Acts 4 · Verse 31

Acts 4:31

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, King James Version

Acts 4:31 in other translations

BSB	After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
WEB	When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
ASV	And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
YLT	And they having prayed, the place was shaken in which they were gathered together, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking the word of God with freedom,
DARBY	And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness.
BBE	And when their prayer was ended, the place where they were was violently moved, and they all became full of the Holy Spirit, preaching the word of God without fear.
Webster	And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

What does Acts 4:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 4:31-37

31-37. place was shaken--glorious token of the commotion which the Gospel was to make (Ac 17:6; compare Ac 16:26), and the overthrow of all opposing powers in which this was to issue. they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake, &c.--The Spirit rested upon the entire community, first, in the very way they had asked, so that they "spake the word with boldness" (Ac 4:29, 31); next, in melting down all selfishness, and absorbing even the feeling of individuality in an intense and glowing realization of Christian unity. The community of goods was but an outward expression of this, and natural in such circumstances.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 31. And when they had prayed. The event which followed was regarded by them as an evidence that God heard their prayer.

The place was shaken. The word which is translated "was shaken," commonly denotes violent agitation, as the raging of the sea, the convulsion of an earthquake, or trees shaken by the wind, Mt 11:7, Acts 16:26, Heb 12:26. The language here is fitted to express the idea of an earthquake. Whether the motion was confined to the house where they were, is not said. They probably regarded this as an answer to their prayer, or as an evidence that God would be with them,

(1.) because it was sudden and violent, and was not produced by any natural causes;

(2.) because it occurred immediately, while they were seeking Divine direction;

(3.) because it was an exhibition of great power, and was an evidence that God could protect them; and

(4) because a convulsion so great, sudden, and mighty, was fitted at that time to awe them with a proof of the presence and power of God. A similar instance of an answer to prayer by an earthquake is recorded in Acts 16:25,26. Comp. Acts 2:1,2. It may be added, that among the Jews an earthquake was very properly regarded as a striking and impressive proof of the presence of Jehovah, Isa 29:6, Ps 68:8, "The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel." See also the sublime description in Hab 3:6-11. Comp. Mt 27:54. Among the heathen, an earthquake was regarded as proof of the presence and favour of the deity. (See Virgil, AENid 3.89.)

They were all filled, etc. Acts 2:4. Their being filled with the Holy Ghost, here, rather denotes their being inspired with confidence or boldness, than being endowed with new powers, as in Acts 2:4.

(c) "had prayed" Acts 2:2,4, 16:26 (+) "Holy Ghost", "Spirit" (d) "they spake the word" Acts 4:29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 31 The place was shaken - This earthquake was an evidence of the presence of God, and a most direct answer to their prayer, as far as that prayer concerned themselves. The earthquake proclaimed the stretched-out arm of God, and showed them that resistance against his counsels and determinations must come to nought. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost - And, in consequence of this, they spake the word of God with boldness; a pointed answer to a second part of their request, Act 4:29. A right prayer will always have a right and ready answer. Though these disciples had received the Holy Spirit on the day of pentecost, yet they were capable of larger communications; and what they had then received did not preclude the necessity of frequent supplies, on emergent occasions. Indeed, one communication of this Spirit always makes way and disposes for another. Neither apostle nor private Christian can subsist in the Divine life without frequent influences from on high. Had these disciples depended on their pentecostal grace, they might have sunk now under the terror and menaces of their combined and powerful foes. God gives grace for the time being, but no stock for futurity, because he will keep all his followers continually dependent on himself. With boldness - Παντι τῳ θελοντι πιστευειν, To all who were willing to believe, is added by DE, two others, Augustin, Irenaeus, and Bede.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 4:23-31

Christ's followers do best in company, provided it is their own company. It encourages God's servants, both in doing work, and suffering work, that they serve the God who made all things, and therefore has the disposal of all events; and the Scriptures must be fulfilled. Jesus was anointed to be a Saviour, therefore it was determined he should be a sacrifice, to make atonement for sin. But sin is not the less evil…

Read the full comment on Acts 4:23-31 →

Acts 4:31 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

δεηθέντωνdeēthentōnwhen were prayingG1189

αὐτῶνautōntheyG846

ἐσαλεύθηesaleuthēwas shakenG4531

ὁhotheG3588

τόποςtoposplaceG5117

ἐνeninG1722

ᾧhōwhichG3739

ἦσανēsanthey wereG1510

συνηγμένοι,sunēgmenoiassembled,G4863

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐπλήσθησανeplēsthēsanthey were filledG4130

ἅπαντεςhapantesallG537

ἁγίουhagiouHolyG40

πνεύματοςpneumatosSpiritG4151

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐλάλουνelalounwere speakingG2980

τὸνtontheG3588

λόγονlogonwordG3056

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

μετὰmetawithG3326

παρρησίας.¶parrēsiasboldness.G3954

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 4:31

Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:2
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Isaiah 65:24
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Acts 16:25-26
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Acts 4:29
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 16:23-24
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Matthew 18:19-20
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the place.
2:2; 16:25,26
they were all.
2:4
spake.
29; Isa 65:24; Mt 18:19,20; 21:22; Joh 14:12; 15:7,16; 16:23,24
Jas 1:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 4:30
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts 4:31
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 4:32
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.

Read all of Acts 4

Acts 4:31 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y como hubieron orado, el lugar en que estaban congregados tembló; y todos fueron llenos del Espíritu Santo, y hablaron la palabra de Dios con confianza.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et comme ils faisaient leur supplication, le lieu où ils étaient assemblés fut ébranlé, et ils furent tous remplis du Saint Esprit, et annonçaient la parole de Dieu avec hardiesse.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und als sie gebetet hatten, bewegte sich die Stätte, wo sie versammelt waren; und sie wurden alle mit Heiligem Geiste erfüllt und redeten das Wort Gottes mit Freimütigkeit.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et cum orassent, motus est locus in quo erant congregati: et repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto, et loquebantur verbum Dei cum fiducia.