Acts 4:20
in Acts 4For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.
KJV
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
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This verse in Acts 4
Commentary
4 notes on this verseFor we cannot but speak,.... It was not physically, but morally impossible; or it was not lawful, and therefore they would not speak any other, and they could not avoid speaking, say they, the things which we have seen and heard; as the miracles and doctrines of Christ, his resurrection from the dead, of which they were eye and ear witnesses. This shows their great fidelity and integrity, their inviolable attachment to Christ, and their fearlessness of the displeasure and wrath of men.
This site's exposition
commanded them not to speak at all
on Acts 4:18-20
They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus, the council issuing a gag order it has no power to enforce beyond threat. Peter and John answer with a question rather than a refusal, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye, placing the council in the position of having to answer against its own conscience. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard: the ground is eyewitness testimony, not opinion or preference, and the bench reads this verse as the classic statement of the limit of human authority over conscience wherever it contradicts a direct command of God.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For ... - This is given as a reason why they should obey God rather than man. They had had so clear evidence that God had sent the Messiah, and they had received a direct and solemn command Mar 16:15 to preach the gospel, that they could not be restrained. There was a necessity laid on them to preach. See 1Co 9:16. Compare Jer 20:9; Act 18:5; Job 32:18-19; Psa 39:1-3. It has already been remarked that these two verses contain an important principle in favor of religious liberty the liberty of conscience and of private judgment.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard--There is here a wonderful union of sober, respectful appeal to the better reason of their judges, and calm, deep determination to abide the consequences of a constrained testimony, which betokens a power above their own resting upon them, according to promise.
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| δυνάμεθα | dunametha | we are able | G1410 → | 207 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | we ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἃ | ha | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| εἴδαμεν | eidamen | we have seen | G1492 → | 374 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἠκούσαμεν | ekousamen | we heard | G191 → | 425 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| λαλεῖν. | lalein | to speak. | G2980 → | 294 times |
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
δυνάμεθαwe are able
dunamethaG1410 →207 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἡμεῖςwe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
ἃwhat
haG3739 →1405 times
εἴδαμενwe have seen
eidamenG1492 →374 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἠκούσαμενwe heard
ekousamenG191 →425 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
λαλεῖν.to speak.
laleinG2980 →294 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 20:9If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of…
it leads to
- Psalms 39:3
My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
- Job 32:18–20
For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.
- 1 Corinthians 9:16–17
Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
- Acts 17:16
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
- Ezekiel 3:14
So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.
- Psalms 39:3
Through
Acts 5:32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
it leads to
- Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 24:47–48
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 15:26–27
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.
- Acts 1:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.