Year of the Bible
Acts of the Apostles 4
Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 4:
Responding to amazement at the healing outside of the Temple, Peter gives an impromptu sermon explaining, through the Jewish Scriptures how Jesus is the Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Israel (Acts 3:12-26). However, as this is happening, various groups of other Jewish leaders become upset and arrest Peter and John (vs. 1-3). Just as Jesus had promised in the Gospels (Mk 13:11, Lk 12:12, Jn 14:26), the Spirit empowers Peter to respond and interpret the Scriptures in light of these new events (vs. 8-12) and the leaders notice Peter and John’s boldness and effectiveness, despite being “uneducated, common men” (vs. 13-22). The community of believers united in word and action (vs.32), filled with the Holy Spirit (vs. 31), praises God whose divine providence enables the spread of the Gospel even through adversity and asks for more boldness! (vs. 24-30)
Peter and John before the Council
1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, 10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man that had been healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in op position. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any one in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for all men praised God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who by the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things?
26The kings of the earth set themselves in array,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not any one needy among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
Acts 4:13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, ...they recognized they had been with Jesus." Lord, where should I be be bold and thereby show your presence in my life so that I may show You to those around me?
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Mientras hablaban ellos al pueblo se
les presentaron los sacerdotes, el jefe
de la guardia del Templo y los saduceos,
2 molestos porque enseñaban al pueblo y
anunciaban en Jesús la resurrección de los
muertos.
3 Les prendieron y metieron en la
cárcel hasta el día siguiente, porque ya
había anochecido. 4 Muchos de los que
habían oído la palabra creyeron, y el número
de los hombres llegó a ser de unos
cinco mil.
5 Al día siguiente se reunieron en Jerusalén
los jefes de los judíos, los ancianos y
los escribas, 6 así como Anás, el sumo sacerdote,
Caifás, Juan, Alejandro y todos
los que eran de la familia de los príncipes
de los sacerdotes. 7 Les hicieron comparecer
en el centro y les preguntaron:
–¿Con qué poder o en nombre de
quién habéis hecho vosotros esto?
8 Entonces Pedro, lleno del Espíritu
Santo, les respondió:
–Jefes del pueblo y ancianos, 9 si nos
interrogáis hoy sobre el bien realizado
a un hombre enfermo, y por quién ha
sido sanado, 10 quede claro a todos vosotros
y a todo el pueblo de Israel que ha
sido por el nombre de Jesucristo Nazareno,
a quien vosotros crucificasteis y a
quien Dios resucitó de entre los muertos;
por él se presenta éste sano ante vosotros.
11 Él es la piedra que, rechazada
por vosotros los constructores, ha llegado
a ser la piedra angular.
12 »Y en ningún otro está la salvación;
pues no hay ningún otro nombre
bajo el cielo dado a los hombres, por el
que tengamos que ser salvados.
13 Al ver la libertad con que hablaban
Pedro y Juan, como sabían que eran
hombres sin letras y sin cultura, estaban
admirados, puesto que los reconocían
como los que habían estado con
Jesús; 14 y viendo de pie con ellos al hombre
que había sido curado, nada podían
oponer. 15 Les mandaron salir fuera del
Sanedrín, y deliberaban entre sí:
16 –¿Qué vamos a hacer con estos
hombres? Porque es público entre todos
los habitantes de Jerusalén que por
medio de ellos se ha realizado un signo
evidente, y no podemos negarlo. 17 Pero
para que no se divulgue más entre el
pueblo, vamos a amenazarles para que
no hablen más a nadie en este nombre.
18 Y les hicieron llamar y les ordenaron
que de ningún modo hablaran ni
enseñaran en el nombre de Jesús. 19 Pedro
y Juan, sin embargo, les respondieron:
–Juzgad si es justo delante de Dios
obedeceros a vosotros más que a Dios;
20 porque nosotros no podemos dejar de
hablar de lo que hemos visto y oído.
21 Ellos, después de amenazarles de
nuevo, los soltaron, sin saber cómo castigarlos
a causa del pueblo, porque todos
glorificaban a Dios por lo ocurrido;
22 pues el hombre en quien se había
realizado esta curación milagrosa tenía
más de cuarenta años.
Puestos en libertad, vinieron a los suyos
y les contaron lo que los príncipes
de los sacerdotes y los ancianos les habían
dicho. 24 Ellos, al oírlo, elevaron unánimes la
voz a Dios y dijeron:
–Señor, Tú eres el que hiciste el cielo y
la tierra, el mar y todo lo que hay en ellos,
25 el que por el Espíritu Santo, por boca
de nuestro padre David tu siervo, dijiste:
¿Por qué se han amotinado las naciones,
y los pueblos han tramado empresas
vanas?
26 Se han alzado los reyes de la tierra,
y los príncipes se han aliado
contra el Señor y contra su Cristo.
27 »Pues bien, en esta ciudad, Herodes
y Poncio Pilato, con las naciones
y los pueblos de Israel, se aliaron contra
tu santo Hijo Jesús, al que ungiste,
28 para llevar a cabo cuanto tu mano y tu
designio habían previsto que ocurriera.
29 Ahora, Señor, mira sus amenazas
y concede a tus servidores que puedan
proclamar tu palabra con libertad; 30 y
extiende la mano para que se realicen
curaciones, milagros y prodigios por el
nombre de tu santo Hijo Jesús.
31 Cuando terminaron su oración,
tembló el lugar en el que estaban reunidos
y todos quedaron llenos del Espíritu
Santo, y proclamaban la palabra de Dios
con libertad.
32 La multitud de los creyentes tenía
un solo corazón y una sola alma, y nadie
consideraba como suyo lo que poseía,
sino que compartían todas las cosas.
33 Con gran poder los apóstoles daban
testimonio de la resurrección del Señor
Jesús; y en todos ellos había abundancia
de gracia. 34 No había entre ellos ningún
necesitado, porque los que eran dueños
de campos o casas los vendían, llevaban
el precio de la venta 35 y lo ponían a los
pies de los apóstoles; luego se repartía a
cada uno según sus necesidades. 36 Así,
José, a quien los apóstoles dieron el sobrenombre
de Bernabé –que significa
«Hijo de la consolación»–, levita y chipriota
de nacimiento, 37 tenía un campo,
lo vendió, trajo el dinero y lo puso a los
pies de los apóstoles.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Hechos 4:13 "Al ver la audacia de Pedro y Juan, ...reconocieron que habían estado con Jesús". Señor, ¿dónde debo ser audaz y así manifestar tu presencia en mi vida para poder mostrarte a los que me rodean?
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).