---
title: "Acts 4 - Study King James Bible with calvins commentary on the bible"
description: "Read Acts 4 with calvins commentary on the bible commentary. 1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the p"
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url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/calvins-commentary-on-the-bible/acts/4"
---

[ Read](/kjv/acts/4)[ Commentary](/study/acts/4)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/acts/4) Audio

 1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

 3 And they laid hands on them, and put *them* in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

 5 ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, *even* by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 13 ¶ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them *is* manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we can not deny *it*.

 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

 20 For we can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all *men* glorified God for that which was done.

 22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

 23 ¶ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou *art* God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

 31 ¶ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any *of them* that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

 35 And laid *them* down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, *and* of the country of Cyprus,

 37 Having land, sold *it*, and brought the money, and laid *it* at the apostles’ feet.
 
[Acts 3](/study/acts/3) [Acts 5](/study/acts/5)

## Commentary

 To verse 1
 
**1.***And as they spoke* Hereby it appeareth how watchful the wicked be, because they are always ready at an inch to stop the mouth of the servants of Christ. And, undoubt edly, they came together, as it were, to quench some great fire; which thing Luke signifieth, when as he saith that the ruler or captain of the temple came also; and he addeth, moreover, that they took it grievously that the apostles did teach. Therefore, they came not upon them by chance, but of set purpose, that, according to their authority, they might restrain the apostles, and put them to silence. And yet they have some show of law and equity; for if any man did rashly intrude himself, it was the office of the high priest to repress him; and also in like sort, to keep the people in the obedience of the law and the prophets, and to prevent all new doctrines. Therefore, when they hear unknown men, and such as had no public authority, preaching unto the people in the temple, they seem, according as their office did require, and they were commanded by God, to address themselves to remedy this. And surely, at the first blush, it seemeth that there was nothing in this action worthy of reprehension, but the end doth at length declare that their counsel was wicked, and their affection ungodly. 

Again, it was a hard matter for the apostles to escape infamy and reproach, because they, being private and despised persons, did take upon them public authority; to wit, because, when things are out of order, many things must be essayed to [against] the common custom, and especially, when we are to avouch and defend religion and the worship of God, and the ringleaders themselves do stop all ways, and do abuse that office against God, which was committed unto them by God. The faithful champions of Christ must swallow up and pass through this ignominy in [under] Popery. For a thousand summers will go over their heads before any reformation or amendment will wax ripe amongst them for the better. Therefore, Luke standeth upon this point, when as he saith that they were grieved because the resurrection was preached in the name of Christ. For hereupon it followeth that they did hate the doctrine before they knew the same. He expresseth the Sadducees by name, as those which were more courageous (202) in this cause. For they were almost [usually] a part of the priests; but because the question is about the resurrection, they set themselves against the apostles more than the rest. Furthermore, this was most monstrous confusion amongst the Jews, in that this sect, which was profane, was of such authority. For what godliness could remain, when as the immortality of the soul was counted as a fable, and that freely? But men must needs run headlong after this sort, when they have once suffered pure doctrine to fall to the ground amongst them. Wherefore, we must so much the more diligently beware of every wicked turning aside, lest such a step do follow immediately. 

Some men think that the ruler of the temple was chosen from among the priests, but I do rather think that he was some chief captain of the Roman army; for it was a place which was fortified both naturally and artificially. Again, Herod had built a tower there, which was called Antonia; so that it is to be thought that he had placed there a band of soldiers, and that the Roman captain had the government of the temple, lest it should be a place of refuge for the Jews, if they had stirred up any tumult, which we may likewise gather out of Josephus. And this agreeth very well, that the enemies of Christ did crave the help of the secular power, under color of appeasing some tumult. In the mean season, they seek favor at the hands of the Romans, as if they were careful to maintain the right of their empire. 

(202) “Animosiores,” more zealous.

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