Question 1

What does it mean that Peter and John were unlearned and ignorant men?

Accepted Answer

When the council calls Peter and John “unlearned and ignorant,” it means they had no formal training in the law or higher learning like the religious leaders did. They were ordinary men, likely seen as common workers with no special status. Yet their courage, clear speaking, and strong faith surprised the rulers. The leaders realized that this boldness did not come from schooling, but from having been with Jesus. This shows that God often works through simple people, and that time with Jesus can give wisdom and courage that education alone cannot give.

Question 2

Why were the rulers upset about Peter and John speaking in Jesus’ name?

Accepted Answer

The rulers were upset because Peter and John were preaching that Jesus, whom the leaders had rejected and delivered to death, is God’s chosen Savior. The healing of the lame man in Jesus’ name proved that God backed this message. The council feared the growing influence of this teaching among the people and wanted to keep control. So instead of accepting the clear sign from God, they tried to silence the apostles and stop the message from spreading by commanding them not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name anymore.

Question 3

What is the meaning of we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard?

Accepted Answer

When Peter and John say, “We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard,” they are saying they have no choice but to tell the truth about Jesus. They saw His life, death, and resurrection with their own eyes and heard His teaching. To stay silent would mean disobeying God and denying what they know is real. Their words show a deep inner pressure from God’s command and from their own conscience. For them, speaking about Jesus is not optional; it is an obedient response to what God has shown them.

Question 4

Why do Peter and John say we must obey God rather than you?

Accepted Answer

Peter and John answer the council by asking whether it is right to listen to them more than to God. The idea is that when human commands clash with God’s clear will, God must come first. The rulers told them not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name, but God had sent them to be witnesses of Jesus. So to obey the council would mean disobeying God. Their reply shows respect in tone, but firm loyalty to God. It teaches that earthly authority is limited and cannot overrule God’s commands.

Question 5

Why could the council not punish Peter and John even after threatening them?

Accepted Answer

The council wanted to punish Peter and John, but they were afraid of the people. Everyone in Jerusalem knew about the healing of the man who had been lame for over forty years, and they were glorifying God for it. The miracle was public, clear, and could not be denied. If the rulers punished the apostles, the people might turn against them. So, though they threatened Peter and John again, they had to let them go. This shows how even hostile leaders can be held back when God’s work is openly seen and praised.

Question 6

What is the significance of the healed man standing with Peter and John?

Accepted Answer

The healed man standing with Peter and John is like living proof in front of the council. He had been lame for over forty years, so everyone knew his condition. Now he is clearly well, standing there beside them. This leaves the rulers with no honest way to deny that a real miracle has taken place. His presence supports the apostles’ claim that Jesus’ name has power to heal. It also exposes the hardness of the leaders’ hearts, because instead of bowing to what God had done, they still try to stop the message.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about boldness in sharing faith?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that boldness in sharing faith does not come from education or status, but from knowing Jesus and being filled with the Spirit. Peter and John speak clearly and fearlessly before powerful men, even when they are threatened. Their courage is not rude, but it is firm. They refuse to deny what they have seen and heard and choose to obey God rather than men. For believers today, this points to speaking about Jesus with honesty and courage, even when it is not welcomed, trusting God to use our words as He did theirs.

Question 8

How can believers today apply the example of Peter and John before the council?

Accepted Answer

Believers today can learn from Peter and John by putting God’s commands above fear of people. This may mean gently but clearly speaking about Jesus even when it is unpopular or costly. Their example also encourages prayer for boldness from the Holy Spirit, rather than relying on our own strength or skills. Like them, we should remember what we have “seen and heard” of God’s work in Scripture and in our lives, and let that move us to speak. At the same time, we should keep a respectful tone, even when we must say no to human pressure.

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

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Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

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The Name Forbidden

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