Acts 4:16

16 "What shall we do with these men?" they asked. "Everyone in Jerusalem knows that this extraordinary miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it.

Acts 4:16 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:16

Saying, what shall we do to these men?
&c.] Whether they should punish them by scourging them, or detain them longer in custody, or commit them to prison, or dismiss them: for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them:
they were convicted that a miracle was wrought; that it was a clear case, a well known thing, of which there was no room to doubt, and that it was done by the apostles; but this was not all the difficulty, had it been a thing only within their knowledge, and which they could have concealed, it would have given them no uneasiness; but, as they observe, it is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem:
for the man having been so long lame, and had lain so long at the temple, where all the inhabitants frequently went, he was known and took notice of by them; and his cure being wrought so openly, and in such a miraculous way, it was the common talk of the city: so that there was no smothering it: and we cannot deny it;
the fact is so certain and evident; nor hide it, as the Ethiopic version renders it, it being so notorious and public.

Acts 4:16 In-Context

14 But there was nothing that they could say, because they saw the man who had been healed standing there with Peter and John.

15 So they told them to leave the Council room, and then they started discussing among themselves.

16 "What shall we do with these men?" they asked. "Everyone in Jerusalem knows that this extraordinary miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it.

17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn these men never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus."

18 So they called them back in and told them that under no condition were they to speak or to teach in the name of Jesus.