Illustrated New TestamentActs 4

To bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Here, for the first time, we have evidence that the apostles had arrived at a full understanding of the real nature of the redemption which Jesus Christ came to procure. Their erroneous ideas, which had continued even after the resurrection, (Acts 1:6,) seem to have been now forever removed.

Grieved; displeased, angry. The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection.

In hold; in confinement.

Five thousand. This may perhaps include the converts made before.

Annas. He had been high priest, and still retained the title. Caiaphas was his son-in-law, and was then high priest.—John and Alexander; influential members of the Sanhedrim.

Took knowledge of them, &c. They recognized them as having been among the followers of Jesus when he was alive.

Because of the people. They feared creating a tumult among the people.

Ps. 2:1, 2.—Imagine vain things; vainly imagine that they could contend against God.

Anointed; invested with power.

We observe that the apostles constantly gather strength and encouragement, in all their trials, from the reflection that every event that takes place, is only the fulfilment of God's predetermined plan. However great the philosophical difficulty involved in it, they clearly believed that his sovereign purposes cover and control even those events which are accomplished by crime. This belief, in the decided form in which they held and expressed it, appears very obviously to be the foundation of the undaunted courage, and boundless confidence in God, which they displayed.

All things common; that is, their property was surrendered, so far as was necessary, with the utmost readiness and freedom.

Sold them; so far as there was any occasion. There is abundant proof, in the subsequent narrative, that property was still generally held as a private possession.

A Levite. Very few of the priests or Levites had hitherto embraced Christianity.—Cyprus; an island in the Mediterranean.