Acts 4:24 kjv
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Acts 4:24 nkjv
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
Acts 4:24 niv
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 4:24 esv
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
Acts 4:24 nlt
When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: "O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them ?
Acts 4 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 1:14 | "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication..." | Early church's unified prayer. |
| Acts 2:42 | "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship..." | Community's devotion and fellowship. |
| Acts 2:46 | "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple..." | Believers' unity in worship. |
| Gen 1:1 | "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." | God as primal Creator. |
| Neh 9:6 | "Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens..." | Creator God worshiped by Israel. |
| Psa 33:6-9 | "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made... He spake, and it was done..." | God's creative word and power. |
| Psa 146:5-6 | "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help... Which made heaven, and earth..." | Source of true help is the Creator. |
| Isa 44:24 | "I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone..." | God as sole, supreme Creator. |
| Rev 4:11 | "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour... for thou hast created all things..." | Doxology to the Creator. |
| Rev 14:7 | "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea..." | Universal worship due to the Creator. |
| Job 38:4-5 | "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?..." | God challenging human understanding of creation. |
| Psa 2:1-4 | "Why do the heathen rage... The kings of the earth set themselves... He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh..." | God's sovereignty over raging nations (Acts 4:25-26 quotes this). |
| Dan 4:34-35 | "His dominion is an everlasting dominion... he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth..." | God's ultimate reign over all creation. |
| Eph 1:11 | "According to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will..." | God's providential work in all things. |
| Psa 118:5-7 | "I called upon the LORD in distress... The LORD is on my side; I will not fear..." | Trust in God amidst adversity. |
| Php 4:6-7 | "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication..." | Prayer as a response to anxiety. |
| Col 4:2 | "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving..." | Exhortation to persistent prayer. |
| 1 Thes 5:17 | "Pray without ceasing." | Constant prayerfulness. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace..." | Access to God through Christ. |
| Jer 32:17 | "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power..." | Affirming God's power through creation. |
| Acts 4:29-31 | "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants... to speak thy word with all boldness... and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost..." | Direct consequence of the prayer, Spirit's empowering. |
| Matt 6:9-10 | "Our Father which art in heaven... Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." | Prayer recognizing God's heavenly authority. |
Acts 4 verses
Acts 4 24 Meaning
The early believers, upon hearing Peter and John's report of persecution and threats from the Jewish authorities, did not resort to fear or self-preservation. Instead, they responded with immediate, unified, and corporate prayer to God. Their prayer began by declaring God's absolute sovereignty and power as the Creator of the universe—heaven, earth, sea, and all that is within them. This declaration was a foundational theological truth that affirmed His omnipotence and control over all things, including human rulers, setting the stage for their subsequent petition for boldness.
Acts 4 24 Context
Acts chapter 4 opens with Peter and John's arrest after healing a lame man and preaching about Jesus' resurrection. They are brought before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing council, which included Annas, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, all prominent religious leaders. Despite being forbidden to speak or teach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18), Peter and John declare they must obey God rather than men (Acts 4:19-20). After further threats, the council, unable to punish them due to public favor and the undeniable miracle, released them (Acts 4:21-23). Acts 4:24 details the immediate response of the believers upon hearing this report. Instead of fear or retreat, the community of believers gathered to pray. This corporate prayer session underscores the deep unity and reliance on God that characterized the early church in the face of escalating opposition, immediately following the threat to silence their proclamation of Christ. Historically, Jewish tradition held the belief in Yahweh as the sole Creator, but the authorities sought to suppress a message that challenged their established power and threatened Roman stability by speaking of a "King" (Jesus). The believers' prayer directly appeals to this same God as the ultimate Sovereign over those who oppose His will.
Acts 4 24 Word analysis
- And when they heard that: This links the unified prayer directly to the preceding event where Peter and John reported the threats from the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:23). It signifies an immediate, collective response to persecution.
- they: Refers to the company of believers (the "own company" from Acts 4:23) gathered with Peter and John, highlighting the communal nature of their faith and response.
- lifted up their voice: Implies an audible, earnest, and fervent prayer, possibly in unison or in a leading and responsive manner, signifying deep emotion and conviction.
- to God: Indicates the direct and sole object of their address, acknowledging Him as the ultimate authority and source of help.
- with one accord: (Greek: homothymadon, "with one mind, of one spirit") - A key characteristic of the early church in Acts (occurs 11 times), denoting profound unity, unanimity, shared purpose, and a collective spirit driven by the Holy Spirit. It highlights that the entire group was aligned in their petition and theological stance.
- and said: Introduces the content of their collective prayer, a powerful declaration of God's identity and power.
- Lord: (Greek: Despotes) - This term signifies "Master" or "Sovereign Lord" in the sense of absolute, undeniable ownership and authority, as a slave would address their owner. It's stronger than Kyrios (often translated "Lord"). By addressing God as Despotes, they acknowledged His supreme, unquestionable authority over all, including their persecutors. This contrasts sharply with the limited authority of the Sanhedrin.
- thou art God: A direct and bold theological affirmation of His supreme divinity, omnipresence, and ultimate reality. This statement is the foundation of their hope and courage.
- which hast made: (Greek: poieō) - To make, to create, to do. This verb emphasizes God's active role as the Constructor and Sustainer.
- heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: This is a comprehensive merism (a figure of speech in which a whole is referred to by a pair of contrasting parts) encompassing the entire cosmos. It echoes Old Testament creation accounts (Gen 1:1, Neh 9:6, Psa 146:6), stressing God's universal creative power, boundless sovereignty, and ultimate control over every realm of existence. This deepens the theological grounding for their trust that the Creator God is powerful enough to handle any earthly opposition.
- "And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord": This phrase emphasizes the unity and spiritual alignment of the believers. Their shared experience of persecution (through the apostles) forged a collective, powerful spiritual response rather than a fragmented, individualistic one. The report from Peter and John ignited a corporate intercession.
- "Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is": This foundational statement of praise and theological affirmation serves as the premise for their entire prayer. Before presenting their need for boldness (Acts 4:29), they first declare God's omnipotence and absolute sovereignty as Creator. This declaration is a vital step in bolstering their own faith and recognizing that human authority pales in comparison to the Divine Architect of all existence. It establishes God's ultimate control over all circumstances and adversaries.
Acts 4 24 Bonus section
The strong sense of "one accord" (homothymadon) repeated throughout the book of Acts (e.g., Acts 1:14, Acts 2:46) is a vital indicator of the Holy Spirit's work in unifying the early community. This term suggests not just physical togetherness but a unity of mind, purpose, and spiritual conviction, which was crucial for their resilience and witness. Their corporate prayer was a direct response to adversity, turning what could have been a moment of despair into an occasion for worship and renewed commitment. This immediate recourse to prayer, centered on God's omnipotence, is a powerful model for believers facing opposition, illustrating that foundational theological truths (like God as Creator) are not abstract concepts but practical wellsprings of courage and trust in times of trial. Their prayer beautifully illustrates that knowing who God is transforms how one faces earthly threats, leading not to retreat, but to an even greater desire for His will to be done.
Acts 4 24 Commentary
Acts 4:24 offers a profound glimpse into the early church's spiritual bedrock. Facing tangible threats to their existence and mission, the believers did not panic but instinctively turned to their sovereign God in unified prayer. Their address, "Lord (Despotes), thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is," is not mere recitation of theological truth but a dynamic act of faith. By invoking God as the universal Creator and Absolute Master, they consciously anchored their hope in His omnipotence, recognizing that the Sanhedrin's authority was minuscule compared to His. This acknowledgement provided the conviction that the God who created everything was perfectly capable of intervening, sustaining, and empowering them against human opposition. This theological declaration paved the way for their subsequent petition, not for escape, but for continued boldness to preach God's word, showcasing how proper theology undergirds fervent and effective prayer, even in the direst circumstances.