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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Acts 4:30

While thou stretchest forth thy hand

(εν τω την χειρα εκτεινειν σε). Luke's favourite idiom, "In the stretching out (articular present active infinitive) the hand as to thee" (accusative of general reference), the second allusion to God's "hand" in this prayer (verse Acts 4:28).To heal

(εις ιασιν). For healing. See verse Acts 4:22.And that signs and wonders may be done

(κα σημεια κα τερατα γινεσθα). Either to be taken as in the same construction as εκτεινειν with εν τω as Revised Version has it here or to be treated as subordinate purpose to εν τω εκτεινειν (as Knowling, Page, Wendt, Hackett). The latter most likely true. They ask for a visible sign or proof that God has heard this prayer for courage to be faithful even unto death.

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See also Acts 4:30 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 4:30 th.n cei/ra, @sou# evktei,nein se Instead of th.n cei/ra, sou, read by î45 (evktei,nein before th.n cei/ra, sou) a Dgr E P Y and most...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 30. _BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND TO HEAL_] Show that it is thy truth which we proclaim, and confirm it with miracles, and show how highly thou hast magnified thy Son Jesus, whom they have des...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND ... - The apostles not only desired boldness to speak, but they asked that God would continue to work miracles, and thus furnish to them, and to the people, evidence of...

  • 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

    RETURN OF THE APOSTLES TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE. The Christians are spoken of as if they lived together (_cf. Acts 1:14_, Acts 2:44) or at least had a hall where they could all meet. The prayer (Acts 4:24)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

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

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    When they had been released, they came to their own people and they told them all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they had heard the story, with one accord, they lifted up the...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    TO HEAL. for(Greek. _eis_. App-104.) healing. SIGNS. As in verses: Acts 4:10; Acts 4:22. WONDERS. Greek. _teras_. App-176....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _by stretching forth_, &c. Lit. _while thou stretchest forth_. Thus the mighty works were to be a sign and testimony to the words which the Apostles spake. For as had been said of their Master, none c...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΤῊΝ ΧΕΙ͂ΡΆ ΣΟΥ ἘΚΤΕΊΝΕΙΝ ΣΕ. Literally, ‘while Thou stretchest forth Thine hand.’ Thus the mighty works were to be a sign and testimony to the words which the Apostles spake, to demonstrate th...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE APOSTLES RELEASED. THEIR PRAYER AND ITS ANSWER...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE APOSTLES IN THEIR OWN COMPANY ACTS 4:23-37:_ When the apostles came back to their own company they: (1) reported what commands and injunctions their accusers had lain upon them, (2) reported what...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΚΤΕΊΝΕΙΝ _praes. act. inf. от_ ΈΚΤΕΊΝΩ (G1614) протягивать. _Inf._ с _предл._ ΈΝ (G1722) выражает одновременное действие. Эта фраза, повидимому, объясняет ΔΌΣ (Barrett). ΓΊΝΕΣΘΑΙ _aor. med. (dep.) i...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    8. IN THE UPPER ROOM. Acts 4:28, Acts 5:11. a. The Prayer Service. Acts 4:23-31. Acts 4:23 And being let go, they came to their own company,

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 23...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND TO HEAL; AND THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE BY...

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

    30 The timid opposition of the Sanhedrin is in contrast to the boldness of those who proclaimed the evangel. God manifested Himself by miraculous interventions, and the powers of the kingdom abounded....

  • 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)...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PRAYER OF THE APOSTLES ON THEIR RELEASE. 24. WITH ONE ACCORD] The prayer was probably led by St. Peter, the others repeating the words after him....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BY STRETCHING] RV 'while thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal.'...

  • 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

    BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND TO HEAL. — There seems something like an intentional assonance in the Greek words which St. Luke uses — _iâsis_ (healing) and _Jesus_ (pronounced _Iesus_) — as though he...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἐν τῷ κ. τ. λ., Acts 3:26 : a Hebraistic formula; for similar expressions used of God _cf._ Exodus 7:5; Jeremiah 15:6; Ezekiel 6:14, etc., most frequently in the

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    HELP FROM ON HIGH Acts 4:23-35 Like draws to like; Judas went to his own place, and the Apostles to their own company. The best answer to threats is prayer. The Apostles' one petition just then was...

  • 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

    _That thou stretch forth thy hand. [4] Literally, in this that thou stretch forth thy hand to cures, &c. They pray to God, that he would continue to confirm their faith by miracles. (Witham)_ [BIBLIO...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    SECOND PENTECOST 23-31. During the imprisonment and trial of Peter and John the one hundred and eighteen, with quite a host of the Pentecostal converts, are pushing the battle for God and souls on the...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. (24) And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accor...

  • 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

    30._Grant unto thy servants. _Seeing that one miracle had stinged the enemy so sore how is it that these holy men do desire to have new miracles done daily? Therefore we gather that hence which I have...

  • 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

    BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND TO HEAL,.... That is, by exerting his power in healing sicknesses, diseases, and lameness, as in the above instance, by the hands of the apostles; which, as it would be...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Ver. 30. _And that signs and wonders_] _Etiamsi rumpantur adversarii, et toti infer...

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

    _And now, Lord_ As to what remains to accomplish this important scheme, of raising thy church on the sure foundation of thy Son's cross; _behold their threatenings_ With which they are endeavouring to...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    STRETCHING FORTH THY HAND; exerting thy power....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The conclusion of the prayer and its answer:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND TO HEAL; AND THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE BY THE NAME OF THY HOLY CHILD JESUS....

  • 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

    BY STRETCHING OUT YOUR HAND TO HEAL, AND THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE THROUGH THE NAME OF YOUR HOLY SERVANT JESUS. " 1. Let all see Your power - signs, wonders. 2. Let all know of Jesus....

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. 'TO HEAL'-'As Alexander pointed out, "their demand is not now for mirac...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    23-31 Christ's followers do best in company, provided it is their own company. It encourages God's servants, both in doing work, and suffering work, that they serve the God who made all things, and t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND; they desire nothing else to embolden them, but God's owning them and their work. THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE: miracles were then necessary, as being the seal of...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 4:30 by G1722 G4571 out G1614 (G5721) Your G4675 hand G5495 to G1519 heal G2392 and...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD'S RESPONSE TO THE WARNINGS OF THE SANHEDRIN (4:23-31)....

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “While you stretch forth your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your Holy Servant Jesus.” Meanwhile they looked with anticipation and confidence to the fact that...

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

    Acts 4:30-31. BY STRETCHING FORTH THINE HAND TO HEAL. And the solitary special sign of almighty power which they pray for, is to be able to relieve such suffering among men as they had often seen thei...

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

    _The Apostles with their own People after their Release,_ 23-31. The prayer of the Church of Jerusalem to God to support and defend the threatened and persecuted followers of His Son, and the answer...

  • 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 4:23 I. The whole Church is interested in the proceedings of its individual members. II. The right method of treating opposition to the Kingdom of Christ. III. The spiritual and social results...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 4:30 The Child Christ I. The day which beheld our Lord in the Temple among the doctors was no doubt the close of a wondering and inquiring time. I conceive of that moment that it gave point and...

  • 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

    AND NOW, LORD. They do not ask to be saved from pain, persecution, or death. They ask for: (1) boldness in speaking; (2) proof of the power of THE NAME. Their prayer is directed toward the mission Chr...

  • 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 Biblical Illustrator

    _And being let go, they went to their own company._ BEING LET GO We do not know what we or other people are until the restraint is taken off. We call ourselves free, but there is not an absolutely f...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    AND NOW, LORD, BEHOLD THEIR THREATENINGS_._ How a Christian ought to pray for his enemies I. Without anxiety and fear: for he prays to the King of kings. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 4:24 The believers prayed, quoting Psalms 2:1, a messianic prophecy. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 4:23. THEIR OWN COMPANY.—Not the apostles merely, but their friends in the faith generally. Acts 4:24. O LORD!—Addressed not to Christ, as in Acts 1:24, who, however, is also...

  • 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

    Acts 2:22; Acts 2:43; Acts 5:12; Acts 5:15; Acts 5:16;...

  • 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...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Thou stretchest forth thy hand — Exertest thy power....

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Old Testament