The Early Church · New Testament
Acts 4
Acts 4: Peter and John before the council and the believers' prayer
General context
While Peter and John are still speaking, the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees come upon them, grieved that they taught the people and preached the resurrection through Jesus. The two are held overnight, and the number of the men who believe is about five thousand. The next day the rulers, elders and scribes gather with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and ask by what power or name the deed was done. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, answers that it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified and whom God raised, and quotes the saying about the stone set at nought by the builders. The council sees their boldness, notes that they are unlearned men who had been with Jesus, and sees the healed man standing with them. After conferring they threaten the two and command them not to speak in this name, and Peter and John reply that they cannot but speak what they have seen and heard. Released, they report to their company, who pray together, quoting David and naming Herod and Pontius Pilate. The place is shaken. The chapter ends with the believers holding all things common, and with Joses, surnamed Barnabas, selling land and laying the money at the apostles' feet.
Cited passages: Acts 4:1, Acts 4:2, Acts 4:3, Acts 4:4, Acts 4:5, Acts 4:6, Acts 4:7, Acts 4:8, Acts 4:10, Acts 4:11, Acts 4:13, Acts 4:14, Acts 4:15, Acts 4:17, Acts 4:18, Acts 4:19, Acts 4:20, Acts 4:21, Acts 4:23, Acts 4:24, Acts 4:25, Acts 4:27, Acts 4:31, Acts 4:32, Acts 4:36, Acts 4:37
Acts 4 (KJV)
1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6And 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.
7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10Be 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.
11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we can not deny it.
17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20For we can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
23And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
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Historical context
The council members are listed by name at 4:6, with Annas called the high priest and Caiaphas, John and Alexander named beside him along with as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. The number about five thousand is given of the men who heard and believed, not of the assembly. The stone saying at 4:11 is quoted without a named source; the prayer at 4:25 attributes its quotation to the mouth of thy servant David. That prayer names both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel. The man healed is said to be above forty years old. Barnabas is introduced as Joses, a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, with the surname given by the apostles and the meaning supplied as The son of consolation. No charge or statute is stated, and the council's reasoning is reported as its own speech among themselves.
Cited passages: Acts 4:6, Acts 4:4, Acts 4:11, Acts 4:25, Acts 4:27, Acts 4:22, Acts 4:36, Acts 4:15, Acts 4:16
Literary context
The chapter is built of questions and answers. The council asks By what power, or by what name, and Peter's reply uses the word name twice, first for the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and then for the claim that there is none other name under heaven, before the council's order forbids that same name. Their command not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus is answered at once by the words we cannot but speak. Boldness is named three times, first by the council when it sees it, then in the prayer that asks for it, then by the narrator when the prayer is answered. The closing summary repeats the phrase laid them down at the apostles' feet, and Barnabas gives the general statement a single named example, a phrase that returns at 5:2 in a different case.
Cited passages: Acts 4:7, Acts 4:10, Acts 4:12, Acts 4:18, Acts 4:20, Acts 4:13, Acts 4:29, Acts 4:31, Acts 4:35, Acts 4:37, Acts 5:2
Key moments
- Arrest at eventide (Acts 4:3). The priests and the captain of the temple hold Peter and John until the next day.
- By what power or name (Acts 4:7). The gathered rulers set the two men in the midst and ask by whose power or name they acted.
- None other name (Acts 4:12). Peter says there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby they must be saved.
- We cannot but speak (Acts 4:20). Peter and John answer the order of silence by saying they cannot stop speaking what they saw and heard.
- The place is shaken (Acts 4:31). After the prayer the place shakes and those assembled speak the word with boldness.
- Barnabas sells land (Acts 4:37). Joses, surnamed Barnabas, sells his land and lays the money at the apostles' feet.
For reflection
The council admits it cannot deny the miracle and still forbids the two men to speak of it. What does the text show about the difference between what the rulers accept as fact and what they are willing to allow said in public?
People in this chapter
Also indexed here:
- Alexander
- Annas
- John