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 4:24 mean?

Explanation

The verse, Acts 4:24, captures the response of the early Christian community to persecution.

After Peter and John are released from their interrogation by the Sanhedrin, they return to their fellow believers and report what has happened.

In response, the believers raise their voice together in prayer to God.

Their prayer begins with a declaration of God's sovereignty, acknowledging Him as the Creator of all things, heaven, earth, the sea, and everything within them.

This acknowledgment serves as a foundational statement of faith, affirming God's ultimate authority and power over creation, including the socio-political powers that were challenging the Christian community.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 4:24 is set in the period shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, during the early growth of the Christian church in Jerusalem.

After performing a healing and preaching about Jesus, Peter and John had been arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish council.

They were interrogated but later released.

Given the context, the believers' prayer manifests as both an act of worship amidst persecution and a reaffirmation of trust in God who transcends all earthly powers that may oppose them.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse demonstrates the early Church's belief in the supremacy of God in the face of opposition.

It affirms the Christian doctrine of God as the Creator, which is a recurring theme in the Old and New Testaments.

By reciting God’s creation of "heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is," the believers are reinforcing their faith that God is not only the origin of all things but remains in control, suggesting that their faith in God's purpose for the Church would not be deterred by human authorities.

Practical Applications

In contemporary terms, this verse serves as an example for believers to turn to prayer in times of difficulty and uncertainty.

It teaches the importance of communal prayer and solidarity within a faith community.

It also emphasizes the power of acknowledging God's sovereignty in prayer, which may foster a sense of peace and trust in God's plan, despite external circumstances.

Cross-References

Psalm 146:6: "Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:"
Nehemiah 9:6: "Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the sea, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee."
Revelation 14:7: "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek that are the basis for this passage include:

"Lord" (Greek: Kurie): Often used to denote sovereign authority and deity.
"God" (Greek: Theos): Refers to the deity, emphasizing divine character and nature.
"Made" (Greek: Poiēsanti): This is the aorist active participle form of "poieō," meaning to make or create; it underscores the action of creation.

Analyzing these terms deepens the understanding of the verse, particularly highlighting the believers' recognition of God's authority and role as Creator.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse can be compared to similar expressions of divine creation in other ancient religious traditions. For instance, the concept of a prime deity as the creator of the universe appears in many ancient myths, including Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern mythologies.

However, the monotheistic affirmation of God's creative power in Acts 4:24 is distinctive from polytheistic creation narratives that often involve multiple gods participating in creation.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific perspectives, particularly those relating to cosmology and evolutionary biology, may seem at odds with the literal interpretation of biblical creation.

While the scientific consensus supports theories such as the Big Bang and evolution for the development of the cosmos and life, some Christians find ways to reconcile their faith with these scientific understandings through theistic evolution or by interpreting the creation narrative metaphorically rather than literally.

Commentaries

Biblical commentaries often highlight the significance of Acts 4:24 within the narrative of Acts and the theology of the early church.

For example, the Expositor's Bible Commentary mentions the unity of believers in prayer and the acknowledgment of God as Creator as a response to persecution.

Matthew Henry's Commentary draws attention to the comfort believers find in God's sovereignty during trials.

Most commentaries recognize this verse as a collective expression of faith and an invocation of God's power and presence in the midst of external pressures facing the early Church.

Acts 4

Acts 4

What does Acts 4:24 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 4:24 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?