Acts 4:8
in Acts 4Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,
KJV
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
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This verse in Acts 4
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThen Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,.... At that very instant, having received a fresh measure of the gifts and graces of the Spirit, besides what he had poured forth upon him at the day of Pentecost; so that he had great courage and presence of mind, and freedom of speech, as Christ had promised his disciples they should have, when they were brought before governors and magistrates, Mat 10:
This site's exposition
filled with the Holy Spirit
on Acts 4:8-10
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks before rulers, as Jesus promised the disciples in Luke 12:11 to 12. He answers directly that the man stands healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified and God raised.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
"Ye rulers of the people," etc. Observe his wisdom: he does not say outright, "In the Name of Jesus we did it," but how? "In His Name this man"-He does not say, "was made whole by us;" but-"doth stand here before you whole." And again, "If we be examined concerning the good deed done to the impotent man." He hits them hard, that they are always making a crime of such acts, finding fault with works of beneficence done to men: and he reminds them of their former doings, that they run to do murder, and not only so, but make a crime of doing good deeds.
Observe what they say: "And by what name have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them." And now, I pray you, call to mind Christ's saying; "When they deliver you up unto the synagogues, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall speak; for it is the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." So that it was a mighty Power they enjoyed. What then says Peter? "Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel." Mark the Christian wisdom of the man; how full of confidence it is: he utters not a word of insult, but says with respect, "Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we be this day called to account of the good deed done to the impotent man." He takes them in hand right valiantly; by the opening of his speech he exposes them, and reminds them of the former things: that it is for a work of beneficence they are calling them to account. As if he had said, "In all fairness we ought to have been crowned for this deed, and proclaimed benefactors; but since we are even put upon our trial for a good deed done to an impotent man," not a rich man, not powerful, not noble-and yet who would feel envy in a case like this? It is a most forcible way of putting the case; and he shows that they are piercing their own selves.
"Rulers of the people," according to the position of the rough crowd.
"Elders of Israel," according to the teaching and solid authority of the people raised toward greater sanctity. For he divided the assembly of hearers into two, so that those of them who are not equally capable of understanding what is said, some only casually hearing …
The Medieval Church1 voice
He said to them: "Rulers of the people and elders." In Greek, it includes more: "And elders of Israel, listen." Similarly, in the following, where it is said: "In this, he stands before you healthy," in Greek it is: "Before you healthy today, and in …
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Leaders of the people and elders of Israel." Notice what philosophy. Where necessity demands, Peter reproaches them very strongly. Thus, he called them by honorable names; but when he came to the matter itself, he no longer retreats from the fitting rebuke, indirectly reminding them …
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost - Which guided him into all truth, and raised him far above the fear of man; placing him in a widely different state of mind to that in which he was found when, in the hall of Caiaphas, he denied his Master, through fear of a servant girl.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Filled with the Holy Ghost - See the notes on Act 2:4. Ye rulers ... - Peter addressed the Sanhedrin with perfect respect. He did not call in question their authority to propose this question. He seemed to regard this as a favorable opportunity to declare the truth and state the evidence of the Christian religion. In this he acted on the principle of the injunction which he himself afterward gave 1Pe 3:15, “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Innocence is willing to be questioned; and a believer in the truth will rejoice in any opportunity to state the evidence of what is believed. It is remarkable, also, that this was before the Great Council of the nation - the body that was clothed with the highest authority. Peter could not have forgotten that before this very council, and these very men, his Master had been arraigned and condemned; nor could he have forgotten that in the very room where this same council was convened to try his Lord, he had himself shrunk from an honest avowal of attachment to him, and shamefully and profanely denied him. That he was now able to stand boldly before this same tribunal evinced a remarkable change in his feelings, and was a most clear and impressive proof of the genuineness of his repentance when he went out and wept bitterly. Compare Luk 22:54-62. And we may remark here, that one of the most clear evidences of the sincerity of repentance is when it leads to a result like this. So deeply was the heart of Peter affected by his sin Luk 22:62, and so genuine was his sorrow, that he doubtless remembered his crime on this occasion, and the memory of it inspired him with boldness. It may be further remarked, that one evidence of the genuineness of repentance is a desire to repair the evil which is done by crime. […]
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τότε | tote | Then | G5119 → | 160 times |
| Πέτρος | petros | Peter | G4074 → | 155 times |
| πλησθεὶς | plestheis | having been filled | G4130 → | 24 times |
| πνεύματος | pneumatos | with [the] Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| ἁγίου | hagiou | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| εἶπεν | eipen | said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| αὐτούς· | autous | them; | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἄρχοντες | archontes | Rulers | G758 → | 37 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαοῦ | laou | people | G2992 → | 141 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πρεσβύτεροι | presbuteroi | elders | G4245 → | 65 times |
ΤότεThen
toteG5119 →160 times
ΠέτροςPeter
petrosG4074 →155 times
πλησθεὶςhaving been filled
plestheisG4130 →24 times
πνεύματοςwith [the] Spirit
pneumatosG4151 →378 times
ἁγίουHoly
hagiouG40 →220 times
εἶπενsaid
eipenG2036 →925 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
αὐτούς·them;
autousG846 →5565 times
ἄρχοντεςRulers
archontesG758 →37 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
λαοῦpeople
laouG2992 →141 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πρεσβύτεροιelders
presbuteroiG4245 →65 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
Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
it leads to
- Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
- Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 4:31
After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
- Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
- Mark 16:17
Through
Acts 4:31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
it leads to
- Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
- Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
- Acts 2:2
Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
- Matthew 21:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 10; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.