Acts 4:20
New International Version
As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

New Living Translation
We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

English Standard Version
for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Berean Standard Bible
For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Berean Literal Bible
For we are not able to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

King James Bible
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

New King James Version
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

New American Standard Bible
for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

NASB 1995
for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

NASB 1977
for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.”

Legacy Standard Bible
for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Amplified Bible
for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.”

Christian Standard Bible
for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

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

Contemporary English Version
We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard."

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We cannot stop talking about what we've seen and heard."

Good News Translation
For we cannot stop speaking of what we ourselves have seen and heard."

International Standard Version
for we cannot stop talking about what we've seen and heard."

Majority Standard Bible
For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

NET Bible
for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."

New Heart English Bible
for we cannot help telling the things which we saw and heard."

Webster's Bible Translation
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Weymouth New Testament
As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about."

World English Bible
for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for we cannot but speak what we saw and heard.”

Berean Literal Bible
For we are not able to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Young's Literal Translation
for we cannot but speak what we did see and hear.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For we cannot, the things we have seen and heard, not speak.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For we are unable to refrain from speaking the things that we have seen and heard.”

New American Bible
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”

New Revised Standard Version
for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For we cannot stop speaking about the things which we have seen and heard.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For we are unable not to speak whatever we see and hear.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For we can not but speak the things that we have seen and heard.

Godbey New Testament
for we are not able not to speak those things which we have seen and heard.

Haweis New Testament
For we cannot refrain from speaking the things which we have seen and heard.

Mace New Testament
for we cannot avoid publishing what we have seen and heard.

Weymouth New Testament
As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about."

Worrell New Testament
for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard."

Worsley New Testament
for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Name Forbidden
19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21After 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.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 20:9
If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.

1 John 1:1-3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. / And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. / We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Matthew 10:27
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.

2 Corinthians 4:13
And in keeping with what is written, “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

Psalm 71:15-16
My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure. / I will come in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone.

Luke 24:48
You are witnesses of these things.

John 15:27
And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Isaiah 62:6-7
On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves, / nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

1 Corinthians 9:16
Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Psalm 40:9-10
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know. / I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Romans 10:14-15
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? / And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.


Treasury of Scripture

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

we cannot.

Acts 2:4,32
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance…

Acts 17:16,17
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry…

Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

the things.

Acts 1:8,22
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth…

Acts 3:15
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Acts 5:32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

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Hear Heard Help Possible Refrain Speak Speaking Stop Telling
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Hear Heard Help Possible Refrain Speak Speaking Stop Telling
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.














For we cannot stop speaking
This phrase reflects the apostles' unwavering commitment to their mission. The Greek word for "cannot" (οὐ δυνάμεθα, ou dynametha) implies an inherent inability to refrain from action. This suggests that the apostles are compelled by a force greater than themselves, which is the Holy Spirit. Historically, this boldness is significant as it occurs in the face of persecution from the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. The apostles' determination serves as an inspiration for Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, regardless of external pressures.

about what we have seen
The word "seen" (ἑωράκαμεν, heōrakamen) is derived from the Greek verb "horaō," which means to see with the eyes or to perceive. This indicates that the apostles are eyewitnesses to the events they proclaim, particularly the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a historical context, eyewitness testimony was crucial for establishing the credibility of an account. The apostles' firsthand experiences provide a solid foundation for the truth of the Gospel, emphasizing the importance of personal testimony in the Christian faith.

and heard
The term "heard" (ἠκούσαμεν, ēkousamen) comes from the Greek verb "akouō," meaning to hear or listen. This highlights the apostles' direct reception of Jesus' teachings and the divine revelations they received. In the scriptural context, hearing is often associated with understanding and obedience. The apostles' proclamation is not just about relaying information but also about sharing the transformative message of Christ that they have internalized. This underscores the importance of both seeing and hearing in the process of witnessing, as both senses contribute to a fuller understanding and communication of the Gospel message.

(20) We cannot but speak . . .--The pronoun is emphatic: "we, for our part" . . . The question at issue was one of bearing witness, and that witness they had received a special command to bear (Acts 1:8).

Verse 20. - Saw and heard for have seen and heard, A.V. We cannot but speak, etc. We have here another instance of Peter's boldness of speech under the influence of the Holy Ghost.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

we
ἡμεῖς (hēmeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

cannot
δυνάμεθα (dynametha)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

stop
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

speaking about
λαλεῖν (lalein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

what
(ha)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

we have seen
εἴδαμεν (eidamen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

heard.”
ἠκούσαμεν (ēkousamen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.


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NT Apostles: Acts 4:20 For we can't help telling the things (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 4:19
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