Keraia
Acts 4

Acts 4:26

The Believers’ Prayer · Acts 4:23–31
Read Acts 4

Translations

Modern
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’
Traditional
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Literal
The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’
Latin
Astiterunt reges terræ, et principes convenerunt in unum adversus Dominum, et adversus Christum ejus.

Original

Greek
English
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’

Notes

Acts 4:26

The Hebrew term Messiah (which means "anointed one") originally referred to Israel’s anointed king. Later, it referred to the Messiah, God's chosen future king of Israel who would establish God's kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:14–16; Psalm 89:36–37; Isaiah 9:6–7; 11:1–9; 61:1; Jeremiah 23:5–6; 33:14–16; Luke 1:32–33).

Acts 4:25–26

This passage quotes Psalm 2:1–2, which describes how the Gentile (non-Jewish) nations react to the Lord’s anointed king. Similarly, the Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem had gathered together against Jesus and now against his followers.

Acts 4:23–31

The believers heard the report that their leaders had been threatened and commanded never again to speak about Jesus (4:18). The Christian movement was clearly under attack from the religious authorities, so they united in prayer. They turned to God, sharing their troubles and asking for courage to speak the message. They also asked God to send signs and wonders to confirm that the message was true. God answered their request in a clear and powerful way.

Events

Parallels

Psalm 2:1–12

Glossary

Book of the Acts of the Apostles Courts and Trials Peter, the Apostle Ruler

Topics

Jesus, the Christ: Other Scriptures Relating to his Messiahship