Peter and John Go Before the Sanhedrin; Acts 4:1 – 22 – Part 2

Church History: The audience who had been listening to Peter must have been thrown into intense excitement by the arrest, and the disciples among them, doubtless, expected to see re-enacted, in the persons of Peter and John, the murderous scenes which had terminated the life of their master. Notwithstanding this excitement, however, the words of Peter were not without a decided effect upon the, until now, unbelieving portion of his hearers; for Luke says: But many of those who were hearing the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand. Whether this number includes the three thousand who were added on Pentecost or not, has been a matter of some dispute, but it is generally agreed by critics that it does. (OCA 61)8
Their rulers, and elders, and scribes, those with the high priest Annas formed the Sanhedrin, or grand council of the Jews.1
Annas, though this man was not now actually in the office of high priest, yet he had possessed it for eleven years, bore the title all his life, and had the honor of seeing five of his sons fill that eminent place after him - an honor that never happened to any other person from the commencement of the Mosaic institution. Caiaphas, the was son-in-law to Annas, (John 18:13), was now high priest, and the same who, a short time before, condemned Christ to be crucified.1
By what power, or by what name, have you done this? - It seems that this council were convinced that the lame man was miraculously healed; but it is very likely that they believed the whole to be the effect of magic; and, as all intercourse with familiar spirits, and all spells, charms, etc., were unlawful, they probably hoped that, on the examination, this business would come out, and that then these disturbers of their peace would be put to death. They inquired by what power, by what supernatural energy; or in what name, by what type of ritual; and who is the spirit you invoke, in order to do these things? False prophets, reputed witches, wizards, etc., were to be brought before the Sanhedrin, to be by them judged, acquitted, or condemned, according to the evidence. Some think the words should be thus understood: Who gave you authority to teach publicly! This belongs to the Sanhedrin. What, therefore, is your authority, and who is he who gave it to you?1