Peter and John Questioned by the CouncilBible World
4:18Acts 4:18
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
After an undeniable public healing and proclamation of Jesus' resurrection, the priests, temple rulers and Sanhedrin called Peter and John and the other apostles and ordered them to stop speaking, teaching and working at all in the name of Jesus, backing the order with threats of severe punishment including death. The rulers could not deny that God was working through a plain miracle known to many, yet they acted to halt the work because it drew attention to Jesus and His resurrection and threatened to spread belief among the people. They sought to protect their own power and influence and to hide their guilt for Jesus' death, but because the people praised God for the healing they feared the people and dared do no more than threaten and release the apostles. The apostles answered that their work came from God and they could not stop speaking what they had seen and heard, so since the human prohibition opposed God's commission and law they obeyed God rather than human authority and kept preaching Christ boldly through the Holy Spirit despite danger, prison and threats. Their experience stands as the duty and example for later believers when human laws oppose God's law, to remain faithful and obey God even at risk of imprisonment, loss or death rather than comply for peace, bearing the truth boldly wherever they are and expecting reproach and persecution.
Rulers' Command and Motives
The priests, temple rulers and Sanhedrin called Peter and John and the other apostles before them and commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach and work in the name of Jesus, who had been proscribed and crucified. The order was backed with threats of severe punishment, even death. It was aimed at the disciples as a body to stop their preaching and teaching in that name.
The command followed the public healing of a man lame from birth and the apostles' proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. It was a plain and undeniable miracle, known to many, that gave clear evidence God was working with the preachers. The authorities could not deny what had happened.
They acted because the preaching testified to the resurrection, brought attention to Jesus, and threatened to spread among the people. They feared continued preaching would bring more to believe in Jesus. That spread would weaken their own power and influence and expose their guilt as responsible for Jesus' death, as his murderers.
They wanted to halt the work and protect their influence and silence the disciples. But the people praised God for the healing, so the rulers feared the people and dared not punish the apostles further. They could do no more than threaten them and release them.
Obeying God Despite Opposition
Peter and John answered that their work came from God and that they could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard. Despite the order to stop, they gave clear, bold testimony to Jesus' resurrection through the power of the Holy Spirit. Their words and works represented Jesus, and their manner of speaking showed they had learned from Him.
The command to stop speaking and teaching in Jesus' name stood in opposition to God's commission, command, and law. Peter and the disciples therefore obeyed God rather than human authority, refusing to submit or to desist from proclaiming Jesus. Human authority could threaten the messengers, but it could not bind God's word.
Threats, even threats of death and severe punishment, could not restrain or intimidate them. They continued preaching Christ courageously despite knowing their lives were in danger. Even when thrust into prison they did not desist, and when they were imprisoned an angel freed them and commanded them to keep preaching.
This opposition led the church to pray, and God affirmed their message. He strengthened them through the Holy Spirit to speak boldly, so that they continued proclaiming the message as the Lord spoke through them. Converts then carried the truth from Jerusalem to their homes in many places.
Their experience establishes the duty and example for later believers who face human laws opposing God's law. God's servants must remain faithful to Him rather than comply for the sake of peace. They must obey God even at the risk of imprisonment, loss, or death, including when faced with efforts to enforce a papal institution. Those who carry the aggressive truth of God in a time of prevailing iniquity must stem the current without compromise, bear the message wherever they are and let their light shine, expecting reproach, persecution, and strait places because the whole world will not be in harmony with the law.
After an undeniable public healing and proclamation of Jesus' resurrection, the priests, temple rulers and Sanhedrin called Peter and John and the other apostles and ordered them to stop speaking, teaching and working at all in the name of Jesus, backing the order with threats of severe punishment including death. The rulers could not deny that God was working through a plain miracle known to many, yet they acted to halt the work because it drew attention to Jesus and His resurrection and threatened to spread belief among the people. They sought to protect their own power and influence and to hide their guilt for Jesus' death, but because the people praised God for the healing they feared the people and dared do no more than threaten and release the apostles. The apostles answered that their work came from God and they could not stop speaking what they had seen and heard, so since the human prohibition opposed God's commission and law they obeyed God rather than human authority and kept preaching Christ boldly through the Holy Spirit despite danger, prison and threats. Their experience stands as the duty and example for later believers when human laws oppose God's law, to remain faithful and obey God even at risk of imprisonment, loss or death rather than comply for peace, bearing the truth boldly wherever they are and expecting reproach and persecution.
Rulers' Command and Motives
The priests, temple rulers and Sanhedrin called Peter and John and the other apostles before them and commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach and work in the name of Jesus, who had been proscribed and crucified. The order was backed with threats of severe punishment, even death. It was aimed at the disciples as a body to stop their preaching and teaching in that name.
The command followed the public healing of a man lame from birth and the apostles' proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. It was a plain and undeniable miracle, known to many, that gave clear evidence God was working with the preachers. The authorities could not deny what had happened.
They acted because the preaching testified to the resurrection, brought attention to Jesus, and threatened to spread among the people. They feared continued preaching would bring more to believe in Jesus. That spread would weaken their own power and influence and expose their guilt as responsible for Jesus' death, as his murderers.
They wanted to halt the work and protect their influence and silence the disciples. But the people praised God for the healing, so the rulers feared the people and dared not punish the apostles further. They could do no more than threaten them and release them.
Obeying God Despite Opposition
Peter and John answered that their work came from God and that they could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard. Despite the order to stop, they gave clear, bold testimony to Jesus' resurrection through the power of the Holy Spirit. Their words and works represented Jesus, and their manner of speaking showed they had learned from Him.
The command to stop speaking and teaching in Jesus' name stood in opposition to God's commission, command, and law. Peter and the disciples therefore obeyed God rather than human authority, refusing to submit or to desist from proclaiming Jesus. Human authority could threaten the messengers, but it could not bind God's word.
Threats, even threats of death and severe punishment, could not restrain or intimidate them. They continued preaching Christ courageously despite knowing their lives were in danger. Even when thrust into prison they did not desist, and when they were imprisoned an angel freed them and commanded them to keep preaching.
This opposition led the church to pray, and God affirmed their message. He strengthened them through the Holy Spirit to speak boldly, so that they continued proclaiming the message as the Lord spoke through them. Converts then carried the truth from Jerusalem to their homes in many places.
Their experience establishes the duty and example for later believers who face human laws opposing God's law. God's servants must remain faithful to Him rather than comply for the sake of peace. They must obey God even at the risk of imprisonment, loss, or death, including when faced with efforts to enforce a papal institution. Those who carry the aggressive truth of God in a time of prevailing iniquity must stem the current without compromise, bear the message wherever they are and let their light shine, expecting reproach, persecution, and strait places because the whole world will not be in harmony with the law.