Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 4
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Acts 4
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Acts 4
Commentary Groups
This author has written multiple commentaries over their lifetime on this chapter. We have grouped their commentaries for easier reading."And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide. But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand." — Acts 4:1-4 (ASV)
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. (Acts 4:1–4)
So, though they could not tell at that time how many were converted, and though they could not baptize them at once because they were taken away, yet, though there was no after-meeting, there were probably just as many saved as at Pentecost. Just as grand a result came from it.
You cannot judge the result of a sermon on the particular day that it is preached; it may seem as if that sermon has produced no effect, and it may be so; but, still, this time it was not so.
Whenever you go home sad that you have not had an after-meeting, or you are interrupted and cannot tell what good was done (even though you do not know what has been accomplished), the record is in heaven, and God will reveal it in due time. And perhaps, even here, you will discover that you made a mistake, and that the service which seemed lost was one of the most blessed that you ever conducted.
God grant that it may be so, for Christ's sake!
Now let us read Peter's second Epistle, the third chapter (2 Peter 3).
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] in him doth this man stand here before you whole. He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner. And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved." — Acts 4:8-12 (ASV)
Nothing can exceed the directness, the comprehensiveness, and the boldness of this statement. He not only declares the name of Christ to be the wonder-working name, but he charges them with his murder, reasserts the resurrection; furthermore, he cuts at the root of all their ceremonial righteousness and declares that they must be saved by this hated and despised name, or else perish forever.
Under all circumstances, let the servant of God behave boldly. Let him remember that this is how he ought always to speak, and that when the honour of his Master and the welfare of souls are concerned, it is not for him to withhold, but to speak out the truth.
"Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." — Acts 4:13 (ASV)
Where else could such holy courage have been learned? They spoke in their measure just as the great Master did, of whom it is written: He spoke as one having authority, and not as the Scribes.
They did not speak with the timid, hesitating manner of a preacher who seems to hold the balance of probabilities between the right and the wrong, the false and the true, but with the demonstration of a hearty conviction of the truth of the principles which they uttered.
So Christ spoke, and, having learned of him, so spoke his disciples.
"And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it." — Acts 4:14 (ASV)
Converts shut the mouths of adversaries. The good done by the gospel will always be a dumbfounding argument to the ungodly.
"saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard." — Acts 4:16-20 (ASV)
Like the vessel full of new wine, which must have a vent or burst, so is the man who is filled with the knowledge of Jesus. He must speak. He must:
"To sinners around,
What a dear Saviour he has found."
It is no matter of choice with him, for, as Paul says, Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel. As the old prophet says, The word of the Lord was as fire in my bones, and if it is the true word of God, it will soon burn its way out.
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