The Council — TDW Kids

Who Sat on the Council

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When Peter and John were arrested, they were brought before the most powerful court in Israel. The Bible calls it “the council” (Acts 4:15). In Jesus' day its name was the Sanhedrin (say: san-HEE-drin).

Who was there. “Their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest” (Acts 4:5-6). Scribes were experts in God's law.

The high priest. Caiaphas was the high priest that year. Annas, his father-in-law, had been high priest before him and still had great power (John 18:13).

Two groups. Many leaders were Sadducees, who said there is no resurrection. Others were Pharisees, who kept many careful rules. One Pharisee on the council was a respected teacher named Gamaliel (Acts 5:34).

A court under Rome. Rome ruled the land. The council could judge many cases, but it needed the Roman governor to put someone to death. That is why the council sent Jesus to Pilate (John 18:31).

The same men. Only weeks earlier this council had put Jesus on trial at night. They looked for false witnesses and condemned Him. Now Peter and John stood before the very same men.

Jesus before them. At His trial Jesus did not fight back. “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).

A changed Peter. On the night of that trial, Peter waited in the high priest's courtyard and said he did not know Jesus. Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, he told the council that they had crucified Jesus and that God had raised Him (Acts 4:10).

What they could not deny. The council admitted, “a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:16).

Arrested again. Later the council put all the apostles in prison. “But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out” (Acts 5:19).

Wise advice. Gamaliel warned the council, “But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:39).

The real Judge. The council judged Jesus, but God overturned their verdict by raising Him from the dead. Because Jesus was condemned in our place, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

What we learn. Even the most powerful people cannot stop God's plan. Jesus stood silent before this court so that we could stand forgiven before God.

What to do. This week, thank Jesus that He took the guilty verdict for you. Pray for the leaders of your town and country by name.

The council of Acts 4 was the Sanhedrin (say: san-HEE-drin), Israel's highest court. Its members sat together in a half circle to hear cases, with the high priest at the center.

Members (4:5-6). Rulers (the chief priests), elders (heads of leading families) and scribes (experts in the law). Later Jewish writings describe about seventy members, with the high priest in charge.

Annas and Caiaphas. Rome had removed Annas as high priest years earlier, yet people still gave him the title (4:6), and several of his sons held the office after him. Caiaphas, his son-in-law, was high priest for many years, including the year of the cross (John 18:13).

Sadducees and Pharisees. The Sadducees ran the temple and denied the resurrection, angels and spirits (Acts 23:8). The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, and one of them, Gamaliel, later spoke up for the apostles (Acts 5:34-39).

Limited power. Under Rome the council could arrest, try and beat (Acts 5:40), but it could not carry out a death sentence (John 18:31). That is why Jesus was handed to Pilate.

The trial of Jesus. At night the council looked for false testimony against Jesus (Mark 14:55-56). Jesus stayed silent until the high priest asked if He was the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said He was, and for that they condemned Him (Mark 14:61-64).

Isaiah 53:7. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth.” Jesus' silence was the path of the Servant Isaiah described.

The tables turned. Weeks later, Peter and John were on trial, and the evidence stood beside them (4:14). The council “conferred among themselves” (4:15) and could only threaten. The court that condemned Jesus had no answer for His witnesses.

Acts 5. Arrested again, the apostles were freed by an angel and told, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life” (5:20). Gamaliel then warned that a work of God “you cannot overthrow” (5:39).

Rejoicing (5:41). After being beaten, they left “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” Jesus had said, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you” (Matthew 5:11).

The verdict that matters. The council's verdict on Jesus was overturned on Easter morning. Jesus took the condemnation sinners deserve, so “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Application. Earthly courts and opinions can feel final, but God has the last word. Pray for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and trust Jesus, who has already taken your guilty verdict.

Obey God Rather Than Men

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The council commanded Peter and John “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18). Peter and John had to choose.

Their answer. “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge” (Acts 4:19).

Said plainly. Later Peter and the apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Respect still matters. God tells us to respect leaders. “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).

Children and parents. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). Obeying God first never means we can ignore parents, teachers or leaders when we do not like what they say.

When the choice is real. We obey God rather than people only when someone tells us to do what God forbids, or forbids what God commands. The council forbade the apostles to speak about Jesus, but Jesus had commanded them to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

Others who chose God. Moses' parents hid their baby, “and they were not afraid of the king's command” (Hebrews 11:23). Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego told the king, “we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:18).

Respectful courage. Peter and John did not shout, insult or fight. They spoke calmly and left the result to God. Jesus Himself, “when He was reviled, did not revile in return” (1 Peter 2:23). Reviled means insulted.

Fear of people. “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). A snare is a trap.

Whom to fear. Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28). Fearing God means honoring Him above everyone, and that is bigger than fear of people.

Help to speak. “For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:19-20).

Joy in trouble. After the council had the apostles beaten, they left “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).

Jesus first. Jesus obeyed His Father all the way to the cross. He “endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2) so that we could be forgiven. Because He gave everything for us, He is worth obeying first.

What to do. If a friend ever pressures you to do something God says is wrong, say no kindly and firmly. Then tell a parent or a trusted grown-up, and ask God for courage.

Acts 4:19-20 and 5:29 teach a principle God's people have needed in every age: when a human command forbids what God commands, God's authority comes first.

The apostles' words. “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge” (4:19). Peter places the question before the council's own conscience instead of attacking them.

Acts 5:29. “We ought to obey God rather than men.” The verb peitharchein (say: pay-thar-KANE) means to obey one who is in authority. God is the higher authority.

Authority is from God. Romans 13:1 says “there is no authority except from God.” Because leaders receive their authority from God, they have no right to use it to forbid what God commands.

The limits. This is not permission to disobey whenever we disagree. Peter later tells believers to “Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17) and to submit to leaders for the Lord's sake. Children are told, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). The exception applies only when obeying people would mean disobeying God.

Bible examples. The Hebrew midwives feared God and saved the baby boys (Exodus 1:17). Moses' parents “were not afraid of the king's command” (Hebrews 11:23). Daniel kept praying when prayer was banned (Daniel 6:10). The three friends said, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us” and “But if not… we do not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:17-18).

Accepting the cost. In each case God's people did not riot or take revenge. They obeyed God, accepted what followed and trusted Him with the outcome. The apostles were beaten, and they rejoiced (Acts 5:40-41).

The fear of man. Proverbs 29:25 calls it a snare. Jesus put fear in its place: “do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do” (Luke 12:4).

The Spirit's help. Jesus promised, “the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12). Acts 4:8 shows that promise kept.

Christ our example. Before the council and Pilate, Jesus “committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). He obeyed the Father to the cross (Philippians 2:8) to save the very people who condemned Him.

Application. Most days, obeying God looks like respecting parents, teachers and leaders. On the rare day someone demands that you deny Jesus or do wrong, answer with respect and refuse to sin. Pray now for courage before that day comes.

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