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

5The next day the Jewish rulers, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings met in Jerusalem. 6The chief priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the rest of the chief priest’s family were present. They made Peter and John stand in front of them and then asked, “By what power or in whose name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and leaders of the people, 9today you are cross-examining us about the good we did for a crippled man. You want to know how he was made well.

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 5:27When they brought back the apostles, they made them stand in front of the council. The chief priest questioned them.
• 1 Kings 21:12They announced a fast and had Naboth seated as the leader of the people.
• John 8:3The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone
• Exodus 2:14The man asked, “Who made you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought that everyone knew what he had done.
• Matthew 21:23Then Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”
• Mark 11:28They asked him, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?”
• John 2:18The Jews reacted by asking Jesus, “What miracle can you show us to justify what you’re doing?”
• Acts 4:10You and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands in your presence with a healthy body because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You crucified Jesus Christ, but God has brought him back to life.
• Acts 5:28He said, “We gave you strict orders not to mention Jesus’ name when you teach. Yet, you’ve filled Jerusalem with your teachings. You want to take revenge on us for putting that man to death.”

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