, that they speakG2980 henceforthG3371 to noG3367 manG444 inG1909 thisG5129 nameG3686. 18AndG2532 they calledG2564 themG846, and commandedG3853 themG846 notG3361 to speakG5350 at allG2527 norG3366 teachG1321 inG1909 the nameG3686 of JesusG2424. 19ButG1161 PeterG4074 andG2532 JohnG2491 answeredG611 and saidG2036 toG4314 themG846, WhetherG1487 it isG2076 rightG1342 in the sightG1799 of GodG2316 to hearkenG191 to youG5216 rather thanG3123 G2228 to GodG2316, judge yeG2919. 20ForG1063 weG2249 cannotG3756 G1410 butG3361 speakG2980 the things whichG3739 we have seenG1492 andG2532 heardG191. 21SoG1161 when they had further threatened themG4324, they letG630 themG846 goG630, findingG2147 nothingG3367 howG4459 they might punishG2849 themG846, becauseG1223 of the peopleG2992: forG3754 allG3956 men glorifiedG1392 GodG2316 forG1909 that which was doneG1096. 22ForG1063 the manG444 wasG2258 overG4119 fortyG5062 years oldG2094, onG1909 whomG3739 thisG5124 miracleG4592 of healingG2392 was performedG1096. 23AndG1161 being releasedG630, they wentG2064 toG4314 their own companyG2398, andG2532 reportedG518 allG3745 that the chief priestsG749 andG2532 eldersG4245 had saidG2036 toG4314 themG846. 24AndG1161 when they heard thatG191, they lifted upG142 their voiceG5456 toG4314 GodG2316 with one accordG3661, andG2532 saidG2036, LordG1203, thouG4771 art GodG2316, whoG3588 hast madeG4160 heavenG3772, andG2532 earthG1093, andG2532 the seaG2281, andG2532 allG3956 that is inG1722 themG846: 25WhoG3588 byG1223 the mouthG4750 of thyG4675 servantG3816 DavidG1138 hast saidG2036, WhyG2444 didG5433 the heathenG1484 rageG5433, andG2532 the peopleG2992 imagineG3191 vain thingsG2756? 26The kingsG935 of the earthG1093 stood upG3936, andG2532 the rulersG758 were gatheredG4863 togetherG1909 G846 againstG2596 the LordG2962, andG2532 againstG2596 hisG846 ChristG5547. 27ForG1063 inG1909 truthG225 againstG1909 thyG4675 holyG40 childG3816 JesusG2424, whomG3739 thou hast anointedG5548, bothG5037 HerodG2264, andG2532 PontiusG4194 PilateG4091, withG4862 the GentilesG1484, andG2532 the peopleG2992 of IsraelG2474, were gathered togetherG4863, 28To doG4160 whateverG3745 thyG4675 handG5495 andG2532 thyG4675 counselG1012 determined beforeG4309 to be doneG1096. 29AndG2532 nowG3569, LordG2962, beholdG1896 G1909 theirG846 threateningsG547: andG2532 grant toG1325 thyG4675 servantsG1401, that withG3326 allG3956 boldnessG3954 they may speakG2980 thyG4675 wordG3056, 30ByG1722 G4571 stretching forthG1614 thyG4675 handG5495 toG1519 healG2392; andG2532 that signsG4592 andG2532 wondersG5059 may be doneG1096 byG1223 the nameG3686 of thyG4675 holyG40 childG3816 JesusG2424. 31AndG2532 when theyG846 had prayedG1189, the placeG5117 was shakenG4531 whereG1722 G3739 they wereG2258 assembledG4863; andG2532 they wereG4130 allG537 filledG4130 with the HolyG40 SpiritG4151, andG2532 they spokeG2980 the wordG3056 of GodG2316 withG3326 boldnessG3954. 32AndG1161 the multitudeG4128 of them that believedG4100 wereG2258 of one heartG2588 andG2532 of oneG3391 soulG5590: neitherG2532 G3761 saidG3004 anyG1520 of them that anyG5100 of the things which heG846 possessedG5224 wasG1511 his ownG2398; butG235 theyG846 hadG2258 all thingsG537 in commonG2839. 33AndG2532 with greatG3173 powerG1411 the apostlesG652 gaveG591 witnessG3142 of the resurrectionG386 of the LordG2962 JesusG2424: andG5037 greatG3173 graceG5485 wasG2258 uponG1909 themG846 allG3956. 34NeitherG3761 G1063 wasG5225 there anyG5100 amongG1722 themG846 that was needyG1729: forG1063 as many asG3745 wereG5225 possessorsG2935 of landsG5564 orG2228 housesG3614 sold themG4453, and broughtG5342 the pricesG5092 of the things that were soldG4097, 35AndG2532 laid them downG5087 atG3844 the apostlesG652’ feetG4228: andG1161 distribution was madeG1239 to every manG1538 accordingG2530 asG302 he hadG2192 needG5100 G5532. 36AndG1161 JosesG2500, whoG3588 byG5259 the apostlesG652 was surnamedG1941 BarnabasG921, (whichG3739 isG2076, being interpretedG3177, The sonG5207 of consolationG3874,) a LeviteG3019, and of the countryG1085 of CyprusG2953, 37HavingG5225 G846 landG68, soldG4453 it, and broughtG5342 the moneyG5536, andG2532 laidG5087 it atG3844 the apostlesG652’ feetG4228.
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.
