Acts 4:17

17 But so that it doesn't go any further, let's silence them with threats so they won't dare to use Jesus' name ever again with anyone."

Acts 4:17 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:17

But that it spread no further among the people
Meaning not in Jerusalem; for the fame of this miracle was spread among all the inhabitants of that city; but in other parts of the nation: let us straitly threaten them;
or "in threatening threaten them"; that is, severely threaten them with imprisonment, or with the scourging of forty stripes save one, or with death itself. That they speak henceforth to no man in this name;
which through indignation and contempt they do not mention, but mean the name of Jesus: and their sense is, that the apostles, from this time forward, should not teach, or preach the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, or any other doctrine of the Gospel, in the name of Jesus, to any man, Jew or Gentile; or perform any miracle in his name, or call upon his name, and make use of it, for the healing of any person, or doing any miraculous work. The Ethiopic version is a very odd one, and quite contrary to the sense of the sanhedrim, "that they should not speak any more but in the name of the man Jesus".

Acts 4:17 In-Context

15 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over:

16 "What can we do with these men? By now it's known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that.

17 But so that it doesn't go any further, let's silence them with threats so they won't dare to use Jesus' name ever again with anyone."

18 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide.