Act 4:1-22 | 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.
4:4 ^ah the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000: See study note on Matt 14:21.
4:13 ^ai ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures: That is, they were not scholars or ordained teachers—they were working men without higher education. The educated members of the Jewish high council were treated as authorities on the Scriptures and matters of religion, so it amazed them to see uneducated men speaking with such boldness about such matters.
Summary for Acts 4:16-18: 4:16-18 ^aj They recognized the miracle but still stubbornly tried to prevent the message. Jesus had encountered similar resistance (Matt 19:8 ^ak; Mark 10:5 ^al; see also Deut 10:16 ^am; 30:6 ^an; Jer 4:4 ^ao).
Summary for Acts 4:19-20: 4:19-20 ^ap The apostles stated a principle that can guide God’s people in dealing with hostile authorities (see also 5:40 ^aq; cp. 1 Sam 15:22 ^ar; Jer 7:23 ^as; Luke 20:20-26 ^at; Rom 13:1-7 ^au). Jesus had predicted that his disciples would encounter hostility and persecution (Luke 21:12-19 ^av).