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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 4:23-31

We hear no more at present of the chief priests, what they did when they had dismissed Peter and John, but are to attend those two witnesses. And here we have, I. Their return to their brethren, the apostles and ministers, and perhaps some private Christians (Acts 4:23): Being let go, they went to their own company, who perhaps at this time were met together in pain for them, and praying for them; as Acts 12:12. As soon as ever they were at liberty, they went to their old friends, and returned... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 4:23-31

4:23-31 When they had been released, they came to their own people and they told them all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they had heard the story, with one accord, they lifted up their voice to God and said, "O Sovereign Lord, thou who hast made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, thou who didst say, through the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David, our father, thy servant, 'Why did the nations rage and the people set their thoughts on empty... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 4:23

And being let go ,.... Or dismissed from custody, by the order of the sanhedrim: they went to their own company ; or "to their own men", as the Ethiopic version reads; or "to their own brethren", as the Syriac; either to the other ten apostles; or to the hundred and twenty, who first met together; or the whole multitude of them that believed, Acts 4:32 the eight thousand that had been added to them, the whole church. Saints love to be together, and delight in the company of each other;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 4:23

They went to their own company - This was properly the first persecution that had been raised up against the Church since the resurrection of Christ; and as the rest of the disciples must have known that Peter and John had been cast into prison, and that they were to be examined before the sanhedrin, and knowing the evil disposition of the rulers toward their brethren, they doubtless made joint supplication to God for their safety. In this employment it is likely Peter and John found them on... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 4:23

Verse 23 23.Furthermore when they were let go. It shall appear by and by to what end they declared to the other disciples what things had befallen them, to wit, that they might be the more emboldened and encouraged by the grace of God hereafter; secondly, that they might arm themselves with prayer against the furious threatenings of their enemies; and thus must the children of God do, one must prick forward another, and they must join hand in hand, that they may vanquish the common adversary... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:1-31

The first persecution. On observing the phenomena attending the introduction and spread of Christianity in the world, one which arrests our attention is the persecution which at different times its disciples have met with from the world. The Lord Jesus himself, "the Author and Perfecter of our faith," was rejected of men and crucified. And when, after his glorious resurrection, the apostles preached the faith, and verified the truth of what they preached by such signal miracles as that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:23

Came for went, A.V.; the elders for elders, A.V. To their own company (comp. Malachi 3:16 ). The chief priests ( οἱ ἀρχειρεῖς ) ; evidently the same as those who were described as being "of the kindred of the high priest," in Acts 4:6 (where see note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:23

The use of freedom. "Being let go, they went to their own company." We have here an apt illustration of— I. AN ACT INCIDENTAL TO LIBERTY . "Being let go"—the hand of restraint being taken off them—"they went to their own company;" they followed the bent of their own inclination, and went to those with whom they were in sympathy. This is the constant accompaniment of human freedom. As soon as the parental hand is relaxed, as soon as the teacher's eye is off them, as soon as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:23-31

The joy of faith confirmed. The Church, on hearing of the recent events, break out into expressions of joy. As usual on such occasions, the voice of ancient sacred song becomes their voice. I. OUR HELP IS IN THE CREATOR . Man's need and weakness lead him now to shun and now to seek almighty power. There are awful moments when the soul's sin seems to have called the lightning and the thunder from the sky, to have awoke the threat of the earthquake, the storm, and the sea.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:23-31

The grateful, emboldened, and prayerful Church, and the Spirit's witness. With all the naturalness of simplest truth, we are told how the apostles, in their new character of discharged prisoners, run away at once to their brethren of the Church. And we are in this passage taught how— I. THE CHURCH SHOULD BE A HOME OF TENDEREST , MOST FAITHFUL SYMPATHIES , AND OF HOLY SOCIAL INTERCOURSE . NOW it is too often the place of suspicion, distrust, unhappy... read more

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