“But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.”
But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.' — the council's strategy is prohibition: threaten (apengilemē, warned, threatened, charged) the apostles to speak (laleō, speak) no longer (mēketi) in Jesus' name. The hope is that intimidation will silence the apostles. The concern (spread among the people, laos, people, the masses) shows that the movement's popular support troubles them more than the apostles themselves.
Church Fathers on Acts 4:17
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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