Acts 4:5-7 – The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
“The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.” Family and Friends, this was a very pressure packed meeting…on the side of the Jews. Yes, Peter and John were the ones in jail, and they well remembered the mock trial of Jesus that led to His crucifixion, but these men, as we will see, were confident, bold and committed in their mission. There was no way they were backing down. They were filled with the Holy Spirit V7, they were filled with power of God! Peter and John were resolute that God was with them and their only job was to move forward and be the witnesses of who, and what, Jesus was. That felt confidence that the Lord would see them through, and even if that meant being put in prison, suffering beatings, or even losing their lives, they were committed that they would be faithful to the Lord.
The Jews however, the ones who had the religious and police power, were nervous. They were not moving in the power of the Spirit, but in the power of religious power and in their instance, also their government. Religious organizations that are not being led by God rule by customs, by tradition, by fear, by titles, by intimidation of being ostracized and also by imprisonment and physical punishment. They also trap people to depend on them. They want people to believe that the only way through God is through them. Even today, many religious organizations still falsely do the same. At that point in time the population of Jerusalem was about twenty to thirty thousand people. So with the number of converts to Christianity now swelling to about five thousand people, we see that the percentage of Christians was now about 17% to 25% of the population, and likely the latter. The Jews viewed the disciples of Christ as a very fast growing threat. In fact, by Acts 17:6 the Jews had, in public, cried out about the disciples of Jesus that they were turning “the world upside down.” These disciples of Christ were growing fast, drawing many Jewish proselytes. Therefore the Jews in power were feeling very threatened. They were concerned for the power and influence they wielded, they were concerned for their positions, and they were concerned that the people would not believe that they were the ones who had the truth but that those who believed in the disciples of Jesus would soon outnumber them. These certain Jews were bureaucrats and politicians and people who thrived, lived and were empowered by the system. They could not allow one to come along and ruin their reign of ruling, so they killed Jesus. Now they could not allow these disciples of Christ to continue to grow. They were in a panic. With all the converts to Christianity, they needed this movement stopped right away. People in power fight to keep that power and to cede power only to the ones they approve of, the ones who will continue the system. Thus, Jesus was killed and if they thought they could get away with it, they would have also killed the Apostles and disciples right then. This truth of how people in power act is still evident around us, in governments, businesses and in churches.
“6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.” Politicians in power, who have been replaced, often still fight for their system. When Jesus and His followers were presenting a way that would change the old way of doing things, those of the old way were threatened. They came to intimidate, imprison, beat and kill if necessary. This is a system with an army. The will draw upon all their resources and allies to protect their livelihood against any who they think oppose it. So the old guard returns. Annas, who had been High Priest, came back onto the scene. Caiaphas was the current High Priest and Annas was his father-in-law. Annas had been deposed by Valerius Gratus. Yet Annas wielded, perhaps, the greatest power. He was the head of those who held power and likely influenced who sat in the positions of power. That meant they answered to him. One commentator has given a modern comparison of Annas as being a “godfather” of the syndicate of power.
Caiaphas, as stated was the High Priest. It is common thought that he was a puppet to Annas. Normally the High Priest did not attend these types of meeting, but the powerful of the religious system were all called in to increase the power of the court and to crush this upstart “religion”.
John was most likely the son of Annas who already had been given a position of influence and power. He was being groomed to become a future High Priest. We see how the powerful work to keep within their own tight circle. Annas also had three other sons and grandson being groomed for the position of High Priest. The system of men fighting to keep power, influence and money can easily be seen by those who care to see.
Alexander was also related to Annas, though not a direct descendant. Not much is known of him.
“…others of the High Priest’s family.” We see that the fight to keep the power was on. It was a worldly system against the will of God. We must remember that this system was not the Jewish faith, but rather, as in all countries, all government or most businesses, people of power gain power and purely for selfish purposes fight for their own good rather that for what is right or best for the people who are covered by the government or business.
“They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” So the players are in place, and these Jews, not all Jews, are determined to stop the disciples of Christ from doing miracles from God, and teaching in Jesus name. There were likely over seventy people sitting in a circular fashion and Peter and John were place in the middle, with no lawyer at their side, to answer the questions from the Jews. The Jews were worried. They were angry and fearful. Peter and John were confident and ready. The Jews wondered what they should do. Peter and John were relying on what God to lead them and give them the words they were to speak. They remembered the encouragement they had received from Jesus “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:11-12) And, as we shall see, God did just that. God is always faithful. He was to Peter and John and He is to us! May we also live a life of confident faith in Jesus! Praise our Great and Mighty Father God! Praise Jesus! Praise the Holy Spirit! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.