Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
Parallel translations
- WEB saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it.
- BSB “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.
- NKJV saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
- NASB saying, “What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
- NLT “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it.
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 admitted that a notable miracle had been done, plain to all in Jerusalem, which they could not deny. They acknowledged the reality of the sign even as they resisted it.
Overview
Their own words confess the genuineness of the miracle, a striking admission from those opposing the apostles. They recognize the truth yet refuse to submit to it, hardening themselves against the evidence. This illustrates that miracles alone do not produce faith; the heart must be willing to bow to God. The council sees God's work clearly yet will not honor the One who performed it.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- John 12:18For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
- Luke 21:15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
- Acts 6:10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
- Acts 3:7–10And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
- Luke 6:10–11And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
- Dan 8:5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
- John 11:47–48Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
- Matt 27:16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
- Dan 8:8Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
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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 4:16 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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