Focused Passage

Acts 4:23-31

Christ Alone Saves and His Witnesses Speak Boldly

The apostles are arrested for preaching Jesus, Peter boldly proclaims salvation in Christ alone, the authorities threaten them, and the church prays for greater boldness rather than safety.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

23 On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’

27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.

28 They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.

29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,

30 as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 23

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction On their release Ἀπολυθέντες G630 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural [Peter and John] returned ἦλθον G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition [their] τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural own people ἰδίους G2398 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction reported ἀπήγγειλαν G518 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural everything that ὅσα G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural chief priests ἀρχιερεῖς G749 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural elders πρεσβύτεροι G4245 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural had said εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 24

Original words

[When] δὲ G1161 Conjunction - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural [the believers] heard this ἀκούσαντες G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural they lifted up ἦραν G142 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural [their] voices φωνὴν G5456 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεὸν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular with one accord ὁμοθυμαδὸν G3661 Adverb Sovereign Lord Δέσποτα G1203 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction they said εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular made ποιήσας G4160 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular heaven οὐρανὸν G3772 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular earth γῆν G1093 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular sea θάλασσαν G2281 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Neuter 3rd Person Plural
Verse 25

Original words

[You] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular τοῦ τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular spoke εἰπών G2036 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular by διὰ G1223 Preposition [the] Holy Ἁγίου G40 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεύματος G4151 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular through [the] mouth στόματος G4750 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular servant παιδός G3816 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural father πατρὸς G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular David Δαυὶδ G1138 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - Ἵνα‿ G2443 Conjunction Why Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular {do} the nations ἔθνη G1484 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural rage ἐφρύαξαν G5433 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [the] peoples λαοὶ G2992 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural plot ἐμελέτησαν G3191 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural in vain κενά G2756 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Or child; also in verses 27 and 30
Verse 26

Original words

The οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural kings βασιλεῖς G935 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular take [their] stand παρέστησαν G3936 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural rulers ἄρχοντες G758 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural gather συνήχθησαν G4863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural together ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition . . . τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . αὐτὸ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular against κατὰ G2596 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Lord Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction against κατὰ G2596 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Anointed One Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or His Christ or His Messiah; Psalm 2:1–2
Verse 27

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction In ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition fact ἀληθείας G225 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular this ταύτῃ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular is the [very] τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular city πόλει G4172 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular [where] ἐν G1722 Preposition Herod Ἡρῴδης G2264 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv τε G5037 Conjunction and καὶ G2532 Conjunction Pontius Πόντιος G4194 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Pilate Πιλᾶτος G4091 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular conspired Συνήχθησαν G4863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural with σὺν G4862 Preposition [the] Gentiles ἔθνεσιν G1484 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [the] people λαοῖς G2992 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural of Israel Ἰσραήλ G2474 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular against ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular holy ἅγιον G40 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular servant Παῖδά G3816 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular whom ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular You anointed ἔχρισας G5548 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 28

Original words

They carried out ποιῆσαι G4160 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active what ὅσα G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular hand χείρ G5495 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular - σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular will βουλὴ G1012 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular had decided beforehand προώρισεν G4309 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular would happen γενέσθαι G1096 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle
Verse 29

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural now νῦν G3568 Adverb Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular consider ἔπιδε G1896 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural threats ἀπειλὰς G547 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction enable δὸς G1325 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular servants δούλοις G1401 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural to speak λαλεῖν G2980 Verb - Present Infinitive Active Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular word λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular with μετὰ G3326 Preposition complete πάσης G3956 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular boldness παρρησίας G3954 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 30

Original words

as ἐν G1722 Preposition . . . τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular stretch out ἐκτείνειν G1614 Verb - Present Infinitive Active Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular hand χεῖρά G5495 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition heal ἴασιν G2392 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [perform] γίνεσθαι G1096 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive signs σημεῖα G4592 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction wonders τέρατα G5059 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural through διὰ G1223 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular name ὀνόματος G3686 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of Your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular holy ἁγίου G40 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular servant Παιδός G3816 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 31

Original words

[After] Καὶ G2532 Conjunction they αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural had prayed δεηθέντων G1189 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [their] ἦσαν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural meeting συνηγμένοι G4863 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural place τόπος G5117 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἐν G1722 Preposition . . . G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular was shaken ἐσαλεύθη G4531 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv ἅπαντες G537 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural they were all filled with ἐπλήσθησαν G4130 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular Holy Ἁγίου G40 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεύματος G4151 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction spoke ἐλάλουν G2980 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular word λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular vvv μετὰ G3326 Preposition boldly παρρησίας G3954 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.