Notes:
v. 12: Solomon’s
Porch:
(Jn 10:22-23) 22It
was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem. 23It was winter, and
Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
Commentary
Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (JFB) states:
Solomon’s porch, which was covered over, and the
outside of it was enclosed with a wall, which made it very convenient for such
a purpose: this was on the outside of the temple eastward, and was a very
magnificent structure: the account Josephus {n} gives of it is this;
"there was a porch without the temple,
overlooking a deep valley, supported by walls of four hundred cubits, made of
four square stone, very white; the length of each stone was twenty cubits, and
the breadth six; the work of king Solomon, who first founded the whole
temple.''
Now, though this was not the porch that was built by
Solomon, yet as it was built on the same spot, and in imitation of it, it bore
his name; mention is made of it in Ac 3:11.
{n} Antiqu. l. 20. c. 8. sect. 7.
v. 14:
(Ac
1:15) 15In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples
(and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said,
(Ac
2:41) 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There
were added that day about three thousand souls.
(Ac
4:4) 4But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number
of the men came to be about five thousand.
v. 17:
(Mt
22:23) 23On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no
resurrection) came to him. They asked him,
(Ac
4:1-2) 1As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of
the temple and the Sadducees came to them, 2being upset because they
taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
(Ac
23:1-9) 1Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said,
"Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this
day."
2The high
priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3Then Paul said
to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me
according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?"
4Those who
stood by said, "Do you malign God's high priest?"
5Paul said,
"I didn't know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, 'You
shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"* 6But when
Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he
cried out in the council, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of
Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being
judged!"
7When he had
said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the
assembly was divided. 8For the Sadducees say that there is no
resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. 9A
great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and
contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel
has spoken to him, let's not fight against God!"
The Rest of the Story:
(Ac
5:21-42) 21When they heard this, they entered into the temple about
daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him,
and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel,
and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But the officers who
came didn't find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23"We
found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but
when we opened them, we found no one inside!"
24Now when the
high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these
words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 25One
came and told them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the
temple, standing and teaching the people." 26Then the captain
went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid
that the people might stone them.
27When they had
brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned
them, 28saying, "Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in
this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to
bring this man's blood on us."
29But Peter and
the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 30The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31God
exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance
to Israel, and remission of sins. 32We are His witnesses of these
things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey
him."
33But they, when
they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them. 34But
one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law,
honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little
while. 35He said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful
concerning these men, what you are about to do. 36For before these
days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of
men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as
obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. 37After this man,
Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some
people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were
scattered abroad. 38Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and
leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be
overthrown. 39But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow
it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!"
40They agreed
with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to
speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41They therefore
departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus' name.
42Every day, in
the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the
Christ.
