Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin cont’d (Acts 4:13-22)

Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus. 14 Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply. 15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying, 16 “What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. 20 It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing had been done was over forty years old.

The Sanhedrin were surprised at how two uneducated fishermen could speak to them with such confidence (Mt.10:19). They were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8) and not afraid to speak despite the danger posed by the Jewish leaders. They could not deny that the forty-year-old man (v. 22) who had been crippled from birth (Acts 3:2) was healed by the apostles. The hardness of their hearts prevented them from believing that the miracle done in front of the people and spread throughout Jerusalem, was done through the power of Jesus Christ whom they crucified and whom God raised from the dead (Jn. 12:37). The Sanhedrin tried to intimidate the apostles into silence; to not speak or teach in the name of Jesus (v. 18) but the apostles, who were witnesses to all that Jesus did and taught (Acts 10:39), could not be silent because they were divinely commissioned to, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mk.16:15-16).”

Almighty God, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are children of light filled with goodness, righteousness and truth. Grant us the grace to grow in wisdom and to live in unity with our brothers and sisters, forgiving their transgressions as you forgive ours. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!

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References

                Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990