Acts 4 30

Acts 4:30 kjv

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

Acts 4:30 nkjv

by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

Acts 4:30 niv

Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

Acts 4:30 esv

while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

Acts 4:30 nlt

Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 30 Meaning

This verse is part of the corporate prayer of the early believers after Peter and John were released from arrest. It expresses a fervent appeal to God to continue manifesting His power through miracles—specifically healing, signs, and wonders. The central petition is that these supernatural acts would be performed by God's own hand, working through the unique authority and power vested in the name of His holy Servant, Jesus. It underscores the early church's reliance on divine attestation for their ministry and the vital role of Jesus's person and authority in every supernatural act.

Acts 4 30 Context

Acts 4:30 is part of a collective prayer by the early Christian community following the arrest and interrogation of Peter and John by the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-22). The apostles had healed a lame man in the name of Jesus Christ, sparking conflict with religious authorities who ordered them not to speak or teach in Jesus's name. Upon their release, Peter and John reported back to their community, who then responded not with fear, but with united prayer. The prayer, which begins in Acts 4:24, acknowledges God's sovereignty (vv. 24-28) and seeks boldness to speak His word despite threats (v. 29). Verse 30 directly flows from this, seeking divine empowerment through supernatural manifestations (healing, signs, and wonders) as authentication of their message and God's work through His Servant Jesus, effectively defying the Sanhedrin's command not to preach in His name.

Acts 4 30 Word analysis

• stretching out: (Greek: ektenō, ἐκτείνω) - Implies an active, purposeful extension or reaching out. This action is consistently associated with a manifestation of God's power or intervention, often in a tangible, demonstrable way, particularly for healing, rescue, or judgment. It signifies a direct, personal involvement of God's power.
• Your hand: Refers to God's own hand. In biblical idiom, the "hand of God" represents His power, authority, agency, and direct intervention. It is a symbol of His effective working and might.
• to heal: (Greek: iaomai, ἰάομαι) - Signifies to cure, to make whole, or to restore health, often used for physical ailments. In biblical contexts, God is often identified as the Healer (Exod 15:26). The prayer requests God's active, restorative power.
• and that signs and wonders: (Greek: sēmeia kai terata, σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα) - A common biblical pairing found in both the Old and New Testaments. "Signs" (sēmeia) point to a deeper meaning, indicating a divine truth or presence. "Wonders" (terata) cause astonishment and awe due to their supernatural nature. Together, they serve to authenticate a divine messenger or message, testifying to God's presence and activity (e.g., in Moses's ministry, Jesus's ministry, and the apostles').
• may be done through: (Greek: genesthai dia, γενέσθαι διὰ) - Denotes agency, indicating that the actions (signs and wonders) would come into being through a specific channel or instrument. Here, the power is from God but channeled through the name of Jesus, implying human agency (the apostles) empowered by divine authority.
• the name: (Greek: onoma, ὄνομα) - More than just a label, "the name" of a person in biblical thought embodies the person's character, authority, power, presence, and reputation. To act "in the name" of Jesus means to act with His delegated authority, embodying His person and power. It signifies identification with, and empowerment by, Christ Himself.
• Your holy Servant: (Greek: tou hagiou Paidos Sou, τοῦ ἁγίου Παιδός Σου)
  • holy: (Greek: hagios, ἅγιος) - Denotes being set apart, consecrated, sacred, and morally pure. It emphasizes Jesus's unique relationship with God the Father and His sinless nature, which makes Him the perfect agent for God's power.
  • Servant: (Greek: Pais, Παῖς) - This term can mean 'child,' 'son,' or 'servant.' In this specific context, especially in Acts (e.g., Acts 3:13, 3:26), it unequivocally refers to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament "Suffering Servant" prophecies from Isaiah (e.g., Isa 42:1, 52:13, 53). It highlights His divinely appointed role as the humble yet powerful agent of God's saving plan, His obedient and redemptive mission. The early church understood Jesus's identity not just as Messiah but specifically as the obedient Servant of God, a title particularly emphasized by Peter.
• Jesus: The human name of the incarnate Son of God, identifying the specific individual through whom all this divine power and authority are channeled and manifested.

Words-group analysis

• "stretching out Your hand to heal": This phrase emphasizes the active, powerful, and compassionate involvement of God Himself in providing healing and restoration. It is a petition for direct divine intervention. The "hand of God" symbolizes His working presence.
• "signs and wonders may be done": This highlights the purpose of the miracles sought—they are not for mere display but for authentication and confirmation of the divine message being proclaimed by the apostles. These are outward, supernatural phenomena that signify God's approval and presence with His messengers.
• "through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus": This entire phrase points to the unique means by which God's power is to be channeled. It is not through human ability, but solely by the authority and power inherent in the person, character, and redemptive work of Jesus, who is acknowledged as God's set-apart and obedient Messiah-Servant. The "name" encapsulates His entire identity and saving power. This is the exclusive channel for God's supernatural activity in the new covenant.

Acts 4 30 Bonus section

The prayer in Acts 4:24-30 is a corporate prayer, emphasizing the unity and shared spiritual experience of the early church. Their unified appeal for more power, rather than protection, indicates a deep understanding that God's plan involves empowering His people through difficulties, rather than simply removing them. The immediate response in Acts 4:31—where the place was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word with boldness—shows God's direct and swift affirmation of their prayer for divine enablement and signs, not mere spiritual feelings but supernatural power for bold proclamation. This passage stands as a pattern for believers to pray for the manifest power of God in their ministry, focusing on the glorification of Jesus and the advancement of His kingdom.

Acts 4 30 Commentary

Acts 4:30 is a powerful summary of the early church's understanding of their ministry and God's role within it. Faced with opposition and threats, they did not pray for relief from suffering or an end to persecution, but for a greater manifestation of God's power to fulfill their commission. Their prayer reveals several key insights: a profound trust in God's active involvement, a reliance on the authority of Jesus's name as the channel for divine power, and a recognition that supernatural signs serve to authenticate their message and validate God's work. It's a bold request for God to publicly endorse His gospel and His chosen Servant through unmistakable demonstrations of power. The purpose of these miracles was always missional—to confirm the word being preached and to draw people to faith in Jesus, the ultimate expression of God's "stretched out hand."