Witness Before the Sanhedrin

MEMORY VERSE: “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” —Acts 4:20

ACTS 4:5-20

THE priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees did not like Peter’s sermon on “restitution.” They were grieved, the record states, that these two disciples had “taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” Peter had told of Jesus’ resurrection, and they recognized that what had been said concerning “restitution,” or restoration, implied the resurrection of all the dead. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection in any case, and the other religious rulers were incensed that Peter had taught that it would come through Jesus. Peter and John were put in prison for the night.—Acts 4:14

The next morning they were brought out of prison to appear before “their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.” This could well have been at least a partial gathering of the Sanhedrin, as the title of our lesson indicates. The first question asked Peter and John was, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”—that is, healed the lame man.

Peter’s reply was brief, and to the point: “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.” (vs. 10) The Sanhedrin did not like this answer. They did not want to hear that Jesus Christ of Nazareth had anything to do with the miracle; nor did they want to be reminded that they had crucified Jesus; and outwardly, at least, they were still refusing to believe that he had been raised from the dead.

Continuing his reply, Peter referred to the prophecy of Psalm 118:22: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner,” and he said that Jesus was that “stone.” Peter then explained that there was no salvation outside of Christ—“for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (vss. 11,12) This was a bold statement to make to those unbelieving religious rulers of Israel, but it was very true. And it is just as true today, even though now there is a tendency in many professed Christian circles to feel that faithful adherents of non-Christian religions also obtain salvation. But this is not so.

We are glad, however, that the acceptance of Christ as Redeemer and Savior is not limited to the present short span of life, when the minds of the majority are beclouded pertaining to the true issues involved. We are glad that in the future time of Christ’s kingdom all will be thoroughly enlightened, that the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth, and that all will be given a full opportunity to believe.—Isa. 11:9; Zeph. 3:9; I Tim. 2:3-6

When the rulers noted the boldness of Peter and John “they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Jesus also was bold in his proclamation of the kingdom Gospel. He was bold in exposing popular error and in proclaiming unpopular truth, and so were Peter and John. Certainly the great truth of Jesus’ resurrection, and the fact that no one could obtain salvation outside of him, were unpopular.

But the rulers could do nothing about it. The man who was healed was standing right there as a living testimony to the fact that a great miracle had been performed. The news of this miracle had already spread throughout Jerusalem. Conferring with one another, the rulers decided on what they hoped would be a way to prevent the knowledge of this miracle from spreading still further. The plan was to release the apostles, for in view of the public sentiment in their favor there was nothing else they could do, but to command them “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

But Peter and John did not agree to this, although they had been “threatened” They left it to the Sanhedrin to determine which would “be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God.” Peter and John knew that through the authority of God’s Holy Spirit they were commissioned to proclaim the Gospel of the risen Christ. They knew also that these religious rulers did not speak for God, so they felt under no obligation to agree to their terms of release. Actually, under the circumstances, Peter and John had no other choice, for they could not “but speak the things” which they had seen and heard. While they were further threatened yet they were released.—vs. 21

QUESTIONS

Why were the religious rulers of Israel unhappy over Peter’s sermon on “restitution”?

Does “restitution” include the resurrection?

Is the opportunity of belief in Christ limited to the present life?

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