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 4:33 mean?

Explanation

Acts 4:33 captures a moment in the early Christian community where the apostolic witness, specifically the testament of the resurrection of Jesus, was proclaimed with significant power.

The verse suggests that the apostles were endowed with a formidable capability or authority that reinforced their testimony concerning Jesus.

The 'great power' inherent in their witness likely refers to both their boldness in proclamation and the signs and wonders that accompanied their message, authenticating it. 'Great grace' indicates a generous and bountiful favor, suggesting that this divine assistance was given not just to the apostles but 'upon them all,' indicating the entire community of believers.

This verse encapsulates the divine approval and assistance in the spread of the Christian message, emphasizing its divine origin and the community's unity and favor under God.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 4:33 is situated in the context of the early Church's formation following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. The Book of Acts, traditionally ascribed to the authorship of Luke, describes the history and expansion of the early Christian movement.

The verse falls immediately after Peter and John's encounter with the religious authorities for healing a lame man and proclaiming Jesus' resurrection.

The apostles were detained and questioned but were released after caution.

This period in early Christian history was marked by a combination of evangelistic fervor and communal living, with the apostles leading the movement in Jerusalem amidst Jewish cultural and religious settings.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Acts 4:33 captures key Christian doctrines, such as:

Communal Living: Early Christians are seen sharing possessions and living communally, as expressed in previous verses.
Resurrection: The central testimony about the resurrection of Jesus affirms it as the cornerstone of Christian faith.
Apostolic Authority: The apostles are shown to have a unique, divinely given capacity to bear witness, reflecting the belief in their authority to found and guide the Church.
Grace: The verse reinforces the idea of divine grace as unmerited favor and assistance, crucial in Christian soteriology.

Different denominations interpret these themes according to their doctrinal emphasis, but generally, these are seen as affirmations of the truth of Christian message and the authenticity and unity of the early Church.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Acts 4:33 can include:

Evangelism: Christians are called to be bold in sharing their faith, as the apostles were.
Community Support: The verse can inspire communal support among believers, reflecting early Christians' practices of sharing and generosity.
Dependence on Divine Grace: Individuals are encouraged to rely on God's grace for effectiveness in ministry and daily living.
Spiritual Unity: It inclines believers towards fostering unity and communal harmony within the Church.

Cross-References

Acts 2:43: "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles."
Acts 2:32-33: "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."

Hebrews 2:4: "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase 'great power' is 'δυνάμει μεγάλῃ' (dynamei megalei), where δύναμις (dynamis) can mean 'power', 'strength', or 'miraculous power'. Μεγάλῃ (megalei) is an adjective that means 'great' or 'large'. 'Grace' is translated from 'χάρις' (charis), which commonly means 'grace', 'kindness', or 'favor'.

Together these terms emphasize the exceptional nature of the apostolic witness and the divine favor upon the community.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Cultural and religious comparisons can be drawn between the apostolic witness in Acts and the prophetic traditions of Judaism where prophets performed signs and were sometimes granted authority by God to lead and instruct.

Furthermore, in other ancient religions, it was not uncommon for divine favor and power to be associated with leaders or spokespersons.

However, the communal aspect and the nature of grace as encompassing the entire faith community is a distinctive feature in the Christian context.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the 'great power' and 'great grace' described in Acts 4:33 are not empirically measurable phenomena but are understood as metaphysical concepts within the religious narrative.

The miracles and signs described as validating the apostles' witness are often studied from a historical perspective rather than a scientific one, given the limitations of scientific methodologies to examine supernatural claims made within ancient texts.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have provided interpretations of Acts 4:33:

John Calvin viewed the passage as indicative of the extraordinary presence of the Holy Spirit during this inception period of the Church.
Matthew Henry emphasized the efficacy and success that accompanied the apostolic witness, attributing it to divine power.
FF Bruce noted the significance of the unity of believers and the sign of God's approval upon the apostolic message.
William Barclay pointed to the generosity of early Christians as a result of great grace, highlighting the material sharing that accompanied their spiritual unity.

Modern commentators often discuss the verse in terms of its implications for Church unity, social justice, and the authenticity of the Christian witness.

Acts 4

Acts 4

What does Acts 4:33 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 4:33 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?