Acts 4 22

Acts 4:22 kjv

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Acts 4:22 nkjv

For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Acts 4:22 niv

For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Acts 4:22 esv

For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Acts 4:22 nlt

for this miraculous sign ? the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 22 Meaning

Acts 4:22 states that the man who was miraculously healed by Peter and John was over forty years old. This detail underscores the profound and undeniable nature of the miracle, establishing it as a public, long-standing, and highly visible demonstration of divine power. His age served as irrefutable proof, making it impossible for the religious authorities to deny the reality of the healing or the genuine power through which it occurred. It was not a transient or ambiguous event, but a dramatic and transformative restoration that silenced all opposition regarding the facts.

Acts 4 22 Context

Acts 4:22 serves as a pivotal detail within the broader narrative of Acts 4, which records the apostles Peter and John's first major confrontation with the Jewish Sanhedrin after the healing of a man lame from birth (Acts 3). Following this miracle and Peter's sermon explaining it in the name of Jesus, the temple authorities, primarily priests, the captain of the temple, and Sadducees, were disturbed by the apostles teaching the resurrection of Jesus. They arrested Peter and John, questioning them about their authority.

In their defense before the Sanhedrin, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declared that the healing was done "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 4:10). The religious leaders, recognizing Peter and John as "uneducated and untrained men" (Acts 4:13), marveled at their confidence. Critically, "seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it" (Acts 4:14). Verse 22 then provides the precise reason why this evidence was so compelling: the man's age indicated his lameness was long-standing and widely known, making the healing absolutely undeniable to all. This forced the Sanhedrin into a quandary: they acknowledged the "notable miracle" (Acts 4:16) but sought to suppress the message out of fear of its widespread impact. The verse highlights the undeniable nature of the miracle in the face of strong opposition.

Acts 4 22 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement, specifically why the religious authorities "could say nothing against it" (Acts 4:14) and acknowledged that a "notable miracle has been done" (Acts 4:16). It signifies a logical link between the undeniable reality of the miracle and the leaders' forced admission.
• the man: Refers specifically to the lame beggar healed at the Beautiful Gate, whose long-term infirmity and sudden, complete restoration were a matter of public knowledge.
• was above (πλειόνων...ἐτῶν - pleionōn etōn): The Greek phrase "πλειόνων ἐτῶν τεσσαράκοντα" literally translates to "more than forty years." The word "πλειόνων" (pleionōn) means "more" or "greater." This emphasis on "more than forty" highlights not just that he was adult, but that his condition was chronic, extending over decades, known throughout the community, making any suggestion of deception or partial recovery impossible.
• forty years old (τεσσαράκοντα - tessarakonta): A significant detail in ancient contexts. Someone over forty would have been a well-known figure, especially if they had been a regular presence at the temple gate as a beggar for such a long period. This age signifies maturity and extensive experience, implying a deep-seated, congenital or lifelong disability, reinforcing the authenticity and dramatic nature of his complete healing.
• on whom (ᾧ - hō): This relative pronoun clearly links the miracle directly to this specific individual, reinforcing his identity and the irrefutability of the event because it happened to a widely known person.
• this miracle (σημεῖον - sēmeion): The Greek word sēmeion translates to "sign" or "miracle." It signifies more than just a wondrous event; it points beyond itself to a deeper truth or divine reality. This healing was not just a medical wonder, but a "sign" from God attesting to Jesus' authority and the validity of the apostles' message about Him. It was a tangible marker of God's presence and power.
• of healing (τῆς ἰάσεως - tēs iaseōs): The Greek word iasis specifically denotes a "healing" or "cure," implying a restoration to health. This emphasizes the physical restoration from a debilitating condition.
• was showed (γέγονεν - gegonen): The Greek perfect tense of ginomai (to become, happen) indicates a completed action with lasting effects. "Was shown" implies it came into existence and was made manifest for all to see, solidifying its public and evident nature.

Words-group analysis:

• For the man was above forty years old: This phrase provides the compelling, factual reason for the Sanhedrin's inability to deny the miracle. It confirms the extraordinary nature of the healing—that it wasn't a young person or a minor ailment, but a long-standing, well-recognized physical affliction. The long duration (over 40 years) ensures that many people, including the Sanhedrin, would have known of his condition, eliminating any possibility of fraud or misidentification.
• on whom this miracle of healing was showed: This emphasizes the divine intervention (miracle/sign) rather than human ability, specifically "healing" (restoration of health), which was overtly and undeniably displayed (was showed) to a very specific and recognizable individual, leaving no room for doubt or evasion concerning the factual event itself.

Acts 4 22 Bonus section

The deliberate inclusion of the healed man's age underscores the role of robust eyewitness testimony in early Christianity. The apostles' proclamation was not based on abstract concepts alone but rooted in verifiable events that occurred in plain sight, with individuals whose histories were known. The fact that he was "above forty years old" turns the miracle into a public attestation of the apostles' claims and ultimately, of Jesus' power, in a way that was uniquely impactful and undeniable. This detail acts as a pre-emptive rebuttal to any potential charges of deception or fraud that the Sanhedrin might have attempted, reinforcing the miraculous nature and truthfulness of the events recorded in Acts.

Acts 4 22 Commentary

Acts 4:22 delivers a succinct yet profoundly impactful statement. The primary function of this verse is to explain the Sanhedrin's critical dilemma: despite their intense opposition to the apostles and their message of Jesus' resurrection, they could not deny the miracle. The age of the healed man—"above forty years old"—was the clinching piece of evidence. This wasn't a child who might quickly outgrow a temporary ailment, nor an obscure individual whose history could be questioned. This was a mature man, well-known in the vicinity of the Temple, having suffered from a crippling disability for decades, likely since birth. Such a long-term condition made his instant and complete healing demonstrably supernatural.

The miracle was a sēmeion, a "sign," carrying deeper spiritual meaning beyond the physical restoration. It attested to the divine power operating through Jesus' name, validating the apostles as His true witnesses. The leaders, caught between their theological prejudice and irrefutable empirical evidence (the healed man standing before them), were utterly silenced concerning the facts of the healing. Their only recourse was to suppress the message rather than deny the act. This highlights God's strategic use of clear, undeniable displays of power to confront human skepticism and opposition, providing His messengers with powerful credentials that are visible and public. It serves as a stark example of how divine truth, powerfully attested, can compel even adversaries to acknowledge undeniable facts, even if they refuse to embrace their implications.