Atti 4:3 Commento

In going over the last two chapters, where we met with so many good things that the apostles did, I wondered what was become of the scribes and Pharisees, and chief priests, that they did not appear to contradict and oppose them, as they had used to treat Christ himself; surely they were so confounded at first with the pouring out of the Spirit that they were for a time struck dumb! But I find we have not lost them; their forces rally again, and here we have an encounter between them and the apostles; for from the beginning the gospel met with opposition. Here, I. Peter and John are taken up, upon a warrant from the priests, and committed to jail (Act 4:1-4). II. They are examined by a committee of the great sanhedrim (Act 4:5-7). III. They bravely avow what they have done, and preach Christ to their persecutors (Act 4:8-12). IV. Their persecutors, being unable to answer them, enjoin them silence, threatening them if they go on to preach the gospel, and so dismiss them (Act 4:13-22). V. They apply to God by prayer, for the further operations of that grace which they had already experienced (Act 4:23-30). VI. God owns them, both outwardly and inwardly, by manifest tokens of his presence with them (Act 4:31-33). VII. The believers had their hearts knit together in holy love, and enlarged their charity to the poor, and the church flourished more than ever, to the glory of Christ (Act 4:33-37).

And as they spake unto the people,.... For though only mention is made of Peter's preaching in the preceding chapter, yet doubtless John preached as well as he; either in turn, or to a part of the people at some distance: and this shows their diligence, faithfulness, and integrity, in the ministration of the word; and it is recorded to their honour, that whilst they were about their master's business, and discharging the duty of their office, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them; by agreement, with great violence, and at unawares: the "priests" might be those who kept the watch in the temple; for "in three places the priests kept watch, in the house of the sanctuary; in the house of Abtines, in the house of Nitsots, and in the house of Moked, and the Levites in one and twenty places (p).'' And it now being eventide, they might be about to take their stands; "and the captain of the temple" might be he, whom they call, , "the man of the mountain of the house"; who was a ruler, or governor, and a president over all the wards (q); he is sometimes called , "the head of the ward" (r); and of him it is said (s), "the man of the mountain of the house goes his round through every ward, with burning torches before him; and every ward that does not stand (is not on his feet), the man of the mountain of the house, says to him, peace be to thee; and if he observes that he is asleep, he strikes him with his staff, and he has power to burn his garments.'' The Vulgate Latin and the Oriental versions read in the plural number, as in See Gill on Luk 22:4, Luk 22:52. The Sadducees were a sect among the Jews, that denied the resurrection of the dead; of their rise, name, and tenets; see Gill on Mat 3:7. (p) Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 1. (q) Bartenora & Yom Tob in ib. sect. 2. (r) Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 6. fol. 186. 3. (s) Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 2.

And they laid hands on them,.... The Arabic version renders it, "on both"; on Peter and John; seized them by force, and drew them out of the temple: and put them in hold unto the next day; not in the common public prison, as in Act 5:18 but they put them into the hands, and under the care and custody of a set of men, to keep and guard them; that they might not go away, until they had an opportunity of bringing them before the sanhedrim, to be examined and punished by them: for it was now eventide; it was at the ninth hour, or about three o'clock in the afternoon, when Peter and John went up to the temple, where they healed the lame man; after which, both of them preached to the people; so that it must now be evening; at least, as the Syriac version renders it, "the evening was near", or was drawing on.

"And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day; for it was now eventide." What impudence! They feared not the multitude; for this also the captain of the temple was with them: they had their hands still reeking with the blood of the former victim. "For it was now eventide," it is said. It was with the wish to abate their spirit that those men did this, and guarded them; but the delay only served to make the Apostles more intrepid.

"By their teaching the people." For already they were in ill repute with them by reason of what they had done to Christ; so that they were rather increasing their own obloquy. "And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold until the morrow; for it was now eventide." In the case of Christ, however, they did not so; but having taken Him at midnight, they immediately led him away, and made no delay, being exceedingly in fear of the multitude: whereas in the case of the Apostles here, they were bold. And they no more take them to Pilate, being ashamed and blushing at the thought of the former affair, lest they should also be taken to task for that.

See how matters are managed. First they were all mocked together. Then, after they became respected in the public speeches and afterward wrought a great marvel, therefore indeed thereafter, having grown bold, God permitting, they enter into dangers, and undertake the contests. See the progress of the Jews to boldness, since seeking the one who will deliver up Christ, now they lay hands themselves, having become bolder after the cross. For they even had the commander, so that they might again cast a public charge upon those who had been, and not avenge as private persons, which they everywhere endeavor to do. Before the multitude they bound the apostles, that seeing them they might work with greater cowardice. Privately they examine them, so that the hearers might not profit from their boldness.

While the apostles had not yet recovered from their previous afflictions, they fell into other ones by a certain providential way. For at first they were all mocked as drunk, suspected of the operation of languages unknown to them. Secondly, they enter into dangers. And not successively these things, but first, having been approved in public speeches, and as it were having been trained for boldness through the miracle of the lame man, especially God having granted it, they from that time take up the challenges. Consider for me from that time the ill-deeds of the Jews. For concerning Christ they sought the one who would betray him, whereas here they themselves lay hands on them, becoming more brazen and daring from now after the cross. From which also they used the chief of the temple for daring, converting what had happened into a public accusation and not a private one, as is their custom. They did not, however, immediately make use of the assembly against the apostles, alleging that it occurred in the evening. And to the Jews it was possible to make use of the truce for wrongdoing, by putting them into terror through imprisonment, and therefore to soften them by intriguing beforehand. But the delay toward the apostles was contrived in order that they might become bolder.

"And they put them in custody until the morning." So the Jews dealt with the apostles and guarded them, wishing to humble them, while the prolonged time made the apostles all the more fearless.

The priests and Sadducees are incensed at the apostles' teaching, and put them in prison, Act 4:1-3. The number of those who believed, Act 4:4. The rulers, elders, and scribes call the apostles before them, and question them concerning their authority to teach, Act 4:5-7. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, answers, and proclaims Jesus, Act 4:8-12. They are confounded at his discourse and the miracle wrought on the lame man, yet command them not to preach in the name of Jesus, Act 4:13-18. Peter and John refuse to obey, Act 4:19, Act 4:20. They are farther threatened and dismissed, Act 4:21, Act 4:22. They return to their own company, who all join in praise and prayer to God, Act 4:23-30. God answers, and fills them with the Holy Spirit, Act 4:31. The blessed state of the primitive disciples, Act 4:32-35. The case of Joses, who sells his estate, and brought the money to the common stock, Act 4:36, Act 4:37.

PETER AND JOHN BEFORE THE SAMHEDRIM. (Act 4:1-13) the captain--of the Levitical guard. of the temple--annoyed at the disturbance created around it. and the Sadducees--who "say that there is no resurrection" (Act 23:8), irritated at the apostles "preaching through (rather, 'in') Jesus the resurrection from the dead"; for the resurrection of Christ, if a fact, effectually overthrew the Sadducean doctrine.