Discovery BoxActs 4:19-31
Context4:19 But Peter and John replied, 1 “Whether it is right before God to obey 2 you rather than God, you decide, 4:20 for it is impossible 3 for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” 4:21 After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising 4 God for what had happened. 4:22 For the man, on whom this miraculous sign 5 of healing had been performed, 6 was over forty years old.
4:23 When they were released, Peter and John 7 went to their fellow believers 8 and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. 4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind 9 and said, “Master of all, 10 you who made the heaven, the earth, 11 the sea, and everything that is in them, 4:25 who said by the Holy Spirit through 12 your servant David our forefather, 13
‘Why do the nations 14 rage, 15
and the peoples plot foolish 16 things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood together, 17
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against his 18 Christ.’ 19
4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against 20 your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 21 4:28 to do as much as your power 22 and your plan 23 had decided beforehand 24 would happen. 4:29 And now, Lord, pay attention to 25 their threats, and grant 26 to your servants 27 to speak your message 28 with great courage, 29 4:30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs 30 and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 4:31 When 31 they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, 32 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak 33 the word of God 34 courageously. 35
[4:19] 1 tn Grk “answered and said to them.”
[4:19] 2 tn Grk “hear,” but the idea of “hear and obey” or simply “obey” is frequently contained in the Greek verb ἀκούω (akouw; see L&N 36.14).
[4:20] 3 tn Grk “for we are not able not to speak about what we have seen and heard,” but the double negative, which cancels out in English, is emphatic in Greek. The force is captured somewhat by the English translation “it is impossible for us not to speak…” although this is slightly awkward.
[4:22] 5 tn Here σημεῖον (shmeion) has been translated as “miraculous sign” rather than simply “sign” or “miracle” since both components appear to be present in the context. See also the note on this word in v. 16.
[4:22] 6 tn Or “had been done.”
[4:23] 7 tn Grk “they”; the referents (Peter and John) have been specified in the translation for clarity, since a new topic begins in v. 23 and the last specific reference to Peter and John in the Greek text is in 4:19.
[4:23] 8 tn Grk “to their own [people].” In context this phrase is most likely a reference to other believers rather than simply their own families and/or homes, since the group appears to act with one accord in the prayer that follows in v. 24. At the literary level, this phrase suggests how Jews were now splitting into two camps, pro-Jesus and anti-Jesus.
[4:24] 9 sn With one mind. Compare Acts 1:14.
[4:24] 10 tn Or “Lord of all.”
[4:24] 11 tn Grk “and the earth, and the sea,” but καί (kai) has not been translated before “the earth” and “the sea” since contemporary English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
[4:25] 12 tn Grk “by the mouth of” (an idiom).
[4:25] 13 tn Or “ancestor”; Grk “father.”
[4:25] 15 sn The Greek word translated rage includes not only anger but opposition, both verbal and nonverbal. See L&N 88.185.
[4:25] 16 tn Or “futile”; traditionally, “vain.”
[4:26] 17 tn Traditionally, “The kings of the earth took their stand.”
[4:26] 18 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
[4:26] 19 sn A quotation from Ps 2:1-2.
[4:27] 20 sn The application of Ps 2:1-2 is that Jews and Gentiles are opposing Jesus. The surprise of the application is that Jews are now found among the enemies of God’s plan.
[4:27] 21 sn A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”
[4:28] 22 tn Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.
[4:28] 23 tn Or “purpose,” “will.”
[4:28] 24 tn Or “had predestined.” Since the term “predestine” is something of a technical theological term, not in wide usage in contemporary English, the translation “decide beforehand” was used instead (see L&N 30.84). God’s direction remains as the major theme.
[4:29] 25 tn Or “Lord, take notice of.”
[4:29] 26 sn Grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage. The request is not for a stop to persecution or revenge on the opponents, but for boldness (great courage) to carry out the mission of proclaiming the message of what God is doing through Jesus.
[4:29] 27 tn Grk “slaves.” See the note on the word “servants” in 2:18.
[4:29] 29 tn Or “with all boldness.”
[4:30] 30 tn The miraculous nature of these signs is implied in the context.
[4:31] 31 tn Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
[4:31] 32 sn The place where they were assembled…was shaken. This signifies that God is in their midst. See Acts 16:26; Exod 19:18; Ps 114:7; Isa 6:4.
[4:31] 33 tn The imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect (“began to speak”). Logical sequencing suggests that their speaking began after they were filled with the Spirit. The prayer was answered immediately.
