# Acts 04 đ: Boldness Before the Council
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[[-Acts Overview]] | [[Acts 03]] | [[Acts 05]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Observations / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Outline]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Arrest and Trial of Peter and John
**Principle**: Same message to all - masses and elite.
[[#Verse 01.]] While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,Â
[[#Verse 02.]] angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] So they seized them and put them in jail until the next day (for it was already evening).Â
[[#Verse 04.]] But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000.
[[#Verse 05.]] On the next day, their rulers, elders, and experts in the law came together in Jerusalem.Â
[[#Verse 06.]]Â Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priestâs family.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] After making Peter and John stand in their midst, they began to inquire, âBy what power or by what name did you do this?âÂ
[[#Verse 08.]] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, âRulers of the people and elders,Â
[[#Verse 09.]] if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick manâby what means this man was healedâÂ
[[#Verse 10.]] let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy.Â
[[#Verse 11.]] This Jesus is **_the stone that was rejected by_** you, **_the builders, that has become the cornerstone_**. [[Psalm 118]]
[[#Verse 12.]] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.â
### The Boldness of the Disciples
**Principle**: Boldness is from knowledge and Experience.
[[#Verse 13.]] When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.Â
[[#Verse 14.]]Â And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another,Â
[[#Verse 16.]] saying, âWhat should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.âÂ
[[#Verse 18.]] And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] But Peter and John replied, âWhether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide,Â
[[#Verse 20.]] for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.âÂ
[[#Verse 21.]] After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened.Â
[[#Verse 22.]] For the man, on whom this miraculous sign of healing had been performed, was over forty years old.
### The Followers of Jesus Pray for Boldness
**Principle**: Persecution helps us figure out priorities.
[[#Verse 23.]] When they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, âMaster of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them,Â
[[#Verse 25.]] who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather,
â**_Why do the nations_**Â **_rage,_**
**_and the peoples plot foolish_**Â **_things?_**
[[#Verse 26.]]Â **_The kings of the earth stood together,_**
**_and the rulers assembled together,_**
**_against the Lord and against his_**Â **_Christ_**.â [[Psalm 02]]
[[#Verse 27.]] âFor indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,Â
[[#Verse 28.]] to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen.Â
[[#Verse 29.]] And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage,Â
[[#Verse 30.]] while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.â
[[#Verse 31.]] When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously.
### Conditions Among the Early Believers
**Principle**: Share and Help each other.
[[#Verse 32.]] The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.Â
[[#Verse 33.]] With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.Â
[[#Verse 34.]] For there was no one needy among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the salesÂ
[[#Verse 35.]]Â and placing them at the apostlesâ feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need.Â
[[#Verse 36.]]Â So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated âson of encouragementâ),Â
[[#Verse 37.]] sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at the apostlesâ feet.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
###### Verse 36.
###### Verse 37.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The Sadducees (4:1) denied the resurrection of the dead, so they were especially upset that the apostles preached resurrection in Jesus (4:2).
2. The number of men who believed grew to about five thousand (4:4).
3. Annas and Caiaphas, who had questioned Jesus, were among the leaders questioning Peter and John (4:6).
4. The council called Peter and John "uneducated and ordinary men" (4:13), meaning they had no formal rabbinic training, not that they could not read.
5. Peter quotes Psalm 118:22 about the rejected stone (4:11), a verse Jesus applied to Himself (Mark 12:10).
6. The believers' prayer addresses God as "Master" (4:24), a word used of a sovereign ruler.
7. The believers quote Psalm 2:1-2 (4:25-26) and apply it to Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel.
8. The building shaking (4:31) was seen as a sign of God's presence and answer to prayer.
9. Barnabas means "son of encouragement" (4:36). His given name was Joseph, and he was a Levite from Cyprus.
10. Selling land and laying the money at the apostles' feet (4:34-35) was a voluntary act of generosity, not a requirement.
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the stone the builders rejected who has become the cornerstone (4:11; Psalm 118:22). There is salvation in no one else, for His is the only name by which we must be saved (4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5).
## đ Key Observations / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. The council noticed that Peter and John were ordinary men who had been with Jesus (4:13). What would it look like for people to notice that you have been with Jesus?
2. Peter and John said they could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard (4:20). What makes it hard for us to speak about Jesus?
3. When threatened, the believers prayed for boldness, not safety (4:29). What would change if you prayed that way?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 12: There is salvation in no one else. Jesus' name is the only name by which we must be saved.
- đ verse 13: The leaders recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus.
- đ verse 20: We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.
- đ verse 31: The place shook, they were filled with the Spirit, and they spoke God's word boldly.
## đ Related Passages
- đ [[Psalm 118#Verse 22.|Psalm 118:22]] - The rejected stone becomes the cornerstone.
- đ [[John 14#Verse 06.|John 14:6]] - Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
- đ [[Acts 05#Verse 29.|Acts 5:29]] - We must obey God rather than people.
- đ [[Psalm 02#Verse 01.|Psalm 2:1-2]] - Why do the nations rage?
- đ [[Deuteronomy 15#Verse 04.|Deuteronomy 15:4]] - There should be no poor among you.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Acts 04 - SOAP|Be A Giver]]
## đ Outline
Title: What To Do When Facing Persecution
Text: Acts 4:23-31
BI- When tough times come through obeying God, donât do life alone.
Point 1- Go to Godâs people. (They went to the church)
Point 2- Go to God together. (Together, they prayed to God and asked for courage.)
Point 3- Let God give you strength and donât try to move forward alone. (God moved.)
## đ Internal Notes
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### Outline
**Big Idea**:
**Point 1**:
**Point 2**:
**Point 3**:
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