Acts 4:7 Meaning and Explanation
“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The council sets the apostles in the middle and demands to know by what power or by what name they have done this.
What Does Acts 4:7 Mean?
Peter and John stand in the center of the assembled judges, the place of the accused. The question is official and pointed — unauthorized teachers and an undeniable healing require an explanation: what power, whose name?
The question is a gift, for the name is the one thing Peter most wants to declare. God turns an interrogation into a pulpit. In Scripture a name is never a mere label; it carries the person, his character, and his authority. The court has just asked the church to preach.
Acts 4:7 in the Original Language
onoma (ὄνομα), 'name' -- in Scripture the name carries the person's own authority and character.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 4:7
What does Acts 4:7 mean?
The council sets the apostles in the middle and demands to know by what power or by what name they have done this.