English Standard Version
Acts 4:19
19But 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,
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!
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?
Context of Acts 4:19
17But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name." 18So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 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, 20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." 21And 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.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Whetherεἰei · ifG1487
- it beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- rightδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- in the sight ofἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- to hearkenἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- moreμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- thanἤē · orG2228
- judge yeκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
Cross-references for Acts 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone'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 it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
- Acts 5:29But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
- Exodus 1:17But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
- 1 Kings 12:30Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one.
- 1 Kings 14:16And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and made Israel to sin."
- 1 Kings 21:11And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them,
- 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, "As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak."
- 2 Kings 16:15And King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, saying, "On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering and the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. And throw on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifice, but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by."
- 2 Chronicles 26:16But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.
- Daniel 3:18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
- Daniel 6:10When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
- Hosea 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after filth.
- Amos 7:16Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. "You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'
- Micah 6:16For you have kept the statutes of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and you have walked in their counsels, that I may make you a desolation, and your inhabitants a hissing; so you shall bear the scorn of my people."
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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