Act 4:6 | KingComments | STEP | The religious leaders gather together in Jerusalem the next day. The entire administrative apparatus to which the people have been delivered – they are “their rulers and elders and scribes” – is preparing to interrogate the two rebel leaders. The religious leaders see their authority over the people threatened. This is also the reason they killed the Lord Jesus. At the head of this group is a small group of high priests and their families. Luke mentions a few names. Of them we know Annas and Caiaphas. Caiaphas is the son-in-law of Annas. He was high priest during the trial against the Lord Jesus ( ). John and Alexander are unknown to us. It has been assumed that they were sons of Annas, but nothing can be said with certainty. And there are still some of the high priestly family present of whom Luke does not mention the names. They let the apostles come and place them in the center. There Peter and John are, standing in front of a group with whom surely the memory of the day when the Lord Jesus stood before them will have come to mind. They thought they had wiped out the whole movement with Him, but here they are again confronted with Him in His followers. Their interrogation is not extensive, but it is quite specific. They are not concerned with the fact of the miracle or work of power. They are not fundamentally opposed to a work of power having happened. Works of power can be a social improvement. Their great objection is that this work of power is connected to the Name of Jesus, and that causes great annoyance. They cannot deny the work of power, but how have these simple people been able to perform this amazing work of power? Where did they get the power and what Name is behind it? Although they know very well what made the apostles do “this” – that is the healing of the lame – they still ask for it. They may want to hear something that will allow them to condemn them.

‏ Acts 4:6

Interrogation by the Council

The religious leaders gather together in Jerusalem the next day. The entire administrative apparatus to which the people have been delivered – they are “their rulers and elders and scribes” – is preparing to interrogate the two rebel leaders. The religious leaders see their authority over the people threatened. This is also the reason they killed the Lord Jesus.

At the head of this group is a small group of high priests and their families. Luke mentions a few names. Of them we know Annas and Caiaphas. Caiaphas is the son-in-law of Annas. He was high priest during the trial against the Lord Jesus (Jn 18:13-14). John and Alexander are unknown to us. It has been assumed that they were sons of Annas, but nothing can be said with certainty. And there are still some of the high priestly family present of whom Luke does not mention the names. They let the apostles come and place them in the center.

There Peter and John are, standing in front of a group with whom surely the memory of the day when the Lord Jesus stood before them will have come to mind. They thought they had wiped out the whole movement with Him, but here they are again confronted with Him in His followers.

Their interrogation is not extensive, but it is quite specific. They are not concerned with the fact of the miracle or work of power. They are not fundamentally opposed to a work of power having happened. Works of power can be a social improvement. Their great objection is that this work of power is connected to the Name of Jesus, and that causes great annoyance.

They cannot deny the work of power, but how have these simple people been able to perform this amazing work of power? Where did they get the power and what Name is behind it? Although they know very well what made the apostles do “this” – that is the healing of the lame – they still ask for it. They may want to hear something that will allow them to condemn them.