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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
- Acts 6:10They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
- Acts 3:7–10He took him by the right hand, and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength.
- Luke 6:10–11He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other.
- Dan 8:5As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn’t touch the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
- John 11:47–48The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs.
- Matt 27:16They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
- Dan 8:8The male goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of the sky.
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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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