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Wednesday, August 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Acts 4:26

‘The kings of the earth prepare themselves to fight, and the rulers all come together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Prophecy;   Quotations and Allusions;   The Topic Concordance - Anointing;   Jesus Christ;   Persecution;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Anointing;   King;   Prayer;   Predestination;   Psalms, book of;   Quotations;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Psalms, Theology of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Herod;   Joseph;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Mark, Gospel According to;   Sadducees;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Atonement (2);   Eschatology;   Fellowship (2);   Holy Spirit;   Nathanael ;   Prayer;   Resurrection of Christ;   Ruler;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Psalms, Book of;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Reed;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Names titles and offices of christ;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Intercession;   Magistrate;   Mediation;   Quotations, New Testament;   Ruler;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The kings of the earth take their standand the rulers assemble togetheragainst the Lord and against his Messiah.
King James Version (1611)
The Kings of the earth stood vp, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, & against his Christ.
King James Version
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
English Standard Version
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'—
New American Standard Bible
'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.'
New Century Version
The kings of the earth prepare to fight, and their leaders make plans together against the Lord and his Christ.' Psalm 2:1–2
Amplified Bible
'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND [to attack], AND THE RULERS WERE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED (the Christ, the Messiah).'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.'
Legacy Standard Bible
The kings of the earth took their stand,And the rulers were gathered togetherAgainst the Lord and against His Christ.'
Berean Standard Bible
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.'
Contemporary English Version
The kings of earth prepare for war, and the rulers join together against the Lord and his Messiah."
Complete Jewish Bible
The kings of the earth took their stand; and the rulers assembled together against Adonai and against his Messiah.'
Darby Translation
The kings of the earth were there, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The Kings of the earth assembled, and the rulers came together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
George Lamsa Translation
The kings and the rulers of the earth have revolted and have taken counsel together against the LORD and against his Anointed.
Good News Translation
The kings of the earth prepared themselves, and the rulers met together against the Lord and his Messiah.'
Lexham English Bible
The kings of the earth stood opposed, and the rulers assembled together at the same place, against the Lord and against his Christ.'
Literal Translation
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were assembled on the same day against the Lord, yea, against His Christ." Psa. 2:1, 2
American Standard Version
The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:
Bible in Basic English
The kings of the earth were lifted up, the rulers came together, against the Lord, and against his Christ:
Hebrew Names Version
The kings of the eretz take a stand, And the rulers take council together, Against the Lord, and against his Messiah.'
International Standard Version
The kings of the earth take their stand, and rulers meet together against the Lord and against his Christ.'[fn]Psalm 2:1-2;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
The kings and powers of the earth arise And counsel together against the Lord, And against his Meshiha.
Murdock Translation
The kings of the earth and the potentates stood up, and they consulted together, against the Lord, and against his anointed.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The kynges of the earth stoode vp, and the rulers came together, agaynst the Lorde, and agaynst his Christe.
English Revised Version
The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:
World English Bible
The kings of the earth take a stand, And the rulers take council together, Against the Lord, and against his Christ.'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.
Weymouth's New Testament
The kings of the earth came near, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Anointed.'"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Kyngis of the erthe stoden nyy, and princis camen togidre `in to oon, ayens the Lord, and ayens his Crist.
Update Bible Version
The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed."
Webster's Bible Translation
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were assembled against the Lord, and against his Christ.
New English Translation
The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ .'
New King James Version
The kings of the earth took their stand,And the rulers were gathered togetherAgainst the Lord and against His Christ.' Psalms 2:1, 2 ">[fn]
New Living Translation
The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'
New Life Bible
The kings of the earth stood in a line ready to fight, and the leaders were all against the Lord and against His Christ.'
New Revised Standard
The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The kings of the earth stationed themselves, and, the rulers, were gathered together, with one intent, against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The kings of the earth stood up: and the princes assembled together against the Lord and his Christ.
Revised Standard Version
The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed' --
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The kynges of the erth stode vp and the rulars came to gedder agaynst the Lorde and agaynst his Christ.
Young's Literal Translation
the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The kynges of the earth stonde vp, and the prynces haue gathered them selues together agaynst ye LORDE, and agaynst his. Christ.
Mace New Testament (1729)
the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ."
Simplified Cowboy Version
The cattle barons of the earth prepare for war, and the governors gather to fight the Lord and his Top Hand.'

Contextual Overview

23 Peter and John left the meeting of Jewish leaders and went to their own group. They told the group everything that the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders had said to them. 24 When the believers heard this, they all prayed to God with one purpose. They said, "Master, you are the one who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in the world. 25 Our ancestor David was your servant. With the help of the Holy Spirit he wrote these words: ‘Why are the nations shouting? Why are the people planning such useless things? 26 ‘The kings of the earth prepare themselves to fight, and the rulers all come together against the Lord and against his Messiah.' 27 That's what actually happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, the other nations, and the people of Israel all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. He is your holy Servant, the one you made to be the Messiah. 28 These people who came together against Jesus made your plan happen. It was done because of your power and your will. 29 And now, Lord, listen to what they are saying. They are trying to make us afraid. We are your servants. Help us to say what you want us to say without fear. 30 Help us to be brave by showing us your power. Make sick people well. Cause miraculous signs and wonders to happen by the authority of Jesus, your holy servant." 31 After the believers prayed, the place where they were meeting shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak God's message without fear.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

kings: Psalms 83:2-8, Joel 3:9-14, Revelation 17:12-14, Revelation 17:17, Revelation 19:16-21

against his: Revelation 11:15, Revelation 12:10

Reciprocal: Leviticus 3:2 - kill it Joshua 9:2 - gathered 2 Chronicles 23:11 - anointed him Ezra 6:6 - be ye far Psalms 59:3 - the mighty Psalms 69:12 - They Psalms 76:10 - Surely Jeremiah 5:5 - but these Daniel 6:7 - have consulted Zechariah 13:7 - smite Luke 2:34 - for a Acts 5:17 - the high 2 Corinthians 10:5 - down James 2:6 - and

Cross-References

Genesis 4:14
You are forcing me to leave the land, and I will not be able to be near you or have a home! Now I must wander from place to place, and anyone I meet could kill me."
Genesis 4:15
Then the Lord said to Cain, "No, if anyone kills you, I will punish that person much, much more." Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to show that no one should kill him.
Genesis 4:17
Cain had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Enoch. Cain built a city and gave the city the same name as his son Enoch.
Genesis 4:18
Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad had a son named Mehujael. Mehujael had a son named Methushael. And Methushael had a son named Lamech.
Genesis 12:8
Then he left that place and traveled to the mountains east of Bethel. He set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. Abram built another altar at that place to honor the Lord , and he worshiped the Lord there.
Genesis 26:25
So Isaac built an altar and worshiped the Lord in that place. He set up camp there, and his servants dug a well.
1 Kings 18:24
Prophets of Baal, pray to your god, and I will pray to the Lord . Whichever god answers the prayer and starts the fire is the true God." All the people agreed that this was a good idea.
Psalms 116:17
I will give you a thank offering. I will call on the Lord 's name.
Isaiah 44:5
"One man will call himself, ‘I am the Lord 's.' Another will use the name, ‘Jacob.' Another man will sign his name as ‘The Lord 's Hand.' And another will use the name, ‘Israel.'"
Isaiah 48:1
"Family of Jacob, listen to me! You people call yourself ‘Israel,' but you are from Judah's family. When you take an oath, I, the Lord , the God of Israel, am the one whose name you use, but you are not honest and sincere.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The kings of the earth stood up,.... Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, sometimes called a king, Mark 6:14 and Pilate the Roman governor, who represented his master Caesar; these stood, or rose up in an hostile manner, and set themselves against, and opposed themselves to the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth:

and the rulers were gathered together; the Jewish rulers, Annas, Caiaphas, and the rest of the members of the sanhedrim, who met together more than once; and particularly at the high priest's palace, to consult how they should take Jesus and put him to death; and who also gathered together at the same place, when he was taken, to arraign, examine, and condemn him. And this opposition, and these conspiracies and consultations, were

against the Lord: Jehovah, the Father of Christ, who sent him, and anointed him; so that what was done against Christ, was done against the Lord, their views and designs, their interest and glory, being the same:

and against his Christ; or anointed one, who was anointed by him, with the Holy Ghost, from his birth, and at his baptism, to be prophet, priest, and King.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The kings of the earth - The Psalmist specifies more particularly that kings and rulers would be opposed to the Messiah. This had occurred already by the opposition made to the Messiah by the rulers of the Jewish people, and it would be still more evinced by the opposition of princes and kings as the gospel spread among the nations.

Stood up - The word used here παρίστημι paristēmi commonly means “to present oneself, or to stand forth, for the purpose of aiding, counseling,” etc. But here it means that they “rose,” or “presented themselves,” to evince their opposition. They stood opposed to the Messiah, and offered resistance to him.

The rulers - This is another instance of the Hebrew parallelism. The word does not denote another class of people from kings, but expresses the same idea in another form, or in a more general manner, meaning that all classes of persons in authority would be opposed to the gospel.

Were gathered together - Hebrew, consulted together; were united in a consultation. The Greek implies that they were assembled for the purpose of consultation.

Against the Lord - In the Hebrew, “against Yahweh.” This is the special name which is given in the Scriptures to God. They rose against his plan of appointing a Messiah, and against the Messiah whom he had chosen.

Against his Christ - Hebrew, against his Messiah, or his Anointed. See the notes on Matthew 1:1. This is one of the places where the word “Messiah” is used in the Old Testament. The word occurs in about 40 places, and is commonly translated “his anointed,” and is applied to kings. The direct reference of the word to the Messiah in the Old Testament is not frequent. This passage implies that opposition to the Messiah is opposition to Yahweh. And this is uniformly supposed in the sacred Scriptures. He that is opposed to Christ is opposed to God. He that neglects him neglects God. He that despises him despises God, Matthew 10:40; Matthew 18:5; John 12:44-45; Luke 10:16, “He that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.” The reasons of this are:

  1. That the Messiah is “the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person,” Hebrews 1:3.

(2)He is equal with the Father, possessing the same attributes and the same power, John 1:1; Philippians 2:6.

(3)He is appointed by God to this great work of saving people. To despise him, or to oppose him, is to despise and oppose him who appointed him to this work, to contemn his counsels, and to set him at naught.

(4)His work is dear to God. It has engaged his thoughts. It has been approved by him. His mission has been confirmed by the miraculous power of the Father, and by every possible manifestation of his approbation and love. To oppose the Messiah is, therefore, to oppose what is dear to the heart of God, and which has long been the object of his tender solicitude. It follows from this, that they who neglect the Christian religion are exposing themselves to the displeasure of God, and endangering their everlasting interests. No man is safe who opposes God; and no man can have evidence that God will approve him who does not embrace the Messiah, whom He has appointed to redeem the world.



Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 4:26. Against the Lord and against his Christ. — κατα του χριστου αυτου should be translated, against his ANOINTED, because it particularly agrees with ονεχρισας, whom thou hast ANOINTED, in the succeeding verse.


 
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