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 4:28 mean?

Explanation

The verse in question, Acts 4:28, "For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.", is positioned within a prayer spoken by the early followers of Jesus after Peter and John had been released from questioning by the Jewish leaders (specifically the Sanhedrin).

They are reflecting on the sovereignty of God in the face of opposition and the death of Jesus Christ.

This verse acknowledges the omnipotence and predestination of God's will, suggesting that whatever transpired, particularly the crucifixion and persecution of Jesus Christ, was within the scope of God's predetermined plan.

The "hand" symbolizes the power of God while the "counsel" represents His wisdom and intention.

Literally, it's recognizing that the unfolding events of Jesus' life, death, and the subsequent spreading of the Gospel, were not accidental but orchestrated by divine intention.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 4:28 is part of the New Testament narrative detailing the experiences of the apostles after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

The early church faced persecution from Jewish authorities who felt threatened by the spreading message of Jesus as the Messiah and the growing number of his followers.

The situation described in this chapter occurs after Peter and John heal a lame man and proclaim Jesus as the source of their power, leading to their arrest.

The prayer from which this verse comes is a response to their release and the threats they faced, emphasizing the early Christians' belief in the divinity of Christ and the preordained nature of God's plan for salvation.

Theological Insights

The verse touches on several key theological concepts as understood in Christian doctrine:

Sovereignty of God: This speaks to God's ultimate control over all events in the universe.

The early Christians believed God's will is purposeful and binding.

Predestination: Some Christian denominations interpret this verse to mean that God not only predicted but also decreed all that has happened and will happen.

This belief plays a significant role in Reformed theology and is sometimes a point of lively debate among various Christian traditions.

Divine Foreknowledge: This verse could also underscore the belief that God has complete foresight into the actions and events on earth, which does not necessarily remove human free will from the equation.

Practical Applications

Believers might take comfort from the acknowledgment that God is in control, which could strengthen faith during trials and adversity. Understanding life events as part of a divine plan may provide perspective and peace.

Additionally, the verse encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate plan and surrender their anxieties related to uncertainty or the future.

Cross-References

Ephesians 1:11 - "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"
Isaiah 46:10 - "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Language Study

Hand (χείρ, cheir): In biblical Greek, "hand" is often used metaphorically to denote power or ability to act.
Counsel (βουλή, boule): Refers to deliberation, purpose, or plan. It carries connotations of thoughtful providence rather than impulse or reaction.

The Greek terms enhance the meaning by reflecting careful, wisdom-filled planning by God, not merely reactionary measures.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, the idea of a deity or deities having control over human destiny echoes in various ancient religions. For instance, in Greek mythology, the Moirai (Fates) controlled the destinies of both mortals and gods. Similarly, in Norse mythology, the Norns were beings that determined fate.

However, in Christianity, God's planning is not arbitrary; it is driven by a purposeful intention towards redemption and salvation.

Scientific Perspectives

Science focuses on understanding phenomena through observation, empirical evidence, and experiments. It generally does not address theological concepts such as predestination or divine will.

However, discussions around determinism, a philosophical stance where all events are determined completely by previously existing causes, may intersect with theological discourse on preordained events.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse. For instance:

Matthew Henry's Commentary suggests that the apostles are recognizing in their prayer the certainty of God's plan, emphasizing God’s ultimate authority over the events in the world.
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible discusses the notion God's determinate counsel and foreknowledge of the events surrounding Jesus Christ's crucifixion.
The MacArthur Study Bible notes reinforce that God's sovereign plan includes the use of human actions to fulfill divine purposes, without absolving individuals of the evil they commit.

Acts 4

Acts 4

What does Acts 4:28 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 4:28 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?