ACC ~ Acts 4 v13 - 22

OVERVIEW:

Luke now tells us of what follows from the apostles’ address. Modern commentators consider that Luke is working here with a Palestinian source that supplies the narrative material into which Luke inserts the defensive and kerygmatic material. Here as elsewhere in the Lukan writings the accent is placed on the efficacy of God’s plan for salvation rather than on, specifically, the death and resurrection of Jesus. Some commentators wish to say that Luke makes no claim about the saving efficacy of Christ’s death and resurrection, but this is an exaggeration. Chrysostom, who is the most articulate in commenting on this passage, stresses both the courage of the apostles and the power given to them by which they have been changed and are able to withstand adversity, something he knew by experience. The change in them from crucifixion to resurrection was noted by the authorities. Unlettered men now preached with boldness. Faith and freedom of speech are strengthened through the testing of meekness (CHRYSOSTOM). Bede gives us a historical and a symbolic reading of the forty-year age of the healed man.

4:13 | The Apostles Speak Boldly

THE CHANGE IN THE APOSTLES. CHRYSOSTOM: “For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” These words belong to a soul that has renounced the present life. His great outspokenness demonstrates this. Here he makes it clear that even when he speaks in lowly terms of Christ, he does it not because he is afraid but out of condescension. Now that the time has come, he speaks in lofty terms to amaze all his listeners by this very change. Behold another miracle no less great than the earlier one.

“They recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Not without purpose has the Evangelist set down this passage, but so that he might reveal where they were, that is, at the passion. For these men alone were with him then, when indeed they had seen them humble and dejected. It was this that particularly surprised them, namely, the greatness of the change. For in fact Annas, Caiaphas and company were there and had stood by him as well. Now their great outspokenness shocked them. For it was not only by their words that they revealed their lack of concern over the accusations they faced and the extreme danger impending, but also by their bearing, their voice and their gaze—in short, by everything about them they showed the outspokenness with which they confronted the people. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.

THE POWER OF GOD. BEDE: Unlettered men were sent to preach, so that the faith of those who believed would not be thought to have come about by eloquence and teaching instead of by God’s power. As the apostle says, “not in the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made void.” COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4.13.

4:16 | What Shall We Do?

THE POWER OF APOSTLESHIP. CHRYSOSTOM: For what is really marvelous is this, that though they were held in prison and made answerable to charges, though they were imprisoned and beaten, their enemies were still at a loss and in a quandary, since the very things by which they expected to prevail brought about their own downfall. For neither king nor people, neither ranks of demons nor the devil himself had the power to get the better of the apostles, but all were overcome at a very great disadvantage, seeing everything they had planned against them fall on their own heads. Because of this he also says, “we are more than conquerors.” For this rule of victory was new: to prevail through their adversaries and never be overcome, but go forth to these struggles as masters of the end. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 15.37.

THE FAITH GAINS GROUND. CHRYSOSTOM: See the difficulty they are in and how human fear again does everything. Just as in the case of Christ they were not able to undo what is done or to hide it in obscurity, and for all their hindering the faith gained ground all the more, so it is now. “What shall we do?” What stupidity to suppose that those who had tasted of the struggle would now take fright! And it would be even greater stupidity if, after their initial failure, they expected to accomplish something after such a specimen of oratory. The more they wished to hinder, the more it prospered. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.

4:20 | We Must Speak

DELIGHT IN THE MIDST OF DANGERS. CHRYSOSTOM: Already these have borne witness as martyrs. Arrayed in battle against all, they said, “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” If what we say is false, arrest us; but if it is true, why do you stand in the way? Such is philosophy! Those in perplexity, these in gladness; those full of great shame, these with boldness in all actions; those in fear, these in confidence. For who, I ask you, were the frightened? Was it those who said, “in order that it may spread no further among the people,” or these who said, “we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard?” These had a delight, a freedom of speech, a joy surpassing all; those a despondency, a shame, a fear, for they feared the people. While these spoke what they wished to say, those did not do what they wished to do. Which were in chains and dangers? Certainly not these. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.

THE STRENGTH OF MEEKNESS. CHRYSOSTOM: For better than all others he knows the nature of things. He knows that fierceness is not quenched by fierceness but by meekness. If you wish to see this in action, read the book of the Acts of the apostles and you will see how often, when the people of the Jews was rebelling and sharpening their teeth, these men, imitating the dove and answering with suitable meekness, released their wrath, quenched their madness and dissolved their impetuosity. For when they said, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” the disciples, although they were able to work countless miracles, neither said nor did anything harsh but answered with all gentleness, saying, “Whether it is right to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 33.3.

4:22 | The Man Who Was Healed

MORE THAN FORTY YEARS OLD. BEDE: According to the historical sense, this shows that the man’s mature age [made him] invincible to detractors. Allegorically, however, [the passage signifies that] that people of Israel not only despised the manna and sought the base things of Egypt for the forty years in the desert, but even in the land of promise they continued always to limp along with the rites of idols together with those of the Lord. Or, if the number forty signifies the fullness of the twofold law (for four times ten makes forty), a transgressor of both, as it were by lying enfeebled, transcends a fortyfold perfection. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 4.22.