Christian Standard Bible
Acts 4:21
21After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.
Acts 4:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
- New International Version (NIV)After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.
Context of Acts 4:21
19Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done. 22For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old. 23After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Read all of Acts 4Acts 4:21 word by word
οἱ δὲ προσαπειλησάμενοι ἀπέλυσαν αὐτοὺς μηδὲν εὑρίσκοντες τὸ πῶς κολάσωνται αὐτούς, διὰ τὸν λαόν, ὅτι πάντες ἐδόξαζον τὸν θεὸν ἐπὶ τῷ γεγονότι.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Soδέde · thenG1161
- had further threatenedπροσαπειλέωprosapeileō · to threaten furtherG4324
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- let them goἀπολύωapoluō · to release: releaseG630
- findingεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
- nothingμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
- howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
- they might punishκολάζωkolazō · to punishG2849
- because ofὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- the peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
- forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- glorifiedδοξάζωdoxazō · to glorifyG1392
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- forἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- which was doneγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
Cross-references for Acts 4:21
- Acts 4:17But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”
- Acts 5:40After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.
- Acts 5:26Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.
- Matthew 21:46Although they were looking for a way to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because the people regarded him as a prophet.
- Matthew 26:5“Not during the festival,” they said, “so there won’t be rioting among the people.”
- Luke 19:47Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to kill him,
- Luke 20:6But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
- Luke 22:2The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the people.
- Acts 3:6But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
- Matthew 9:33When the demon had been driven out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed, saying, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
- Matthew 15:31So the crowd was amazed when they saw those unable to speak talking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they gave glory to the God of Israel.
- Luke 5:26Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today.”
- Luke 13:17When he had said these things, all his adversaries were humiliated, but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things he was doing.
- John 12:18This is also why the crowd met him, because they heard he had done this sign.
Commentaries on Acts 4:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21When they had farther threatened them - , When they had added to their former threatenings, repeating the former menaces, and adding new penalties. Finding nothing how they might punish them - Or, as the Codex Bezae reads, ̔ , , not finding a cause why they might punish them. This reading is supported by the Syriac and Arabic. Bp. Pearce says, "This is better sense and better Greek." Because of the people - The people saw the miracle, confessed the finger…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Finding nothing - That is, not being able to devise any way of punishing them without exciting a tumult among the people, and endangering their own authority. The Sanhedrin was frequently influenced by this fear; and it shows that their own authority was much dependent on the caprice of the multitude. Compare Matthew 21:26. All men - That is, the great mass or body of the people. Glorified God - Praised God for the miracle. This implies: (1)That they…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. 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. 18-2218-22. Whether it be right ... to hearken to you more than ... God, judge ye.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 4:21
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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