Acts 4:1,2 - Greatly annoyed

4:1

Just as Jesus encountered opposition from the religious leaders, so Peter and John encountered opposition. They were doing similar things to those that Jesus did, and they were teaching that the Jews had been wrong to crucify the Lord and were guilty before God. So it is not surprising that the religious leaders took action. It is worth noting that while the Pharisees were in the vanguard in opposing Jesus, now they are very much in the background, and it is the Sadducees who are more centre stage. There may be two factors that account for this. One is the resurrection, the Pharisees believed in resurrection, the Sadducees did not. So maybe the Pharisees felt they could not be seen to be arguing against resurrection, which was the focal point of the apostles preaching. Indeed, Paul used this fact later on in Acts (23:1-11). The other is that the Sadducees were a very secular group, not believing much at all, and keeping in with Rome was a prime concern. So they wanted to quash any hint of rebellion, and while Peter’s words focused on what the Jews had done, they clearly implicated Rome as well.

4:2

There were two things that annoyed the Jewish leaders. One was that these common people were teaching the people. The religious leaders were meant to be the ones who taught the people! Religious leaders always take umbrage when they have drifted from the truth, and God raises up ordinary men or women to oppose them and teach the truth to the people. If we are in any leadership position we need to always remember that our authority rests on our allegiance to Christ and His word, not on any status we might imagine we have. The second reason for annoyance was what Peter and John were teaching, the resurrection. The Sadducees were particularly incensed by this, but it also demonstrated so clearly the futility of the Jewish leaders’ attempts to stop Jesus. The resurrection also points undeniably to the Lordship of Jesus, He is the one we should worship and follow, indeed must worship and follow.