Bible Words of Truth logo
Bible Words of TruthRightly Dividing The Word of Truth

Verse By Verse Through Acts


Chapter Four

Acts 4:1-2 “And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”


Acts 4:3 “And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.”

  • Persecution of the saints in the first century often included imprisonment (Acts 5:18, Acts 8:3, Acts 12:1-4, Acts 16:16-24, Acts 22:4, and Revelation 2:10). 

Acts 4:4 “Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.”

  • Regardless of the actions of the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees; the Gospel was at work. No matter what the enemies of truth do, the word of God will not be bound (II Timothy 2:9).
  • Many believed [πιστεύω] (cf. Acts 5:14, Acts 11:19-21, Acts 13:5-12, Acts 15:5, and Acts 17:12).
  • The Gospel is the power of salvation to everyone that believeth (Romans 1:16).
  • There had been about three thousand souls added in Acts 2:41. Now the number of the men was about five thousand.
  • As this is the second letter to the Christian Theophilus, the details of their conversion are not spelled out here. Acts was not written as an instruction manual to lost people explaining, step by step, what they must do to have their sins forgiven. Nevertheless, one can examine the various conversion accounts throughout the letter and see what people were taught and what they did (Acts 2:36-41, Acts 3:19, Acts 8:5-39, Acts 9:1-20, Acts 10:1-11:18, Acts 16:13-40, Acts 18:8, Acts 19:1-7, Acts 22:1-16, etc.).

Acts 4:5-6 “And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.”

  • The party is growing. This is starting to spell out the way the conspiracy to kill Jesus did (Matthew 27:1-2 and Mark 15:1).
  • Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests (Luke 3:2).
  • Annas was the father in law to Caiaphas (John 18:13-14).

Acts 4:7 “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”

  • The approach of these men is similar to what we see with Jesus (Luke 20:1-8). The Holy Ghost will have Peter respond to this situation differently than Jesus did.
  • They erred in not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God (Mark 12:24).
  • Think about the hypocrisy of these sinful men questioning a miracle done by God’s messengers. In general, those in sin have no right to examine others until that person(s) clean up their own lives (Matthew 7:1-5).
Acts 4:8-10 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”

  • Peter, and the rest of the Apostles, were filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:5-8 and Acts 2:1-4; cf. Acts 4:31 and Acts 9:17). “Filled with” doesn’t mean a literal indwelling. For example, the same wording is in Ephesians 3:19 regarding being “filled with” the fulness of God.
  • The reason Peter being “filled with the Holy Ghost” is mentioned in connection to Peter speaking is to source the words Peter spoke to the Spirit (Luke 12:11-12; I Corinthians 2:9-13 and II Peter 1:20-21).
  • He addresses the rulers and elders of Israel (cf. Acts 4:5-6).
  • Peter addressed what was happening as them being examined. Examined [ἀνακρίνω] meaning: “properly to scrutinize, that is, (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine: - ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search” (Strong’s # 350). This term is used in judicial, investigative ways (Luke 23:14 and Acts 12:19). However, it is also used as in “searched” (Acts 17:11) or discerning; judging (I Corinthians 2:14-15).
  • The Holy Spirit has Peter address their examination by pointing out that they are examining a “good deed” in reference to the healing of the impotent man (Acts 3:1-10).
  • Just remember what the elders of the Jews had done in the past in seeking Jesus to heal a centurion’s servant (Luke 7:1-10). Then later on, the elders questioned Jesus by what authority Jesus worked (Luke 20:1-8).
  • Nothing is being hidden (John 18:20). Thus, “Be it known unto you…” (cf. Acts 13:38 and Acts 28:28).
  • Peter clearly states that the man was made whole by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 3:13-16; cf. Acts 16:16-18).
  • Then the Spirit had Peter restate the death and resurrection of Christ and who was to blame (Acts 2:22-24; 2:36) as the Apostles will continue to do going forward (Acts 5:29-32).

Acts 4:11 “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”

  • The Scriptural reference is Psalms 118:22-23.
  • Isaiah makes reference to Christ in similar fashion (Isaiah 28:16).
  • In the company of the chief priests and the elders Jesus addressed this (Matthew 21:23; Matthew 21:33-46 and Luke 20:1; Luke 20:9-18).
  • Peter later references this (I Peter 2:1-9).
  • Jesus is the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20-22).
  • Their rejection and killing of Christ did not prevent Him from becoming the head of the corner or the church from being established as He had promised (Matthew 16:13-18; cf. Ephesians 1:20-23).

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

  • Jesus is the only way (John 14:6 and I John 5:11-12).
  • Jesus is the only foundation (I Corinthians 3:11).
  • Salvation would not be found in the priests, elders, or any other person on earth. Jesus is the only door to eternal life (John 10:1-18).
  • Just think, they rejected the only way to be saved (I John 2:23-25).
  • They were more concerned about their place and nation than salvation (John 11:47-48). Furthermore, they converted others and made those converts worse than themselves (Matthew 23:15). The traditions they held and taught made the word of God of none effect (Mark 7:1-13).

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

  • As we saw in chapter two, the preaching of the Apostles was bold. They spoke freely [boldly] (Acts 2:29) as they should have (Ephesians 6:18-20).
  • They saw the boldness of Peter and John while perceiving them to be unlearned and ignorant men. This contributed to their marveling at them (Acts 26:22-25 and I Corinthians 1:18-24).
  • Just as a side point, being ignorant [rude] in speaking (II Corinthians 11:6) didn’t matter (I Corinthians 2:1-13).
  • They marveled at what they saw in Peter and John. Similar reactions occurred when the Apostles spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance and when the lame man was healed (Acts 2:4-7; 3:11-12).
  • They knew Peter and John had been with Jesus (cf. Matthew 26:71).

Acts 4:14 “And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”

  • The healed man was standing there in good health (Acts 4:10).
  • With the evidence clearly in front of them, they could not deny it. When this happened with Lazarus the chief priests wanted to kill him (John 12:9-11).

Acts 4:15-16 “But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.”

  • The council was not in favor of our Lord (Mark 14:55 and John 11:47-48).
  • The miracle was known (Acts 3:9-10).
  • As we saw with Jesus, miracles did not change those who were unwilling to believe (John 12:37-43).
  • They would have loved to deny the miracle, but the evidence could not be covered up. Just think of the lengths they were willing to go to in attempting to cover up the resurrection of Christ (Matthew 28:11-15).

Acts 4:17-18 “But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

  • Their solution, in an attempt to keep the message from spreading any further, was to threaten Peter and John and command them not to speak or teach in the name of Christ. This is not a new tactic for the erring in Israel. The prophets of old faced similar demands (Isaiah 30:9-11, Jeremiah 18:18, and Amos 2:12).
  • Such threats against the Lord's messengers were not always empty (II Chronicles 24:19-21 and Jeremiah 38:16).
  • As we proceed through the next chapter, we will see the Apostles are not going to stop preaching in the name of the Lord and they will face consequences for it.
Acts 4:19 “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.”

  • Peter and John had received their orders from the Lord (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, and Luke 24:47).
  • They had been taught that they would be persecuted (Matthew 5:10-12 and Matthew 10:16-23) and hated (John 15:18-20).
  • What matters is what is pleasing to the Lord (Ephesians 5:10).
  • Peter and John will make their position even clearer in the next verse (Acts 4:20).

Acts 4:20 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

  • This is not because the Spirit left them unable to be silent. The Spirit working through them did not cause them to lose their free will (I Corinthians 14:32 and I Thessalonians 5:19-20).
  • Rather, the truth had such a hold upon them that remaining silent was not an acceptable option to them (Jeremiah 20:9, Acts 17:16-17, and Acts 18:5).
  • They had seen and heard too much to keep quiet. Jesus expected them to testify of what they had seen and heard (Acts 1:8, John 15:26-27, and Acts 10:42).
  • Think about how this could apply to all saints (I Peter 3:12-17).
  • We will revisit their being witnesses later in this context (Acts 4:33).

Acts 4:21 “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.”

  • Their goal was to threaten them (Acts 4:17). They did that.
  • The fear of the people continues to stand in the way of the Jewish religious leaders who want to stop the Lord’s work (cf. Luke 20:19).
  • So, make sure to realize that their restraint was not produced by repentance or respect for the truth. They were restrained by their fear of the people's reaction (cf. Acts 5:26).
  • God had been glorified by the miracle which had caused them to be upset with Peter and John (Acts 3:6-9).

Acts 4:22 “For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.”

  • The man that was healed was lame from his mother’s womb (Acts 3:2).
  • What made this a “notable miracle” (Acts 4:16) was the very fact that this man was over forty years old and had never walked. His healing was manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem.
  • Later, we will see a very similar miracle performed upon a man who had also been crippled from birth and had never walked. Rather than denying the miracle, the people responded by attempting to worship Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:8-18).

Acts 4:23 “And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.”

  • At this time the saints were together and had all things common (Acts 2:44-45 and Acts 4:32).
  • Being among brethren was the focus before and after these events (Acts 1:13-14 and Acts 12:11-12).
  • They reported what had happened, as we will see occur on other occasions and under different circumstances (Acts 14:27 and Acts 15:4-6).

Acts 4:24-26 “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.”

  • This was a prayer (Acts 4:31).
  • The saints understood the need to pray even when circumstances were bad (Acts 16:25 and I Thessalonians 5:16-18). They could pour out their hearts before God (Psalms 62:1-8).
  • As we have seen before, they were with one accord in prayer (Acts 1:14).
  • The Lord is God (Jeremiah 10:10).
  • Remember, at this time, God was directing them through the Spirit in a direct fashion. We will see this soon (Acts 4:31).
  • With the direct work of God in mind, think of how they were able to look at the threats of man in light of the might of the Creator (Acts 5:38-39; cf. Isaiah 40:28, Jeremiah 32:16-35,  and I Peter 4:19).
  • They referenced Psalms 2:1-2 which, through that context, shows the direct work of God they had in mind (Psalms 2:1-12).
  • Remember what Jesus told the Apostles (Matthew 21:18-22, John 14:13, John 15:7, and John 16:24).

Acts 4:27-28 “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, or to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”

  • This refers to the record of what happened to Christ (Luke 23:1-46).
  • This confirms it was according to the plans of God (Isaiah 53:10 and Acts 2:22-24).
  • They will refer to Jesus again as the holy child (Acts 4:30).
  • The same Greek word is used in the previous chapter and is simply translated “Son” (Acts 3:13; 3:26; see: Strong’s # 3816). Jesus was the only begotten Son of God our Father (John 1:1-18, John 3:16-18, and I John 4:9).
  • God’s will cannot be thwarted by man (Isaiah 46:9-10). Think about the reference to Psalms 2 here. They are acting willingly. They are not portrayed as puppets. Yet the very rebellion they freely undertake is incorporated into God's redemptive plan. That is almost ironic. They think they are overthrowing God's Anointed. Instead, they ended up accomplishing His redemptive purpose.

Acts 4:29-30 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.”

  • We will see shortly (Acts 4:31) that this request is about the direct work of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 10:16-20, Mark 13:11, Acts 2:4, and Acts 6:8-10).
  • Those who were moved to speak, through the work of the Holy Spirit, could pray for the Spirit’s help with being bold (Ephesians 6:18-20).
  • The signs and wonders done in the name of Christ confirmed the word that was preached (Mark 16:15-20 and Hebrews 2:1-4). Such miraculous works could also produce fear among those who witnessed them (Acts 2:43 and Acts 5:1-12; cf. Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, and Proverbs 9:10).

Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

  • They had been praying for the work of the Spirit to aid them directly. Jesus had promised them they could ask such things and receive them (Luke 11:9-13).
  • This resembles what we saw in chapter two (Acts 2:1-4).
  • When God directly intervened, He often did so that He was glorified and that no one or nothing else could take that glory (Isaiah 48:5-11). This happened in such a fashion that both those present and those reading the account can know that God answered their request.
  • As a result, they spake with boldness, plainness of speech (II Corinthians 3:12).

Acts 4:32 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

  • We have seen unity among the disciples of our Lord since He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:14).
  • His body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), continued to be of one accord with singleness of heart (Acts 2:42; 2:46).
  • Being of one heart [thoughts; feelings; Strong’s # 2588] and soul [rational soul; Strong’s # 5590] shows collective aligning of thoughts (Amos 3:3, Romans 12:16, I Corinthians 1:10, II Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 4:1-6, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 2:2, Philippians 3:15-16, etc.).
  • As we saw earlier in this letter to Theophilus (Acts 2:44-45), these saints were assembling together and sharing their material possessions and resources. Their circumstances would eventually change, particularly as persecution caused disciples to be scattered from Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-4).

Acts 4:33 “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

  • In the first chapter of this letter to Theophilus and the last chapter of the last letter to Theophilus, you can read that Jesus promised “power” to the Apostles (Luke 24:44-49 and Acts 1:8). They received both authority and miraculous abilities as promised (Acts 2:1-4). This also signified the establishment of the the kingdom (Mark 9:1).
  • All of these tie together in their being witnesses of our Lord (Acts 2:32-33)!
  • The word translated 'grace' here is the same Greek word translated 'favour' in Acts 2:47 (Strong's #5485). However, Acts 2:47 specifically speaks of favor with the people, whereas Acts 4:33 states that great grace was upon all the disciples. The context must determine the sense of the word in each passage.

Acts 4:34-37 “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.”

  • You have just seen that the saints were sharing their material possessions. These passages give some details into how that worked.
  • The Apostles had already made significant material sacrifices to follow Jesus (Matthew 19:27 and Luke 12:22-34).
  • The Apostles had experienced that this vulnerability did not cause them to starve (Luke 22:35).
  • Think back to what the Psalmist said (Psalms 37:25).
  • Later in this letter, we will see that those who stepped up here to share end up vulnerable and yet were able to depend on saints elsewhere for aid in a time of need (Acts 11:27-30, Romans 15:25-27, I Corinthians 16:1-4, and II Corinthians 8:1-9:13). While the Scriptures do not explicitly establish that their later financial needs resulted from the sacrifices described here, this context shows they made early sacrifices that likely contributed to their later needs.
  • These were not careless decisions. They were decisions made at the will of the Lord. Remember, not every Christian is to sell all that they own and live as these saints did. This is a unique situation. There are other instructions that pertain to saints that prove this out (Acts 20:34-35, Ephesians 4:28, I Thessalonians 4:11-12, II Thessalonians 3:10-12, and I Timothy 5:8).
  • Distribution was made according to need. Think about the contentment aspect this would require of those who might have become accustomed to much (cf. Philippians 4:10-12 and I Timothy 6:6-10).
  • We are introduced here to Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas. We will read much more about him from Acts chapter nine through chapter fifteen. Barnabas will become a close companion to the Apostle Paul. Unfortunately, they will have a parting of ways (Acts 15:36-41). When you study through the letter to the Galatians you find out that Barnabas was carried away with the hypocrisy that had occurred in a time wherein Peter erred (Galatians 2:11-14).
  • At this point in time the Apostles were the only one’s identified as leaders. Later, we will see elders in place to do this work as we read in a reference above (Acts 11:30).




Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Acts Index

Return To Homepage

Return To Brian's Bible Notes Page