Bible Commentaries
Acts 4

Verse 1

The captain ; of the guard near the temple.

Sadducees ; Matthew 22:23 .

Verse 3

In hold ; in prison, or under guard, for safe-keeping.

Eventide ; evening. When the gospel is faithfully preached, and multitudes embrace it, its opposers are greatly grieved. If they have power, they often attempt to stop its progress by force. But truth cannot be bound or imprisoned: and the imprisoning of those who proclaim it, is often the occasion of its wider extension and more abundant success.

Verse 4

The number ; who had believed.

Verse 5

Rulers ; members of the Sanhedrim, or great council of the Jewish nation, which consisted of about seventy persons, and had the general superintendence of public affairs.

Verse 6

Annas ; he had been high-priest, and was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high-priest at that time.

Of the kindred ; relations.

Verse 7

They asked ; by whose authority and power Peter and John had cured the lame man.

Verse 10

By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth ; by his authority and power. The change produced in a man by the influences of the Holy Spirit is truly wonderful. He who followed Christ "afar off," and trembled at the voice even of a maid-servant, can now face undismayed the assembled dignitaries of the nation, and without faltering charge them with the commission of the most outrageous crime, the crucifixion of the Son of God, the Saviour of a lost world.

Verse 11

The stone ; Psalms 118:22 ; Isaiah 28:16 ; Matthew 21:42 .

Verse 12

Salvation ; Acts 10:43 ; 1 Timothy 2:5-6 .

Verse 13

Unlearned and ignorant ; men in private life who had not been instructed in the schools, or by the doctors of the law.

Took knowledge of them , that they had been with Jesus ; recognized them as persons whom they had seen among the followers of Jesus.

Verse 14

Nothing against it ; they could not deny the reality or greatness of the miracle, or the truth of what Peter had said.

Verse 16

Wicked men continue to oppose the cause of Christ without any good reason, and when they can with truth say nothing against it.

Verse 17

It ; the knowledge of the miracle and its author.

Verse 19

Judge ye ; God required them to speak; the council forbade them. Which ought they to obey? Human laws which require men to disobey God are of no obligation, and should not be obeyed.

Verse 20

We cannot ; they could not obey their rulers, and yet do right; neither can any man, when rulers command what God forbids.

Verse 21

Because of the people ; should they punish the apostles, they feared that the people would rise, and give them trouble.

Verse 23

Their own company ; the company of believers.

Verse 24

In seasons of trial the friends of God unbosom themselves to him, and find him to be a very present and all-sufficient helper; able to do exceeding abundantly above all that they ask or think, so that they can add their testimony to that of ten thousand thousand, "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Psalms 2:12 .

Verse 25

The heathen rage ; Psalms 2:1-2 .

Verse 27

Hast anointed ; set apart, and consecrated to be the Saviour of men.

Herod , and Pontius Pilate ; Luke 23:1-12 .

Verse 28

Determined before ; Acts 2:23 ; Acts 3:18 . The enemies of God, in all their efforts to obstruct the progress of his cause, are doing only what he, for the wisest and best reasons, determined to suffer them to do, and what he will overrule for the highest good of his people. Romans 8:28 .

Verse 30

Stretching forth thy hand ; exerting thy power.

Verse 32

Had all things common ; see note to chap Acts 2:44 .

Verse 33

Great grace ; much favor and assistance from God were granted them.

Verse 34

Neither was there any among them that lacked ; that lacked a supply of their wants, though many were far from home, and had not with them the means of support.

Verse 35

As he had need ; for the supply of his present necessities. Union to Christ by believing in him, produces union among his people. and leads them to delight in doing good, as they have opportunity, to all, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 .

Verse 36

Cyprus ; an island in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean. Acts 13:4 ; Acts 15:39 .