Acts 4:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 4:15-18

What shall we do to these men? - The object which they had in view was evidently to prevent their preaching. The miracle was performed, and it was believed by the people to have been made. This they could not expect to be able successfully to deny. Their only object, therefore, was to prevent the apostles from making the use which they saw they would to convince the people that Jesus was the Messiah. The question was, in what way they should prevent this; whether by putting them to death, by... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 4:15-18

Acts 4:15-18. But when they had commanded them to go aside To withdraw, not being willing they should hear the acknowledgments that were extorted from them; they conferred among themselves Privately. Now the scripture was fulfilled which foretold that the rulers would take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, Psalms 2:2; saying, What shall we do to these men? If they would have yielded to the convincing, commanding power of truth, it would have been easy to say... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 4:1-31

Growth brings opposition (4:1-31)During the centuries leading up to the Christian era (see ‘The New Testament World’), several parties had arisen within the Jewish religion. The most important of these were the Pharisees and the Sadducees.The Pharisees came mainly from the common people, and tried to preserve the Jewish way of life from the corruption of foreign ideas and political ambition. They were concerned with the outward show of religion, but not so concerned with correct attitudes of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 4:18

not. Greek. me. App-105 . speak = speak forth. Greek. phthengomai. Only here, and 2 Peter 2:16 , 2 Peter 2:18 . Compare Acts 2:4 . at all. Greek. katholou. Only here. nor. Greek. mede. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 4:18

And they called them and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye.This same Sanhedrin had once hailed the man born blind before their council; and throughout the proceedings the name of Jesus was not mentioned, in all probability because they had forbidden it; but Peter and John had boldly flaunted the name of Jesus before them, and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 4:18

Acts 4:18. Not to speak at all, &c.— That is, privately; nor to teach, that is, publicly. This is the very thing which men, conscious of the truth of the apostles testimony, and self-condemned, would do,—stop their mouths by violence, as they knew they could not answer them any other way. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 4:18

18-22. Whether it be right . . . to hearken to you more than . . . God, judge ye. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:1-31

1. External opposition 3:1-4:31Opposition to the Christians’ message first came from external sources, particularly the leaders of Judaism. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:13-22

The Sanhedrin’s response 4:13-22 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:18-20

The Sanhedrin ordered the apostles not to speak or teach at all as Jesus’ spokesmen. This order provided a legal basis for further action should that be necessary (cf. Acts 5:28). Peter and John saw the command of the Sanhedrin as contradicting the command that Christ had given them (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20). They could not obey both, so they had to obey God (cf. Jeremiah 20:9). This is the only basis for civil disobedience that Scripture permits. In all other matters we must obey those in... read more

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