Berean Standard Bible
Acts 4:19
19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
Acts 4:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
Context of Acts 4:19
17But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.” 18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.
Read all of Acts 4Acts 4:19 word by word
Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ Ἰωάννης ἀποκριθέντες εἶπον πρὸς αὐτούς· εἰ δίκαιόν ἐστιν ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν ἀκούειν μᾶλλον ἢ τοῦ θεοῦ, κρίνατε.Read the interlinear
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- repliedἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- repliedεἶπονepō · to sayG2036
- repliedπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- repliedαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Judge for yourselvesκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
- whetherεἰei · ifG1487
- it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- rightδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- in God’s sightἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- in God’s sightθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- to listenἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- to youσύsu · youG4771
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- thanἤē · orG2228
Cross-references for Acts 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- 1 Timothy 2:3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Exodus 1:17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live.
- 1 Kings 12:30And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.
- 1 Kings 14:16So He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”
- 1 Kings 21:11So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them.
- 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
- 2 Kings 16:15Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and grain offering, as well as the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings of all the people of the land. Splatter on the altar all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar to seek guidance.”
- 2 Chronicles 26:16But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
- Daniel 3:18But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
- Daniel 6:10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
- Hosea 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.
- Amos 7:16Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’
- Micah 6:16You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”
Commentaries on Acts 4:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Whether it be right in the sight of God - As if they had said: Worldly prudence and a consideration of our secular interests would undoubtedly induce us to obey you; but acting as before God, and following the dictates of eternal truth and justice, we dare not be silent. Can it be right to obey men contrary to the command and will of God? When he commands us to speak, dare we hold our tongue? We have received our authority from God through Christ, and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Whether it be right - The apostles abated nothing of their boldness when threatened. They openly appealed to their judges whether their command could be right. And in doing this, they expressed their full conviction of the truth of what they had said, and their deliberate purpose not to regard their command, but still to proclaim to the people the truth that Jesus was the Messiah. In the sight of God - That is, whether God will judge this to be right…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 All the care of the rulers is, that the doctrine of Christ spread not among the people, yet they cannot say it is false or dangerous, or of any ill tendency; and they are ashamed to own the true reason; that it testifies against their hypocrisy, wickedness, and tyranny. Those who know how to put a just value upon Christ's promises, know how to put just contempt upon the world's threatenings. The apostles look with concern on perishing souls…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20The apostles shared a principle that can guide God’s people in dealing with hostile authorities (see also 5:40; compare 1 Samuel 15:22; Jeremiah 7:23; Luke 20:20–26; Romans 13:1–7). Jesus had predicted that his disciples would encounter hostility and persecution (Luke 21:12–19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2218-22. Whether it be right ... to hearken to you more than ... God, judge ye.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 4:19
In the dictionaries
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
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