Acts 4 31

Acts 4:31 kjv

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.

Acts 4:31 nkjv

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

Acts 4:31 niv

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4:31 esv

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:31 nlt

After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 31 Meaning

Acts 4:31 describes a pivotal moment for the early Christian community, highlighting the direct outcome of their fervent corporate prayer. Upon praying for boldness in the face of threats, God responded with a visible sign of His presence – shaking the very place where they were gathered. This physical manifestation was immediately followed by a renewed and pervasive filling of all present with the Holy Spirit, empowering them to fearlessly proclaim the Word of God despite severe opposition from religious authorities. The verse illustrates a direct link between prayer, divine presence, supernatural empowering, and courageous gospel proclamation.

Acts 4 31 Context

Acts chapter 4 opens with Peter and John healing a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, leading to their arrest by the Jewish religious authorities—the Sanhedrin. The authorities, particularly the Sadducees, were disturbed by the apostles teaching about Jesus and the resurrection from the dead. Peter, "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:8), boldly proclaims Jesus as the only means of salvation (Acts 4:10-12). Despite being commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, Peter and John declared they must obey God rather than men (Acts 4:19-20). Upon their release, they returned to their fellow believers and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said. Instead of shrinking in fear, the community responded with unified, passionate prayer, asking God for boldness to continue speaking His word despite the threats (Acts 4:23-30). Acts 4:31 is God's immediate and dramatic answer to that prayer, reaffirming His support and empowering His people.

Acts 4 31 Word analysis

• And when they had prayed (Προσευξαμένων δὲ αὐτῶν – Proseuxamenōn de autōn):

  • Proseuxamenōn: From proseuchomai, meaning "to pray, to offer prayers." It indicates a deliberate, sustained act of devotion and supplication to God.
  • Significance: Highlights the direct consequence of the community's collective prayer for boldness, emphasizing that the events following were a divine response. This was not a passive request but an earnest appeal born from necessity and faith.

• the place where they were assembled together (ὁ τόπος ἐν ᾧ ἦσαν συνηγμένοι – ho topos en hō ēsan sunēgmenoi):

  • synēgmenoi: From synagō, meaning "to gather, to bring together, assemble."
  • Significance: Refers to a specific, identifiable location, possibly a private home or an assembly place, demonstrating that God met them in their present circumstances. It highlights the corporate nature of their faith and prayer.

• was shaken (ἐσαλεύθη – esaleuthē):

  • esaleuthē: From saleuō, meaning "to shake, agitate, cause to waver or tremble."
  • Significance: A supernatural, physical manifestation of God's presence and power, reminiscent of events in the Old Testament where God's voice or presence caused the earth to tremble (e.g., Exod 19:18 at Sinai, Isa 6:4). It served as an undeniable sign of divine affirmation and intervention, validating their prayer and emboldening their faith. It shows God's control over creation.

• and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν ἅπαντες Πνεύματος Ἁγίου – kai eplēsthēsan hapantes Pneumatos Hagiou):

  • eplēsthēsan: From pimplēmi, meaning "to fill, fulfill, to make full." Used here in the passive voice, indicating that they were filled by an external agent – the Holy Spirit.
  • hapantes: "all." This emphasizes that the filling was not exclusive to the apostles but included the entire community gathered, indicating a collective spiritual empowerment.
  • Pneumatos Hagiou: "Holy Spirit." The third person of the Trinity, the divine agent of power and enablement.
  • Significance: This was a renewed filling, distinct from the initial Pentecost filling, for the specific purpose of facing persecution and proclaiming the Word. It was not merely an emotional experience but an empowering for active service, signifying God's continued equipping of His church.

• and they spoke the word of God (καὶ ἐλάλουν τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ – kai elaloun ton logon tou Theou):

  • elaloun: From laleō, meaning "to speak, utter, proclaim." The imperfect tense indicates continuous or repeated action, suggesting ongoing proclamation.
  • ton logon tou Theou: "the Word of God." This refers specifically to the message of the gospel, the teachings about Jesus Christ, and God's saving plan.
  • Significance: This is the direct, intended outcome and fruit of the Spirit's filling. The power received was not for personal gratification or spectacle, but for the essential task of proclaiming God's message.

• with boldness (μετὰ παρρησίας – meta parrēsias):

  • parrēsias: From parrēsia, meaning "boldness, freedom of speech, confidence, frankness, courage." It implies an unhesitating and unreserved proclamation of truth, especially in challenging circumstances.
  • Significance: This was the specific thing they prayed for (Acts 4:29) and what they received. It represents defiance of human threats and an unshakeable confidence rooted in divine empowerment, essential for advancing the gospel in a hostile world.

Acts 4 31 Bonus section

• The incident serves as a template for the early church's response to persecution: turning to God in prayer, seeking courage and empowerment rather than safety.
• The "shaking" is symbolic of God dismantling human structures or fears, and a divine "yes" to their specific prayer request for boldness to speak, rather than simply escaping danger.
• The communal nature of the prayer and the shared filling emphasize the Spirit's work within the corporate body of Christ, not just individual leaders.
• This renewal of the Spirit's power shows that the Holy Spirit's work is not static but dynamic and responsive to the needs of the church in its mission.
• The passage confirms that the true mark of Spirit-filling is empowered speech for evangelism and edification, prioritizing God's will over fear of human authorities.

Acts 4 31 Commentary

Acts 4:31 profoundly illustrates the direct connection between earnest prayer, divine response, supernatural empowering by the Holy Spirit, and the courageous proclamation of God's Word. The shaking of the place served as a powerful, unmistakable sign that God heard their prayer and was actively present, reinforcing their faith amidst threats. This was not an accidental occurrence but a deliberate act of divine affirmation. The subsequent filling of "all" with the Holy Spirit was a fresh impartation of spiritual power, not just for the apostles, but for the entire praying community. This dynamic, recurrent filling of the Spirit in Acts is crucial; it underscores that being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event for certain individuals, but an ongoing reality for believers to be empowered for specific tasks and to face ongoing challenges. The immediate result – speaking the Word of God with boldness (parrēsia) – reveals the ultimate purpose of this empowerment: the unfettered and confident declaration of the gospel, despite opposition. It teaches that authentic Spirit-filling always results in a greater capacity to testify of Christ, overcoming fear and human limitations.