Acts 4 20

Acts 4:20 kjv

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Acts 4:20 nkjv

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

Acts 4:20 niv

As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Acts 4:20 esv

for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

Acts 4:20 nlt

We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard."

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 20 Meaning

Acts 4:20 conveys the unwavering conviction of Peter and John that they are compelled by an inner necessity and divine command to proclaim what they have personally experienced of Jesus Christ. Having witnessed His life, death, resurrection, and ascended glory, and having heard His direct instructions, they cannot conscientiously refrain from sharing these profound truths, regardless of external threats or human prohibitions. Their testimony flows from direct, undeniable encounters, forming the foundation of their ministry.

Acts 4 20 Context

Acts chapter 4 opens with Peter and John arrested by the Sanhedrin—the supreme Jewish religious council—after Peter had preached powerfully about Jesus' resurrection, leading many to faith, immediately following the healing of a man lame from birth at the Temple gate. The religious leaders were greatly disturbed by their teaching in the name of Jesus and the doctrine of the resurrection. After a night in custody, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly addresses the council, proclaiming Jesus as the cornerstone. Recognizing their undeniable witness and unable to refute the miracle, the Sanhedrin commands Peter and John to no longer speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:20 is their definitive and courageous response to this command, a direct assertion of their divine imperative over human prohibitions. This pivotal moment underscores the conflict between human authority seeking to suppress God's truth and divine authority compelling His servants to proclaim it.

Acts 4 20 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): A conjunction that introduces a reason or explanation. Here, it explains why they responded the way they did in the previous verse (Acts 4:19). It signals that what follows is the justification for their declaration that they must obey God over men.

• we (ἡμεῖς - hemeis): Refers specifically to Peter and John, the ones being interrogated. It also implicitly extends to all the apostles and followers of Christ who share their foundational experiences. This highlights their direct and shared personal involvement.

• cannot (οὐ δυνάμεθα - ou dunametha): From dynamai (to be able, to have power). The negation ou renders it "are not able." This isn't a lack of desire or a choice, but an impossibility due to an overwhelming internal and external divine compulsion. It expresses an unalterable spiritual necessity.

• but (μὴ - mē): A further negation (negative particle) intensifying the "cannot." The double negative construction (οὐ...μὴ) in Greek creates an emphatic "cannot not," signifying absolute impossibility or inevitability. It's a very strong rhetorical device stressing irresistible compulsion.

• speak (λαλεῖν - lalein): To speak, to proclaim, to talk. While it can mean casual conversation, in this context, especially given the "seen and heard," it implies the active and authoritative proclamation of truth, specifically the Gospel message, a form of teaching and witnessing.

• what (ἃ - ha): A neuter plural relative pronoun, referring to the collection of things, events, and truths they had experienced and been taught. It points to the comprehensive nature of their testimony.

• we (ἐκείνοις - ekeinois, implied by verb): Implied by the preceding verbal forms of "seen and heard." Reinforces the direct, personal experience of Peter and John.

• have seen (εἴδομεν - eidomen): From eido (to see, perceive, know, understand, experience). This emphasizes firsthand visual perception. It's not based on hearsay or intellectual understanding, but on direct, personal observation and experiential knowledge, making their testimony verifiable and authoritative. This includes seeing Jesus' miracles, His crucifixion, His resurrected body, and His ascension.

• and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction linking "seen" and "heard." It highlights that their knowledge comes from multiple, complementary sensory inputs, reinforcing its undeniable reality.

• heard (ἠκούσαμεν - ēkousamen): From akouo (to hear, listen, obey, understand). This refers to what they personally heard, including Jesus' teachings, commands, prophecies, and post-resurrection instructions. Like "seen," it signifies direct, firsthand sensory experience and comprehension, establishing the authenticity and reliability of their message.

• "We cannot but speak" (οὐ δυνάμεθα γὰρ μὴ λαλεῖν - ou dunametha gar mē lalein): This powerful double negative phrase expresses an undeniable, almost paradoxical, compulsion. It means, "It is impossible for us not to speak," or "We are absolutely bound to speak." This isn't an arbitrary choice or mere stubbornness, but an inherent, inescapable obligation rooted in their spiritual reality and divine mandate. It points to an inner necessity (a dei or "it is necessary" concept, as seen elsewhere in Scripture) laid upon them by God. They view their message not as something they can speak, but something they must speak, flowing from God's own will and the indwelling Spirit. This signifies their prior and supreme allegiance to God, as expressed in Acts 4:19.

• "what we have seen and heard" (ἃ εἴδομεν καὶ ἠκούσαμεν - ha eidomen kai ēkousamen): This phrase emphasizes the objective, verifiable, and personal foundation of their testimony. Their message is not speculative philosophy or mythological tale, but a report based on direct, multisensory encounters with the historical Jesus Christ—His life, teachings, miracles, crucifixion, resurrection appearances, and ascension. This firsthand experience provided them with an irrefutable internal conviction and external authority that no human decree could nullify. It is the cornerstone of apostolic witness. The reliability of their proclamation stems from this immediate and authentic experience of the truth. This also implies an authority derived from divine revelation directly impacting their senses.

Acts 4 20 Bonus section

The boldness displayed by Peter and John here is a direct manifestation of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8), enabling them to speak God's word with courage. Prior to the Spirit's indwelling, these were men who had fled at Jesus' arrest. This transformation underscores the supernatural enablement for witnessing that Jesus promised (Acts 1:8). The phrase "seen and heard" not only establishes the empirical basis of their testimony but also implicitly references the Jewish legal principle of requiring two or three witnesses (Deut 19:15) to confirm a truth, lending greater weight and credibility to their declaration before the Sanhedrin. Their stance also anticipates the repeated encounters between the apostles and authorities, where this principle of obedience to God over man would be continually affirmed (Acts 5:29). This passage also contains a strong apologetic component, asserting that their message is based on historical fact and personal encounter, not on mere opinion or religious speculation, thereby countering any attempts to dismiss Christianity as baseless.

Acts 4 20 Commentary

Acts 4:20 is a profound declaration of unwavering spiritual resolve, standing as a cornerstone of apostolic evangelism. Faced with a direct command from the highest human authority in Israel to cease speaking in Jesus' name, Peter and John unequivocally respond that their commission transcends any earthly prohibition. Their refusal to be silenced stems not from defiance for defiance's sake, but from an irresistible compulsion born of undeniable personal experience and divine appointment. The emphatic double negative "we cannot but speak" highlights an absolute spiritual necessity: their very identity and obedience to God demanded that they bear witness.

What they "have seen and heard" is the foundation of their conviction—it refers to the full reality of Jesus Christ: His earthly ministry, His crucifixion, His bodily resurrection, His post-resurrection appearances, and His ascension. This wasn't hearsay or theory, but personally apprehended, divine truth that permeated their beings. To deny or suppress this truth would be to deny God's work in their lives and the very nature of their calling as His eyewitnesses. This verse establishes a crucial principle: when human law conflicts with divine command, believers are bound by their higher allegiance to God. Their example sets the precedent for faithful Christian witness throughout history, even in the face of persecution. It reminds us that our faith is based on verifiable historical events, powerfully interpreted and experienced through the Holy Spirit.

Examples:

• A believer continuing to share the Gospel in a country where it is legally forbidden, recognizing a higher duty.
• An individual openly professing faith and participating in Christian activities despite facing social ostracization or professional setbacks.
• Pastors speaking biblical truth even when it is unpopular or goes against cultural trends.