Nazarene Commentary 2000©
21st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures©
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21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures©
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THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
CHAPTER FOUR:
JEWISH OPPOSITION
[“Bold Speech”]
Key word: Boldness
Acts 4:1-4 – Arrest of Peter and John
AC4:1 Now while Peter and John were speaking to the people, the chief priests,
the commander of the Temple area, and the Sadducees –
| 147 | The chief priests: Or, Jewish hierarchy. It is interesting the Pharisees are not mentioned here. Though these are at the root of the hatred for Christianity, many of these priests became Christians. [Acts 6:7] Compare Acts 4:23; 5:24; 9:14, 21; 22:30; 23:14; 25:2, 15; 26:10, 12. Some of the Pharisees became Christians and created trouble in the Church. [Acts 15:5] Paul was a Pharisee and later uses this in his court defense. [Acts 23:6-9] The Sadducees are mentioned again at Acts 5:17; 23:6-8. |
AC4:2 they were greatly annoyed because these two were proclaiming to the people regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
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| 148 | Regarding the resurrection of Jesus from the dead: This is the central issue and focus of the Jewish persecution of the early Nazarene
Community. The Sadducees in particular did not believe in the resurrection. [Acts 23:8] |
AC4:3 arrested Peter and John and held them for observation until the next day because it was already
evening.
AC4:4 But, many of those who had listened to the Word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand. | 149 | The number of the men was about five thousand: If these be different from the original 3,000, then the
Nazarene Community has now swelled to 8,000 new disciples of Jesus. [Acts 2:41; 6:7] These numbers must have panicked the Jewish hierarchy. [Compare their jealousy at Acts 5:17; 13:45; 17:5.] |
Acts 4:5-12 – Priest’s Inquisition of Peter and John
AC4:5 The next day the Jewish chief priests, elders, and the scribes gathered in Jerusalem.
AC4:6 [Also present] were the high priest Annas,
Caiaphas,
John,
Alexander,
and all the priestly hierarchy’s kinsmen.
| 150 | High priest Annas: The same who examined Jesus after his arrest. Jesus hold told these priests that they would live to see the fulfillment
of Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1. [Compare notes on Matthew 26:64 and Acts 7:56.] Annas was appointed and removed as high priest by Roman authority. He is likely serving as such when Jesus at the age of 12 visited the Temple. Caiaphas was his son-in-law. |
| 151 | Caiaphas: Joseph Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas. He was appointed by Pontius Pilate to the office of high priest
and exercised this position during the earthly ministry o Jesus. [Luke 3:2] He ruled until 36 AD. |
| 152 | John: Possibly
a relative of Annas. |
| 153 | Alexander: Possibly a relative of Annas. |
| 154 | All the priestly hierarchy’s kinsmen: Or, RHM: high priestly descent TCN: relations; WEY: other members of the High Priest’s family. |
AC4:7 Now they brought Peter and John into their midst and they began inquiring: “By what power, or by what name, did you do this?”
| 155 | By what power, or by what name, did you do this: Or, authority. |
AC4:8 Then
Peter, filled with holy Pneuma, said to them: “Rulers of the people, and all of you elders,
AC4:9 if we are being examined today regarding kindness shown to a disabled person, and by the manner he was healed,
AC4:10 let it be known to all of you, and to all of the people of Israel,
that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene
– whom you impaled,
and whom The God raised up from the dead – by this name this person stands before all of you healthy.
| 156 | To all of the people of Israel: The entire nation is now without excuse having been put on notice. |
| 157 | In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene: Peter makes it clear Jesus the Nazarene is the Messiah, the Anointed. This must have been very irritating to these Jewish priests. See notes on Acts 3:6. |
| 158 | You impaled: Again the execution of Jesus is put squarely on the Jewish leadership. |
AC4:11 This [Jesus] is,
‘the Stone that you builders have rejected – this person
has become the head-stone.’
[Psalm 118:22]
| 159 | The Stone that you builders have rejected: Peter alludes to Psalm 118:22 but adds “you” in an application to the Jewish
hierarchy. See notes on Jesus’ use of the same verse at Matthew 21:42. [1 Peter 2:7] |
AC4:12 And there is no salvation in anyone else,
and no other name under heaven given to humans by which we must be saved.” | 160 | There is no salvation in anyone else: Or, RIE: salvation is through him alone. [Hebrews 5:9] |
| 161 | No other name under heaven given to humans by which we must be saved: Or, WEY: for no one in all the wide world has been appointed among men as our only medium by which to be saved. Peter is careful to qualify his phrasing,
as Yehowah is the actual savior of Jesus himself. [Hebrews 5:7] |
Acts 4:13-17 – What Shall We Do with These Men?
AC4:13 Now observing the outspokenness
of Peter and John, and aware they were unlettered and common persons,
they were amazed and they began to recognize that they used to be with Jesus.
| 162 | Outspokenness: Or, boldness, fearless, courage, freedom of speech, complete assurance, confidence, bold assurance. Peter, a former
coward, has been transformed into the fearless spokesman for the Nazarene Community. What changed this man so in just 40 days? The resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
| 163 | Unlettered and common persons: Or, KJV: unlearned and ignorant: TCN: uneducated and obscure; illiterate, uncultured, simple men. The Greek here for “common” is IDIOTAI [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
#2399]. [Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:27] |
| 164 | They used to be with Jesus: Some of these men knew quite well
that Peter and John were disciples of the Nazarene. John was known to the high priest. [John 18:16] It now becomes apparent to all those gathered that these were Jesus’ disciples. Jesus was also considered “unlettered” by the Jews. [John 7:15] |
AC4:14 And beholding the person that had been healed standing there, they had nothing to say in reply.
AC4:15 So they ordered them outside the Sanhedrin, and they began to confer with one another.
AC4:16 They asked: “What should we do with these persons? For surely this is an astounding sign
that has occurred through them. We cannot deny it for everyone living in Jerusalem is clearly aware.
| 165 | This is an astounding sign: Or, notable miracle, extraordinary wonder, a noteworthy miracle. They cannot deny the evidence. Surely
some of the Jewish leaders had also passed this beggar during past decades. Jews were impressed by “signs.” [1 Corinthians 1:22] |
AC4:17 However, lest it spread further among the
people, let us warn them to no longer speak or teach in the name of Jesus.” | 166 | No longer speak or teach in the name of Jesus: All the apostles had to do was not to use the name “Jesus” in their preaching. |
Acts 4:18-22 – We Cannot Stop Speaking
AC4:18 So, having called them [back before them], they ordered Peter and John not to speak at all, nor to teach, in the name of Jesus.
AC4:19 But, Peter and John answered them, saying: “If it seems right in the sight of The God to listen to you rather than to The God, you decide.
AC4:20 For we are not able to stop speaking
about what we have seen and heard.”
| 167 | We are not able to stop speaking: Peter is a transformed man from that weakling who denied his Lord three times before witnesses. |
| 168 | We have seen and heard: There are about 500 eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. These could still be interviewed and examined. It
is clear Peter and John are willing to suffer punishment for such a conviction, and likely so were the others. [Luke 1:2; 1 John 1:1-3] The first 50 years after the death of the Christ are called “the eyewitness period” when living, first-hand testimony was available. In John’s case at least this stretched almost into the 2nd Century. |
AC4:21 And so after threatening them further, they released Peter and John because they could find no grounds for punishing them. Also, because all of the people
were glorifying The God on account of what had happened,
| 169 | Because all of the people: Politicians always fear the will of the people. |
AC4:22 for
the person upon whom this sign had occurred was over forty years old. | 170 | Over forty years old: Four decades of Jews in Jerusalem knew this person had been born crippled and hundreds of thousands had seen him begging at the Temple gate. Such a man could have never
predicted the role he would play in the first days of the Church. |
Acts 4:23-31 – A Prayer for Bold Speech
AC4:23 Now after being released, Peter and John returned to their own [community],
and reported what the chief priests and elders had said.
| 171 | Returned to their own [community]: Or, company, friends, group. |
AC4:24 When
the whole community heard, they raised their voices to The God with one mind,
and said: “Sovereign Lord,
the One who made
the heaven, the earth, and the sea and everything in them –
| 172 | They raised their voices to The God with one mind: Or, accord, united, unity; TCN: by a common impulse. |
| 173 | Sovereign Lord: Or, Master, Ruler of all, Almighty God. The Greek is DESPOTA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1203, an absolute ruler]. The first occurrence of DESPOTA in the 3rd Century BC Jewish Greek Bible is Genesis 15:2 and is used of Yehowah. Hebrew versions of Acts use ‘Adho-nai. Never is this absolute title used of Jesus Christ. The word occurs two others times at Luke 2:29 and Revelation 6:10. As a lord, Jesus has his own Lord, his Father Yehowah. [Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 110:1 KJV] |
| 174 | The One who made: This DESPOTA is the Creator. Though Christ was used as a creative agent, he is nowhere ever called the Creator. [Colossians 1:15-18; Revelation 3:14] |
AC4:25 our Father,
the One who by the holy Pneuma spoke by the mouth of David your servant, saying –
‘Why do the non-Jews rage, and the people imagine empty things?
| 175 | Our Father: The first use of Jesus’ instructions regarding prayer. [Matthew 6:9] The DESPOTA is the Father. |
AC4:26 The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers assembled together, against the Supreme Being and against His Christ.’
[Psalm 2:1, 2 LXX]
| 176 | Against the Supreme Being and against His Christ: Or, Anointed, Messiah. Peter quotes Psalm 2:1, 2. Peter uses TOU KYRIOU. In the
Hebrew Text YHWH occurs making it clear that Christ is not Jehovah. “His Christ” also occurs at Revelation 11:15. |
AC4:27 For in truth, in this city both Herod, Pontius Pilate,
along with the non-Jews and the people of Israel, gathered together against your servant-boy, Jesus.
| 177 | Gathered together against your servant-boy, Jesus: Peter gives an inspired interpretation of Psalm 2:1, 2 as apply to Christ and his Father. This prayer makes it clear that the Absolute Sovereign is both the Father and Yehowah, and not Jesus. Jesus is the servant of the DESPOTA. For notes on servant-boy see notes elsewhere. |
AC4:28 Whatever Your hand permitted You to do, You willed and foresaw,
and it occurred.
| 178 | You willed and foresaw: Or, KJV: thy counsel determined; RHM: marked out beforehand; MOF: thy purpose had decreed; BAS: fixed before.
The Greek is PRO-OPISEN [before + eye] [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4309, pre-determined]. Compares notes on Ephesians 1:5. It is DESPOTA who foresaw these matters, and not Christ. |
AC4:29 And,
now, YHWH,
look upon their threats and give to Your slaves all boldness to speak Your Word.
| 179 | YHWH: Here the Greek is KYRIE without the article, referring to Yehowah. |
| 180 | Give to Your slaves all boldness to speak Your Word: Or, RHM: all freedom of utterance; TCN: fearlessness; WEY: fearless courage; BAS: power to be preachers of your
word without fear. To this day “genuine disciples” may be in part characterized by their willingness to publicly proclaim God’s Word with boldness. Compare notes on 2 Corinthians 4:12, 13, “I believed, therefore, I spoke.”
It is interesting to note that this is the only thing these Christians ask for, to speak and heal in the name of Jesus the Nazarene. |
AC4:30 At the same time stretch out Your hand for healing
and signs and wonders to occur through the name of your holy servant-boy, Jesus.”
AC4:31 And after they had prayed, the place where they had assembled together was shaken,
and everyone was filled with the holy Pneuma,
and they continued to speak the Word of The God with boldness. | 181 | The place where they had assembled together was shaken: This is a different manifestation from that which befell the Twelve in their upper room. We are not told how many were present here. If it be those thousands of new disciples, this was another outpouring of the holy Pneuma. |
| 182 | Everyone was filled with the holy Pneuma: Likely the entire Nazarene Community now experienced the fullness of the Pneuma in answer to their united prayer. |
| 183 | They continued to speak the Word of The God with boldness: All these new and old disciples were fearless preachers of God’s Word. It was not limited to a clergy class. |
Acts 4:32-37 – Spirit-filled Shared Everything
AC4:32 Now the entire community
of those who had believed was unified in heart and soul.
Not one claimed they had any possessions belonging to them,
but rather they possessed everything communally.
| 184 | Now the entire community: Or, multitude. Likely this indicates the size of the group was indeed in the thousands. |
| 185 | Was unified in heart and soul: Or, TCN: animated by one spirit. The early Church began with perfect unity. The Nazarene had foretold this
would not last. [Matthew 13:37, 38; 24:12] Compare notes on 1 Corinthians 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-19. |
| 186 | Not
one claimed they had any possessions belonging to them: Or, TCN: not one of them claimed any of his goods as his own; MOF: not one of them considered anything his personal property. The early Church started as a unified communal society boldly preaching
the Word. See notes on Acts 2:44. |
| 187 | They possessed everything communally: Or, KJV: they had all things in common;
WEY: common property. The Greek is COINA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2839]. It is the root for the words community, commune, and communism. It is a society without personal ownership, with all willing to share their possessions with the entire community. Compare notes on 2 Corinthians 8:14, 15 where Paul argues that Israel in the wilderness was also communal. |
AC4:33 And with great power the apostles continued giving their testimony about the resurrection of the Master Jesus. Great charity [and a willingness to share] permeated the whole community.
| 188 | Great charity [and a willingness to share] permeated the whole community: Or, great grace, great favor, divine help, abundant grace;
PME: a wonderful spirit of generosity pervaded the whole fellowship. The word CHARIS [the root of “charity”] may also be applied to generosity or charity, and not necessarily grace resting on them. So PME may come closer to the meaning in this context. Note the following phrase, joined by a conjunction. |
AC4:34 For there was no one needy among them,
because anyone who owned lands or houses sold them,
and they continued bringing the value of the things they sold,
| 189 | For there was no one needy among them: Or, no poverty, destitute. The later disunity of the Church in fulfillment of the Nazarene
and Paul saw this pristine society change. Not only did the Church drift away from the fundamental doctrines, it also became more and more materialistic – and capitalistic. Paul still argues for the original attitude of “sharing according to needs.”
[See notes on Romans 12:8, 13 and Philippians 4:15.] The more apostate the Church became the less it was a true commune of Nazarene believers. The modern Church – often very wealthy no matter which religious organization one examines – have a hierarchy
living much better than the average Christian. Virtually none of the modern religious movements can state: “there was no one needy among them.” |
| 190 | Because anyone who owned lands or houses sold them: This took enormous faith, to trust in God’s provision, to even chose poverty, so that others may benefit. The modern craving for economic security may betray a
weak faith. The Nazarene had specifically commanded his “little flock” to “sell your belongings and give charity [to the poor].” [Luke 12:32, 33] Any who claim to be part of such a “little flock” are pseudo-anointed
if they do not abide by this command. They are no longer “friends” of the Nazarene if they do not follow his commands. [John 14:15] It is the self-professed “rich” that the Apocalyptic Master promises to “vomit out of his mouth.”
[Revelation 3:16] Paul instructs Timothy to “order” the rich to become “liberal and willing to share.” [1 Timothy 6:17-19] It should be kept in mind that in Jesus’ teachings the “rich” are those with a surplus, and
the poor are those who must depend on others for necessities of life. [Luke 21:1-4] |
| 191 | They continued bringing the
value of the things they sold: Many of these would have been disciples permanently living in Jerusalem or nearby. It should be kept in mind that Jerusalem had only about three decades before it was completely destroyed with one million deaths. Anyone who
had property then lost it in the conflagration of 70 AD. |
AC4:35 placing them before the feet of the apostles.
The apostles then distributed to each person as they had need.
| 192 | Placing them before the feet of the apostles: These self-sacrificing not only had faith and trust in God, but also in their leadership.
They trusted that the apostles, who had also sold everything [Luke 12:32, 33], would use these funds in the equal distribution to all. A problem does occur in Acts 6:1 but it is quickly solved by the apostles. |
| 193 | Distributed to each person as they had need: Or, TCN: every one received a share in proportion to his need. Compare notes on Romans 12:13. |
AC4:36 Now, a Levite, Joseph (the one called Barnabas,
meaning when translated, “Son of Encouragement”) a native of Cyprus,
| 194 | Barnabas: An example is given of one Levite. The Levites were generally well-off. His name means “Comfort” and this he
proved to be. He later figures strongly in Paul’s early missionary tours. Had Barnabas hung on to his property he would have ultimately lost it in the year 70 AD. Barnabas is mentioned nearly two dozen times in Acts. Compare also 1 Corinthians 9:6 where
it is suggested he relied on the charity of others to perform his missionary work with Paul. [Galatians 2:1, 9, 13; Colossians 4:10] Some versions call him “Barny.” |
AC4:37 sold
a field he possessed and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.
Review Questions on Chapter Four
- Who were irritated by Peter and John?
- What question did the Jewish priests as them?
- What was their answer?
- How did Peter respond to their orders?
- What did Peter and John do after being released?
- What did the Christians pray for?
- With what result?
- What kind of community were these first Christians?
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Nazarene Commentary 2000©
Mark Heber Miller
©2000 All Rights Reserved
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