4:1- "The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people".
The group that arrested Jesus reassembled here to stand against what Peter and John had begun to do.
4:2 "They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Peter and John were put in jail over night. The next day, the assembly grew to include the rulers, elders, teachers of the law and Annas the high priest and Caiphas, John and Alexander and other men of the high priest's family.
Peter and John were questioned (vs 7) "By what power or what name did you do this?"
vs 8-12 "Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ....
- It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom god raised from the dead that this man stands before you healed.
- [Jesus] is the stone you builders rejected which has become the capstone
- Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved
The healing was evidence against their judgment of Jesus and validated the apostles authority to speak on behalf of Jesus and continue with His mission
[NOTE: the word "filled" seems to be used as both and adjective describing that they were operating out of the filling of the Spirit and as a verb/action as in Acts 4:31 "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit....". It is also a command as in Ephesians 5:18 "Instead be filled with the Spirit". The lexicon for Eph 5:18 clearly shows that this is a verb (an action). The other two references do not indicate the part of speech but the definitions are very similar in nature. But even used as an adjective describing the condition of their person could also mean that Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit could only be filled with the Holy Spirit if he only had previously submitted to the filling of the Holy Spirit....meaning, he sought to be filled with the Holy Spirit]
vs 13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus".
vs 14 Because the man that was healed was standing in front of them all, the authorities couldn't do any thing.
vs 16 "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle and we cannot deny it". All they could do was sternly warn them "to speak no longer to anyone in this name".
vs 19 Peter and John replied "Judge for yourself whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
The authorities made further threats but had to let them go because they couldn't decide how to punish them because "all the people were praising God for what had happened."
The Prayer of the people in response
When the believers had heard of what happened they didn't respond in fear but "raised their voices together in prayer to God".(vs 24).
vs 27 - ".....[they] conspired against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen." God you were always in control. They did nothing that you had not already determined should happen in accordance with your plan!
vs 29 - "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out you hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
** The Apostles asked for the authority to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders! But this came with great responsibility and at a cost. The apostles didn't ask for this for their own amusement or in order to further validate what they believed about Christ. Their behavior and attitude now is far different from when they arrogantly tried to cast out demons on their own authority when they were with Jesus (REF: ). They exhibit a humbled boldness despite the obstetrical s and threats made before them (and considering they were up against the same authorities that had Jesus crucified). They also certainly didn't ask for this authority to convince them of who Jesus was as the resurrection convinced them enough! And now through the boldness instilled in them by the Holy Spirit, they can now recall Scriptures and prophecies in validation of what happened indicating that God was always in control (even when they were fearful and hiding) and can be obedient to what Jesus commanded them to do. They will obey God rather than man with false authority (4:19).
Q. Were the apostles the only ones given the authority to "heal and perform miraculous sings and wonders?
A. No. Acts 6:8 said that "Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people".
vs 31 "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly"
This was a continued filling of the Holy Spirit as everyone had already received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. As a result of the filling of the Holy Spirit they were given boldness to speak the word as they had asked (in accordance with His will and commission). This also does not sound like it was limited to the Apostles but to all the disciples.
vs 33 "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was upon them all.
vs 36 We get our first introduction to Barnabas who sold a field and brought the money to the apostles to be used to support the people.
The group that arrested Jesus reassembled here to stand against what Peter and John had begun to do.
4:2 "They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Peter and John were put in jail over night. The next day, the assembly grew to include the rulers, elders, teachers of the law and Annas the high priest and Caiphas, John and Alexander and other men of the high priest's family.
Peter and John were questioned (vs 7) "By what power or what name did you do this?"
vs 8-12 "Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ....
- It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom god raised from the dead that this man stands before you healed.
- [Jesus] is the stone you builders rejected which has become the capstone
- Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved
The healing was evidence against their judgment of Jesus and validated the apostles authority to speak on behalf of Jesus and continue with His mission
[NOTE: the word "filled" seems to be used as both and adjective describing that they were operating out of the filling of the Spirit and as a verb/action as in Acts 4:31 "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit....". It is also a command as in Ephesians 5:18 "Instead be filled with the Spirit". The lexicon for Eph 5:18 clearly shows that this is a verb (an action). The other two references do not indicate the part of speech but the definitions are very similar in nature. But even used as an adjective describing the condition of their person could also mean that Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit could only be filled with the Holy Spirit if he only had previously submitted to the filling of the Holy Spirit....meaning, he sought to be filled with the Holy Spirit]
vs 13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus".
vs 14 Because the man that was healed was standing in front of them all, the authorities couldn't do any thing.
vs 16 "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle and we cannot deny it". All they could do was sternly warn them "to speak no longer to anyone in this name".
vs 19 Peter and John replied "Judge for yourself whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
The authorities made further threats but had to let them go because they couldn't decide how to punish them because "all the people were praising God for what had happened."
The Prayer of the people in response
When the believers had heard of what happened they didn't respond in fear but "raised their voices together in prayer to God".(vs 24).
vs 27 - ".....[they] conspired against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen." God you were always in control. They did nothing that you had not already determined should happen in accordance with your plan!
vs 29 - "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out you hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
** The Apostles asked for the authority to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders! But this came with great responsibility and at a cost. The apostles didn't ask for this for their own amusement or in order to further validate what they believed about Christ. Their behavior and attitude now is far different from when they arrogantly tried to cast out demons on their own authority when they were with Jesus (REF: ). They exhibit a humbled boldness despite the obstetrical s and threats made before them (and considering they were up against the same authorities that had Jesus crucified). They also certainly didn't ask for this authority to convince them of who Jesus was as the resurrection convinced them enough! And now through the boldness instilled in them by the Holy Spirit, they can now recall Scriptures and prophecies in validation of what happened indicating that God was always in control (even when they were fearful and hiding) and can be obedient to what Jesus commanded them to do. They will obey God rather than man with false authority (4:19).
Q. Were the apostles the only ones given the authority to "heal and perform miraculous sings and wonders?
A. No. Acts 6:8 said that "Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people".
vs 31 "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly"
This was a continued filling of the Holy Spirit as everyone had already received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. As a result of the filling of the Holy Spirit they were given boldness to speak the word as they had asked (in accordance with His will and commission). This also does not sound like it was limited to the Apostles but to all the disciples.
vs 33 "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was upon them all.
vs 36 We get our first introduction to Barnabas who sold a field and brought the money to the apostles to be used to support the people.