Acts 4:26

26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.[a][b]

Acts 4:26 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'--
New Living Translation (NLT)
26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the LORD and against his Messiah.’
The Message Bible (MSG)
26 Earth's leaders push for position, Potentates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers!
American Standard Version (ASV)
26 The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
26 Kings take their stand. Rulers make plans together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
26 The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord. The rulers of the earth gather together against his Anointed King.' (Psalm 2:1,2)

Acts 4:26 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:26

The kings of the earth stood up
Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, sometimes called a king, ( Mark 6:14 ) and Pilate the Roman governor, who represented his master Caesar; these stood, or rose up in an hostile manner, and set themselves against, and opposed themselves to the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth: and the rulers were gathered together;
the Jewish rulers, Annas, Caiaphas, and the rest of the members of the sanhedrim, who met together more than once; and particularly at the high priest's palace, to consult how they should take Jesus and put him to death; and who also gathered together at the same place, when he was taken, to arraign, examine, and condemn him. And this opposition, and these conspiracies and consultations, were against the Lord:
Jehovah, the Father of Christ, who sent him, and anointed him; so that what was done against Christ, was done against the Lord, their views and designs, their interest and glory, being the same: and against his Christ;
or anointed one, who was anointed by him, with the Holy Ghost, from his birth, and at his baptism, to be prophet, priest, and King.

Acts 4:26 In-Context

24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ’
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Psalms 2:1,2; Daniel 9:25; Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 1:9

Footnotes 2

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