Page 47 - acts_study_book1

Being grieved (agitated, displeased) that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus
the resurrection from the dead.

These religious men are upset and angered because the disciples preach without first asking
their permission. The Council is also frustrated because many people believe the message
being preached, and the lame man stood before them as evidence of the truth of that message.

Peter is preaching and teaching. (He is teaching because many who had been born again on the
day of Pentecost and afterward are present in the crowd [2:41, 47].) Peter once again brings
out the essence of the gospel in this sermon just as he had in his first (2:23-31): the resurrection
gives the gospel it’s power to deliver and save. Because Jesus was resurrected, believers will
also be raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-20).

However, the Sadducees do not believe in angels or the resurrection (23:8). It is bad enough
for them to hear doctrine they do not believe; it is worse to see the people accepting and
following that doctrine.

Act 4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now
eventide.

And they laid hands (seized violently) on them, and put them in hold (jail cell) unto the next
day: for it was now eventide (after 6:00 p.m.).
The immediate reaction of the religious leaders is an attempt to stop people from being saved.
Their efforts will prove ineffective. After the arrest of Peter and John, thousands in the crowd
will receive Jesus Christ as their Lord.

Because it was illegal to have a trial after sundown, they put them in prison for the night.
Interestingly, it was the same Sadducees who had tried Jesus after sundown in a completely
illegal manner, just before Passover.

Act 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men
was about five thousand.

Howbeit many of them which heard the word (logos) believed; and the number of the men
(males) was about five thousand.

“Howbeit” shows that despite the attempts of the Sadducees, a great number of the crowd
believe in Jesus and are born again. It is difficult for the religious leaders to stop people from
believing when a miracle is standing directly in front of them, and they have just heard the
gospel preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Act 4:5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers (of the Sanhedrin), and elders (of the
temple), and the scribes (those who knew Old Testament law).