Acts 4:11 kjv
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Acts 4:11 nkjv
This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
Acts 4:11 niv
Jesus is "?'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'
Acts 4:11 esv
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
Acts 4:11 nlt
For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.'
Acts 4 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 118:22 | The stone which the builders rejected... | Prophetic source of the rejected stone metaphor. |
| Mt 21:42 | Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone...has become the cornerstone’?" | Jesus quoting Ps 118:22, identifying Himself as the stone. |
| Mk 12:10-11 | Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone...has become the cornerstone; this was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?" | Jesus affirming His role and divine plan. |
| Lk 20:17-18 | But He looked at them and said, "Then what is this that is written: ‘The stone...has become the cornerstone’? Whoever falls on that stone..." | Jesus' warning about the consequences of rejecting the stone. |
| 1 Pet 2:4 | As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious... | Christ as the living stone, chosen by God despite human rejection. |
| 1 Pet 2:7 | So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone...has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." | Christ is precious to believers, a stumbling block to unbelievers. |
| Eph 2:20 | ...Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone. | Christ as the supreme foundation of the Church. |
| Isa 28:16 | Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation." | Old Testament prophecy of a divine, foundational stone. |
| Rom 9:33 | As it is written: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame." | Christ as the appointed stone, causing stumbling for some, faith for others. |
| 1 Cor 3:11 | For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. | Christ is the sole and ultimate foundation for Christian faith. |
| Isa 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... | General prophecy of Messiah's rejection and suffering. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that...every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord... | God's vindication and exaltation of Jesus after His rejection and death. |
| Jn 1:11 | He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. | Summary of Israel's general rejection of the Messiah. |
| Mt 16:18 | And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. | Christ is the foundational rock upon which His Church is built. |
| Zech 4:7 | ...who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forth the topstone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’" | Prophecy related to the chief cornerstone/topstone of the rebuilt Temple, alluding to Messiah. |
| Dan 2:34-35 | As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces... | Messianic prophecy of a divine kingdom that will shatter earthly kingdoms. |
| Heb 3:3-4 | For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. | Jesus is the divine builder of God's spiritual house. |
| Rev 21:14 | And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. | The Church's foundations laid on the apostles, whose teachings point to Christ. |
| Acts 2:23 | This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed... | The immediate context highlighting the culpability of the hearers in crucifying Jesus. |
| Acts 5:30 | The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. | Repeated accusation against Jewish leaders for crucifying Jesus. |
| Isa 8:14 | He will be as a sanctuary and as a stone of offense and as a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel... | Christ as a divinely appointed source of judgment for disobedient Israel. |
| Rom 10:9 | If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. | The implication of Christ as cornerstone—confession and belief are central to salvation. |
Acts 4 verses
Acts 4 11 Meaning
Acts 4:11 proclaims Jesus as the prophesied "stone" rejected by the religious leaders (the "builders"), who crucified Him. Despite their rejection, God sovereignly elevated Jesus to become the "cornerstone"—the most vital, unifying, and foundational stone of God's new spiritual building, the Church. This highlights His indispensable authority and salvific role, making Him the only way to salvation, contrasting divine affirmation with human condemnation.
Acts 4 11 Context
Acts 4:11 is spoken by the Apostle Peter during his powerful defense before the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish religious court, after he and John healed a lame man in the Temple. The immediate context (Acts 3-4) sees Peter and John arrested for preaching about Jesus' resurrection and healing in His name. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly testifies that the miracle was performed by the power of "Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified" (Acts 4:10). This verse, Acts 4:11, is a direct and forceful indictment against the Sanhedrin, directly addressing their complicity in rejecting and executing Jesus, while simultaneously declaring Jesus' supreme divine appointment. Historically, the Sanhedrin considered themselves the "builders" of Israel's spiritual life and upholders of God's Law. Peter’s words directly challenged their authority, their interpretation of the Law, and their judgment concerning Jesus, by appealing to Psalm 118:22, a scripture well-known to them, thus framing their rejection of Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecy and a cosmic error against God's plan.
Acts 4 11 Word analysis
This Jesus: Oὒτός (Houtos) Ἰησοῦς (Iesous). Emphatic. Peter points directly to the man whom they, the Sanhedrin, had condemned and executed. It emphasizes the specific person, Jesus of Nazareth, whom they encountered, rejected, and yet who performed the miracle. This directly connects the resurrected Jesus to the one they knew.
is the stone: ὁ λίθος (ho lithos). A specific, significant stone. In the Bible, a "stone" frequently symbolizes strength, permanence, and divine purpose, often associated with Messiah or foundation.
that was rejected: ὁ ἀποδοκιμασθεὶς (ho apodokimasthies). From apodokimazō, meaning to reject after examination, to disapprove, or to declare unfit or worthless. It signifies a deliberate and authoritative rejection after scrutiny, implying that the builders actively deemed Him unworthy. This word highlights human assessment against divine appointment.
by you, the builders: ὑφ' ὑμῶν (hyph' hymōn) τῶν οἰκοδομούντων (tōn oikodomountōn). This is a direct accusation. "You" is plural and emphatic, referring to the members of the Sanhedrin, the religious leaders and scholars. "The builders" (present active participle) refers to those who were supposed to be building God's spiritual house (Israel) according to divine plans and laws. Their role made their rejection particularly ironic and damning.
which has become: οὗτος ἐγενήθη (houtos egenēthē). This past tense (aorist) indicates a completed action with lasting results. Despite their rejection, Jesus has become the cornerstone, signifying God's sovereign and unstoppable plan overriding human opposition.
the cornerstone: κεφαλὴ γωνίας (kephalē gōnias). Literally "head of the corner" or "headstone of the corner." This term refers to the most important stone in a building. It could be the foundational stone at the base that aligns all other stones, ensuring the stability and integrity of the structure, or the crowning stone at the top (capstone) that completes and unites the building. In either case, it is the crucial, binding stone. It signifies absolute essentiality, supreme position, and structural integrity.
"rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone": This phrase encapsulates a profound reversal of judgment. Human religious authorities deemed Jesus worthless and cast Him aside, yet God elevated Him to the position of ultimate significance and necessity. This is divine irony, demonstrating God's sovereignty over human decisions and establishing Jesus as the central figure of a new divine order, bypassing those who traditionally managed God's people.
Acts 4 11 Bonus section
The metaphor of the "cornerstone" or "head of the corner" implies more than just being a foundation. In some architectural traditions, this could refer to the chief foundation stone that aligns the two main walls, critical for stability and accurate construction. In others, it might signify the capstone, the uppermost and final stone that brings the entire structure to completion, adding beauty and strength. In either case, Christ's position is preeminent and essential for the existence and integrity of the "spiritual house" (1 Pet 2:5). The Sanhedrin's rejection was not just a mistake but a profound act of rebellion against God's appointed King and foundation. This act, however, became part of God's redemptive plan, ultimately leading to Christ's exaltation and the universal offer of salvation through faith in Him to both Jew and Gentile, building a new spiritual house for God, the Church, not bounded by the old religious structures that rejected their cornerstone.
Acts 4 11 Commentary
Acts 4:11 is the climax of Peter’s Spirit-filled sermon to the Sanhedrin. It serves as both an accusation and a proclamation. The Sanhedrin, who saw themselves as God's spiritual "builders" for Israel, rejected Jesus, the very Messiah they should have recognized and embraced. Peter, by quoting Psalm 118:22, not only authenticates Jesus' identity but also places the Sanhedrin in the paradoxical and tragic position of fulfilling ancient prophecy in their opposition. Their rejection of Jesus, far from invalidating Him, was precisely what solidified His preordained role as the "cornerstone"—the essential, irreplaceable foundation upon which God's true spiritual temple (the Church) is built. This verse emphasizes divine sovereignty; despite human opposition and malevolent acts (like crucifixion), God's purpose for Jesus—His resurrection and exaltation—cannot be thwarted. Jesus is declared as the sole source of salvation and the only valid foundation for spiritual life. Rejecting Him means building on sand; embracing Him means building on an unshakeable rock. It is a powerful declaration that salvation is found in no other but in the Name of this rejected yet exalted Jesus.