Acts 4:7

Acts 4:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
• New International Version (NIV)They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

Context of Acts 4:7

5On the next day, their magistrates and elders and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all others who were of high-priestly descent. When they had put the men in front of them, they repeatedly asked, “By what sort of power, or in what name [that is, by what kind of authority], did you do this [healing]?” 8Then Peter, filled with [the power of] the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people [members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish High Court], 9if we are being put on trial today [to interrogate us] for a good deed done to [benefit] a disabled man, as to how this man has been restored to health,

Acts 4:7 word by word

καὶ στήσαντες αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ μέσῳ ἐπυνθάνοντο· ἐν ποίᾳ δυνάμει ἢ ἐν ποίῳ ὀνόματι ἐποιήσατε τοῦτο ὑμεῖς;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whenἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the midstμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
• they askedπυνθάνομαιpunthanomai · to inquireG4441
• whatποῖοςpoios · what?G4169
• powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
• orἤē · orG2228
• nameὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
• haveποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778

Cross-references for Acts 4:7

• Acts 5:27So they brought them and presented them before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court). The high priest questioned them,
• 1 Kings 21:12They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people.
• John 8:3Now the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the center of the court,
• Exodus 2:14But the man said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Certainly this incident is known.”
• Matthew 21:23When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what [kind of] authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority [to exercise this power]?”
• Mark 11:28and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?”
• John 2:18Then the Jews retorted, “What sign (attesting miracle) can You show us as [proof of] your authority for doing these things?”
• Acts 4:10let it be known and clearly understood by all of you, and by all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you [demanded be] crucified [by the Romans and], whom God raised from the dead—in this name [that is, by the authority and power of Jesus] this man stands here before you in good health.
• Acts 5:28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this Man’s blood on us [by accusing us as His murderers].”

Commentaries on Acts 4:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? - It seems that this council were convinced that the lame man was miraculously healed; but it is very likely that they believed the whole to be the effect of magic; and, as all intercourse with familiar spirits, and all spells, charms, etc., were unlawful, they probably hoped that, on the examination, this business would come out, and that then these disturbers of their peace would be put to death. Hence…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7In the midst - In the presence of the Great Council. By what power … - A similar question was put to Christ in the temple, Matthew 21:23. By what name - That is, by whose authority. It is very probable that they expected to intimidate the apostles by this question. They claimed the right of regulating the religious affairs of the nation. They had vast power with the people. They assumed that all power to instruct the people should originate with them; and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-14Verses 5-14 Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost, would have all to understand, that the miracle had been wrought by the name, or power, of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, whom they had crucified; and this confirmed their testimony to his resurrection from the dead, which proved him to be the Messiah. These rulers must either be saved by that Jesus whom they had crucified, or they must perish for ever. The name of Jesus is given to men of every age and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22Throughout the Bible, God's people often experienced persecution. God's servants often encountered hostility and opposition (Deuteronomy 30:7; 1 Kings 18:13; Nehemiah 4:1–3; Jeremiah 37–38; Matthew 23:34–37; Luke 11:49–51; 1 Thessalonians 2:14–15). Jesus was also persecuted (Luke 4:29; John 5:16). He warned his disciples to expect similar treatment (Matthew 10:23; 24:9; Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12; John 16:2). However, he promised that the Holy Spirit would…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-131-12. the captain--of the Levitical guard. of the temple--annoyed at the disturbance created around it. and the Sadducees--who "say that there is no resurrection" (Ac 23:8), irritated at the apostles "preaching through (rather, 'in') Jesus the resurrection from the dead"; for the resurrection of Christ, if a fact, effectually overthrew the Sadducean doctrine.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 4:7

• Caiaphas
• Government
• John
• Persecution
• Peter
• Priest

In the dictionaries

• Counsel
• Hold
• Notable
• Possess
• Sanhedrim
• Threaten
• Threatening
• Acts of the Apostles
• Courts, Judicial
• Miracle

Commentaries on Acts 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings