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 4:20 mean?

Explanation

Acts 4:20 speaks to the compelled nature of the apostles' testimony about Jesus Christ.

In this verse, Peter and John declare their inability to remain silent about the events they have witnessed.

The "things which we have seen and heard" refer to the life, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as their experiences with Him after His resurrection.

The statement suggests that their testimony is not optional but an essential response to the truth they have encountered, indicating the integrity of their witness and the urgency they feel to share it.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse occurs within the account of Peter and John's arrest by the religious leaders in Jerusalem after they healed a lame man and preached about Jesus' resurrection.

The context is the early days of the Christian church, a time of rapid growth and miraculous signs.

Christian preaching faced significant opposition from Jewish authorities, who were concerned about maintaining religious order and their own power.

The apostles had been commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, but they responded with the bold declaration found in Acts 4:20, showing their resistance to human authority when it conflicted with their divine mandate.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 4:20 emphasizes obedience to God over obedience to human authority when the two are in conflict. It reflects the belief in apostolic authority, that the firsthand witnesses of Jesus’ life and ministry were uniquely commissioned to spread the Gospel.

Moreover, the verse underlines the concept of divine calling and the inherent need for believers to bear witness to their faith experiences. It also speaks to the transformative power of encountering Christ, which compels believers to testify regardless of personal cost or opposition.

Practical Applications

The teachings of Acts 4:20 can be applied in daily life by encouraging believers to be bold in sharing their own faith experiences. It underscores the importance of witnessing to the truth one has experienced, especially when faced with opposition or suppression.

The verse serves as an inspiration for Christians to prioritize divine commands over societal or legal restrictions that conflict with their religious convictions and to speak out about injustices, both within and outside of the church.

Cross-References

Acts 5:29 - "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
Acts 1:8 - "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
1 John 1:1 - "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life."
Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

Language Study

The key words within Acts 4:20 are "seen" (ἑωράκαμεν, heōrakamen) and "heard" (ἀκηκόαμεν, akēkoamen).

The former is from the Greek verb ὁράω (horaō), which means to see with the eyes, while the latter is from the Greek ἀκούω (akouō), meaning to hear with the ears.

These terms emphasize the sensory and experiential nature of the apostles' testimony.

Both words are in the perfect tense, indicating a past action with continuing effects into the present; they have seen and heard, and it impacts their current situation, obligating them to speak.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The necessity to share spiritual experiences is not unique to early Christianity but can be found in various ancient and modern religious traditions.

For example, in Greco-Roman culture, the witness of the oracle or seer was considered crucial and heeded.

Comparatively, in Judaism, prophets were often compelled to speak God's message, even when it brought them personal hardship.

The theme of being compelled to speak by divine encounter is a universal element in many religions, where individuals become messengers of the divine will or truth.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, one might examine the psychological and sociological forces behind why individuals feel compelled to share profound experiences.

Cognitive dissonance theory could provide insight into the motivation behind the apostles' need to align their behavior (speaking boldly) with their beliefs (Jesus is the Messiah).

Additionally, examining the neurological impact of impactful experiences might explain the drive to communicate such events.

Commentaries

Experts have offered various interpretations of Acts 4:20 based on historical, theological, and exegetical analysis.

John Calvin notes the apostles’ acknowledgment of God's authority over human edicts.

Matthew Henry emphasizes the necessity placed upon the apostles by their eyewitness experience.

Modern commentaries put weight on the role of personal testimony in the growth and vitality of the early church, which served as the foundation for Christian evangelism.

Generally, these commentaries agree on the centrality of Acts 4:20 in depicting the courage and conviction of the early disciples in the face of external pressures to silence their message.

Acts 4

Acts 4

What does Acts 4:20 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 4:20 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?