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Acts 4:1–3. While they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captains of the church guard and the Sadducees came up to them, annoyed that they were teaching the people and preaching in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the morning; for it was already evening. Before the apostles had time to breathe a sigh from their previous temptations, they fell into others. And look how events are arranged. At first the apostles were ridiculed all together; then they fall into danger, but not suddenly. First, they are justified in public assemblies and after this they perform a great miracle, then, after they have become bolder, they, by God’s permission, embark on exploits. And turn your attention to the success of the Jews in wickedness and shamelessness. Before, under Christ, they were looking for a person who would betray Him; Now they themselves lay on hands, having become bolder and more shameless after the cross. And with them, it is said, “there were also the chiefs of the guard at the church.” This is in order to give the case the character of a public accusation and pass it off as not one’s own. This is what they always try to do. “And they were given into custody until the morning.” This is what the Jews did with the apostles and guarded them, wanting to humble them, while the extended time made the apostles more undaunted. Acts 4:4. Many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of such people was about five thousand. What is this? Didn't they see that the apostles were justified? And, despite that, however, they were tied up. How did they believe? Do you see the obvious assistance of God? And it had to happen that those who believed were from among the weaker. But Peter’s conversation, facilitated by the Divine Spirit, cast a seed into the depths of their thoughts and touched their very soul. The priests tied the apostles in front of the people in order to make those who were watching themselves more cowardly, but it turned out the other way around. And they interrogated the apostles in private - out of fear that their boldness would not influence the listeners. Acts 4:5–10. The next day their leaders, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and the rest of the family of the high priest, gathered in Jerusalem; and, placing them in the middle, they asked: by what force or by what name did you do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Leaders of the people and elders of Israel! If today we are asked to answer in kindness to a weak man, how he was healed, then let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him he has been presented before you in health. Besides other untruths towards the apostles, they (the leaders, elders, scribes and high priests of the Jews) did not even comply with the requirements of the law. Pay attention at least to the many high priests, while according to the law there must be one while he lives. And this time they gave the matter the form of a trial in order to demand the apostles to answer before an unjust court. They found out “by what force or by what name.” And yet, they themselves knew, because they detained the apostles precisely because they were burdened by their preaching about the resurrection in Christ. So, why are they interrogating? They expected that the apostles, fearing the trial and the multitude of judges, would renounce their words - and they thought that this would correct the whole matter, because look how insidiously they ask: “In what name did you do this?” Yes, they were more willing that the apostles should proclaim healing as their own work than as the work of the power of Christ. But look at the difficulty they put the apostles in. They didn’t even want the words “healing the lame” to be uttered, for why don’t they say what exactly, but say “they did it?” "The leaders of the people and the elders of Israel". Notice what the philosophy is. Where need demands, Peter greatly reproaches them. So, he called them by honorable names; but when he got down to the matter itself, then he no longer deviated from the proper denunciation, indirectly reminding them that they always argued in court about such cases and came out without rejoicing. And what he says is this: “we should rather have been crowned for this and proclaimed as benefactors.” And since “today they demand an answer from us... how he was healed, then let it be known to all of you and all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” which was especially difficult for the Jews. And this is what Christ told them: “What you have heard with your ears, preach about it from house to house.” "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth". Do not think, he says, that we are hiding His fatherland; no, we declare the fatherland too; this is not enough: we confess His suffering and preach His resurrection. "Whom you crucified". He also uttered a word that could frighten the Jews, because what kind of blow do you think is dealt to them by these words? Acts 4:11–12. He is the stone that was neglected by you builders, but has become the head of the corner, and there is salvation in no one else” (Ps. 117:22). “For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Such - that is, carefully tested - is the stone that became the head of these two peoples, united through it into one building of the Church - the believing Jewish people and all the believing paganism. “And there is salvation in no one else.” Here lofty truths are already proclaimed. Yes, as soon as the hour has come to teach, then the apostles go around prophecies; and when the time came to speak boldly, then they expressed only their thoughts, because then there was nothing that could influence the listeners in order to correct them. But when it was necessary to boldly proclaim the truth, then the apostles no longer spared their listeners. Yes, now Peter was not afraid to intimidate them and therefore does not act as he does in other cases, directing his speech towards them, for the sake of saving them. It is known, he says, to everyone that this name was not given to us alone, but to everyone, since the Jews also recognized the resurrection, but superficially and childishly. Acts 4:13–14. Seeing the courage of Peter and John and noticing that they were unlearned and simple people, they were surprised; meanwhile they recognized them that they were with Jesus. Seeing the healed man standing with them, they could not say anything contrary. It is possible to be both illiterate (unbookish) and difficult, and simple and not illiterate; but here both coincided (that is, illiteracy and simplicity). Therefore, the Jews were surprised when Peter and John spoke and orated. Where did they get this information that Peter and John were like that? From the words of themselves - Peter and John. After all, Luke does not just say “they knew them,” but “they knew them that they were with Jesus” during His suffering. Then they were alone with Him. And the Jews then saw them humble and humiliated; and this unexpected change especially struck them, for the one who then could not bear the gaze of the questioning slave girl now comes among the high priests themselves and to the Sanhedrin and speaks with boldness. Acts 4:15–22. And having ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they reasoned among themselves, saying: What should we do with these people? For everyone living in Jerusalem knows that they have performed a clear miracle, and we cannot deny this. But, so that this will no longer be disclosed among the people, we will forbid them with a threat, so that they do not speak about this name to any of the people. And having called them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all about the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them: Judge, is it right before God to listen to you more than to God? We cannot help but say what we saw and heard. They, having threatened, released them, not finding an opportunity to punish them, because of the people; because everyone glorified God for what had happened. For the man on whom this miracle of healing happened was more than forty years old. Why don’t the priests bring them to Pilate, but judge them themselves? Because they were ashamed and blushed for what had happened before and were afraid that the apostles would accuse them. Acts 4:23–28. Having been released, they came to their own and recounted what the high priests and elders had told them. Having listened, they unanimously raised their voices to God and said: Sovereign God, who created heaven and earth and the sea and everything that is in them! Thou, through the mouth of our father David, Thy servant, said by the Holy Spirit: Why are the heathen troubled, and the nations plotting vain things? The kings of the earth rose up, and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ (Ps. 2:1-2). For verily in this city Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together against Thy Holy Son Jesus, whom Thy anointed, to do that which Thy hand and Thy counsel had predestined to be. The apostles Peter and John “came to their own and recounted” everything that had happened to them. They retold it not out of ambition, but to show clear evidence of the grace of Christ. “Sovereign God, who created.” See how appropriate the prayers of the apostles are. When they asked the Lord to show them a husband capable of apostolic service, they prayed like this: “You, Lord, know the hearts of all” (Acts 1:24), because then there was a need for foreknowledge. And now, when it was necessary to stop the mouths of their opponents, they cry out: “Sovereign God, who created heaven and earth...” But many of the heretics share the Divinity, saying that another God is the Creator of the world and another is the Father of Christ. Therefore, they divide Scripture and say that the Old Testament is the Scripture of God the Creator of the world, and the New Testament is the Father of Christ. Further following their wicked opinion, they claim that these Gods and Their Scriptures are opposite, so that those who resort to the Lord are enemies of the Creator of the world and are in a better condition than the latter’s people. So, the people of the Creator of the world are prejudiced against Christ and His teachings. Therefore, the holy apostles, eradicating this heresy, through their prayer make it clear that both the Creator of the world and the Father of the Savior are One and the same God, because both Testaments were given to Him. “You, through the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said by the Holy Spirit: “Why are the heathen troubled, and the nations plotting vain things?” They present this prophecy, as if asking God to fulfill the agreement and at the same time console themselves with the fact that their enemies are thinking about this in vain. “To do what Thy hand and Thy counsel destined to be,” that is, it was not they who had such power within themselves, but You, Lord, Who grants permission for everything and brings everything to an end, You, the good and wise Artist, Who turns the work of enemies into the fulfillment of Your will, because the priests and other Jews came together as enemies, but did what You pleased. And what is the expression “Thy hand hath predestined?” This expression, in my opinion, means power and will here; it is unambiguous with the expression “it is enough for You alone to desire, because no one predetermines what You establish.” Acts 4:29–31. And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to Your servants to speak Your word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal and to do signs and wonders in the name of Your Holy Son Jesus. And through their prayer, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. “And now... look.” Notice: they didn’t say “strike them down and bring them down,” but what did they say? “Behold their threats, and grant to Thy servants to speak Thy word with all boldness...” “And because of their prayer, the place where they were gathered was shaken.” This was evidence of God's visitation and that they were heard, because sometimes this is a sign of wrath and sometimes a sign of visitation. The apostles prayed not to get rid of difficulties, but for the success of preaching. But why did God shake the house? In order to instill fear in those who threatened, and to give courage to the apostles, since it was still the beginning of the sermon, a sensory sign was necessary. So, “the place was shaken” and strengthened the apostles even more. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,” that is, they were inflamed and kindled within themselves the gift of grace. Acts 4:32–35. The multitude of those who believed had one heart and one soul; and no one called anything of his property his own, but they had everything in common. The apostles testified with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; and great grace was upon them all. There was no one in need among them; for all who owned lands or houses, selling them, brought the price of what was sold and laid them at the feet of the Apostles; and everyone was given whatever they needed. In the words “there was one heart and one soul,” “heart” and “soul” mean the same thing. “They testified with great power to the resurrection.” Luke presents the apostles as people who are entrusted with something, and speaks, as it were, of a duty - that’s what “witnessed” means. “There was no one in need among them.” Because “great grace” was that there was not a single poor person, that is, there was not a single needy person, who, due to special generosity, gave away their property, because they did not give away part in order to keep another part for themselves, but everything; and they gave everything away not as if it were theirs, but as if it were not theirs; and all who believed ate as if from one house. “When they sold, they brought the price of what was sold.” This testifies to the great dignity and great piety of those who brought, because they did not even dare to give it into their hands, but “laid it at the feet of the Apostles” and made them lords and stewards of what was brought, so as to spend it not from their own, but as if from the common. And this freed those who gave from vanity, and gave those who received a double joy - relief from poverty and liberation from shame. Acts 4:36–37. So Josiah, called by the Apostles Barnabas, which means “son of consolation,” a Levite, originally a Cyprian, who had his own land, sold it, brought money and laid it at the feet of the Apostles. It seems to me that “Josiah” is not the same person who is mentioned together with Matthias (see Acts 1:23), because he is also called Justus, and this one is called Barnabas, which means “son of consolation.” It also seems to me that this Josiah received such a name because of his virtue. How then was he both a Levite and a Cypriot? This is because the law was already being broken and the Levites were migrating to foreign countries and extracting benefits for themselves there. You might be interested in: