Acts 4:7-10 And when they had set them in the middle, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this?… The fact of the healing was recognised; and the logical conclusion, that it was a sign of the presence and working of some supernatural power, was not shirked; but the inquiry remained, "What is your power and authority?" The word "power" is that used of our Lord's miracles, and translated "mighty works." The term "name" here stands for "authority." This the Sanhedrin asked because they regarded themselves as the highest religious authority in the land, and they could approve of nothing which had not been submitted for their sanction. They had to learn that God never will allow His grace to be tied with official bonds. Moses gave the high example of the noble spirit. "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that He would put His Spirit on them!" We are led to consider the apostolic miracles, and what was thought of them. I. THE PEOPLE'S THOUGHT OF THEM. Miracles excited the interest of the "common people." This is true both of our Lord's miracles and of those wrought by the apostles. The great distinction between the two series is this — our Lord permitted His miracles to witness to Himself; but the apostles turned the people's minds from themselves. The "common people" are more susceptible to the supernatural than the learned; partly because they are more simple, freer from prejudices; and partly because sentiment and imagination are toned and repressed by knowledge. The simplicity of the "common people" has both its good and its bad side. They hardly knew What to make of St. Peter's miracle. It was not in their way to think the matter out. Enough for them that it was a sign of gracious power. They must be good men who were the agents of such good work; and so they were prepared to listen with the expectation that their word would be as good as their work. It is a safe principle that if a man's works are kind and good we may expect kindness and goodness in his words; and we may even assume that there will be truth in them. Our Lord taught us that by their works we may judge our teachers. II. THE PRIESTS' THOUGHT OF THEM. The priests stand for the Sadducee section. They were not simple-minded, and so not prepared fairly to consider the apostolic miracle. They had taken up strong prejudices against our Lord which developed into active enmity, and secured our Lord's death. But their gratification passed into intense anxiety when the guard reported, and the disciples of the Crucified openly declared that He was risen. If that were true they were convicted of the almost inconceivable crime to a Jew, of judicially murdering the long-promised Messiah. In their straits they determined to put a bold face on the matter, and make violence serve their end. Perhaps they even succeeded in deluding themselves; and when news came of this miracle of healing they declared it must have been wrought by some malign power, some strange jugglery; and it was their duty to deal with these men as wizards and mountebanks. To these prejudiced priests the same rule may be applied as sufficed for the people, and the character and quality of the apostle's works should be allowed to declare their truthfulness, and explain the source of their authority. III. THE APOSTLES' THOUGHT OF THEE (vers. 9-12). They firmly declare that they had wrought the miracle by Divine power entrusted to them; and that they had exerted that power by the authority of that very Nazarene whom they had crucified, but who was risen, and sending forth that grace of which the miracle of healing was an outward sign. The apostles teach us to look upon the miracle — and all the cycle of apostolic miracles — as being signs of — 1. The Divine presence: the Lord was present to heal. 2. The Divine witness, giving public attestation to their teachings and preachings; and — 3. The Divine work, which is to recover men from all the ill and woes brought in by sin, redeeming them from both sin and sin's effects. Conclusion: Miracles are fitting modes of persuasion only for the unscientific ages and peoples. They are witnesses to eye and feeling for those who are mainly influenced through the senses rather than through the mind. Therefore the age of miracles has ceased; and the ever-working miracle of God's converting and renewing grace in men's hearts and lives suffices to convince all open souls that Jesus the Risen is the One, only, all-sufficient Saviour still. (R. Tuck, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? |
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