The Meaning of Acts 4:25 Explained

Acts 4:25

KJV: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

YLT: who, through the mouth of David thy servant, did say, Why did nations rage, and peoples meditate vain things?

Darby: who hast said by the mouth of thy servant David, Why have the nations raged haughtily and the peoples meditated vain things?

ASV: 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?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who  by  the mouth  of thy  servant  David  hast said,  Why  did  the heathen  rage,  and  the people  imagine  vain things? 

What does Acts 4:25 Mean?

Study Notes

said
.
king
The second Psalm gives the order of the establishment of the kingdom. It is in six parts:
(1) The rage of the Gentiles, the vain imagination of "people" (Jews), and the antagonism of rulers against Jehovah's anointed Psalms 2:1-3 . The inspired interpretation of this is in Acts 4:25-28 which asserts its fulfilment in the crucifixion of Christ.
(2) The derision of Jehovah Psalms 2:4 that men should suppose it possible to set aside His covenant 2 Samuel 7:8-17 and oath Psalms 89:34-37 .
(3) The vexation Psalms 2:5 fulfilled, first in the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 70; and in the final dispersion of the Jews at that time; and to be fulfilled more completely in the tribulation Matthew 24:29 which immediately precedes the return of the King. Matthew 24:30 .
(4) The establishment of the rejected King upon Zion Psalms 2:6 .
(5) The subjection of the earth to the King's rule Psalms 2:7-9 and
(6) the present appeal to the world powers. Psalms 2:10-12 . See Psalms 8, next in order of the Messianic Psalms. (Note. Psalms 2, 8, 16, 22, 23, 24, 40, 41, 45, 68, 69, 72, 89, 102, 110, , 118. are considered as Messianic. It is not questioned that many other Psalms also refer to Christ.

Context Summary

Acts 4:23-35 - Help From On High
Like draws to like; Judas went to his own place, and the Apostles to their own company. The best answer to threats is prayer. The Apostles' one petition just then was for boldness. They scorned to ask for their own safety; it was enough if Jesus was glorified.
What a note of jubilant triumph was in that glorious prayer, offered by this threatened little band! They realized that they were under the special protection of God, who had made the world, had spoken by the prophets, and was the Father of Jesus. They thought that more miracles of healing would promote their cause; but, though they did not realize it at the time, their unity, love, hope, willingness to share their goods, coupled with their intrepid bearing, were their most potent arguments. Notice that in their consciousness, it was God's hand that was being stretched out to heal, though their hands were the immediate channel of its beneficent operations. They had been filled before, but they were filled again. It is our privilege to claim repeated infillings to make good our leakage and evaporation. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 4

1  The rulers of the Jews, offended with Peter's sermon,
3  imprison him and John
5  After, upon examination
8  Peter boldly avouching the lame man to be healed by the name of Jesus,
11  and that only by the same Jesus we must be eternally saved,
13  they threaten him and John to preach no more in that name,
23  whereupon the church flees to prayer
31  And God, by moving the place where they were assembled, testifies that he heard their prayer;
34  confirming the church with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and with mutual love and charity

Greek Commentary for Acts 4:25

By the mouth of our father David [του πατρος ημων δια πνευματος αγιου στοματος Δαυειδ]
From Psalm 2:1. here ascribed to David. Baumgarten suggests that the whole company sang the second Psalm and then Peter applied it to this emergency. The Greek MSS. do not have δια — dia (by) here before στοματος — stomatos but only δια — dia before πνευματος αγιου — pneumatos hagiou (the Holy Spirit). Hort calls this a “primitive error” perhaps due to an early scribe who omitted this second δια — dia so close to the first δια — dia (Robertson, Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the N.T., p. 238). A small list of such primitive errors is there given as suggested by Dr. Hort. [source]
Why [ινα τι]
This Greek idiom calls for γενηται — genētai (second aorist middle subjunctive), That what may happen. The Gentiles So always in lxx, while λαοι — laoi (peoples) can include Jews. Did rage (επρυαχαν — ephruaxan). First aorist active indicative of πρυασσω — phruassō late word, to neigh like a horse, to prance or stamp the ground, to put on lofty airs. Only here in the N.T. in this quotation from Psalm 2:1. Imagine First aorist active indicative of μελεταω — meletaō Old verb from μελετη — meletē (care), to practise, to caution, as orators and rhetoricians. Only here in the N.T. in this quotation. [source]
That what may happen []
. [source]
The Gentiles [ετνη]
So always in lxx, while λαοι — laoi (peoples) can include Jews. Did rage (επρυαχαν — ephruaxan). First aorist active indicative of πρυασσω — phruassō late word, to neigh like a horse, to prance or stamp the ground, to put on lofty airs. Only here in the N.T. in this quotation from Psalm 2:1. Imagine First aorist active indicative of μελεταω — meletaō Old verb from μελετη — meletē (care), to practise, to caution, as orators and rhetoricians. Only here in the N.T. in this quotation. [source]
Did rage [επρυαχαν]
First aorist active indicative of πρυασσω — phruassō late word, to neigh like a horse, to prance or stamp the ground, to put on lofty airs. Only here in the N.T. in this quotation from Psalm 2:1. [source]
Imagine [εμελετησαν]
First aorist active indicative of μελεταω — meletaō Old verb from μελετη — meletē (care), to practise, to caution, as orators and rhetoricians. Only here in the N.T. in this quotation. [source]
Servant [παιδός]
See on Acts 3:13. [source]
Rage [ἐφρύαξαν]
Only here in New Testament. Originally, to neigh or snort like a horse. Of men, to give one's self haughty airs, and to act and speak insolently. Philo describes a proud man as “walking on tiptoe, and bridling ( φρυαττόμενος )with neck erect like a horse.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 4:25

1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate [μελέτα]
Only here and Acts 4:25(citation). Often in Class. and lxx. Most translators reject the A.V. meditate, and substitute be diligent in, or practice, or take care for. Meditate, however, is legitimate, although in Class. the word commonly appears in one of the other senses. The connection between the different meanings is apparent. Exercise or practice applied to the mind becomes thinking or meditation. In lxx it represents seven Hebrew equivalents, and signifies to meditate, talk of, murmur, delight one's self in, attend to. Often to meditate, Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Psalm 2:1; Psalm 37:12; Psalm 72:6; Psalm href="/desk/?q=ps+35:28&sr=1">Psalm 35:28; Psalm 37:30; Ecclesiastes href="/desk/?q=ec+1:2&sr=1">Ecclesiastes 1:2. In the Vulg. meditabor is the translation of murmur or mourn in Isaiah 38:14. The Hebrew הָגָהֽ means to murmur, whisper; hence the inner whispering of the heart; hence to think, meditate, consider, as Psalm 63:7; Psalm 78:13. [source]
1 Timothy 4:15 Be diligent in these things [ταυτα μελετα]
Old verb from μελετη — meletē (care, practice), present active imperative, “keep on practising these things.” In N.T. only here and Acts 4:25. [source]
Hebrews 1:5 To which [τίνι]
Note the author's characteristic use of the question to express denial. Comp. Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 3:17; Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 12:7. First quotation from Psalm 2:7. The Psalm is addressed as a congratulatory ode to a king of Judah, declaring his coming triumph over the surrounding nations, and calling on them to render homage to the God of Israel. The king is called Son of Jahveh, and is said to be “begotten” on the day on which he is publicly recognized as king. Words of the same Psalm are quoted Acts 4:25, and these words Acts 13:33. [source]
Revelation 11:18 Were wroth [ωργιστησαν]
Ingressive first aorist active indicative of οργιζομαι — orgizomai “became angry.” The culmination of wrath against God (Revelation 16:13.; Revelation 20:8.). Cf. Psalm 2:1, Psalm 2:5, Psalm 2:12; Psalm 99:1; Acts 4:25. John sees the hostility of the world against Christ. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 4:25 mean?

- of the father of us by [the] Spirit Holy through [the] mouth David servant of You having spoken - Why did rage [the] Gentiles and peoples did devise vain things
τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν διὰ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου στόματος Δαυὶδ παιδός σου εἰπών Ἵνα‿ Τί ἐφρύαξαν ἔθνη καὶ λαοὶ ἐμελέτησαν κενά

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πατρὸς  father 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Πνεύματος  [the]  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
Ἁγίου  Holy 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
στόματος  through  [the]  mouth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: στόμα  
Sense: the mouth, as part of the body: of man, of animals, of fish, etc.
Δαυὶδ  David 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Δαβίδ 
Sense: second king of Israel, and ancestor of Jesus Christ.
παιδός  servant 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: παῖς  
Sense: a child, boy or girl.
σου  of  You 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
εἰπών  having  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἵνα‿  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
Τί  Why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
ἐφρύαξαν  did  rage 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: φρυάσσω  
Sense: to neigh, stamp the ground, prance, snort.
ἔθνη  [the]  Gentiles 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
λαοὶ  peoples 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λαός  
Sense: a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language.
ἐμελέτησαν  did  devise 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: μελετάω  
Sense: to care for, attend to carefully, practise.
κενά  vain  things 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: κενός  
Sense: empty, vain, devoid of truth.

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