The Name of Jesus Forbidden

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, (A)and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed (B)standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, (C)“What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a [a]notable miracle has been done through them is (D)evident[b] to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

18 (E)So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, (F)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 (G)For we cannot but speak the things which (H)we have seen and heard.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:16 remarkable sign
  2. Acts 4:16 well known

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John(A) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,(B) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.(C) 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin(D) and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?”(E) they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign,(F) and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.(G) 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?(H) You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking(I) about what we have seen and heard.”(J)

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