Acts 4:20

“For we cannot but speak, etc.] It was not physically, but morally impossible; or it was not lawful, and therefore they would not speak any other, and they could not avoid speaking, say they, the things which we have seen and heard; as the miracles and doctrines of Christ, his resurrection from the dead, of which they were eye and ear witnesses. This shows their great fidelity and integrity, their inviolable attachment to Christ, and their fearlessness of the displeasure and wrath of men.”

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard--There is here a wonderful union of sober, respectful appeal to the better reason of their judges, and calm, deep determination to abide the consequences of a constrained testimony, which betokens a power above their own resting upon them, according to promise.”

“For ... - This is given as a reason why they should obey God rather than man. They had had so clear evidence that God had sent the Messiah, and they had received a direct and solemn command Mark 16:15 to preach the gospel, that they could not be restrained. There was a necessity laid on them to preach. See 1 Corinthians 9:16. Compare Jeremiah 20:9; Acts 18:5; Job 32:18-19; Psalms 39:1-3. It has already been remarked that these two verses contain an important principle in favor of religious liberty the liberty of conscience and of private judgment. They contain the great principle of Christianity and of the Protestant religion, that the responsibility of men for their religious opinions is…”

“we cannot: Act 2:4, Act 2:32, Act 17:16, Act 17:17, Act 18:5; Num 22:38, Num 23:20; Sa2 23:2; Job 32:18-20; Jer 1:7, Jer 1:17-19, Jer 4:19, Jer 6:11, Jer 20:9; Eze 3:11, Eze 3:14-21; Mic 3:8; Co1 9:16, Co1 9:17 the things: Act 1:8, Act 1:22, Act 3:15, Act 5:32, Act 10:39-41, Act 22:15; Luk 1:2; Heb 2:3, Heb 2:4; Jo1 1:1-3 Acts 4:21”