Acts 4:23
in Acts 4On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.
KJV
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
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This verse in Acts 4
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThe Apostles Peter and John "went to their own and reported" everything that had happened to them. They reported not out of ambition, but to show clear evidences of the grace of Christ.
This site's exposition
On their release
on Acts 4:23-24
Peter and John report the chief priests' threats to their own people, and the believers answer with one accord in prayer. The prayer opens on God as Creator of heaven, earth and sea before a word about the threat.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Not for their own glory did they tell the tale-how should such be their motive?-but what they displayed was the proofs therein exhibited of the grace of Christ. All that their adversaries had said, this they told; their own part, it is likely, they omitted: this made the hearers all the more courageous. What then? These again flee to the true Succor, to the Alliance invincible, and again, "with one accord."
See the unostentatious conduct of the Apostles, and their largeness of mind. They did not go about boasting, and say, "How we served the priests!" nor were they ambitious of honor: but, we read, "they came unto their own company." Observe how they do not cast themselves upon temptations, but when the temptations present themselves, with courage endure them. Had it been some other of the disciples, perhaps, emboldened by the countenance of the multitude, he might have insulted, might have vented ever so many harsh expressions. But not so these true philosophers; they do all with mildness and with gentleness.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
That they might have it recorded in the history of the church, for the benefit of posterity, particularly for the confirmation of our faith touching the resurrection of Christ. The silence of an adversary, in some cases, is next door to the consent and testimony of an adversary.
And being let go,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
They went to their own company - This was properly the first persecution that had been raised up against the Church since the resurrection of Christ; and as the rest of the disciples must have known that Peter and John had been cast into prison, and that they were to be examined before the sanhedrin, and knowing the evil disposition of the rulers toward their brethren, they doubtless made joint supplication to God for their safety. In this employment it is likely Peter and John found them on their return from the council, and repeated to them all their treatment, with the threats of the chief priests and elders.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Their own company - They joined the other apostles and Christians, Act 2:44-45. And reported ... - It doubtless became a subject of interesting inquiry what they should do in this case. They had been threatened by the highest authority of the nation, and commanded not to preach again in the name of Jesus.
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἀπολυθέντες | apoluthentes | Having been let go | G630 → | 63 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἦλθον | elthon | they came | G2064 → | 628 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τοὺς | tous | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἰδίους | idious | [their] own | G2398 → | 114 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀπήγγειλαν | apengeilan | reported | G518 → | 43 times |
| ὅσα | hosa | as much as | G3745 → | 110 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀρχιερεῖς | archiereis | chief priests | G749 → | 122 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρεσβύτεροι | presbuteroi | elders | G4245 → | 65 times |
| εἶπαν. | eipan | had said. | G2036 → | 925 times |
ἈπολυθέντεςHaving been let go
apoluthentesG630 →63 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ἦλθονthey came
elthonG2064 →628 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
τοὺς<the>
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἰδίους[their] own
idiousG2398 →114 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀπήγγειλανreported
apengeilanG518 →43 times
ὅσαas much as
hosaG3745 →110 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἀρχιερεῖςchief priests
archiereisG749 →122 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
πρεσβύτεροιelders
presbuteroiG4245 →65 times
εἶπαν.had said.
eipanG2036 →925 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
Proverbs 13:20He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:33–34
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- Proverbs 15:31
He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
- Proverbs 9:6
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:14–18
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
- Psalms 119:63
I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
- 1 Corinthians 15:33–34
Through
Psalms 119:63I am a friend to all who fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts.
it leads to
- Psalms 101:6
My eyes favor the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way of integrity shall minister to me.
- Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
- Malachi 3:16–18
At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD…
- Psalms 101:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 11; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.