Acts 4:21

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, ^a“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

20 ^aFor we cannot but speak the things which ^bwe have seen and heard.”

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, ^abecause of the people, since they all ^bglorified God for ^cwhat had been done.

22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Prayer for Boldness

23 And being let go, ^athey went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, ^aYou are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
^a‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

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What Does Acts 4:21 Mean?

Acts 4:14-21

What a vivid example of the perversity of human nature! Instead of glorifying God as virtually everybody else in the crowd was doing, the Jewish leadership severely threatened the perpetrators of this wonderful and merciful act, giving no praise to God for His merciful part in it! Instead, they attempted to deny all the others in the crowd access to additional mercy God may have been willing to shower on them!

Human nature never changes, so we must be careful. Though subdued, it remains part of our makeup and must be held in check and overcome. These Jews, motivated by the same enmity we all have against God and His laws (Romans 8:7), were following the pattern set by their ancestors when they killed the prophets God in His mercy had sent to them.

John W. Ritenbaugh
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Four)

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