And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken

Peter and John were having great influence from their teaching and the number of people who converted reached five thousand. The authorities including the priests, Sadducees and temple authorities arrested Peter and John as they preached the gospel and the resurrection of Jesus. When they were brought before the Sanhedrin to be judged, Peter again spoke boldly, filled with the Holy Spirit. His speech followed the same pattern as before, that the miracles such as healing were done in the name of Jesus. He reminded them that it was them who crucified Jesus, and that God resurrected Jesus and all this had been prophesied in the Scriptures before. Finally he declares that it is only through Jesus that salvation can be given.

The authorities were amazed that Peter and John spoke so well regarding Scriptures since they were also uneducated. They remembered that Peter and John had indeed been close followers of Jesus. They could not find a valid reason to arrest Peter and John because the evidence of the miracles such as the healed man can be seen by everyone. So they threatened Peter and John to not teach and preach about Jesus, but they both replied they would follow God, rather than the authorities.

Peter and John returned to their companions and they stood together in powerful prayer led by the Holy Spirit. This prayer could be an example to us. They asked for boldness to speak the Gospel, this is not because of their own shyness or embarrassment but rather their lives were in danger when they spoke about Jesus and the Gospel. They clearly asked for miraculous wonders to follow their preaching including healing. Such was the power of their prayer that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit was evidenced by the shaking of the room.

We are also given a glimpse of the lifestyle of these original believers. Those who had possessions sold them and gave them to the apostles for the church. The believers lived together in a community and there was no one lacking among them. Barnabas was also mentioned here as one of the early followers who sold his land and contributed to this early community.





Acts 4
Peter and John Arrested

1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.


Addressing the Sanhedrin

5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’[a] 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”


The Name of Jesus Forbidden

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.


Prayer for Boldness

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David[b] have said:

‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’[c]
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.


Sharing in All Things

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 And Joses,[d] who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.