17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” 21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” 40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Commentary
Vs. 17-18 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.
With the church rapidly growing, and the power of the Holy Spirit on open display on the Temple grounds through the Lord Jesus Christ’s apostles; the high priest and those of the sect of the Sadducees being filled with indignation now lay their hands on them (that is they have them arrested) and put them into the common prison, which unlike before when they only arrested and placed Peter and John in custody, here they now arrest all the apostles and place them in custody with the common criminals. Nonetheless their increasing their opposition to the Lord and His Work through His apostles though will be of no avail.
Vs. 19-20 19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”
With the apostles being held in custody the Lord’s plans and purposes were not thwarted for an angel of the Lord came and opened the prison doors and brought them out, and told them to, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” That is to go and continue to speak to one and to all the Words of life, Everlasting life, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen from the dead.
Vs. 21 "And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought."
The apostles having been delivered from prison by the Lord’s angel and told by him to keep teaching and preaching the Lord Jesus Christ to the people, early in morning begin to do just that. Now the high priest and those with him had already called the council together, along with all the elders of children of Israel, bringing then both the Temple priestly leadership together with the leadership of the children of Israel to oppose the Lord’s Work through His apostles. Having then assembled themselves they now call for the apostles to be brought to them from the prison, not realizing that the apostles had been freed by an angel and were now teaching and preaching again at the Temple!
Vs. 22-23 22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
Now when the officers of the high priest and leaders of Israel went to the prison to bring the apostles before the council they were astonished to find that though the prison was secure and the guards were at their posts the apostles were no where to be seen, and so they came back and reported these things to the council saying, saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” vs. 23
Vs. 24 “Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.”
That is, they began to wonder how long these men would continue to teach and preach Jesus Christ, whom they had Crucified, for as yet His followers were daily increasing, and these men were showing no signs of giving up.
Vs. 25 So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”
Now as they were musing about these things one came and told them that the apostles were now back standing at the Temple and teaching the people! They’re fearlessness in the face of their own people’s opposition is not only to be admired, but modeled by us all!
Vs. 26 “Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.”
When the council heard that they immediately sent the captain and his officers to arrest them. Now when the captain and his men came to the apostles at the Temple, they brought them without any violence, for they feared the people there, lest they should be stoned (vs. 27). And so here we that the apostles likewise offered no resistance, for they’re faith and trust was in the Lord, not in inciting crowds and people to violence.
Vs. 27-28 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
Having then brought the apostles before the assembled council the high priest who was the adjudicator of it, now in great frustration says to them, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” vs. 28 Notice that he doesn’t even mention the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that his fear is that by their preaching and teaching the Lord Jesus Christ that they will fill Jerusalem not only with His doctrine (which is very good), but by doing so, and furthering Jesus’ Name and popularity amongst the Jewish people, they would bring His blood upon them, that is on the high priest and the council members who orchestrated His Crucifixion. Now Jesus’ blood already rests on them and their decedents as they themselves said to Pilate (Matt. 27:25). And so, what the high priest was fearing here was not the judgment of God, but a revolt against him and his council members by the Jewish people.
Vs. 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
Now in answering the high priest, Peter once again makes it clear that, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Therefore, when faced with denying the Lord Jesus Christ and not teaching and preaching His Person, His commandments, His doctrine, His Name, no believer in regards to this, and only this must never be subordinate to the will of man, (no matter what position or office they hold) but rather we are always to be obedient to the Will of God.
Vs. 30-32 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
The Apostle Peter having been scolded by the high priest for teaching Jesus, and having boldly told him that “we ought to obey God rather men”, now begins by telling him that the God of their fathers, (i.e. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc.), raised up Jesus whom they murdered by hanging on a tree! That is they murdered Jesus Christ by their crucifying Him. Nonetheless it is the God of their fathers who has raised Jesus Christ up from the dead and exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, “…to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” For long ago God foretold that Israel would do what they did and yet in spite of this He also foretold that He would through the One they rejected and Crucified provide the means by which they (and all people) could have repentance and forgiveness of sins (consider Ezekiel 16:60-63; Zechariah 12:10-13). Therefore, the Apostle Peter now says that we are witnesses of these things, (of Christ’s Life, Death, and Resurrections) and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him (vs. 32). The obedience being here that one repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ then one will receive the Holy Spirit. However, as we will see the high priest and his council were unwilling to do just that.
Vs. 33 “When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.”
So hardened were the hearts of the high priest and his council that instead of repenting (i.e. acknowledging the evil that they had done in Crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ God’s Son and Israel’s Prince and Savior), they only became furious at Peters words, and so just as they had done to the Lord Jesus Christ, so now they plotted to kill him and the apostles!
Vs. 34 “Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.”
It is at this point that a respected Pharisee and teacher of the law named Gamaliel stood up and commanded the captain and his men to put the apostles outside of the council chambers. Now this man will later be noted by the Apostle Paul as the Pharisee who discipled him in his youth (Acts 22:3). Thus, being of a cooler and head and more discerning and generous spirit, he will now speak to the council body and give his advice.
Vs. 35-39 35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
Now in addressing the council Gamaliel first tells them of two men (who are now lost to history) who rose up and exalted themselves in their days and had a number of men who followed them, nonetheless as Gamliel notes, these men and their followers all came to nothing (vs. 35-37). For back then there were all kinds of would-be leaders and movements and such trying to restore Israel as a nation, or restore it to a “true” faith, and yet as Gamliel wisely notes they all came to nothing. Therefore, having cited these men and their followers end, he now cautions the council by saying to them, “And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” Vs. 38-39 Thus, Gamaliel’s council is basically, if this “movement” is of man to let them alone and let the thing fizzle out and die its own death. However, if it is of God you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God! Little did he know then that what he had just said about it being from God was true, and so neither their or anyone else’s opposition will prevail against the Risen Lord Jesus Christ (Dan. 2:44-45; 7:13-14, 26-27)!
Vs. 40 “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
Gamaliel’s words then seemed to appease the council’s fury, at least as much as to not to try to eliminate the apostles, and so they now called for the apostles to be brought before them and had them beaten (i.e., flogged) for defying their previous order. And with that they once again commanded the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.
Vs. 41-42 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Now when the apostles departed from the council, they were neither discouraged nor defeated, but rather they all rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Jesus Christ’s Name. And so daily they continued in the Temple and in every house teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ! For true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be made silent by either the commandments of men, or their threats, or by their force of arms!
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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