Bible Commentaries
Acts 4

Verse 2

Acts 4:2

Grieved -- "disturbed" "greatly disturbed" NASB; "angry" NET; "upset" "annoyed:"

Verse 8

Acts 4:8

filled ... "being filled" filled? or re-filled? Filled on Pentecost. Metonony of Cause = inspiration.

Verse 13

Acts 4:13

They had been with Jesus -- Their bold, powerful words revealed to the Sanhedrin their association with Jesus.

NASV - saw them confident (uneducated and untrained)

"Have You Been With Jesus?"

These disciples reflected Jesus in their lives. It could be seen by their:

1. Compassion - Acts 3:4; Acts 3:7; Acts 3:2

-Personal compassion for the individual

-Practical compassion - didn’t substitute silver for sympathy

-Powerful compassion - Acts 3:16

2. Conviction - Acts 4:1-3; Acts 4:10

-Notice what they were preaching

-The cross and empty tomb was "disturbing" to Sadducees

3. Courage - Acts 4:13

-They didn’t bow to public opinion - Acts 4:12

-They didn’t bow to powerful opposition - Acts 4:5-6

-They didn’t bow to private oppression - Acts 4:15-18

4. Commitment - Acts 4:10

-Committed personally - lock, stock, and barrel

-Committed to preaching the word - Acts 4:20

Conclusion: Considered uneducated and untrained they were powerful living examples of Christ’s disciples.

Verse 16

Acts 4:16

We cannot deny it -- Too many people had witnessed the effect of this miracle Acts 3:9.

How Can Christ Be Manifested In Our Lives?

1. We must practice what we preach - Acts 4:13-16

1) Let Jesus be seen in our a) boldness; b) doing good

2) Let people know the power of this life - Acts 4:7

2. We must see popularity as unimportant - Acts 4:19

3. We must learn how to handle adversity - see note Acts 4:23

4. We must believe in praying and preaching - see note Acts 4:29

5. We must see that possessions do not matter -see note Acts 4:32

Verse 17

Acts 4:17

Vs. 17 - Notice the Sanhedrin didn’t forbid miracles, but teaching Acts 4:18. They realized the preaching of Jesus and miracles went together.

Verse 19

Acts 4:19

Vs. 19 - We must see popularity as unimportant - Acts 4:19

Verse 23

Acts 4:23

Vs. 23-24 - We must learn how to handle adversity

1) Fellowship; 2) Prayer

Sermon: A Church like That

1) worshipping - 24a, 31

2) working - 32, 34-35

3) winning - v.33; 5:12, 14

Sermon: Earth Shaking Prayer - vs 23-33

Verse 29

Acts 4:29

4. We must believe in praying and preaching - Acts 4:24; Acts 4:29

a) Gospel preaching is edifying - Acts 4:32

b) Gospel preaching is evangelistic - Acts 5:14

Verse 31

Acts 4:31

Oh, To Be A Church Like That!

1) A Worshipping Church - Acts 4:24; Acts 4:31

2) A Working Church - Acts 4:32; Acts 4:34-35

3) A Winning Church - Acts 4:33; Acts 5:12; Acts 5:14

Verse 32

Acts 4:32

5. We must see that possessions do not matter -see note Acts 4:32; Acts 4:34-35;

a) "commonism" not communism; not dictated, not demanded; but done in love.)

b) When what we have becomes the Lord’s.

c) An example is seen in Barnabas - Acts 4:36-37

Verse 33

Acts 4:33

Great power -- A usual reference to the working of miracles by the apostles being enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Verse 36

Acts 4:36

Barnabas -- Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus whose name was Joseph. The disciples nicknamed him Barnabas meaning “son of encouragement.” He was the first one to accept Paul’s conversion (cf. Acts 9:17). He was obviously a leader in the Jerusalem Church (cf. Acts 11:22) as was Silas (cf. Acts 15:22). He was the missionary companion of Paul on the first missionary journey (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:6). He went to Tarsus and searched Saul out to get him to help with the work in Antioch (cf. Acts 11:19-27).

son of consolation [encouragement] -- The Jewish mind often spoke metaphorically of a "characteristic" dwelling in a person, and sometimes calling him the "son of ... " that characteristic. Thus, of Barnabas as "son of consolation" Acts 4:36, and James and John as "sons of thunder" Mark 3:17; and the term "son of perdition" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, and "sons of disobedience" Ephesians 5:6.

See ISBE "Son; Sons" (3)

(3) The word “son” is used with a following genitive of quality to indicate some characteristic of the person or persons described. In the English the word “son” is usually omitted and the phrase is paraphrased as in 2 3:34, where the words translated “wicked men” in the King James Version mean literally, sons or children of wickedness. - ISBE