Dr. Pothana's Teaching

1. Detailed Study on The Book Of Acts
COACH Institute of Intercultural Studies
Hyderabad

2. 2
Acts, Chapter 4

3. 3
Time Frame (Acts 4)
 Exact Date Not Known
 Immediate continuation of events
began in Chapter 3
 Conflicts with Unbelievers Begin
 Chapter four records the first official
persecution of Christians with the
imprisonment of Peter and John
 Also recorded is the response of the
disciples (continued boldness)

4. 4
Peter and John Arrested
(vs. 1-5) 1
 Peter & John both addressed the
people (“they”)
 Priests, Captain of the Temple,
Sadducees
 “Captain” probably a Jewish official who
commanded a guard of Levites who
protected the temple (cf. 1 Chron. 9:11; 2
Chron. 31:13; Neh. 11:11)
 Sadducees (Note: The preaching of the
resurrection would have been obnoxious to
these Jewish leaders)

5. 5
Peter and John Arrested
(vs. 1-5) 2
 They “laid hands on them”
 Arrested Peter and John, and
perhaps the lame man (cf. 10, 14)

6. 6
Peter and John Arrested
(vs. 1-5) 3
 The Preaching led to more
conversions
 3,000 on Pentecost
 Now, 5,000 men alone had
responded to the gospel
 Faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17)
 Best interpretation is that the total
number of Christian men from
Pentecost now totaled 5,000

7. 7
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 1
 Three groups of officers made
up the Sanhedrin
 Rulers, Elders, Scribes
 “The Sanhedrin was the high court of
the Jewish people. It was composed
of 72 members (authorities vary from
70-72 members for the Sanhedrin).
It would have its counterpart in our
American Society in the Supreme
Court.” (Reese, page. 174)

8. 8
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 2
 Annas the High Priest
 Had been deposed by Romans, but still was
legal high priest of Jews by family
progression.
 Caiaphas
 Was the man recognized by the Romans as
the official high priest
 John & Alexander
 Little known of these men who were
obviously influential in the Sanhedrin

9. 9
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 3
 A Question of Authority
 The question of authority was
legitimate (it always is) “By what
power or by what name have you
done this?”
 However, the miracle itself
established their mandate as divine
 Further, they rejected the testimony
of the apostles regarding the
Lordship of Jesus Christ

10. 10
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 4
 Peter’s Response to the Sanhedrin
 What is the validity of being judged
(charged) for doing what was obviously
a good work?
 Note: Jesus had promised them help if
such false accusations were made (cf.
Matthew 10:17-20)

11. 11
Matthew 10:17-20
But beware of men, for they will deliver you
up to councils and scourge you in their
synagogues. 18 You will be brought before
governors and kings for My sake, as a
testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But
when they deliver you up, do not worry about
how or what you should speak. For it will be
given to you in that hour what you should
speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the
Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

12. 12
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 4
 Peter’s Response to the Sanhedrin
 Peter gave the glory and credit for the
miracle performed to Jesus

13. 13
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 6
 The Reaction of the Sanhedrin (1)
 First, they recognized something special
in these “uneducated and untrained”
men. (vs. 13)
 These disciples had received their
training, not at the feet of a rabbi (Hillel,
Shammai). They had received their
instruction from Jesus
 Amazement indicates a recognition of
accomplishment.

14. 14
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 8
 The Private Counsel
 Nothing said about the legitimacy of the
Apostles’ claims
 Only concern was how to further their
own cause
 Note: The miracle was undeniable (v. 16)
 Determined to intimidate the apostles
“let us severely threaten them” so that
the gospel would not spread.

15. 15
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 9
 The Warning
 “And they called them and commanded
them not to speak at all nor teach in the
name of Jesus.”
 The Response
 “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. For we cannot but speak the
things which we have seen and heard.’”

16. 16
The Sanhedrin (6-22) 10
 Further Threats and Warnings (21)
 The threats were without teeth, as the
people would not have been accepting of
the punishment of men who had done
the miracle
 Again, the miracle was undeniable, as
the lame man had been so since birth,
and was now over 40 years old. (22)

17. 17
The Disciples’ Prayer (23-31) 1
 The Apostles’ Release (23)
 Not sure who the “companions” were.
Other Christians. Maybe a reference to
the apostles only.
 Peter and John reported what the
Sanhedrin had said. (Note that the
threats [persecution] was a cause of
rejoicing, as indicated by the prayer that
followed).

18. 18
The Disciples’ Prayer (23-31) 2
 They raised their voice to God (24)
 This an example of public, audible
prayer.
 “With one accord” indicates a unity of
mind.
 Today, as we give mental or verbal
assent to a leader’s prayer (Amen), we
are joining “with one accord” in that
prayer to God

19. 19
The Disciples’ Prayer (23-31) 3
 Praise to God (24)
 “Lord” (gk. despota, not kurios)
References the highest magistrate
(absolute authority) (our word, despot).
 “You are God” (Creator)
 Psalm 2 (25-26)
 This Psalm of David prophesied the
persecution of the Christ (Herod and
Pilate, cf. vs. 27)

20. 20
The Disciples’ Prayer (23-31) 4
 Persecution (29)
 The Persecution of Christ continues with
these threats. These (kings and
nations) now threaten Christ’s disciples.
 The disciples ask God for courage, that
they may boldly proclaim the gospel of
Christ.
 They pray for the signs to continue to
verify that Gospel. (30)

21. 21
The Disciples’ Prayer (23-31) 5
 God’s Witness (31)
 Physical manifestation of an earthquake.
 Another example (Paul & Silas in prison,
Acts 16:25-26)
 Another episodic manifestation of the
Holy Spirit, renewed as the apostles
continued to speak boldly the word of
God.

22. 22
Sharing in All Things (32-37) 1
 Account of early church
benevolence and hospitality begins
here (32-37)
 Unfortunate chapter break here, as these
final verses would work better in chapter
5.
 Disciples showed love and a benevolent
(charitable) spirit in helping one another
materially.

23. 23
Sharing in All Things (32-37) 2
 Apostles continued their preaching
(33)
 Note: Evangelism more important than
benevolence (cf. Acts 6:2).
 Significant benevolence led to
fulfilled needs (34-35)
 Barnabas introduced, as his gift of
benevolence was received by the
apostles as well. (36-37)