Acts 4:29

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

And {G2532} now {G3569}, Lord {G2962}, behold {G1896}{G1909} their {G846} threatenings {G547}: and {G2532} grant unto {G1325} thy {G4675} servants {G1401}, that with {G3326} all {G3956} boldness {G3954} they may speak {G2980} thy {G4675} word {G3056},

“So now, Lord, take note of their threats; and enable your slaves to speak your message with boldness!

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,

And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,

Context

Acts 4:29 is part of a powerful communal prayer offered by the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Immediately prior to this, the apostles Peter and John had been arrested and interrogated by the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial council, for healing a lame man (Acts 3:6-8) and for boldly proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:2). Despite being commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18), Peter and John declared they must obey God rather than men (Acts 4:19). Upon their release, they returned to their fellow believers (Acts 4:23) and recounted the threats. This verse captures the heart of their collective response: a prayer not for safety or the cessation of threats, but for divine enablement to continue their mission.

Key Themes

  • Prayer in Persecution: The immediate and unified response of the early church to opposition was fervent prayer. They did not pray for the threats to disappear, but for strength to endure and overcome them spiritually.
  • Boldness to Speak God's Word: The central request is for boldness (Greek: parrhesia), which signifies freedom of speech, confidence, and unreserved proclamation. This highlights their unwavering commitment to spreading the gospel message, even under duress.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Trust: By asking God to "behold their threatenings," the believers acknowledge God's awareness and ultimate control over all circumstances. Their trust rests in His power to sustain and empower them for His purposes.
  • Prioritizing God's Mission: Despite personal danger, their primary concern remained the faithful proclamation of "thy word," demonstrating their dedication to the Great Commission.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "boldness" in this verse translates the Greek term parrhesia (παρρησία). This word is rich in meaning and frequently used in the New Testament to describe the confidence and freedom with which believers, especially apostles, spoke the gospel. It implies not just courage, but an open, public, and unreserved declaration of truth, without fear or hesitation. This contrasts sharply with the intimidation tactics of the Sanhedrin and underscores the Spirit-empowered nature of their witness.

Practical Application

Acts 4:29 offers profound lessons for believers today facing opposition or challenges to their faith:

  • Respond to Adversity with Prayer: When confronted with difficulties or hostility, our first response should be to turn to God in prayer, seeking His guidance and strength.
  • Pray for Boldness, Not Just Relief: Rather than solely praying for the removal of problems, we should ask for the spiritual courage and confidence to continue living and speaking God's truth in challenging environments. This echoes Paul's later prayer for himself in Ephesians 6:19-20.
  • Focus on God's Word: Our ultimate goal, like the early apostles, should be to faithfully proclaim and embody God's word, allowing it to shape our lives and interactions.
  • Trust in God's Awareness: Knowing that God "beholds" or is aware of our struggles can bring comfort and assurance that He is actively involved in our circumstances and will equip us for His service.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 4:13

    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

  • Acts 14:3

    Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

  • Acts 4:31

    And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

  • Philippians 1:14

    And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

  • Acts 28:31

    Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

  • 2 Timothy 4:17

    Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

  • Acts 9:27

    But Barnabas took him, and brought [him] to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

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