Acts 4:18 (YLT)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Acts 4:16 saying, `What shall we do to these men? because that, indeed, a notable sign hath been done through them, to all those dwelling in Jerusalem <FI>is<Fi> manifest, and we are not able to deny <FI>it<Fi> ;

Acts 4:17 but that it may spread no further toward the people, let us strictly threaten them no more to speak in this name to any man.'

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

Acts 4:19 and Peter and John answering unto them said, `Whether it is righteous before God to hearken to you rather than to God, judge ye;

Acts 4:20 for we cannot but speak what we did see and hear.'

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "but that it may spread no further..." into verse 19's "and Peter and John answering unto them...", so "called" and "having" 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 "having" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.