10 Be it G2077 known G1110 unto you G5213 all, G3956 and G2532 to all G3956 the people G2992 of Israel, G2474 that G3754 by G1722 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 of Nazareth, G3480 whom G3739 ye G5210 crucified, G4717 whom G3739 God G2316 raised G1453 from G1537 the dead, G3498 even by G1722 him G5129 doth G3936 this man G3778 stand here G3936 before G1799 you G5216 whole. G5199
Saying, G3004 Sir, G2962 we remember G3415 that G3754 that G1565 deceiver G4108 said, G2036 while he was yet G2089 alive, G2198 After G3326 three G5140 days G2250 I will rise again. G1453 Command G2753 therefore G3767 that the sepulchre G5028 be made sure G805 until G2193 the third G5154 day, G2250 lest G3379 his G846 disciples G3101 come G2064 by night, G3571 and steal G2813 him G846 away, G2813 and G2532 say G2036 unto the people, G2992 He is risen G1453 from G575 the dead: G3498 so G2532 the last G2078 error G4106 shall be G2071 worse than G5501 the first. G4413 G1161 Pilate G4091 said G5346 unto them, G846 Ye have G2192 a watch: G2892 go your way, G5217 make it as sure G805 as G5613 ye can. G1492 So G1161 they went, G4198 and made G805 the sepulchre G5028 sure, G805 sealing G4972 the stone, G3037 and setting G3326 a watch. G2892
Then G1161 Peter G4074 said, G2036 Silver G694 and G2532 gold G5553 have G5225 I G3427 none; G3756 but G1161 such as G3739 G5124 I have G2192 give I G1325 thee: G4671 In G1722 the name G3686 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 of Nazareth G3480 rise up G1453 and G2532 walk. G4043
The LORD H3068 hath said H1696 concerning you, O ye remnant H7611 of Judah; H3063 Go H935 ye not into Egypt: H4714 know H3045 certainly H3045 that I have admonished H5749 you this day. H3117 For ye dissembled H8582 in your hearts, H5315 when ye sent H7971 me unto the LORD H3068 your God, H430 saying, H559 Pray H6419 for us unto the LORD H3068 our God; H430 and according unto all that the LORD H3068 our God H430 shall say, H559 so declare H5046 unto us, and we will do H6213 it.
But if H2006 not, H3809 be it H1934 known H3046 unto thee, O king, H4430 that we will H383 not H3809 serve H6399 thy gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which thou hast set up. H6966
Now G1161 when they G846 were going, G4198 behold, G2400 some G5100 of the watch G2892 came G2064 into G1519 the city, G4172 and shewed G518 unto the chief priests G749 all the things G537 that were done. G1096 And G2532 when they were assembled G4863 with G3326 the elders, G4245 and G5037 had taken G2983 counsel, G4824 they gave G1325 large G2425 money G694 unto the soldiers, G4757 Saying, G3004 Say ye, G2036 G3754 His G846 disciples G3101 came G2064 by night, G3571 and stole G2813 him G846 away while we G2257 slept. G2837 And G2532 if G1437 this G5124 come G191 to G1909 the governor's G2232 ears, G191 we G2249 will persuade G3982 him, G846 and G2532 secure G275 G4160 you. G5209 So G1161 they took G2983 the money, G694 and did G4160 as G5613 they were taught: G1321 and G2532 this G3778 saying G3056 is commonly reported G1310 among G3844 the Jews G2453 until G3360 this day. G4594
Ye men G435 of Israel, G2475 hear G191 these G5128 words; G3056 Jesus G2424 of Nazareth, G3480 a man G435 approved G584 of G575 God G2316 among G1519 you G5209 by miracles G1411 and G2532 wonders G5059 and G2532 signs, G4592 which G3739 God G2316 did G4160 by G1223 him G846 in G1722 the midst G3319 of you, G5216 as G2531 ye yourselves G846 also G2532 know: G1492 Him, G5126 being delivered G1560 by the determinate G3724 counsel G1012 and G2532 foreknowledge G4268 of God, G2316 ye have taken, G2983 and by G1223 wicked G459 hands G5495 have crucified G4362 and slain: G337 Whom G3739 God G2316 hath raised up, G450 having loosed G3089 the pains G5604 of death: G2288 because G2530 it was G2258 not G3756 possible G1415 that he G846 should be holden G2902 of G5259 it. G846
Therefore G3767 let G1097 all G3956 the house G3624 of Israel G2474 know G1097 assuredly, G806 that G3754 God G2316 hath made G4160 that same G5126 Jesus, G2424 whom G3739 ye G5210 have crucified, G4717 both G2532 Lord G2962 and G2532 Christ. G5547
The God G2316 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 of Isaac, G2464 and G2532 of Jacob, G2384 the God G2316 of our G2257 fathers, G3962 hath glorified G1392 his G846 Son G3816 Jesus; G2424 whom G3739 ye G5210 delivered up, G3860 and G2532 denied G720 him G846 in G2596 the presence G4383 of Pilate, G4091 when he was determined G2919 to let G630 him G1565 go. G630 But G1161 ye G5210 denied G720 the Holy One G40 and G2532 the Just, G1342 and G2532 desired G154 a murderer G5406 G435 to be granted G5483 unto you; G5213 And G1161 killed G615 the Prince G747 of life, G2222 whom G3739 God G2316 hath raised G1453 from G1537 the dead; G3498 whereof G3739 we G2249 are G2070 witnesses. G3144 And G2532 his G846 name G3686 through G1909 faith G4102 in his G846 name G3686 hath made G4732 this man G5026 strong, G4732 whom G3739 ye see G2334 and G2532 know: G1492 yea, G2532 the faith G4102 which is G1325 by G1223 him G846 hath given G1325 him G846 this G5126 perfect soundness G3647 in the presence G561 of you G5216 all. G3956
Then G1161 Peter G4074 and G2532 the other apostles G652 answered G611 and said, G2036 We ought G1163 to obey G3980 God G2316 rather G3123 than G2228 men. G444 The God G2316 of our G2257 fathers G3962 raised up G1453 Jesus, G2424 whom G3739 ye G5210 slew G1315 and hanged G2910 on G1909 a tree. G3586 Him G5126 hath God G2316 exalted G5312 with his G846 right hand G1188 to be a Prince G747 and G2532 a Saviour, G4990 for to give G1325 repentance G3341 to Israel, G2474 and G2532 forgiveness G859 of sins. G266 And G2532 we G2249 are G2070 his G846 witnesses G3144 of these G5130 things; G4487 and G2532 so is also G1161 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 whom G3739 God G2316 hath given G1325 to them that obey G3980 him. G846
Him G5126 God G2316 raised up G1453 the third G5154 day, G2250 and G2532 shewed G1096 him G846 openly; G1717 G1325 Not G3756 to all G3956 the people, G2992 but G235 unto witnesses G3144 chosen before G4401 of G5259 God, G2316 even to us, G2254 who G3748 did eat G4906 and G2532 drink with G4844 him G846 after G3326 he G846 rose G450 from G1537 the dead. G3498 And G2532 he commanded G3853 us G2254 to preach G2784 unto the people, G2992 and G2532 to testify G1263 that G3754 it is G2076 he G846 which G3588 was ordained G3724 of G5259 God G2316 to be the Judge G2923 of quick G2198 and G2532 dead. G3498
And G1161 when G5613 they had fulfilled G5055 all G537 that was written G1125 of G4012 him, G846 they took him down G2507 from G575 the tree, G3586 and laid G5087 him in G1519 a sepulchre. G3419 But G1161 God G2316 raised G1453 him G846 from G1537 the dead: G3498 And he G3739 was seen G3700 many G1909 G4119 days G2250 of them which came up with G4872 him G846 from G575 Galilee G1056 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 who G3748 are G1526 his G846 witnesses G3144 unto G4314 the people. G2992 And G2532 we G2249 declare G2097 unto you G5209 glad tidings, G2097 how that G3754 the promise G1860 which was made G1096 unto G4314 the fathers, G3962 God G2316 hath fulfilled G1603 the same G5026 unto us G2254 their G846 children, G5043 in that he hath raised up G450 Jesus G2424 again; G450 as G5613 it is G1125 also G2532 written G1125 in G1722 the second G1208 psalm, G5568 Thou G4771 art G1488 my G3450 Son, G5207 this day G4594 have I G1473 begotten G1080 thee. G4571 And G1161 as concerning that G3754 he raised G450 him G846 up G450 from G1537 the dead, G3498 now no more G3371 to G3195 return G5290 to G1519 corruption, G1312 he said G2046 on this wise, G3779 G3754 I will give G1325 you G5213 the sure G4103 mercies G3741 of David. G1138 Wherefore G1352 he saith G3004 also G2532 in G1722 another G2087 psalm, Thou shalt G1325 not G3756 suffer G1325 thine G4675 Holy One G3741 to see G1492 corruption. G1312 For G1063 G3303 David, G1138 after he had served G5256 his own G2398 generation G1074 by the will G1012 of God, G2316 fell on sleep, G2837 and G2532 was laid G4369 unto G4314 his G846 fathers, G3962 and G2532 saw G1492 corruption: G1312 But G1161 he, whom G3739 God G2316 raised again, G1453 saw G1492 no G3756 corruption. G1312 Be it G2077 known G1110 unto you G5213 therefore, G3767 men G435 and brethren, G80 that G3754 through G1223 this man G5127 is preached G2605 unto you G5213 the forgiveness G859 of sins: G266 And G2532 by G1722 him G5129 all G3956 that believe G4100 are justified G1344 from G575 all things, G3956 from which G3739 ye could G1410 not G3756 be justified G1344 by G1722 the law G3551 of Moses. G3475 Beware G991 therefore, G3767 lest that G3361 come G1904 upon G1909 you, G5209 which is spoken of G2046 in G1722 the prophets; G4396 Behold, G1492 ye despisers, G2707 and G2532 wonder, G2296 and G2532 perish: G853 for G3754 I G1473 work G2038 a work G2041 in G1722 your G5216 days, G2250 a work G2041 which G3739 ye shall G4100 in no wise G3364 believe, G4100 though G1437 a man G5100 declare it G1555 unto you. G5213
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Acts 4
Commentary on Acts 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 4
Ac 4:1-13. Peter and John before the Sanhedrin.
1-12. the captain—of the Levitical guard.
of the temple—annoyed at the disturbance created around it.
and the Sadducees—who "say that there is no resurrection" (Ac 23:8), irritated at the apostles "preaching through (rather, 'in') Jesus the resurrection from the dead"; for the resurrection of Christ, if a fact, effectually overthrew the Sadducean doctrine.
4. the number of the men—or males, exclusive of women; though the word sometimes includes both.
about five thousand—and this in Jerusalem, where the means of detecting the imposture or crushing the fanaticism, if such it had been, were within everyone's reach, and where there was every inducement to sift it to the bottom.
5. their rulers, &c.—This was a regular meeting of the Sanhedrim (see on Mt 2:4).
6. Annas … and Caiaphas—(See on Lu 3:2).
John and Alexander—of whom nothing is known.
7. By what power or … name have ye done this—thus admitting the reality of the miracle, which afterwards they confess themselves unable to deny (Ac 4:16).
8. Then, filled with the Holy Ghost, said—(See Mr 13:11; Lu 21:15).
10. Be it known unto you … and to all the people of Israel—as if emitting a formal judicial testimony to the entire nation through its rulers now convened.
by the name of Jesus, &c.—(See on Ac 3:13, &c.).
even by him doth this man stand before you whole—for from Ac 4:14 it appears that the healed man was at that moment before their eyes.
11. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, &c.—This application of Ps 118:22, already made by our Lord Himself before some of the same "builders" (Mt 21:42), is here repeated with peculiar propriety after the deed of rejection had been consummated, and the rejected One had, by His exaltation to the right hand of the Majesty on high, become "the head of the corner."
12. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved—How sublimely does the apostle, in these closing words, shut up these rulers of Israel to Jesus for salvation, and in what universal and emphatic terms does he hold up his Lord as the one Hope of men!
13-17. perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men—that is, uninstructed in the learning of the Jewish schools, and of the common sort; men in private life, untrained to teaching.
took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus—recognized them as having been in His company; remembering possibly, that they had seen them with Him [Meyer, Bloomfield, Alford]; but, more probably, perceiving in their whole bearing what identified them with Jesus: that is, "We thought we had got rid of Him; but lo! He reappears in these men, and all that troubled us in the Nazarene Himself has yet to be put down in these His disciples." What a testimony to these primitive witnesses! Would that the same could be said of their successors!
16. a notable miracle … done by them is manifest to all … in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it—And why should ye wish to deny it, O ye rulers, but that ye hate the light, and will not come to the light lest your deeds should be reproved?
17. But that it spread no further … let us straitly—strictly.
threaten … that they speak henceforth to no man in this name—Impotent device! Little knew they the fire that was burning in the bones of those heroic disciples.
18-22. Whether it be right … to hearken to you more than … God, judge ye.
20. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard—There is here a wonderful union of sober, respectful appeal to the better reason of their judges, and calm, deep determination to abide the consequences of a constrained testimony, which betokens a power above their own resting upon them, according to promise.
21. finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people—not at a loss for a pretext, but at a loss how to do it so as not to rouse the opposition of the people.
Ac 4:23-37. Peter and John Dismissed from the Sanhedrin, Report the Proceedings to the Assembled Disciples—They Engage in Prayer—The Astonishing Answer and Results.
23-30. being let go, they went to their own company—Observe the two opposite classes, representing the two interests which were about to come into deadly conflict.
24. they lifted up their voice—the assembled disciples, on hearing Peter's report.
with one accord—the breasts of all present echoing every word of this sublime prayer.
Lord—(See on Lu 2:29). Applied to God, the term expresses absolute authority.
God which hast made heaven and earth—against whom, therefore, all creatures are powerless.
25. by the mouth of … David—to whom the Jews ascribed the second Psalm, though anonymous; and internal evidence confirms it. David's spirit sees with astonishment "the heathen, the people, the kings and princes of the earth," in deadly combination against the sway of Jehovah and His Anointed (his Messiah, or Christ), and asks "why" it is. This fierce confederacy our praying disciples see in full operation, in the "gathering together of Herod and Pilate, the Gentiles (the Roman authority), and the people of Israel, against God's holy Child ('Servant') Jesus." (See on Ac 3:13). The best ancient copies read, after "were gathered together," "in this city," which probably answers to "upon my holy hill of Zion," in the Ps 2:6.
28. thy hand and thy counsel determined … to be done—that is, "Thy counsel" determined to be done by "Thy hand."
29. now, Lord, behold their threatenings—Recognizing in the threatenings of the Sanhedrim a declaration of war by the combined powers of the world against their infant cause, they seek not enthusiastically to hide from themselves its critical position, but calmly ask the Lord of heaven and earth to "look upon their threatenings."
that with all boldness they may speak thy word—Rising above self, they ask only fearless courage to testify for their Master, and divine attestation to their testimony by miracles of healing, &c., in His name.
31-37. place was shaken—glorious token of the commotion which the Gospel was to make (Ac 17:6; compare Ac 16:26), and the overthrow of all opposing powers in which this was to issue.
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake, &c.—The Spirit rested upon the entire community, first, in the very way they had asked, so that they "spake the word with boldness" (Ac 4:29, 31); next, in melting down all selfishness, and absorbing even the feeling of individuality in an intense and glowing realization of Christian unity. The community of goods was but an outward expression of this, and natural in such circumstances.
33. with great power—effect on men's minds.
great grace was upon them all—The grace of God copiously rested on the whole community.
35. laid … at the apostles' feet—sitting, it may be, above the rest. But the expression may be merely derived from that practice, and here meant figuratively.
36. Joses, &c.—This is specified merely as an eminent example of that spirit of generous sacrifice which pervaded all.
son of consolation—no doubt so surnamed from the character of his ministry.
a Levite—who, though as a tribe having no inheritance, might and did acquire property as individuals (De 18:8).
Cyprus—a well-known island in the Mediterranean.