They Had Been With Jesus

Acts 4

That Sabbath day we are not told one thing about. From all the details leading up to that day over the past week of all that Jesus had done, everything the Jewish leaders had done (Pharisees, Scribes, Saducees, and various other lines of thought), especially those involved in the court hearings, both Jewish leaders and Romans alike, plus outside evidence surrounding that day, we pretty much have an idea what was like for the disciples and the thoughts of those who wanted Jesus crucified.

First must be a look at the disciples. To get a basic look at their background later it was said of them:

[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and Iohn, and understood that they were unlearned men and without knowledge, they marveiled, and knew them, that they had been with Jesus:

Acts 4:13 GNV

The disciples were known to be "unlearned men and without knowledge". That was stated later about them after the Holy Spirit had come to be within those who followed Jesus. So on that Sabbath day they were without the Holy Spirit, which leaves them unlearned and without knowledge. For that later time we ask, unlearned in what respect? and without knowledge of what? That comes from who they were standing before at that time. Those who brought them to the proceedings were the Priests, the captain of the Temple, and the Saducees (Acts 4:1). The group later that was carrying on the specific examination were their (Jewish) rulers, and Elders, and Scribes, and Annas the Chief Priest, and Caiaphas, and John (obviously not the John who was being examined), and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the High Priests. (Acts 4:6) These considered their own level of training and study to be the standard to compare Peter and John, fishermen by trade, as unlearned and without knowledge.

So what were those two disciples, in fact all of the eleven disciples doing that Sabbath day?

John 20:19 tells that even after the next day, the day of the resurrection they were assembled in a closed door room for fear of the Jews. More than likely this had been their only choice since Christ’s crucifixion, just thinking of not really getting all that Jesus was talking about at that Passover meal they had with Him just two days prior After all they had no clue what the raising of the dead meant either. Only Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus (John 19) and the women (Matthew 27:60, 61) were those who took care of the body of Jesus after the crucifixion. The disciples didn't even understand about Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey less than a week before until after Jesus was glorified (John 12). In fact when Jesus gave the disciples a specific break down of all the events that would happen in Jerusalem leading up to His crucifixion and His resurrection the disciples were completely without even understanding of what He told them (Luke 18, Mark 9). Oh, they had been told, but they remained without knowledge, some would say that they were just plain ignorant.

But then on the other hand were those who were questioning Peter and John, these learned and knowledgeable men. Some were to the extreme in understanding of the Law down to the exact grammar. We read of them as Scribes. In Matthew 2 when Herod asked where Christ was to be born he called upon the priests and scribes for answers. What they gave Herod was the right answer, but there is nothing said that they demonstrated any interest in finding out for themselves. After the sermon on the mountain the people identified the fact that the teaching of Jesus was with authority, a faithful assuredness, and not as the Scribes. (Matthew 7) The Scribes simply spoke from their deep grammatical understanding of the Law. And as to the Saducees present that day Jesus identified their problem. In Matthew 22 He is recorded as telling them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. And just before that was written that the Saducees say there is no resurrection.

The Pharisees, what did they know? Judging from their own testimony and what Jesus said of them, they were the closest to “being right”, yet their training took their expectations so far away. According to the testimony of one Pharisee who turned and followed Him:

[4] Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, much more I, [5] Circumcised the eighth day, of the kindred of Israel, of the tribe of Beniamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews, by the Law a Pharisee. [6] Concerning zeal, I persecuted the Church: touching the righteousness which is in the Law, I was unrebukeable.

Philippians 3:4-6 GNV

That is the professed life of a Pharisee. But before a crowd in Jerusalem he later declared his training:

[3] I am verily a man, which am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and instructed according to the perfect manner of the Law of the Fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. [4] And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women.

Acts 22:3-4 GNV

Among other areas of this Pharisee's life was training from this man Gamaliel. It gives a bit more understanding about the learning of these who were questioning Peter and John, is what is said of this specific teacher.

[34] Then stood there up in the Council a certain Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor (teacher; instructor; learned person) of the Law, honored of all the people, and commanded to put the Apostles forth a litle space,

Acts 5:34 GNV

And yes, this time it wasn't just Peter and John, but Peter and the apostles who were under interrogation at this time. But this Gamaliel was at teacher of teachers, deeply respected among his peers and among the people, and he had a wisdom and fairness uncommon among the Pharisees and other leaders.

But beyond this is what Jesus had to say of the scribes and Pharisees.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:20 KJV

Though the priests and Scribes were apparently unwilling to follow through to learn more of why the wisemen from the east (or Herod) were interested where the Christ would be born, the chief priests and Pharisees apparently had more of an understanding of what Jesus claimed would happen if He was put to death. In Matthew 27 they came to Pilate:

[63] And said, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, Within three days I will rise. [64] Command therefore, that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so shall the last error be worse then the first.

Matthew 27:63-64 GNV

So here we have a great overall picture of that Saturday, that Sabbath day. For fear the disciples are in hiding, and not understanding what Jesus had said about His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. The Jewish leaders, priests and Pharisees together understood exactly what Jesus was talking about, but not the power of God He demonstrated so often, even raising others including Lazarus from the dead. And it was probably a good thing the disciples didn't understand what Jesus had said or they might have "tried to help". At that time being unlearned and without knowledge was in their favor.

Yet now a few weeks later, here they stood before the learned, accomplished tribunal of chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees. And while it was obvious they were unlearned and without knowledge, now through the power of the Holy Spirit upon them it became clearly obvious, and so the examiners had to openly acknowledge that

They had been with Jesus.

And a passing thought on all of this. The Pharisees, priests, and Jewish leaders had all their theology down to a science, and because they were fixated on their now preconceived understanding, Jesus was nothing of who they expected He would be, and never fit into their mold when He came. We have had two thousand years in what we believe Jesus will be like when He comes, even down to "the doctrine of xxxxxxx". Maybe we need more unlearned men without knowledge who are only distinguished by the fact that they have been with Jesus.