These notes are taken from Andrew Womack’s Commentary, John Wesley’s Commentary, The Passion Translation footnotes, the Chuck Smith Commentary on the Book of Acts, the Craig Keener Commentary on the Book of Acts, the Tony Evans Bible Commentary, and the Stanley Horton Commentary on the Book of Acts. Translations are taken from biblegateway.com. The notes may be useful to provide background material for personal devotions.
Chapter 3
Verse 1.
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
AMP. Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour (three o’clock in the afternoon).
TPT notes. There were three major sects of Judaism: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. The Sadducees were a small but powerful group that philosophically denied the supernatural, angels, spirits, and the resurrection. They tended toward political control of the people.
Horton. Luke gives broad statements and then examples. In 2:43, he says that “many signs and wonders were done at the hands of the apostles” and then gives this example. The miracle brought more persecution but also growth in the church. Peter and John were going to the Temple to pray where the priests still offered sacrifice.
Smith. Peter and John were men of prayer, men of faith, men of the Word, and men full of the Holy Spirit. They had no ambitions for themselves. The Jewish day began to 6:00 am. The Jews had morning (9:00 am), noon, and afternoon prayer (3:00 P.M). Peter and John maintained the Jewish observances.
Womack. This was the ninth hour according to the Jewish way of reckoning time, or 3 p.m. It was a tradition to pray at this hour. That’s quite a commentary on how the devout Jewish people lived.
Peter and John were praying with people who had not been born again. At least five thousand men were regenerated (Acts 4:4) that day. If we want to catch fish, we must go where the fish are.
TPT notes. Daily sacrifices were made in the Temple at sunrise and at 3:00 p.m.
Verse 2.
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple.
When a certain man crippled from his birth was being carried along, who was laid each day at that gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, so that he might beg for charitable gifts from those who entered the temple.
TPT notes. The Beautiful Gate points to Jesus who is the gate or entrance into the sheepfold of God. It hints of Ezekiel’s Temple gate (Ez. 47) which has a river flowing out from the threshold through. The gateway of the Temple. This river was first measured to be ankle deep. This man, lame in his ankles, was healed by the spiritual “reiver” that flowed out of the “beautiful Gate of Christ.” This gateway opened and the river poured out of Peter and John, bringing healing to the lame.
Horton. Between the Court of the Gentiles and the Court of the Women was a beautifully carved Corinthian-style bronze gate with gold and silver inlays.
Smith. There are still beggars who ask for alms as you enter the Old City of Jerusalem.
Womack. This lame man was presumably brought to the temple every day to beg alms. Since he was over forty years old (Acts 4:22), he may have been there begging for alms when Jesus and the apostles walked by. It is interesting that His miracle took place at this time.
Verse 3.
who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
Womack. The placement of this lame man at the Temple gate says a couple of things. First, he wasn’t a God-hater nor a hater of God’s people. He association with the people of God. He judged this gate to be a good place to beg. Any Old Testament scriptures that instruct us to care for the poor (Proverbs 14:21, 19:17, and 28:27).
Verse 4-7.
And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So, he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
AMP. And Peter directed his gaze intently at him, and so did John, and said, Look at us! And the man paid attention to them, expecting that he was going to get something from them. But Peter said, Silver and gold (money) I do not have; but what I do have, that I give to you: in the [a]use of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk! Then he took hold of the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankle bones became strong and steady.
Smith. Peter is no different than us. Did he have doubts? Will I look like a fool? God helped Peter persevere through any doubts he had plus the temptation and lies of Satan.
Womack. In Acts 14: 8-10, God used Paul to heal a lame man, and in that situation, Paul steadfastly beheld the man. Is there a special significance to these penetrating stares? Paul “steadfastly beheld” the man and perceived that he had faith to be healed. Peter was probably doing the same thing here. It is certain that this man did have faith, as can be seen by Peter’s own explanation in Acts 3:16. (Now at Lystra a man sat who found it impossible to use his feet, for he was a cripple from birth and had never walked. He was listening to Paul as he talked, and Paul, gazing intently at him and observing that he had faith to be healed, shouted at him, saying, Stand erect on your feet! And he leaped up and walked.).
Horton. Contrast the unified response by Peter and John to their earlier jealously. See Mt. 20:24. They acted in complete unity and faith and purpose. Peter spoke as moved by the HS with the gift of healing for this man. I Cor. 12: 9,11. He may have heard of others healed by Jesus.
Womack. Peter never prayed for this man. He used his authority and commanded the power of God. Then he acted on his faith and lifted this man up (James 2:14-17).
This man was healed as Peter reached down and lifted him up. Faith must be acted on. Peter acted on his faith, and the lame man also acted in faith (Acts 3:16) by allowing Peter to give him a hand. Faith is made perfect, or complete, by our actions (James 2:22). Actions do not produce faith. Faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8) that comes through hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17). But true faith doesn’t carry its full power until it is acted on. There must first be faith, then actions, then physical results, always in that order.
Verse 8.
So, he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
This man was over forty years old (Acts 4:22) but had never walked. What must it have been like for him? We can see him walking, leaping, praising God. He is still praising God for what the Lord did through Peter and John.
This man leapt up and stood and walked. There was some faith on his part too. He didn’t have developed, and he had never trained himself to walk. Miracles of healing always cause people to praise God.
Smith. Jesus often spoke words of faith to people. Lu. 6:10: “Stretch out your hand.” Lu. 5:24: “Arise, take up your bed and go to your house.” Peter said: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Horton. This was the man’s first time in the Temple. See Is. 25:6: “Then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”
Verse 9-11.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch, which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
Womack. Everyone was spiritually crippled before Jesus healed us. Have unbelievers seen us spiritually healed and give glory to God as this man did? Few people today are filled with wonder and amazement like we see here, because few Christians display the miraculous power of God as Peter and John did here. We need to communicate God’s Word not only in spoken words but also in demonstrations of power (Mark 16:20, 1 Corinthians 4:20, and Hebrews 2:3-4). This is probably where Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost took place (Acts 2). The man holding Peter and John demonstrates his excitement and thankfulness about his healing.
Smith. The man leaping and jumping was the same man who had begged for alms for years.
Horton. The man’s healing filled the people with “thambous” which means “astonishment, awe, and amazement.” They were greatly amazed or “bewildered, confused or confused.” As the man “held on to Peter and John,” they got to Solomon’s Colonnade. From all over the Temple courts the amazed people ran to see what had happened. There could easily have been 10,000 people in the Temple at the hour of prayer.
Verse 12.
So, when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
AMP. And Peter, seeing it, answered the people, You men of Israel, why are you so surprised and wondering at this? Why do you keep staring at us, as though by our [own individual] power or [active] piety we had made this man [able] to walk?
Smith. Two temptations can occur when the Gifts of the Spirit operate. The crowd is tempted to exalt the instrument; the instrument is tempted to accept the glory. Peter immediately turned the peoples’ attention away from him and John and toward Christ. Many ministries have shipwrecked because the leader took glory from Jesus. Successful is the man who points men to Jesus and doesn’t take the Jesus’ glory from himself.
Horton. There was no ridicule or skepticism here as at Pentecost. Peter: “Why do you marvel in surprise at this?” Peter and John never regarded themselves as sources of power, rather as channels of power.
Womack. Peter couldn’t heal a gnat in his strength. But God has given each New Testament believer the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20). The Lord gave us the authority to use that power as His agents here on earth. So, it’s God’s power, but it’s in us. We can’t ask God to heal. We must believe that He has already given us the power to heal, and then we use that power and authority and command healing as Peter and John did here.
God’s miraculous intervention should bless us, but not surprise us. God never intended mankind to live independently of Him and His miraculous power. That was our choice. When we come back into relationship with the Lord through the new birth, we should expect to see the supernatural power of God manifest in our everyday lives to such a degree that we can say with Peter, “Why marvel ye at this?” Any perspective other than this reveals a hard heart.
Wesley. Peter answered the people — Who were running together and inquiring into the circumstances of the fact.
Verse 13-14.
“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just and asked for a murderer to be granted to you.”
Womack. What transformed Peter! Before receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times (Matthew 26:34 and 75). Here he not only proclaimed his association with Jesus, but he placed the blame for crucifying Jesus squarely where it belonged. Such is the Holy Spirit’s transforming power. If we want Peter’s boldness, the same Holy Spirit who gave it to him will give it to us (Acts 1:8). Just as on the Day of Pentecost, Peter used this miracle to point people to God.
Mark 15:11 says that the chief priests moved the people to ask that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus. Some of the people who asked for Barabbas’ release saw the miracle that Jesus did here.
As at Pentecost, Peter spoke to convict these people of their guilt in the crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 2:23). People cannot come to Jesus until they are convicted of their sin. Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). The first step in seeing people born again is to get them to see their sinfulness and total helplessness to save themselves.
Horton. Peter bore witness to Jesus. God (the God of Abraham) glorified Jesus (Ex. 3:6, 15: mt. 8:11; 22:32; Mark 12: 26-27; Luke 20: 37-38; Acts 7:32; 22:14. Peter preached the fulfilment of Jewish promises of the Messiah. “The holy and righteous one is a reference to the Suffering Servant in Isaiah (53:11 (He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities); Jer. 23:5 (“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and [a]prosper, And execute [b]judgment and righteousness in the earth).; 33:15 (‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.); Zech. 9:9.( Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.)
Smith. In John’s gospel, Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but was forced by the crown not to do so. In Matthew, he figuratively washed his hands. They rejected Jesus and requested that a murderer be released. Peter again testifies to the resurrection of Jesus. See I Cor. 15: 15, 19. (But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have [c]fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.)
Verse 15.
And killed the prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
“You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.”
Womack. For Peter, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proved His deity.
Horton. They gave death to the one who gave them life. “Author” speaks of Jesus’ role in creation. John 1:3 “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” The Preincarnate Jesus was the Living Word who spoke the worlds into existence. Jesus, the Source of Life, the giver of Eternal Life, the author of healing, they killed. (And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.). But God raised Him from the dead. Peter and John were witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. The man’s healing was a witness that Jesus was alive.
Verse 16.
“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
Smith. Peter is careful to take no credit for the faith that is in him. It is the faith which comes through Him. The secret to great faith is being fully and totally persuaded that God is both willing and able to intercede in your situation.
Horton. The crowd knew the man and had seen his hand many times. Notice the repetition of the name of Jesus. The name refers to the character of Jesus as the Great Healer. Faith is important but it’s the name that is paramount.
Womack.
Some people believe that Book of Acts’ miracles are not repeatable by Christians today, because God gave the apostles special power that He does not make available to us. The Apostle Peter says, however, that (Acts 3:12). it was not special power or holiness on his part that produced the healing. The Name of Jesus and faith in that Name wrought the miracle. We have the Name of Jesus - with all its authority and power, for we cannot be saved without it (Acts 4:12). And we have faith, for we cannot be saved without it (Ephesians 2:8). Therefore, if the Name of Jesus and faith in that Name were responsible for producing this miracle, then the same miraculous results can be obtained today.
The man who was healed had faith. A miracle’s recipient needs to have some faith too.
Verse 17-18.
Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
Womack. Many sins are done through ignorance, but ignorance doesn’t absolve the sinner. However, the Lord extends mercy to those who don’t realize what they are doing. Many prophecies find their fulfillment in Christ.
Smith. Is. 53 and Ps. 22 predict that the Messiah will suffer. How did the Jews miss it? They may have “spiritualized” the suffering and highlighted the kingly reign. This mistake caused the Jewish leaders to participate in the torture and murder of their national Messiah.
Horton. Peter calls them brothers – Jewish brothers and acknowledges that they crucified Jesus from ignorance. See Lu. 23:34 where Jesus asked God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. Paul confessed that he persecuted the church, even to causing blasphemy, out of ignorance and unbelief. (I Tim. 1:13). Even in the OT, forgiveness was available for sins done in ignorance. Numbers 15: 22-29.
The focal point of the OT prophets’ messages concerning Messiah, taken cumulatively, was the rejection and death of Messiah.
Verses 19-21.
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
Horton. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Peter called for repentance: to change their minds and attitudes about their sin and Jesus. Let them “turn” – “turn back, return” to God so that their sins might be wiped out, obliterated so that times (seasons or occasions) of refreshing “from the Lord” (from his face, from his presence) might come. Jesus is God’s choice to be Israel’s anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. We do not have to wait until Jesus returns to enjoy these seasons of revival and blessing. We can have such times now and we can have them until Jesus returns. This contrasts to the ‘gloom and doom’ of 2 Thes. 2:3; 2 Tim. 3:1.
“Falling away” may mean spiritual falling away from Christ and from God’s truth, but the Greek word (apostasia) ordinarily means revolt or revolution and war (Ez. 38-39?). The time of restoration refers to the Millennium and Jesus will rule personally on earth. The prophets also show that the Kingdom must be brought in through judgement. Daniel 2: 34-35, 44-45 describes an image the represents the whole world system from Babylon to the end of the age. We do not know when the Kingdom will come, but we have a down payment, first installment, or deposit now which guarantees that we will receive the same blessing when Jesus comes. (2 Cor. 1:22: 5:5; Ep. 1:14). It’s also implying that repentance hastens the Lord’s return. 2 Peter 3:12.
Womack. True repentance is a prerequisite of conversion. Peter called them to repent of their rejection of Jesus as Messiah. He did not focus on their individual sins. Indeed, all other sins pale in comparison to rejecting Jesus. All sins have been paid for (1 John 2:2), except the sin of not believing on Jesus (John 16:8-9).
The phrase “times of refreshing” is translated from the Greek word anapusxis, which means, “a recovery of breath, i.e. revival.” If we want revival, we need to repent and be converted.
Jesus will physically come to the earth again. See Acts 3:20. This verse gives us some insight as to when that will happen. His return will occur when all the things spoken by the prophets have taken place. So, the fulfillment of prophecy is one notable indication of Christ’s return.
The English word “restitution” is translated from the Greek word “APOKATASTASIS.” This is the only time it is used in the New Testament. It means “reconstitution.”
Smith. Our sins are blotted out! Repentance leads to cleansing. In Luke 21:24.
Jesus prophesied that “Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The times of the Gentiles began with the death of Zedekiah, the last king of Israel at the beginning of the Babylonian captivity. Since 1967, Jerusalem has been under Jewish control. Smith feels that Ez. 37 speaks of the reconstitution of Israel. He feels that Chapter 38 will happen when Russia, Iran, Syria, Turkey and Libya invade Israel.
Verses 22-26.
For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.’ Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
Womack. See Deuteronomy 18:15-19. This prophecy was repeated in Acts 7:37. The Lord said through Moses in Deuteronomy 18:16 that God would raise up another prophet, who we now know is Jesus, as God’s answer to the people’s prayer that God not to speak to them directly (Exodus 20:18-19).
The Lord promised Abram that “all nations of the earth would be blessed” through him. See Genesis 12:3, 18:18, and 22:18. Christ was born of Abraham’s seed, and He brought salvation to the world. Peter was speaking to Jews. He said that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, and His salvation offer was being made to them. In using the word “first,” Peter implied that Jesus’ salvation would also be offered to the Gentiles.
Horton. Peter shows that God’s plan to save the Jews and Gentiles through Jesus was revealed by Moses. See Dt. 18: 15-16, 18-19. Lev. 26:12; Acts 7:37. When the people asked John if he was the prophet, they had this in mind. (Jo. 1: 21, 25: “They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” … “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
In what way was Jesus like Moses? 1) God used Moses to inaugurate the Old Covenant; Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant. 2) Moses led the nation out of Egypt and brought them to Mt. Sinai where God brought them into Old Covenant relationship with Him. Jesus, by shedding His blood became the new and resurrected way for new covenant people to enter the presence of God (He. 10: 19-20: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.”). 3) Moses gave Israel the command to sacrifice a lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God. 4) God used Moses to perform miracles and signs; Jesus performed many signs and wonders to express His love. See Heb. 3: 3-6 to see the superiority of Jesus over Moses.
Samuel was the next great prophet after Moses. The Jews Peters spoke to were descendants of the prophets (they all spoke of Jesus in hints and shadows). The blessing brought by God’s suffering servant (Is. 53) and promised to all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3) came first to these Jews in Jerusalem. All the first evangelists were Jews.
Smith. This Dt. 18:15 prophecy is used by modern Jews to dismiss Jesus as Messiah. “Since Moses is just a man and the prophet would be “just like him,” and since Jesus claimed to be God’s Son, he could not be Moses’ successor. Note. Because of the OT prophecies, first century rabbis believed that the Messiah would be God’s son. Remember Mark. 14:61: “Are you the Christ the Son of the Blessed? The prophets spoke throughout the OT of the Messiah coming in the last days and His glorious reign to follow.
Peter quoted from Gen. 22:18. See also Gal. 3:16. The promise wasn’t that the Jewish nation would be a blessing to all nations. The promise was that one of Abraham’s descendants would bring a blessing to all the nations. And that is what has happened through Jesus Christ. Jesus is descended from Abraham through King David. The blessing came to Israel first and then to the Gentiles.
God first gave the Law to turn us from our iniquities. See Ps. 19: 7,9. The Law was given for our good and our protection. See Ex. 15:26. We could not keep the law. Then came Jesus who came to take away our iniquities. Jesus came to do in and for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Chapter 4.
Verse 1-2.
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them. Being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
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. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Smith. Jesus healed the lame man through Peter and John. They preached Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and performed miracles to back up his resurrection. They continued to speak to the people. This caused the Jewish leader’s great anger. The Jewish religious leadership was comprised of Pharisees who practiced the oral traditions of the Law. They were the chief instigators of Jesus’ death. Jesus had rebuked them because their oral traditions negated the law. The Sadducees denied the supernatural. They did not believe in the resurrection. They were rationalists who had a rationalist explanation for every miracle of the OT. For the most part, the high priest and his family were Sadducees. Peter and John’s miracle of healing of the lame man confronted the Sadducees’ beliefs expressly.
Wesley. The priests being grieved — That the name of Jesus was preached to the people; especially they were offended at the doctrine of his resurrection; for as they had put him to death, his rising again proved him to be the Just One, and so brought his blood upon their heads. The priests were grieved, lest their office and temple services should decline, and Christianity take root, through the preaching of the apostles, and their power of working miracles: the captain of the temple - Being concerned to prevent all sedition and disorder, the Sadducees - Being displeased at the overturning of all their doctrines, particularly regarding the resurrection.
Womack. Religious people were the persecutors of the true Gospel. That’s true today.
The Sadducees were a sect among the Jewish leadership, the other dominant sect being the Pharisees. The Sadducees disbelieved in a bodily resurrection which caused them to be the first group to persecute the Christians. (Acts 23:8). If Jesus was alive, Peter was right, and the Sadducees were wrong. They had crucified the Messiah.
The real point of contention between Peter, John, and the religious leaders was not the healing of this lame man but rather the disciples’ teaching that Jesus was risen from the dead. Today, the situation is reversed. Religious people may not dispute Jesus’ resurrection, but they deny that His resurrection power is available to His followers to effect healing and other miracles.
Horton. Tenses indicate that Peter and John spoke continuously and that they spoke more than it recorded – and that John spoke also. The priests were the chief priests, and the captain was the priest next in line to the Chief Priest who commanded the Temple Guard of chosen Levites. The miracle of healing took place about 3 p.m. and it’s about 6 p.m. when the company comes, meaning that Peter and John preached, taught, answered questions, and prayed for about three hours. The Chief Priest was a Sadducee. Sadducees did not accept the Pharisee’s traditions or that the OT prophetical books and Writings of the OT as on the same level of importance with the OT Law (the Torah, the Pentateuch). Sadducees denied angels, spirits, or the resurrection.
Evans. They (the Sadducees, the chief priests, and captain were upset to the point of blows because Peter and John were preaching that Jesus is resurrected from the dead.
Verses 3-4.
“And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
AMP. So, they arrested them and put them in jail until the next day, because it was evening. But many of those who heard the message of salvation believed in Jesus and accepted Him as the Christ. And the number of the men came to be about 5,000.
The number of the men — Beside women and children, were about five thousand - So many did our Lord now feed at once with the bread from heaven!
Womack. 5,000 men and other numbers of women and children heard the Word and believed. Faith comes from hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17). The healing miracle (Acts 3:4-8) got their attention, but they were born again by the incorruptible seed of God’s Word (1 Peter 1:23) being planted in their hearts.
Acts 3:1 says the healing miracle happened at the ninth hour, or 3 p.m. The Sadducees came and arrested them about 6 p.m., or eventide. So, the apostles took two to three hours to instruct the people after they observed the miracle.
This miracle of healing produced a larger number of souls than the miracle of tongues on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
It’s unbelievable that only men repented and were converted in Acts 3-4. Many women and children believed on Jesus also. There could have been 10,000 or more converts. Including those who were born again on the Day of Pentecost, there were 13,000 new believers.
Evans. Jesus told His disciples in Jo. 15:20 “if they persecute me, they will also persecute you.” The truth was about to begin for Peter and John. Two things caused the religious leaders to be so angry: 1) Peter and John preached that Jesus was resurrected from the dead and they backed up that statement by healing the lame man. 2) The people were giving their attention and respect to the Christian leaders and not to them. The Jewish council or Sanhedrin did not meet at night.
Horton. Peter was preaching a resurrected Jesus, and this supported the teaching of the resurrection of all believers. It was illegal for the Sanhedrin to meet at night. There was a clash between two worldviews. Peter and John believed in the reality of unseen things. They claim that Jesus is alive and with them though unseen. This is opposite the materialistic doctrine of the Sanhedrin. They are determined to wipe it out. John and Peter proved their doctrine through the formerly lame man walking, leaping, and praising God. The conflict continues today.
In these days, only men were counted in census taking. See also Mk. 6:44, Lu. 9:14; Jo. 6:10.
Verses 5-7.
AMP. “On the next day, their magistrates and elders and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were gathered in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all others who were of high-priestly descent. When they had put the men in front of them, they repeatedly asked, “By what sort of power, or in what name [that is, by what kind of authority], did you do this healing?”
NKJV. “And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
AMP notes. Annas officially served as High Priest from AD 6-15. Jonathan, Anna’s son, served from AD 15-19. Annas was removed by the Romans in AD 15 but was considered as de facto high priest by the Jews (being so influential) afterwards even though his sons and son-in-law held the position afterward. Caiaphas, Anna’s son-in-law, was High Priest from AD 18-36. The Sanhedrin sat in a semi-circle.
Smith. This is the entire Sanhedrin, including Pharisees and Sadducees. They were trying to trick Peter and John and bring a punishable offence on them. Dt. 13: 1-5 “if a prophet or dreamer of dreams causes you to worship any other god, he is to be killed. They wanted to hear: “We did this in the name of Jesus.”
There were 71 members of the Sanhedrin, and it took 23 to have a quorum. Horton believes that there were co-High Priests. Annas was the people’s choice, but Rome had removed him and appointed Caiaphas.
Horton. Says that the Sanhedrin functioned as the Jewish Senate and Supreme Court. In the OT, the High Priest served for life and the law made no provision for the secular government to change High Priests. So, the people did not recognize Rome’s choice.
This was the same court that convicted Jesus. By what power (dunamis) and what name (authority) did you (plural) do this? (Peter had denied in Lu. 22:37). Did they remember when the disciples fled in fear when Jesus was arrested? They are trying to intimidate them. V. 13. They held them in contempt because they were uneducated.
What made the difference in Peter? He had been filled with the Holy Spirit with power to witness. The Holy Spirit will give us the same power.
Womack. The religious leaders arrested Peter and John for this miracle and evangelism but didn’t do anything on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out. I suspect they were caught off-guard on the Day of Pentecost. But after Pentecost, they had to act to keep the movement from spreading (Acts 4:17). They tried threats and intimidation. They underestimated the boldness of the Holy Spirit working in this new breed of believers. They were not questioning IF this miracle was done. They knew a great miracle had taken place. They were just questioning by what power, or authority, this deed had been done.
Verses 8-10.
Then Peter, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people [members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Court], if we are being put on trial today to interrogate us for a good deed done to benefit a disabled man, as to how this man has been restored to health, let it be known and clearly understood by all of you, and by all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you demanded be crucified by the Romans and, whom God raised from the dead—in this name that is, by the authority and power of Jesus this man stands here before you in good health.”
Note: All our works should be to demonstrate the resurrection.
NKJV. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole.”
Wesley. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost — That moment. God moves his instruments, not when they please, but just when he sees it needful. Ye rulers — He gives them the honor due to their office. Whom God hath raised from the dead — They knew in their own consciences that it was so. And though they had hired the soldiers to tell a most senseless and incredible tale to the contrary, Matthew 28:12; Matthew 28:15, yet it is observable, they did not, so far as we can learn, dare to plead it before Peter and John.
Smith. There is nothing more exciting in life than to be filled with the Spirit, led by the Spirit, and used by the Spirit to accomplish God’s purpose in our life. Peter points out the absurdity of being arrested for doing good to a lame man and then states that the man is made whole by the authority in in the name of Jesus Christ whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead (he is talking to Sadducees).
Horton. Peter had once cringed before a teenage girl who asked this same question, but he is full of the Holy Spirit now. The form of the Greek verb indicates a new fresh filling. This does not mean that he had lost any of the power and presence he received at Pentecost. Considering the situation he was in; Jesus gave him a fresh filling to meet the need of the moment. This practically fulfills Jesus’ words in Mt. 10: 19-20; Mk. 13: 9-11; Lu. 12: 11-12; 21: 12-15. They were not to worry or give advance thought to what they would say in trying circumstances. Peter did not have a Spirit of Fear (2 Tim. 1:7). Peter’s title for them was respectful and polite.
“Whom you crucified”: You is plural (the people of Israel and the leaders).
Womack. Peter had denied Jesus in front of a servant girl just a few weeks before (Mark 14:66-68 and Luke 22:56-57). Here he fearlessly proclaimed the Lord Jesus in front of the high priest and the council that preciously frightened him. The difference was being filled with the Holy Ghost, whom Jesus said would empower them to be witnesses (Acts 1:8).
Miracles passed away with the death of the first apostles. Those miracles were not seen in a special dispensation to prove that the gospel message was true. Miracles of Jesus did not end at the death of the last of Jesus’ twelve apostles. Peter explained how this miracle happened. It wasn’t because he was an apostle. It was done by the name of Jesus Christ. We still have the name of Jesus today, and therefore, these same types of miracles can and do happen today.
Peter boldly proclaimed to their face that the religious leaders were directly responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus (see also Acts 2:23 and 3:13). The Holy Spirit led, empowered, and directed Peter to speak to them that way. Politically correct ministers wouldn’t say something like this. It’s too direct. Those who soft-pedal the Gospel aren’t filled with, directed by, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Verse 11.
NKJV. “This is the ‘stone, which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’”
AMP. “This Jesus is the Stone, which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner, the Cornerstone or capstone.”
Jesus quoted this psalm to the religious leaders also. It is Ps. 118:22. See Mt. 21:23, 42, 45; I Peter2:7. Peter states it emphatically: “This one (emphatic) is ‘the stone treated with contempt, ignored, despised and scorned by you (plural) the builders, who has become the head of the corner (Horton translation). Jesus became the capstone. Some take this to mean the stone at the base of the corner where two walls meet and take their line from it.” Others take it to be the keystone or capstone above the door or the one at the top joining the two sides of an arch. Either shows that Jesus is essential to all the Father’s purposes. Jesus became the capstone because He is exalted to the Father’s right hand. God accomplished His purposes despite the opposition of the religious leaders.
Smith. Jesus made exclusive claims. “I am the way, the truth, the life. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jo. 14:6. Peter points out that only the foolish will set aside the chief cornerstone. His name implies His mission. God send His son to be the savior of the world. Jehoshua is the Hebrew translation of Jesus. It means “God is salvation.”
Womack. This is a direct reference to Psalms 118:22 and alludes to Isaiah 28:16 (Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not [a]be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].).
Peter and John were supposed to be the ones on trial, but Peter turned the tables on them and used this platform to openly proclaim their guilt in crucifying the Messiah.
Evans. The cornerstone is the stone upon which the rest of the building depends. The only way to avoid the implications of what they had done was to repent and turn to the risen Lord Jesus, the one they had killed.
Verse 12.
“And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.”
NKJV. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Horton. The salvation that the Jews hoped for in Messiah is not in anyone other than Jesus. The word “must” is an emphatic word indicating compelling necessity. If we do not find salvation through the name and person of Jesus, we shall never find it. See Is. 53 and Heb. 10:12-22, Jo. 14:6; Pro. 14:12; Mt. 7:13. There will never be another Messiah or savior. There is no hope for anyone to attain salvation apart from Christ. Only through Jesus can we enter the inheritance and glory God has promised to those who love him.
Evans. The name Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Jehoshua (Joshua) which means “The Lord Saves.” Salvation from sin, death, and hell is found only in Christ.
Womack. Jesus is the only way to the Father. As He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). We cannot save ourselves. No one else can save us. Only Jesus can save us from sin, death, and hell.
Wesley. There is no other name whereby we must he saved — The apostle uses a beautiful gradation, from the temporal deliverance which had been wrought for the poor cripple, by the power of Christ, to that of a much nobler and more important kind, which is wrought by Christ for impotent and sinful souls. He therein follows the admirable custom of his great Lord and Master, who continually took occasion from earthly to speak of spiritual things.
TPT note. There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only one name to whom God has given the authority by which we must experience the covenant of life: the name of Jesus.
Verse 13.
NKJV. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
AMP. “Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools, that they were common men with no educational advantages, they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
Horton. The priests and elders were “astonished.” They “marveled and wondered” when they saw the courage, confident openness and freedom in speech” of Peter and John. They realized that these two men were unschooled, that is, they had not attended a rabbinical school or sat under a great teacher like Gamaliel. They were ordinary men, non-professionals, laymen, amateurs. They had attended some school but were not trained speakers like the scribes and lawyers. The key to Peter and John’s ability to speak was not their natural ability or talent. It was the new, fresh filling with the Spirit in Acts 4:31. The Spirit gave them words to say. The leaders “gradually recognized” that they had been with Jesus.
Smith. These men had three years of graduate study under the greatest teacher who had ever lived. 1 Cor. 2:14. “Only a man who is depending on the Spirit and is open to the Spirit can truly understand the things of the Spirit. The religious leaders made a mistake. Peter and John had not been with Jesus; they were with Jesus at that moment. See Mt. 18:20. Even though we don’t see Him, He is with us and in our midst. Jesus always stands with us in our hour of trial. See 2 Tim. 4: 16-17. You can be sure that whenever you’re going through the fire, the Lord is with you. Beware of having a “past tense” relationship with Jesus. See Rev. 2: 4-5.
Evans. That Peter and John had received no formal rabbinical training or training under a Gamaliel is the equivalent of not attending seminary today. But it was obvious that “they had been with Jesus.” “If you’ve never been with Jesus in a spiritual relationship and enrolled in his school of discipleship, you’ll make o lasting spiritual impact on others.”
Womack. What a compliment! When we spend time with Jesus, others know it.
Boldness in the face of persecution shows the Father’s power at work in our lives (Proverbs 28:1 and Philippians 1:28).
The council associated Peter and John’s boldness with their having been with Jesus. The Lord supports education or training to make us more effective, but our lives should reflect the supernatural to such a degree that God is the only explanation for our success. Peter and John had no education, but they had power. See 2 Timothy 3:5. If our lives are not supernatural, they are superficial.
TPT. The Aramaic is “they did not know the scrolls.”
Verse 14.
“And since they saw the man who had been cured standing there beside them, they could not contradict the fact or say anything in opposition.”
“And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”
Womack. One reason people reject Christianity is because we don’t have formerly lame, healed men standing next to us. We need God’s supernatural power working through us as much as Peter and John needed it.
The Father’s miracle power that manifested in the lame man’s healing proved that Jesus’ resurrection and Lordship were true. Just as God confirmed these disciples’ message with miraculous signs, so He confirms the true Gospel with signs and wonders today.
Verse 15.
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves.
One commentator believes that Saul (Paul) was in this session of the Sanhedrin and later told Luke what was said behind closed doors.
Verse 16.
“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
AMP. “But having ordered the prisoners to go aside out of the council chamber, they conferred and debated among themselves. Saying, what are we to do with these men? For that an extraordinary miracle has been performed by and through them is plain to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
Womack. The council should have repented and believed on Jesus. They knew that a notable miracle had been done by Jesus through Peter and John, yet they did not believe. They chose many times to reject Jesus and His miracles until their hearts were hardened.
Smith. These men hardened their hearts like Pharoah did.
Horton. The religious leaders commanded Peter and John to leave the council chamber. They did not know what to do. They could not deny that “an outstanding miracle” or ‘known supernatural sign” had been done through the men. All Jerusalem saw it. This could imply that they did not deny the resurrection of Jesus. They were bothered by the fact that the disciples were using it to teach a future resurrection for all believers. They had attempted to deal with this problem by bribing the soldier to say that His body had been stolen. Brewer note: The religious leaders knew and at least inwardly acknowledged that Jesus was raised from the dead. Still, they hardened their hearts and did not want to relinquish their authority.
Verse 17.
“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
The rulers wanted Peter and John to quit preaching in Jesus’ name for selfish reasons. They didn’t care about the sick who needed His healing or the lost who needed the salvation only Jesus could provide. They only thought of themselves. If the Jews converted to Christ, the religious rulers would lose their positions, influence, power, and wealth. They wanted to retain their power and authority, so they fought against the power and authority of Jesus. The truth is that “only by pride cometh contention” (Proverbs 3:10). People who love to have the preeminence (3 John 1:9) are usually the instigators of persecution.
Evans. The religious leaders did not care about truth. They only cared about preserving their authority.
Smith. The leaders made a mistake when thinking that they could stop Peter and John from preaching through threats.
Verse 18.
“So, they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”
Smith. They threatened Peter and John with imprisonment if they did not stop preaching Jesus.
Horton. The Sanhedrin knew that they could not bribe the disciples. They decided to threaten them.
Womack. This reflects the spirit of anti-Christ. The leaders didn’t forbid Peter and John from healing others. They forbade them from preaching that Jesus was raised from the dead and from healing in Jesus’ name.
Verse 19.
“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.”
Womack. Does anyone believe that obedience to government comes ahead of obedience to God? Certainly not! However, in practice, many people obey government more than God either because they don’t have a true relationship with the Lord, or they are afraid of the consequences of disobeying government. However, those who are more moved by the temporal judgment of government than by God’s eternal judgment are incredibly shortsighted.
The disciples posed this question to the religious leaders for them to decide which was right. Should they obey God or man? Of course, the answer was obvious. But the Jews showed by their actions that they didn’t get it. So, in Acts 5:29, the disciples clearly stated, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” That is still true today.
Some have incorrectly taken Peter’s statements in 1 Peter 2:13-17 about submitting “to every ordinance of man” and applied them in a way that, in this instance, would have made Peter violate his teaching. However, Peter and John’s actions here clarify the true meaning of his later statements. There is a difference between submission and obedience. Peter and John did not obey government commands that violated God’s laws.
Horton. The leaders told Peter and John not to preach, teach, or heal in the name of Jesus. Certainly not to preach that he rose from the dead.
Smith. Will United States citizens face jail for their testimony of Jesus in the future?
Verse 20.
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Womack. Few of us have seen and heard the Lord as Peter had. That’s not God’s fault. The Lord wants to reveal Himself to us more than we want it. But few of us have taken the time and made the commitment necessary to learn the ways of God.
Horton. Peter and John testified that they could not stop talking about what they had seen and heard. They were not hearsay witnesses. They were firsthand witnesses (see I Jo. 1: 1,3.). See also Jer. 20:9; Amos 3:8. Because they were filled with the Spirit, they fulfilled Jesus’s command to be witnesses. “The Spirit is the God who cannot be gagged.”
Evans. We are to “submit to the governing authorities” (Ro. 13:1) and “to every human authority” (I Peter 2:13). But when government commands contradict God’s commands, our allegiance is to Jesus.
Smith. In the future, we may face being charged with a hate crime for witnessing and trying to convert others to Christ.
Verse 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.
So, when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.
AMP. “Then when the rulers and council members had further threatened them, they let them go, not seeing how they could secure a conviction against them because of the people; for everybody was praising and glorifying God for what had occurred.
Wesley. They all glorified God — So much wiser were the people than those who were over them.
Womack. The rulers were not motivated by what was right or wrong but by fear of losing public support. Justice, whether in the church or in civil government, should always be dispensed based on what’s right and wrong, not on how people will react to the decision.
These religious rulers were not God’s spokesmen. They prostituted their God-given office for their selfish advantage. However, they were shortsighted in their goals. They may have gained something temporarily, but they damned their souls eternally (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Smith. All the people glorified the Father. In Mt. 5:16, Jesus told us to let our light shine before men so that they would see our good works and glorify the Father. This good work glorified the Father – not the vessels. Peter and John’s goal, if they had a goal, was that the glory would go back to the Father.
Horton. The Sanhedrin tried to find a plausible offense to punish Peter and John, but they could not because of the people. Remember, this man was lame from birth and had been lame for over 40 years. This healing was evidence that Peter and John continued to do what Jesus did and taught. The Sanhedrin added more threats but let them go. The Sanhedrin had no case against Peter and John; they could not refute their message. It was a major crack in their uniform of power.
Evans. The Sanhedrin were afraid that they would start a riot if they punished Peter and John.
Verse 22-23.
“For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.”
AMP. For the man on whom this sign (miracle) of healing was performed was more than forty years old. After they were permitted to go, [the apostles] returned to their own [company] and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
TPT note. The number 40 is significant for it speaks of transformation and completeness through testing. Jesus was tempted 40 days, the deluge under Noah lasted 40 days and 40 nights, Moses met with God 40 days on the mountain, and Elijah fasted for 40 days. Jesus spent 40 days appearing to his disciples to teach them that a day of completeness and transformation had arrived. It took them 40 days to comprehend that Christ’s spiritual Kingdom was not political.
The unnamed lame man spent, perhaps, forty years begging because of his congenital disability. Imagine his thoughts and emotions when he realized that Jesus had healed him. So far as we know, he is not mentioned again in scripture. Did he remain faithful to Jesus? He had a change of profession. His newfound family in Christ was a big part of his new life and helped him make necessary adjustments.
How did the apostles react when they were persecuted? After their deliverance, they reported to the other believers what had happened. They edified and encouraged their fellow Christians. That is an important function of the Body of Christ (Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 4:16, and 1 Peter 5:9).
Smith. After their trial, Peter and John left hostility and gained comfort from being with the Body. How refreshing to gather with like-minded believers who love God.
Horton. The assembled believers who Peter and John returned to most certainly had assembled to pray for Peter and John. Since by this time, the believers’ numbers over 5,000 men, the “their own people” may have referred to the original 120. Others note that the believers were meeting in Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 5:12) and the entire Body were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word boldly. Apparently, the Body was close at that time.
Evans. This was the first opposition experienced by the Apostles – by those who had persecuted and crucified Jesus.
Verse 24-31.
AMP. “And when they heard it, lifted their voices together with one united mind to God and said, O Sovereign Lord, you are He Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them. Who by the mouth of our forefather David, your servant and child, said through the Holy Spirit, why did the heathen or Gentiles become wanton, insolent and full of rage, and the people imagine, study, and plan vain, fruitless things that will not succeed? The kings of the earth took their stand in array for attack and the rulers were assembled and combined against the Lord and against His Anointed, the Christ, the Messiah. For in this city, they met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, whom you consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, to carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined and predetermined should occur. And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bondservant’s full freedom to declare Your message fearlessly while You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage.”
NKJV. “So, when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, you are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Womack. Take note of this prayer’s contents. This is the first persecution (or censorship) that the church experienced and their first prayer in response to persecution. They did not pray for the persecution to stop. They didn’t pray for change in the religious or government leadership. They did not pray that they could without fear of persecution. Rather they prayed for boldness, so they could continue preaching the Word regardless of what anyone else did. Satan’s ultimate purpose in persecution is to stop the spread of God’s Word. Even if we don’t stop speaking the Word but divert the bulk of our energies to social or political reform, then persecution has negatively impacted the Word. One might reason.
A hostile and pagan government opposed the early church, but the church was not diverted from its primary purpose – preaching the Word. The message of the Gospel multiplied faster and farther in the first century than during any other period in history.
The Lord calls every believer to preach the good news of Jesus’ love. If believers have also been called to work in government, then let them use that as an opportunity to promote godly legislation and glorify the Lord, just the same as the Lord would expect craftsmen to use their trade to advance the Gospel. However, all believers must remember that the Lord’s commission is to change hearts with the Gospel, not change governments. If the church was to keep that as its primary directive, then as people change, governments and societies would change as a byproduct. Once the emphasis shifts from the Gospel changing people to laws restraining people, then it is only a matter of time until darkness prevails. A room cannot be rid of darkness by removing the dark; the light must be turned on.
The apostles quoted Psalms 2:1-2 and applied those scriptures to Jesus. See also Acts 13:33. Indeed, “Christ” means “anointed.” Psalms 2:7 mentions Yahweh speaking to His Son. So, Psalms 2 clearly presents the Father and the Son.
The English word “imagine” is translated from the Greek word “MELETAO,” which means “to take care of, i.e. by implication, “to revolve in the mind” (Strong’s Concordance). This Greek word is used three times in the New Testament. The other two times, it was translated “meditate” (1 Timothy 4:15) and “premeditate” (Mark 13:11). This is quoted from Psalms 2:2.
In this prayer, the disciples identified one of the most important things to remember when persecution comes: The persecution was not really against them, but against the Lord.
This scripture provides a good commentary on the word “Christ.” Psalms 2:2 says, “against his anointed,” while this passage says, “against his Christ.” “Christ” means “anointed,” and these terms are used interchangeably. Jesus is the anointed one spoken of in Psalms 2:2.
Jews and Gentiles are responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. The Lord used Herod, Pilate, the Jewish rulers, and even the Jewish people to crucify Jesus and accomplish His plan of redemption. They were more than pawns, however. They had freedom of choice. The Lord didn’t make them do those things. But He knew man and what was in their hearts (John 2:24-25). He knew what they would do, and the Lord used their sinfulness to accomplish His plans. 1 Corinthians 2:8 shows that if they had known the outcome of their actions beforehand, none of them would have condemned Jesus. Their free will was intact. On the Day of Judgment, these people will be accountable for their actions in crucifying the Lord of glory.
Understanding our righteous positions in the Lord is the key to boldness (Proverbs 28:1). The disciples asked the Lord to speak His Word (Acts 4:29) through them: by performing miracles. The working of miracles is part of preaching the Word. Those who separate speaking the Word from doing the Word are not following the New Testament. The Lord answered their prayer by enabling the apostles to work signs and wonders among the people (Acts 5:12). Multitudes of new believers were added to the Lord (Acts 5:14). The presence of the Holy Spirit shook the place. This was a physical manifestation caused by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples had already been filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4), so what was happening here? The Holy Spirit resides in our spirits, and once He comes, He doesn’t leave (John 14:16). The disciples experienced an initial filling of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost. However, the Holy Spirit’s control and influence over our souls and bodies fluctuates proportionately to how well our minds are renewed to His will (Romans 12:2). In that sense, we can be “fuller” of the Holy Ghost at different times, although the presence and power of the Holy Spirit does not come and go in our spirits. Therefore, even after we receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, our souls and bodies will sometimes stray from the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and we will need, once again, to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Wesley. The sense is, Lord, thou hast all power. And thy word is fulfilled. Men do rage against thee: but it is in vain. Psalms 2:1. Whom thou hast anointed — To be king of Israel. The sense is, but they could do no more than thou wast pleased to permit, according to thy determinate counsel, to save mankind by the sufferings of thy Son. And what was needful for this end, thou didst before determine to permit to be done. They were all filled — Afresh; and spake the word with boldness - So their petition was granted.
Evans. Peter and John experienced persecution from the religious and political leaders who had murdered Jesus. They did not cower in fear; they did not leave town; they did not fear the Sanhedrin. They prayed to Yahweh and feared Yahweh. They saw the opposition of Jewish and Gentile leaders to Jesus as a fulfillment of Psalm 2. God used the unrighteous leaders’ decisions to further the Kingdom.
The apostles asked for even more boldness. God answered their prayer by shaking the building, refilling them with the Holy Spirit, and giving them even more boldness. The absence of such boldness as possessed by the Apostles indicates a lack of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Horton. Peter and John did not groan or complain by the Sanhedrin’s actions. They raised “their voice” which is usually singular which indicates that they prayed in unison, in one accord, in one purpose.
From this prayer, we learn several things. First, they recognized who God is. They addressed Him as Despota, a different word from that translated “Lord” in most other Bible passages, this meaning being “Master, Owner, Sovereign Lord.” He has all power and authority. Second, they based their petition on God’s Word. See Ps. 2: 1-2. The disciples recognized that they were seeing an expression of hostility against God’s Kingdom that has marked the world since Adam’s fall. Here “servant” is the dedicated, consecrated Servant of the Lord. See Is. 52:13-53:12. Third, the believers based their petition on what God did through Jesus. See Gen. 15:1. Even after a great victory of expressed boldness, we can feel “pushed back” later. They were praying for boldness to enable them to do what had resulted in their arrest. Miracles were to show the people that Jesus was raised from the dead.
After they prayed, the place where they were praying was shaken by the Holy Spirit, not by an earthquake. At the same time, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The Greek of v. 31 indicates again a new, fresh filling of the Spirit. The Greek does not uphold the idea that only new believers were filled. All the believers, including the Apostles, were freshly filled at this time, empowering them to meet continued need and the pressures that came. New, fresh fillings of the Spirit are part of God’s provision for all believers. As we give ourselves to Him, He gives Himself to us.
Smith. The disciples didn’t rush into their prayer. They worshipped first. Worship gives us perspective and strength. Address your prayers to someone who has authority to do something about your need. See Ep. 3:20. They acknowledged His great power in their prayer. See 2 Cor. 14:11. They recognized in their prayer that none of these events had taken God by surprise. He had written about them through David in Ps. 2:1-2 over 1,000 years before.
Verse 32.
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
AMP. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
Womack. This multitude was comprised of the 5,000 from Acts 4:4 and the 3,000 from Acts 2:41. At least 8,000 people were operating in unity (more like 15,00-20,000 believers). God pours out special blessing when brethren dwell together in unity (Psalms 133). The key to unity is a lack of selfishness (Pro. 13:10).
Smith. The Spirit of God works in an environment of love and unity and at the church’s beginning, there was glorious love and unity. See Ps. 133:1 and Ro. 16:17 (avoid those who cause disunity). See also Pro. 6: 16-19.
Verse 33.
“And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
AMP. “And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.”
This verse relates to Acts 4:32. Carnality hinders the flow of God’s power, and division is carnality (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). Some miracles won’t happen without the unity spoken of here. It sometimes takes a corporate anointing to see the greatest power of God manifested.
This great power was associated with great grace. Grace is more than God’s unmerited favor. It is all of God’s ability. When we appropriate all God’s ability through grace, our faith works better.
Smith. Great power and great grace. They spoke the Word with boldness and God demonstrated Jesus’ resurrection through signs, wonders, and miracles.
Verses 34-37.
Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Jose’s, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
AMP. “Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought and gave back the amount received from the sales. They laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need. Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which interpreted means Son of Encouragement, sold a field which belonged to him and brought the sum of money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.”
Womack. This was an expression of love that was a result of them receiving God’s love at Pentecost (Romans 5:5). It didn’t work well or long. Not many years later, there were poor saints in Jerusalem (Romans 15:26). Why did they institute this communal lifestyle? (Note: this is not communal living). Certainly, they were filled with the love of God in a way that caused them to love others more than themselves (Philippians 2:3). It’s also possible they thought the Second Coming was so imminent that they could liquidate their assets and survive until Jesus’ second return. Ultimately, this didn’t work, and the believers of Macedonia and Achaia had to send relief to the poor saints in Jerusalem (Romans 15:26).
This Joses Barnabas became prominent among the early believers. He was a leader in the selling of one’s goods to meet the needs of other believers. Later, he was the first one in Jerusalem to accept the conversion of Saul and pleaded his case before the apostles (Acts 9:26-27). Barnabas was selected by the Jerusalem church to investigate the rumored conversion of Gentiles at Antioch, and the Scripture reports him as being “a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith” who led many people unto the Lord (Acts 11:20-24). After his mission in Antioch was completed, Barnabas went to Tarsus and brought Saul (Paul) back to Antioch with him where they stayed for one year teaching the believers. Barnabas was the one the Lord used to bring the Apostle Paul out of his fourteen-year seclusion (Galatians 2:1). Barnabas and Saul were selected by the church in Antioch to carry their gifts to the church in Judea (Acts 11:29-30). Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch where, through the direction of the Holy Spirit, they were sent out on Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-3). They visited Barnabas’ home of Cyprus as well as cities in Asia Minor (Acts 13:13-14). After returning to Antioch, the church there sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to settle a dispute about the Gentile believers having to be circumcised (Acts 15:1-2). Barnabas, as well as Paul, spoke to the elders about this matter (Acts 15:12). The church at Jerusalem then sent Barnabas and Paul, as well as others, back to Antioch with a decree from the apostles (Acts 15:30). Barnabas and Paul again ministered in Antioch (Acts 15:35) until Paul asked Barnabas to accompany him as he went back to minister to the converts they had made on their first missionary tour (Acts 15:36). When Barnabas refused to go without John Mark, Paul and Barnabas parted company. Barnabas and John Mark went to Cyprus, and Paul and Silas went to Asia Minor. Paul later mentioned Barnabas in his epistles (1 Corinthians 9:6 and Colossians 4:10), although there is no further mention of him in the book of Acts. Apparently, before Barnabas and Paul became companions, Barnabas, along with Peter and others, was moved away from his conviction of the liberty in Christ because of a fear of the legalistic Jews (Galatians 2:13).
How is it that Barnabas, who was a Levite, owned land when Numbers 18:20-24 forbade any Levite to have an inheritance among the children of Israel? There are at least three viable explanations for this. First, Barnabas was from the island of Cyprus, and that was not in the land of Israel. Numbers 18:20-24 had prohibited any Levite from owning any property in the nation of Israel. It is possible that the land he sold was not in Israel, and therefore he was not in violation of God’s command. Second, it is possible that this land belonged to Barnabas’ wife before they were married, and if she was not from the tribe of Levi, then she could have come by it without violating the instructions of Numbers 18. Third, it is also possible that the Israelites had ceased to obey the command of Numbers 18. Even before the captivity of Jerusalem, Jeremiah, who was a priest, was instructed by the Lord to buy a field (Jeremiah 32:6-25), although this action cannot be taken as the Lord setting a new precedent but rather as an exception to illustrate a prophecy. During the dispersion and the re-gathering of the Jews in Israel, there were long periods of time when they were without a temple, and therefore the Levites had no duties to perform and no offerings from the people. So, the system as God established it in Numbers 18 had ceased to function, and there is no biblical record that it was ever reinstated.
Smith. Joses is Greek for the Hebrew Joseph (adding). He was used to breach the gap between Paul and the other apostles.
Horton. The work of the Spirit was not limited to the Apostles but to all the disciples. The Greek does not indicate that everyone sold his or her property at once. Rather, some sold from “time to time” as the Lord brought it to their attention. Barnabas is never called Joseph again. Cyprus had a large Jewish population.