AFTER the address of Peter before the Council, they were nonplussed; for the accused boldly become the accusers, and commit the very offense for which they had been arrested.
1. THE BOLDNESS OF PETER AND JOHN.—"But seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and perceiving that they were unlettered and uninstructed men, they wondered, and they recognized them that they were with Jesus" (4:13).
The Spirit of God so filled the apostles that they spoke forth fearlessly the words of incrimination, and also those of salvation. They had charged on the Jewish builders the guilt of refusing the God given Stone which had been made Head of the comer, and the only Stone of salvation. "Salvation is in none other; for neither is there another name under heaven, which is given among men, by which we must be saved" (verse 12). Jesus is not only a free Saviour, but He is an exclusive Saviour.
This was bold speaking for "unlettered and common men" to address to the great and learned Council of the nation. This boldness was of a spiritual kind; not the offensive rudeness of coarse and low natures, but the holy spiritual earnestness of believing disciples of Christ, who, filled with the Holy Ghost for the occasion, giving them to realize their union with Him in His power and glory at the throne of God, spoke as those who were fully assured of the truth and importance of their message, the divine glory of their exalted Lord, and the guilt and misery of those who had so sinfully rejected Him, and were now threatening to arrest the onward progress of His gospel, even when "preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." The proof of being filled with the Spirit is, that those so filled invariably speak of the Lord Jesus; they exalt "the name that is above every name;" and, while convincing of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come, there is also a testimony given to salvation through that name. Four things are noticeable here (1.) The Council saw the boldness of Peter and John; it had been obvious in their speech. (2.) They perceived that they were unlettered and unprofessional men of the lower order —not men who had had any formal training in rabbinical learning, or who had gone through any of their schools of learning, or had been prepared for the teacher's work in the ordinary way; and their speech, no doubt, showed that they were untutored men, and yet they had spoken with a "freedom of speech," a cogency, pungency, and personal application, as well as a telling force, that had taken their judges by surprise. (3.) They were struck with wonder; they marveled at this unusual phenomenon, "their wonder sharpened their intellects," and their whole bearing made them give particular attention to them. (4.) They recognized them as persons that were with Jesus. They had said of Jesus, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (John 7:1515And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (John 7:15)). The Sanhedrim had had Jesus before them, and given sentence against Him; now He is again before them in the persons and preaching of the apostles, who proclaim His name as the only Saviour in the power and by the authority of the Holy Ghost: will they reject Him afresh now that He has been raised from the dead, set at God's right hand, and is preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven? That were to" do despite to the Spirit of grace.”
(It is an interesting study to trace the word translated "boldness;" it occurs in the following places:— Mark 8:3232And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. (Mark 8:32); John 7:4, 13, 26; 10:24; 11:14, 54; 16:25, 29; 18:204For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, show thyself to the world. (John 7:4)
13Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews. (John 7:13)
26But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? (John 7:26)
24Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. (John 10:24)
14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (John 11:14)
54Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. (John 11:54)
25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. (John 16:25)
29His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. (John 16:29)
20Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. (John 18:20); Acts 2:29; 4:13, 29, 31; 28:3129Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (Acts 2:29)
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, (Acts 4:29)
31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)
31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:31); 2 Cor. 3:12; 7:412Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (2 Corinthians 3:12)
4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. (2 Corinthians 7:4); Eph. 3:12; 6:1912In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:12)
19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:19); Philip. 1:20; Col. 2:1313And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13); Philem. 88Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, (Philemon 8); Heb. 3:6; 4:16; 10:196But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)
16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19); Heb. 10:3535Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (Hebrews 10:35); 1 John 2:28; 3:21; 4:17; 5:1428And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28)
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. (1 John 3:21)
17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)
14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (1 John 5:14)).
"And beholding the man, who had been healed stand with, them, they had nothing to reply" (verse 14). The man who had never stood before stood with Peter and John "with firm ankle," a standing miracle before the Sanhedrim of the healing power of the name of Jesus; and they had therefore nothing, though they wished it much (verse 21), to say against it. At verse 16, they themselves say, "We cannot deny it." But will they believe? No; they will confer with one another rather than believe God and acknowledge the saving name of Jesus. How often has their evil example been followed!
2. THE THREATENING OF THE COUNCIL.—"But having commanded them to go out of the Council, they conferred with, one another, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed an evident miracle has come to pass through their mean is manifest to all that inhabit Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it be not further spread among the people, let us therefore threaten them, severely no longer to speak to any man in this name" (verses 15-17). How very small the great men of Israel now appear when setting themselves against Jesus and the preaching of His evangelists! And yet great and learned men are repeating their folly among ourselves up to this very hour. "These men!" Blind ecclesiastics always feel annoyed at the men, — "these men;" and do not know what to do with them. But they overlook the name of Jesus, whereby wonders are still wrought, and are not so anxious to know what to do with the salvation it brings them. Herein lay their whole difficulty; mind and conscience, public knowledge of the fact of the miracle having been wrought, and they themselves not able to deny it—the whole case against them—yet they would not bow to the name of Jesus and confess Him as their own and the nation's Saviour. The hostile will of man is the great barrier to divine blessing. They are determined not to believe in Jesus themselves, and they resolve on using all the weight of their position to check the further spread of the gospel.
How little wise worldly men, even the highest in religious position, know of the vital power of Christianity, and that they may as well command the waves of the sea not to spread farther, as to think by the severest threats and prohibitions to stay the further spread of the preaching of salvation in the name of Jesus. The whole of the influence of the heads of Israel—the men in the highest places of authority and learning in the nation, take council to stop the evangelistic preaching of the apostles—and yet the preaching of that saving name is going on with more vigor and earnestness than ever after the lapse of eighteen hundred y ears Might statesmen, learned men, able theologians, and wise ecclesiastics, not be expected to learn from the past that it is utterly in vain to prevent the spread of the saving efficacy of the name of Jesus?
Threatening with punishment and forbidding to speak in that name will not stop men who are filled with the Holy Ghost from proclaiming the saving virtues of the all-glorious CHRIST. The most sagacious precautionary measures they may adopt will be found futile to hinder the onward progress of the salvation of God. They cannot hinder the work that is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. The word of God is not bound. The Holy Ghost has come from heaven to glorify Jesus on earth, and He will do it, spite of man.
"And having called them, they charged them, not to speak at all, or teach, in the name of Jesus" (verse 18). Here the supreme Council of Israel set themselves against that salvation-bringing name without which none can be saved, by which "we must be saved, if saved at all, for there is not salvation in any other." They charged them not to speak of that name in ordinary intercourse, nor preach it publicly; "not to speak at all, or teach, in the name of Jesus." Do as much good quietly as you can, but stop using the name of Jesus. Men can tolerate good works and pious observances, but not the saving name of the crucified, risen, and exalted Jesus, who has been made both Lord and Christ.
It is sad work when men, high in place and authority in Church or State, try to silence by means of threats and violence what they cannot gainsay, or put down by argument or Scripture. But this is going on in many places at this hour; there never was more means taken to prevent such unauthorized men as Peter and John from preaching Jesus than at present; and the opposition becomes more virulent daily, and the measures employed by secret societies and all sorts of godless expedients, "that it spread no further"— that it be kept from encroaching on the established order, and prevented from exercising its legitimate influence and doing its full God-appointed work—are being multiplied; but all in vain. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
3. THE REPLY OF PETER AND JOHN.— We have now to consider the reply of the apostles to the Council's charge, "not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus." "But Peter and John answering said to them, If it be righteous before God to listen to you rather than to God, judge ye; for, as for us, we cannot refrain from speaking of the things which, we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19, 2019But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:19‑20)). "The powers that be are ordained of God," and ought to be obeyed in all things pertaining to their legitimate sphere; but when they travel beyond their sphere, as the Council clearly did in this instance, they are not to be obeyed, because it would involve disobedience to God. The Christian is never allowed to be lawless or disobedient—never to do his own will. The apostles realized their position, saw the dilemma, and put it to the consciences of their judges whether it could be righteous to listen to them rather than to God. They put it to them and say, "judge ye;" but whatever might be their judgment (and reason and conscience are not the final arbiters of duty, but God's word), they felt it to be their duty to hearken unto God rather than to man.
There is much said in our day about the necessary spiritual independence of the Church from the control of the civil power in all spiritual causes: and here we see that this was the principle on which the apostles took their stand; and claimed to own a higher authority than the State. They would listen to God rather than to men. A divine commission had been given them by Christ, and the Holy Ghost had come to enable them to perform it: a human prohibition had come in their way, and that which made it peculiarly trying that it proceeded from those who professed to be acting for God in Israel.
Christ had said unto them, "Preach the gospel to all the world—to every creature—beginning at Jerusalem;" and immediately before being "taken up," when, "through the Holy Ghost He gave them commandments," He had said specifically (Acts 1:88But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)), "But ye will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be My witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judæa and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." God's will must be done in defiance of man's prohibition, and they can suffer the hostile will of those in authority, and commit themselves, like their Master, to Mm that judgeth righteously. If the Council had been as purely set on listening to God as the apostles were, there had been no collision; and all the state prohibitions of the Church's spiritual action when doing God's will have been due to their not acting in accordance with the mind of God. The apostles were so clear in their minds and consciences about the rightness of their conduct, that they answered in a resolute and manly way, laying the matter for decision on the consciences of the Sanhedrim; but men who act habitually in violation of rectitude have their consciences "seared with a hot iron." The Councils conscience is dull of hearing such an appeal. Men who are set on doing wrong will do it in the face of reason, conscience, and the word of God; while men who are led by God's Spirit, and thus walking in the Spirit, determined by grace to do right, will do it in the face of all opposition. "For, as for us, we cannot refrain from speaking of the things which we have seen and heard.”
When men are filled with the Spirit, and are divinely assured by God's word that they are doing God's will in testifying the gospel of His grace, they do not mind opposition. "The righteous is bold as a lion." We refuse to obey men for the sake of God.
Compare Luther's words at the Diet of Worms, 1521: “Unless I am overpowered and convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures, or by other public, distinct, and obvious arguments and reasons, and unless I am thus fully satisfied respecting the passages of Scripture which I have hitherto adduced, insomuch that my conscience is taken captive by the Word of God, I neither can nor will retract anything, well knowing that it is neither safe nor advisable to do aught in opposition to the conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me Amen.”
How blessed when men are so filled with the Spirit and love to Christ, the truth, and the souls of men, that they cannot refrain from speaking the things they have seen and heard! There was a well of living water springing up into everlasting life within Peter and John; and "rivers of living water" must flow out of them. How could they refrain from telling all they knew of the Christ with whom they had such intimate fellowship, and to witness to whom they had received the Holy Ghost so recently, and were being filled with the Spirit even while they addressed the Council!
The things which we have seen and heard (Acts 1:8, 22; 2:32; 3:158But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. (Acts 1:22)
32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Acts 2:32)
15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:15)) must be spoken, or we should be unfaithful to our trust. Have we seen Jesus? Then it will be visible in our testimony for Him. Have we heard "the voice of His mouth"? Then with the mouth shall we confess His name, and beseech others in His stead to be reconciled to God.
4. THE DISMISSAL OF THE APOSTLES BY THE COUNCIL.—"But they having further threatened them let them, go, finding no way how they might punish, them, on account of the people, because that all glorified God for what had taken place; for the man on whom the sign of healing had taken place was above forty years old" (verses 21, 22).
The heads of Israel ought to have believed the Gospel and submitted themselves to its power, instead of committing the positive and great sin of forbidding the apostles to preach it. But they showed a fatal obstinacy in rejecting the counsel of God and threatening His servants; for in thus acting they were deposed from the honorable place of acting with authority, as having delegated power from the God of Israel, and were under the fear of the people whose rulers they were, and who ought to have been afraid of them (Rom. 13) This was a deterioration in their power like that symbolized in Daniel H. by the "iron mixed with the miry clay." God is represented as giving power to the King of Babylon, and that power as coming direct from God is symbolized by "gold." When the image is spoken of, it is said of that sovereign "Thou art that head of gold." The rulers in Israel were bound so to govern and do justice that they should have carried out the judgment of God, and not to have feared the people, but feared God whose servants they were. But this refraining from punishing the apostles on account of the people, proved conclusively that they were acting for themselves and not for the God of Israel.
Whenever the government of a country acts in this manner it is not a golden one, but "iron and miry clay;" for it looks rather to the people than to God. The divine element is out of the rulers when they regard the country as the fountain of authority, and when they consult the temper of the people and act so as to please them, holding their places, instead of judging righteous judgment. It was a sign of extreme feebleness to threaten, instead of punishing, if they deemed them worthy of punishment; especially when we consider that they had charged their judges with the greatest crime of which they could have been proved guilty—the crucifixion of their Messiah. They wished to punish; they only "further threatened them" and "let them go, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people, because that all glorified God for what had taken place.”
The people were sounder in their judgment than their rulers; and they gave them unmistakable indications of their mind, for they glorified God on account of the miracle; and by the expression of this feeling among the people God sheltered His servants for the time being from the punishment the Sanhedrim were so anxious to inflict. And the rulers carne in for the hearing of such a sermon as they had little expected; and their placing the apostles before them had not only left their consciences without excuse, in refusing the testimony of God, but had given more public notoriety to that testimony, for it would be known throughout the whole city of Jerusalem that the apostles had been tried, and let off formally by the great Council of the Jews, without punishment, when testifying to their Messiah, so lately crucified by them, and now raised to the right hand of God, and there made both Lord and Christ.
The opposition to the witness-bearing of the apostles had not yet extended to the people, for, just as it is said of the Lord Himself, "the common people heard Him gladly," so it might have been said of their preaching. And so is it still. The great truths of God would be received by the spiritual among the people, if those who are in places of authority did not interpose to interdict the reception of them, and speak and write against it. In our day the ecclesiastical heads in Christendom are doing their utmost to prejudice the minds of the people against the full and clear Scripture testimony to the glorified Christ; and where they cannot punish they give threatening and further-threatening either of the withdrawment of ecclesiastical privileges or of temporal advantages if the truth be not renounced! These authorities of to-day are just as truly opposed to the full gospel of Christ and the position it gives believers, before God and in this world, as were the Sanhedrim when they "further-threatened " the apostles and discharged them.
There was solid ground for the continued expression of the feeling of the people: "for the man on whom, this sign of healing had taken place was above forty years old" (verse 22). He had been well known; he was above forty years old; and there could be no error or deception about his cure, for he had been lame from his birth; and now he—a man beyond middle life—was standing before the Council on feet that had never borne his weight before. All men were satisfied of the wonderful cure, and continued to glorify God on account of it, as a gracious intervention of his power—a "miracle of healing."