4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand.
4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
4 Smoke billowed up from the incense-laced prayers of the holy ones, rose before God from the hand of the Angel.
4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.
4 The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Revelation 8:4
Commentary on Revelation 8:1-6
(Read Revelation 8:1-6)
The seventh seal is opened. There was profound silence in heaven for a space; all was quiet in the church, for whenever the church on earth cries through oppression, that cry reaches up to heaven; or it is a silence of expectation. Trumpets were given to the angels, who were to sound them. The Lord Jesus is the High Priest of the church, having a golden censer, and much incense, fulness of merit in his own glorious person. Would that men studied to know the fulness that is in Christ, and endeavoured to be acquainted with his excellency. Would that they were truly persuaded that Christ has such an office as that of Intercessor, which he now performs with deep sympathy. No prayers, thus recommended, was ever denied hearing and acceptance. These prayers, thus accepted in heaven, produced great changes upon earth. The Christian worship and religion, pure and heavenly in its origin and nature, when sent down to earth and conflicting with the passions and worldly projects of sinful men, produced remarkable tumults, here set forth in prophetical language, as our Lord himself declared, Luke 12:49.