“As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.” (v.1-3)
Our text is a continuation of chapter 3 where we saw Peter (after healing 40-year-old man lame from birth) turn to the crowd and deliver a scolding message in Solomon’s Porch. His message that day accused all Israel of; delivering up Jesus to Pilate (v.13), denying Him (v.14), requesting a murderer be released (v.14), and consulting to the murder of Jesus whom God raised from the dead (v.15). Peter then went on to declare in chapter 3 that both he and John were witnesses to this and all Israel should repent of their sins (v.19).
Now here in chapter 4 we see the religious authorities (Sadducees) did not take kindly to this and threw them both in jail. The Sadducees were particularly offended in two ways. First by the teaching of the resurrection, which they denied and second by the fact that both Peter and John were, “lay people” instructing the masses who were clearly responding (v.4). After all, they (Sadducees) were the ones who acted on God’s behalf and spoke with His authority and could not imagine by what power or authority Peter and John were drawing from.
We should be encouraged by Peter and John's example. Being an effective witness does not require going to seminary! The most essential qualification for evangelism is available to every believer—reliance upon the Holy Spirit. Although a seminary degree is certainly appropriate for some ministries, God is more than happy to use “untrained” individuals with willing hearts.
The Truth: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26)
