a (piece of) rock (larger than G3037 (λίθος)) · noun — nominative singular masculine, a proper name
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
John
ἸωάννηςIōannēs
G2491
Joannes (i.e. Jochanan) · noun — nominative singular masculine, a proper name
answered
ἀποκριθέντεςapokrithentes
G611
to conclude for oneself · verb — aorist passive deponent participle, nominative plural masculine
said
εἶπονeipon
G2036
to speak or say (by word or writing) · verb — second aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural
unto
πρὸςpros
G4314
a preposition of direction · preposition
them
αὐτούς·autous
G846
the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — accusative plural masculine
Whether
εἰei
G1487
if · conditional particle
be
ἐστίestí
G2076
he (she or it) is
right
δίκαιόνdikaion
G1342
equitable (in character or act) · adjective — nominative singular neuter
of
ἐνώπιονenōpion
G1799
in the face of (literally or figuratively) · preposition
God
θεοῦtheou
G2316
figuratively · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
hearken
ἀκούεινakouein
G191
to hear (in various senses) · verb — present active infinitive
you
ὑμῶνhymōn
G5216
of (from or concerning) you
more
μᾶλλονmallon
G3123
(adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather · adverb
than
ἢē
G2228
disjunctive · conjunction
God
θεοῦ,theou
G2316
figuratively · noun — genitive singular masculine, a title
ye
κρίνατε.krinate
G2919
by implication · verb — aorist active imperative, 2nd person plural
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Exodus 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
1 Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1 Kings 22:14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
1 Kings 12:30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
1 Kings 14:16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Acts 4:15-22
We have here the issue of the trial of Peter and John before the council. They came off now with flying colours, because they must be trained up to sufferings by degrees, and by less trials be prepared for greater. They now but run with the footmen; hereafter we shall have them contending with horses, Jer 12:5.
I. Here is the consultation and resolution of the court about this matter, and their proceeding thereupon.
1. The prisoners were ordered to withdraw (Act 4:15): They commanded them to go aside out of the council, willing enough to get clear of them (they spoke so home to their consciences), and not willing they should hear the acknowledgements that were extorted from them; but, though…
Whether it be right . . . to hearken to you more than . . . God, judge ye.
Adam Clarke on Acts 4:19
Whether it be right in the sight of God - As if they had said: Worldly prudence and a consideration of our secular interests would undoubtedly induce us to obey you; but acting as before God, and following the dictates of eternal truth and justice, we dare not be silent. Can it be right to obey men contrary to the command and will of God? When he commands us to speak, dare we hold our tongue? We have received our authority from God through Christ, and feel fully persuaded of the truth by the Holy Spirit which now dwells in us; and we should be guilty of treason against God, were we on any consideration to suppress his testimony. Your own consciences testify that we should be sinners against…
But Peter and John answered and said unto them,.... With great boldness and courage, and without any fear of man, but in the true fear of God
whether it be right in the sight of God; who is omniscient, and sees, and knows all things, all the actions of men, and the springs of them; who is holy, just, and true, and sits and judges among the gods, that which is right:
to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye: it is not denied that magistrates are to be hearkened to, and obeyed: but not more than God, or in things that are contrary to his nature, will, law, honour, and glory: whatever is agreeable to the law and will of God, commanded by magistrates, should be attended to, and cheerfu…
The Church Fathers
"But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people." The miracles shut their mouths: they would not so much as let them finish their speech, but cut them short in the middle, most insolently.
And again: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." And they went rejoicing from the presence of the council, because they were counted worthy to suffer insults for the name of Jesus. Behold, Peter rejoices in beatings, who before was afraid at mere words. And he who previously feared when questioned by the voice of a servant girl, after the coming of the Holy Spirit, though beaten, tramples down the powers of rulers.
"And Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." When the terror was abated (for that command was tantamount to their being dismissed), then also the Apostles speak more mildly: so far were they from mere bravery: "Whether it be right," says he: and "We cannot but speak." "Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God." Here by "God" they mean Christ, for He it was that commanded them. And once more they confirm the fact of His Resurrection. "For we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard:" so that we are witnesses who have a right to be believed.
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
Dictionary and topics
Sanhedrim — More correctly Sanhedrin (Gr. synedrion), meaning “a sitting together,” or a “council.” This word (rendered “council,” A.V.) is frequently used in the New Testament (Matt. 5:22; 26:59; Mark 15:1,…
Boldness, Holy · Produced by: The fear of God — Produced by: The fear of God
Caiaphas · Peter and other disciples accused before — Peter and other disciples accused before
Courage · .Peter and — .Peter and
Court · ACCUSED SPOKE IN HIS OWN — ACCUSED SPOKE IN HIS OWN
Duty · 22:5;23:11; — 22:5;23:11;
Intolerance, Religious · .In persecuting the disciples — .In persecuting the disciples
Missionary Work By Ministers · Obligations to engage in — Obligations to engage in
Obedience · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Obedience To God · Obligations to — Obligations to
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
Acts 4:19-23
19. And Peter and John answered them, and said, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than to God, judge ye. 20. For we cannot but speak those things which we have seen and heard. 21. And when they had threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing. for which they might punish them, because of the people; for all men did glorify God because of that which was done. 22. For the man was more than forty years old on whom the sign of healing was showed. 23. Furthermore, when they were let go, they came to their fellows, and told them whatsoever things the priests and elders had said.
19. Whether it be right. Let us remember to whom they make this an…
The apostles stated a principle that can guide God’s people in dealing with hostile authorities (see also 5:40; cp. 1 Sam 15:22; Jer 7:23; Luke 20:20-26; Rom 13:1-7). Jesus had predicted that his disciples would encounter hostility and persecution (Luke 21:12-19).
