Act 4:22 | KingComments | STEP | The apostles were allowed to come back in and hear the verdict. They are forbidden to speak or teach at all in the Name of Jesus. They are simply not allowed to say anything at all about the Lord Jesus, while God honors Him so openly and rightly. By what Peter answers, it becomes clear that the leaders of Israel have lost the place of interpreters of God’s will. God does not speak through them. Peter makes that clear through his contrast. The apostles do not expel the religious leaders and do not attack them. They leave the judgment to God. They do, however, ignore the authority of the rulers in connection with the work that God has entrusted to them. The testimony of God can now be found with the apostles and no longer with the rulers of the temple. God dwells in the church and, already for some time, no longer in the temple. What we also see in the reaction of Peter and John is that personal conscience is placed above authority when that authority makes decisions that go against God’s Word. Conscience is bound to the Word and therefore it is placed above formal authority. In their response, Peter and John also place the conscience of the leaders before God by telling them to account to God for their judgment. As for themselves, at least they cannot disobey God, whatever the consequences. We also see this attitude with Daniel’s friends who decided to refuse to do something that God has forbidden ( ) and with Daniel himself who decided to refuse to abandon what God has commanded ( ). They experienced the consequences of that, but also God’s salvation. Peter and John declare that they have no choice but to speak about what they have seen and heard. These things are too important. It is about the Christ of God and the salvation of the people. How can you remain silent about that? In the same way, Paul cannot possibly remain silent about the gospel that the Lord has commanded him to proclaim ( ; cf. ). The Council feels powerless in the face of the convinced apostles. All they can do is with gnashing of teeth sharpen their threats. None of this makes any impression. The apostles remain calm. They say and do nothing to give the Council an opportunity to punish them. The threats of the Council are expressions of weakness. This is how people express themselves who are more afraid of the people than of God. The apostles are allowed to go. The Council cannot do otherwise. This is not because they are convinced of the innocence of the apostles, but because they are afraid of getting the people against them. Loss of popular favor is the last thing they want. How God thinks about the matter is of no significance to them. The fact that the people glorify God for what has happened does not affect them. They only see that it happens through the influence of the apostles and that they in turn act under the influence of the Name of Jesus. They hate that Name and that is why they resist. Luke mentions that the sign of healing has happened to someone who has been ill for more than forty years from his birth ( ). That rules out any natural healing. The healing is also not the result of a slow recovery that started once and is now complete. After all, the man was carried every day and placed at the gate of the temple. His healing was as spontaneous as it was unexpected.

‏ Acts 4:22

Command and Threat of the Council

The apostles were allowed to come back in and hear the verdict. They are forbidden to speak or teach at all in the Name of Jesus. They are simply not allowed to say anything at all about the Lord Jesus, while God honors Him so openly and rightly. By what Peter answers, it becomes clear that the leaders of Israel have lost the place of interpreters of God’s will. God does not speak through them. Peter makes that clear through his contrast.

The apostles do not expel the religious leaders and do not attack them. They leave the judgment to God. They do, however, ignore the authority of the rulers in connection with the work that God has entrusted to them. The testimony of God can now be found with the apostles and no longer with the rulers of the temple. God dwells in the church and, already for some time, no longer in the temple.

What we also see in the reaction of Peter and John is that personal conscience is placed above authority when that authority makes decisions that go against God’s Word. Conscience is bound to the Word and therefore it is placed above formal authority. In their response, Peter and John also place the conscience of the leaders before God by telling them to account to God for their judgment. As for themselves, at least they cannot disobey God, whatever the consequences.

We also see this attitude with Daniel’s friends who decided to refuse to do something that God has forbidden (Dan 3:18) and with Daniel himself who decided to refuse to abandon what God has commanded (Dan 6:11). They experienced the consequences of that, but also God’s salvation.

Peter and John declare that they have no choice but to speak about what they have seen and heard. These things are too important. It is about the Christ of God and the salvation of the people. How can you remain silent about that? In the same way, Paul cannot possibly remain silent about the gospel that the Lord has commanded him to proclaim (1Cor 9:16; cf. Jer 20:9).

The Council feels powerless in the face of the convinced apostles. All they can do is with gnashing of teeth sharpen their threats. None of this makes any impression. The apostles remain calm. They say and do nothing to give the Council an opportunity to punish them. The threats of the Council are expressions of weakness. This is how people express themselves who are more afraid of the people than of God.

The apostles are allowed to go. The Council cannot do otherwise. This is not because they are convinced of the innocence of the apostles, but because they are afraid of getting the people against them. Loss of popular favor is the last thing they want. How God thinks about the matter is of no significance to them. The fact that the people glorify God for what has happened does not affect them. They only see that it happens through the influence of the apostles and that they in turn act under the influence of the Name of Jesus. They hate that Name and that is why they resist.

Luke mentions that the sign of healing has happened to someone who has been ill for more than forty years from his birth (Acts 3:2). That rules out any natural healing. The healing is also not the result of a slow recovery that started once and is now complete. After all, the man was carried every day and placed at the gate of the temple. His healing was as spontaneous as it was unexpected.