Acts 4:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The council summons the apostles and commands them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
What Does Acts 4:18 Mean?
The verdict is a gag order: no speaking, no teaching, not at all, in the name of Jesus. Having found no crime to punish (v. 21), the court reaches for the one instrument left to it — command, backed by its full authority over the religious life of Israel.
The order sets up one of the great collisions in Scripture: a lawful human authority forbidding what God has commanded (Acts 1:8). Most of the time God's people can honor both heaven and the magistrate. When the two part ways, the next verse gives the church its answer for every generation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 4:18
What does Acts 4:18 mean?
The council summons the apostles and commands them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.