Acts 4:31, commentary and pictures

After the healing of the lame man and the rulers' command to speak no more in the name of Jesus, Peter and John joined the believers in united prayer for boldness to speak God's word with healing signs and wonders, and God answered by shaking their meeting place and filling them all anew with the Holy Spirit to speak with boldness. That boldness was the Spirit's life-giving influence giving courage to proclaim the gospel clearly, firmly and convincingly, exalting Jesus and bearing powerful testimony to His resurrection as God's Son. The filling took away selfishness and made them of one heart and soul with great grace upon them, warming hearts to give generously and adding daily to the church those being saved, even thousands in a day. Their united, earnest prayer stands as the place to find strength in every emergency, the example of spiritual power and bold witness under the Spirit's direction for strengthening and enlarging the church today.

Setting and Answered Prayer

The shaking and filling took place right after the healing of the lame man at the temple gate in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the examination by the rulers with their command to preach no more in that name, and the release of Peter and John to report back to the believers. Earnest prayer surrounded the whole crisis, for while the two were prisoners the other disciples prayed unceasingly, fearing the cruelty done to Christ would be repeated upon them. After the release all prayed together in faith for greater strength to carry on ministry amid the same determined opposition Christ had met on earth. Their aim was not to glorify themselves but to exalt Jesus and rescue souls through His saving message.

Their united prayer made two definite requests: boldness to speak God's word, and that God would stretch forth His hand to heal and do signs and wonders by the name of Jesus. God answered that united, faithful prayer by shaking the place where they were assembled together. He filled them all anew with the Holy Ghost, confirming their faith with the gift of the Spirit. Then He sent them out speaking the word of God with boldness, with courage and convincing power.

Spirit-Filled Bold Witness

The boldness in the verse is the life-giving influence of the Holy Spirit giving courage to proclaim the gospel. That Spirit-given courage made the witness clear, firm, powerful and convincing. Their clear testimony about Jesus represented the words and works of their Teacher.

That witness exalted Jesus. It bore a firm, powerful testimony to His resurrection. It testified to His identity as God's Son.

The filling removed selfishness and made the believers of one heart and soul and of one heart and purpose. Great grace was upon them all, with unity and care for one another. This unity and powerful witness are the fruit of the gifts given to build up and perfect the church.

The Spirit's influence brought deep conviction and warmed hearts with desire to give generously for the cause of Christ. Ananias and Sapphira were present when the place was shaken and all were filled, and made a pledge to give the proceeds from property they sold.

The bold preaching was followed by the Lord adding daily to the church those being saved. Large additions were made to the church daily. Thousands were converted in a day among the crowds gathered at Jerusalem for the feast.

Strength and Witness Today

In every emergency of life strength is found where the early disciples found it, in prayer to God. After the healing of the lame man at the temple gate in the name of Jesus of Nazareth and the rulers' command to preach no more in that name, the church resorted to prayer, and the Lord confirmed their faith with the gift of the Holy Spirit. When believers prayed together the place where they were gathered was shaken, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke God's word with boldness. Their united, earnest prayer presents prayer, the Spirit's power, and courageous witness as strength for difficult spiritual work and for facing spiritual conflict.

Their experience is the example of the spiritual power and boldness needed by those who proclaim the truth. Prayer preceded the filling with the Holy Spirit, which gave boldness to speak God's word as the Spirit's life-giving influence sought by those who proclaim the truth. That Pentecost experience also involved removal of selfishness, unity among believers, powerful witness to Jesus' resurrection, and abundant grace. The apostles working under the direction of the Holy Spirit and bearing bold witness to the power of the gospel is a model for God's people today as they help strengthen and enlarge the church.

Those filled with the Holy Spirit are to go out speaking the word with holy boldness and power. This applies to ministers and physicians united in Christ's service, who with others are to go out in that boldness and power. A room filled with the Spirit, with the assembled people bearing testimony for Jesus with boldness, shows the Spirit's power at work. That power brings conviction and turns opposition into support.

The verse shows the blessed state of unity, faith, and love that existed in apostolic days, when believers spoke God's message with boldness because they were filled with the Spirit and the power of God was manifested among them. That boldness belongs with being of one heart and one soul and with the Lord adding daily to the church those being saved. It is the state that would have returned among God's professed people if they had accepted the first angel's message announcing the hour of judgment and the warning, humbled their hearts before the Lord, separated from corrupting worldly influences, corrected worldliness and backsliding, and sincerely sought preparation to stand in His presence. At the beginning of the time of trouble God's people are filled with the Holy Spirit as they proclaim the Sabbath more fully, and those who recognize the truth join them and endure persecution.