Acts 4

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, 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.

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

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

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

What does Acts 4:13 mean?

Explanation

Acts 4:13 portrays the apostles Peter and John standing before the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish council in Jerusalem.

Despite being identified as "unlearned and ignorant men" (meaning they were not formally schooled in religious law and traditions), they spoke with confidence and authority about Jesus Christ.

The term "unlearned and ignorant" did not necessarily mean they were unintelligent; rather, they lacked the formal training of the religious elites.

Despite this, the leaders were astonished, recognizing the apostles' boldness and realizing that their courage and wisdom were a result of their time spent with Jesus.

It illustrates how firsthand experience and the influence of Jesus could surpass traditional education and empower ordinary individuals to speak truth to power.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The verse is part of the narrative in the Book of Acts, which details the early years of the Christian church following Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

After healing a man born lame, Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus and his resurrection.

This event occurs after Pentecost, where the apostles received the Holy Spirit, giving them boldness and the ability to perform miracles and teach fervently about Jesus, despite the threats from Jewish authorities who were determined to suppress the burgeoning Christian movement.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse underscores the belief that divine inspiration and the presence of the Holy Spirit can outweigh human credentials and formal religious training.

It also emphasizes the transformative experience of being in Jesus' presence and how it equipped his followers to continue his ministry with confidence.

Some theologians may see this as an example of God's power being made perfect in weakness, aligning with the idea that God often chooses unlikely individuals to carry out His work.

Practical Applications

Acts 4:13 can inspire individuals in their daily lives to speak and act with conviction, even without formal qualifications, when they believe in their cause or have had powerful personal experiences.

It suggests that authenticity and passion, rooted in genuine experience, can be just as persuasive as traditional expertise.

Additionally, it encourages believers to trust that their relationship with Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can empower them to accomplish things that seem beyond their natural capacity.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:19-20: "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak."
1 Corinthians 1:27-29: "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;"
2 Corinthians 12:9: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

Language Study

In the original Greek, the term "agrammatoi" translates to "unlearned" and literally means "without letters" or unschooled.

"Idiōtai," translated as "ignorant," can mean laymen or ordinary people, possibly with a connotation of being private individuals as opposed to public figures. Both words underscore how Peter and John were not formally trained in the rabbinic schools of their day, yet spoke with unexpected wisdom.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The theme of underqualified individuals achieving great things is common across many cultures and religions.

In Hinduism, for example, there is a narrative of the god Krishna speaking the Bhagavad Gita's profound wisdom to the warrior Arjuna, who then becomes a vessel for divine teachings despite his initial hesitation.

Similarly, in Islam, the Prophet Muhammad received revelations from Allah despite being illiterate.

These narratives, like that of Peter and John, emphasize the idea that divine wisdom and authority can be bestowed upon anyone, regardless of their societal status or education.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, one might interpret the boldness and persuasive power observed in Peter and John as being influenced by multiple social and psychological factors, such as the conviction of their beliefs, the social cohesion of their group, or the psychological impact of their experiences.

While science does not typically venture into the supernatural, it recognizes the profound influence that belief systems and charismatic leadership can have on individuals and groups.

Commentaries

Most biblical commentators note the stark contrast between the religious leaders’ expectations and the actual capabilities of Peter and John as empowered by their association with Jesus.

For instance, Matthew Henry’s commentary emphasizes the marvel of the council at the boldness of the apostles and suggests that it should encourage all Christians to speak boldly for Christ.

John Wesley notes that the Sanhedrin authorities recognized Peter and John had "been with Jesus," which implies a certain transformation attributed to their discipleship.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary highlights that the use of the term "unlearned" is Luke's way of showing the apostles were unschooled in the professional sense but not without intelligence or ability to articulate their message.

Acts 4

Acts 4

What does Acts 4:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 4:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?