Acts 4:1–12 is part of a section in which Luke describes the life, witness, trials, and growth of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 3:1 – 8:3). Similarly to his Gospel, the Jewish leadership is shown to be a major source of rejection of Jesus (see Luke 22:1–6; Luke 23:1–25).1 They thought they had put an end to Jesus of Nazareth with his death, now they find his followers continuing to teach on his behalf and performing the same miracles that he did.
1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,