Acts 4:1-22

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

(ESV)

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As Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were approached by the religious leaders including the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees. The Sadducees were greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people (without the proper authority) and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead through Jesus (the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection, Luke 20:27). They arrested them but because it was evening they held them until the next day. Despite the interruption, many who heard the Word believed and about five thousand men joined the church.

The next day a full compliment of the religious leaders gathered and challenged Peter and John to answer by what power they had healed the crippled man. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit to answer, responded boldly (Mark 13:11). His response first pointed out that a good deed was done to a helpless man, which immediately called into question the validity of them being charged. Then He declared that the healing came about by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom they had crucified but who God had raised from the dead. Peter reminded them that Jesus, the stone which they rejected, had become the chief cornerstone (Ps 118:22). Peter explained that (according to Psalm 118) there was only one means of salvation, both personally and for Israel, and that was Jesus Christ, the one they had rejected. Salvation is found only in belief in Jesus Christ.

The religious leaders were impressed by their boldness despite lacking formal training. They recognised that Peter and John had been with Jesus. With the healed man standing beside Peter and John they could say nothing against them. After Peter and John left, the religious leaders conferred with each other. They knew that what had happened was evident to everyone in Jerusalem and they couldn’t deny it. But wanting to prevent further spread, they called them back and insisted that they cease any further speech in the name of Jesus. Peter and John’s answer was a bold declaration that they would not listen to human authority that stood in opposition to God’s. The religious leaders threatened them further but eventually let them go. They were apparently afraid to punish them because the people were all praising God for what had happened.

Are you prepared to boldly declare your faith, even in the face of opposition? What, if anything, is holding you back from sharing your faith with others?


Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

A Living Sacrifice: Romans 11-12