Acts 4

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

What does Acts 4:31 mean?

Explanation

This verse, Acts 4:31, describes a significant event in the early Christian church where the apostles and other believers experienced a communal prayer answered in a dramatic fashion.

The phrase "the place was shaken" is generally understood to mean that the meeting place experienced a literal or figurative shaking, which could symbolize the power of God responding to their prayers.

Being "filled with the Holy Ghost" refers to the empowerment by the Holy Spirit, seen here as a direct result of prayer.

The result of this infilling was that they "spake the word of God with boldness," meaning they preached the Christian message with confidence and without fear, despite the potential for persecution.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts was written by Luke, and this event follows the arrest and subsequent release of Peter and John after they healed a lame man in the name of Jesus.

They were commanded by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council) not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

After their release, they returned to their community and reported what happened, which led to this collective prayer.

The verse captures a moment when the early Christian community faced external threats but found strength and affirmation through a collective spiritual experience.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives may derive various insights from this passage.

From a Pentecostal perspective, the verse is a reaffirmation of the active work of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers.

A Reformed theological viewpoint might emphasize the sovereignty of God in the events described and the irresistible grace extended to the believers.

Meanwhile, a Catholic view might see this passage as displaying the communal nature of the Church and the importance of tradition coupled with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in several ways in the lives of believers today.

It highlights the importance of communal prayer and the belief in a God who responds to prayer.

It also encourages Christians to seek spiritual boldness, to witness without fear, and to trust in the empowerment that comes from the Holy Spirit.

The verse can serve as a reminder of the courage and conviction that one can find through faith, especially in the face of adversity.

Cross-References

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)
"But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." (Acts 4:19)
"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33)
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is 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." (Acts 1:8)

Language Study

The key words in this verse have significance in their original Greek language.

"Shaken" (ἐσαλεύθη) can imply a literal shaking or disturbance.

"Filled" (ἐπλήσθησαν) indicates being full or completely permeated with something, in this case, the Holy Spirit.

"Boldness" (παρρησίᾳ) conveys speaking openly, with confidence, and without fear of reprisal.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient religions and mythologies, the act of divine beings or the sacred engaging with the physical world is a common theme.

The shaking of the place in Acts 4:31 is somewhat reminiscent of the concept where the presence of a deity could cause physical manifestations, such as in the Greek myth where Zeus's presence is often accompanied by storms and lightning, indicating his power.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, one could analyze the "shaking" as either a psychological perception by those present due to their heightened emotional state, or potentially as a minor seismic event that coincided with the prayer.

However, the text attributes the cause to supernatural intervention, which falls outside the provable realm of scientific explanation but can be understood as a narrative device to convey the profound spiritual impact of the event on the early believers.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer varied interpretations of this passage.

Matthew Henry's Commentary views the shaking as a sign of God's presence and approval.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary suggests that the shaking was a unique, unrepeatable event meant to confirm the message of the apostles.

John Calvin's Commentary emphasizes the role of prayer and the spiritual boldness granted to the apostles.

Each commentary highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit's presence in the life of the early church.

Acts 4

Acts 4

What does Acts 4:31 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 4:31 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?