Acts 4:23-31
Modern English Version
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 On being released, they went to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they lifted their voices in unity to God and prayed, “Lord, You are God, who has made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 and who by the mouth of Your servant David said:
‘Why did the nations rage,
and the people devise vain things?
26 The kings of the earth came,
and the rulers were assembled together
against the Lord
and against His Christ.’[a]
27 Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were assembled together against Your holy Son Jesus whom You have anointed, 28 to do what Your hand and Your counsel had foreordained to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant that Your servants may speak Your word with great boldness, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be performed in the name of Your holy Son Jesus.”
31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke 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”
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