They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Parallel translations
- KJV And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
- BSB Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
- NKJV So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
- NASB And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
- NLT So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of 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 commanded Peter and John not to speak or teach at all in Jesus' name. They demanded total silence about Christ.
Overview
The prohibition is sweeping, forbidding any speaking or teaching in Jesus' name. It places the apostles before a clear choice between obeying human authority and obeying God. This command sets up Peter and John's famous reply about whom they must obey. The verse frames a central tension for the church: when human authority forbids the gospel, faithfulness to Christ must take precedence.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Acts 5:40They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
- Luke 24:46–48He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
- Acts 5:20“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
- Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 4:18 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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