John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. And when they had set them in the midst , etc.] Of the assembly, as the Ethiopic version adds; in the middle of the sanhedrim, which sat in a semicircular form; or as the Jews express it, as the half of a round corn floor, or as a half moon, and not in a perfect circle; because it was necessary that the contending parties, and the witnesses, might go in and speak before them all f169 ; so that those that were set before them, were placed in the middle of them: and here Peter and John were set; so the Arabic version renders it, “when they set both”: they sent for them out of the hold, or custody, where they had been all night, and ordered them to be brought before them, to be examined about their doctrine and practice: they asked, by what power, or by what name have ye done this ? they inquired of them, whether it was by a natural, or by a divine, or by a diabolical power, that they had wrought the cure upon the lame man? whether it was by the use of medicine, or by the help of magic art, and the assistance of the devil, which they were very ready to charge Christ and his disciples with? or whether they pretended to a divine and supernatural aid? and also what name they had made use of, and by whose authority they acted?
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-14 - Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost, would have all to understand that the miracle had been wrought by the name, or power, of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, whom they had crucified; and this confirme their testimony to his resurrection from the dead, which proved him to be the Messiah. These rulers must either be saved by that Jesus who they had crucified, or they must perish for ever. The name of Jesus is given to men of every age and nation, as that whereby alone believer are saved from the wrath to come. But when covetousness, pride, or an corrupt passion, rules within, men shut their eyes, and close their hearts, in enmity against the light; considering all as ignorant an unlearned, who desire to know nothing in comparison with Chris crucified. And the followers of Christ should act so that all wh converse with them, may take knowledge that they have been with Jesus That makes them holy, heavenly, spiritual, and cheerful, and raise them above this world.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ στησαντες 2476 5660 V-AAP-NPM αυτους 846 P-APM εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN μεσω 3319 A-DSN επυνθανοντο 4441 5711 V-INI-3P εν 1722 PREP ποια 4169 I-DSF δυναμει 1411 N-DSF η 2228 PRT εν 1722 PREP ποιω 4169 I-DSN ονοματι 3686 N-DSN εποιησατε 4160 5656 V-AAI-2P τουτο 5124 D-ASN υμεις 5210 P-2NP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. What power - what name. Lit., what sort of power; what kind of name.Have ye done. The ye closes the sentence in the Greek with a contemptuous emphasis: you people.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:7 {In the midst} (en twi meswi). The Sanhedrin sat in a semicircle. {They inquired} (epunqanonto). Imperfect middle, began to inquire. {Or in what name} (e en poiwi onomati). As if by some magical formula such as exorcists practised (#Ac 19:13) as if to catch them by (#De 13:1). {Have ye done this } (epoiesate touto humeis). Note emphatic use of humeis (ye).
