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 4:19 mean?

Explanation

Acts 4:19 speaks to a moment of confrontation between the apostles Peter and John and the Jewish religious authorities in Jerusalem.

The context is that Peter and John have been arrested for preaching about Jesus and performing a healing miracle.

The verse captures their response when the authorities command them to stop speaking about Jesus.

Rather than submitting to the orders of the religious leaders, Peter and John place a higher authority on God's commandments.

They express that it is more important to obey God rather than human authority when the two are in conflict.

This verse reveals a fundamental principle of Christian obedience, the ultimate authority is God, and human commands must be evaluated in light of God's will.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse is set in the period after Jesus' crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. The early Christian church was beginning to grow in Jerusalem.

However, this growth was met with resistance and hostility from the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of the time.

The Sanhedrin held significant political and religious power and viewed the teachings of Peter and John as a threat to their authority and the established norms of Judaism.

The healing of a lame man by Peter and John in the name of Jesus and their subsequent preaching led to their arrest and questioning by the Sanhedrin.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse touches on the idea of "divine command theory," which suggests that morality is ultimately defined by God's commands.

In this scenario, Peter and John assert that their actions are in accordance with God's will, and therefore they must continue regardless of the Sanhedrin's opposition.

For Christians, this assertion underlines the belief in apostolic authority, as Peter and John were direct disciples of Jesus and are believed to have been guided by the Holy Spirit.

The verse also emphasizes the concept of civil disobedience from a religious standpoint, where believers might resist civil authorities if their laws contradict God's laws.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can provide a guideline for believers when facing a moral dilemma that pits civil law or societal norms against their understanding of God's will.

It does not encourage disobedience for its own sake, but rather a carefully considered discernment process of what God desires in any given situation.

It emboldens believers to make a stand for their faith, even in the face of adversity or pressure from authorities.

It also presents an opportunity for Christians to reflect on where they place ultimate authority in their lives.

Cross-References

Daniel 3:16-18 - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to obey the king's decree to worship an idol because it conflicts with God's commandments.
Acts 5:29 - "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
Romans 13:1-2 - "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers...

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God."

Exodus 1:17 - The Hebrew midwives disobey Pharaoh's order to kill Hebrew baby boys because they feared God.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase "Whether it be right in the sight of God" translates as "εἰ δίκαιόν ἐστιν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ" (ei dikaion estin enopion tou Theou).

The word "δίκαιόν" (dikaion) means "just" or "righteous," and "ἐνώπιον" (enopion) means "in the sight of" or "before." This highlights the concept of being right and just before God, above all other considerations.

The verse spotlights the apostles' understanding of accountability to God's standard of justice over human rulings.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The defiance of Peter and John against religious authorities can be compared with other instances across various cultures and religions where individuals stood up against ruling powers due to their spiritual convictions.

For example, in the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna has a moral dilemma about fighting in a war, and Lord Krishna advises him on his duty as per divine will.

In many mythological stories, heroes defy gods or kings because of a higher calling or moral law they feel compelled to obey.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives typically do not intersect directly with matters of faith and religious practice.

However, the underlying concept of Acts 4:19 raises questions about conscience and moral reasoning, which are subjects of interest in psychology and neuroscience.

Studies on moral decision-making explore how humans evaluate and prioritize different sources of authority, including perceived divine command.

Commentaries

Most biblical scholars and theologians interpret this passage as an example of the apostles' boldness and commitment to their mission.

They emphasize that Peter and John were not seeking to be rebellious for rebellion's sake, but were instead compelled by their conviction that their mandate from God superseded human directives.

Commentators often highlight this story as a precedent for non-violent civil disobedience when laws are unjust or when they compel individuals to violate their conscience or divine command.

Acts 4

Acts 4

What does Acts 4:19 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 4:19 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?