Acts 4:3 (KJV)

What does Acts 4:3 mean?

Acts 4:3 describes how the authorities seized Peter and John, physically taking hold of them and putting them in custody until the next day because it was already evening. The verse shows that their arrest was not just a warning but involved actual detention, with the timing (evening) affecting how long they would be held.

The setting is Jerusalem, right after Peter and John have been publicly teaching about Jesus following the healing of a lame man. The religious leaders, disturbed by their message, respond by arresting them. The mention of "eventide" (evening) signals that legal proceedings could not continue until the next day, so Peter and John are held overnight.

The Greek behind Acts 4:3

• "Laid" (ἐπέβαλον, epébalon): This word means to place upon or lay hands on, often with force. Here, it emphasizes that Peter and John were physically seized, not just politely asked to stop.
• "Hold" (τήρησιν, tērēsin): This term refers to a place of custody or prison. It highlights that Peter and John were not just detained informally but were put in a secure holding place.
• "Eventide" (ἑσπέρα, hespera): This word means evening. Its use here explains why the authorities delayed further action, as Jewish legal procedures typically did not happen at night.

Why Acts 4:3 matters

• Acts 4:3 clarifies that the opposition to the apostles was serious and included real consequences like arrest and imprisonment, not just verbal threats.
• The verse shows how timing and legal customs (not proceeding at night) shaped the events, helping readers understand the flow of the story.
• This moment sets up the following events in Acts, where Peter and John will have to explain their actions before the authorities, highlighting the tension between the early Christian movement and the religious leadership.