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Acts 4

Acts 4:20 KJV (With Strong’s)

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20
For
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
we
hemeis (Greek #2249)
we (only used when emphatic)
KJV usage: us, we (ourselves).
Pronounce: hay-mice'
Origin: nominative plural of 1473
i cannot
dunamai (Greek #1410)
to be able or possible
KJV usage: be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.
Pronounce: doo'-nam-ahee
Origin: of uncertain affinity
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
KJV usage: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
Pronounce: oo
Origin: οὐκ (ook), and (before an aspirate) οὐχ (ookh) a primary word
but
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
speak
laleo (Greek #2980)
to talk, i.e. utter words
KJV usage: preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare 3004.
Pronounce: lal-eh'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb
the things which
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
wek have seen
eido (Greek #1492)
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
KJV usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: i'-do
Origin: a primary verb
and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
heard
akouo (Greek #191)
to hear (in various senses)
KJV usage: give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
Pronounce: ak-oo'-o
Origin: a primary verb
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i
Jer. 20:9• 9And I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name: but it was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I became wearied with holding in, and I could not. (Jer. 20:9)
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Acts 22:15• 15for thou shalt be a witness for him to all men of what thou hast seen and heard. (Acts 22:15)
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1 John 1:1,3• 1That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes; that which we contemplated, and our hands handled, concerning the word of life;
 3that which we have seen and heard we report to you, that *ye* also may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is indeed with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1,3)

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Sanhedrin; Sanhedrim

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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we cannot.
Acts 2:4,32• 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave to them to speak forth.
 32This Jesus has God raised up, whereof all *we* are witnesses. (Acts 2:4,32)
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Acts 17:16‑17• 16But in Athens, while Paul was waiting for them, his spirit was painfully excited in him seeing the city given up to idolatry.
 17He reasoned therefore in the synagogue with the Jews, and those who worshipped, and in the market-place every day with those he met with. (Acts 17:16‑17)
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Acts 18:5• 5And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in respect of the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 18:5)
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Num. 22:38• 38And Balaam said to Balak, Lo, I am come to thee; but shall I now be able at all to say anything? the word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak. (Num. 22:38)
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Num. 23:20• 20Behold, I have received mission to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. (Num. 23:20)
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2 Sam. 23:2• 2The Spirit of Jehovah spoke by me, And his word was on my tongue. (2 Sam. 23:2)
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Job 32:18‑20• 18For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
 19Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; like new flasks, it is ready to burst.
 20I will speak, that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer. (Job 32:18‑20)
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Jer. 1:7,17‑19• 7But Jehovah said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for thou shalt go to whomsoever I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
 17Thou, therefore, gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I shall command thee: be not dismayed at them, lest I cause thee to be dismayed before them.
 18And I, behold, I appoint thee this day as a strong city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land; against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.
 19And they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to deliver thee. (Jer. 1:7,17‑19)
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Jer. 4:19• 19My bowels! my bowels! I am in travail! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace: for thou hearest, my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the clamour of war. (Jer. 4:19)
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Jer. 6:11• 11And I am full of the fury of Jehovah, I am weary with holding in. Pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken; the aged with him that is full of days. (Jer. 6:11)
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Jer. 20:9• 9And I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name: but it was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I became wearied with holding in, and I could not. (Jer. 20:9)
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Ezek. 3:11,14‑21• 11and go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah,--whether they will hear or whether they will forbear.
 14And the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit, and the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me.
 15And I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river Chebar, and I sat where they sat; and I sat there astonied among them seven days.
 16And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
 17Son of man, I have appointed thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, and thou shalt hear the word from my mouth, and give them warning from me.
 18When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt certainly die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, that he may live: the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand.
 19But if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
 20And when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and do what is wrong, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die; because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous acts which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thy hand.
 21And if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall certainly live, for he hath taken warning; and thou hast delivered thy soul. (Ezek. 3:11,14‑21)
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Mic. 3:8• 8But truly I am filled with power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and with judgment and with might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. (Mic. 3:8)
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1 Cor. 9:16‑17• 16For if I announce the glad tidings, I have nothing to boast of; for a necessity is laid upon me; for it is woe to me if I should not announce the glad tidings.
 17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with an administration. (1 Cor. 9:16‑17)
the things.
Acts 1:8,22• 8but ye will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day in which he was taken up from us, one of these should be a witness with us of his resurrection. (Acts 1:8,22)
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Acts 3:15• 15but the originator of life ye slew, whom God raised from among the dead, whereof *we* are witnesses. (Acts 3:15)
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Acts 5:32• 32And *we* are his witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, which God has given to those that obey him. (Acts 5:32)
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Acts 10:39‑41• 39*We* also are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also slew, having hanged him on a cross.
 40This man God raised up the third day and gave him to be openly seen,
 41not of all the people, but of witnesses who were chosen before of God, *us* who have eaten and drunk with him after he arose from among the dead. (Acts 10:39‑41)
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Acts 22:15• 15for thou shalt be a witness for him to all men of what thou hast seen and heard. (Acts 22:15)
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Luke 1:2• 2as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us, (Luke 1:2)
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Heb. 2:3‑4• 3how shall *we* escape if we have been negligent of so great salvation, which, having had its commencement in being spoken of by the Lord, has been confirmed to us by those who have heard;
 4God bearing, besides, witness with them to it, both by signs and wonders, and various acts of power, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to his will? (Heb. 2:3‑4)
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1 John 1:1‑3• 1That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes; that which we contemplated, and our hands handled, concerning the word of life;
 2(and the life has been manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father, and has been manifested to us:)
 3that which we have seen and heard we report to you, that *ye* also may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is indeed with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1‑3)
• It is the day pre-eminently for bearing witness to Jesus. This is the true and great business of the believer. (“Acts 4:13-22” by W. Kelly)
• The things they had seen and heard were so bound up with what was due to Jehovah and His Anointed, as well as with the believer's blessedness and the unbeliever's misery, woe be to them if they held their peace! (“Acts 4:13-22” by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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for as for us *we* cannot refraing from speaking of the things which we have seen and heard.

JND Translation Notes

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Lit. "cannot not speak."

W. Kelly Translation

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for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.