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Acts Chapter Four

                             

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Witness of the Church in the Persecution

I. The reason for their being persecuted------they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead (v.1-4).

II. The church overcame the persecution of the council (v.5-22):

  A. The interrogation of the council (v.5-7).

  B. The apostles boldly answered the reason why the lame was healed according to the fact (v.8-12).

  C. The council forbade the apostles to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus (v.13-18).

  D. The apostles refused to the attitude that listening to men more than to God (v.19-20).

  E. The council let the apostles go after they had threatened them (v.21-22).

III. The reaction after they overcame the persecution (v.23-27):

  A. The apostles reported to the church (v.23).

  B. The church praised God and prayed to Him with one accord (v.24-30).

  C. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness (v.31).

  D. The example that they had all things in common and donated the proceeds of the things that were sold (v.32-37).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Acts. 4:1 “Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

   YLT: “And as they are speaking unto the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees --”

   Literal Meaning: “Now as they spoke to the people” “They” shows that those who spoke were more than one.

  “The priests, the captain of the temple” “The priests” took their turns to serve and therefore they refer to the priests who did service in the area of the temple during that week. “The captain of the temple” may be the managers of the temple who took charge of supervising and guarding the temple and maintaining the order of the temple. Their position and authority were second only to that of the high priest (Acts. 5:24, 26; Luke. 22:4, 52).

  “The Sadducees” are of a sect of Judaism. The Sadducees were of the priest class and they were of the patrician class that was both rich and influential. They had a good relationship with the Romans and therefore they always abused their power and bullied those who hold views different from their own. They did not believe the resurrection of the dead and the apostles preached that the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead and therefore they were in great disturbed (See v.2).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees” These people were Judaic leaders. They should deeply understand the will of God and unexpectedly they became tools of Satan to persecute the church. Today, probably many leaders of Christianity are utilized by Satan so that they seem to serve God apparently but actually they make the church suffer losses.

2) When the Holy Spirit works, the enemy Satan also begins to disturb. Many times, the enemy stirs up trouble in the church. It proves that a group of people in the church is willing to live in the will of God and they cause the devil to hate out of jealousy. And therefore we should be strong and stand for the sake of the Lord.

 

Acts. 4:2 “being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

   YLT: “being grieved because of their teaching the people, and preaching in Jesus the rising again out of the dead --”

   Literal Meaning: “in Jesus” means that they taught the people “in the power and nature of Jesus”.

  “Preached the resurrection from the dead” It may have three kinds of meanings: 1) from the instance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they preached that the resurrection had taken place; 2) through the resurrection of Jesus, they preached that the dead will also rise (1Cor. 15:12-19); 3) they preached that death is of Adam and resurrection is of Christ (1Cor. 15:20-22).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should not only believe from our hearts that the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead but also “preach” His resurrection with our mouths.

2) Believers should not only objectively believe the truth of the Lord’s resurrection but also subjectively experience the Lord’s life of resurrection.

 

Acts. 4:3 “And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

   YLT: “and they laid hands upon them, and did put them in custody unto the morrow, for it was evening already;”

   Literal Meaning: “for it was already evening” The evening sacrifice ended at about four o’clock in the afternoon and the gate of the temple was about to be closed. Any justice concerning life and death should begin and end by day.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Though apostles were “put” in prison, their preaching met the need of several thousand people (See v.4). It shows a principle of service: the abundant life is released contrarily through the shackle of the cross.

2) If those who serve the Lord are unwilling to be “put in” and prefer to decide and act on their own, contrarily the work of the Holy Spirit will be restrained and the service won’t be effective.

 

Acts. 4:4 “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

   YLT: “and many of those hearing the word did believe, and the number of the men became, as it were, five thousand.”

   Literal Meaning: “the number of the men” “The men” usually refer to adult men and occasionally include women (Luke. 11:31). Luke usually clearly showed whether women are included in many parts of this book (Acts. 5:14; 8:3, 12; 9:2, 17:12; 22:4) and therefore here the word should refer to men only.

  “Came to be about five thousand” has two explanations: 1) the number of people who believed the Lord that day “was about five thousand”; 2) the total of people who believed the Lord was “about five thousand” to that day.

   Enlightenment in the Word: though the enemy tries its best to block the preaching of the gospel, the power of the gospel cannot be obstructed by any power of men. The more the gospel is persecuted by men, the more effective the gospel is manifested.

 

Acts. 4:5 “And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,

   YLT: “And it came to pass upon the morrow, there were gathered together of them the rulers, and elders, and scribes, to Jerusalem,”

   Literal Meaning: “their rulers, elders and scribes” “rulers” refer to priests. “Elders” refer to the gentries among the people. Most of the “scribes” were the Pharisees and they were familiar with the Law of the Old Testament and the traditions of the elders. The council was made up of these three groups of people and it was also the supreme court of Israel. They condemned the Lord Jesus to death (Matt. 26:57, 59; Luke. 22:66).

Acts. 4:6 “as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

   YLT: “and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the chief priest,”

   Literal Meaning: “Annas the high priest” was the high priest from A.D. 6 to 15. He was removed from office by the Romans, however, he was still generally acknowledged as the high priest by the Jews.

  “Caiaphas” was the son-in-law of Annas and he succeeded as the high priest from A.D. 18 to 36.

  “John” may be Jonathan, the son of Annas and he succeeded as the high priest at A. D. 36. Some people held that he was John Benchark the ruler of the great council after the fall of Jerusalem.

  Alexander” was unknown. 

 

Acts. 4:7 “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power or by what name have you done this?’”

   YLT: “and having set them in the midst, they were inquiring, `In what power, or in what name did ye do this?'”

Literal Meaning: “By what power” “power” is the reliance on which men do something.

“By what name” It refers to source of doing something and the one who authorizes.

“Have you done this?” “This” indicates that they healed a man lame from his mother’s womb by miracle (See v.22; 3:2).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “By what name have you done this?” They asked so, showing that the one they wanted to cope with was the “name”------Jesus Christ. The enemy of Satan is the Lord and therefore naturally all the tools that are under Satan’s power deal with the Lord.

2) The tricks of the enemy are to make the sons and daughters of God fear draw back and dare not confess the name of the Lord.

 

Acts. 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:

   YLT: “Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them: `Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,”

   Literal Meaning: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit” Peter had been filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts. 2:4) and now he was filled with the Holy Spirit, showing that being filled with the Holy Spirit takes place often and repeatedly (Acts. 4:31; 9:17; 13:9).

  “‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel” refer to the priests (See v.5).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Unless the Holy Spirit is one’s provision and is responsible for one, none of believers can contend against by himself the system of the world which is under the domination of Satan. And therefore every time we encounter the persecution of the enemy, we have to pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

2) The Lord once promised the disciples that it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you (Matt. 10:19-20).

 

Acts. 4:9 “If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,

   YLT: “if we to-day are examined concerning the good deed to the ailing man, by whom he hath been saved,”

   Meaning of Words: “has been made well”: has been saved.

   Literal Meaning: for a good deed done to a helpless man” “a helpless man” refers to the patient (Acts. 5:15-16).

  “We are judged…by what means he has been made well” “Judged” refers to the legally judgment.

   Enlightenment in the Word: from v.9 to v.12, Peter, using the chance of being interrogated, announced a message of the gospel that is brief and to the point before the catechists. We should also follow his example------preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; be in all circumstances (2Tim. 4:2).

 

Acts. 4:10 “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

   YLT: “be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye did crucify, whom God did raise out of the dead, in him hath this one stood by before you whole.”

   Meaning of Words: “stand”: be sound.

   Literal Meaning: the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” The name of “Jesus Christ of Nazareth” was the one who was mocked by the Judaic leaders (John. 1:45-46; Acts. 22:8; 24:5).

   Enlightenment in the Word: the lame was made well in the name of Jesus Christ. It became the mark of the being spiritual “saved” of men who believed the name of Jesus Christ.

 

Acts. 4:11 “This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'

   YLT: “`This is the stone that was set at nought by you -- the builders, that became head of a corner;”

   Meaning of Words: “reject”: despise, least esteemed, regarded as worthless.

   The Background: when the Jews build houses and lay the foundation, they first lay a foundation stone in the outer corner. The stone is called “the chief cornerstone” and it is a massive rock in the nook at the bottom of the building. It connects the walls and supports and stabilizes the whole building.

   Spiritual Meaning: “builders” refer to the priests, scribes, the Pharisees and the Judaic leaders. They should work for God’s building. The “stone” refers to the Lord Jesus and He is the base material that God uses to build (Zech. 3:9). The Lord was rejected by the Judaic leaders and was even crucified on the cross. However, God raised Him from the dead and made Him be “the chief cornerstone” (Ps. 118:22; Matt. 21:42), i.e. the most fundamental and important chief cornerstone in whom all the building fitly framed together for the building of the church (house) (Is. 28:16; Eph. 2:20-21; 1Pet. 2:4-7).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Christ is “the chief cornerstone” of the church and in whom every kindred and every tongue are framed together. We should regard Christ as the final basis and aim in everything.

2) In Christianity, v. 12 is regarded as a famous verse and v.11 is neglected. In other words, Christianity only preaches the Savior and does not preach the chief cornerstone. Christianity only preaches the salvation and does not preach the building. Actually, the aim that God saves us is to build His church and kingdom and His aim is not merely our gaining eternal life and being delivered from hell.

3) The Lord saves us in order to change our natural life so that we could become living stones from soil, be the materials for His building (1Pet. 2:5), and accomplish the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2).

 

Acts. 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’”

   YLT: “and there is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under the heaven that hath been given among men, in which it behoveth us to be saved.'”

   Meaning of Words: “be saved”: be healed.

   Literal Meaning: “Nor is there salvation in any other” It means that Jesus Christ is the only way for salvation and men can neither save themselves nor save others before God.

  “For there is…under heaven…among men” The word “for” is used to explain the previous sentence “nor is there salvation in any other”. “Under heaven” refers to the whole world. “Among men” refers to all mankind.

  “There is no other name given by which we must be saved” The name of Jesus represents God’s works in Jesus and the message of salvation to the world through Jesus. If men receive the name of Jesus, they indeed receive Jesus. The salvation that God gives men is that men have to “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” so that “that believing you may have life in His name” (John. 20:31).

  Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and, before the rulers (also in the universe), announced a very affirmative fact that the only way for men to be forgiven their sins, be reconciled with God and gain eternal life is Jesus Christ. This verse shows four layers of meaning: 1) Jesus is the “only” Savior------nor is there salvation in any other; 2) Jesus is the only “reliable” Savior------by which we must be saved; 3) Jesus is the only reliable Savior that is “given by God”------there is no other name given; 4) Jesus is the only reliable Savior that is given by God “under heaven among men”------for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) One can believe several kinds of religions, however, his sins cannot be remitted unless he receives Christ as the Savior.

2) Religion cannot save us and good works cannot either. Only Christ can save us.

3) Admittedly, a sinner must be saved by believing the Lord Jesus. The individual believer or the church has to rely on the Lord Jesus so that difficulties will be solved and they will receive the abundant provisions.

4) The name Jesus is not His own and is also given to us. If we do not know our portion in it, we will suffer great losses.

5) The name Jesus not only has the power to heal diseases but also is the proof of men’s being saved.

6) We should never exalt any other name except the name of Jesus.

 

Acts. 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

   YLT: “And beholding the openness of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are men unlettered and plebeian, they were wondering -- they were taking knowledge also of them that with Jesus they had been --”

   Meaning of Words: “were uneducated”: illiterate; “untrained men”: the common people, the ordinary people, unskilled men.

   Literal Meaning: they were uneducated and untrained men” “uneducated” shows that they had not received the special education, especially the education of rabbis concerning the complex regulations of the Law. “Untrained men” refers to ignorant men in the original and they are the laymen who do not have any special professional qualification. Peter and John had not received the train of rabbis or filled offices in the approved circle of religion.

  The reason why the apostles had such boldness and insight are nothing else than two causes: 1) they were deeply taught and influenced by the Lord Jesus during the period of three and a half years when they followed Him; 2) after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, they received the indwelling Spirit, were baptized by the Spirit and received the instruction and power of the Holy Spirit.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) What we should ask for today is not knowledge or eloquence but boldness. And one’s boldness is due to his being filled with the Holy Spirit. And therefore we should pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we could bear witness of the Lord boldly.

2) The most important condition for one to serve the Lord is not his theological knowledge or his status in the church but whether the Lord has called and entrusted him.

3) At this moment Peter is totally different than before. When he was in the court of the high priest and was recognized that “he was also with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matt. 26:71) in the past, he cursed, swore and tried his best to deny Him. However, he was not ashamed of Him now and contrarily he showed that “they had been with Jesus” by many deeds and words.

4) We believers should make effort to be “living image of Jesus Christ” and let others clearly recognize that we “have been with Jesus” in our life and service. 

 

Acts. 4:14 “And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

   YLT: “and seeing the man standing with them who hath been healed, they had nothing to say against [it],”

   Meaning of Words: “against”: rebut, refute, controvert.

   Enlightenment in the Word: facts speak louder than words. The best way to preach the gospel is to manifest the witness of facts that men’s life has been changed before men.

 

Acts. 4:15 “But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

   YLT: “and having commanded them to go away out of the sanhedrim, they took counsel with one another,”

 

Acts. 4:16 “saying, What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

   YLT: “saying, `What shall we do to these men? because that, indeed, a notable sign hath been done through them, to all those dwelling in Jerusalem [is] manifest, and we are not able to deny [it];”

   Enlightenment in the Word: “what shall we do?” The best way for men is to do according to the truth. Things will become worse if one does not do them according to the truth.

 

Acts. 4:17 “But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.’”

   YLT: “but that it may spread no further toward the people, let us strictly threaten them no more to speak in this name to any man.'”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The enemy tries its best to close our moths so that we dare not “speak the gospel to others”. We should never think that it is enough for us to preach the gospel by our deeds only and we do not need to speak to others. If we close our mouths and dare not speak, we are indeed trapped in the device of the enemy.

2) Some believers are spiritually weak and therefore they dare not speak Jesus to others. Actually, the reason why he is spiritual weak is that he does not speak. The moment one speaks, he will be strengthened spiritually.

3) Some believers think that they Christian life is not normal and therefore they dare not preach the gospel. Actually, the reason for his abnormal life may be that he does not dare to speak. The moment one speaks, he will be normal. 

 

Acts. 4:18 “So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

   YLT: “And having called them, they charged them not to speak at all, nor to teach, in the name of Jesus,”

   Literal Meaning: not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” “Speak” refers to talking clearly; “teach” refers to instructing others.

 

Acts. 4:19 “But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

   YLT: “and Peter and John answering unto them said, `Whether it is righteous before God to hearken to you rather than to God, judge ye;”

   Meaning of Words: “judge”: decree, conclude.

   Literal Meaning: listen to you more than to God” “You” refers to the council. The common Jews have the duty to listen to the council because the council is established to represent God to take care of the people. The Jews should regard listening to the council as listening to God. However, when the council strays from the will of God and no long represents God to do things, men cannot hear the word of God from the council and therefore men could not listen to them.

  “You judge” Apparently, the apostles were judged by the council, however, the apostles actually judged the council that judged them.

   Controversial Clarification: today, many preachers quoted this verse to teach believers “not to listen to men more tan to God”. However, they did not explain it correctly so that believers often have extreme attitudes. As a result of that, they have not glorified God and contrarily make the name of the Lord be reproached by the world. And therefore believers have to be aware of the following points:

1) The so-called “listening to” and “not listening to” do not teach believers that they could ignore the law of the country. Christians are also responsible to obey the duties that the citizens of the country should obey, such as the military service and taxes.

2) What Peter and John did not “listen to” here is that they forbade them to preach the gospel in the name of the Lord Jesus because the mission of believers is to preach the gospel and bear witness (Matt. 28:19).

3) Believers only do not “listen to” the “orders” that indeed hinder us from doing our mission.

4) Here “not listening to” does not mean “not being subject to”. “Listening” and “being subject to” are two different things. The former refers to deeds and the latter refers to the attitude. The basic attitude of believers is to be subject to all powers: fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor (Rom. 13:7).

5) When the orders of the higher powers harm believers’ faith and identities (e.g. they are forbidden to believe the Lord, they are forbidden to preach the gospel, they are ordered to do things that are against their conscience and morality and etc.), we cannot “listen to” them. However, we should not show the rebellious attitude. We, especially sons and daughters, could suggest something to our parents, however, we should not have the disobedient attitude.

   Enlightenment in the Word: many people are misfortunate because the voice of “men” stays in their ears more than that of “God”.

 

Acts. 4:20 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’”

   YLT: “for we cannot but speak what we did see and hear.'”

   Literal Meaning: “which we have seen and heard” it refers to what believers have seen and heard from the Lord, i.e. our experiences of Christ.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) A good preacher has to see and hear from the Lord first and then he is able to preach what he has seen and heard. Only such preaching could make the listeners “say nothing against it” (v.14).

2) Those who quench their conscious, reject the truth and confound right and wrong cannot say what they should say and do what they should do.

 

Acts. 4:21 “So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.

   YLT: “And they having further threatened [them], let them go, finding nothing how they may punish them, because of the people, because all were glorifying God for that which hath been done,”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “When they had further threatened them, finding no way of punishing them” It shows that “threat” is the only way when there is no other way. Threat is the customary tactic of the enemy from generations and from ages.

2) The reason why Christians are not afraid of threats is that they know all things that men could do upon them is temporary and what God gives them is eternal.

3) To those who truly rely on God, threat does not take any effect and contrarily presses them to rely on God closely.

4) The reason why Christian are not in any way terrified by our adversaries, because it is to them a proof of perdition, but to us of salvation, and that from God (Pill. 1:28).

 

Acts. 4:22 “For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

   YLT: “for above forty years of age was the man upon whom had been done this sign of the healing.”

   Literal Meaning: “was over forty years old” It shows that this man was already mature. His disease had a long history and his condition was steady and he cannot be healed by remedies. And therefore he must be healed by the great power of God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) No matter how deep rooted men’s diseases (both physically and spiritually) and the innate chronic diseases are, the Lord is able to deal with them. 

2) The more helpless the condition is to men, the more it is manifested that it is of the work of God. The end of men is the beginning of God.

 

Acts. 4:23 “And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

   YLT: “And being let go, they went unto their own friends, and declared whatever the chief priests and the elders said unto them,”

   Meaning of Words: “own companions”: people on their own side, private societies and recesses.

   Literal Meaning: “they went to their own companions” means “they went to the people on their own side”. Their deed shows that: 1) though they had been threatened, they still did not lose their will and they were willing to share weal and woe with other believers; 2) though they had high status (they were chosen to be apostles), they did not think that they had any advantages than others and they still needed the assistance of other believers.

    Some Bible exegetes held that the word “own companions” may refer to the place where the disciples gathered together in the beginning (Acts. 1:13-15) and it was the place where they often shared the grace of the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believers and unbelievers are unequal (2Cor. 6:14) and therefore the true Christians should regard other believers as “people on their own side” (the original of “own companions”) from their hearts.

2) “And being let go, they went to their own companions” It is the concrete testimony of “sharing responsibilities” and “sharing cares and worries”. A brother is born for adversity (Prov. 17:17). When you suffer adversity, is there anyone who is willing to share your cares and responsibilities in the church?

 

Acts. 4:24 “So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

   YLT: “and they having heard, with one accord did lift up the voice unto God, and said, `Lord, thou [art] God, who didst make the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all that [are] in them,”

   Literal Meaning: “Lord” means “the king of powers and authorities”. He has the absolute and infinite power that men cannot resist. 

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The church is in the sinful world from beginning to the end. Without the special care of God, she would have already been rooted out by the murderous schemes of ministers of the devil.

2) The coming into being of the church is of prayers (Acts. 1:14). The church also deals with difficulties through prayers.

3) Difficulties not only press the church to come to the countenance of God but also press sons and daughters of God to be “with one accord” more.

4) “They raised their voice to God with one accord and said” “With one accord” is the important condition in praying to God and fighting for God. God does not answer the prayer that is not made with one accord and Satan does not fear the church that is not with one accord.

5) Great prayers must take effort through the principle of the cooperation of the body.

6) “Raising their voice to God” is the key for believers to overcome. Facing the persecution and threat of the enemy, “raising voice to God” is the only and the best way.

7) The one whom we look upon is “the Lord” who “made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them”. He is above all and sits as a king (Ps. 29:10) and everything------including the enemy and its evil power------is under His control.

8) When we turn to and firmly believe “the Lord” who has the infinite power and authority, we could disregard the relatively limited authority.

 

Acts. 4:25 “who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?

   YLT: “who, through the mouth of David thy servant, did say, Why did nations rage, and peoples meditate vain things?”

   Literal Meaning: who by the mouth of Your servant David have said” The following words are quoted from Ps. 2:1-2.

  “Why did the nations rage?” “Rage” in the original means to snort (the spirited horse). Here it is quoted to describe the arrogance, imperiousness, fury and snarl of the world.

  And the people plot vain things?” “Plot” refers to thinking deeply and planning carefully. “Vain things” means things that are not effective.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Men may show disrespectful attitude towards God, however, God overcomes to the end. Though the spirited horse leaps and snorts, it cannot escape the restrain of the bridle rein.

2) The one who knows “the Lord” (v.24) who is infinitely powerful is able to thoroughly understand that the “raging” and “plotting vain things” of the enemy are not worth a thought.

 

Acts. 4:26 “The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.'

   YLT: “the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ;”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The aim of the “raging” and “plotting” of the nations (v.25) is to remove Christ. Today the incarnate Christ was not on the earth, however, He is in all Christians. And therefore today the raging and plotting of the nations indeed deal with Christians. 

2) Just as the more men resist Christ, the more Christ is glorified, the more the political power and its subordinates persecute Christians, the more people become Christians.

 

Acts. 4:27For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

   YLT: “for gathered together of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and peoples of Israel,”

   Literal Meaning: “both Herod and Pontius Pilate” “Herod” is Herod Antipas who was the tetrarck of Galilee and Beriah at that time (Luke. 23:7-15). “Pontius Pilate” was the governor who was accredited to the land of Judaea by the Roman government. It is he that condemned the Lord Jesus to be crucified on the cross (Luke. 23:1-24).

 

Acts. 4:28 “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

   YLT: “to do whatever Thy hand and Thy counsel did determine before to come to pass.”

   Meaning of Words: “determined before to be done”: determine in advance.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) All that we encounter are in the God’s hand and to do what God’s purpose determined before to be done.

2) God is the highest “historian”. He has already written the history before the history takes place.

 

Acts. 4:29-30 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.

   YLT: “`And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and grant to Thy servants with all freedom to speak Thy word, in the stretching forth of Thy hand, for healing, and signs, and wonders, to come to pass through the name of Thy holy child Jesus.'”

   Literal Meaning: “grant to Your servants that with all boldness” The prayer shows that they do not hold that they could cope with the circumstance by their own power and they indeed rely on the power that is not of their own.

  Two kinds of servants are mentioned in this verse: 1) “Your servants” refers to Christians who treat themselves as God’s servants and live for serving God. 2) “You holy Servant” refers to Jesus Christ who was sent to the world as a man in order to accomplish the great work of redemption.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) They did not ask God to take away the difficulty but ask Him to give them sufficient grace to face the difficulty (2Cor. 12:9).

2) Many times, the Lord permits Satan to raise difficulties to the church and edifies the church through difficulties. In this way, difficulties actually become the blessing of the church.

3) “Stretching out Your hand” If God has not stretched out His hand, all our works will be in vain. If He has stretched out His hand, all our problems will come to naught. 

4) What they ask in prayers is the boldness and insight to preach and the power to heal. In other words, they ask the heart to bear witness of the Lord and the ability to serve the gospel.

 

Acts. 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

   YLT: “And they having prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with freedom,”

   Literal Meaning: And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken” It shows that their prayer has been answered by God or even God Himself has come among them (Exod. 19:18; Is. 6:4).

  “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” On the day of Pentecost, they had been filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts. 2:1-4). And Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit again when he debated with the council (Acts. 4:8). Now they were all filled with the Holy Spirit when they prayed and praised. It shows that being filled with the Holy Spirit keeps continual. After men have been filled with the Holy Spirit, there will be some spiritual phenomenon, e.g. power, boldness, eloquence and etc.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When the church prays for the will of God with one accord, there will be the power “shaking the heaven and the earth” indeed.

2) “Spoke the word of God” The message that we preach should be the word of God and the word of God’s Bible should be quoted in the message. It is effective. And therefore we should be familiar with the Bible and we could use them if necessary. 

 

Acts. 4:32 “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

   YLT: “and of the multitude of those who did believe the heart and the soul was one, and not one was saying that anything of the things he had was his own, but all things were to them in common.”

   Literal Meaning: “the multitude of those who believed” Since there are “the multitude of” those who believed, their habits, customs, personalities, ideas, ages, professions, knowledge and languages must be different.

  “Were of one heart and one soul” It means that they abandon their differences with each other and they are as one man.

  “Neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own” Since “he possessed” the things, the things should be “his own”. And therefore here the statement seems to be contradictory. The attitude of believers in the early church towards properties shows their love among each other in the Lord and their sense of belonging to the church.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When believers’ hearts to the Lord are raised and their whole hearts are close to the Lord, nothing could hinder them from gathering together and loving each other.

2) May no one in the church be selfish, timid and speak the word that does not edify others.

3) All our belongings, bodies, wisdom and etc are what the Lord has entrusted us and none of them are “our own”. If we are able to know that all that I possess belong to the Lord and since they belong to the Lord, they also belong to the church, we will have all things in common.

 

Acts. 4:33 “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

  YLT: “And with great power were the apostles giving the testimony to the rising again of the Lord Jesus, great grace also was on them all,”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When the church and workers are normal, all people will receive great grace.

2) The Lord shall bestow great grace to very church in which believers love each other and are with one accord.

 

Acts. 4:34 “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

   YLT: “for there was not any one among them who did lack, for as many as were possessors of fields, or houses, selling [them], were bringing the prices of the thing sold,”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own” (v.32) is first and then “nor was there anyone among them who lacked”. It teaches us that: in the church, concerning both the materials and life, if everyone is willing to give them to others, all will enjoy the riches; if everyone is stingy, all will be poor contrarily.

2) If love is not in lack, the need will not be in lack. And therefore when someone lacks in the church, we should know first that there must be something wrong with love.

3) “And brought the proceeds of the things that were sold” It shows that: in the church, all ideas and thoughts of properties should be abandoned seriously. The church is not the profitable institutions and therefore they should not do according to the principle of “whether it profits”.

 

Acts. 4:35 “and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

   YLT: “and were laying them at the feet of the apostles, and distribution was being made to each according as any one had need.”

   Literal Meaning: concerning the corporate life style that “they had all things in common” in the early church, please see the notes in Acts. 2:44.

 

Acts. 4:36 “And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

   YLT: “And Joses, who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas -- which is, having been interpreted, Son of Comfort -- a Levite, of Cyprus by birth,”

   Literal Meaning: “of the country of Cyprus” “Cyprus” is an island in the east of Mediterranean Sea.

  “Who was also named Barnabas by the apostles” “Barnabas” means “Son of Encouragement”, showing that he was one who encouraged others. However, he did not speak hollow and gentle words to encourage others. He used his actual acts to encourage others by his personalities, deeds and his own properties.

 

Acts. 4:37 “having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

   YLT: “a field being his, having sold [it], brought the money and laid [it] at the feet of the apostles.”

   The Background: according to the Law of Moses, Levites could not possess the right of land (Num. 18:23-24). Barnabas was a Levite (v.36), however, he had land and sold it. The reasons may be that: 1) the laws and regulations of Moses were only applied to the lands within the borders of Palestine and weren’t applied to the lands of the Gentiles; 2) the regulations of Moses which forbad the Levites from acquiring property had not been executed at that time.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Comparisons between Workers of the Lord and Workers of Satan

I. They taught the people and preached in Jesus (v.2)------by the worldly power and authority (v.25-27).

II. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (v.10-12)------they commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus (v.17-18).

III. The boldness (v.13)------being greatly disturbed (v.2), and were scared (v.17).

IV. A notable miracle has been done (v.16)------finding no way of punishing them (v.21).

V. They were judged apparently but actually they judged others (v.19)------they judged the apostles apparently but actually they were judged by the apostles (v.17).

VI. Cannot but speak (v.20)------say nothing against it (v.14).

 

The Example of the Preaching of Workers

I. Speak as the Spirit gives to them (v.8).

II. Exalt the Lord Jesus Christ (v.9-10).

III. Lead the way of being saved (v.11-12).

IV. The witness that they have followed the Lord is manifested in them (v.13).

V. Have the actual witness of works (v.14).

VI. Listen to God’s guidance and speak to and teach people (v.18-19).

VII. Speak the things which they have seen and heard (v.20).

VIII. They cannot but speak the things which they have seen and heard (v.20; Acts. 20:27).

IX. They are moved and all glorify God (v.21).

 

The Cooperation in the Church

I. The cooperation among workers------sometimes one speaks (v.8) but the expression of two is manifested (v.13); sometimes two speak together (v.19).

II. The cooperation between workers and all saints------workers need the care and support of all Saints (v.23); they pray with one accord (v.24) so that all are filled with the Holy Spirit (v.31).

III. The cooperation among members------all of them are of one heart and one soul and they have mutual communions (v.32-35).

 

One Example of Prayer in the Church

I. Find out the need of prayer from communion (v.23).

II. All people (raise their voice) with one accord and pray to God urgently (v.24a).

III. Rely on and look upon the Lord who controls everything (v.24b).

IV. The negative aspect------ask the Lord to search the difficulty that the church is facing (v.25-29).

V. The positive aspect------ask the Lord for help (v.30):

  A. with all boldness

  B. stretching out His hand to do signs and wonders

VI. The prayer takes effect immediately (v.31):

  A. the place where they were assembled together was shaken.

B. they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

 

Another Example of Prayer in the Church

I. All those who pray are with one accord (v.24a).

II. They trust that God has the great power (v.24b).

III. They receive God’s revelation from the Bible (v.25-28).

IV. They pray for some certain thing (v.29-30).

V. They regard glory as the aim (v.30b).

VI. They have the gifts of the Holy Spirit (v.31b).

VII. They could do the better works (v.31c).

 

The Way of the Testimony of the Church

I. The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul (v.32a)------endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).

II. Neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common (v.32b)------love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 19:19), it shows that one’s life of “self” is willing to be deprived of.

III. With great power the apostles (v.33a)------those who speak for the Lord could show the power of the Holy Spirit.

IV. Gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (v.33b)------the “life” of Jesus is manifested (2Cor. 4:10).

V. And great grace was upon them all (v.33c)------great grace was upon the whole church.

VI. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked (v.34a)------enter into the abundant land.

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren