Acts 4:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And note what they say: "By what name have you done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them." Now remember Christ's words and how what He said was fulfilled: "When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should answer, or what you should say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say" (Lk 12:11-12; cf. Mt 10:19). Therefore they were already enjoying great help from God. Listen, then, to what Peter says. "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel!" Observe the man's love of wisdom. Though filled with boldness, he says nothing insulting, but speaks respectfully.

"Rulers of the people and elders of Israel." Observe what wisdom there is. Where necessity requires it, Peter rebukes them sharply. Thus he called them by honorable names. But when he came to the matter itself, he no longer drew back from fitting rebuke. He indirectly reminded them that over such deeds they always contended in court and came away without rejoicing. What he says is this: rather, you should have crowned us for this and proclaimed us as benefactors.

Thus the community of believers, which also had members in other parts of Palestine, in Samaria and Galilee (Acts 9:31), increased daily in Jerusalem. Soon even the Jewish priests began to pass over into it (Acts 6:7).

The Sanhedrin no longer wished to leave the matter of Christianity without attention. Peter and John had healed the lame man at the temple. Afterward they preached to the people about Christ crucified and risen, by Whose power they had performed the healing.

Then the priests, together with the followers of the Sadducean sect, took them into custody. They intended to present them to the Sanhedrin in the morning. The next day they were indeed brought before the Sanhedrin, together with the man who had been healed.

The position in which the apostles now found themselves, standing before the Sanhedrin, first brought to fulfillment Jesus Christ's prophecy concerning His witnesses. They would be delivered up to councils and brought before governors and kings for testimony to Christ (Mt 10:17-18; Lk 21:12-13).

At the same time, Jesus Christ's promise to the apostles was also fulfilled. It had been given together with this prophecy: "When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say... for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (Mt 10:19-20; Lk 21:14-15).

Answering the question put by the Sanhedrin, the Apostle Peter began to speak, being filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 8).

Then the prediction of Christ was fulfilled. He had told His disciples that when they were brought before judgment, they would not need to be anxious about what to say in answer, because He would place in their mouths a wisdom which their enemies would be unable to resist.

Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit: that is, he was filled in a special way for the defense of a righteous cause in this particular case, according to Christ's promise (Mt 10:19-20 and parallels). "He said": Peter answers only the question given: by what power and in whose name the healing had been accomplished by them. He answers with boldness and directness. "Rulers of the people and elders": this is a respectful address, acknowledging them in their high dignity as representatives of the people, although, as those who crucified their Messiah, they were unworthy of it.

The Apostle Peter's first answer to the Sanhedrin was given through a special inspiration of the Spirit of God. The filling with the Holy Spirit appears as though dependent on Peter himself, as if he were gradually being animated.

Yet this is only a form of expression for a state that did not appear in him suddenly, but after some time. This was precisely as Jesus Christ had promised, when He commanded them not to hurry with an answer until illumination from above should come (see Mt 10:19).

The God-inspired character of the holy Apostle Peter's answer is proved by its content. It is not only an answer to the question asked, but also a profound grounding of that answer. It expands it to the complete fullness of the essence of Gospel preaching.