Day 93 – Friday, May 9, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Acts 4

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Peter and John Arrested

1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, ² being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 

(Acts 4:1–4, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• After the healing of the lame man, Peter preached again, and people were greater intrigued by the healing and the preaching.
• The religious leaders were disturbed and arrested Peter and John.
• Even so, many of those who witnessed the healing and heard the preaching believed, and about 5000 were saved.

Addressing the Sanhedrin

⁵ And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 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. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: ⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 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. ¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 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.” 

(Acts 4:5–12, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• When they were called to stand before the high council, they asked Peter and John by whose authority they did this healing.
• Peter spoke and asked if doing a good deed was a crime. If so, they did the act in the name of Jesus Christ, who they had crucified and whom God had raised from the dead.
• Jesus was called the stone that the builders rejected. However, He became the cornerstone of this new movement.
• Peter then declared that salvation could not come by any other name but Jesus.

The Name of Jesus Forbidden

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. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 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. 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.”

¹⁸ So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 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. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 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. ²² For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. 

(Acts 4:13–22, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The council marveled at the boldness of these men. They could not deny the miracle, but wanted to stop the move to follow Jesus. Therefore, they commanded them not to speak or act in Jesus’ name.
• Peter and John answered with great courage. “…we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
• Once they warned them again, they let them go, for there was no way they could punish them for such a great act.

Prayer for Boldness

²³ And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 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, ²⁵ who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage,

And the people plot vain things?

²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand,

And the rulers were gathered together

Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

²⁷ “For 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 ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. ²⁹ Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, ³⁰ by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

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. 

(Acts 4:23–31, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Once they were released from custody, Peter and John went to see their companions to tell them what happened. Everyone praised God.
• They rehearsed the unjust actions against Jesus. Then they prayed for boldness to speak the Word of God. They also asked for signs and wonders to be done in Jesus’ name.
• As they prayed, the room was shaken, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with boldness.

Sharing in All Things

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. ³³ And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 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, ³⁵ and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

³⁶ And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

(Acts 4:32–37, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The events of the first few chapters of Acts created a change in the attitudes of all who believed. They had “one heart and one soul.” The unity in the Godhead was translating to the Spirit-filled disciples of Christ.
• They lived as though anything they owned was available to those who may need it. They witnessed in power and with grace.
• Everyone cared for each other’s needs, and people sold items and brought the money to the apostles to be distributed.
• Oneness, unity, and generosity were the norm among the early New Testament church.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.