Acts 4

Acts 4:1-4

In this chapter the persecution against the apostles begins. 1. Peter and John are taken up upon a warrant from the priests, and committed to jail, ver. 1—4. 2. They are examined by a committee of the great Lambdron, ver. 5—7. 3. They bravely away what they have done, and preach Christ to their persecutors, ver. 8—12. 4. Their persecutors, being unable to answer them, rejoin them silence, threaten them if they go on to preach the gospel, and so dismiss them, ver. 13—22. 5. They apply themselves to God by prayer, for the further operations of that grace which they had already experienced, ver. 23—30. 6. God owns them, both outwardly and inwardly, by manifest tokens of his presence with them, ver. 31—33. 7. The believers had their hearts best together in holy love, and enlarged their charity to the poor, and the church flourished more than ever, to the glory of Christ, ver. 33, 34—37.

1. AND as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple, and the Saducees 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 evenide. 4. Howbeit, many of them which heard the word, believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

The success of the gospel could not but provoke Satan’s enmity; and the inveterate enemies of the name of Christ cannot be expected long to be at rest.

1. The apostles continued to teach the people, and, as their grand subject, preached through Jesus the reformation from the dead. They both testified the certainty of his resurrection, and affirmed, that he was raised up for this purpose, to be the author of Spiritual and eternal life to his people, who should be raised up by him at the last day to a glorious immortality.

2. Misfeitudes of their hearers believed; and, notwithstanding the enmity to which they saw their preachers exposed, five thousand converts more were added to the church; so mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed. Note, Where the gospel meets with the greatest opposition, it is usually attended with the most remarkable success.

3. The priests, the captain of the temple, who presided over the watches, and the Sadducees, grieved and vexed to the heart, that the doctrine of Jesus, which they had taken such pains to suppress, should now spread with greater rapidity than ever; and that he whom they had ignominiously crucified, should be exalted as the resurrection and life, as the author of all blessedness in time and eternity; rushed upon the apostles suddenly, seized them as criminals, and committed them to safe custody for the night, it being eventuated, that they might be brought before the Inhentism the next day. Note, They who preach Christ, must prepare to suffer for him.

4. ¶ 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.

Acts 4:9-14

No sooner was the morning returned than we have.

1. The court assembled to try the innocent prisoners; but little justice can be expected, when their judges are known to be their avowed and inveterate enemies. The rulers, elders, and scribes, the high priest Annas, who now enjoyed that dignity, with Caiaphas, who had set in the chair the year preceding, with John and Alexander, persons of distinguished nate, and others of the high priest’s kindness, were all hanged against two poor fishermen, to try if their power could not intimidate, or their learning confute, or their authority silence them.

2. The prisoners are arraigned. They set them in the midst, to answer before their judges the interrogatories which they chose to put to them, and haughtily demanded, by what power, human, divine, or diabolical; or by what name, by virtue of whole authority, or by the invocation of what name, have ye done this?

3. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, endued with singular boldness, and directed by his immediate influence, according to Christ’s promise, (Mark xiii. 11.) said unto them, respectfully addressing them as magistrates and men of rank, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we be examined as criminals this day, of the good deed done to the impotent man; and you demand information, by what means such an act of mercy and power was performed, and be it made whole; we with pleasure appear to give you the fullest satisfaction. Therefore, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, whom it highly concerns, that by the name, the precious, powerful, all-prevailing name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom ye have treated with the highest contempt, and most ignominiously crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, disappointing the impotent malice of his murders: even by him, by this once despised, but now glorified Jesus, and by no power of our own, by no magic charm, but by faith in him alone, doth this man stand here before you whole. This Jesus in the stone spoken of, Pf. cavii. 22. which was set at nought of you, who by station and office should be builders of Yes. II.

God’s Spiritual temple, but which is now exalted of God, and become the head of the corner, by which the church of God is supported, and firmly knit together. Neither is there salvation in any other; there is no Spiritual or eternal salvation out of him, by the deeds of the law, or by any human power or righteousness whatsoever; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved; God having appointed him to be the only redeemer from sin, death, and hell, and all who believe not in him, must therefore perish everlastingly. Note, (1.) Salvation is every sinner’s great concern. (2.) In and of ourselves we have nothing but misery, sin, and wrath, and have no power of ourselves to help ourselves. (3.) Christ alone can save a sinful soul by the merit of his blood and righteousness. (4.) God freely offers him in the gospel to the miserable, and invites all men to believe on him to the saving of their souls. (5.) They must inevitably and eternally perish, who neglect to great a salvation.

4. Such an answer quite confounded the court. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, their undaunted courage, their readiness of speech, and powerful education; and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, had been brought up at none of the public seminaries, at the feet of none of their rabbins, nor had ever the least advantages of education; they marvelled at the intrepidity, wisdom, and eloquence that appeared in them; and they had knowledge of them that they had seen with Jesus, in whose company they recollected they had seen them formerly; and subsiding the man which was healed standing with them, who probably came ready to bear testimony for them, and to do honour to his benefactors, to whatever danger it might expose him, they could say nothing against it; the miracle was too notorious to be contradicted. Note, (1.) In Christ’s cause, even before the greatest, we may well bodily stand forth; he will bear us through. (2.) They who have been with Jesus, will carry the marks of it visibly about them: like Moses on the mount, their faces will shine, and their holy and heavenly conversations proclaim their Master’s glory.

5. 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 is spread no further among the people, let us strastily 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, not 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 brakken 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.

Acts 4:15-22

How to punish those against whom they had no charge to lay they knew not, yet fair would they brand them, if possible, with some mark of infamy.

1. In order to consult upon the case the more freely, they commanded the apostles to be led out of the council-chamber, whilst they conferred among themselves, saying, when had not done to the other, they were not to be done to the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and the other, and

2. The prisoners give in their answers; they needed no premeditation to reply, and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to brakken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Can it be possible we should be silent, when acting under his express injunctions; or how can we thus acquit ourselves to our