4:1 “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5 “On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, 9 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.”
Background
Earlier, in Acts 1, before his ascension to heaven, Jesus told the disciples that in just a few days they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem . . . and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Here in Acts 4, Peter and John, apostles of Jesus Christ, are taking their call very seriously. They travel around Jerusalem, boldly healing the sick in the name of Jesus. They passionately and fearlessly preach Jesus’ resurrection to very large crowds, and many are converted. How can they possibly have the courage and boldness to proclaim these things to the very same group of religious leaders who had killed Jesus only a few short weeks before? It seems they could expect to meet a similar fate. The only answer is that the promised Holy Spirit had filled them with power and courage. Even in the face of real and present danger, they received boldness from the Holy Spirit, personifying the faithful witnesses Jesus spoke of in Acts 1:8.
As followers of Jesus, faith is to the key to allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us. This faith in itself is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The very same Spirit who empowered Peter and John to powerfully proclaim the gospel of Christ is given to followers of Jesus today. We are “baptized” in the Holy Spirit in the same way the early church was baptized, though we will likely not face the danger and adversity they experienced.
Observation
Reread Acts 4:1–22 and make a list of who is mentioned in this section of Scripture.
- Who are the main characters portrayed in these verses? Indicate their role if it is provided in the text.
- Which religious sect is prominent?
- Who is the high priest at the time?
- What appears to be the main theme(s) of this text?
- What does Peter proclaim in Verse 12?
- Now make note of the obvious facts that are stated, such as gatherings, actions, and key statements made in the text.
Interpretation
Let’s shift our focus and try to understand the significance of the events noted in this section of Scripture—why the characters respond as they do and what impact this has on furthering the gospel of Christ.
- Who are Peter and John speaking to when the religious leaders come upon them, and why are they speaking with this crowd?
- Why are the leaders so annoyed? What have Peter and John done wrong in the eyes of the religious leaders?
- What does this religious sect believe, as stated in the text?
- What does Peter accuse these leaders of doing?
- What action do the leaders determine to take with Peter and John? Why?
Application
Peter and John were common, uneducated men. Unlike the Sadducees and Pharisees, they had not been given any kind of scholarly training. They were just everyday fishermen, but what a wealth of insight and understanding they gained as they walked and served with Jesus! Surely this kind of preparation was the best they could ever receive.
- Prior to receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter was timid, even cowardly, about his faith in Jesus. When have you responded out of fear, like Peter did, regarding your convictions about Jesus? When have you declined opportunities to proclaim the name of Jesus by sharing him with another person, and why? How does knowing how the Holy Spirit faithfully empowered the apostles encourage you as you face these conversations more confidently in the future?
- Have you ever kept silent in conversations because you felt you lacked sufficient education or Bible knowledge? Did you effectively discount the role of the Holy Spirit in these conversations by believing your contribution could not be of value? Was it difficult to believe the Spirit would give you insight, wisdom, and understanding, as promised?
- Like the rulers, elders, and priests who confronted Peter and John, we occasionally encounter those who intimidate us. Do you willingly give them that power because you are committed to our own comfort and safety, or because you have made them out to be spiritual giants in your eyes? Have you ever asked yourself, What could I possibly contribute to this relationship? All people, even Spirit-filled believers, are still prone to sin and need the body of Christ to faithfully yield to the Holy Spirit’s direction and influence on their behalf—for their own good as well as the good of God’s kingdom and the furthering of the gospel. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict your heart if you are guilty of doing this; if he does, then ask for forgiveness. Trust that the Holy Spirit will meet you in that place of fear, just as he met the apostles.
This inductive study is adapted from Week 8 of the Acts Study Guide.
