In Acts 4, did the Jewish council forbid the apostles from preaching the gospel message or only from using the name of Jesus?
According to Acts 4, the council commanded the apostles not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. The passage focuses on the name, not a prohibition of the gospel message itself; the expected wording about Christ's death, burial, and resurrection is absent. Instead, they forbade them from speaking to any man in this name.
Les explains that after the healed man stood with the apostles in complete health and strength, the council could say nothing against the miracle. They conferred among themselves, admitting the notable miracle was manifest to all Jerusalem and could not be denied, but they wanted it to spread no further. So they threatened the twelve and commanded them to speak henceforth to no man in this name. Les emphasizes that normal thinking would expect them to forbid preaching that Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose from the dead, but the text does not say that. All they said was that the apostles could not continue to preach in this name. Verse 18 records that they commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. Les stresses this is what the Book says, not something he is dreaming up, and he will emphasize it throughout these early chapters.
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
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