Acts 4:1-37
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captaina of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 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.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 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.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now 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.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, 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 cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But 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.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21 So 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.
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And 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:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For 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,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And 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.
32 And 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.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither 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,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 4:1. The captain of the temple was the captain of the watch, and saw that the levites performed their duty day and night. He beat them and set fire to their garments, if he found them asleep on their post. Hence the phrase, Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments. Revelation 16:15.
Acts 4:3. They laid hands on them, and put them in hold. Confined them, it would seem, in a place in the temple, used for that purpose. In the next chapter we find the apostles again arrested, and sent to the common prison.
Acts 4:4. The number of the men who believed was about five thousand. They had scarcely time to count the women.
Acts 4:5. On the morrow, when a very large conclave of priests and elders were assembled, Peter addressed them in such a sermon of truly prophetic eloquence as their ears had never heard. He was filled with the Holy Ghost, the great inspirer of wisdom, courage, and utterance.
Acts 4:8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, and specially inspired to address the council in the spirit of the ancient prophets, told them the whole truth concerning the Lord of glory, and made them tremble lest the Saviour's blood should come upon them. He declared that the name of Jesus had made the lame man whole; and with an unfaultering tongue, that God had raised from the dead the Saviour whom they had crucified, and seated him at his own right hand. Nay more, that God had made Christ, the rejected stone, head of the corner of his living temple, and that he was the only Saviour of men. The Holy Ghost was a fountain of eloquence in his heart, and he shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. See on Psalms 110:1; Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:44.
Acts 4:12. Neither is there salvation in any other. In the church, of which the tabernacle was a figure, there must be but one king, one priest, one altar, one mercyseat. There is therefore no other name but that of Jesus, by which men must be saved. This was a bold stroke before the rulers, who had boasted that they were “Moses's disciples.” John 9:28.
Acts 4:23. They went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said. The victory of these two apostles over the council was a counterpart to the miracle wrought on the lame man. It is true, that the gospel being its own evidence, needs on fair ground no support of miracles. But against a council so learned and strong; against a council most ardent to justify themselves in shedding the blood of the Holy and Just One: a council supported by the whole Leviticum, it does not appear how the crucified Redeemer could have been preached effectively as the Saviour of the world, without some aid from miracles.
Acts 4:32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Their number, including the women, was now more than ten thousand, and which encreased daily. The passage which follows is partly repeated from the second chapter, to show that when this church became large, their piety and love continued unabated. This is the church of the firstborn, which did not degenerate in the apostolic age. In all the places of their dispersion they carried the torch of glory to illuminate the world.
Acts 4:33. With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The power of prayer and preaching, which shook the place, for like Jacob and Moses they had power with God. They also bore witness with great power of argument, convincing men that Jesus was the Christ. With great power of love and zeal, which despised all suffering for his sake; with great success in bringing in a multitude of converts. Their “gospel came not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.”
Acts 4:36. Joses surnamed Barnabas. This levite, by the sale of his estate, showed his faith in Christ, and that he could trust in providence. He was one of the seventy disciples. After travelling in Asia, Barnabas went to Rome, and was the first who preached the gospel in the imperial city. The beloved Clement, then a heathen philosopher, saw a man haranguing a crowd, and went to hear. He perceived that the speaker was a stranger, and that he did not speak according to the rules of art. Nevertheless, there was such a divine persuasive sweetness in his discourse, as captivated his soul. Clement, from that time, was converted, and became an illustrious trophy of Barnabas's ministry. Eusebius; and Whiston's Primitive Christianity. The church of Milan claims Barnabas as its founder.
REFLECTIONS.
We cannot but remark the impolicy of religious persecution, when the objects of the outrage offer no violence to the laws, nor menace their country. It is the dire effect of party and of passion. Its weakness and malice become apparent, and it eventually exalts the cause it wishes to destroy. Mental errors, and especially in the tender concerns of conscience and salvation, should be corrected with argument, and the mutual hand of love. The public enquiry made by the jewish council to know by what power the impotent man was healed, marked a malicious aim and intention to ascribe it to the devil. But from the firmness of the apostles it magnified the name of Jesus, and exalted the divine mission of his servants.
We are called next to remark the courage and constancy of Peter and John. Filled with sublime convictions of the godhead and offices of their Lord, princes were to them but as other men. They bore their testimony, and magnified their ministry free from all fear. This courage and excellence of temper corresponded with the promises of Christ, and with the glory of pentecost which still rested upon them. They were invincible witnesses and illustrious ambassadors of the glory of the Saviour.
The piety of the converts corresponded to the first openings of the glory of the gospel. The multitude were of one heart and of one soul; their lustre was unstained with ignoble passions, ecclesiastical controversies, and secular factions and wars. Their master's glory swallowed up every other thought, and large effusions of his love hallowed every heart. They were all prophets all priests all kings. Their piety and love were proverbial. They continued stedfast in fellowship with the apostles: few of them drew back, or were shaken in their confidence. They were equally distinguished by private and social prayer, by frequent fastings, and weekly communion. Their love to the poor, and kindness to strangers were astonishing. They freely continued to sell houses and lands to support the widows, excommunicated from the synagogue for the faith of Christ. Such is the effectual working of his power to us-ward who believe. The ideas of adoption, and of an everlasting fraternity at God's right hand banished the meaner passions from the heart, and opened the hand with a liberal supply. Fronto, in his letter to the bishop of Roan, now Rouen, tells us that ladies of the noblest blood would visit their afflicted sisters in the Lord; that one would converse with the sick, of Jesus and of heaven; another would dress her sores, and a third would prepare her food. She who was thus attended thought she saw the image of Jesus in their kindness and love, and they who attended her thought they saw the image of Jesus in the faith and piety, and patience of their afflicted sister. Thus the whole church, from the rich to the poor, was a family of love, and the fairest image of celestial society. “And great grace was upon them all.” See Dr. CAVE'S Primitive Christianity. A copious extract was reprinted by Mr. Wesley, in his Christian Library: vol. 31. Cave's is a work of great merit.