Ignorance and Acts 4:13

May 12, 2008

AntonOrth wrote:

I believe we can be confident in understanding that what is meant to be conveyed by the phrase \"perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men\" was that Peter and Paul were not formally schooled in the \"higher learning\" of the day, but that their bold confident knowledge was founded in their instruction from and association with the Lord Jesus, (leaving aside the empowerment of the Holy Ghost). It wasn't per se a slur of their intellect, just the observation that they had no formal schooling, which made their able response all the more remarkable and, more importantly, attributable to the influence of the Lord Jesus.

I agree with the second half of your analysis. Regarding the first part of your analysis, the \\"education of the day\\" could refer to any number of kinds of education, pagan and otherwise. I think the reference to their lack of education refers specifically to the what type of education they lack, that is, that of the scribes and Pharisees.

I would further say that it is significant that their lack of scribal and priestly education seems to underscore their association with Jesus. I don\'t think that simple ignorance would help people understand that Peter and John were Jesus\' companions. I can imagine ordinary, uneducated, bold people whom bystanders wouldn\'t associate with Jesus.

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