Acts 4 14

Acts 4:14 kjv

And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Acts 4:14 nkjv

And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Acts 4:14 niv

But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

Acts 4:14 esv

But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

Acts 4:14 nlt

But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say.

Acts 4 verses

MeaningThe Jewish Sanhedrin, confronted by the physically present and undeniable evidence of the miraculously healed man from birth, were utterly silenced and unable to argue against the truth and power displayed through the apostles Peter and John.

Cross References

ContextActs chapter 4 recounts the arrest of Peter and John shortly after the healing of a lame man, who had been an invalid from birth and was a well-known figure at the Beautiful Gate of the Jerusalem Temple. The apostles were apprehended by the Temple guard and the Sadducees, angered by their proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. They were brought before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish religious court, comprising powerful and influential leaders including the High Priest Annas and Caiaphas. In response to the Sanhedrin's demand to know by what authority this miracle was performed, Peter delivered a bold sermon (Acts 4:8-12), unequivocally declaring that the healing occurred through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but God raised from the dead. Acts 4:14 directly follows this declaration, capturing the Sanhedrin's helpless silence in the face of the living, tangible evidence – the formerly lame man himself.

Word analysis

• And seeing (Greek: βλέποντες, blepontes): Derived from blepō, meaning to look at, observe, or perceive. This highlights that the Sanhedrin's knowledge of the miracle was not based on hearsay, but on direct, irrefutable visual evidence. Their perception was clear and unambiguous.
• the man (Greek: τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ton anthrōpon): This specifies the known individual, the man introduced in Acts 3:2, who had been publicly lame for decades. His recognition by the public underscored the validity and impact of his healing.
• who was healed (Greek: τὸν τεθεραπευμένον, ton tetherapeumenon): This uses a perfect passive participle of therapeuō (to heal, restore to health). The perfect tense signifies a completed action with ongoing results; the man was not just healed temporarily, but fully and permanently. His continued health and newfound ability to walk served as undeniable, physical proof.
• standing with them (Greek: συνεστῶτα αὐτοῖς, synestōta autois): From synistēmi, meaning to stand together with, to be present alongside. The man’s physical presence directly beside Peter and John affirmed his association with them and the miracle, making him a visible, living testament and rendering any denial of the event impossible.
• they could say nothing (Greek: οὐδὲν εἶχον, ouden eichon - literally "they had nothing"): This emphasizes their absolute lack of any counter-argument, rebuttal, or explanation for what they witnessed. Their usual power of verbal dispute or legal maneuvering failed them completely.
• against it (Greek: ἀντειπεῖν, anteipein): From anti (against) and eipō (to speak). This signifies their utter inability to contradict, gainsay, or object to the clear evidence presented before their eyes.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And seeing the man who was healed standing with them": This phrase dramatically illustrates the unassailable nature of the evidence. The Sanhedrin, a body accustomed to debating and deciding truth through verbal argument, was confronted by a tangible, human truth. The healed man was not a mere subject of debate but a silent, yet powerful, witness whose physical transformation stood in stark contrast to their preconceived notions and legalistic traditions. His presence validated the apostles' claim that the power of Jesus was at work.
• "they could say nothing against it": This signifies the complete triumph of God's manifest power over human resistance and prejudice. The Sanhedrin's silence was not due to ignorance, but rather a concession forced by irrefutable fact. All their intellectual arguments, theological disputes, and traditional authority were rendered useless against the plain sight of a known invalid now standing whole. Their lack of words exposed the emptiness of their spiritual position when confronted by genuine divine intervention.

CommentaryActs 4:14 reveals a crucial moment where the indisputable power of God through Jesus Christ silences human opposition. The formerly lame man's undeniable presence as fully healed invalidated every argument the Sanhedrin could muster against Peter and John's preaching. Their complete inability to "say anything against it" underscores that divine truth, when accompanied by clear miraculous signs, is self-evident and requires no intricate defense. This powerful visual evidence affirmed the resurrection of Jesus and the authenticity of the apostles' ministry, leaving the powerful religious council no logical ground to stand upon except silent acknowledgment of the factual miracle, even if they refused its spiritual implications. It serves as a reminder that the most compelling testimonies for God's truth are often those undeniably manifest changes, visible and irrefutable, leaving opponents without recourse.

Bonus sectionThe Sanhedrin's silence in Acts 4:14 is more than just a lack of words; it reflects their intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy when confronted by the truth. Their previous tactic against Jesus (e.g., in Jn 9 concerning the blind man) was to discredit the miracle itself or its agent. Here, the evidence was too public, too long-standing, and too physical to deny. This moment reveals the core issue: the Sanhedrin's true opposition was not to a specific act, but to the Name of Jesus Christ by which it was done. This silence was born of frustration, fear, and deep-seated prejudice, acknowledging a power beyond their control that threatened their established order. It set the stage for their desperate decree in the following verses (Acts 4:17-18) to simply command the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus, showcasing their desperate shift from intellectual argument to raw authoritative suppression. This vividly illustrates that when God's power is demonstrated, those hardened in opposition will often shift from disputation to persecution.