Acts 4

Peter and John are arrested for preaching Jesus’ resurrection and are brought before the same council that condemned Jesus. They answer with Spirit-given boldness and refuse to stop speaking. The church then prays for courage, not safety, and God answers by filling them afresh, and they share their goods in love.

Acts 4:1-2

The temple authorities interrupt Peter and John mid-sermon. The Sadducees were especially angry because they denied any resurrection. The apostles were not only teaching but announcing that in Jesus the resurrection of the dead had already begun.

BSA: disturbed (“being sore troubled, grieved”): The leaders were deeply agitated, because this message struck at their core beliefs and authority.

Acts 4:3-4

The two men are locked up overnight, but the word cannot be locked up. Many who heard believed, and the count of men alone reached about five thousand. Opposition did not stop the growth of the church.

BSA: believed (“trusted, had faith”): Believing here means placing trust in the message, not just agreeing with it.

Acts 4:5-6

The full ruling council gathers, led by the high priestly family. Annas and Caiaphas had both been involved in Jesus’ trial. The apostles now stand before the very men who condemned their Lord.

See also: Luke 3:2; John 18:13-14.

Acts 4:7

The question is pointed: by what power or name? The council assumes some authority stands behind the healing. Their question unknowingly hands Peter the very opening he needs to speak of Jesus.

BSA: name (“authority, character, or reputation”): In Scripture a name stands for the whole person and his authority, not just a label.

Acts 4:8

Peter, once the man who denied Jesus in fear, now speaks calmly. He is filled with the Holy Spirit for this moment. Jesus had promised that the Spirit would give words when believers stood before rulers.

See also: Luke 12:11-12.

Acts 4:9-10

Peter turns the trial around. They are being examined over a good deed done to a lame man. He answers plainly: this man stands whole by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom they crucified and God raised.

BSA: healed (“made whole, saved, restored to health”): The same Greek word can mean healed or saved, hinting that the physical cure points to a deeper rescue.

Acts 4:11

Peter quotes the Psalm about a stone that builders threw away but God made the chief stone of the building. The leaders were the builders, and Jesus was the stone. God reversed their verdict by raising him.

BSA: cornerstone (“head of the corner, chief stone”): It is the key stone that holds the whole structure together and sets its lines.

See also: Psalm 118:22; 1 Peter 2:7.

Acts 4:12

This is the heart of Peter’s speech. Rescue from sin and death comes through Jesus alone. No other name is given among people by which we must be saved. It is a plain statement, offered as good news for all.

BSA: saved (“rescued, delivered from harm”): Being saved means being rescued from real danger, not merely improved.

See also: John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5.

Acts 4:13

The council sees fearless speech from untrained fishermen and is amazed. They can only explain it one way: these men had been with Jesus. A life spent near Jesus shows itself in courage and clarity.

BSA: boldness (“confidence, fearlessness”): It means open, frank speech without shrinking back.

Greek: παρρησίαν (parrēsian, G3954) — “boldness, free and open speech.” The word means saying everything openly, holding nothing back from fear. It becomes a key word for the apostles’ witness in Acts.

Acts 4:14-15

The healed man is standing right beside them. The evidence cannot be argued away, so the council has no reply. They send the apostles out of the room so they can talk privately.

BSA: standing (“in an upright position”): The man who once lay at the gate now stands as living proof.

Acts 4:16-17

The leaders admit the miracle is real and known to all Jerusalem. Yet they do not ask whether it is from God. Their only concern is to contain the message, so they plan to threaten the apostles into silence.

BSA: deny (“refuse to acknowledge, reject”): They cannot honestly refuse the facts, yet they still refuse to bow to what the facts mean.

Acts 4:18

The council orders a total ban: no speaking and no teaching in the name of Jesus. It is the very name they could not explain away, and now they try to silence it.

BSA: name (“authority, character”): To speak in Jesus’ name is to speak with his authority, which is exactly what the council wanted to forbid.

Acts 4:19-20

Peter and John appeal to a higher court. When human orders and God’s command clash, they will obey God. They cannot be silent about what they themselves saw and heard of Jesus. Witnesses must speak.

See also: Acts 5:29; 1 John 1:3.

Acts 4:21-22

The council threatens them again but can find no grounds for punishment, because the crowds are praising God. Luke adds that the man had been lame for over forty years, so the cure could not be doubted as a trick or a passing illness.

BSA: glorifying (“praising, honoring”): The people saw God’s hand in the healing and gave him the credit.

Acts 4:23

Once free, the apostles go straight back to their own people, the believers, and tell them everything. The church is a family to run to in hard times, and the report leads them directly into prayer.

Acts 4:24

The whole company prays together, with one voice. They begin by naming God as Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven, earth and sea. Before they speak of their problem, they remember how great the one they are speaking to is.

BSA: Sovereign Lord (“Master, Ruler of all”): They address God as the absolute Master, far above any council.

Greek: δέσποτα (despota, G1203) — “master, absolute ruler.” This is the word for a master with total authority over his household. It sets God’s rule against the limited power of the council.

See also: Exodus 20:11.

Acts 4:25-26

They turn to Psalm 2, which David wrote by the Holy Spirit. It describes nations and rulers raging against the Lord and his Anointed One. The church sees its own trouble already described in Scripture, and finds it comforting.

BSA: Anointed One (“Christ, the Messiah, His chosen one”): The psalm’s anointed king is understood as the Messiah, Jesus.

See also: Psalm 2:1-2.

Acts 4:27-28

They see Psalm 2 fulfilled in Jerusalem itself. Herod, Pilate, Gentiles and Israelites together turned against Jesus. Yet all they did was carry out what God had already planned. Evil people are still responsible for their acts, but God’s purpose still stands.

BSA: decided beforehand (“predestined, foreordained”): God’s plan was set before the event, and not even the cross took him by surprise.

See also: Acts 2:23.

Acts 4:29-30

Now comes the request. They do not ask for the threats to stop or for safety. They ask for boldness to keep speaking, and for God’s hand to keep healing and giving signs through Jesus’ name.

BSA: boldness (“freedom, confidence”): They ask for freedom of speech that will not be cowed by fear. servants (“slaves, devoted followers”): They call themselves slaves of God, which shows they belong to his command and not the council’s.

Acts 4:31

God answers at once. The place shakes, and all are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak God’s word boldly. The very thing they asked for is what they were given.

BSA: filled (“completely controlled, empowered”): The Spirit fills believers so fully that he directs and strengthens them.

See also: Acts 2:4.

Acts 4:32

The believers were one in heart and soul. Out of that unity came open-handed love. They did not treat their goods as strictly private but shared what they had with those in need.

BSA: heart and soul (“the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions”): Their unity went deep, touching both mind and affection, not just outward agreement.

See also: Acts 2:44-45.

Acts 4:33

The apostles kept giving their testimony to Jesus’ resurrection with great power. The resurrection stayed the center of the message. God’s grace rested richly on all the believers.

BSA: grace (“divine influence, favor”): God’s favor was seen and felt among them, in power and in generosity.

Acts 4:34-35

No one among them went without. Those who owned land or houses sold them when needed and placed the money in the apostles’ care. It was given freely and distributed according to need.

BSA: need (“a requirement, a necessity”): Giving was matched to real needs, so no one was left lacking.

Acts 4:36-37

Luke gives one example, Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles nicknamed him Barnabas, Son of Encouragement. He sold his field and laid the money at the apostles’ feet. His generosity matched his name, and we meet him again later in Acts.

BSA: Son of Encouragement (“comfort, solace, and exhortation”): His nickname shows a man known for strengthening and comforting others.

See also: Acts 11:23-24.