Acts 4:19

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 so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 18And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;

Acts 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

• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• and JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Whetherεἰei · ifG1487
• it is rightδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
• in the sightἐνώπιονenōpion · beforeG1799
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• to giveἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• to you ratherμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
• thanἤē · orG2228
• you be the judgeκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919

Cross-references for Acts 4:19

• 2 Corinthians 4:2but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending 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 acceptable 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 had commanded them, but let the boys live.
• 1 Kings 12:30Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.
• 1 Kings 14:16He will give up Israel on account of the sins of Jeroboam, which he committed and with which he made Israel to sin.”
• 1 Kings 21:11So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent them.
• 1 Kings 22:14But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak.”
• 2 Kings 16:15Then King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, “Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering and the evening meal offering and the king’s burnt offering and his meal offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land and their meal offering and their drink offerings; and sprinkle 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 became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and 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 are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
• Daniel 6:10Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
• Hosea 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, Because he was determined to follow man’s command.
• Amos 7:16Now hear the word of the Lord: you are saying, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you speak against the house of Isaac.’
• Micah 6:16The statutes of Omri And all the works of the house of Ahab are observed; And in their devices you walk. Therefore I will give you up for destruction And your inhabitants for derision, And you will bear the reproach 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

• Caiaphas
• Conscience
• Courage
• Court
• Duty
• Government
• Intolerance, Religious
• John
• Minister, Christian
• Obedience
• Persecution
• Peter
• Priest
• Testimony
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• Peter
• Peter, Simon Peter, Cephas
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Counsel
• Hold
• Notable
• Possess
• Sanhedrim
• Threaten

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