Act 4:26-28 | NETfull | STEP | The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ. ’

Acts 4:26-28

26 The kings of the earth stood together, ^{▼▼ Traditionally, “The kings of the earth took their stand.”}
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against his ^{▼▼ Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”} ^{▼▼ See the note on Christ in 2:31.} Christ. ’ ^{▼▼ A quotation from Ps 2:1–2.}
27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against ^{▼▼ The application of Ps 2:1–2 is that Jews and Gentiles are opposing Jesus. The surprise of the application is that Jews are now found among the enemies of God’s plan.} your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ^{▼▼ A wordplay on “Christ,” v. 26, which means “one who has been anointed.”} 28 to do as much as your power ^{▼▼ Grk “hand,” here a metaphor for God’s strength or power or authority.} and your plan ^{▼▼ Or “purpose,” “will.”} had decided beforehand ^{▼▼ Or “had predestined.” Since the term “predestine” is something of a technical theological term, not in wide usage in contemporary English, the translation “decide beforehand” was used instead (see L&N 30.84). God’s direction remains as the major theme.} would happen.