Discovery BoxActs 4:16-17 
Context4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain 1 to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign 2 has come about through them, 3 and we cannot deny it. 4:17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more 4 to anyone in this name.”
Acts 4:25-28
Context4:25 who said by the Holy Spirit through 5 your servant David our forefather, 6
and the peoples plot foolish 9 things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood together, 10
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against his 11 Christ.’ 12
4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against 13 your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 14 4:28 to do as much as your power 15 and your plan 16 had decided beforehand 17 would happen.
1 tn Or “evident.”
2 tn Here σημεῖον (shmeion) has been translated as “miraculous sign” rather than simply “sign” or “miracle” since both components appear to be present in the context. It is clear that the healing of the lame man was a miracle, but for the Sanhedrin it was the value of the miraculous healing as a sign that concerned them because it gave attestation to the message of Peter and John. The sign “speaks” as Peter claimed in 3:11-16.
3 tn Or “has been done by them.”
4 tn Or “speak no longer.”
5 tn Grk “by the mouth of” (an idiom).
6 tn Or “ancestor”; Grk “father.”
7 tn Or “Gentiles.”
8 sn The Greek word translated rage includes not only anger but opposition, both verbal and nonverbal. See L&N 88.185.
9 tn Or “futile”; traditionally, “vain.”
10 tn Traditionally, “The kings of the earth took their stand.”
11 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
sn See the note on Christ in 2:31.
12 sn A quotation from Ps 2:1-2.
13 sn The application of Ps 2:1-2 is that Jews and Gentiles are opposing Jesus. The surprise of the application is that Jews are now found among the enemies of God’s plan.
14 sn A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”
15 tn Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.
16 tn Or “purpose,” “will.”
17 tn Or “had predestined.” Since the term “predestine” is something of a technical theological term, not in wide usage in contemporary English, the translation “decide beforehand” was used instead (see L&N 30.84). God’s direction remains as the major theme.
