Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Read it in contextThe Prayer of the Believers
Start reading at Acts 4:24 (Acts 4:24 to Acts 4:31).
The prayer begins at verse 24 and concludes at verse 31, encompassing the entire passage of the believers' unified petition to God.
4:24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
4:25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
4:26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
4:27For 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,
4:28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
4:29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
4:30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
4:31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Luke, the physician and companion of Paul, is the traditional author of Acts and the Gospel of Luke. Biblical references: Acts 1:1; Luke 1:3; Colossians 4:14. Historical source: Anchor Bible Dictionary, Luke–Acts. traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Acts 4:1–4:37): Priests, the temple captain, Sadducees, and the council question Peter and John; afterward the believers pray together and share their possessions. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Theophilus, the same named recipient as Luke's Gospel, with the account also serving the wider Christian readership. Biblical references: Acts 1:1; Luke 1:3. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme of Acts 4:25? Acts 4:25 is part of a corporate prayer by the early believers, acknowledging God's sovereignty and applying Old Testament prophecy (Psalm 2) to the recent persecution of Jesus and their current situation. The theme is God's foreknowledge and control over human opposition to His plan.
What is God revealing in Acts 4:25? God is revealing that human opposition to Him and His Christ is not unforeseen but is part of His divine plan, as prophesied in Scripture. He is sovereign even over the rage of nations and peoples, and their actions ultimately serve His purposes.
What is the literary style of Acts 4:25? Acts 4:25 is a direct quote from an Old Testament Psalm (Psalm 2:1-2), embedded within a prayer, which is part of a larger narrative history.
When
When was the book of Acts written? The book of Acts was written around A.D. 62 to 64. book background
When does the event described in Acts 4:25 take place? The event, which is the prayer of the believers, takes place shortly after Peter and John's release from the Jewish council, likely in the early days of the church, around A.D. 30-33. book background
Where
Where did the event described in Acts 4:25 happen? The prayer, including the utterance of Acts 4:25, happened in Jerusalem, after Peter and John were released from the council and returned to their 'own company'. stated in the text
Where was the author (Luke) located when writing the book of Acts? The author, Luke, was traditionally located in Rome when writing the book of Acts. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The Prayer of the Believers (Acts 4:24 to Acts 4:31).
Start reading at Acts 4:24. The prayer begins at verse 24 and concludes at verse 31, encompassing the entire passage of the believers' unified petition to God.
How
How does Acts 4:25 fit the broader context? This verse is part of a corporate prayer offered by the early church after Peter and John faced persecution for preaching Jesus. They quote Psalm 2 to understand that the opposition they face is not new, but a fulfillment of prophecy, and that God is sovereign over it. This prayer leads to a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and continued boldness in their ministry. stated in the text
How does Acts 4:25 point to Christ? The quoted Psalm 2:1-2 is explicitly applied to Jesus as 'his Christ' (Acts 4:26) and 'thy holy child Jesus' (Acts 4:27). It shows that the opposition Jesus faced from 'Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel' (Acts 4:27) was a fulfillment of prophecy and part of God's predetermined plan (Acts 4:28). This highlights Christ's divine identity and the sovereign purpose of His suffering. stated in the text
How do I apply Acts 4:25 today? Believers today can find comfort and strength in knowing that God is sovereign over all opposition, even when facing persecution or resistance to the gospel. We can pray with boldness, trusting that God's plan will prevail, and that He will empower us to speak His word despite threats, just as the early church did. interpretation
What Scripture saysThe book opens by referring to the author's former treatise to Theophilus, tying it to Luke, and shifts into first-person plural in the travel accounts. Acts 1:1Acts 16:10
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Time covered by Acts
About 30 years
AD 30 or 33Approximate beginning · Acts 1
The risen Jesus instructs His apostles
Acts begins after Jesus’ resurrection and describes His ascension.
About AD 62Approximate ending · Acts 28
Paul teaches while confined in Rome
The account closes with Paul receiving visitors and teaching during two full years in his rented lodging.
The narrative moves from Jerusalem to Rome over roughly three decades. Chapters do not represent equal amounts of time.
View historical notes and sources
Using a beginning in AD 30 or 33 and an ending around AD 62 gives approximately 29–32 years. These are reconstructed dates for the events, not a date for the writing of Acts. The book does not explicitly total its elapsed years.
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Acts 4
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Acts addresses Theophilus as a continuation of the earlier account and follows the witnesses empowered by the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:8 supplies an important geographical frame: Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.
Connection to the wholeThe healing and preaching lead to arrest, and Peter identifies Jesus as the source of the man's restoration and the only name given for salvation.
Connection to the wholeThe authorities recognize the public evidence yet command silence; the apostles insist on speaking what they have seen and heard.
Connection to the wholeThe believers interpret the threats through Scripture and ask for boldness, receiving renewed filling and continuing their witness.
Connection to the wholeThe community's common care accompanies the apostles' witness and introduces the contrasting account of Ananias and Sapphira in chapter 5.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Acts
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Acts addresses Theophilus as a continuation of the earlier account and follows the witnesses empowered by the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:8 supplies an important geographical frame: Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.
Connection to the wholeJesus' promise, the coming of the Holy Ghost, Peter's preaching, and the hearers' response establish the beginning of the church's witness.
Connection to the wholePersecution scatters believers; new fields open, Saul is called, and the reception of Gentiles becomes a matter publicly explained to the church.
Connection to the wholeThe first missionary journey and the Jerusalem deliberation address the place of Gentile believers without making circumcision the entrance requirement.
Connection to the wholePaul and his companions travel through new regions and revisit churches, moving toward the journey to Jerusalem despite coming danger.
Connection to the wholePaul's custody becomes a setting for witness before authorities and brings him to Rome, where the account closes with continued proclamation.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.