Acts 4:7

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

And {G2532} when they had set {G2476} them {G846} in {G1722} the midst {G3319}, they asked {G4441}, By {G1722} what {G4169} power {G1411}, or {G2228} by {G1722} what {G4169} name {G3686}, have {G4160} ye {G5210} done {G4160} this {G5124}?

They had the emissaries stand before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?”

They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?

Context

Acts 4:7 places us at a pivotal moment in the early Christian church. Following the miraculous healing of a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (detailed in Acts 3:1-10) and Peter's subsequent sermon proclaiming Jesus' resurrection, the apostles Peter and John were arrested. They were brought before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and ecclesiastical council, which included the high priest Annas, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, along with others of the high priest's family (Acts 4:5-6). This verse captures the direct question posed by these powerful religious leaders, demanding an explanation for the apostles' actions and the source of their extraordinary power.

Key Themes

  • Question of Authority: The Sanhedrin's inquiry, "By what power, or by what name," was fundamentally a challenge to Peter and John's authority. They believed only they, as the established religious leaders, held the right to perform public acts of healing or teaching. They sought to identify the ultimate source of the apostles' actions, implying a challenge to the established order.
  • The Power and Name of Jesus: Although not explicitly stated in this verse, the question anticipates Peter's powerful answer in Acts 4:10. The very question points to the central theme of the book of Acts: the power and authority inherent in the name of Jesus Christ. The apostles performed miracles and preached the gospel not by their own might, but by the divine enablement of the resurrected Lord.
  • Confrontation and Persecution: This verse marks an early instance of direct opposition and persecution faced by the apostles for their proclamation of the gospel. It highlights the tension between the new movement centered on Jesus and the established religious institutions of the time.

Linguistic Insights

The two key Greek terms in the question are significant:

  • "Power" (dynamis): This word refers to inherent ability, strength, or miraculous power. It's the root of the English word "dynamite," implying an explosive, supernatural force. The Sanhedrin recognized that something extraordinary had happened.
  • "Name" (onoma): In ancient Near Eastern thought, a person's "name" represented their entire character, authority, reputation, and essence. To act "by a name" meant to act by the authority and in the very character of the one whose name was invoked. The council wasn't just asking for a label; they were asking for the source of authority and endorsement behind Peter and John's actions. They wanted to know whose authority they were operating under, as they did not recognize the authority of Jesus. The apostles, however, knew they operated under the supreme authority of the name of Jesus, which is above every name.

Practical Application

Acts 4:7 reminds believers today that proclaiming the gospel and operating in God's power often leads to scrutiny and opposition. Just as Peter and John were challenged, Christians may be asked to account for their faith or the source of their hope. This verse encourages us to be ready to articulate the foundation of our actions and beliefs – that everything we do in Christ's service is "by the power" and "by the name" of Jesus. It underscores that true spiritual authority comes not from human institutions or credentials, but from the risen Christ, enabling us to live out the Great Commission, even in the face of questioning or adversity.

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.

  • Matthew 21:23

    ¶ And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

  • Mark 11:28

    And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

  • Acts 5:40

    And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

  • John 2:18

    Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

  • Acts 5:27

    And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high priest asked them,

  • Acts 5:28

    Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

  • Exodus 2:14

    And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
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