Acts 4:27-30

4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against ¹  your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²  4:28 to do as much as your power ³  and your plan ⁴  had decided beforehand ⁵  would happen. 4:29 And now, Lord, pay attention to ⁶  their threats, and grant ⁷  to your servants ⁸  to speak your message ⁹  with great courage, ¹⁰  4:30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs ¹¹  and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

[4:27]  ¹ 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]  ² sn A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”

[4:28]  ³ tn Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.

[4:28]  ⁴ tn Or “purpose,” “will.”

[4:28]  ⁵ 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]  ⁵ tn Or “Lord, take notice of.”

[4:29]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Grk “slaves.” See the note on the word “servants” in 2:18.

[4:29]  ⁸ tn Grk “word.”

[4:29]  ⁹ tn Or “with all boldness.”

[4:30]  ⁷ tn The miraculous nature of these signs is implied in the context.