v.1-4
Peter and John imprisoned
v.5-7
The Sanhedrin Question them next day
v.8-12
Peter explains how the man was healed
v.13-18
The Council Consider & demand they stop using Jesus' name
v.19-22
Peter challenges this decision and they are released
v.23-31
The Church Prays & the Spirit Comes
v.32-37
The Believers Share Their Possessions
v.1-4
Peter and John imprisoned
v.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.
v.2
They
were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the
people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
v.3
They
seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them
in jail until the next day.
v.4
But
many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who
believed grew to about five thousand.
[Passage
Synopsis: Even
as in the previous chapter we saw the first healing, now in this
following chapter we see the first outright opposition as the
two apostles are arrested and put in prison over night – just
for preaching Jesus.]
v.5-7
The Sanhedrin Question them next day
v.5
The
next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met
in Jerusalem.
v.6
Annas
the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander
and others of the high priest's family.
v.7
They
had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them:
“By what power or what name did you do this?”
[Passage
Synopsis: We
have called this the Sanhedrin but it may not have been the full
council, just some of the senior members. They bring them out
of prison and challenge their authority.]
v.8-12
Peter explains how the man was healed
v.8
Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and
elders of the people!
v.9
If
we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown
to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,
v.10
then
know this, you and all the people of Israel: 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.
v.11
Jesus
is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the
cornerstone.' [Psa 118:22]
v.12
Salvation
is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
[Passage
Synopsis: Note
again, ‘filled with the Holy Spirit'. God empowers Peter (you
can see which side He's on!). Peter observes that being arrested
for an act of kindness is not on, and refusing to be held back
declares the name of Jesus and yet again uses OT prophetic scriptures
to justify his position.]
v.13-18
The Council Consider & demand they stop using Jesus' name
v.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.
v.14
But
since they could see the man who had been healed standing there
with them, there was nothing they could say.
v.15
So
they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred
together.
v.16
“What
are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living
in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we
cannot deny it.
v.17
But
to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people,
we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
v.18
Then
they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach
at all in the name of Jesus.
[Passage
Synopsis: The
power of his presentation challenges the council who talk in private
about what to do with them. They simply demand again that the
apostles stop using the name of Jesus.]
v.19-22
Peter challenges this decision and they are released
v.19
But
Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God's eyes: to listen
to you, or to him? You be the judges!
v.20
As
for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
v.21
After
further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to
punish them, because all the people were praising God for what
had happened.
v.22
For
the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
[Passage
Synopsis: Peter
rejects their demands saying they must obey God for it is obvious
what has happened – they know what they have seen! They are released
and the ordinary people rejoice.]
v.23-31
The Church Prays & the Spirit Comes
v.23
They report all this to the church
v.23
On
their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and
reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to
them.
v.24-26
The church then uses OT teaching from Psa 2 in their prayers
v.24
When
they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to
God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the
earth and the sea, and everything in them.
v.25
You
spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our
father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples
plot in vain?
v.26
The
kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against
the Lord and against his anointed one. [That
is, Messiah or Christ Psa 2:1,2]
v.27-28
and they apply it to the recent days
v.27
Indeed
Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the
people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant
Jesus, whom you anointed.
v.28
They
did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
v.29-31
So now they appeal to the Lord to come in power and He does
v.29
Now,
Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak
your word with great boldness.
v.30
Stretch
out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the
name of your holy servant Jesus.”
v.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.
[Passage
Synopsis: A
wonderful example of scripture enabled praying that takes prophecy,
applies it to the present and petitions God on that basis. The
Lord answers directly!]
v.32-37
The Believers Share Their Possessions
v.32
All
the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that
any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything
they had.
v.33-35
With
great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in
them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from
time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought
the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and
it was distributed to anyone who had need.
v.36,37
Joseph,
a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which
means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought
the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
[Passage
Synopsis: Another
glimpse into the life of the early church, their unity and their
care for one another. One should perhaps not [to avoid extremist
teaching] that it doesn't say they sold ALL their property, but
nevertheless there was real sharing, meeting one another's needs.]