Acts 4:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.

NIV: Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.

NASB: and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent.

CSB: with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.

NLT: Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest.

KJV: And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

NKJV: as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Acts 4:5 says the group includes rulers, elders, and scribes. It doesn't mention the priests, which make up a significant portion of the Sanhedrin. It was Annas and Caiaphas who led the Jewish trials of Jesus (John 18:12–13, 28). It's possible the priests are the driving force behind persecuting Peter and John now.

Annas had been high priest from AD 6–15, but he held great power for a long time after. Five of his sons went on to be high priest and Caiaphas is his son-in-law. Even when Annas was not high priest, he assumed privileges, like being the first to question Jesus after His arrest (John 18:12–13). Here, he seems to be the leader of the influential priests, including Caiaphas who is still the ruling high priest. Annas seems to have been very much involved in Caiaphas' duties. Luke says that John baptized Jesus "during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas" (Luke 3:2). But it was Caiaphas who told the Sanhedrin to arrest Jesus after He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:49–50).

When Peter boldly claims his audience crucified Jesus, he doesn't mean it in a vague, corporate way as he did when speaking to the crowds in Acts 2 and 3. He explicitly means Annas, Caiaphas, and the other Sanhedrin members who personally orchestrated the murder of their own Messiah.

We don't know who Alexander and John are. Presumably Alexander is not the same man mentioned in Mark 15:21, Acts 19:33, or 2 Timothy 4:14. John may be Annas's son Jonathan who goes on to be high priest, but we don't know.

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.