Acts 3:1-5:16  

4:1-4 While Peter was speaking to the crowd the priests, the captain of the guard, and the Sadducees approached him. The priests served in the temple each day, the captain of guard was chief of security, and the Sadducees were a sect of Jews who did not believe in resurrection from the dead. (There were several sects within Judaism. Not every Jew believed exactly the same things. For example, Pharisees did believe in resurrection from the dead although Sadducees did not.) These leaders were greatly troubled by what Peter was telling the crowd, especially the part about Jesus being raised from the dead. They seized Peter and John, putting them in jail overnight. But there were thousands who came to faith that day.

v. 5-7 The next day Peter and John were brought before the rulers, elders, teachers of the law, and even the high priest with the men of his family. The high priest is the highest ruling authority in the Levitical priesthood. They wanted to know by what authority Peter and John had healed the crippled man.

v. 8-12 Filled with the Spirit, Peter confirmed that it was by the name of Jesus, whom they'd killed but whom God raised from the dead, that the cripple had been healed. Jesus is the stone "you builders" rejected but has become the capstone. Peter said explicitly that there is no other name by which men would be saved.

v. 13-22 His response astonished the leaders because they knew these were unschooled, ordinary men. "They took note that these men had been with Jesus." There was nothing they could say against Peter because they could see the man who'd been healed standing there. They removed the apostles for awhile so they could decide what to do with them. The leaders knew they had to stop this teaching from spreading any further so they called them back in and ordered them not speak in the name of Jesus anymore. But Peter and John said they would continue to speak about what they'd seen and heard because they must obey God rather than man. The leaders threatened them but let them go. The man crippled from birth was over 40 years old.

v. 23-28 Peter and John went back to the believers and told them what the leaders said. The believers prayed together praising God as the creator of heaven, earth, the sea and everything in them. They quoted Psalm 2 about the nations raging against God and how they plot in vain against the Anointed One. Herod (Jewish governor) and Pilate (Roman ruler) united the Gentiles and Jews together against Jesus in order to have Him crucified. They did what God "had decided beforehand should happen." That is, the people who approved of His death on the cross were only doing what God already decided should happen. They carried out God's plan even though they were unaware of God's plan.

v. 29-31 In light of all that had happened, the believers pray not for protection, but for great boldness. They pray that the Lord will reach out and heal more people and perform more miraculous signs to the glory of His name. They pray this even though they know that if He does this it will place some of them in danger of being arrested or even martyred. Yet the gospel is more important than their own safety. After they prayed the place was shaken (presumably by an earthquake). They were all filled with the Spirit, not only the apostles. And they spoke the word of God boldly.

v. 32-37 All the believers were one in heart and mind. In other words, they felt and thought the same. They shared everything and the apostles continued to testify about Jesus' resurrection. When money was needed someone would sell their property and give the money to the apostles. Barnabas sold a field.

5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of land and gave some of the money to the apostles but kept some of it back for themselves. They lied by saying that they were donating the full price of the land. Peter accused Ananias of lying not to men but to the Holy Spirit. Ananias fell at his feet and died. Three hours later Sapphira stood before Peter and lied about the full price of the field. She also fell at his feet and died. The young men buried them both. This event frightened the believers and all who heard about it.

v. 12-16 The apostles continued to perform miraculous signs and wonders. The believers kept meeting in Solomon's Colonnade. Those who were not believers did not dare to join them. (Perhaps they heard about Ananias?) Nevertheless, new believers were added to their group. People who would not join them still put their sick ones in the street so that Peter's shadow might fall on them when he walked by. Crowds even came from outside Jerusalem and all their sick and demon-possessed were healed.

  --Sandy Blank