Acts 4:29-30
What is written? (ESV)
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
What does it say?
And now Lord [God, the Father], observe their [Jewish leaders] threats and give your servants [apostles] continued boldness to proclaim your word, while you confirm it with miracles performed by the authority of your holy servant Jesus.
What is its immediate context?
Peter and John have just been released from prison (vs 3) and standing trail before the Jewish council of leaders (vs 5) after preaching and healing a lame man (chapter 3). Having returned to the disciples in Jerusalem (vs 23), they are offering a prayer (vs 24) for their continued safety and boldness.
How Acts 4:29-30 is applied across Bible answers
Do we pray to Jesus or God?
The disciples are praying to the "Lord" (e.g. God the Father).
The prayer begins addressed to "Sovereign Lord" and identified by Luke to be God (vs 24). Jesus is identified separately throughout the prayer as "your holy servant" (vss 27, 30).
What was the purpose for miracles?
The first disciples understood that God's power through miracle (e.g. "signs and wonders") was to demonstrate that it was His word that the apostles were preaching.
