Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
ACTS 4:16KJVWhat does Acts 4:16 mean?
Acts 4:16 records the Jewish council discussing what to do about Peter and John, admitting that a remarkable miracle has clearly happened through them and that everyone in Jerusalem knows it, so they cannot deny it. The verse shows the council’s dilemma: they recognize something undeniable has taken place, but they are unsure how to respond.
The speakers here are members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, talking among themselves after Peter and John healed a man in Jesus’ name. The council acknowledges that the miracle is “notable”—it is public and obvious to all Jerusalem’s residents. Their concern is not whether the event happened, but how to handle its impact, since they cannot refute the reality of what everyone has witnessed.
The Greek behind Acts 4:16
- σημεῖον (sēmeion, “miracle” or “sign”): This word often means a sign that points to something greater. Here, it emphasizes that the healing was not just an act of kindness but a significant event with meaning.
- γνῶστον (gnōston, “notable” or “well-known”): The Greek carries the sense of something widely recognized or unmistakable, stressing that the miracle could not be hidden or dismissed.
- φανερόν (phaneron, “manifest” or “obvious”): This word means something plainly visible or evident, reinforcing that the miracle’s reality was clear to everyone in Jerusalem.
Why Acts 4:16 matters
- Acts 4:16 highlights that even the opponents of the apostles could not deny the reality of the miracle, showing the event’s public and undeniable nature.
- The verse reveals the council’s struggle: their authority is challenged not by argument, but by something everyone has seen for themselves.
- This moment sets up the tension in the following verses, where the council must decide how to respond to a movement they cannot easily discredit or suppress.