Acts 4:7

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name have ye done this?

Acts 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:7

And when they had set them in the midst
Of the assembly, as the Ethiopic version adds; in the middle of the sanhedrim, which sat in a semicircular form; or as the Jews express it, as the half of a round corn floor, or as a half moon, and not in a perfect circle; because it was necessary that the contending parties, and the witnesses, might go in and speak before them all {b}; so that those that were set before them, were placed in the middle of them: and here Peter and John were set; so the Arabic version renders it, "when they set both": they sent for them out of the hold, or custody, where they had been all night, and ordered them to be brought before them, to be examined about their doctrine and practice:

they asked, by what power, or by what name have ye done this?
they inquired of them, whether it was by a natural, or by a divine, or by a diabolical power, that they had wrought the cure upon the lame man? whether it was by the use of medicine, or by the help of magic art, and the assistance of the devil, which they were very ready to charge Christ and his disciples with? or whether they pretended to a divine and supernatural aid? and also what name they had made use of, and by whose authority they acted?

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 4. sect. 3. & Bartenora in ib.

Acts 4:7 In-Context

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were assembled at Jerusalem.

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name have ye done this?

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made sound.