“Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.”
'What are we going to do with these men?' they asked. 'Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. — the council members' rhetorical question (ti poiēsomen, what shall we do) reveals their dilemma: the sign (sēmeion, sign, miracle, portent) is notable (gnoston, known, evident, manifest) and public. Their confession (ou dynametha arneōmai, we are not able to deny) is a forced concession: the facts are undeniable. The public's knowledge makes suppression impossible.
Church Fathers on Acts 4:16
For that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach, in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:16-18 See what effrontery is shown by these, and what greatness of mind by the Apostles.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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