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Mark Dunagan Commentaries

Acts 4:20

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 were willing to stake their life upon it.' (Barclay p. 38)

Point to Note:

These verses infer: (a) We are obligated to obey the laws of the land and human authorities up to the point that such laws don't violate God's laws (Acts 5:29). (b) No human authority is absolute. No human authority has the right to impose laws which violate God's laws. (c) The Sanhedrin was in opposition to the will of God.

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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

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  • 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

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  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

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  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

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  • 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...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

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    _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...

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    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

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  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

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  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

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  • Sermon Bible Commentary

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  • Summarized Bible Commentary

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  • The Bible Study New Testament

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  • The Biblical Illustrator

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  • The Biblical Illustrator

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

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  • The Pulpit Commentaries

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  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

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  • 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

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Old Testament