Acts 4:9

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

If {G1487} we {G2249} this day {G4594} be examined {G350} of {G1909} the good deed done {G2108} to the impotent {G772} man {G444}, by {G1722} what means {G5101} he {G3778} is made whole {G4982};

If we are being examined today about a good deed done for a disabled person, if you want to know how he was restored to health,

If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,

if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole;

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Commentary

In Acts 4:9, we find Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly addressing the powerful Jewish Sanhedrin. This verse encapsulates his direct challenge to their questioning, turning their interrogation about a miraculous healing into an opportunity to proclaim the true source of that power.

Context

This verse is part of Peter’s pivotal defense before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish religious and judicial council. Following the dramatic healing of a man lame from birth at the Temple’s Beautiful Gate (recounted in Acts chapter 3), Peter and John were arrested for preaching the resurrection of Jesus and performing this public miracle. The authorities, perplexed and threatened by the apostles' actions, demanded to know "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" (Acts 4:7). Peter's response in Acts 4:9 and subsequent verses directly answers this query, asserting the divine origin of their actions.

Key Themes

  • Apostolic Boldness and Divine Empowerment: Peter, who had previously denied Jesus, now stands fearlessly before the very council that condemned Christ. This remarkable transformation is explicitly attributed to being "filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 4:8). His courage demonstrates the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in the early church, enabling them to boldly proclaim the gospel despite threats.
  • The Power of Jesus' Name: Peter frames the "good deed" (the healing) as undeniable evidence of the authority vested in the name of Jesus. He is preparing to declare in the following verses that the lame man was made whole "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 4:10). This highlights that the miracle was not by human ability but by divine power working through Christ.
  • Miracles as Validation of the Gospel: The healing served as irrefutable proof of God's active presence and endorsement of the apostles' message. The "impotent man" standing whole before them was a living testimony that validated their claim about the resurrected Jesus and the power of His name, making their preaching credible.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "impotent man" (Greek: χωλός - cholos) accurately translates to "lame" or "crippled," emphasizing his complete and lifelong physical disability. The phrase "made whole" (Greek: σέσωσται - sesōstai) comes from the verb σῴζω (sōzō), which can mean "to save," "to heal," or "to make whole." While here it refers to physical restoration, the broader theological implication of sōzō often encompasses spiritual salvation, subtly connecting physical healing to the ultimate spiritual wholeness found in Christ.

Practical Application

Acts 4:9 offers profound lessons for believers today. It encourages us to:

  • Speak with Conviction: Like Peter, we are called to speak boldly about the transforming work of Jesus Christ, even when facing skepticism or opposition. Our confidence rests not in our own eloquence, but in the power of the message itself and the Holy Spirit who empowers us.
  • Let Deeds Precede Words: The "good deed" of healing provided a tangible demonstration of God's love and power, opening a door for Peter to articulate the gospel. Our acts of service and compassion can likewise create opportunities to share our faith and point others to Christ.
  • Attribute Glory to God: Peter immediately points to Jesus as the source of the miracle, not himself. This reminds us to always give glory to God for any good accomplished through us. The focus should always remain on Christ, who makes us whole, both physically and spiritually.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 3:15

    But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

  • 1 Peter 3:17

    For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

  • Acts 3:7

    And he took him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

  • John 10:32

    Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

  • John 7:23

    If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

  • 1 Peter 4:14

    If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
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