13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
Commentary
Vs. 13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
The Sanhedrin council then had just been privy to one of the greatest sermons ever, and seeing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving that they were untrained and uneducated men, they marveled, marveled that such men could reason with such boldness and clarity. And so, they realized that they had been with Jesus, for only Jesus Himself can enable and empower His people to be far more that what we could have ever been! Clearly then we are missing something when degrees of education and or formal training become the measure of one’s fitness for preaching the Gospel!
Vs. 14 “And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”
Therefore, with the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ through Peter and Johns bold preaching, and the witness of the healed man himself standing there in their presence they could say nothing against it!
Vs. 15-18 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
The Sanhedrin council having just heard one of the greatest sermons ever, but instead of repenting and believing they now only ask the apostles and the healed man to go outside the council, which seems appropriate given their unbelief! And so, it was when they left, that council did not confer and reason about the things Peter and John spoke to them, for even in their acknowledging amongst themselves that a notable miracle had been done through the apostles (vs. 16) their hearts and minds were only fixated on how they might stop Jesus’ influence from spreading any farther amongst the people. And so, they now conclude the best way to deal with this is that they will threaten the apostles not to speak or teach anymore in Jesus Name (vs. 17). Which for them when dealing with ordinary men probably was very effective for them in the past. Therefore, calling them back into the council chambers they now command them not to speak or teach anymore in Jesus’ Name (vs. 18). Thus, they now put the weight of their authority behind their command.
Vs. 19-20 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Therefore, when Peter and John heard that they were not to preach or teach anymore in Jesus’ Name, they were not moved to fear as the council had hoped, but rather they boldly said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Thus, Peter the man who once denied Jesus three times before ordinary men to save his own neck is now by the Holy Spirit refusing to deny Jesus Christ before the very men who Crucified Him.
Vs. 21-22 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
The Sanhedrin council then upon hearing that now becomes increasingly frustrated, for they were not used to having one of their commands refused. And so, they threatened them even further, before letting them go. For they had to let them go because there was no way they could punish them for healing a crippled man, for all the people who had witnessed the miracle glorified God for what had been done. And so, to do so would’ve only undermined themselves in the eyes of the people. And as verse twenty-two states the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed, and they no way deny that the man had been a long-term cripple.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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