Lesson Seven: Peter and John Arrested

Supplementary Materials

The Opponents: Who Arrested Peter and John? Three groups are mentioned as opposing the apostles (4:1): Group Description The Priests Those responsible for temple worship and sacrifices. They were angered that the apostles were teaching the people in the temple courts. Captain of the The officer in charge of the temple guard (Levites who Temple maintained order). He was second in authority only to the high priest and had the power to make arrests in the temple area. The Sadducees A Jewish sect that denied the resurrection (Acts 23:8). They were "grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead" (4:2). The high priestly families were largely Sadducees.

The Sanhedrin: The Jewish Council Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin (4:5-6), the supreme Jewish council:

• Composition: 71 members — the high priest plus 70 elders (based on Numbers 11:16)
• Membership: Rulers, elders, scribes, high priest, and those of the high priestly family
• Authority: The highest Jewish court, handling religious and civil matters under Roman oversight
• Meeting place: Traditionally in a hall called the "Chamber of Hewn Stone" near the temple

Notable members mentioned by name:

Name Role Annas Former high priest (AD 6-15); still wielded great influence; Jesus was taken to him first (John 18:13) Caiaphas Current high priest (AD 18-36); son-in-law of Annas; presided over Jesus' trial (Matt. 26:57) John Of the high priestly family; possibly Jonathan, son of Annas Alexander Of the high priestly family; otherwise unknown

This is the same council that had condemned Jesus to death just weeks earlier. Now they faced His followers proclaiming His resurrection!

The Critical Question: "By What Name?" The council's question in verse 7 — "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" — reveals more than curiosity. In Jewish thought, to act "in someone's name" meant to act by their authority. The council wanted to know: Whose authority are you claiming? Peter's answer was direct and bold:

"Unlearned and Ignorant Men" The council "perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men" (4:13). What did this mean?

• "Unlearned" (Greek: agrammatos): Without formal rabbinic training; not graduates of the scribal schools
• "Ignorant" (Greek: idiotes): Laymen; ordinary people; not professional religious leaders

This was not an insult to their intelligence but a recognition that they had no credentials from the religious establishment. Yet they spoke with remarkable boldness and wisdom. The council "took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (4:13) — they recognized these men as followers of the One they had crucified.

The Council's Dilemma The Sanhedrin found themselves in an impossible situation:

• The healed man was standing right there — undeniable evidence (4:14)
• They privately admitted: "a notable miracle hath been done... and we cannot deny it" (4:16)
• Yet they refused to believe and obey the truth
• Their only recourse: threaten the apostles and command silence (4:17-18)

Their response illustrates a sobering truth: evidence alone does not produce faith. These men saw the proof, acknowledged it privately, yet hardened their hearts. They were more concerned with "spreading further among the people" (4:17) than with truth.

Peter and John's Courageous Response When commanded not to speak in Jesus' name, Peter and John answered: "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." — Acts 4:19-20

This establishes an important principle: When human authority conflicts with divine authority, we must obey God. This is not a license for civil disobedience over preferences, but a mandate when government commands what God forbids or forbids what God commands. The

apostles were not being defiant for its own sake — they simply could not stop declaring what they knew to be true.

Key Cross-References

Growth Despite Opposition Despite the arrest and threats, the church continued to grow. Acts 4:4 notes that "the number of the men was about five thousand." This appears to be the total number of male believers at this point (not 5,000 additional converts), showing remarkable growth from the 3,000 on Pentecost. The persecution could not stop the spread of the gospel — if anything, it served to strengthen the believers and publicize the message. Note: This pattern — opposition leading to greater growth — will be repeated throughout Acts. The blood of the martyrs truly becomes the seed of the church.