Acts 4:13

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, etc.] With what courage and intrepidity they stood before them, the presence of mind they had, and the freedom of speech they used, as the word properly signifies: they observed their elocution, the justness of their diction, the propriety of their language, and the strength and nervousness of their reasoning; as well as their great resolution, constancy, and firmness of mind; not being afraid to profess the name of Christ, or to charge them with the murder of him; and that they seemed to be determined to abide by him, at all events; to assert him to be the true Messiah, though rejected by the Jewish builders; and that he was risen from the…”

“perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men--that is, uninstructed in the learning of the Jewish schools, and of the common sort; men in private life, untrained to teaching. took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus--recognized them as having been in His company; remembering possibly, that they had seen them with Him [MEYER, BLOOMFIELD, ALFORD]; but, more probably, perceiving in their whole bearing what identified them with Jesus: that is, "We thought we had got rid of Him; but lo! He reappears in these men, and all that troubled us in the Nazarene Himself has yet to be put down in these His disciples." What a testimony to these primitive witnesses! Would that the same…”

“Boldness - This word properly denotes “openness” or “confidence in speaking.” It stands opposed to “hesitancy,” and to “equivocation” in declaring our sentiments. Here it means that, in spite of danger and opposition, they avowed their doctrines without any attempt to conceal or disguise them. Peter and John - It was they only who had been concerned in the healing of the lame man, Acts 3:1. And perceived - When they knew that they were unlearned. This might have been ascertained either by report or by the manner of their speaking. Unlearned - This word properly denotes “those who were not acquainted with letters, or who had not had the benefit of an education.” Ignorant men - ἰδιῶται…”

“Illiterate and uneducated men - Even by such men (though not by such only) hath God in all ages caused his word to be preached before the world. Acts 4:17”

“4:13 ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures: That is, they were not scholars or ordained teachers—they were working men without higher education. The educated members of the Jewish high council were treated as authorities on the Scriptures and matters of religion, so it amazed them to see uneducated men speaking with such boldness about such matters.”

“were: Act 2:7-12; Mat 4:18-22, Mat 11:25; Joh 7:15, Joh 7:49; Co1 1:27 they took: Mat 26:57, Mat 26:58, Mat 26:71, Mat 26:73; Luk 22:52-54, Luk 22:56-60; Joh 18:16, Joh 18:17, Joh 19:26 Acts 4:14”