Acts 4:19

19 But Peter and John answered [and] said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you decide!

Acts 4:19 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:19

But Peter and John answered and said unto them
With great boldness and courage, and without any fear of man, but in the true fear of God whether it be right in the sight of God;
who is omniscient, and sees, and knows all things, all the actions of men, and the springs of them; who is holy, just, and true, and sits and judges among the gods, that which is right: to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye:
it is not denied that magistrates are to be hearkened to, and obeyed: but not more than God, or in things that are contrary to his nature, will, law, honour, and glory: whatever is agreeable to the law and will of God, commanded by magistrates, should be attended to, and cheerfully obeyed; but what is not should be disregarded, whatever follows upon it: and this was so just and reasonable, that the apostles appeal to the sanhedrim, or council itself, to determine.

Acts 4:19 In-Context

17 But in order that it may not spread much [further] among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name {to anyone at all}."

18 And they called them [back] [and] commanded [them] not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered [and] said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you decide!

20 For we are not able to refrain from speaking about [the things] that we have seen and heard."

21 So [after] threatening [them] further, they released them, finding no way to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb