Acts 4:21
So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
After repeated threats and orders to stop teaching and working in the name of Jesus, the rulers let Peter and John go because they could find no way to punish them without provoking the people, who were glorifying God for the healing of the man crippled from birth who now walked and praised God. That miracle was public, widely known, and undeniable, with clear evidence of God's power accompanying the disciples' work. The rulers would gladly have punished or put the apostles to death for their unswerving fidelity, but fear of the people restrained them from violence to threats of severest punishment if they continued. Under the power of the Holy Spirit the disciples boldly answered that they could not but speak what they had seen and heard, and no human threats could silence them, while the people glorified God both for the healing and for their testimony.
Healing and Council Decision
The time was when the disciples were proclaiming the gospel in Jerusalem and facing opposition, when their preaching led many to believe and Jewish bigotry cut some converts off from family and friends. The deed for which all glorified God was the healing of the man crippled from birth, who walked and praised God, while those who recognized him were amazed.
The miracle was public, widely known, and undeniable, leaving the rulers unable to punish the apostles without provoking the people. The rulers feared the people's response because the evidence was so clear, and the disciples' work was so plainly accompanied by God's power that opponents feared to act against them.
After further and repeated threats and orders to stop teaching and working in the name of Jesus, the rulers let Peter and John go. They released them after threatening them because they could find no way to punish them without provoking the people, who were glorifying and praising God for the healing that had taken place. Their experience shows that human authorities may threaten those who obey God, yet public support for the apostles and praise to God constrained their persecutors and made punishment difficult.
The priests and rulers wanted to destroy Peter and John and would gladly have punished them for their unswerving fidelity to the sacred work given them and for their work in Jesus' name. They would have put them to death, but fear of the people restrained them from violence because all glorified God for the healing that had been done and for the disciples' testimony. They therefore did nothing worse than threaten the apostles with the severest punishment if they continued to teach and work in the name of Jesus, and then with repeated threats and orders to stop the council set the apostles free.
Bold Witness Amid Opposition
The verse belongs to the account of witnessing in which the disciples gave clear, bold testimony under the power of the Holy Spirit, and their words and works represented Jesus. Peter and John boldly answered their judges that they could not but speak the things they had seen and heard. In this they showed loyalty to God's commands, refusing to stop speaking about Jesus merely because human authorities ordered them to stop. They were released after further threatening because the authorities could find no way to punish them without provoking the people, who glorified God for what had been done.
Human authority could not stop the apostles from bearing witness to Jesus or bind the Word of God. The council's threats could not silence them. Their experience shows that human authorities may threaten those who obey God, yet public support for the apostles and praise to God constrained their persecutors. Their preaching was so clearly accompanied by God's power that opponents feared to act against them, and the public response with the evidence of God at work made punishment difficult. Fear of the crowd thus restrained the rulers from violence.
The people glorified God not only for the healing but also for the disciples' testimony.