Acts 4:20

KJV1611 – Modern English

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οὐ δυνάμεθα γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἃ εἴδομεν καὶ ἠκούσαμεν μὴ λαλεῖν.

Transliteration

Not dynametha gar we what eidomen and ēkousamen not lalein.

Grammar Details

• *dynametha*: present middle/passive indicative, 1st plural - we are able
• *gar*: postpositive conjunction - for/because
• *eidomen*: aorist active indicative, 1st plural - we saw
• *ēkousamen*: aorist active indicative, 1st plural - we heard
• *lalein*: present active infinitive - to speak

Word Meanings

• *dynametha*: we are able/can
• *eidomen*: we saw/observed/witnessed
• *ēkousamen*: we heard/listened to
• *lalein*: to speak/tell/talk about

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  'For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  for{G1063} we{G2249} {G1410} cannot{G3756} but{G3361} speak{G2980} the things which{G3739} we saw{G1492} and{G2532} heard.{G191}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For{G1063} we{G2249} cannot{G3756}{G1410}{(G5736)} but{G3361} speak{G2980}{(G5721)} the things which{G3739} we have seen{G1492}{(G5627)} and{G2532} heard{G191}{(G5656)}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For we canot but speake that which we have sene and hearde.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  We can not chose, but speake that we haue sene & herde.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For we cannot but speake the things which we haue seene and heard.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For we cannot but speake that, which we haue seene and hearde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  for we can't help telling the things which we saw and heard."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  for we cannot but speak what we did see and hear.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For it is not possible for us to keep from saying what we have seen and have knowledge of.

• World English Bible (2000)

  for we can't help telling the things which we saw and heard."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”

Referenced Verses

• Acts 22:15 : 15 For you shall be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
• Jer 20:9 : 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak anymore in his name. But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with holding back, and I could not stay.
• Ezek 3:11 : 11 And go, get to those of the captivity, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and tell them, Thus says the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they refuse.
• Acts 5:32 : 32 And we are His witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.
• Mic 3:8 : 8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
• Num 22:38 : 38 And Balaam said to Balak, Look, I have come to you: do I have any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.
• Num 23:20 : 20 Behold, I have received a commandment to bless, and he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
• Job 32:18-20 : 18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me compels me. 19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no outlet; it is ready to burst like new wineskins. 20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
• Jer 1:7 : 7 But the LORD said to me, Do not say, I am a child: for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
• Jer 1:17-19 : 17 Therefore prepare yourself, and arise, and speak to them all that I command you: do not be dismayed at their faces, lest I confound you before them. 18 For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19 They shall fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.
• Jer 4:19 : 19 My heart, my heart! I am pained at my very heart; my heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
• 1 Cor 9:16-17 : 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
• 1 John 1:1-3 : 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life; 2 For the life was revealed, and we have seen it, and testify, and show to you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us; 3 That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, so that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
• Heb 2:3-4 : 3 How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
• Acts 2:4 : 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
• Acts 2:32 : 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we all are witnesses.
• Acts 3:15 : 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead; of which we are witnesses.
• Jer 6:11 : 11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding it in. I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him who is full of days.
• 2 Sam 23:2 : 2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.
• Ezek 3:14-21 : 14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to those of the captivity at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them for seven days. 16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 17 Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel: therefore hear the word from my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; and you do not give him warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous do not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also you have delivered your soul.
• Luke 1:2 : 2 Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,
• Acts 1:8 : 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
• Acts 10:39-41 : 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they killed by hanging on a tree: 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
• Acts 17:16-17 : 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the city was fully given to idolatry. 17 Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
• Acts 18:5 : 5 And when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
• Acts 1:22 : 22 Beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection.