Acts 4:21

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

Acts 4:21 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:21

So when they had further threatened them
Either repeated the same, as before; or added some more severe ones, to terrify them, if possible; not being able to answer their arguments, or invalidate their reasoning: they let them go;
they did not acquit them as innocent persons, but dismissed them from custody: finding nothing how they might punish them;
not being able, though they sought most diligently for it, to fix anything upon them, which might be a cause, or occasion, or pretence of inflicting any punishment upon them: because of the people:
they would not have stuck at the injustice of it, or have been under any concern about offending God; but they were afraid of the people, of losing their credit among them, and lest they should rise up against them, and on the side of the apostles: for all men glorified God for that which was done;
they saw the hand of God in it, and ascribed it to his mercy, goodness, and power, and gave him the glory of it; and therefore to punish the instruments of so great and good a work, would have been esteemed barbarous and wicked, and would have been highly resented by them; since, on the contrary, they judged them worthy of great honour and respect.

Acts 4:21 In-Context

19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.

20 For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

23 On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.