Acts: Peter & John released
Peter & John released: Provision is here! | Acts 4:15-37: “But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 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 cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 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. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 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. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
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: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 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, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 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. 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. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 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, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 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, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
The apostles were not taught in law schools of the Jews; rather, Jesus taught them. Members of the Sanhedrin were aware that Peter and John were ignorant of the Jewish standards, and were not aware that they were not allowed to speak about Christ in the temple. Information of Jesus had always been viral since He began ministry; therefore, to keep that viral information from spreading further, gag orders were given. Nonetheless, the healed man is proof that Jesus is still alive and at work making miracles.
The Jewish leaders did not want to punish the apostles; instead, they were given the usual gag order to keep them from speaking of Christ. The apostles, however, refused to obey, but this did not fume the leaders any further. The opposition continued just as people of the Old Testament had done, such as David opposing the adversity of his day. The apostles are to be leaders of change; therefore, some sacrifices are being made to achieve God’s Will. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, the apostles continue their ministry of Jesus’ Messianic Work.
Jews do not believe Jesus is the Messiah, because there are a few prophecies that are unfulfilled, in which case Jesus promised to fulfill in the future. Nonetheless, the Jews do not have faith that Jesus was the Messiah, and He will complete the work (as they were expecting Him to already have done it). The prophecies of note are in Isaiah 2:4 (because let’s face it, the world is still at war), the lack of evidence that Jesus came from Judah and directly descended from David and Solomon (2 Samuel 7:12-14; 1 Chronicles 22:9-10), ingathering of the Jewish exiles (see Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 30:3, 32:37; Ezekiel 11:17, 36:24), etc.
