Acts 4:3

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

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}.

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

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

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

Acts 4:3 describes the immediate consequence of Peter and John's bold proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the temple. Following the miraculous healing of a lame man (Acts 3:6) and Peter's powerful sermon to the astonished crowd, the religious authorities reacted with hostility.

Context

The "they" in this verse refers to the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, who were greatly disturbed by the apostles' teaching. The Sadducees, in particular, denied the resurrection of the dead, making Peter and John's central message highly offensive to their theological stance (Acts 4:2). Their action of "laying hands on them" signifies their physical arrest. Since it was "eventide" (late evening), legal proceedings could not commence immediately, so they were held "in hold" (in custody or prison) until the following day.

Key Themes

  • Persecution for the Gospel: This verse marks one of the earliest instances of direct governmental and religious persecution against the nascent Christian movement. It highlights that proclaiming the truth of Christ, especially His resurrection, often invites opposition (Jesus Himself warned His disciples of such treatment).
  • Opposition to Divine Truth: The religious establishment's discomfort stemmed from their inability to refute the miracle and their unwillingness to accept the resurrection. Their actions were driven by a desire to suppress a message that challenged their authority and beliefs.
  • God's Unstoppable Plan: Despite the arrest, the movement of God was not halted. In fact, Acts 4:4 tells us that many who heard the word believed, and the number of believers grew significantly.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "laid hands on them" (Greek: epebalon tas cheiras autous) is a common biblical idiom for seizing or arresting someone. "Put them in hold" uses the Greek word tērēsis (τήρησις), which literally means "a keeping" or "custody," emphasizing their imprisonment. "Eventide" (Greek: opsia, ὀψία) simply denotes the late hour, explaining the delay in their formal interrogation and trial until morning.

Practical Application

Acts 4:3 reminds believers that faithfully living out and proclaiming the Gospel can lead to opposition, much like the apostles experienced. However, it also illustrates that human resistance cannot thwart God's ultimate purposes. The courage and perseverance of Peter and John, even in the face of arrest, serve as a powerful example for Christians today to remain steadfast in their faith and witness, trusting that God is at work even in challenging circumstances (Acts 5:29).

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 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,

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