Acts 4

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

What does Acts 4:10 mean?

Explanation

Acts 4:10 presents a direct and bold declaration by the apostle Peter before the religious leaders of Israel, the Sanhedrin.

Here, Peter credits the healing of a man lame from birth to the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Peter is unequivocal in his attribution: it is solely by Jesus's name, and no other, that the man has been made whole.

The mention of Jesus as the one "whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead" serves both as an indictment of the leaders' actions and as a testimony to the divine validation of Jesus through His resurrection.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse occurs after the arrest of Peter and John following the healing of the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful (Acts 3).

The setting is in Jerusalem, not long after Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection, during the early days of the Christian church.

At the time, the early Christian movement was a growing concern for Jewish authorities, who were attempting to maintain religious purity and political stability under Roman rule.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse emphasizes several key doctrines:

The exclusivity of Jesus as the means of salvation and access to God. 2.

The power of Jesus's name in miraculous events, suggesting His divinity. 3.

The centrality of the resurrection as evidence of Jesus's victory over sin and death. 4.

The courage of the apostles to proclaim Jesus despite persecution, indicating the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

Different Christian traditions may emphasize various aspects of these insights. For example, Roman Catholic and Orthodox interpretations may integrate this with the importance of apostolic authority, while Protestant views may focus on the sufficiency of Christ and the boldness of faith.

Practical Applications

Acts 4:10 encourages believers to attribute their successes and healings to Jesus Christ, to be bold in their faith, especially in the face of opposition, and to recognize the power and significance of Jesus's resurrection.

It can also serve as a call to evangelize, inviting others to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and to experience the transformative power therein.

Cross-References

Acts 3:6 - "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Acts 2:24 - "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."
Philippians 2:9-11 - "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name..."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek language of this verse are noteworthy:

"Ἰησοῦς" (Iēsous) - Jesus, identifying the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth.
"Χριστός" (Christos) - Christ, the Greek equivalent of "Messiah," meaning the anointed one.
"ἀνέστησεν" (anestēsen) - Raised, referring to the resurrection, implying a divine action performed by God.

These terms reinforce the identity of Jesus as the expected Messiah, His connection to Nazareth, and His divine affirmation through the resurrection.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The assertion of a human figure performing miracles and being raised from the dead invokes parallels with various other ancient myths and religions where gods or demigods display miraculous powers.

However, in the context of Judaism and nascent Christianity, Jesus's resurrection is unique, seen not as a myth but as a historical event with theological implications.

Scientific Perspectives

The resurrection, as described in the New Testament, transcends scientific explanation and remains a matter of faith.

The claim of a man being healed in Jesus's name similarly falls into the realm of a miraculous event that science does not substantiate, as it stands outside the regular laws of nature and medical knowledge.

Commentaries

Commentators have long noted the boldness of Peter's declaration before the Sanhedrin.

John Calvin highlights Peter's courage and the clarity of his message about the necessity of Christ for salvation.

Matthew Henry comments on the centrality of the resurrection as a cornerstone of Christian faith.

More contemporary scholarship, like the New Bible Commentary, sees this as an essential example of the apostles’ witness to the truth of Jesus Christ and the mission of the early church to spread the Gospel despite adversity.

Acts 4

Acts 4

What does Acts 4:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 4:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?