What does Acts 4:4 mean?
Peter and John spent the afternoon explaining to people that they were able to heal a lame man through the power of Jesus of Nazareth whom the Jews crucified. But Jesus rose again and, if the people repent, He will forgive their sins (Acts 3). The priests and Sadducees, who don't believe anyone can rise from the dead, arrest Peter and John. But they're too late. Many of the men, not to mention women, believe Peter's message, accept Jesus as their Savior, and receive the Holy Spirit.Jesus had told His disciples that they would be His "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). They are in the middle of their ministry in Jerusalem. Before long, persecution will rise, the believers will flee Jerusalem, and the persecuted church will spread the story of Jesus throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1–3).
For now, the church in Jerusalem is growing. After Peter's first sermon, right after receiving the Holy Spirit, three thousand Jewish travelers, in Jerusalem for Pentecost, came to faith in Jesus (Acts 2). Since then, "the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). It will continue. The five thousand mentioned probably means the total number of men in the church including those who came because of Peter's sermon here. Counting the women, the number is even larger.
The apostles will continue to preach and heal on the TTemple Mount, and people will continue to believe (Acts 5:12–16). Even after the Sanhedrin flogs the apostles (Acts 5:40), several priests will break ranks and come to the faith (Acts 6:7). By the time persecution scatters the church members, there will be more than enough voices to spread Jesus' message to Judea, Samaria, and beyond.
Acts 4:1–4 records the reaction to Peter's bold claim that Jesus of Nazareth empowered him to heal a lame man (Acts 3). The Sadducees are less worried about the healing than they are Peter's insistence that Jesus rose from the grave, as Sadduceesdidn't believe in resurrection from the dead. The temple guards arrest Peter and John, but too late. Even more people decide to follow Jesus. The Sanhedrin should have taken this as a hint; the more you persecute the church, the more it spreads.
Acts 4 continues the story started in Acts 3. Peter and John have healed a man born lame and preached that Jesus has risen from the dead. The Sanhedrin orders their arrest for teaching the resurrection. The Jewish officials warn Peter and John to stop speaking in Jesus' name. Peter and John refuse, but, since they have committed no crime, the Sanhedrin releases them. Peter and John return to their friends, and the Jesus-followers pray for boldness in the face of growing persecution. The church continues to grow, sharing all their possessions so that no one is in need.
