Acts 4 27

Acts 4:27 kjv

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Acts 4:27 nkjv

"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

Acts 4:27 niv

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

Acts 4:27 esv

for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

Acts 4:27 nlt

"In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 27 Meaning

Acts 4:27 proclaims the early believers' profound understanding that the crucifixion of Jesus, seemingly a triumph of human evil and political power, was in reality the precise fulfillment of God's predetermined plan. It reveals God's absolute sovereignty, orchestrating human actors—Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, and the people of Israel—to unknowingly accomplish His divine will for the redemption of humanity through His Anointed One, Jesus. This perspective provides strength and theological clarity amidst their own persecution.

Acts 4 27 Context

This verse is part of a communal prayer offered by the early Christian community in Jerusalem, specifically after Peter and John were released from the custody of the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-22). They had been arrested for preaching about Jesus and healing a lame man, incurring the wrath of Jewish religious leaders who commanded them to cease teaching in Jesus' name. Upon their release, Peter and John returned to the fellowship and reported the threats. In response, the believers united in prayer, affirming God's power and sovereignty. This specific verse, immediately following a direct quotation of Psalm 2:1-2, highlights their profound theological understanding: that the opposition they faced, and indeed the opposition Jesus faced unto death, was not random or accidental, but entirely within God's predetermined will. It served to steel their resolve and assure them that their current trials, like Christ's, were part of a larger divine plan, demonstrating God's ultimate control even over hostile human actions.

Acts 4 27 Word analysis

• For truly: (Greek: epi alētheias) – Emphasizes certainty and affirmation. It grounds the prayer in factual reality and divine truth.
• in this city: (Greek: en tē polei tautē) – Refers to Jerusalem, the epicentre of Jesus' final ministry, crucifixion, and the birthplace of the church. This city held significant historical and prophetic weight.
• there were gathered together: (Greek: synēchthēsan) – A passive verb, meaning "they were assembled" or "convened." This term can imply a planned gathering. In the immediate preceding verse (Acts 4:26), it directly refers to the nations and rulers gathering against the Lord and His Anointed, echoing Psalm 2:2.
• against Your holy servant Jesus: (Greek: kata tou hagiou paidos sou Iēsou) –
  • against: (Greek: kata) – Denotes opposition or hostility.
  • holy: (Greek: hagiou) – Signifies set apart, consecrated to God, pure, and distinct. It emphasizes Jesus' unique status.
  • servant: (Greek: paidos) – This is a rich term. It can mean "child," "son," or "servant." In this context, combined with "holy," it powerfully connects Jesus to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah's prophecies (e.g., Isa 42:1; 52:13; 53:11), the one specially chosen and set apart by God for His redemptive purposes.
  • Jesus: The personal name of the Messiah, linking the prophetic servant figure to the historical person.
• whom You anointed: (Greek: hon echrisas) –
  • anointed: (Greek: echrisas) – From which "Christ" (Christos) is derived. This explicitly states God's act of anointing Jesus, setting Him apart for His messianic office—as Prophet, Priest, and King. This is the divine act that identifies Jesus as the Messiah, the "Anointed One."
• both Herod and Pontius Pilate: (Greek: te kai Hērōdēs te kai Pontios Pilatos) – Specific historical figures representing Jewish and Roman political power.
  • Herod: Specifically Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, who interrogated Jesus (Lk 23:6-12).
  • Pontius Pilate: The Roman governor of Judea, responsible for Jesus' crucifixion. Their inclusion signifies the involvement of both key authorities of the time.
• with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel: (Greek: syn ethnousin kai laois Israēl) –
  • Gentiles: (Greek: ethnousin) – The non-Jewish nations, representing the broader Roman Empire and world.
  • peoples of Israel: (Greek: laois Israēl) – The Jewish people, encompassing those who cried "Crucify Him" (Mt 27:22-23), as distinct from their specific rulers (Herod).
  • This phrase emphasizes the widespread, comprehensive opposition from both major human groups involved in the crucifixion, confirming the prophecy of Psalm 2.
• to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur: (Greek: poiēsai hosa hē cheir sou kai hē boulē sou proōrisen genesthai) – This climactic phrase clarifies the theological core.
  • to do whatever: (Greek: poiēsai hosa) – Emphasizes that even hostile actions served God's purpose.
  • Your hand: (Greek: hē cheir sou) – A biblical metaphor for God's power, might, and sovereign agency.
  • Your purpose: (Greek: hē boulē sou) – God's deliberate will, counsel, or plan. It denotes a settled decision.
  • predestined: (Greek: proōrisen) – This crucial verb means "to determine beforehand," "to appoint beforehand," or "to mark out in advance." It signifies God's eternal, fixed decree that established the specific events concerning Christ's suffering and death. This was not a reactive or unplanned event.
  • to occur: (Greek: genesthai) – To come to pass, to happen.

Words-Group analysis:

• "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed": This part establishes the setting and the identity of the victim and His divine nature. It confirms that the gathering of human opposition was directly aimed at the Messiah whom God Himself designated. The phrase "whom You anointed" links Jesus directly to the prophetic Messianic hope.
• "both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel": This identifies the specific, diverse human agents involved in Jesus' passion. It demonstrates a comprehensive and universal opposition, fulfilling prophetic declarations about kings and peoples rising against the Lord's Anointed. This collection of antagonists signifies that the forces arrayed against Jesus encompassed every stratum of society and political power.
• "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur": This is the theological anchor of the verse. It declares that despite the wicked intentions of those gathered, their actions ultimately served God's supreme and unalterable plan. God's "hand" (power) and "purpose" (will) were the ultimate determinants, orchestrating the human drama to accomplish His pre-ordained salvific design. This powerfully affirms divine sovereignty over human evil and contingency.

Acts 4 27 Bonus section

This verse implicitly teaches the concept of divine concursus or "compatibilism," where human free will and responsibility coexist with God's absolute sovereignty. Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel acted out of their own wicked desires and choices, yet their actions perfectly coincided with what God had eternally purposed. God did not compel them to sin, but in His wisdom, He chose to allow their choices to be the means by which His decreed plan for Christ's suffering was brought to fruition. This profound truth served as a theological bulwark for the early church, enabling them to interpret persecution not as a sign of divine abandonment, but as evidence of God's active involvement in human history, steering all events toward the glorification of His Son and the advancement of His Kingdom. The prayer it is a part of serves as a pattern for believers: when facing adversity, appeal to God's ultimate authority and steadfast purpose.

Acts 4 27 Commentary

Acts 4:27 provides a powerful lens through which the early church understood suffering and divine providence. Far from being an unplanned tragedy, Jesus' crucifixion is affirmed as the precise fulfillment of God's predetermined will. This verse highlights that all opposition to God's Christ—from political rulers like Herod and Pilate, to the wider Gentile nations, and even His own people, Israel—was supernaturally constrained to achieve God's ultimate salvific plan. It asserts that God's power is so absolute that He can utilize even the most malevolent human actions to accomplish His good purposes. This perspective profoundly encouraged the beleaguered apostles and early believers, teaching them not to fear human opposition but to trust in the unfailing sovereignty of their Heavenly Father. It provides a model for believers throughout history to recognize God's hand at work even amidst apparent defeat or injustice, grounding their faith in His sovereign control rather than their fleeting circumstances.