Acts 4:21

21 After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened.

Acts 4:21 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:21

So when they had further threatened them
Either repeated the same, as before; or added some more severe ones, to terrify them, if possible; not being able to answer their arguments, or invalidate their reasoning: they let them go;
they did not acquit them as innocent persons, but dismissed them from custody: finding nothing how they might punish them;
not being able, though they sought most diligently for it, to fix anything upon them, which might be a cause, or occasion, or pretence of inflicting any punishment upon them: because of the people:
they would not have stuck at the injustice of it, or have been under any concern about offending God; but they were afraid of the people, of losing their credit among them, and lest they should rise up against them, and on the side of the apostles: for all men glorified God for that which was done;
they saw the hand of God in it, and ascribed it to his mercy, goodness, and power, and gave him the glory of it; and therefore to punish the instruments of so great and good a work, would have been esteemed barbarous and wicked, and would have been highly resented by them; since, on the contrary, they judged them worthy of great honour and respect.

Acts 4:21 In-Context

19 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;

20 for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard."

21 After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened.

22 For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

23 After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.