Acts 4:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

NIV: They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

NASB: And they laid hands on them and put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening.

CSB: So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening.

NLT: They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.

KJV: And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

NKJV: And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

The priests, their temple guard, and other Jewish leaders of the Sadducee sect have arrested Peter and John for teaching that Jesus rose from the dead (Acts 4:1–2). Peter and John entered the temple for the afternoon prayers. After prayers, they spoke to a crowd of people about Jesus (Acts 3). Now, it's too late to get the Sanhedrin together to investigate them, so the guards put them in prison for the night.

Jesus told His disciples they would experience this kind of harassment. He said, "They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake" (Luke 21:12). This is not the last time either Peter or John will face prison. The Sanhedrin will arrest, question, and beat all the apostles (Acts 5:17–42). Then, Herod Agrippa I will kill James and imprison Peter. An angel will rescue Peter, and he will escape Jerusalem (Acts 12:1–19).

The apostles will experience much worse: tradition says all but John will die for their faith. But the persecution starts slowly. God will often increase our trials slowly to develop and prove our faithfulness to Him. Not that He needs to know how faithful we are, but we need to know. The Sanhedrin will release Peter and John. The two will go back to the group of believers, and they will all pray—not for protection, but that they would continue to teach in boldness (Acts 4:23–31). Later, after the Sanhedrin beats the apostles and releases them, the apostles leave "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" (Acts 5:41).

And their trials will not go unrewarded. "The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7). Their prosecutors come to accept that Jesus rose from the dead, repent of their sins, and follow Him.

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 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.