Acts 4:27

Of a truth. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) adding the words “in this city.” Such a statement would be most natural inasmuch as the apostle here applies the language of the psalmist to the events preceding the crucifixion.

Child. Gr. pais, a word that may mean either “child” or “servant” (see on ch. 3:13). The word is the same as that used of David in v. 25, and as it unquestionably means “servant” there, it is probably best taken in that sense here. So understood, it is reminiscent of the servant of the Lord in Isa. 52:13.

Herod. The two civil rulers before whom Jesus was tried, Herod the king and Pilate the governor, are mentioned as noteworthy examples of the “kings” and “rulers” of v. 26 (from Ps. 2:2). For a further discussion of Herod Antipas see Vol. V, pp. 64, 65. It is interesting to note that Luke, the author of the present account, is also the only gospel writer to record the role of Herod in Jesus’ trial (Luke 23:7-15).

Pontius Pilate. For a discussion of this Roman governor see Vol. V, pp. 67, 68.

Gentiles. This doubtless refers to the Romans who shared with the Jews the burden of guilt for the crime of the crucifixion.

People of Israel. The sequence Herod, Pontius Pilate, Gentiles, Israel, completes a parallelism with the previous sequence of heathen, people, kings, and rulers (vs. 25, 26). This is an inverted parallelism, a characteristic Hebrew poetic form (see Vol. III, pp. 23-27).