Acts:4:1-31
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rwp @
Acts:4:1 @{
The captain of the temple } (\
ho strat
gos tou hierou \).
Twenty-four bands of Levites guarded the temple ,
one guard at a time .
They watched the gates .
The commander of each band was called captain (\
strat
gos \).
Josephus names this captain of the temple police next to the high priest (
_War_
.
VI .
5 ,
3 ). {
The Sadducees } (\
hoi Saddoukaioi \).
Most of the priests were Sadducees now and all the chief priests since John Hyrcanus I deserted the Pharisees (
Josephus ,
_Ant_
.
XVII .
10 ,
6 ;
XVIII .
1 ,
4 ;
XX .
9 ,
1 ).
The Sadducees were slow to line up with the Pharisees against Jesus ,
but they now take the lead against Peter and John . {
Came upon them } (\
epest
san autois \).
Second aorist active indicative (
intransitive ).
Burst upon them suddenly or stood by them in a hostile attitude here (
Luke:20:1 ;
strkjv @
24:4 ;
strkjv @
Acts:6:12 ;
strkjv @
17:5 ;
strkjv @
22:20 ;
strkjv @
23:11 |).
rwp @
Acts:4:2 @{
Being sore troubled } (\
diaponoumenoi \).
Present passive participle of old verb \
diapone \ (
perfective use of \
dia \)
to be worked up ,
indignant .
In the N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
16:8 |. {
Because } (\
dia to \).
The articular infinitive with two accusatives ,
one the object (
the people ),
the other ("
they ")
of general reference . {
In Jesus } (\
en I
sou \).
In the case of Jesus ,
an actual instance of resurrection which the Sadducees denied (
Matthew:22:23 |).
This same use of \
en \
appears in strkjv @
1Corinthians:4:6 | (
in us ).
The Sadducees were also aristocrats and political ecclesiastics who disliked popular disturbances .
In particular ,
they resented the claim about Jesus whom they had helped crucify .
rwp @
Acts:4:3 @{
In ward } (\
eis t
r
sin \).
Probably in one of the chambers of the temple .
In safe keeping (
from \
t
re \,
to guard ).
Old word ,
in the N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
Acts:5:18 ;
strkjv @
1Corinthians:7:19 |.
Songs:in papyri . {
Now eventide } (\
hespera
d \).
Hence no trial could take place before the next day ,
a regulation violated in the case of Jesus .
rwp @
Acts:4:4 @{
Men } (\
andr
n \).
Strictly ,
men and not women ,
for \
anthr
pos \
is the term for both men and women .
But in strkjv @
Luke:11:31 | \
andres \
seems to include both men and women and that is possible here ,
though by no means certain ,
for see strkjv @
Matthew:14:21 |
where the women and children are expressly excepted .
rwp @
Acts:4:5 @{
Rulers and elders and scribes } (\
tous archontas kai tous presbuterous kai tous grammateis \).
The three classes composing the Sanhedrin (
rulers =
chief priests who were Sadducees ,
the scribes usually Pharisees ,
the elders not in either class :
24 priests ,
24 elders ,
22 scribes ). {
Were gathered together } (\
sunachth
nai \).
First aorist passive infinitive of \
sunag \
with accusative of general reference and the subject of \
egeneto \.
rwp @
Acts:4:6 @{
Annas } (\
Hannas \).
One of the rulers or chief priests ,
ex-high priest (
A .
D .
7-14 )
and father-in-law of {
Caiaphas } (\
Kaiaphas \)
who was actual high priest at that time ,
though the title clung to Annas as here (
both so called in strkjv @
Luke:3:2 |),
Caiaphas so by Roman law ,
Annas so in the opinion of the Jews .
They with John and Alexander are the leaders among the Sadducees in pressing the case against Peter and John .
rwp @
Acts:4:7 @{
In the midst } (\
en t
i mes
i \).
The Sanhedrin sat in a semicircle . {
They inquired } (\
epunthanonto \).
Imperfect middle ,
began to inquire . {
Or in what name } (\
en poi
i onomati \).
As if by some magical formula such as exorcists practised (
Acts:19:13 |)
as if to catch them by (
Deuteronomy:13:1 |). {
Have ye done this } (\
epoi
sate touto humeis \).
Note emphatic use of \
humeis \ (
ye ).
rwp @
Acts:4:8 @{
Filled with the Holy Spirit } (\
pl
stheis pneumatos hagiou \).
For this occasion and so above all fear as in verse 31 |
and as in strkjv @
2:4 |.
rwp @
Acts:4:9 @{
Concerning a good deed done to an impotent man } (\
epi euergesi
i anthr
pou asthenous \).
Objective genitive .
Note \
euergesia \ (
old word ,
in the N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
1Timothy:6:2 |),
as a benefactor ,
not a malefactor .
Skilful turn made by Peter . {
Is made whole } (\
ses
stai \).
Perfect passive indicative of \
s
z \,
stands whole .
rwp @
Acts:4:10 @{
Be it known } (\
gn
ston est \).
Imperative present active third singular of \
eimi \,
to be ,
and the verbal adjective \
gn
ston \. {
Whom ye crucified } (\
hon humeis estaur
sate \).
Too good a chance to miss ,
and so Peter boldly charges the Sanhedrin with responsibility for the death of Jesus .
Note \
humeis \ (
ye )
again . {
Whom God raised from the dead } (\
hon ho theos
geiren ek nekr
n \).
Note repetition of \
hon \ (
whom ).
This is God '
s answer to their act of crucifixion . {
In him doth this man stand } (\
en tout
i houtos parest
ken \).
Rather (
note play on \
houtos \), "
In this one (\
hon ,
hon \)
this one stands (
present perfect active indicative ,
intransitive )."
In Jesus this man stands before you whole (\
hugi
s \).
It was a centre shot .
rwp @
Acts:4:11 @{
Of you the builders } (\
huph '
hum
n t
n oikodom
n \).
The experts ,
the architects ,
had rejected Jesus for their building (
Psalms:118:22 |)
as Jesus himself had pointed out (
Matthew:21:42 ;
strkjv @
Luke:21:17 |).
This very Rejected Stone God had made the head of the corner (
either the highest corner stone right under the roof or the corner stone under the building ,
strkjv @
Isaiah:28:16 |)
as Jesus showed ,
as Peter here declares and repeats later (
1Peter:2:6f .|).
rwp @
Acts:4:12 @{
Salvation } (\
h
s
t
ria \).
The Messianic salvation as in strkjv @
5:31 ;
strkjv @
17:11 |
and as Jesus meant in strkjv @
John:4:22 |.
It is amazing to see Peter speaking thus to the Sanhedrin and proclaiming the necessity of salvation (\
dei s
th
nai \)
in the name of Jesus Christ and in no other .
If this was true then ,
it is true today .
There is no second (\
heteron \)
name to go beside that of Jesus in India ,
China ,
Japan ,
or America .
rwp @
Acts:4:13 @{
The boldness } (\
t
n parr
sian \).
Telling it all (\
pan ,
r
sia \).
See also verses 29 ,
31 |.
Actually Peter had turned the table on the Sanhedrin and had arraigned them before the bar of God . {
Had perceived } (\
katalabomenoi \).
Second aorist middle participle of \
katalamban \,
common verb to grasp strongly (\
kata \),
literally or with the mind (
especially middle voice ),
to comprehend .
The rulers recalled Peter and John from having seen them often with Jesus ,
probably during the temple teaching ,
etc . {
They were unlearned } (\
agrammatoi eisin \).
Present indicative retained in indirect discourse .
Unlettered men without technical training in the professional rabbinical schools of Hillel or Shammai .
Jesus himself was so regarded (
John:7:15 |, "
not having learned letters "). {
And ignorant } (\
kai idi
tai \).
Old word ,
only here in the N .
T .
and strkjv @
1Corinthians:14:24 ;
strkjv @
2Corinthians:11:6 |.
It does not mean "
ignorant ,"
but a layman ,
a man not in office (
a private person ),
a common soldier and not an officer ,
a man not skilled in the schools ,
very much like \
agrammatos \.
It is from \
idios \ (
one '
s own )
and our "
idiosyncracy "
is one with an excess of such a trait ,
while "
idiot " (
this very word )
is one who has nothing but his idiosyncracy .
Peter and John were men of ability and of courage ,
but they did not belong to the set of the rabbis . {
They marvelled } (\
ethaumazon \).
Imperfect (
inchoative )
active ,
began to wonder and kept it up . {
Took knowledge of them } (\
epegin
skon autous \).
Imperfect (
inchoative )
active again ,
they began to recognize them as men that they had seen with Jesus .
rwp @
Acts:4:14 @{
They could say nothing against it } (\
ouden eichon anteipein \).
Imperfect again ,
they kept on having nothing to say against it .
The lame man was standing there before their eyes in proof of what Peter had said .
rwp @
Acts:4:15 @{
They conferred among themselves } (\
suneballon pros all
lous \).
Imperfect active again .
With Peter and John and the lame man outside ,
they began to compare (\
sun ,
ball \)
notes and take stock of their predicament .
rwp @
Acts:4:16 @{
What shall we do ?} (\
Ti poi
s
men \).
Deliberative aorist active subjunctive (
ingressive and urgent aorist ). {
Notable miracle } (\
gn
ston s
meion \).
Or sign .
It was useless to deny it with the man there . {
We cannot deny it } (\
ou dunametha arneisthai \).
That is ,
it will do no good .
rwp @
Acts:4:17 @{
That it spread no further } (\
hina m
epi pleion dianem
th
i \).
First aorist passive subjunctive of \
dianem \,
to distribute with \
hina m \,
negative purpose . {
Let us threaten them } (\
apeil
s
metha autois \).
Hortatory aorist middle subjunctive of \
apeile \,
old verb (
note middle voice ).
In the N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
1Peter:2:23 |. {
That they speak henceforth to no man in this name } (\
m
keti lalein epi t
i onomati tout
i m
deni anthr
p
n \).
Indirect command with the infinitive and double negative (\
m
keti ,
m
deni \).
They will not say "
Jesus ,"
but make a slur at "
this name ,"
contemptuous use of \
houtos \,
though they apparently do mention the name "
Jesus "
in verse 18 |.
rwp @
Acts:4:18 @{
Not to speak at all } (\
katholou m
phtheggesthai \).
Same construction as above ,
infinitive in indirect command with negative \
m \ (
and \
m
de \).
rwp @
Acts:4:20 @{
For we cannot but speak } (\
ou dunametha gar h
meis--m
lalein \).
Both negatives hold here , "
For we (
note emphatic \
h
meis \)
are not able not to speak " (
what we saw and heard ).
This is defiance of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities that was justified ,
for the temple authorities stepped in between the conscience and God .
Peter and John were willing to pay the price of this defiance with their lives .
This is the courage of martyrs through all the ages .
rwp @
Acts:4:21 @{
When they had further threatened them } (\
prosapeil
samenoi \).
The "
further "
is in "
pros " (
in addition ), {
Finding nothing how they might punish them } (\
m
den heuriskontes to p
s kolas
ntai autous \).
Note the article "
to "
before \
p
s \ (
how ), "
the how ."
Aorist middle deliberative subjunctive \
kolas
ntai \
in indirect question after \
p
s \
from \
kolaz \,
to lop (\
kolos \,
lopped ),
to curb ,
to prune ,
to correct ,
to punish .
Old verb ,
in the N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
2Peter:2:9 |. {
Glorified God } (\
edoxazon ton theon \).
Imperfect active ,
kept on glorifying God while the Sanhedrin were threatening Peter and John .
It was to laugh at the helplessness of the Sanhedrin .
rwp @
Acts:4:22 @{
Was wrought } (\
gegonei \).
Second past perfect active without augment from \
ginomai \.
rwp @
Acts:4:23 @{
To their own company } (\
pros tous idious \).
Their own people as in strkjv @
John:1:11 ;
strkjv @
13:1 ;
strkjv @
Acts:24:23 ;
strkjv @
1Timothy:5:8 ;
strkjv @
Titus:3:14 |,
not merely the apostles (
all the disciples ).
In spite of Peter '
s courageous defiance he and John told the brotherhood all that had been said by the Sanhedrin .
They had real apprehension of the outcome .
rwp @
Acts:4:24 @{
With one accord } (\
homothumadon \).
A concert of voices as already seen by the word in strkjv @
1:14 ;
strkjv @
2:46 |
and later in strkjv @
5:12 ;
strkjv @
7:57 ;
strkjv @
15:25 |. {
O Lord } (\
Despota \).
Our word despot .
Old word for relation of master to slaves or household servants (
1Timothy:6:1 ;
strkjv @
2Timothy:2:21 ;
strkjv @
Titus:2:9 ;
strkjv @
1Peter:2:18 |).
Simeon thus addressed God (
Luke:2:29 |).
Songs:in strkjv @
2Peter:2:1 ;
strkjv @
Jude:1:4 ;
strkjv @
Revelation:6:10 |.
See "
slaves "
in verse 29 |.
rwp @
Acts:4:25 @{
By the mouth of our father David } (\
tou patros h
m
n dia pneumatos hagiou stomatos Daueid \).
From strkjv @
Psalms:2:1f |.
here ascribed to David .
Baumgarten suggests that the whole company sang the second Psalm and then Peter applied it to this emergency .
The Greek MSS .
do not have \
dia \ (
by )
here before \
stomatos \,
but only \
dia \
before \
pneumatos hagiou \ (
the Holy Spirit ).
Hort calls this a "
primitive error "
perhaps due to an early scribe who omitted this second \
dia \
so close to the first \
dia \ (
Robertson ,
_Introduction
to the Textual Criticism of the N .
T .
_
,
p .
238 ).
A small list of such primitive errors is there given as suggested by Dr .
Hort . {
Why } (\
hina ti \).
This Greek idiom calls for \
gen
tai \ (
second aorist middle subjunctive ), {
That what may happen }. {
The Gentiles } (\
ethn \).
Songs:always in LXX ,
while \
laoi \ (
peoples )
can include Jews . {
Did rage } (\
ephruaxan \).
First aorist active indicative of \
phruass \,
late word ,
to neigh like a horse ,
to prance or stamp the ground ,
to put on lofty airs .
Only here in the N .
T .
in this quotation from strkjv @
Psalms:2:1 |. {
Imagine } (\
emelet
san \).
First aorist active indicative of \
meleta \.
Old verb from \
melet \ (
care ),
to practise ,
to caution ,
as orators and rhetoricians .
Only here in the N .
T .
in this quotation .
rwp @
Acts:4:26 @{
Set themselves in array } (\
parest
san \).
Literally ,
stood by . {
Against his Anointed } (\
kata tou Christou autou \).
Against his Messiah ,
his Christ .
rwp @
Acts:4:27 @{
Both Herod and Pontios Pilate } (\
H
r
id
s te kai Pontius Peilatos \).
Luke alone (
Luke:23:12 |)
tells of the reconciliation between Herod and Pilate at the trial of Jesus .
Songs:Peter and the rest interpret this prophecy as directly fulfilled in their conduct towards Jesus Christ . {
Whom thou didst anoint } (\
hon echrisas \).
As in verse 26 | (
cf .
strkjv @
Luke:4:18 ;
strkjv @
Isaiah:61:1 |).
Inaugurated as King Messiah .
rwp @
Acts:4:28 @{
Foreordained } (\
pro
risen \).
First aorist active indicative of \
prooriz \, "
They rise above sight and seem to see the Hand which '
shapes men '
s ends ,
rough hew them how they will '" (
Furneaux ).
rwp @
Acts:4:29 @{
And now } (\
kai ta nun \). "
And as to (
accusative of general reference )
the now things (
the present situation )."
Only in the Acts in the N .
T . (
5:38 ;
strkjv @
17:30 ;
strkjv @
20:32 ;
strkjv @
27:22 |). {
Grant } (\
dos \).
Second aorist active imperative of \
did
mi \,
urgency of the aorist ,
Do it now . {
To speak thy word with all boldness } (\
meta parr
sias pas
s lalein ton logon sou \).
Literally , "
with all boldness to go on speaking (
present active infinitive )
thy word ."
Peter and John had defied the Sanhedrin in verse 20 |,
but all the same and all the more they pray for courage in deed to live up to their brave words .
A wholesome lesson .
rwp @
Acts:4:30 @{
While thou stretchest forth thy hand } (\
en t
i t
n cheira ekteinein se \).
Luke '
s favourite idiom , "
In the stretching out (
articular present active infinitive )
the hand as to thee " (
accusative of general reference ),
the second allusion to God '
s "
hand "
in this prayer (
verse 28 |). {
To heal } (\
eis iasin \).
For healing .
See verse 22 |. {
And that signs and wonders may be done } (\
kai s
meia kai terata ginesthai \).
Either to be taken as in the same construction as \
ekteinein \
with \
en t
i \
as Revised Version has it here or to be treated as subordinate purpose to \
en t
i ekteinein \ (
as Knowling ,
Page ,
Wendt ,
Hackett ).
The latter most likely true .
They ask for a visible sign or proof that God has heard this prayer for courage to be faithful even unto death .
rwp @
Acts:4:31 @{
The place was shaken } (\
esaleuth
ho topos \).
By an earthquake most likely as in strkjv @
16:26 |,
but none the less a token of God '
s presence and power (
Psalms:114:7 ;
strkjv @
Isaiah:2:19 ,
21 ;
strkjv @
Hebrews:12:26f .|). {
Were gathered together } (\
san sun
gmenoi \).
Periphrastic past perfect passive of \
sunag \. {
They spake } (\
elaloun \).
Imperfect active indicative ,
began to speak ,
after being filled (\
epl
sth
san \,
aorist passive indicative )
with the Holy Spirit .
Luke uses the very words of the prayer in verse 29 |
to describe their conduct .