Acts 4:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The authorities arrest Peter and John and hold them overnight, since evening has come.
What Does Acts 4:3 Mean?
Serious cases could not be tried at night, so the apostles are locked up until morning. The men who once hid behind shut doors for fear (John 20:19) now spend a night in custody for preaching openly in the courts of the temple.
This is the first imprisonment in Acts, and the book will fill with cells and councils before it ends. None of them stop the word. The guards could hold the preachers but not the sermon, which kept working in hearts all night (v. 4). What looks like a setback is often only the message changing rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 4:3
What does Acts 4:3 mean?
The authorities arrest Peter and John and hold them overnight, since evening has come.