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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 Jewsthat Jesuswas 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; andso is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

about what we have seen
The apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. This firsthand experience is crucial, as it provides the foundation for their testimony. The emphasis on "seen" underscores the tangible reality of Jesus' resurrection, countering any claims that it was merely a spiritual or metaphorical event. This aligns with 1John 1:1, where the apostle John emphasizes the physical reality of Jesus, whom they have "seen with our eyes."

and heard.”
The apostles not only witnessed Jesus' actions but also heard His teachings. This dual aspect of seeing and hearing is significant in Jewish tradition, where a matter is established by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). The apostles' testimony is thus both visual and auditory, providing a comprehensive witness to the truth of the gospel. This phrase also connects toRomans 10:17, where faith comes from hearing the message of Christ, emphasizing the importance of proclaiming the gospel so others may hear and believe.

• The tiny word “for” ties Peter and John’s declaration to the immediate context—an answer to the Sanhedrin’s command to be silent (Acts 4:18–19).

• It signals a reasoned, God–honoring defense: obedience to Christ overrides any human prohibition (Acts 5:29).

• This conjunction reminds us that Christian boldness is not reckless defiance but a thoughtful response to God’s higher authority (Daniel 3:16–18 shows the same pattern).

• The apostles describe an inner impossibility, not merely a decision.

– Jeremiah felt the same holy compulsion: “His message becomes a fire burning in my heart… I cannot prevail” (Jeremiah 20:9).

– Paul echoed it: “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16); “Christ’s love compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

• The Spirit’s power (Acts 1:8) makes silence unthinkable; divine urgency overrides fear, fatigue, or opposition.

• Verbal witness is emphasized; the gospel must be spoken, not merely displayed by lifestyle.

– “How can they hear without someone to preach?” (Romans 10:14).

– Paul sought prayer “that words may be given me” (Ephesians 6:19).

• Bold speech in Acts consistently accompanies Spirit–filled believers (Acts 4:31), showing that proclamation is God’s chosen conduit for salvation (1 Corinthians 1:21).

• The message is eyewitness testimony, rooted in historical fact.

– “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48).

– John affirmed, “we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard” (1 John 1:1–3).

• They speak of:

– Jesus’ sinless life, atoning death, and bodily resurrection (Acts 2:23–32).

– His ascension and present lordship (Acts 3:13–15).

• Personal encounter fuels public proclamation; likeJohn 1:14, they had “seen His glory,” so silence would betray reality.

• “For” grounds their boldness in obedience to God above man.

• “We cannot stop” reveals an inner, Spirit–given compulsion.

• “Speaking” underscores the necessity of verbal gospel proclamation.

• “About what we have seen and heard” roots that proclamation in firsthand, historical experience with the risen Christ.

Living under Christ’s authority and Spirit’s power, believers today share the same joyful obligation: we simply cannot keep quiet about Jesus.