Bible Study Series: Acts 4:1-12 Peter is once again filled with the Spirit, and he proclaims to the Sanhedrin that salvation is found only in Jesus’s name.
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At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 4:1-12
1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees, 2 greatly upset because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, 3 grabbed them with their very hands and put them in prison until tomorrow, for it was evening.
4 Many of the listeners believed their reasoned argument, and the number of men was about 5,000.
5 It happened the next day. The rulers and elders and teachers of the law assembled in Jerusalem, 6 in particular Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and anyone else from the high priestly family. 7 And they stood them right in front of them and examined them: “By what power and by what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, when he was filled with the Holy Spirit, replied to them: “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If today we answer for the good work done to this disabled man, and how this man has been healed, 10 let it known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this name does this man stand before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is ‘the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, has become the cornerstone.’ [Ps. 118:22] 12 And salvation is not by anyone else, for neither is there another name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:1-12)
Comments:
1:
Peter and John were bold. They could not help but speak of their risen Lord and were filled with the Spirit. The formerly lame beggar stood with Peter and John, so it is easy to imagine their pointing at him at the right moment in their speech or sermon. “This is living proof that Jesus is alive!” as they point to the healed man.
Then certain members of the Jerusalem religious establishment intervene.
2:
Peter and John were teaching the people about the resurrection and how Jesus healed the lame beggar. It was in the name of Jesus that the complete healing miracle happened (Acts 3:16). The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, so of course they reacted strongly.
“in Jesus”: He was raised from the dead. He was not just a miracle worker, but he claimed to be the Messiah. That takes things to a higher level. He overturned all kinds of apple carts, even tables for money changers. If people followed him, Judaism would have to change, and the establishment could not have that.
“resurrection”: see 4:33 for a closer look.
3-4:
A little historical tidbit: Peter and John were in the temple since the ninth hour (3:00 p.m. or 15:00), at Solomon’s Colonnade. They are now led across the temple court, through the Kipunis Gate in the western wall. Across the bridge over the Tyropoaen Valley, where they are taken (presumably) to the prison of the Sanhedrin, probably located near the Xystos below the western wall of the temple mount (Schnabel, comment on v. 3).
Please find a Bible map at another website.
What did Peter’s wife think? “Where’s my husband?” Did someone who was standing outside the council run back to where she was staying and inform her? She must have spent a sleepless night—or not. I trust God’s peace settled on her.
“believed”:
True acronym:
F-A-I-T-H
=
Forsaking All, I Trust Him
Here it is connected to “saved.”
“Reasoned argument”: the phrase comes from the one Greek noun logos, which can mean “word,” but more often it has a deeper meaning, like “reasoning with words” or “rational argument.” Argument does not mean a verbal quarrel, but a logical and orderly presentation of evidence, in proof of your convictions. In this case, a healing miracle just happened, and Peter (and John) was explaining the whole thing to the gathered crowd. God gifts all of us with reason or brain power. People need to have that need met, whether they realize or don’t realize the small details of what’s going on in their heads. They also need to see a miracle with their own eyes. The joyful beggar, who was leaping and walking around and praising God, spread his joy, and the people caught it. Stories help with the emotional side of humankind. The healed man was a living story.
Combining Word and Spirit is the balanced life.
Though scholars debate whether these are 5,000 in addition to the 3,000 (Acts 2:41) or whether 2000 converted here and can be added to the 3000, I say they are 5000 new converts, totaling about 8000. Either way, this is a mega-church, and sometimes they (or some of them) met at the temple or the temple precinct under Solomon’s Colonnade. Don’t accept the deficient teaching that house churches or small churches are the only Scriptural church. All of it is just fine and acceptable to God. He regards the right attitude, seen in vv. 32-34, to be more important. It is generosity and unity.
5-6:
This is the Sanhedrin or Jewish supreme court, which I translate as council in other passages. These are the biggest names in the Jerusalem establishment. You can read more about the rulers here:
Quick Reference to Jewish Groups in Gospels and Acts
7:
The council opened the door wide for Peter and John to testify. Peter is about walk through it. John was there, and so was the (nameless) formerly lame beggar.
The Sanhedrin sat in a semi-circle. Polhill (comment on v. 7) quotes the Mishnah, a 200 AD written compilation of oral rulings and opinions up to then. “The Sanhedrin was arranged like the half of a round threshing-floor so that they might all see one another. Before them stood the two scribes of the judges, one to the right and one to the left, and they wrote down the words of them that favored acquittal and the words of them that favored conviction” (Sanh. 4.3).
“By what power”: it is by the name of Jesus. “Name” stands in for Jesus’s person and status (exalted Lord) and mission (reach the world). If people know him and conform to his mission, they can use it and stand in for him, under his authority and power. (See v. 12 for more comments.) In this case, the religious leaders mean “authority” in their use of “name.”
What Are Signs and Wonders and Miracles?
8:
“filled with the Spirit”: Peter was once again filled. He was not hyping it up with soul-power. This was the Spirit’s power. The fulness of the Spirit can happen many times in one’s life. It had happened to Peter and John in Acts 2:4. (John was probably filled too, since he speaks up in v. 19). It is a power surge for service in the church and especially outside of it. Recall that Jesus said not to over-think what you should say when you are summoned before a synagogue or local council, whether Roman or any other nation, for the Spirit would prompt you and give you the right words (Mark 13:11 // Matt. 10:19-20 // Luke 12:11 and 21:15).
11 “And when they bring you before the synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry how or what you will speak in self-defense or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very time what must be said.” (Luke 12:11)
And then these verses:
12 “But before all these things, they will arrest you with their hands and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors because of my name. 13 The result will be your testimony. 14 Put it in your heart not to prepare ahead to defend yourselves, 15 for I will give you speaking ability with words and wisdom which your opponents will not be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21:12-15)
Peter was filled with boldness, not timidity. You can spot the Spirit surging through you by courage, not fear. No doubt he had one “butterfly” in his stomach, but he still stepped forward and delivered a strong, convicting word. You too can be filled with the Spirit—a power surge—many times in your life, for edifying the church or reaching the lost.
Peter was already filled in the upper room (Acts 2:4), here, and later in this chapter (v. 31). And then the Spirit will empower him to receive a vision (Acts 10:9-16).
Baptized, Filled, and Full of the Spirit: What Does It All Mean?
Peter knew Messianic prophecies. Here is a table of them:
That link as a table of verses quoted in the OT and NT, yet Jesus also fulfills the themes and types and shadows of the OT, like the entire sacrificial system or all the covenants.
9:
One can easily imagine Peter pointing to the dazed and awe-struck, healed man standing before the august Sanhedrin, when Peter said, “this healed man!” and “this man!” One can easily imagine the scruffy beggar looking shy and waving a little to the council and meekly smiling. “Hey. I’m just … you know … I’ll be quiet now.”
This whole passage is ironical. The temple authorities have no reason to arrest Peter and John. The authorities are interrogating them for a good deed, a healed man. These lowly Galileans are in the right before God, while the religious Jerusalem authorities are in the wrong, though they believe they are in the right before him. That’s the irony.
10:
“name”: see v. 12 for a closer look at this noun.
Peter goes right for the jugular, once again (Acts 3:23). He is not afraid to speak of people’s sins and injustices, even very important people’s sins and injustices. The Sanhedrin must have been greatly offended. Then God raised Jesus up by his resurrection. The Sanhedrin had crucified him, but God reversed the whole ugly scene and exalted him. It is by this name, which stands in for the person of Jesus, that this man is healed. As noted, the power and authority in the name of Jesus flows from his character and exalted status and out to us. Now we can use his name to heal the sick, expel demons, and preach the gospel. But Jesus does all of this. Please don’t get confused about it. God may cut off his authority and power—or let you fall flat on your face. But he will restore you when he sees that your character has developed enough to bring you back in the game.
“healthy”: It also means “sound” and “undamaged.” We need a lot more sound and undamaged believers in the kingdom of God. If you have been damaged, God can “undamage” you, that is, heal you and make you sound and healthy!
11:
More reversal in God’s economy or transactive system. Jesus was incarnated and moved into the neighborhood. A new sheriff is in town, so to speak. The stone that was rejected or despised, by “you, the builders,” directly accuses the Jerusalem religious elites, in the clearest and strongest terms. If you reject him, he will still be Lord and the foundation stone. What man sees as a defective stone, God sees as the cornerstone. What man puts down, God lifts up. What man rejects, God accepts. That’s the Great Reversal.
Were you uncool back in high school? God calls you his child. You’re now “cool” in his kingdom!
12:
“salvation”:
In this verse, Elohim / Yahweh himself has now moved the plan of salvation forward in the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). He’s the newly revealed door or path to Israel’s and our salvation and Israel’s and our deliverance. Don’t look for it elsewhere. It is stunning that Peter preaches the exclusivity of Jesus to the Sanhedrin. We should always preach the Messiah to the Jewish community, when appropriate. I for one will never abandon Peter’s courage but take inspiration from it. Being saved in Elohim (God) is not enough. Now it is the Messiah, whom God introduced to the Jewish community (and then the world) two thousand years ago. It offends God when people—whoever they are, whether Jews or Gentiles—turn their back on his Son.
In this age of pluralism and multiculturalism, don’t be afraid to proclaim the exclusivity of Jesus. Other religions do so for their own beliefs. The Buddha thought Hinduism was wrong, and that’s why he broke with it. Sikhs think Islam and Hinduism are deficient and shortsighted. And the Quran denies these essential conditions for salvation: (1) the Lordship of Jesus; (2) the Sonship of Jesus; (3) his crucifixion; (4) and his bodily resurrection. You don’t have to put down these religions, because you can find something in them that is compatible with Christianity (e.g. don’t steal), but boldly preach that Jesus is the way, the only way.
Ten Big Differences between Christianity and Other Religions
“name”: this noun stands in for the person—a living, real person. You carry your father’s name. If he is dysfunctional, his name is a disadvantage. If he is functional and impacting society for the better, then his name is an advantage. In Jesus’s case, he has the highest status in the universe, under the Father (Col. 1:15-20). He is exalted above every principality and power (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-23; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8). His character is perfection itself. His authority and power are absolute, under the Father. In his name you are seated in the heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1). Now down here on earth you walk and live as an ambassador in his name, in his stead, for he is no longer living on earth, so you have to represent him down here. We are his ambassadors who stand in for his name (2 Cor. 5:20). The good news is that he did not leave you without power and authority. He gave you his. Now you represent him in his name—his person, power and authority. Therefore under his authority we have his full authority to preach the gospel and set people free from bondages and satanic spirits and heal them of diseases.
Polhill excellently summarizes this very important verse:
Peter switched to the first person at the end of the verse, “by which we must be saved,” amounting to a direct appeal to the Sanhedrin. Peter had been bold indeed. He had come full circle. They asked for the name in whom his authority rested. He answered their question. It was the name, the power of Jesus. He directed the charges. The Council had rejected the one who bore this powerful name. The ultimate verdict rested with them. Would they continue to reject the one whom God had placed as the final stone for his people, the only name under heaven in which they would find their own salvation? The final verdict would rest in their own decision. (comment on v. 12)
GrowApp for Acts 4:1-12
1. Peter was once again empowered the Spirit before he proclaimed Jesus before a hostile crowd. Have you ever been empowered with the Spirit to complete God’s mission for you? Have you ever asked to be empowered like this?
2. Peter boldly proclaimed to the highest court and council in Judaism (Sanhedrin) that Jesus was the only name by which people must be saved. You may never reach this level of influence (or you might), yet have you ever had to proclaim Jesus to a hostile friend or family member? What were the results? Have you ever prayed to do this?
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
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