Acts 4:8

Peter. A few weeks before this, Peter had trembled before the servants and soldiers in the courtyard of the high priest’s house, and had denied his Lord. But since then the Spirit of God had come upon him and had changed him “into another man” (see on 1 Sam. 10:6; cf. Matt. 10:19, 20). Standing now before the highest tribunal of the Jews, he speaks, in a language of respect indeed, but also of unflinching boldness. With bitter weeping Peter had repented his denial of his Lord (Luke 22:54-62). One evidence of true repentance is to seek to repair the evil resulting from the offense repented of. Peter had brought dishonor upon his Master and His cause, in the presence of the Jews. Now, in the same city, in the presence of the same people who had been involved in the condemnation of Jesus, Peter joyfully bore his testimony to the divine mission of the Savior whom he had once denied. Here he demonstrated the validity of his later admonition, “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

Ye rulers of the people. Compare this respectful salutation with Paul’s more familiar “Men and brethren” (ch. 23:1, 6). Undoubtedly Paul knew personally several members of the court, and stood therefore in less awe of them (see on ch. 9:1). Respect for men of authority is required of the Christian (Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).

Elders of Israel. Textual evidence is divided (cf. p. 10) between this and reading simply “elders.” See on v. 5.