Discovery BoxActs 4:27-30 
Context4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against 1 your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 2 4:28 to do as much as your power 3 and your plan 4 had decided beforehand 5 would happen. 4:29 And now, Lord, pay attention to 6 their threats, and grant 7 to your servants 8 to speak your message 9 with great courage, 10 4:30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs 11 and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
1 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.
2 sn A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”
3 tn Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.
4 tn Or “purpose,” “will.”
5 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.
6 tn Or “Lord, take notice of.”
7 sn Grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage. The request is not for a stop to persecution or revenge on the opponents, but for boldness (great courage) to carry out the mission of proclaiming the message of what God is doing through Jesus.
8 tn Grk “slaves.” See the note on the word “servants” in 2:18.
9 tn Grk “word.”
10 tn Or “with all boldness.”
11 tn The miraculous nature of these signs is implied in the context.
