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Acts 4

37 verses

TL;DR

Acts 4 records Peter and John boldly proclaiming Jesus as the resurrected Savior before the Sanhedrin, leading to a brief threat of silence but ultimately resulting in the strengthening of the early Church through shared faith and communal resources.

Summary

Following the healing of a man by Peter and John, the Sanhedrin, including key figures such as Annas, Caiaphas, and Alexander, confronts the apostles, questioning the source of their miracles. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, declares that the healing is performed by Jesus Christ, whom the council had crucified and whom God raised from the dead, asserting that salvation exists only through Him. The leaders, impressed by the apostles’ boldness yet concerned about public order, threaten to silence them, but Peter responds that obedience to God supersedes the council’s authority. The apostles are released, and the healed man’s testimony spreads, inspiring a communal outpouring of faith. The chapter culminates in a powerful prayer where the assembly is shaken, filled with the Holy Ghost, and the apostles distribute resources equitably, underscoring the early Church’s commitment to unity and generosity.

Outline
  1. Peter and John heal a man and face the Sanhedrin’s challenge
  2. Peter proclaims Jesus as the only means of salvation, leading to a threat of silence
  3. The apostles are released, the healed man’s testimony spreads, and the early Church demonstrates faith, prayer, and communal generosity
Themes
The authority of Christ over earthly powersThe empowerment of the Holy Spirit to speak boldlyCommunal unity and shared resources in the early Church
Keywords
Jesus ChristresurrectionHoly GhostSanhedrinsalvationcornerstonecommunal sharingfaith
People
PeterJohnAnnasCaiaphasAlexanderthe High Priestthe Sanhedrinthe prieststhe captain of the templethe Sadduceesthe rulersthe eldersthe scribesthe healed manHerodPontius PilateJoses (Barnabas)Levithe Cypriotthe people of Israel
Places
Jerusalemthe Sanhedrinthe councilthe place where the assembly was shaken
Things
the healing of the manthe Holy Ghostthe name of Jesus Christthe stone of the cornerstonethe communal distribution of resourcesthe prayer that shook the place
Key Verses
  • Acts 4:10: Peter’s central proclamation that salvation comes only through Jesus, the crucified and resurrected Lord
  • Acts 4:11: Peter’s comparison of Jesus to a stone that becomes the cornerstone, emphasizing divine foundation
  • Acts 4:31: The assembly is shaken and filled with the Holy Ghost, signifying divine approval and empowerment
Questions
  • What does Peter’s comparison of Jesus to the cornerstone reveal about early Christian identity?
  • How does the Sanhedrin’s threat reflect the tension between church and state authority?
  • In what ways does the communal distribution of resources illustrate early Christian discipleship?
  • How might the account of the place being shaken inspire modern believers?
  • What role does the Holy Ghost play in empowering the apostles to confront authority?
Sentiment

mixed
The passage shows both conflict (threats, condemnation) and hope (empowerment, unity).