Acts 4 3

Acts 4:3 kjv

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Acts 4:3 nkjv

And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

Acts 4:3 niv

They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

Acts 4:3 esv

And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

Acts 4:3 nlt

They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 3 Meaning

Acts 4:3 describes the immediate consequence faced by the apostles Peter and John after their bold preaching of Jesus' resurrection and the healing of the lame man at the Temple. The religious authorities, specifically the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and the Sadducees, were greatly disturbed by their message and the public attention it garnered. In response, "they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening." This verse marks the beginning of direct official persecution against the early followers of Christ, initiating their detention as a prelude to further interrogation and a clear attempt to silence their declaration of the resurrected Jesus.

Acts 4 3 Context

Acts chapter 4 opens immediately following the miraculous healing of a lame man by Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, as described in Acts chapter 3. Peter then delivered a powerful sermon to the astonished crowd, preaching repentance, faith in Jesus, and the resurrection. This message, particularly the claim that the healing occurred "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead," directly challenged the Jewish religious establishment. The authorities—priests, the captain of the Temple guard (who was responsible for maintaining order), and the Sadducees (who denied the resurrection)—were "annoyed" (Acts 4:2) by the apostles' teaching. Their primary grievance was the declaration of Jesus' resurrection, which contradicted the Sadducees' theology and implicitly accused the leadership of crucifying God's Messiah. As a result, the action of "laying hands on them and putting them in custody" in verse 3 is a direct response to this perceived theological and social disturbance, an official act of detention by those in authority, reflecting their determination to suppress the new movement and its provocative message.

Acts 4 3 Word analysis

• And they laid hands on them:

  • And they: Refers to "the priests and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees" mentioned in Acts 4:1. This was an official, organized action by the religious leadership.
  • laid hands on (Greek: ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας, epebalon tas cheiras): This phrase indicates a physical act of apprehension or arrest, an official taking into custody by those with authority. It's a standard idiom for seizing someone, often in a forceful manner. It is the direct opposite of a blessing (laying on hands for spiritual purposes) but shares the physical action.
  • on them: Refers to Peter and John. They were the ones actively proclaiming the resurrection.
  • Significance: This signifies the transition from public preaching to direct confrontation and persecution. It shows the established power reacting defensively to a message it perceives as a threat to its authority and theological stance.

• and put them in custody:

  • and put them (Greek: ἔθεντο, ethento): To place or set. It denotes a deliberate act of confinement.
  • in custody (Greek: εἰς τήρησιν, eis teresin): Literally "into keeping" or "into guarding." This refers to temporary imprisonment or detention under guard. It suggests a holding cell or some form of confinement, not yet a trial or conviction, but awaiting formal proceedings.
  • Significance: The detention was official, implying a structured process by the Temple authorities rather than a spontaneous mob reaction. It was not intended for punishment at this point, but for restraint and interrogation.

• until the next day:

  • until (Greek: εἰς, eis): Expresses a target or destination in time.
  • the next day (Greek: τὴν αὔριον, tēn aurion): Meaning "the morrow." This specifies the duration of their initial detention.
  • Significance: The detention was temporary, pending further action. It also highlights a procedural aspect, as major legal hearings typically did not occur at night under Jewish law.

• for it was already evening:

  • for (Greek: γὰρ, gar): A conjunction introducing the reason for the previous statement.
  • it was already evening (Greek: ἑσπέρα ἤδη, hespera ēdē): The late part of the day, dusk or nightfall.
  • Significance: This phrase provides the specific, practical reason for the immediate detention until morning. Jewish legal practices generally prohibited formal judicial proceedings or capital cases at night. This shows that despite their agitation, the authorities adhered to certain procedural norms. This delay also afforded them time to gather their thoughts and plan their approach for the upcoming hearing.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "laid hands on them and put them in custody": This phrase succinctly describes the immediate, physical act of arrest and detention. It signifies the authoritative and forceful action taken by the religious leaders against the apostles. This was a clear act of opposition designed to control the spreading influence of the Christian message.
  • "until the next day, for it was already evening": This explains the duration and the specific, lawful reason for the detention. It shows the authorities were not acting with immediate, lawless violence but rather following certain legal conventions. This pause in action was a strategic necessity for the authorities, allowing them to consolidate their response and hold a proper assembly in daylight hours.

Acts 4 3 Bonus section

The seemingly mundane detail, "for it was already evening," serves a crucial narrative function beyond merely explaining the delay. It subtly emphasizes that even in their immediate apprehension and anger, the Jewish authorities adhered to a certain legal protocol (no trials at night). This demonstrates a measure of control and deliberateness in their opposition, rather than a mob frenzy. This pause also allowed the authorities to deliberate amongst themselves how best to handle Peter and John, a point explicitly revealed in Acts 4:15-16. This planned, official response distinguishes it from earlier hostile actions against Jesus and foreshadows the calculated persecutions that the apostles would face throughout the Book of Acts, often involving formal legal hearings rather than spontaneous violence. It also set a precedent for the apostles: persecution would be a recurring reality, handled not by abandoning their faith, but by continued boldness and reliance on God.

Acts 4 3 Commentary

Acts 4:3 encapsulates the beginning of formalized opposition against the early Christian movement. The arrest of Peter and John was not a random act of violence but a deliberate, official action by the ruling religious council, signifying that the message of the resurrected Jesus directly challenged the established religious order. Their particular focus on the resurrection (Acts 4:2) was problematic for the Sadducees, who denied it, and for all who participated in Jesus' crucifixion, exposing their guilt. The act of "laying hands on them and putting them in custody" reveals the authorities' power and their initial, cautious exercise of it. The mention that it was "already evening" is crucial; it grounds the narrative in the historical context of Jewish judicial customs, which often refrained from holding trials after sundown. This detail suggests the authorities, though alarmed, sought to maintain a semblance of legal procedure rather than resorting to immediate, uncontrolled force. The delay till "the next day" allowed them time for consultation and planning their strategy against the apostles. This verse marks the shift from public teaching to direct conflict, foreshadowing the continuous pattern of persecution that the Church would endure as it spread the message of Christ.