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John Trapp Complete Commentary

Acts 4:20

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Ver. 20. For we cannot but speak] As Croesus' dumb son did for his father, a Strong affections if they find no vent, the heart will cleave; as the waters undermine when they cannot overflow.

a ανθρωπε, μη κτεινε τον Κροισον .

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See also Acts 4:20 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    FOR ... - This is given as a reason why they should obey God rather than man. They had had so clear evidence that God had sent the Messiah, and they had received a direct and solemn command Mark 16:15...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 __ 1. Their Arrest (Acts 4:1). 2. The Result of the Testimony (Acts 4:4). 3. Peter and John before the Rulers and Elders (Acts 4:5). 4. Peter's bold witness ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DILEMMA OF THE RULERS: THEIR VERDICT. The promise of Luke 21:15 is at once literally fulfilled, and the reasoning is given by which the judges felt themselves overborne. It is that Peter and John are...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    ARREST (Acts 4:1-4)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    When they saw how boldly Peter and John spoke, and when they had grasped the fact that they were men with no special knowledge and no special qualifications, they were amazed; and they recognized them...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BUT. not. As Acts 4:17. HAVE SEEN AND HEARD. saw (Greek. _eidon._ App-133.) and heard....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _the things which we have seen and heard_ Better, _which we_saw _and heard_. For their testimony related to the whole life of Jesus....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΕἼΔΑΜΕΝ ΚΑῚ ἨΚΟΎΣΑΜΕΝ, _we saw and heard_. For the witness is to be concerning the whole life of Jesus....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE APOSTLES ARE DISMISSED UNPUNISHED...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE APOSTLES WERE THREATENED ACTS 4:13-22:_ Their persecutors were perplexed by the boldness of Peter and John. They had perceived of Peter and John as being unlearned, ignorant men. However, that is...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΔΥΝΆΜΕΘΑ _praes. ind. pass. (dep.) от_ ΔΎΝΑΜΑΙ (G1410) быть способным, с _inf._ ΕΪΔΑΜΕΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΌΡΆΩ (G3708) видеть. ΉΚΟΎΣΑΜΕΝ _aor. ind. act., см._ Acts 4:19. ΛΑΛΕΊΝ _praes. act. inf.,...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1749 CONTEST BETWEEN PREJUDICE AND RELIGION Acts 4:18. _And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said un...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN. Acts 4:5-22. Acts 4:5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; Acts 4:6 and Annas the high priest was t...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 19...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. FOR WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD. Who can fail to observe here a rare union of sober, respectful appe...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    5 This was the supreme spiritual judiciary in Israel. It comprised the heads of the twenty-four courses of priests, the scribes, and elders, said to have been in all seventy-one. The names of the chie...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    4:20 refrain (g-7) Lit. 'cannot not speak.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ARREST OF PETER AND JOHN 1-22. Arrest of Peter and John. Peter's speech before the Sanhedrin. The proceedings of the Apostles displeased the authorities, (1) because they taught the people (Acts 4:2)...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 4 THE *JEWISH LEADERS ARREST PETER AND JOHN, 4:1-4 V1 Peter and John were speaking to the people. As they spoke, the priests, the captain of th...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK... — The pronoun is emphatic: “we, for our part”... The question at issue was one of bearing witness, and that witness they had received a special command to bear (Acts 1:8)....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    οὐ … μὴ : on the two negatives forming an affirmative _cf._ 1 Corinthians 12:15; Viteau, _Le Grec du N. T._, p. 220 (1893). Winer-Moulton, Leviticus, 9, compares Aristoph., _Ran._, 42; see also Burton...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BRAVING MEN TO OBEY GOD Acts 4:13-22 Do people realize that there is something about us which cannot be accounted for except that we have been with Jesus? Our company always influences us. A man is k...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Opposition to apostolic preaching and work seems to have originated mostly from the influence of the Sadducees. The preaching of the apostles contradicted all the cardinal elements in the Sadducean ph...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Compelled to Preach Peter and John made it clear that in their view the Sanhedrin had no authority to countermand a command from God. Further, they felt compelled, by the power of the things they had...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    We have seen and heard. From these words, St. John Chrysostom make some important remarks on the conduct of Christians. On returning from the theatre, or any public meeting, each can relate what he ha...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    ECCLESIASTICAL USURPATION 15-22. Here we see the preachers in authority at Jerusalem determine to crush out the holiness movement started by Jesus of Nazareth and perpetuated by His Apostles. So they...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (14) And behol...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    First of all we see man in an entirely new place man risen from among the dead and ascending to heaven. The risen ascended man, Christ Jesus, is the new starting-point of the dealings of God. The firs...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    20._For we cannot _Many things which are found out by hearing and seeing may, yea, ought to be concealed, when as the question is concerning the redeeming of peace. For this is a point of discourtesy...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In a word, they are invited to return by repentance, and enjoy all the promises made to Israel. The Messiah Himself should return from heaven to establish their blessing. The whole nation is here addr...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK,.... It was not physically, but morally impossible; or it was not lawful, and therefore they would not speak any other, and they could not avoid speaking, say they, THE THINGS...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Peter and John_ Feeling themselves animated in this arduous circumstance with a courageous zeal, which would not permit them to be silent, lest that silence should be interpreted as a promise to quit...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    WE CANNOT; they could not obey their rulers, and yet do right; neither can any man, when rulers command what God forbids....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The resolution announced to Peter and John:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The religious leaders were greatly agitated by the public speaking of the apostles, and the Sadducees particularly, for one of their cardinal doctrines was the denial of any resurrection. They were ev...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    FOR WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD. " 1. Here is the truth of the matter. These are things they witnessed themselves. 2. Peter was only telling what he saw, heard, and w...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard. 'WHICH WE SAW AND HEARD'-'Their message was no carried tale. They knew at first-hand that it was true; and they were so sure of it that they...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-22 All the care of the rulers is, that the doctrine of Christ spread not among the people, yet they cannot say it is false or dangerous, or of any ill tendency; and they are ashamed to own the tru...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK; in a moral, not in a physical sense; they could not restrain speaking, because of the necessity which was laid upon them, and the woe which would have befallen them, if they had n...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 4:20 For G1063 we G2249 cannot G3756 G1410 (G5736) but G3361 speak G2980 (G5721) things...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE HEARING BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN (4:1-22)....

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to take notice of you rather than of God, you yourselves must judge, for we cannot but speak the things which we...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _The Answer of Peter and John to the Threats of the Sanhedrim,_ 19-22. They say obedience must be shown to God rather than to men; as for them, they were only witnesses. After being again threatened,...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    FOR WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK (ου δυναμεθα γαρ ημεισ--μη λαλειν). Both negatives hold here, "For we (note emphatic ημεις) are not able not to speak" (what we saw and heard). This is defiance of the civil...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 4:20 There are two spiritual facts here presented to us: (1) that the true Christian has heard from heaven what is worth repeating, and (2) that the Spirit of Faith prompts the Christian to repe...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 4 Before the Council From this section of Apostolic history we may draw the following practical inferences: I. We may learn that if we are Christ's disciples we may expect to encounter antagon...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 4:1 Look at this passage: (1) from the side of the Jewish leaders; (2) from the side of the Apostles. I. On the side of the Jewish leaders there was (1) illiberality; (2) shortsightedness; (3)...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Peter and John were summoned before the priests to give an account for having healed the lame man, and for having preached in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. In the eighth verse we read: Acts 4:8. The...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The first persecution. Peter's address to the Sanhedrin. Preaching in Jesus' name forbidden. Christians again filled with the Spirit. State of the Church at Jerusalem. CHARACTERS: God, Jesu...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 4:1. _The captain of the temple_ was the captain of the watch, and saw that the levites performed their duty day and night. He beat them and set fire to their garments, if he found them asleep on...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    FOR WE CANNOT STOP SPEAKING. They are under an _obligation_ They are men with a mission to perform....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them._ THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE was an officer of a sort which Luke mentions in the plura...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor to teach in the name of Jesus._ CHRISTIAN COURAGE I. Its test. The apostles did not wish to separate themselves from the Jewish Churc...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 4:18 CHARGED THEM NOT TO SPEAK OR TEACH... IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Peter realized the impossibility of obeying this order (WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK). Believers cannot obey authorities when...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 4:13. PERCEIVED.—Lit., _having perceived_ from what they saw and heard at the time, or from previous inquiry. It would certainly have been strange if the Sanhedrists, and in pa...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 4:1 THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE. Only here and Acts 5:24, and Luke 22:4, Luke 22:52 in the plural some

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 9:16; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 1 John 1:1; 2 Samuel 23:2;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE RESULTS OF A FAITHFUL TESTIMONY Acts 4:13 INTRODUCTORY WORDS A real problem presented itself to the rulers of the Jews. They were greatly perturbed by the preaching of the disciples, and by the...

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