Acts 4:5-12

Their Day In Court

Luke's description makes it clear that Peter and John were brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin the next day. Ash says, "It was the high court of seventy members, plus the high priest, that oversaw matters concerned with the temple and its worship. It was, in fact, the chief political force among the Jews. Most were Sadducees." He went on to note that the scribes were students of the law, including most of the Pharisees on the council. Annas had been, Caiaphas was and, it appears, John was to be the High Priest (Luke 3:2). So, the incident in the temple was taken very seriously. Significantly, they did not question whether or not the miracle took place, but under whose authority it was performed. Ash observes that the Greek indicates they actually asked how men like them could have done such a thing.

Peter, "filled with the Holy Spirit," answered with a succinct defense of Jesus' power as the resurrected Lord (compare Matthew 10:17-19). It was through Jesus, the one they rejected and crucified, that the man was made well, or saved, and Peter wanted the council and all of Israel to know that profound truth. Then, quoting from Psalms 118:22, to show that the Sanhedrin, as the religious builders, had rejected the very stone which was chosen by God to be the head of the corner (see Matthew 21:42; 1 Peter 2:4-6). Then, the inspired apostle went on to state that anyone who would ever receive spiritual healing, or salvation, would do so under the authority of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:5-12).