Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.
- BSB When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
- NKJV Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
- NASB Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
- NLT The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The council marveled at the boldness of the unschooled Peter and John and recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Their courage and likeness to Christ were unmistakable.
Overview
The apostles' boldness astonished the educated council, who saw they lacked formal rabbinic training. Yet their power came from having 'been with Jesus,' a phrase rich with meaning for all disciples. Time spent with Christ, and the indwelling Spirit, transforms ordinary people into bold witnesses. The verse encourages believers that intimacy with Jesus, not credentials, equips us to testify.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Cor 1:27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
- John 7:15And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
- Matt 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
- Acts 2:7–12And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
- Matt 26:73And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
- Matt 26:71And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
- John 18:16–17But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
- Matt 4:18–22And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
- Luke 22:56–60But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
- Matt 26:57–58And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
- John 7:49But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
- Luke 22:52–54Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
- John 19:26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
- Luke 22:8And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 4:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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