THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
CHAPTER 4
Peter and John are arrested and brought before the council—Peter testifies that salvation comes because of Christ—Sadducees strive to silence them—Saints glory in the testimony of Jesus—They practice a united order.
1 AND as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, [ At this time the Sadducees where the governing sect over the temple, and they did not believe in the resurrection. So in the next verse when Peter and the other Apostles start teaching about the resurrection it causes some conflict for them. It is against their religion so to speek. They were the ones that tried to make sure that Pilot put someone in front of the tomb so that no one could claim the resurrection exists. This whole chapter is about resurrection if you see clear down in verse 33, So this would have gone against the grain for them. ] came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
[ What is the importance that our religion is based on the principles of resurrection? Since spirits cannot be destroyed, if there is no resurrection then eventually every spirit would be controlled by Satan, angels to a devil. 2 Ne 9: The power of the resurrection will bring us back to the presence of God. ]
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
[ So we have gone from about 120 in Acts 1:15 to around 5,000 now. So this would have also given the Sadducees some concern. ]
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, [ The father in law of Annas, and was the High Priest right before Annas. ] and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
[ They ask Peter; who do you think that you are. Questioning by what authority he healed the man in the previous chapter. This is almost the same question that they previously asked the Savior. ]
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, [ He was teaching with authority, a power beyond himself. ] said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 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, [ You are the ones responsible, it was not really the Roman's, it was not really even the Jews, but it was you the high priests. Can you imagine the power with which this chastisement might have come forth. ] whom God raised from the dead, [ Here they go bringing resurrection right back to the foreground. ] even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone [ If anyone knows who the stone was it is Peter. Recall Matt 16:18-19. What Jesus told Peter is not in any of the other gospels so it may have been a private teaching moment of the Savior with Peter. ] which was set at nought of you builders, [ Jesus did not built upon what you are teaching, No he was built from what God had set him forth to do. ] which is become the head of the corner.
[ Or Jesus is the chief corner stone. Peter will bring this concept forward 4 or 5 more times in his writings,(1 Peter 2:4-8) that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the concept upon which he will build his church. Joseph Smith taught the same thing. Why because we learned in Matt 16:19 that he was giving to Peter the power to bind on earth and in heaven, and that because of the resurrection what you do on earth will be binding in the spirit world. Think about how new this information would have been for the people of that time. So in a way this is an introduction to temple work. ]
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
[ And here is the doctrine: that no man comes to the Father except by me. These were the works of Christ and he is the one who overcame all and was resurrected, and that is a fact at this point as it has been done. ]
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.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, [ The guy who had been lame since birth was standing right there in broad daylight next to them - another non-disputable fact. They had most likely stepped over him many times on their way through the temple gates, so they most likely recognized the man. ] they could say nothing against it.
[ The evidence is there, right in their face, what can you say? ]
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 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.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
[ These high priests, these Sadducees told with threatening words Peter and John that they need to stop speaking in the name of Christ. Why? Because they can see the size of the crowds growing and this a full on threat to their livelihood. ]
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
[ So Peter comes back with a great comment; well we only talk about what we have seen and heard first hand. ]
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.
22 For the man was above forty years old, [ So they say well if you do not believe our words ask the man himself, as he is over forty years old. He is old enough to testify for himself. ] on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
23 ¶ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 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:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 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,
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
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.
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.
[ The first tenants of becoming one as a people is consecration of all things. ]
33 A nd with great power [ Things are kicking in for the Apostles, they are learning and teaching with the spirit of the Holy Ghost and it really feels good to speak with such boldness and authority. ] gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: [ They are teaching about Christ, and his mission. Nothing to do with the church. The church is here to help us come unto Christ, The church is here to administer the ordinances of the Gospel, the church is here to provide organization, not salvation and exaltation as that comes through Jesus Christ. How often do we testify in church that the church is true, but do not testify that Jesus Is The Christ which is more important. ] and great grace was upon them all.
34 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,
35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.