Topical Bible: Priest: Miscellaneous Facts Concerning: Reprove and Threaten Peter and John

◄ Priest: Miscellaneous Facts Concerning: Reprove and Threaten Peter and John ►

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In the early days of the Christian church, the apostles Peter and John played pivotal roles in spreading the message of Jesus Christ. Their boldness and miraculous works, however, brought them into direct conflict with the religious authorities of the time, particularly the priests and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.

Reproof and Threats from the Priests:

The account of Peter and John being reproved and threatened by the priests is found in the Book of Acts, specifically in chapters 3 and 4. After healing a man who had been lame from birth at the temple gate called Beautiful, Peter and John attracted a large crowd, to whom Peter preached about Jesus Christ and His resurrection. This act of healing and subsequent preaching greatly disturbed the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, as they were "greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead" (Acts 4:2).

Arrest and Inquiry:

As a result, Peter and John were seized and put in custody until the next day. The following day, they were brought before the Sanhedrin, which included the high priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others of the high priestly family. The priests inquired, "By what power or what name did you do this?" (Acts 4:7). Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declared that the healing was done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they had crucified and whom God raised from the dead.

The Priests' Reaction:

The priests were astonished by the courage of Peter and John, recognizing them as unschooled, ordinary men who had been with Jesus. Despite the undeniable miracle, the priests were more concerned with maintaining their authority and preventing the spread of the apostles' teaching. They conferred among themselves, acknowledging, "What shall we do with these men? For it is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it" (Acts 4:16).

Threats and Command:

To prevent the message from spreading further, the priests decided to threaten Peter and John, commanding them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. However, Peter and John responded with conviction, stating, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20).

Release and Continued Ministry:

Despite further threats, the priests could not find a way to punish them because of the people, who were praising God for what had happened. Consequently, Peter and John were released. This encounter with the priests did not deter the apostles; instead, it emboldened them and the early Christian community to continue proclaiming the gospel with even greater fervor.

This episode highlights the tension between the early Christian movement and the established religious authorities, illustrating the apostles' unwavering commitment to their divine mission despite opposition and threats from the priests.

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Acts 4:6-21
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.
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Acts 5:17-41
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
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