Acts 4:21

After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Sanhedrin releases Peter and John after issuing additional warnings, halting punishment because the crowd's public glorification of God made any penalty politically unfeasible. This occurs immediately after the apostles refuse to cease proclaiming what they witnessed and heard.

The words — προσαπειλησάμενοι (prosapeilēsamenoi) carries the literal sense "having further threatened," and ἀπέλυσαν (apelusan) records the decisive action "they let go." The text explicitly states the officials could find no method of punishment because all the people were glorifying God for the miracle.

The thread — The pattern of authorities restraining action due to popular reverence runs through Acts 5:26 and Matthew 21:46, while crowd awe at divine intervention parallels Matthew 9:8.

Why it lands — It requires acknowledging that public witness can constrain institutional power, and it demands a reader to stop fearing human opposition when the community recognizes God's work.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

Cross-references

Acts 5:26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
Matthew 9:8 When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Matthew 21:46 Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
Luke 20:6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
Luke 20:19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.
Luke 22:2 and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people.
Matthew 9:33 And when the demon had been driven out, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!”
Matthew 15:31 The crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.
Matthew 26:5 “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
Luke 5:26 Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”