^4:18And they called them in and ordered⁴⁵ them not to speak or teach at all in the name⁴⁶ of Jesus. ^4:19But Peter and John replied,⁴⁷ “Whether it is right before God to obey⁴⁸ you rather than God, you decide, ^4:20for it is impossible⁴⁹ for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” ^4:21After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising⁵⁰ God for what had happened. ^4:22For the man, on whom this miraculous sign⁵¹ of healing had been performed,⁵² was over forty years old.

The Followers of Jesus Pray for Boldness

^4:23When they were released, Peter and John⁵³ went to their fellow believers⁵⁴ and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. ^4:24When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind⁵⁵ and said, “Master of all,⁵⁶ you who made the heaven, the earth,⁵⁷ the sea, and everything that is in them, ^4:25who said by the Holy Spirit through⁵⁸ your servant David our forefather,⁵⁹

‘Why do the nations⁶⁰ rage,⁶¹

and the peoples plot foolish⁶² things?

^4:26The kings of the earth stood together,⁶³

and the rulers assembled together,

against the Lord and against his⁶⁴ Christ.’⁶⁵

^4:27“For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against⁶⁶ your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,⁶⁷^4:28to do as much as your power⁶⁸ and your plan⁶⁹ had decided beforehand⁷⁰ would happen. ^4:29And now, Lord, pay attention to⁷¹ their threats, and grant⁷² to your servants⁷³ to speak your message⁷⁴ with great courage,⁷⁵^4:30while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs⁷⁶ and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ^4:31When⁷⁷ they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken,⁷⁸ and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak⁷⁹ the word of God⁸⁰ courageously.⁸¹

Conditions Among the Early Believers

^4:32The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind,⁸² and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.⁸³^4:33With⁸⁴ great power the apostles were giving testimony⁸⁵ to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

45 Or “commanded.”
46 In the name of Jesus. Once again, the “name” reflects the person. The person of Jesus and his authority is the “troubling” topic that, as far as the Jewish leadership is concerned, needs controlling.
47 Grk “answered and said to them.”
48 Grk “hear,” but the idea of “hear and obey” or simply “obey” is frequently contained in the Greek verb ἀκούω (akouō; see L&N 36.14).
49 Grk “for we are not able not to speak about what we have seen and heard,” but the double negative, which cancels out in English, is emphatic in Greek. The force is captured somewhat by the English translation “it is impossible for us not to speak …” although this is slightly awkward.
50 Or “glorifying.”
51 Here σημεῖον (sēmeion) has been translated as “miraculous sign” rather than simply “sign” or “miracle” since both components appear to be present in the context. See also the note on this word in v. .
52 Or “had been done.”
53 Grk “they”; the referents (Peter and John) have been specified in the translation for clarity, since a new topic begins in v. 23 and the last specific reference to Peter and John in the Greek text is in 4:19.
54 Grk “to their own [people].” In context this phrase is most likely a reference to other believers rather than simply their own families and/or homes, since the group appears to act with one accord in the prayer that follows in v. 24. At the literary level, this phrase suggests how Jews were now splitting into two camps, pro-Jesus and anti-Jesus.
55 With one mind. Compare Acts 1:14.
56 Or “Lord of all.” The use of the title Master of all (δεσπότης, despotēs) emphasizes that there is a sovereign God who is directing what is taking place.
57 Grk “and the earth, and the sea,” but καί (kai) has not been translated before “the earth” and “the sea” since contemporary English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
58 Grk “by the mouth of” (an idiom).
59 Or “ancestor”; Grk “father.”
60 Or “Gentiles.”
61 The Greek word translated rage includes not only anger but opposition, both verbal and nonverbal. See L&N 88.185.
62 Or “futile”; traditionally, “vain.”
63 Traditionally, “The kings of the earth took their stand.”
64 Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” See the note on Christ in .
65 A quotation from Ps 2:1–2.
66 The application of Ps 2:1–2 is that Jews and Gentiles are opposing Jesus. The surprise of the application is that Jews are now found among the enemies of God’s plan.
67 A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”
68 Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.
69 Or “purpose,” “will.”
70 Or “had predestined.” Since the term “predestine” is something of a technical theological term, not in wide usage in contemporary English, the translation “decide beforehand” was used instead (see L&N 30.84). God’s direction remains as the major theme.
71 Or “Lord, take notice of.”
72 Grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage. The request is not for a stop to persecution or revenge on the opponents, but for boldness (great courage) to carry out the mission of proclaiming the message of what God is doing through Jesus.
73 Grk “slaves.” See the note on the word “servants” in .
74 Grk “word.”
75 Or “with all boldness.”
76 The miraculous nature of these signs is implied in the context.
77 Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
78 The place where they were assembled … was shaken. This signifies that God is in their midst. See Acts 16:26; Exod 19:18; Ps 114:7; Isa 6:4.
79 The imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect (“began to speak”). Logical sequencing suggests that their speaking began after they were filled with the Spirit. The prayer was answered immediately.
80 Or “speak God’s message.”
81 Or “with boldness.”
82 Grk “soul.”
83 Grk “but all things were to them in common.” Everything was held in common. The remark is not a reflection of political philosophy, but of the extent of their spontaneous commitment to one another. Such a response does not have the function of a command, but is reflective of an attitude that Luke commends as evidence of their identification with one another.
84 Grk “And with.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
85 Or “were witnessing.”