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

Church History: Look at what a state of confusion the council was in, what should they do with these apostles; they confess the miracle, but consult among themselves, upon ways and means how to conceal it; and at last conclude upon threatening them, From this time forward they were to speak no more in the name of Jesus; that is, not to preach in his name, nor work miracles by a power and authority derived pretended from him. But the apostles soon let them understand, that they were not afraid of the threatening of the counsel, nor looked upon them as any excuse for the foregoing their duty.5
There was total silence for awhile, when Peter ceased speaking. Not a man in the Sanhedrim could open his mouth in reply to Peter's brief speech. He had avowed every obnoxious sentiment on account of which they had been instigated to arrest him, yet not one of them dares to contradict his words, or to rebuke him for giving them utterance. The silence was painful and embarrassing.8
Finally, the silence was broken by a declaration that the prisoners be withdrawn. A notable miracle hath been done. A miracle has been performed, and this miracle is known, and acknowledged to be such; all Jerusalem knew that he was lame, lame from his birth, and that he had long begged at the Beautiful gate of the temple; and now all Jerusalem knew that he was healed; and there was no means by which such a self-evident fact could be disproved.
The real motive which controlled them, and under the influence of which they kept each other in countenance, was an unconquerable desire to maintain their old influence with the people. This is manifested in the conclusion to which they came. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, “we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” The man who made this proposition no doubt thought that he had most satisfactorily solved a difficult problem, and the majority were too well pleased to find some means of escape from their present awkward predicament, to look very shrewdly into the probable success of the measure proposed. It was a safe course, if not a very bold one, and as there was no obstacle in the way but conscience, they could find no difficulty in pursuing it.8
The resolution was no sooner formed than acted upon. They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. How Luke learned the particulars of the secret consultation which resulted in this injunction, we are not informed, though it is not difficult to imagine. Gamaliel, Saul's teacher (Acts 5:34; 22:3), and perhaps Saul himself, was present as a member of the Sanhedrim; and a great company of the priests themselves afterward became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). These and other conversions from the ranks of the enemy opened up channels for such information in abundance.8