Acts 4 · Verse 21

Acts 4:21

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
Acts 4:21, King James Version

Acts 4:21 in other translations

BSBAfter 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.
WEBWhen they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done.
ASVAnd they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done.
YLTAnd they having further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they may punish them, because of the people, because all were glorifying God for that which hath been done,
DARBYBut they, having further threatened them, let them go, finding no way how they might punish them, on account of the people, because all glorified God for what had taken place;
BBEAnd when they had said more sharp words to them, they let them go, not seeing what punishment they might give them, because of the people; for all men were giving praise to God for what had taken place.
WebsterSo when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

What does Acts 4:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 4:18-22

18-22. Whether it be right ... to hearken to you more than ... God, judge ye.

Read the full comment on Acts 4:18-22 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 21. Finding nothing, etc. That is, not being able to devise any way, of punishing them, without exciting a tumult among the people, and endangering their own authority. The sanhedrim was frequently influenced by this fear; and it shows that their own authority was much dependent on the caprice of the multitude. Comp. Mt 21:26.

All men. That is, the great mass or body of the people.

Glorified God. Praised God for the miracle. This implies,

(1.) that they believed that the miracle was genuine.

(2.) That they were grateful to God for so signal a mercy in conferring health and comfort on a man who had been long afflicted. We may add further, that here is the highest evidence of the reality of the miracle. Even the sanhedrim, with all their prejudice and opposition, did not call it in question. And the common people, who had doubtless been acquainted with this man for years, were convinced that it was real. It would have been impossible to impose on keen-sighted and jealous adversaries in this manner, if this had been an imposture.

(a) "because of the people" Mt 21:25, Acts 5:26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 When they had farther threatened them - Προσαπειλησαμενοι, When they had added to their former threatenings, repeating the former menaces, and adding new penalties. Finding nothing how they might punish them - Or, as the Codex Bezae reads, μηεὑρισκοντες αιτιαν, πως κολασωνται, not finding a cause why they might punish them. This reading is supported by the Syriac and Arabic. Bp. Pearce says, "This is better sense and better Greek." Because of the people - The people saw the miracle, confessed the finger of God, believed on the Lord Jesus, and thus became converts to the Christian faith; and the converts were now so numerous that the sanhedrin was afraid to proceed to any extremities, lest an insurrection should be the consequence.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 4:15-22

All the care of the rulers is, that the doctrine of Christ spread not among the people, yet they cannot say it is false or dangerous, or of any ill tendency; and they are ashamed to own the true reason; that it testifies against their hypocrisy, wickedness, and tyranny. Those who know how to put a just value upon Christ's promises, know how to put just contempt upon the world's threatenings. The apostles look with…

Read the full comment on Acts 4:15-22 →

Acts 4:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἱhoi<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
προσαπειλησάμενοιprosapeilēsamenoihaving further threatened [them]G4324
ἀπέλυσανapelusanthey let goG630
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
μηδὲνmēdennothingG3367
εὑρίσκοντεςheuriskontesfindingG2147
τὸtotheG3588
πῶςpōshowG4459
κολάσωνταιkolasōntaithey may punishG2849
αὐτούς,autousthem,G846
διὰdiaon account ofG1223
τὸνtontheG3588
λαόν,laonpeople,G2992
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
πάντεςpantesallG3956
ἐδόξαζονedoxazonwere glorifyingG1392
τὸνton<the>G3588
θεὸνtheonGodG2316
ἐπὶepiforG1909
τῷtōthatG3588
γεγονότι.gegonotihaving happened.G1096

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 4:21

  • Acts 5:26

    Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

  • Luke 22:2

    And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

  • Matthew 9:8

    But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

  • Matthew 21:46

    But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

  • Luke 20:6

    But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

  • Luke 20:19

    And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

  • Matthew 9:33

    And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

  • Acts 5:40

    And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

  • Luke 13:17

    And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

  • Matthew 26:5

    But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

  • Matthew 15:31

    Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

  • Luke 19:47-48

    And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
17; 5:40
how.
5:26; Mt 21:46; 26:5; Lu 19:47,48; 20:6,19; 22:2
for all.
3:6-9; Mt 9:33; 15:31; Lu 5:26; 13:17; Joh 12:18,19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 4:20

    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

  • Acts 4:21

    So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

  • Acts 4:22

    For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Read all of Acts 4

Acts 4:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ellos entonces los despacharon amenazándolos, no hallando ningún modo de castigarlos, por causa del pueblo; porque todos glorificaban á Dios de lo que había sido hecho.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et après les avoir menacés, ils les relâchèrent, ne trouvant pas comment ils pourraient les punir, à cause du peuple; parce que tous glorifiaient Dieu de ce qui avait été fait.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie aber bedrohten sie noch mehr und entließen sie, indem sie nicht fanden, auf welche Weise sie sie strafen sollten, um des Volkes willen; denn alle verherrlichten Gott über das, was geschehen war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		At illi comminantes dimiserunt eos, non invenientes quomodo punirent eos propter populum: quia omnes clarificabant id quod factum fuerat in eo quod acciderat.