World English Bible · Under Rome
Acts 4
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As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of and the came to them, being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in the from . They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening. But many of those who heard the word , and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. In the morning, their , , and were gathered together in . Annas the was there, with , , , and as many as were relatives of the . When they had stood and in the middle of them, they inquired, "By what , or in what name, have you done this?" Then , filled with , said to them, "You of the people and , if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, may it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of of , whom you , whom , this man stands here before you whole in him. He is 'the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the .' There is in no one else, for there is no other name under that is given among men, by which we must be !" Now when they saw the boldness of and , and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with . Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of , they conferred among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who in , and we can't deny it. But so that this spreads no further among the people, let's threaten them, that from now on they don't speak to anyone in this name." They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of . But and answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of to listen to you rather than to , judge for yourselves, for we can't help telling the things which we saw and heard." When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified for that which was done. For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old. Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the and the had said to them. When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to with one accord and said, "O , you are , who made , the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who , said, 'Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a thing? The kings of the earth take a stand, and the plot together, against , and against his Christ.' "For truly, both Herod and , with the and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your servant , whom you , to do whatever your hand and your foreordained to happen. Now, , look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your Servant ." When they had , the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with , and they spoke the word of with boldness. of those who were of one and . Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he was his own, but they had all things in common. With great , gave their of the of . Great was on them all. For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at ' feet; and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need. Joses, who by was also called (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a , a man of by race, having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at ' feet.
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
Christians read this chapter differently
- What about those who never hear? · Acts 4:12
Every view at its strongest, with who holds it and what it has to answer for.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.