Acts 4:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead — by him this man is standing before you well.

NIV: then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

NASB: let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead— by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

CSB: let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy.

NLT: Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.

KJV: Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name 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.

NKJV: let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Peter is with John, standing before the Sanhedrin. The council demands to know how Peter healed a man who was born lame. Peter tells them the same thing he told the last two groups he spoke to: it was by the power of Jesus of Nazareth—the man they crucified and God raised (Acts 2:14–41; 3:12–26)!

The stakes are a little higher, here. Peter first made this claim to a mob of people who had come to Jerusalem for Pentecost, fifty days after the crucifixion. His audience hailed from as far away as Mesopotamia, Cyrene, and Rome (Acts 2:9–11). Although they were guilty of Jesus' death in a collective way, it's unlikely most of them were even in Jerusalem at the time, though they may have heard about Jesus' death.

The next recorded time Peter accuses his audience of Jesus' death is the day before this trial, after he healed the lame man (Acts 3:13–15). For the second time, men who probably had nothing to do with the act personally repented of their sin and accepted Jesus as their savior (Acts 4:4).

Now, Peter and John accuse the Jewish leaders who literally condemned Jesus to death. Annas, Caiaphas, and the others arrested Jesus, tried Him, found Him guilty, falsely accused Him before the Roman governor, and stirred up a crowd to make sure Jesus went to the cross. And, although most of the men in the room do not believe resurrection from the dead is possible, they know Jesus' body is gone. They've had months to find it or to charge the disciples with its theft, but they have no idea where Jesus is (Matthew 28:11–15).

The Sanhedrin understands what Peter is saying; later they will tell the apostles, "You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us" (Acts 5:28). Peter's first two audiences were nominally guilty, but they confessed and repented, and Jesus forgave them. These men who are literally, individually guilty, reject Jesus once again.

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 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.

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.