THE BOOK OF ACTS. CHAPTER. OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY. MARK DUNAGAN I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER FOUR: I. Peter And John Arrested: Acts 4:1-5 II. Trial Before The Sanhedrin: Acts 4:6-22 III. Prayer For Boldness: Acts 4:23-31 IV. Caring For Christians In Need: Acts 4:32-37 II. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS: In t... [ Continue Reading ]
And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 'AND AS THEY'-Apparently both Peter and John were preaching. 'THE PRIESTS'-'The priests were divided into twenty-four courses, each of which served. week in the temple; the priests mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 'SORE TROUBLED'-'vexed through and through' (Vincent p. 464). 'much annoyed' (TCNT); 'exasperated' (NEB). 'BECAUSE..PROCLAIMED IN JESUS THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD'-They opposed not only... [ Continue Reading ]
And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide. 'PUT THEM'-Peter, John and possibly the lame man. For when the trial begins the next morning, the lame man is present (Acts 4:14). 'IN WARD UNTO THE MORROW: FOR IT WAS NOW EVENTIDE'-The lame man had been hea... [ Continue Reading ]
But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 'NUMBER OF MEN'-Not including the women. 'The increase since the day of Pentecost must have been very rapid, for doubtless many of those baptized then must have departed to their distant homes,... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 'ON THE MORROW'-'The meetings of the Sanhedrin customarily began at 10 a.m.' (Reese p. 174) 'RULERS'-'These three groups of officers made up the body called the Sanhedrin. "Sanhedrin" co... [ Continue Reading ]
and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. 'ANNAS THE HIGH PRIEST'-That is, the legal high priest according to family succession. Although the Romans had replaced him in A.D. 15, he still retained among the Jewi... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this? 'SET THEM IN THE MIDST'-The Sanhedrin sat customarily in. semi-circle. 'BY WHAT POWER, OR IN WHAT NAME'-'By what authority, in whose name' (Mof); 'what power on whose authority' (Rieu). They... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, 'FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT'-Jesus had promised the apostles inspiration in the face of their enemies (Matthew 10:17; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:12; Luke 21:14.) 'YE RULERS OF THE PEOPLE, AND ELDERS'-'Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
if we this day are examined concerning. good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole; 'ARE EXAMINED CONCERNING. GOOD DEED DONE TO. IMPOTENT MAN'-Notice the touch of sarcasm. Right off the back, God turns the tables and puts the Jewish rulers on the defensive. What could b... [ Continue Reading ]
be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole. 'BE IT KNOW UNTO YOU ALL, AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL'-'Peter wants everyone to know... [ Continue Reading ]
He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner. 'HE IS THE STONE'-This is. quotation from Psalms 118:22. Jesus Himself had used this Scripture against the Jewish religious leaders (Mark 12:10 f; Matthew 21:42). Thus some in the Sanhedrin that day... [ Continue Reading ]
And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved. 'AND'-Seeing that God only has one "household" in which Jesus is the chief cornerstone. 'IN NONE OTHER'-A very exclusive statement. There isn't even. "second n... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 'BOLDNESS'-3954. parrhesia par-rhay-see'-ah; from 3956 and. derivative of 4483; all out-spokenness, i.e.... [ Continue Reading ]
And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 'STANDING WITH THEM'-'That the cripple had been cured was evident; he stood before them as. witness to the fact.' (Bruce p. 102) 'We are not told whether the man was. prisoner with the disciples' (Gr. Ex. N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 'THEY CONFERRED AMONG THEMSELVES'-'The silence was broken by. proposal that the prisoners be withdrawn.' (McGarvey p. 73) Here they are trying to buy time and 'come up with some way of rationalizing th... [ Continue Reading ]
saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed. notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 'NOTABLE'-1110. gnostos gnoce-tos'; from 1097; well-known: -acquaintance, (which may be) known, notable. -'unmistakable' (Wms).... [ Continue Reading ]
But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 'LET US THREATEN THEM'-'It expresses intensity..a most solemn threat' (Reese p. 183)... [ Continue Reading ]
And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Points to Note: 'It is particularly striking that neither on this nor on any subsequent occasion...did the Sanhedrin take any serious action to disprove the apostles' central affirmation--the resurrection of... [ Continue Reading ]
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: 'WHETHER IT IS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD TO HEARKEN UNTO YOU RATHER THAN UNTO GOD, JUDGE YE'-'you must decide' (TCNT). 'If they thought that any heed would be... [ Continue Reading ]
for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard. 'WHICH WE SAW AND HEARD'-'Their message was no carried tale. They knew at first-hand that it was true; and they were so sure of it that they were willing to stake their life upon it.' (Barclay p. 38) Point to Note: These verses infer: (a)... [ Continue Reading ]
And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done. 'FURTHER THREATENED THEM'-Repeated the same threats, but were completely at. loss for. good argument. 'LET THEM GO'-No... [ Continue Reading ]
For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was wrought. 'MORE THAN FORTY YEARS OLD'-'made him well known and an object of universal sympathy.' (McGarvey p. 75) 'he had reached an age when such cures simply do not occur.' (Bruce p. 104) Point to Note: Some claim tha... [ Continue Reading ]
And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them. 'TO THEIR OWN COMPANY'-The fact that the Holy Spirit comes upon this company (Acts 4:31), and yet it is still only the apostles that are mentioned as being the workers of the... [ Continue Reading ]
And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said,. Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: 'WITH ONE ACCORD'-(Acts 1:14; Acts 2:46; Acts 5:12; Acts 7:57; Acts 15:25). It could be that one prayed and all others men... [ Continue Reading ]
who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things? 'WHO BY THE HOLY SPIRIT...DIDST SAY'-God is also the God of revelation. Again, we find another claim that the writings of the O.T. were inspired (Acts 2:3... [ Continue Reading ]
The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed: 'AGAINST HIS ANOINTED'-i.e. Jesus 'ANOINTED'-5548. chrio khree'-o; probably akin to 5530 through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by implication) t... [ Continue Reading ]
for of. truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, 'FOR OF. TRUTH'-The apostles now declare that what had happened at Jerusalem was the fulfillment of Psalms 2:1. 'WH... [ Continue Reading ]
to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass. Points to Note: 'They were gathered together for the purpose of executing their own will, as they thought, but really to fulfill the purpose of God.' (P.P. Comm. p. 125) Again, the apostles declare that the death of Jesus was... [ Continue Reading ]
And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, 'LOOK UPON'-Could mean, simply take note of. Or it could involve of ideas of frustrating and hindering the plans of wicked men. 'It is beautiful to notice how, in the heat of the unjust per... [ Continue Reading ]
while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. 'TO HEAL'-'As Alexander pointed out, "their demand is not now for miracles of vengeance or destruction, such as fire from heaven (Luke 9:54), but for miracles of mercy.' ... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Points to Note: God granted them. direct and immediate answer to their prayer. 'as Chrysostom commented, "that made them... [ Continue Reading ]
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 'MULTITUDE OF THEM THAT BELIEVED'-The last count was well over 5000 (Acts 4:4). The word multitude also suggests that... [ Continue Reading ]
And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 'WITH GREAT POWER'-Indicating that God also granted their request that He would continue to heal through them (Acts 4:30). The fact that the apostles are specifically menti... [ Continue Reading ]
For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 'LACKED'-1729. endees en-deh-ace'; from. compound of 1722 and 1210 (in the sense of lacking); deficient in: -lacking. -'there was no p... [ Continue Reading ]
and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need. 'LAID THEM AT THE APOSTLES' FEET'-Who were viewed as those possessing authority in the early church. 'ACCORDING AS ANYONE HAD NEED'-Funds were only given when. need arose. The money wasn't just... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation),. Levite,. man of Cyprus by race, 'WHO BY THE APOSTLES WAS SURNAMED'-'who had received from the Apostles the additional name of' (TCNT). 'BARNABAS (WHICH IS, BEING INTERPRETED, SON OF EXHORTATIO... [ Continue Reading ]
having. field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. 'HAVING. FIELD'-We aren't told whether this field existed in Palestine or on the island of Cyprus. McGarvey notes, 'Inasmuch as the law of Moses made no appropriation of lands for the tribe of Levi, but provided that i... [ Continue Reading ]