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.”

• The phrase, “And as they spake…” shows us that the context has not changed (Acts 3:1-26).
• The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees have been and will continue to be involved in the opposition to our Lord (cf. Luke 22:1-4, Luke 22:52, and Acts 5:17-24).
• The wording “being grieved” means “to toil through, that is, (passively) be worried: - be grieved” (Strong’s # 1278).
• They didn’t want the resurrection of Christ preached. Think back to what occurred after Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus (John 11:45-53).
• We will see in the next chapter a concern that the blood of Christ will be brought upon them (Acts 5:28).

• 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). 

• 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.).

• 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).

• 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).

• 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).

• 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).

• 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).