Acts 4:7

7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Acts 4:7 in Other Translations

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?"

7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

7 They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: "Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?"

7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: "By what power or in what name have you done this?"

Acts 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:7

And when they had set them in the midst
Of the assembly, as the Ethiopic version adds; in the middle of the sanhedrim, which sat in a semicircular form; or as the Jews express it, as the half of a round corn floor, or as a half moon, and not in a perfect circle; because it was necessary that the contending parties, and the witnesses, might go in and speak before them all {b}; so that those that were set before them, were placed in the middle of them: and here Peter and John were set; so the Arabic version renders it, "when they set both": they sent for them out of the hold, or custody, where they had been all night, and ordered them to be brought before them, to be examined about their doctrine and practice:

they asked, by what power, or by what name have ye done this?
they inquired of them, whether it was by a natural, or by a divine, or by a diabolical power, that they had wrought the cure upon the lame man? whether it was by the use of medicine, or by the help of magic art, and the assistance of the devil, which they were very ready to charge Christ and his disciples with? or whether they pretended to a divine and supernatural aid? and also what name they had made use of, and by whose authority they acted?

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 4. sect. 3. & Bartenora in ib.

Acts 4:7 In-Context

5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.

6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.

7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,