Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group that was founde… Read Full Bio ↴Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group that was founded in 1982 by Keith Lancaster, who has variously played the role of singer, songwriter, and producer throughout the group's history. Acappella is by far the most popular musical group to have come out of the Churches of Christ in the U.S. They are in large part responsible for inspiring an entire culture of a cappella musical performance in the Church of Christ. Churches of Christ members strive to worship as first century Christians worshiped, and believe one should sing 'making melody in your heart' (Eph. 5:19), instead of using musical instruments in worship. The song "Acappella" from 1986's Conquerors was the first to achieve widespread popularity within the church of Christ (it could almost be called a 'hit') and the 1988 album Sweet Fellowship has become their all-time best seller. AVB's breakout Song in My Soul was released almost concurrently, and the number of like-minded a cappella vocal groups within the church of Christ grew almost exponentially after these two albums. Acappella experienced their first mainstream success outside the church of Christ with 1993's Set Me Free. This album also had a song licensed for use in a Sony Camcorder Super Bowl commercial (with the refrain "They are more precious than gold").

Peace Be Still
Acappella Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He says peace, peace be still
Lifts his hands, peace be still

Like a child the winds obey him
When he says peace be still

He says peace, peace be still
Lifts his hands, peace be still

Like a child my heart obeys him
When he says peace be still
Hear his voice peace be still

Holy holy
Holy is the Lamb
Holy holy
Holy is the Lamb

Scriptural Reference:

"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39 (KJV)
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Overall Meaning

The song "Peace Be Still" by Acappella is a powerful Christian hymn that celebrates the authority of Jesus over nature and the human heart. The song begins with the lyrics, "He says peace, peace be still/Lifts his hands, peace be still," which refer to the moment in the Gospels when Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee by simply speaking the words "Peace, be still." The song then elaborates on this image, suggesting that just as the winds obey Jesus, so too does the human heart when we listen to his voice and allow him to bring us peace.

The line "Like a child the winds obey him" is a beautiful metaphor that suggests the power of a childlike faith in Jesus and of the peace that comes from trusting in him. The song then turns personal, with the lyrics "Like a child my heart obeys him/When he says peace be still." This suggests that the peace that Jesus brings is not just a worldly calm, but a deep spiritual peace that takes root in our hearts and transforms us.

The final lines of the song, "Holy holy/Holy is the Lamb," are a celebration of Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who brings peace through his sacrifice on the cross. As a whole, "Peace Be Still" is a powerful song of faith that reminds listeners of the calming strength of Jesus' authority and the transformative power of a life grounded in faith.

Line by Line Meaning

He says peace, peace be still
He speaks the word and brings peace, commanding everything around him to become calm and still

Lifts his hands, peace be still
Through the power of his hands, he is able to bring about peace and stillness in even the most turbulent situations

Like a child the winds obey him
The winds, which seem uncontrollable and unpredictable, submit to him like obedient children

When he says peace be still
His words have the power to calm and quiet any storm or turmoil

He says peace, peace be still
He repeats the command for peace, emphasizing the importance of stillness and calmness in all situations

Like a child my heart obeys him
Just as the winds and waves submit to his command, my heart is also obedient to his words of peace and stillness

When he says peace be still
His words bring a sense of calm and tranquility to my innermost being

Hear his voice peace be still
His voice is the ultimate source of peace and tranquility, capable of bringing calm to even the most tumultuous situations

Holy holy
He is completely pure, righteous, and untainted, with complete authority and power over all things

Holy is the Lamb
He is the unblemished Lamb, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity, the embodiment of divine grace and mercy

Holy holy
He is completely pure, righteous, and untainted, with complete authority and power over all things

Holy is the Lamb
He is the unblemished Lamb, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity, the embodiment of divine grace and mercy

Contributed by Declan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS