4:24 4:24

Acts 4:25

4:26 4:26

Bible Versions

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Who {G3588} by {G1223} the mouth {G4750} of thy {G4675} servant {G3816} David {G1138} hast said {G2036}, Why {G2444} did {G5433} the heathen {G1484} rage {G5433}, and {G2532} the people {G2992} imagine {G3191} vain things {G2756}?
By the Ruach HaKodesh, through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you said,

‘Why did the nations rage
and the peoples devise useless plans?
You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?

Context

This verse is part of a powerful prayer offered by the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Following the miraculous healing of a lame man at the temple gate and the subsequent arrest and release of Peter and John by the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:18-21), the apostles returned to their company. Instead of succumbing to fear, they lifted their voices in communal prayer, acknowledging God's supreme authority and reflecting on the opposition they faced. This prayer directly quotes Psalm 2:1, recognizing it as a prophecy fulfilled in their present circumstances regarding Jesus Christ.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The prayer begins by affirming God as the sovereign Creator of all things ("Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is," Acts 4:24). This sets the stage for understanding that even human opposition is within His ultimate control.
  • Prophecy Fulfilled: The quotation from Psalm 2:1 highlights the early church's understanding that the persecution and rejection of Jesus, and now His followers, were not random events but part of God's predetermined plan and prophetic word.
  • Futility of Opposition: The "raging" of the heathen and the "vain imaginings" of the people emphasize the ultimate pointlessness of human resistance against God's purposes. Their schemes, no matter how intense, are ultimately empty and ineffective against the divine will.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation accurately captures the essence of the Greek text. The word "heathen" comes from the Greek ethne (ἔθνη), which refers to the Gentiles or nations, while "people" comes from laoi (λαοί), often referring specifically to the people of Israel. This distinction underscores that both Gentile and Jewish authorities were implicated in the rejection of Christ, as further elaborated in Acts 4:27 (Herod, Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel). The word "rage" (ἐφρύαξαν, ephryaxan) conveys a sense of wild, snorting fury, like a restless horse, while "imagine vain things" (ἐμελέτησαν κενά, emeletēsan kena) speaks of meditating on or devising empty, futile plans.

Practical Application

Acts 4:25 offers profound encouragement for believers facing hostility or persecution. It reminds us that:

  • God is in Control: Even when forces seem arrayed against God's work, He remains sovereign. Human opposition is never outside His knowledge or beyond His power.
  • Opposition is Expected: The early church understood that opposition is a fulfillment of prophecy, not an anomaly. This perspective helps believers endure trials with faith, knowing that God's plan cannot be thwarted.
  • Reliance on Prayer: Like the early church, our response to adversity should be to turn to God in prayer, acknowledging His greatness and seeking His strength and guidance. This prayer highlights God's sovereign control over all events, even human rebellion.
Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 2:1

    ¶ Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

  • Psalms 2:6

    Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

  • Acts 1:16

    Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

  • Acts 2:30

    Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
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