Acts 4:20

οὐ δυνάμεθα γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἃ εἴδομεν καὶ ἠκούσαμεν μὴ λαλεῖν
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Word Reference
Original Word Definitions
οὐ
G3756 PRT-N
ou
the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not
  • no, not
δυνάμεθα
G1410 V-PNI-1P
dynamai
to be able or possible
  • to be able, have power whether by virtue of one's own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom
    • "to be able to do something"to be capable, strong and powerful
γὰρ
G1063 CONJ
gar
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
  • for
ἡμεῖς
G2249
hēmeis
we (only used when emphatic)
  • us, we etc.
ἃ
G3739 R-APN
hos
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
  • who, which, what, that
εἴδομεν
G1492
eidō
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 and G3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
  • to see
    • to perceive with the eyes
      • "to perceive by any of the senses"to perceive, notice, discern, discover"to see
      • i.e., to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything
        • "to pay attention, observe"to see about something
        • i.e., to ascertain what must be done about it
        to inspect, examine"to look at, behold
      to experience any state or condition"to see i.e., have an interview with, to visit
    to know
    • to know of anything
      • "to know, i.e., get knowledge of, understand, perceive
      • of any fact
        • "the force and meaning of something which has definite meaning"to know how, to be skilled in
      to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1 Thessalonians 5:12)
καὶ
G2532 CONJ
kai
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
  • and, also, even, indeed, but
ἠκούσαμεν
G191 V-AAI-1P
akouō
to hear (in various senses)
  • to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf
    • "to hear
    • to attend to, consider what is or has been said
      • "to understand, perceive the sense of what is said
    to hear something
    • to perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence
      • "to get by hearing learn"a thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn"to give ear to a teaching or a teacher"to comprehend, to understand
μὴ
G3361 PRT-N
mē
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
  • no, not lest
λαλεῖν
G2980 V-PAN
laleō
to talk, i.e., utter words
  • to utter a voice or emit a sound
    • "to speak
    • to use the tongue or the faculty of speech
      • "to utter articulate sounds
    to talk"to utter, tell"to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts
    • to speak

οὐ δυνάμεθα γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἃ εἴδομεν καὶ ἠκούσαμεν μὴ λαλεῖν
20
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Cross References

Jeremiah 20:9

וְאָמַרְתִּי לֹֽא-אֶזְכְּרֶנּוּ וְלֹֽא-אֲדַבֵּר עוֹד בִּשְׁמוֹ וְהָיָה בְלִבִּי כְּאֵשׁ בֹּעֶרֶת עָצֻר בְּעַצְמֹתָי וְנִלְאֵיתִי כַּֽלְכֵל וְלֹא אוּכָֽל׃
9
Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

Acts 22:15

ὅτι ἔσῃ μάρτυς αὐτῷ πρὸς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ὧν ἑώρακας καὶ ἤκουσας
15
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

1 Corinthians 9:16

ἐὰν γὰρ εὐαγγελίζωμαι οὐκ ἔστιν μοι καύχημα· ἀνάγκη γάρ μοι ἐπίκειται· οὐαὶ δέ μοι ἐστὶν ἐὰν μὴ εὐαγγελίζωμαι
16
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach the gospel! not

1 John 1:1

Ὃ ἦν ἀπ' ἀρχῆς ὃ ἀκηκόαμεν ὃ ἑωράκαμεν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν ὃ ἐθεασάμεθα καὶ αἱ χεῖρες ἡμῶν ἐψηλάφησαν περὶ τοῦ λόγου τῆς ζωῆς
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, of the Word of life;

Acts 5:32

καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν αὐτοῦ μάρτυρες τῶν ῥημάτων τούτων καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα δὲ τὸ ἅγιον ὃ ἔδωκεν ὁ θεὸς τοῖς πειθαρχοῦσιν αὐτῷ
32
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Jeremiah 1:17

וְאַתָּה תֶּאְזֹר מָתְנֶיךָ וְקַמְתָּ וְדִבַּרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי אֲצַוֶּךָּ אַל-תֵּחַת מִפְּנֵיהֶם פֶּֽן-אֲחִתְּךָ לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃
17
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

Acts 10:39

καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν μάρτυρες πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν ἔν τε τῇ χώρᾳ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ ὃν ἀνεῖλον κρεμάσαντες ἐπὶ ξύλου
39
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Ezekiel 3:11

וְלֵךְ בֹּא אֶל-הַגּוֹלָה אֶל-בְּנֵי עַמֶּךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִֹה אִֽם-יִשְׁמְעוּ וְאִם-יֶחְדָּֽלוּ׃
11
And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Acts 3:15

τὸν δὲ ἀρχηγὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἀπεκτείνατε ὃν ὁ θεὸς ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν οὗ ἡμεῖς μάρτυρές ἐσμεν
15
the And killed Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Jeremiah 4:19

מֵעַי׀ מֵעַי׀ ‫(אחולה)‬ אוֹחִילָה קִירוֹת לִבִּי הֹֽמֶה-לִּי לִבִּי לֹא אַחֲרִשׁ כִּי קוֹל שׁוֹפָר ‫(שמעתי)‬ שָׁמַעַתְּ נַפְשִׁי תְּרוּעַת מִלְחָמָֽה׃
19
My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

Luke 1:2

καθὼς παρέδοσαν ἡμῖν οἱ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς αὐτόπται καὶ ὑπηρέται γενόμενοι τοῦ λόγου
2
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

Numbers 22:38

וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-בָּלָק הִֽנֵּה-בָאתִי אֵלֶיךָ עַתָּה הֲיָכֹל אוּכַל דַּבֵּר מְאוּמָה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים אֱלֹהִים בְּפִי אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּֽר׃
38
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

Job 32:18

כִּי מָלֵתִי מִלִּים הֱצִיקַתְנִי רוּחַ בִּטְנִֽי׃
18
For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.

Acts 2:32

τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀνέστησεν ὁ θεός οὗ πάντες ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν μάρτυρες·
32
This Jesus hath up, God raised whereof we all are witnesses.

Micah 3:8

וְאוּלָם אָנֹכִי מָלֵאתִי כֹחַ אֶת-רוּחַ יְהוָה וּמִשְׁפָּט וּגְבוּרָה לְהַגִּיד לְיַֽעֲקֹב פִּשְׁעוֹ וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל חַטָּאתֽוֹ׃
8
But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

2 Samuel 23:2

רוּחַ יְהוָה דִּבֶּר-בִּי וּמִלָּתוֹ עַל-לְשׁוֹנִֽי׃
2
The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

Jeremiah 1:7

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי אַל-תֹּאמַר נַעַר אָנֹכִי כִּי עַֽל-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ תֵּלֵךְ וְאֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר אֲצַוְּךָ תְּדַבֵּֽר׃
7
But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Acts 18:5

Ὡς δὲ κατῆλθον ἀπὸ τῆς Μακεδονίας ὅ τε Σιλᾶς καὶ ὁ Τιμόθεος συνείχετο τῷ πνεύματι ὁ Παῦλος διαμαρτυρόμενος τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τὸν Χριστόν Ἰησοῦν
5
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

Acts 1:8

ἀλλὰ λήψεσθε δύναμιν ἐπελθόντος τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐφ' ὑμᾶς καὶ ἔσεσθέ μοι μάρτυρες ἔν τε Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ καὶ Σαμαρείᾳ καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς
8
But ye shall receive power, after that the is Holy Ghost come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Numbers 23:20

הִנֵּה בָרֵךְ לָקָחְתִּי וּבֵרֵךְ וְלֹא אֲשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃
20
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Acts 4:19
Read Acts 4
Acts 4:21