CHAPTER 4 THE CHURCH’S FIRST CONFLICT WITH JUDAISM—OPPOSITION FROM THE SANHEDRIM § 1. The Apostles (Peter and John) in Gaol; or, the First Taste of Persecution (Acts 4:1). § 2. The Apostles before the Sanhedrim; or, the Sheep among Wolves (Acts 4:5). § 3. The Apostles removed from Court; or, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 4:1. AS THEY SPAKE.—Lit., _they_, the apostles, either Peter for John or John with Peter _speaking_. The discourse was probably interrupted after the utterance of the preceding words. THE PRIESTS.—_I.e._, those who had been at the time officiating in the temple. THE CAPTAIN O... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 4:5. THEIR RULERS.—Not of the new converts or of the apostles, but of the people; hence the Sanhedrists. ELDERS,—Heads of families, SCRIBES,—Teachers of the law, and CHIEF PRIESTS composed the Sanhedrin. Acts 4:6. ANNAS THE HIGH PRIEST AND CAIAPHAS.—Exactly as in the gospels... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 4:13. PERCEIVED.—Lit., _having perceived_ from what they saw and heard at the time, or from previous inquiry. It would certainly have been strange if the Sanhedrists, and in particular Annas and Caiaphas (see John 18:16), had not been acquainted with Peter and John (Zeller, H... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 4:23. THEIR OWN COMPANY.—Not the apostles merely, but their friends in the faith generally. Acts 4:24. O LORD!—Addressed not to Christ, as in Acts 1:24, who, however, is also called δέσποτης (2 Peter 2:1; Jude 1:4), but to God as the absolute Master of the universe which He... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 4:32. THE MULTITUDE OF THEM THAT BELIEVED were not the new converts merely, but the general body of the disciples. Acts 4:33. GRACE.—Not favour with the people, as in Acts 2:47 (Grotius, Olshausen, Holtzmann), but divine favour, as in Acts 11:23; John 1:14 (Meyer, Alford, Z... [ Continue Reading ]