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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_4:23-31
23When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things? 26'The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.' 27"For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29"And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." 31And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Act_4:23 They went back to the Upper Room to meet with the disciples.
Act_4:24 "with one accord" This unity of heart and mind characterized the early church (cf. Act_1:14; Act_2:46; Act_4:24; Act_5:12; Act_15:25). There is spiritual power and focused action in this atmosphere of unity of purpose.
▣ "Lord" This is the Greek term despota, from which we get the English word despot. It denoted someone in complete authority! Here it refers to God the Father (cf. Luk_2:29 and Rev_6:10). It is also used of Jesus (cf. 2Pe_2:1 and Jude Act_4:4).
▣ "who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them" This may be an allusion to Exo_20:11. It is also quoted in Act_14:15 and the truth is stated in Act_17:24. YHWH is the creator!
Act_4:25 There are many variant readings of the first part of this verse. The oldest manuscripts P74, à , A, and B already include the ambiguous variant. Although the exact wording is uncertain, the thrust of the text is obvious. For a full account of the problem and the theories of what happened, see Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, pp. 321-323).
▣ "who by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David" This asserts the inspiration of the Old Testament (cf. Mat_5:17-19). This is a quote from the Septuagint of Psa_2:1-2, a royal Messianic Psalm. Christianity is not something new, but the fulfillment of the Old Testament (cf. Mat_5:17-48). Worldly opposition is to be expected, but so too, is the victory of YHWH.
Act_4:25-26 "Gentiles. . .the peoples. . .the Kings. . .the Rulers" It looks as if the disciples are doing a rabbinical word association on "rulers." In a sense, they are calling the Sanhedrin Goyim (i.e., Gentiles) or at least associating these OT names to contemporary groups (i.e., Pilate, Herod, Sanhedrin, and Jewish mob) who participated in Jesus' trial and crucifixion.
▣ "rage" This is literally "to snort through one's nose." This implies a haughty arrogance.
Act_4:26 "the Lord. . .His Christ" Notice that YHWH and Messiah are both spoken of together. I am surprised they did not quote Psa_110:1.
It is so difficult to be a monotheist (see Special Topic at Act_2:39) and assert the full deity of Christ and the personality of the Spirit (cf. Act_4:25, see Special Topic at Act_2:32). Yet, these three divine, eternal persons appear in unified contexts several times in the NT. Remember that all the writers except Luke are monotheistic Jewish Christians. Something radical has caused them to assert a triunity (i.e., the gospel). See hyperlink at Act_2:32.
Act_4:27 "Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed" Notice these Messianic titles.
1. holy (cf. Act_3:14; Act_4:30)
2. servant (pais, cf. Act_3:13; Act_3:26; Act_4:25; Act_4:27; Act_4:30. See note at Act_3:13)
3. anointed (chriô, from which Christ is derived, cf Luk_4:18; Act_4:27; Act_10:38)
This verse asserts several different ways that Jesus was sent and authorized by YHWH. Jesus is God's eternal plan and method of redemption and restoration (cf. Act_4:28, see Special Topic at Act_1:8).
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▣ "there were gathered together against Your holy servant" Here is a list of the opponents to Jesus in Jerusalem.
1. Herod, the Roman appointed Edumean ruler of Palestine (see Special Topic below)
2. Pontius Pilate, the Roman administrative leader of Palestine (see Special Topic at Act_3:13)
3. Gentiles, which might refer to the Roman army or proselyte Jews
4. the "people of Israel," which would refer to the Jewish authorities and the Jewish mob who asked for Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified
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Act_4:28 "Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur" Even before creation God had His plan of redemption (cf. Mat_25:34; Joh_17:24; Eph_1:4; 1Pe_1:20; Rev_13:8; Act_2:13; Act_3:18; Act_13:29). These enemies of Christ only performed that which God wanted them to perform. Jesus came to die (cf. Mar_10:45). The term translated here "predestine" is a compound of the preposition "before" and "to set bounds" (cf. Rom_8:29-30; 1Co_2:7; Eph_1:5; Eph_1:11).
The definitive passages on predestination in the NT are Rom_8:28-30; Romans 9; and Eph_1:3-14. These texts obviously stress that God is sovereign. He is in total control of all things, including human history. There is a preset divine redemption plan being worked out in time. However, this plan is not arbitrary or selective. It is based not only on God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, but also on His unchanging character of love, mercy, and undeserved grace.
We must be careful of our western (American) individualism or our evangelical zeal coloring this wonderful truth. We must also guard against being polarized into the historical, theological conflicts between Augustine and Pelegius or Calvinism and Arminianism.
Predestination is not a doctrine meant to limit God's love, grace, and mercy, nor to exclude some from the gospel. It is meant to strengthen believers by molding their worldview. God's love is for all mankind (cf. 1Ti_2:4; 2Pe_3:9). God is in control of all things. Who or what can separate us from Him (cf. Rom_8:31-39)? Predestination forms one of two ways to view life. God views all history as present. Humans are time-bound. Our perspective and mental abilities are limited. There is no contradiction between God's sovereignty and mankind's free will. It is a covenantal structure. This is another example of biblical truth given in paradoxical, dialectical, tension-filled pairs. Biblical doctrines are presented from different perspectives. They often appear paradoxical. The truth is a balance between the seemingly opposite pairs. We must not remove the tension by picking one of the truths. We must not isolate any biblical truth into a compartment by itself.
It is also important to add that the goal of election is not only heaven when we die, but Christlikeness now (cf. Eph_1:4; Eph_2:10)! We were chosen to be "holy and blameless." God chooses to change us so that others may see the change and respond by faith to God in Christ. Predestination is not a personal privilege, but a covenantal responsibility! We are saved to serve! See Special Topic at Act_2:47.
Act_4:29 "speak Your word" This is a present active infinitive. This is a prayer for continual boldness (cf. Eph_6:19 and Col_4:3) and an affirmation of inspiration (cf. 2Ti_3:15-17).
NASB "with all confidence"
NKJV, NRSV,
TEV "with all boldness"
NJB "with all fearlessness"
See Special Topic following.
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Act_4:30 "while you extend Your hand to heal" This was an anthropomorphic phrase (see Special Topic at Act_2:33) used to describe God revealing His compassion and power. The signs were a way to confirm the gospel message. It was a radically different message from what they had heard all their lives in the synagogue.
Act_4:31 "the place where they had gathered together was shaken" God encouraged these witnesses by another physical demonstration of His power and presence, just as He did at Pentecost. The word is used of wind blowing upon a sailing vessel.
▣ "all filled with the Holy Spirit" Notice that here again all were filled (cf. Act_2:4; Act_4:8; Act_4:31; Act_9:17; Act_13:9; Act_13:52, see full note at Act_5:17). This filling was for the bold proclamation of the gospel. Also notice that tongues are not mentioned. In Acts when tongues are mentioned, they are usually in an evangelistic context of the gospel overcoming cultural-ethnic and/or geographical barriers.
▣ "the word of God" The Jerome Biblical Commentary (p. 180) has a good note about this phrase, "this is a favorite Lucan way of expressing the Christian message (see Act_6:2; Act_6:7; Act_8:14; Act_11:1; Act_13:5; Act_13:7; Act_13:44; Act_13:46; Act_13:48; Act_16:32; Act_17:13; Act_18:11). Variants of it are "the word of the Lord" (Act_8:25; Act_13:49; Act_15:35-36; Act_19:10; Act_19:20; Act_20:35) or simply "the word" (Act_4:29; Act_6:4; Act_8:4; Act_10:44; Act_11:19; Act_14:25; Act_16:6)."
This is the central question of faith, "Is the gospel presented in the NT the word of God?" Faith energized by the Spirit says "yes"!!
▣ "with boldness" See Special Topic at Act_4:29.