Scripture Reference Window
    Browser "Back" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" to return.

Acts 4:13-20 GW
(13) After they found out that Peter and John had no education or special training, they were surprised to see how boldly they spoke. They realized that these men had been with Jesus. (14) When they saw the man who was healed standing with Peter and John, they couldn't say anything against the two apostles. (15) So they ordered Peter and John to leave the council room and began to discuss the matter among themselves. (16) They said, "What should we do to these men? Clearly, they've performed a miracle that everyone in Jerusalem knows about. We can't deny that. (17) So let's threaten them. Let's tell them that they must never speak to anyone about the one named Jesus. Then the news about the miracle that they have performed will not spread any further among the people." (18) They called Peter and John and ordered them never to teach about Jesus or even mention his name. (19) Peter and John answered them, "Decide for yourselves whether God wants people to listen to you rather than to him. (20) We cannot stop talking about what we've seen and heard."

Acts 4:13-20 ALT
(13) And observing the confidence of Peter and John, and having perceived that they are uneducated and untrained men, they began marveling, and they were recognizing them that they were with Jesus. (14) Then seeing the man having stood with them, the one having been healed, they had nothing to say against [them]. (15) But having commanded them to go away outside of the High Council [or, Sanhedrin, and throughout book], they began conferring with one another, (16) saying, "What will we do to these men? For indeed, that a recognizable sign has taken place through them [is] evident to all the ones living in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny [it]. (17) "But so that it shall not spread further among the people, let us ourselves threaten them with a threat [fig., severely threaten them] to no longer be speaking in this name to any person." (18) And having summoned them, they gave strict orders to them not to be speaking at all nor to be teaching in the name of Jesus. (19) But answering, Peter and John said to them, "Whether it is righteous before God to listen to youp rather than God, youp judge. (20) "For we are not able not to [or, we cannot but] be speaking [about] what we saw and heard."

Acts 4:13-20 NWT
13 Now when they beheld the outspokenness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were men unlettered and ordinary, they got to wondering. And they began to recognize about them that they used to be with Jesus; 14 and as they were looking at the man that had been cured standing with them, they had nothing to say in rebuttal. 15 So they commanded them to go outside the Sanhedrin hall, and they began consulting with one another, 16 saying: "What shall we do with these men? Because, for a fact, a noteworthy sign has occurred through them, one manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 Nevertheless, in order that it may not be spread abroad further among the people, let us tell them with threats not to speak anymore upon the basis of this name to any man at all." 18 With that they called them and charged them, nowhere to make any utterance or to teach upon the basis of the name of Jesus. 19 But in reply Peter and John said to them: "Whether it is righteous in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves. 20 But as for us, we cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard."

Acts 4:13-20 CEV
(13) The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain that these men had been with Jesus. (14) But they could not deny what had happened. The man who had been healed was standing there with the apostles. (15) The officials commanded them to leave the council room. Then the officials said to each other, (16) "What can we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about this miracle, and we cannot say it didn't happen. (17) But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus." (18) So they called the two apostles back in and told them that they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus. (19) Peter and John answered, "Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? (20) We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard."

Use browser "Back Arrow" or "Alt + Left_Arrow" keys to previous page. | Home


You will note the reference windows often include more than one translation of the Bible. The reason is to strive to gain the best possible understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek. Since we don't speak those languages, we rely on those who have come before and made the effort to translate those texts into English for us. Considering several translations gives the benefit of the understanding of several translation committees or individuals.
The Translations we quote are:

ALT - Analytical Literal Translation

ASV - American Standard Version (by the American revision committee in 1897).

BBE - 1965 Bible in Basic English

Bishops - 1568 Bishop's Bible

CEV - Contemporary English Version

Coverdale - 1535 Miles Coverdale Bible

Darby - 1889 Darby Bible

DRB - 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible

ESV - English Standard Version

GNB - Good News Bible

GW - God's Word Bible

ISV - International Standard Version

KJV - King James Version

LitNT - Literal New Testament

LITV - Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

MKJV - Modern King James Version

Murdock - 1851 James Murdock New Testament

NWT - New World Translation

RV - Revised Version

Webster - 1833 Webster Bible

WTNT - 1525-26 William Tyndale New Testament Wycliffe - 1394 Wycliffe Bible YLT - Young's Literal Translation