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What does Acts 4 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

Acts 4 continues the story of the spread of the gospel in Jerusalem after Jesus' ascension into heaven (Acts 1:8–9). It directly continues the story of Acts 3. John and Peter had gone to the temple to pray. They passed a man who was lame from birth sitting at the gate. Peter healed him, the man started leaping around, and people flocked to see what had happened. Peter explained that the power that healed the man was from Jesus of Nazareth, the man the leaders and people of Jerusalem had crucified. Jesus is, in fact, the prophet that Moses promised would follow him, as well as the blessing to the nations God promised Abraham (Deuteronomy 18:15–16; Genesis 12:3). But God gives the Jews the first chance to accept Jesus and turn from their sin.

When the priests and the temple guards see Peter and John preaching to the crowd, they arrest them—not because they're teaching, and not because they're followers of Jesus, but because they are teaching that Jesus rose from the dead. Sadducees, the Jewish sect of most of the priests, didn't believe in the resurrection. They're too late, however. People had already heard the message and several hundred believed (Acts 4:1–4).

The next morning, the Sanhedrin presents the same question the people did: Where did you get the power to heal this man? Once again, Peter explains the power came from Jesus of Nazareth whom they crucified, and that Jesus died but rose again. In fact, His death and resurrection provide salvation for mankind. Peter's intelligent, insightful testimony stuns the Sanhedrin members, not least because they know Peter and John were not formally trained. The council can't deny the miracle, but they can threaten the men, so they order the apostles to quit speaking publicly about Jesus. Peter and John tell them they'll say what God tells them to say, and the Sanhedrin releases them (Acts 4:5–22).

This is the same Sanhedrin, the same chief priests, who conspired to have Jesus arrested and crucified. These are possibly the same temple guards that Peter cowered from, afraid they'd recognize him as the man who cut off Malchus's ear (John 18:10, 25–27). But when Peter and John return to the other Jesus-followers, they don't pray for protection—they pray for courage. They quote David who said the nations and leaders will rise against God's followers, but their efforts will be in vain. That doesn't mean God will always protect the church from harm (Acts 12:1–2). But, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they choose to face that danger with boldness in order to continue their mission of bearing witness to Jesus (Acts 4:23–31).

The church members echo this unity of purpose in their unity of life. The believers currently in Jerusalem, not all of whom live there (Acts 2:9–11), support the apostles in their work. They share their possessions so everyone has what they need, and some even sell their land or houses and give the money to the apostles. One of these is a Levite from the island of Cyprus named Barnabas. Now, he is just another Jesus-follower. Soon, he will be the man who integrates Paul, a one-time persecutor (Acts 8:1–3; 9:26–27) into the Christian church (Acts 4:32–37).

Acts 4:1–4 records the reaction to Peter's bold claim that Jesus of Nazareth empowered him to heal a lame man (Acts 3). The Sadducees are less worried about the healing than they are Peter's insistence that Jesus rose from the grave, as Sadduceesdidn't believe in resurrection from the dead. The temple guards arrest Peter and John, but too late. Even more people decide to follow Jesus. The Sanhedrin should have taken this as a hint; the more you persecute the church, the more it spreads.

Acts 4:5–12 covers Peter and John's defense before the Sanhedrin—the ruling Jewish council. The priests and other Sadducees have arrested Peter and John because after they healed a lame man, they taught a crowd that Jesus rose from the dead (Acts 3). The Sadducees don't believe resurrection is possible and really don't want to hear that a dissident they had killed has come back to life. They ask how Peter got the power to heal the man. Peter tells them, not only is Jesus alive, He's the Messiah of the Jews and the only path to salvation.

Acts 4:13–22 covers the reaction of the Sanhedrin to Peter's convicting assertion: that he and John healed a lame man by the power of Jesus' name. The Sanhedrin is frustrated to learn the followers of Jesus—the man they had killed—are in Jerusalem, healing and preaching and gathering more followers. The Sanhedrin wants them out of the way before they grow too popular. So they start slowly by forbidding Peter and John to teach about Jesus. It's an apparent win-win: either these uneducated commoners will stop telling everyone about Jesus or they will disobey a direct order and be vulnerable to greater punishment.

Acts 4:23–31 finds the Jesus-followers praying for boldness in the face of persecution. Jesus promised them they would see serious persecution (Matthew 10:16–25), but this is the first time they've experienced it directly. Peter and John already told the Sanhedrin they will follow God, not their earthly commands (Acts 4:19–20). They now return to the other Jesus-followers to let them know what's coming. The group affirms that everything that happened to Jesus was according to God's sovereign plan, and they pray that they will remain as faithful in their own trials.

Acts 4:32–37 is similar to Acts 2:42–47. After Peter's first sermon (Acts 2:14–41), new believers from all over the Roman Empire stayed in Jerusalem to learn from the apostles. Those who had means donated what they had so that no one had need. This system continues, but under slightly different circumstances. The church is now known by the Sanhedrin who very much disapproves of the message that Jesus rose from the dead (Acts 4:1–22). Still, the believers stay together, supporting each other both physically and spiritually.

Chapter Summary:

Acts 4 continues the story started in Acts 3. Peter and John have healed a man born lame and preached that Jesus has risen from the dead. The Sanhedrin orders their arrest for teaching the resurrection. The Jewish officials warn Peter and John to stop speaking in Jesus' name. Peter and John refuse, but, since they have committed no crime, the Sanhedrin releases them. Peter and John return to their friends, and the Jesus-followers pray for boldness in the face of growing persecution. The church continues to grow, sharing all their possessions so that no one is in need.

Chapter Context:

Acts 4 gives the first hints of the persecution the church will face throughout its history. Peter and John attract attention when Peter heals a well-known lame beggar, and Peter uses the publicity to tell others about Christ. The Sanhedrin cannot allow the apostles to continue teaching Jesus rose from the dead. They arrest, warn, and free Peter and John, but it's just the beginning. Soon, they will arrest and beat all the apostles (Acts 5:17–42). Then a mob will stone Stephen (Acts 7:54–60). And Saul will persecute Jesus-followers in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1–3) and beyond (Acts 9:1–2). The Sanhedrin fails to realize—if you send Jesus-followers fleeing into the world, they will take Jesus' message with them.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.

Accessed 11/21/2024 9:32:21 AM