Acts 4 9

Acts 4:9 kjv

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Acts 4:9 nkjv

If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,

Acts 4:9 niv

If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,

Acts 4:9 esv

if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,

Acts 4:9 nlt

are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 9 Meaning

Acts 4:9 presents Peter's masterful rhetorical pivot during his interrogation by the Sanhedrin. Instead of directly defending himself and John against charges of public disturbance or unauthorized teaching, he strategically re-frames the core issue of the trial. He asserts that if their current inquiry is truly about the benevolent act of healing a crippled man, then the very source of this miraculous healing is what they must address. This shifts the focus from their supposed transgression to the undeniable evidence of God's power at work through the name of Jesus, effectively putting the miracle and Christ on trial rather than Peter and John.

Acts 4 9 Context

Acts chapter 4 opens immediately after the miraculous healing of a man lame from birth at the temple gate (Acts 3:1-10). This astonishing public display, performed "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth," drew a large crowd and prompted Peter to deliver a powerful sermon identifying Jesus as the resurrected Messiah. The temple guard, along with Sadducees (who denied the resurrection) and priests, became disturbed by Peter and John's teaching and arrest them (Acts 4:1-4). They were then brought before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial council, which included Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others of the high-priestly family. Acts 4:7 records their direct question to Peter and John: "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Acts 4:9 is Peter's Spirit-empowered response, initiating his counter-interrogation and turning their charge into an opportunity to proclaim Christ. His bold reply sets the stage for the powerful witness that follows.

Acts 4 9 Word analysis

• If (Εἰ, Ei): A conditional particle, introducing a premise. Peter uses it strategically not to express doubt, but to re-state the accusers' premise in a way that allows him to reframe the entire situation. It implies, "Since you are indeed trying us concerning..."
• we (ἡμεῖς, hemeis): Refers to Peter and John, highlighting their identity as the agents on trial.
• this day (σήμερον, sēmeron): Emphasizes the immediate, current nature of the interrogation, adding a sense of urgency and directness.
• are on trial (ἀνακρινόμεθα, anakrinometha): From anakrinō, meaning "to examine judicially," "to interrogate," "to investigate," "to scrutinize." It denotes a formal legal inquiry. Peter uses their own legal term against them, acknowledging the proceedings but then subverting their purpose.
• concerning (περὶ, peri): Preposition meaning "about," "concerning." It points to the subject of their examination.
• a good deed (ἀγαθοῦ ἔργου, agathou ergou): "Good" (ἀγαθός, agathos) signifies inherent moral goodness, benevolence, beneficial. "Deed" or "work" (ἔργον, ergon) refers to the action itself. This phrase highlights the irrefutable, benevolent nature of the act performed. It's a direct challenge: how can a good deed be a crime? This points to the hypocrisy of their accusers.
• done (γενέσθαι, genesthai): "To become," "to happen," "to be brought about." This verb is in the infinitive, describing the completion of the "good deed."
• to a crippled man (ἀνθρώπῳ ἀσθενεῖ, anthrōpō asthenei): Literally "a weak/sick man." "Crippled" accurately describes his state as established in Acts 3:2, where he is identified as lame from birth. This specifies the recipient of the good deed, someone undeniably needy and whose transformation was public knowledge.
• by what means (ἐν τίνι τούτου, en tini toutou): "By what" or "in what" power/name (as suggested by the previous verse). Peter here anticipates their specific query (Acts 4:7). He immediately sets out to answer this question.
• this man (οὗτος, houtos): Refers directly to the previously crippled man, who is physically present as undeniable evidence (Acts 4:14). His very presence confirms the miracle.
• has been made well (ἐσώθη, esōthē): From sōzō (σῴζω), which means "to save," "to heal," "to make whole." While here it refers to physical healing, the verb often carries strong theological implications of salvation from sin. The choice of word subtly connects physical healing with spiritual salvation, a core theme of the Gospel. It indicates a complete restoration.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If we this day are on trial concerning a good deed...": Peter masterfully acknowledges the setting (a trial) and the subject (a good deed), while simultaneously challenging the justice of such a trial. It immediately creates a paradox: how can doing something objectively good be subject to condemnation? This sets the stage for exposing the Sanhedrin's true motives, which were not about justice, but about suppressing a movement that challenged their authority.
• "...done to a crippled man...": This emphasizes the beneficiary and the undeniable public nature of the miracle. The man's condition was widely known (Acts 3:2) and his transformation equally evident. His presence eliminates any doubt about the event.
• "...by what means this man has been made well...": This phrase echoes the Sanhedrin's question from Acts 4:7 ("By what power or by what name...?"). Peter, through the Holy Spirit, does not deflect but directly engages their inquiry. He implies that their actual task should be to investigate the source of such extraordinary benevolence, rather than prosecute those through whom it flowed. It shifts the burden of proof to the power behind the healing.

Acts 4 9 Bonus section

• Irony of the Trial: The highest religious court in Israel finds itself prosecuting individuals for an act of pure benevolence. This stark irony underscores the deep spiritual blindness of the Sanhedrin, who prioritized their own power and tradition over compassion and divine intervention.
• Spirit-Filled Eloquence: Peter, previously identified as "uneducated" and "common" (Acts 4:13), speaks with an authority and wisdom that astonishes the seasoned Jewish leaders. This is a clear demonstration of the Holy Spirit fulfilling Jesus' promise to provide words for believers when they face persecution.
• Evidence of Resurrection: The healing itself, and the fact that Peter directly attributes it to the crucified and resurrected Jesus (which he will do in Acts 4:10), serves as undeniable proof supporting the resurrection message the apostles proclaimed. The healed man is the living evidence.
• Reversal of Roles: Peter subtly reverses the roles. While ostensibly the accused, he implicitly puts his accusers on trial by demanding they confront the irrefutable evidence of a good work performed by divine power. He forces them to judge God's work, which is a dangerous position for them.

Acts 4 9 Commentary

Acts 4:9 is a pivotal moment showcasing the Holy Spirit's empowerment of believers to boldly proclaim Christ amidst hostility. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8), does not timidly defend himself but seizes the initiative, turning the Sanhedrin's interrogation into a courtroom for Jesus Christ. By beginning with "If we this day are on trial concerning a good deed," Peter challenges the very premise of their prosecution. It is a brilliant rhetorical move, highlighting the undeniable moral integrity of the act (healing a crippled man) and exposing the perversity of persecuting those who do good. He forces the Sanhedrin to confront the tangible evidence of God's power. His follow-up in the subsequent verses directly attributes this healing to the name of Jesus Christ, whom they had crucified but God raised. This verse sets the stage for a powerful gospel declaration rooted in an undeniable miracle, serving as a model for how believers, when facing opposition, can courageously shift the focus to Christ and His work. It illustrates divine enablement for articulate witness even when uneducated.