Acts 4 15

Acts 4:15 kjv

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

Acts 4:15 nkjv

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

Acts 4:15 niv

So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

Acts 4:15 esv

But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,

Acts 4:15 nlt

So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 15 Meaning

Acts 4:15 describes a crucial moment where the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish judicial body, sends Peter and John out of their assembly for a private deliberation. Having just witnessed the undeniable miracle of the healed lame man standing alongside the apostles, and hearing Peter's bold sermon attributing the healing and salvation to Jesus whom they crucified, the Sanhedrin finds themselves in an unresolvable predicament. They could not refute the miracle nor openly condemn Peter and John without alienating the common people who glorified God for the healing (Acts 4:21). Thus, this verse captures their retreat into private consultation to strategize their next move against the rapidly growing Christian movement.

Acts 4 15 Context

Acts 4:15 is a pivotal moment following the miraculous healing of a lame man at the temple by Peter and John, and Peter's subsequent powerful sermon proclaiming Jesus' resurrection and salvation. This public display of divine power and the bold declaration of the gospel profoundly agitated the religious establishment. The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, were particularly offended by the apostles preaching about Jesus' resurrection (Acts 4:2). Consequently, Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish judicial body comprised of chief priests, elders, and scribes (Acts 4:5-6).

When questioned, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, unequivocally declared that the miracle occurred through "the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" and boldly stated that salvation is found in no other name (Acts 4:10-12). The Sanhedrin was astonished by the "boldness of Peter and John," noting that they were "uneducated, common men" (Acts 4:13), yet also recognized they had been with Jesus. Most critically, the man who was healed stood visibly present with the apostles (Acts 4:14), rendering any denial of the miracle impossible. Faced with irrefutable evidence and the growing favor of the apostles among the people, the Sanhedrin had no immediate answer. This verse (Acts 4:15) captures their strategic retreat into private consultation, unable to publicly refute what God had done through His servants. Their fear was not of God, but of the public's reaction and potential disruption to their own authority and relationship with Roman oversight.

Acts 4 15 Word analysis

• But (δὲ - de): This particle signifies a transition or contrast. It connects Acts 4:15 to the undeniable evidence of Acts 4:14, showing the Sanhedrin's response to their inability to refute the miracle. It implies a change in their approach, moving from open confrontation to private deliberation.
• when they had commanded them to go aside (ἀνατάξαντες ... ἐκέλευσαν ... ἀπελθεῖν - anataxantes... ekeleusan... apelthein): The phrase emphasizes the Sanhedrin's authoritative action.
  • ekeusan (commanded) implies an imperative order from those in power.
  • apelthein (to go aside/depart) denotes being sent out of the presence of the deliberating body. This was a standard judicial practice, but here it highlights the council's desire for secrecy and unhindered discussion away from the apostles and the compelling evidence they represented.
• out of the council (ἀπὸ τοῦ συνεδρίου - apo tou synedriou):
  • synedriou (council) refers specifically to the Sanhedrin. This identifies the authoritative body trying to solve the problem presented by the apostles. It underscores that this was a formal judicial body attempting to maintain control and order within the Jewish community under Roman rule.
• they conferred among themselves (συνέβαλλον πρὸς ἀλλήλους - syneballon pros allēlous):
  • syneballon (conferred) literally means "they threw together" or "put together," implying a meeting for discussion or deliberation. The imperfect tense suggests a process of ongoing consultation or strategic planning. This action reveals their internal struggle and the need to devise a shared strategy.
  • pros allēlous (among themselves / to one another) emphasizes the private and internal nature of this discussion, excluding the apostles and the public. This highlights their desire to resolve the dilemma without external pressure, implying a potential for clandestine plotting rather than open, just arbitration.

Acts 4 15 Bonus section

• The Sanhedrin's action in Acts 4:15 parallels similar private deliberations seen when they planned Jesus' arrest (Matt 26:3-4) and later after Lazarus's resurrection (John 11:47-48). This recurring pattern highlights a characteristic of those who oppose God's work: when confronted with irrefutable evidence, they retreat to devise a strategy of suppression rather than acknowledge divine power.
• The legal procedure of dismissing the accused during deliberation, though customary, ironically exposed the council's desperation. They needed a moment away from the uncomfortable truth embodied by Peter, John, and the healed man, in order to craft an argument, however fallacious.
• This verse subtly shows God's control. Even the enemies of God's work are compelled to acknowledge His power (through the miracle), leading them into a self-condemning posture of secret deliberation and eventual ineffective resistance, ultimately serving God's broader purpose of spreading the Gospel.

Acts 4 15 Commentary

Acts 4:15 depicts the Sanhedrin's reaction to an unyielding truth. Having heard the bold proclamation of the resurrected Jesus by "uneducated" fishermen, and confronted by the living proof of a man miraculously healed by Jesus' name, the council finds itself in an undeniable dilemma. Their decision to send Peter and John out to "confer among themselves" is a clear indication of their predicament. It’s not a moment of seeking divine truth, but one of strategic human counsel. This scene lays bare their self-preservation instinct—their fear of public opinion and the perceived threat to their authority by the rising tide of Christian belief, rather than conviction of the truth. Their private conference reveals their carnal wisdom seeking to suppress a work that God initiated, unable to contend with a miracle so evident. It sets the stage for their decision in the following verses, illustrating the stark contrast between human resistance to God's will and God's unstoppable plan.