Bible Commentaries
Acts 4

Verse 1

And = Now.

spake. Greek. laleo. App-121 .

unto. Greek. pros. App-104 .

people. See Acts 2:47 .

captain. See note on Luke 22:4 .

temple. See Acts 2:46 .

Sadducees. App-120 . The Lord was opposed by the Pharisees. Now the opponents are the Sadducees, because of their hatred of the truth of the resurrection, of which the Apostles were witnesses. See note on Acts 1:22 ; Acts 23:6-8 .

Verse 2

grieved = exasperated. Greek. diaponeomai. Only here, and Acts 16:18 .

that = because. Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 4:2 .

preached. Greek. katangello. App-121 .

through = in. Greek. en . App-104 .

Jesus. App-98 .

resurrection. Greek. anastasis. App-178 .

from the dead. Greek. ek nekron. App-139 .

Verse 3

in. App-104 .

hold = ward. Greek. teresis Only here, Acts 5:18 , and 1 Corinthians 7:19 .

now = already.

Verse 4

Howbeit = But.

word. Greek. logos. App-121 .

believed. App-150 .

men. Greek. aner. App-123 .

Verse 5

it came to pass. A Hebraism, very common in Luke, about fifty times in his Gospel, and some fifteen times in the Acts.

rulers, &c. An assembly of the Sanhedrin. Compare Matthew 26:3 .Mark 14:53 , and see note on Matthew 2:4 .

Verse 6

Annas. See note on Luke 3:2 .

Caiaphas. See note on John 11:49-53 ; John 18:13 .

John. Nothing certainly known of him. Dr. John Lightfoot supposes he was Johanan Ben Lacoai, a famous Rabbi of that time. Works, viii. p. 392.

of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

kindred = race. Greek. genos. Not the same word as in Acts 3:25 .

kindred of the high priest = high-priestly race. Greek. archieratikos. Only here.

Verse 7

in. Greek. en. App-104 .

asked = were enquiring. Greek. punthanomai, as in Matthew 2:4 .

By = In, as above.

what = what kind of.

power. Greek. dunamis. App-172 .

have ye done = did ye.

Verse 8

filled, &c. See Acts 2:4 .

Holy Ghost. App-101 .

Verse 9

If. Greek. e i . App-118 .

be examined. Greek. anakrino. App-122 :2. Compare Luke 23:14 .

of. Greek. epi . App-104 .

good deed = benefit. Greek. euergesia. Only here and 1 Timothy 6:2 .

done to = of. Genitive of relation. App-17 .

man. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

what means = whom.

he = this one.

is made whole = has been saved. Greek. sozo. Compare John 11:12 .

Verse 10

known. See note on Acts 1:19 .

unto = to.

the name. See Acts 2:38 .

Jesus Christ. App-98 .

of Nazareth = the Nazarene. Compare Acts 2:22 .

crucified. See Acts 2:23 .

God. App-98 .

raised. Greek. egeiro. App-178 .

this man = this one.

before you = in your presence.

whole. Greek. hugies. Only here in the Acts. Twelve times in the Gospels. Compare Matthew 12:13 . Occurs Titus 2:8 ; fourteen occurences in all.

Verse 11

the Stone, &c. A reference to Psalms 118:22 .

set at nought = treated with contempt. Greek. exoutheneo. Compare Luke 18:9 ; Luke 23:11 .

of = by Gr hupo. App-104 .

the head, &c. Literally unto (Greek. eis.) a head of a corner, i.e. a corner-stone. Compare Isaiah 28:16 .

Verse 12

Neither is there, &c. = And there is not ( App-105 ) in any (Greek. oudeis) . A double negative, for emphasis.

other. Greek. allos. App-124 .

there is none = neither is there. Greek. oude.

other. Greek. heteros. App-124 .

under. Greek. hupo.

heaven = the heaven. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

among. App-104 .

whereby = in ( App-104 .) which.

be saved. Greek. sozo, as in Acts 4:9 .

Verse 13

Now when they saw = And beholding. Greek theoreo. App-133 .

boldness = outspokenness. Greek. parrhesia. Same word as "freely", in Acts 2:29 .

perceived. Greek. katalambano. Compare John 1:5 .Ephesians 3:18 .

unlearned = illiterate. Greek. agrammatos. Only here. Compare John 7:15 .

ignorant = obscure. Greek. idiotes. Literally private, i.e. unprofessional. Only here, 1 Corinthians 14:16 , 1 Corinthians 14:23 , 1 Corinthians 14:24 ; 2 Corinthians 11:6 .

took knowledge = recognized. Greek. epiginosko. App-132 .

with Greek. sun. App-104 .

Jesus. App-98 .

Verse 14

beholding. Greek. blepo. App-133 .

was = had been.

could, &c. = had nothing (Greek. oudeis) to say against it (Greek. antepo. Only here and Luke 21:15 ).

Verse 15

council = Sanhedrin. Greek. sunedrion. See note on Matthew 5:22 .

conferred. Greek. sumballo. Only used by Luke, here, Acts 17:18 ; Acts 18:27 ; Acts 20:14 .Luke 2:19 ; Luke 14:31 .

among themselves = towards (Greek. pros . App-104 .) one another.

Verse 16

notable. Greek. gnostos, as in Acts 4:10 .

miracle. Greek. semeion. App-176 .

been done = come to pass.

manifest. Greek. phaneros. App-106 .

dwell in = inhabit. Greek. katoikeo. See note on Acts 2:5 .

cannot = are not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) able to.

Verse 17

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

spread. Greek. dianemomai. Only here.

no further = not (Greek. me) for (Greek. epi) more.

among = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

straitly threaten = threaten with threats. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .

threaten. Greek. apeileo. Only here and 1 Peter 2:23 . The noun apeile occurs here, Acts 4:29 ; Acts 9:1 .Ephesians 6:9 .

that they speak, &c. = Literally no longer to speak to no man. A double negative, for emphasis.

Verse 18

not. Greek. me. App-105 .

speak = speak forth. Greek. phthengomai. Only here, and 2 Peter 2:16 , 2 Peter 2:18 . Compare Acts 2:4 .

at all. Greek. katholou. Only here.

nor. Greek. mede.

Verse 19

answered and said. App-122 .

Whether = If. Greek. ei . App-118 .

more = rather.

judge. Gr . krino. App-122 . Figure of speech Anacoenosis. App-6 .

Verse 20

but = not. As Acts 4:17 .

have seen and heard = saw (Greek. eidon. App-133 .) and heard.

Verse 21

So when, &c. = But having further threatened. Only here.

let . . . go = Greek. apoluo. App-174 .

nothing, &c. = no further means of punishing.

because of Greek. dia. App-104 .Acts 4:2 .

glorified. Greek. doxazo See note on Acts 3:13 .

was done = had taken place.

Verse 22

was shewed = had been wrought.

Verse 24

with one accord. See note on Acts 1:14 .

Lord. Greek. Despotes. App-98 .

art God. The texts omit

hast made = rnadest.

earth. Greek. ge App-129 .

Verse 25

servant. Greek. pai s. App-108 and App-190 .

hast said = saidst. This quotation is from Psalms 2:1 , Psalms 2:2 See notes there.

heathen = nations. Greek. ethnos Hence our word "heathen".

rage. Greek. phuasso . Only here in N.T. Used in Septuagint of Psalms 2:1 , as translation of Hebrew. ragash

imagine = meditate. Greek. meletao. Here, Mark 13:11 . 1 Timothy 4:15 .

Verse 26

The kings. i.e. Gentiles.

rulers. i.e. Jews.

together. See note on Acts 1:15 .

Christ. i.e. Messiah. App-98 .

Verse 27

of a truth. Literally upon ( App-104 .) truth. The texts add "in this city".

Child = servant. Greek. pais , as Acts 4:25 . Figure of speech Catachresis App-6 .

hast anointed = didst anoint. See note on Luke 4:18 .

Gentiles. Greek. ethnos, as in Acts 4:25 .

Verse 28

counsel. App-102 . Compare Acts 2:23 .

determined before. Greek. proorizo. Generally translated "predestinate". See Romans 8:29 , Romans 8:30 ; 1 Corinthians 2:7 . Ephesians 1:5 , Ephesians 1:11 .

to be done. Figure of speech Hypo-zeugma ( Zeugma. App-6 ). As "hand" could not determine.

Verse 29

now = as to the present. Greek. tanun. A strong form of num . Only here, Acts 5:38 ; Acts 17:30 ; Acts 20:32 ; Acts 27:22 .

behold. Greek. epeidon. App-133 . Only here and Luke 1:25 .

grant = give.

servants = bond-servants. App-190 .

with. App-104 .

Verse 30

to heal = for(Greek. eis . App-104 .) healing.

signs. As in verses: Acts 4:10 , Acts 4:22 .

wonders. Greek. teras . App-176 .

Verse 31

when they had = while they.

prayed. App-134 .

shaken. Greek. saleuo. Compare Acts 16:26 .

where = in which.

the Holy Ghost. App-101 .

Verse 32

the multitude, &c. = of the full number (Greek. plethos) of the believing ones.

soul. App-110 . Acts 4:1 .

neither = and not even.

any = one.

ought = any one. Greek. tis. App-123 .

the things which he possessed = his possessions. Greek. huparcho. Compare Luke 9:48 with Luke 12:15 .

Verse 33

gave = were giving forth.

apostles. App-189 .

witness = the testimony. Greek. marturion. First occurance Matthew 8:4 .

grace. App-184 .

Verse 34

Neither = For neither.

was = were. Greek. huparchc. See note on Luke 9:48 . The texts read en was.

that lacked = in need. Only here. Compare App-134 .

possessors. Greek. ktetor. Only here. lands. Greek. chorion. See note on Matthew 26:36 .

Verse 35

distribution, &c. = it was distributed.

he = any one. Greek. tis , as in Acts 4:34 .

Verse 36

The next chapter should begin here.

Joses. Texts read Joseph, as in Acts 1:23 .

Barnabas. It is possible that Joseph Barnabas, or

Barnabas. It is possible that Joseph Barnabas, or Barnabbas, is the same as Joseph Barsabbas of Acts 1:23 , and that he was reserved for a better lot by the Holy Spirit.

son. App-108 . See note on Acts 3:25 .

consolation. Greek. exhortation. Greek. paraklesis has both meanings. See Luke 2:25 ; Luke 6:24 . 1 Corinthians 14:3 .

of the country of Cyprus = a Cypriote by race.

Verse 37

land Literally a field, as in Luke 14:18 .