Acts 4 4

Acts 4:4 kjv

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

Acts 4:4 nkjv

However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

Acts 4:4 niv

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

Acts 4:4 esv

But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Acts 4:4 nlt

But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 4 Meaning

Acts 4:4 records a significant increase in the number of early Christian believers following Peter's sermon and the healing of the lame man. Despite the arrest of Peter and John by the temple authorities, the Gospel message profoundly impacted "many" of those who heard it, leading to a substantial expansion of the Christian community, specifically noting the male believers numbered about five thousand. This demonstrates God's power in growing His church despite external opposition.

Acts 4 4 Context

Acts 4:4 follows immediately after the apostles Peter and John have been arrested by the temple authorities—the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and especially the Sadducees. Their anger stemmed from the apostles teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, a doctrine vigorously opposed by the Sadducees. Prior to their arrest, Peter had preached a powerful sermon at Solomon's Colonnade (Acts 3:11-26) to a crowd that had gathered after witnessing the miraculous healing of a lame man. The verse therefore sets up a stark contrast: despite the growing human opposition and the perceived threat from the authorities, the divine work of salvation and church growth continued and even accelerated. This verse marks a significant milestone in the early church's numerical expansion, indicating its resilience and God's active hand amidst escalating tension.

Acts 4 4 Word analysis

• But (δὲ de): This conjunction serves as a strong adversative, signaling a contrast or a change of direction. It highlights that despite the preceding opposition (the arrest of Peter and John by the authorities), the positive outcome of salvation and growth occurred. It underscores God's overriding power.
• many (πολλοὶ polloi): Denotes a significant and substantial quantity. It is not just a few individuals but a large segment of the audience that responded to the message.
• of those who heard (τῶν ἀκουσάντων tōn akousantōn): Specifically refers to the multitude who listened to Peter's sermon in Acts chapter 3. The participle emphasizes the act of hearing the spoken message. Hearing the Gospel is a foundational step toward faith.
• the word (τὸν λόγον ton logon): In this context, it refers to the Gospel message preached by Peter, centering on Jesus as the Christ, His death and resurrection, and the call to repentance and faith for the forgiveness of sins. It is the living, powerful word of God (Heb 4:12), not merely human speech.
• believed (ἐπίστευσαν episteusan): This verb signifies a full commitment of trust and reliance on Jesus and the message concerning Him. It's a transformative act of faith, moving from unbelief to a trusting relationship with God through Christ. The aorist tense indicates a decisive and completed action.
• and the number (καὶ ὁ ἀριθμὸς kai ho arithmos): Introduces a numerical summation, providing precise statistical evidence of the church's growth. Luke, as an accurate historian, is keen on documenting this progress.
• of the men (τῶν ἀνδρῶν tōn andrῶν): This specification is crucial. In ancient societies, and biblical reporting, often the count was limited to adult males (e.g., for military or assembly purposes). This implies that the total number of believers, including women and children, would have been significantly higher than 5,000, underscoring an even more profound impact.
• came to be (ἐγενήθη egenēthē): Indicates that the growth was a developing process and a realized state. It was not static but actively occurring.
• about five thousand (ὡσεὶ πεντακισχίλιοι hōsei pentakischilioi): Provides an approximate yet astonishingly large figure. Coupled with the 3,000 converted on Pentecost (Acts 2:41), this indicates a community of believers in Jerusalem rapidly approaching at least 8,000 adult men within a short period after Pentecost, confirming explosive, Spirit-empowered growth.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• But many of those who heard: This phrase contrasts the hostile actions of the authorities (implied from prior verses) with the receptive hearts of the common people. It highlights the divine prerogative in moving hearts regardless of opposition.
• the word believed: Directly links the proclamation of the Gospel to the saving faith of the hearers. It underscores the efficacy of God's revealed truth in converting souls.
• the number of the men came to be about five thousand: This concise statistical detail provides powerful, verifiable proof of God's miraculous work in growing His church. It points to a profound spiritual movement transforming Jerusalem.

Acts 4 4 Bonus section

• The rapid growth documented here (3,000 in Acts 2:41, now 5,000 men in Acts 4:4, indicating total larger number) demonstrates the fulfillment of Jesus' promise in Acts 1:8, regarding the power of the Holy Spirit to witness, beginning in Jerusalem.
• The incident highlights the conflict between emerging Christian belief (resurrection as central) and existing Jewish factions (Sadducees denying resurrection), yet shows how the Gospel triumphs even over intellectual and religious opposition.
• This verse showcases the direct correlation between the clear proclamation of the "word" (the Gospel message) and genuine conversion ("believed"), illustrating the fundamental pattern of evangelism.
• The expansion presented a significant challenge and opportunity for the early church in terms of community organization, teaching, and practical care, which Luke continues to narrate in subsequent chapters.

Acts 4 4 Commentary

Acts 4:4 stands as a testament to the irresistible power of the Gospel and the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in expanding God's kingdom. Despite the initial human attempt to suppress the apostolic witness through arrest and intimidation (Acts 4:1-3), the divine plan unfolds unhindered. This verse is not merely a statistical update; it’s a theological statement affirming that opposition cannot thwart God's purposes. The growth from 3,000 to "about five thousand men" (implying potentially 10,000-20,000 total adherents when factoring in women and children) within weeks, or a very short timeframe, highlights the unprecedented spiritual awakening occurring in Jerusalem. The Sadducees' anger, specifically over the resurrection, paradoxically underscored the very truth that propelled the church's growth: Jesus is alive, and He is Lord. The specification "men" reveals ancient methods of census or counting members of assemblies, further solidifying the massive numerical impact the apostles' message had, and confirming God's favor and validation upon their ministry.