Acts 4:18 (ASV)

Passage

And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Nearby Context

Acts 4:16 saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

Acts 4:17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

Acts 4:18 And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:

Acts 4:20 for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "charged", "speak", "teach", "name", and "jesus". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "charged", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "But that it spread no further among..." into verse 19's "But Peter and John answered and said...", so "called" and "charged" belong inside that flow. In Acts context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "called" and "charged" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.