Acts 4:13

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. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance: -bold (X -ly, -ness, -ness of speech), confidence,. freely,. openly,. plainly(-ness).

-'telling it all' (Robertson p. 51); 'free or outspokenness' (P.P. Comm. p. 124) 'Instead of answering evasively, or timidly, as was expected of men in their social position..' (McGarvey p. 72)

'HAD PERCEIVED THAT THEY WERE UNLEARNED'-'untrained laymen' (NEB); 'uneducated, common men' (RSV); 'uneducated persons with no advantages' (Gspd). 'Unlettered men without technical training in the professional rabbinical schools.' (Robertson p. 52)

'IGNORANT'-2399. idiotes id-ee-o'-tace; from 2398;. private person, i.e. (by implication) an ignoramus (compare "idiot"): -ignorant, rude, unlearned.

-'Originally, one in. private station, as opposed to one in office or in public affairs. Therefore one without professional knowledge,. layman..common.' (Vincent p. 465) 'laymen with no professional qualifications. The Sanhedrin, as it were, regarded them as men without. college education and with no professional status.' (Barclay p. 37)

'THEY TOOK KNOWLEDGE OF THEM, THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS'-'Imperfect...they began to recognize them as men that they had seen with Jesus.' (Robertson p. 52) We know that John was acquainted with some in the High Priestly family (John 18:15). This verse may also mean, that what surprised the Sanhedrin, was that these followers of Jesus, who had been so timid, were now so bold.

Point to Note:

'He (Jesus) too had sat at the feet of no eminent rabbi, and yet He taught with an authority which they could well remember. People expressed the same surprise about Him..(John 7:15). None could equal Him in His sure handling of OT scripture...He had supported His teaching by the mighty works which He performed; and now Peter and John had done the same..' (Bruce p. 102)

Notice how truth prevails. All the training, skills, wisdom and knowledge of the Sanhedrin (a collection of the best minds in Judaism,. religious think-tank), stood helpless before God's truth (Psalms 119:97).