Acts 4:17 Cross References - AUV

¹⁷ But we do not want this [teaching] to spread any further so let us threaten them [and demand] that they do not speak to anyone about Jesus anymore."

⁶⁴ Therefore, give the order to secure the grave site until the third day, so his disciples will not steal his body and then tell the people ‘He has risen from the dead.’ This last deception would be worse than the first one [i.e., the claim that Jesus rose from the dead would be worse than the claim that he was the Messiah].”

⁴⁷ So, the leading priests and the Pharisees assembled the Council [Note: This was the Jewish governing body called “the Sanhedrin”] and said, “What should we do, for this man is performing many [miraculous] signs? ⁴⁸ If we allow him to go on [doing this], everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy our Temple and our nation [i.e., its people].”

²¹ And when the Council had threatened them some more, they [finally] released them because they could not find any reason to punish them. [Actually] they were worried about how the people felt [about the matter], since everybody was giving honor to God for the miracle that had been performed.

²⁹ So, now Lord, take account of the threats [of these Jewish leaders] and give your servants all the boldness [we need] to speak your message, ³⁰ while you perform [miraculous] healings and signs and wonders through the name [i.e., by the authority] of your Holy Servant Jesus."

²⁴ Now when the captain of the Temple [guard] and the leading priests heard about this, they became frustrated over how far this [teaching] would [eventually] spread.

²⁸ "We strictly commanded you not to teach in this name [i.e., the name of Jesus] and look [what you have done]; you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to hold us responsible for this man's [i.e., Jesus'] death."

³⁹ but if [it happens to be] of God, you will not be able to defeat them. And [if you try to], you may [actually] be fighting against [the work of] God." ⁴⁰ And so the Council agreed [with Gamaliel's advice] and when they called the apostles back in, they had them beaten and ordered them never to speak in the name of Jesus [again]; then they released them.

¹⁶ But not everyone [of the Israelites] obeyed [that] good news. For Isaiah said [Isa. 53:1], “Lord, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷ So, faith results from [people] hearing, and [their] hearing results from [the preaching of] the message about Christ. ¹⁸ But I ask, “Did not they [i.e., the Jews] hear [the message]?” Certainly they did! [Psa. 19:4 says], “The sound [of their preaching] went out into all the world, and their message reached to the ends of the earth.”

¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak about anything, except what Christ has done through me in bringing about the obedience of the Gentiles. He accomplished this by my message and my deeds, ¹⁹ in the power demonstrated by [miraculous] signs and wonders, [produced] by the power of the Holy Spirit. So, I have completed preaching the good news about Christ from Jerusalem, all the way around [the area] to Illyricum [Note: This country was located northwest of Greece and in present-day Croatia]. ²⁰ Now it has been my ambition to preach the good news at places where Christ’s name has never been heard, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. ²¹ But, as it is written [Isa. 52:15], “Those people who had not been told about Him will see [the truth], and those who have not heard [the message] will understand [it].” [Note: Paul here applies a Messianic prediction to his ambition of doing pioneer evangelism]. ²² This is why I have been so often hindered from coming to you.

⁸ For the Lord’s message sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith toward God [also] spread everywhere [else], so that we do not have to say anything [about you].

¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus and the [Old Testament] prophets and also drove us [apostles] out [of Thessalonica and Berea. See Acts 17]. They are not pleasing to God and are hostile to all people, ¹⁶ for they [even] try to prevent us from speaking to the Gentiles, so that they can be saved. [In doing this] they are always piling up one sin on another. But the wrath [of God] has come upon them at last [or, “completely”].