Author: Matty Lawrence

Open Door Baptist Church

Acts 4:1-12

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Annas and Caiaphas were related, as we know from the passage directly after Jesus arrest in Gethsemane.

Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

( John 18:12-14 )

This is the same Annas and Caiaphas which were mentioned in the context of the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist. They have been involved in the management of the temple for the whole of John and Jesus’ ministry.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

( Luke 3:1-3 )

The plot to kill Jesus was initiated after Jesus raised Lazarus

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

( John 11:47-50 )

Caiaphas hatched the plan, Annas carried it out.

Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

( John 18:24 )

First Annas then Caiaphas interrogated Jesus, then sent him to Pilate.

Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

( John 18:28-29 )

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“head of the corner” is a very important phrase.

It occurs in the discussion of the Parable of the wicked tennants

• Matthew 21:33-41
• Mark 11:27-33
• Luke 20:1-8

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

( Matthew 21:42 )

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

( Mark 12:10-11 )

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

( Luke 20:17 )

In every instance this passage is followed up with this:

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

( Luke 20:19 )

By using this reference to Jesus, Peter would have brought a stinging reminder of the duplicitous scheme that the High Priests hatched to capture and kill Jesus.

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One of the most important verses in the Bible which you may not know.

This one ranks up there with

• John 3:16
• Romans 10:9-10
• Ephesians 2:8