Acts 4:3

KJV

And they laid hands on them, and put [them] in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they laid {G1911} hands {G5495} on them {G846}, and {G2532} put {G5087} them in {G1519} hold {G5084} unto {G1519} the next day {G839}: for {G1063} it was {G2258} now {G2235} eventide {G2073}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The Temple police arrested them; and since it was already evening, they put them in custody overnight.

Berean Standard Bible

They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.

American Standard Version

And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 4:3 records the immediate and forceful response of the Jewish religious authorities to Peter and John's bold proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. Following the miraculous healing of a lame man and Peter's subsequent sermon, the temple officials, particularly the Sadducees, were deeply disturbed by the apostles' teaching. This verse details their physical arrest and temporary imprisonment, necessitated by the late hour, marking the nascent church's first direct confrontation with institutional persecution.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 4:3 is a pivotal moment following the dramatic events of [Acts 3](/acts/3 "Acts 3 - Healing and Peter's Sermon"). Peter and John had just healed a man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate, a miracle that drew a large, astonished crowd. Peter seized this opportunity to preach a powerful sermon, attributing the healing to Jesus Christ and calling the people to repentance and faith in the resurrected Messiah. This public display of divine power and the explicit proclamation of Jesus' resurrection directly challenged the prevailing religious establishment, particularly the Sadducees who denied the resurrection. The arrest in [Acts 4:3](/acts/4-3 "Acts 4:3 - The Arrest of Peter and John") is the direct consequence of this bold evangelism and the authorities' inability to deny the undeniable miracle, leading to their attempt to suppress the message.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "they" who laid hands on Peter and John were the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, as identified in [Acts 4:1](/acts/4-1 "Acts 4:1 - The Temple Authorities Confront the Apostles"). The temple guard was responsible for maintaining order within the temple precincts, and their captain was a high-ranking official, second only to the High Priest. The Sadducees were a powerful aristocratic sect within Judaism, closely aligned with the priestly class. They held significant political and religious authority, often controlling the Sanhedrin. Crucially, they rejected the concept of a bodily resurrection, angels, and spirits, making the apostles' message of Jesus' resurrection profoundly offensive and subversive to their core beliefs. The timing, "eventide," refers to late afternoon or early evening, which was after the traditional time for legal proceedings, thus necessitating the overnight detention.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces several recurring themes in the Book of Acts. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Persecution for the Gospel**, demonstrating that proclaiming the truth of Christ, especially His resurrection, often invites opposition from those whose power or beliefs are challenged. This echoes Jesus' own warnings to His disciples about the persecution they would face for His name's sake, as seen in [John 15:20](/john/15-20 "John 15:20 - Jesus Warns of Persecution"). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Authority vs. Human Authority**, as the religious establishment attempts to silence a message that clearly carries divine power and endorsement. Their actions reveal a deep-seated resistance to God's unfolding plan. Finally, while not explicitly stated in this verse, it implicitly sets the stage for the theme of **God's Unstoppable Plan**, as the arrest, far from halting the spread of the gospel, actually provides a platform for Peter and John to bear witness before the Sanhedrin, leading to further growth of the church, as immediately noted in [Acts 4:4](/acts/4-4 "Acts 4:4 - Many Believe").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **laid (Greek, _epibállō_):** From G1911, meaning "to throw upon (literal or figurative, transitive or reflexive; usually with more or less force); specially (with ἑαυτοῦ implied) to reflect; impersonally, to belong to." In this context, it signifies a forceful, physical act of seizing or arresting, indicating the immediate and authoritative nature of their apprehension by the temple guard.
* **hold (Greek, _tḗrēsis_):** From G5084, meaning "a watching, i.e. (figuratively) observance, or (concretely) a prison." This word denotes a place of custody or imprisonment, specifically a detention for observation or safekeeping until a later time. It emphasizes that Peter and John were not yet formally tried but were being held under guard.
* **eventide (Greek, _hespéra_):** From G2073, meaning "the eve (ὥρα being implied)." This term precisely indicates the late hour of the day, specifically the evening. This detail is crucial for understanding why the apostles were held overnight rather than being immediately interrogated or tried; legal proceedings typically did not occur after dark.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they laid hands on them,"**: This phrase describes the physical act of arrest. "They" refers to the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, who were the authorities present and disturbed by the apostles' teaching. "Laying hands on" is a common biblical idiom for seizing or apprehending someone by force, signifying their official and immediate detention.
* **"and put [them] in hold unto the next day:"**: This clause details the consequence of their arrest: imprisonment. The term "hold" (Greek: _tḗrēsis_) implies custody or a prison, indicating that they were confined and guarded. The phrase "unto the next day" specifies the duration of their detention, highlighting that their formal interrogation or trial was postponed due to the late hour.
* **"for it was now eventide."**: This final clause provides the reason for the overnight detention. "Eventide" (Greek: _hespéra_) signifies that it was late in the day, likely after sunset, making it impractical or unlawful to conduct formal legal proceedings until the following morning. This detail underscores the immediate, rather than premeditated, nature of the arrest.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Conciseness** to convey a significant event with brevity, focusing on the action and its immediate cause. The phrase "laid hands on them" is an example of **Idiom**, a common biblical expression indicating arrest or seizure. The use of "eventide" serves as a **Temporal Marker**, providing a specific detail that explains the practical necessity of the overnight "hold," thereby adding realism and grounding the narrative in a specific time and place. This simple statement of fact also functions as a form of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the escalating opposition the apostles will face, while simultaneously setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation with the Sanhedrin in the subsequent verses.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 4:3 serves as a stark reminder that the proclamation of the Gospel, particularly the transformative truth of Christ's resurrection, often provokes opposition from those threatened by its message or power. This verse marks the beginning of institutional persecution against the early church, demonstrating that faithfulness to Christ can lead to suffering and imprisonment. However, it also subtly highlights God's sovereignty, as even in their arrest, the apostles were being strategically positioned for a powerful witness before the highest religious council, fulfilling Jesus' promise that they would be brought before rulers and kings for His name's sake.

* [Matthew 10:18](/matthew/10-18 "Matthew 10:18 - You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake")
* [Luke 21:12](/luke/21-12 "Luke 21:12 - They will lay hands on you and persecute you")
* [Philippians 1:12-14](/philippians/1-12-14 "Philippians 1:12-14 - Paul's Imprisonment Advances the Gospel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 4:3 offers profound insights for believers today. It reminds us that proclaiming the radical truth of Jesus Christ, especially His resurrection and Lordship, may not always be met with acceptance but can often incite opposition, even from those who claim religious authority. The apostles' experience teaches us that faithfulness to the Gospel may come at a personal cost, whether through social ostracization, professional setbacks, or even direct persecution. However, their steadfastness in the face of immediate arrest serves as a powerful example of courage and conviction. It encourages us to remain unyielding in our witness, trusting that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human resistance. Even in moments of confinement or challenge, God is at work, often using such circumstances to amplify His message and demonstrate His power. We are called to embody a similar boldness, knowing that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not to human systems or opinions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ provoke opposition in my own context today?**
* **How does the apostles' immediate arrest challenge my understanding of what it means to faithfully follow Christ?**
* **What fears or hesitations do I have about sharing my faith, and how can I cultivate the boldness demonstrated by Peter and John?**
* **How can I remember that God is sovereign and working His purposes, even when I face resistance or difficulty for my faith?**

### FAQ

**Why were Peter and John arrested, and who arrested them?**

Answer: Peter and John were arrested primarily because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, as stated in [Acts 4:2](/acts/4-2 "Acts 4:2 - The Reason for Their Arrest"). This message was particularly offensive to the Sadducees, who formed a significant part of the arresting party and denied the resurrection. The "they" who laid hands on them were the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, representing the established religious and temple authorities who felt their power and theological beliefs challenged by the apostles' message and the undeniable miracle they had performed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 4:3, while describing the arrest of Peter and John, powerfully highlights the ongoing conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world, a conflict ultimately resolved in Christ. The apostles' suffering for proclaiming the resurrection directly mirrors the suffering of Christ Himself, who was arrested, tried, and crucified by religious and political authorities who rejected His claims and truth. Just as Jesus was "delivered over by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge" ([Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Plan for Jesus' Crucifixion")), so too were His disciples now being "delivered over" for His name's sake, fulfilling His own prophecies that His followers would face persecution ([Matthew 10:17-18](/matthew/10-17-18 "Matthew 10:17-18 - Jesus Warns of Persecution")). This verse also sets the stage for the apostles' powerful witness before the Sanhedrin in [Acts 4:8-12](/acts/4-8-12 "Acts 4:8-12 - Peter's Bold Witness Before the Sanhedrin"), where Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declares that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ, the very stone the builders rejected who has become the cornerstone. Thus, the arrest, far from being a setback, becomes another platform for the exaltation of Christ and the advancement of His kingdom, demonstrating that even human opposition serves God's ultimate redemptive purposes.

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.

Cross-References

Acts 5:18

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Matthew 10:16

¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:17

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

Acts 6:12

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon [him], and caught him, and brought [him] to the council,

Acts 9:2

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

John 18:12

Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

Acts 16:19

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew [them] into the marketplace unto the rulers,