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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_4:5-12
5On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 9if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Act_4:5 "their rulers and elders and scribes" The Sanhedrin (i.e., the Council, Act_5:21, from the Jerusalem area; the Council of the elders, Act_22:5) was made up of seventy Jewish leaders. It was the highest political/religious body (which Rome allowed) within Judaism of Jesus' day. The concept was begun (i.e., Jewish tradition) by Ezra and the "men of the Great Synagogue." It is usually identified in the NT by the phrase, "the scribes, elders and high priests" (cf. Luk_23:13; Act_3:17; Act_4:5; Act_4:8; Act_13:27). See Special Topic following.
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Act_4:6 "Annas" His name in Greek is Hannas; Josephus calls him Hannanos (Jonathan). The name seems to come from the Hebrew "merciful" or "gracious" (hânân, BDB 336).
In the OT the high priesthood was for life and stayed in the lineage of Aaron. However, the Romans had turned this office into a political plumb, purchased by a Levitical family. The high priest controlled and operated the merchandising in the Court of the Women. Jesus' cleansing of the Temple angered this family.
According to Flavius Josephus, Annas was the High Priest from a.d. 6-14. He was appointed by Quirinius, governor of Syria and removed by Valerius Gratus. His relatives (5 sons and 1 grandson) succeeded him. Caiaphas (a.d. 18-36), his son-in-law (cf. Joh_18:13), was his immediate successor. Annas was the real power behind the office. John depicts him as the first person to whom Jesus is taken (cf. Act_18:13; Act_18:19-22).
▣ "Caiaphas" He was appointed high priest by Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judea (cf. MS D, 'Iônathas, cf. NEB, NJB) from a.d. 18-36.
▣ "John" This may refer to "Jonathan," who Josephus tells us was also one of Annas' sons who became High Priest in a.d. 36 after Caiaphas. However, the UBS4 has 'Iôannçs (i.e., John) as an A rating (certain); even the REB goes back to "John."
▣ "Alexander" Nothing is known about this man, but he, like John, was probably a member of Annas' family or a leading member of the Sadducean party.
Act_4:7 "When they had placed them in the center" The members of the Sanhedrin sat in a semicircle on a raised platform.
▣ "they began to inquire" This is an imperfect tense, which means either (1) continuous action in past time or (2) the beginning of an action.
▣ "By what power, or in what name" They insinuated that the healing was done by magical power (cf. Act_19:13). They tried this same trick on Jesus (cf. Luk_11:14-26; Mar_3:20-30). They could not deny the miracles so they attempted to impugn the method or source of the power.
Act_4:8 "filled with the Holy Spirit" The Spirit was the source of wisdom and boldness for the Apostles (cf. Luk_12:11-12; Luk_21:12-15). Remember this was the same man who only a few days earlier had denied the Lord out of fear (cf. Act_4:13). Notice that Peter was "filled" (cf. Act_2:4; Act_4:8; Act_4:31). This shows that it was a repeatable experience (cf. Eph_5:18). See full note at Act_5:17.
Act_4:9 "if" This is a first class conditional sentence which is assumed true for the author's purpose.
▣ "if we are on trial today" This Greek term literally means "examined by a court" (cf. Act_12:19; Act_24:8; Act_28:18; Luk_23:14). It was used of the Berean Jews examining the Scriptures to see if Paul was accurately interpreting them (cf. Act_17:11).
▣ "for a benefit done to a sick man" Peter is asserting the inappropriateness of this official trial with such a hostile environment concerning a wonderful miracle of healing and mercy. They should be praising God instead!
▣ "has been made well" This is a perfect passive indicative, meaning complete health and restoration of his legs.
Act_4:10 "Let it be known to all of you and all the people of Israel" This is a perfect active imperative. The Spirit has emboldened Peter. He is not intimidated by the judicial setting. These leaders could not keep Christ in the tomb and they could not deny the healed man standing in front of them!
▣ "by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene" Peter picks up on their question and answers specifically how the miracle occurred. See hyperlink at Act_2:22.
▣ "whom you crucified" This was the obvious truth. They instigated His death. Notice "by you" in Act_4:11, which also asserts their guilt.
▣ "whom God raised" The NT affirms that all three persons of the Trinity were active in Jesus' resurrection:
1. Spirit, Rom_8:11
2. Jesus, Joh_2:19-22; Joh_10:17-18
3. Father, Act_2:24; Act_2:32; Act_3:15; Act_3:26; Act_4:10; Act_5:30; Act_10:40; Act_13:30; Act_13:33-34; Act_13:37; Act_17:31; Rom_6:4; Rom_6:9
This was confirmation of the truth of Jesus' life and teachings about God and also the Father's full acceptance of Jesus' substitutionary death. This was a major aspect of the Kerygma (i.e., sermons in Acts, see Special Topic at Act_2:14).
▣ "this man stands here" This is a word play on "stands." The lame man stands up and stands before them.
Act_4:11 This is a quote from Psa_118:22, but not from the Masoretic text or Septuagint (cf. Eph_2:20; 1Pe_2:4 ff). Jesus uses this of Himself in Mar_12:10 and Luk_20:17, taken from the Septuagint. It signifies the fulfillment of OT prophecy of a rejected Messiah who has become the very heart of God's eternal plan for the redemption (see Special Topic at Act_1:8) of Israel and the world. This was a shocking statement for these Jewish leaders (cf. 1Ti_2:5).
NASB "the chief corner stone"
NKJV "the chief cornerstone"
NRSV, NJB "the cornerstone"
TEV "stone. . .the most important of all"
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Act_4:12 "there is salvation in no one else" This is a strong double negative. There is no salvation in Abraham or Moses (cf. Joh_14:6; 1Ti_2:5; 1Jn_5:10-12). What a shocking claim! It is very restrictive but also very obvious that Jesus believed that only through a personal relationship with Himself can one know God. Peter boldly proclaims this to that elite Jewish leadership. This has often been called the exclusivistic scandal of Christianity. There is no middle ground here. This statement is true or Christianity is false!
▣ "there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men" The participle "has been given" is a perfect passive. God has ordained this! Jesus is His answer to mankind's spiritual need. There is no Plan B! For a good book on the exclusivistic claims of Christianity see H. A. Netland, Dissonant Voices: Religious Pluralism and the Question of Truth.
▣ "among men" Notice the universal element (cf. Joh_3:16; 1Ti_2:4; 2Pe_3:9).
▣ "by which we must be saved" This phrase has two verbals.
1. dei, present active indicative, "we must" (see full note on dei at Act_1:16)
2. sôthçnai, aorist passive infinitive of sôzô, "to be saved"
The word for "save" has two usages in the NT.
1. physical deliverance (OT sense, cf. Mat_9:22; Mar_6:56; Luk_1:71; Luk_6:9; Luk_7:50; Act_27:20; Act_27:31; Jas_1:21; Jas_2:14; Jas_4:12; Jas_5:20)
2. spiritual salvation (NT usages, cf. Luk_19:10; Act_2:21; Act_2:40; Act_2:47; Act_11:14; Act_15:11; Act_16:30-31)
The lame man experienced both. The religious leaders needed to trust Jesus as their only hope for acceptance and forgiveness! Humans need to be saved (cf. Rom_1:18 to Rom_3:20) and Jesus is the only way for this to be accomplished (cf. Rom_3:21-31). The OT quote in Act_4:12 shows He has always been God's plan (cf. Isa_8:14-15; Isa_28:14-19; Isa_52:13 to Isa_53:12).