Discovery BoxActs 4:13 
Context4:13 When they saw the boldness 1 of Peter and John, and discovered 2 that they were uneducated 3 and ordinary 4 men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:20
Context4:20 for it is impossible 5 for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:31
Context4:31 When 6 they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, 7 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak 8 the word of God 9 courageously. 10
1 tn Or “courage.”
2 tn Or “and found out.”
3 sn Uneducated does not mean “illiterate,” that is, unable to read or write. Among Jews in NT times there was almost universal literacy, especially as the result of widespread synagogue schools. The term refers to the fact that Peter and John had no formal rabbinic training and thus, in the view of their accusers, were not qualified to expound the law or teach publicly. The objection is like Acts 2:7.
4 tn For the translation of ἰδιῶται (idiwtai) as “ordinary men” see L&N 27.26.
5 tn Grk “for we are not able not to speak about what we have seen and heard,” but the double negative, which cancels out in English, is emphatic in Greek. The force is captured somewhat by the English translation “it is impossible for us not to speak…” although this is slightly awkward.
6 tn Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
7 sn The place where they were assembled…was shaken. This signifies that God is in their midst. See Acts 16:26; Exod 19:18; Ps 114:7; Isa 6:4.
8 tn The imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect (“began to speak”). Logical sequencing suggests that their speaking began after they were filled with the Spirit. The prayer was answered immediately.
9 tn Or “speak God’s message.”
10 tn Or “with boldness.”
