Acts 4:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

NIV: As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

NASB: for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.'

CSB: for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

NLT: We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.'

KJV: For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

NKJV: For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Shortly before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This isn't a command, it's just a statement of fact. Peter will validate the salvation of the Samaritans (Acts 8:14–17) and Gentiles (Acts 10). John will write his Gospel (John 21:24). Paul will insist he has no choice but to preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16).

Jesus told His disciples that as they preached, the authorities would persecute them. But He also explained how much they are worth to God, and to remember that their earthly tormentors may kill their bodies, but God forever holds their souls. He said that He would remain faithful to those who are faithful to Him, up to and including claiming them as His own before Father-God (Matthew 10:16–33).

By the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4), Peter and John have reached the place where Jesus wants them to be. They value their eternal souls more than their lives. They value Jesus' instruction more than their religious leaders. They trust God's plan more than they fear the ungodly authorities. They must speak, and they must speak what they know about Jesus. To obey the Sanhedrin's orders would be to directly disobey Jesus, and they are past the point where that is an option.

Acts 4:13–22 covers the reaction of the Sanhedrin to Peter's convicting assertion: that he and John healed a lame man by the power of Jesus' name. The Sanhedrin is frustrated to learn the followers of Jesus—the man they had killed—are in Jerusalem, healing and preaching and gathering more followers. The Sanhedrin wants them out of the way before they grow too popular. So they start slowly by forbidding Peter and John to teach about Jesus. It's an apparent win-win: either these uneducated commoners will stop telling everyone about Jesus or they will disobey a direct order and be vulnerable to greater punishment.

Acts 4 continues the story started in Acts 3. Peter and John have healed a man born lame and preached that Jesus has risen from the dead. The Sanhedrin orders their arrest for teaching the resurrection. The Jewish officials warn Peter and John to stop speaking in Jesus' name. Peter and John refuse, but, since they have committed no crime, the Sanhedrin releases them. Peter and John return to their friends, and the Jesus-followers pray for boldness in the face of growing persecution. The church continues to grow, sharing all their possessions so that no one is in need.

Acts 4 gives the first hints of the persecution the church will face throughout its history. Peter and John attract attention when Peter heals a well-known lame beggar, and Peter uses the publicity to tell others about Christ. The Sanhedrin cannot allow the apostles to continue teaching Jesus rose from the dead. They arrest, warn, and free Peter and John, but it's just the beginning. Soon, they will arrest and beat all the apostles (Acts 5:17–42). Then a mob will stone Stephen (Acts 7:54–60). And Saul will persecute Jesus-followers in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1–3) and beyond (Acts 9:1–2). The Sanhedrin fails to realize—if you send Jesus-followers fleeing into the world, they will take Jesus' message with them.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.