Acts 4:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

NIV: For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

NASB: for the man on whom this miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

CSB: For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old.

NLT: for this miraculous sign — the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

KJV: For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

NKJV: For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Although Peter and John are devout Jesus-followers, they are also devout Jews. Jesus was a Jew, and belief in Him is the fulfillment of the ceremonies and requirements of Judaism. So it is not unusual that they went to the temple for afternoon prayers. While entering the gate, they saw a beggar who has been lame since birth. They had no money, but they do have the power of the Holy Spirit, so they healed him. When the by-standers realize what they've done, they crowd around them. Peter and John explain they performed the miracle through the name and authority of Jesus of Nazareth, whom their audience had crucified. Hundreds confess and become Jesus-followers (Acts 3:1–26; 4:4).

The Sanhedrin is unhappy, both with Peter and John's popularity (Acts 5:17) and with the men's insistence that resurrection from the dead is true (Acts 4:2). They arrest the two disciples and demand to know more. Peter reiterates that they healed by the power of Jesus, who has risen from the dead. The Sanhedrin has no choice but to release them. It is not illegal to teach that there is an afterlife—the Pharisees do—and it's very obvious the healing of the lame man is a legitimate miracle.

The man's age is not particularly significant, but the man's age in conjunction with the fact that he was born lame is (Acts 3:2). He has been lame for more than forty years. There is no earthly way at this point that he could spontaneously heal through natural means. It's no wonder the crowd listened to the message given by such miracle workers.

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 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.