Acts 4:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The authorities are deeply troubled that the apostles are teaching the people and proclaiming, in Jesus, the resurrection from the dead.
What Does Acts 4:2 Mean?
Luke names the grievance behind the arrest. The Sadducees denied any resurrection (Acts 23:8), and here were untrained Galileans announcing that it had happened — in Jesus, the man the council had condemned only weeks before. The preaching threatened both their doctrine and their hold on the people.
Notice what gave offense: not disorder, but the news that Jesus is risen. The resurrection is not a footnote to the gospel; it is its beating heart. If Jesus stands alive, then the court that condemned him is overruled, death itself has lost its claim, and every hearer must decide what to do with him. That announcement still unsettles, and still saves.
Acts 4:2 in the Original Language
anastasis (ἀνάστασις), 'resurrection' -- literally a standing up again, a rising from among the dead.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 4:2
What does Acts 4:2 mean?
The authorities are deeply troubled that the apostles are teaching the people and proclaiming, in Jesus, the resurrection from the dead.