ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Acts 4.27-28

Book: Acts · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"25. who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things? 26. The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:"

"27. for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, 28. to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass."

"29. And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, 30. while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus." (Acts 4:25-30, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"25. who by the mouth of your servant, David, said, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? 26. The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.’"

"27. “For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28. to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen."

"29. Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30. while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”" (Acts 4:25-30, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"25. Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ."

"27. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."

"29. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30. By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus." (Acts 4:25-30, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"25. who, through the mouth of David thy servant, did say, Why did nations rage, and peoples meditate vain things? 26. the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ;"

"27. for gathered together of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, were both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and peoples of Israel, 28. to do whatever Thy hand and Thy counsel did determine before to come to pass."

"29. 'And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and grant to Thy servants with all freedom to speak Thy word, 30. in the stretching forth of Thy hand, for healing, and signs, and wonders, to come to pass through the name of Thy holy child Jesus.'" (Acts 4:25-30, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Luke the physician (traditionally) / narrator + multiple speeches (Peter, Stephen, Paul)
  • Audience: Theophilus + Gentile Christian audience (companion to Luke)
  • Location: Jerusalem → Judea → Samaria → Asia Minor → Greece → Rome
  • Time period: events c. AD 30-62; composed c. AD 62-80

Theological reading

Key words

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.