Acts 4:23-31
English Standard Version
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices (A)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, (B)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,[a] said by the Holy Spirit,
(C)“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and (D)the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his (E)Anointed’[b]—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your (F)holy servant Jesus, (G)whom you anointed, both (H)Herod and (I)Pontius Pilate, along (J)with the Gentiles and (K)the peoples of Israel, 28 (L)to do whatever your hand and (M)your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, (N)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all (O)boldness, 30 while (P)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed (Q)through the name of your (R)holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, (S)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and (T)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and (U)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
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Acts 4:23-31
Lexham English Bible
The Believers Pray for Continued Bold Witness
23 And when they[a] were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they[b] heard it,[c] they lifted their voices with one mind to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them, 25 the one who said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant,
‘Why do the nations[d] rage,
and the peoples conspire in vain?
26 The kings of the earth stood opposed,
and the rulers assembled together at the same place,
against the Lord and against his Christ.’[e]
27 For in truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, 28 to do all that your hand and plan[f] had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness, 30 as you extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when[g] they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak[h] the word[i] of God with boldness.
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- Acts 4:23 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were released”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 4:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 4:24 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 4:25 Or “Gentiles”; the same Greek word can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles” depending on the context
- Acts 4:26 Or “Messiah”; this is a quotation from Ps 2:1–2
- Acts 4:28 Some manuscripts have “and your plan”
- Acts 4:31 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had prayed”)
- Acts 4:31 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to speak”)
- Acts 4:31 Or “message”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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