Act 4:1 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Acts 4:1-22: 4:1-22 Persecution was a common experience of God’s people throughout the Bible. God’s servants often faced hostility and opposition (Deut 30:7 ; 1 Kgs 18:13 ; Neh 4:1-3 ; Jer 37–38 ; Matt 23:34-37 ; Luke 11:49-51 ; 1 Thes 2:14-15 ). Jesus himself was persecuted (Luke 4:29 ; John 5:16 ), and he told his disciples to expect the same kind of treatment (Matt 10:23 ; 24:9 ; Mark 13:9 ; Luke 21:12 ; John 16:2 ), but he promised that the Holy Spirit would provide strength (Acts 1:8 ; Luke 12:11-12 ; 21:15 ). Acts records frequent times of persecution (Acts 4:3 ; 5:17-41 ; 7:54–8:3 ; 9:1-2 ; 11:19 ; 12:2 ; 13:50 ; 14:19 ; 16:19-24 ), but Acts also reiterates that the Holy Spirit empowers disciples to bear witness in such circumstances (2:44 ; 4:8-13 ; 6:10 ; 7:55 ). The boldness of Peter and John before the hostile high council exemplifies facing persecution with courage and power (4:20 ). 4:1 Sadducees: See profile for The Sadducees at end of chapter.

Summary for Acts 4:1-22: 4:1-22 ^a Persecution was a common experience of God’s people throughout the Bible. God’s servants often faced hostility and opposition (Deut 30:7 ^b; 1 Kgs 18:13 ^c; Neh 4:1-3 ^d; Jer 37–38 ^e; Matt 23:34-37 ^f; Luke 11:49-51 ^g; 1 Thes 2:14-15 ^h). Jesus himself was persecuted (Luke 4:29 ⁱ; John 5:16 ^j), and he told his disciples to expect the same kind of treatment (Matt 10:23 ^k; 24:9 ^l; Mark 13:9 ^m; Luke 21:12 ⁿ; John 16:2 ^o), but he promised that the Holy Spirit would provide strength (Acts 1:8 ^p; Luke 12:11-12 ^q; 21:15 ^r). Acts records frequent times of persecution (Acts 4:3 ^s; 5:17-41 ^t; 7:54–8:3 ^u; 9:1-2 ^v; 11:19 ^w; 12:2 ^x; 13:50 ^y; 14:19 ^z; 16:19-24 ^aa), but Acts also reiterates that the Holy Spirit empowers disciples to bear witness in such circumstances (2:44 ^ab; 4:8-13 ^ac; 6:10 ^ad; 7:55 ^ae). The boldness of Peter and John before the hostile high council exemplifies facing persecution with courage and power (4:20 ^af). 4:1 ^ag Sadducees: See profile for The Sadducees at end of chapter.