Acts 4:31-33

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 4:31

Verse 31 31.And when they had prayed. Luke declareth now that God did not only hear this prayer, but did also testify the same by a visible sign from heaven. For the shaking of the place should, of itself, have done them small good; but it tendeth to another end, that the faithful may know that God is present with them. Finally, it is nothing else but a token of the presence of God. But the fruit followeth, for they are all filled with the Holy Ghost, and endowed with greater boldness. We ought... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 4:32

Verse 32 32.And the multitude. In this place there are three things commended; that the faithful were all of one mind; that there was a mutual partaking of goods amongst them; that the apostles behaved themselves stoutly in announcing the resurrection of Christ. He saith that the multitudehad one heart; because this is far more excellent than if a few men should have a mutual consent. And heretofore he hath declared, that the Church did grow to be about five thousand. And now he saith that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 4:33

Verse 33 33.And with great power. This third member appertaineth to doctrine. For Luke doth signify that the zeal which the apostles had to preach the gospel was so far from being diminished, that they were rather endowed with new power. Whereas he doth only name the resurrection of Christ, it is synecdoche; for this part is put for the whole gospel. But Luke maketh mention of the resurrection alone, because it is, as it were, the furnishing or fulfilling of the gospel; and, secondly, because... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:1-31

The first persecution. On observing the phenomena attending the introduction and spread of Christianity in the world, one which arrests our attention is the persecution which at different times its disciples have met with from the world. The Lord Jesus himself, "the Author and Perfecter of our faith," was rejected of men and crucified. And when, after his glorious resurrection, the apostles preached the faith, and verified the truth of what they preached by such signal miracles as that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:23-31

The joy of faith confirmed. The Church, on hearing of the recent events, break out into expressions of joy. As usual on such occasions, the voice of ancient sacred song becomes their voice. I. OUR HELP IS IN THE CREATOR . Man's need and weakness lead him now to shun and now to seek almighty power. There are awful moments when the soul's sin seems to have called the lightning and the thunder from the sky, to have awoke the threat of the earthquake, the storm, and the sea.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:23-31

The grateful, emboldened, and prayerful Church, and the Spirit's witness. With all the naturalness of simplest truth, we are told how the apostles, in their new character of discharged prisoners, run away at once to their brethren of the Church. And we are in this passage taught how— I. THE CHURCH SHOULD BE A HOME OF TENDEREST , MOST FAITHFUL SYMPATHIES , AND OF HOLY SOCIAL INTERCOURSE . NOW it is too often the place of suspicion, distrust, unhappy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:23-31

Praise for safety and prayer for power "From the court-room the apostles retired to the Church. Christian confessors win their victories in the face of day; but the strength by which such victories are won is only to be got where Jesus got his, in secret. Remember Luther's broken cries as he lay on his chamber floor at early morning on the 18th day of April, 1521 (D'Aubigne, 'History of the Reformation' bk. 7. Acts 8:1-40 .). In every crisis of strain and peril through which our lives... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:23-37

The resource of the devout, etc. Released from the restraint of law, the apostles returned to "their own company," and there they related what they had passed through. We may be sure that the whole of that community of brethren entered, with deep and strong sympathy, into the feelings of their two leaders; they all felt that a very critical hour had come to that new cause which they represented. Under these circumstances they bethought themselves of— I. THE RESOURCE OF THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:28-31

The two kingdoms in array against one another. I. THE SCRIPTURAL REPRESENTATION RECOGNIZED . The Holy Ghost spake it. The view given in Psalms 2:1-12 . corresponds with that which pervades the Bible. The Babel power over against the kingdom of God. God making all things to work together for his purposes. The history of Jesus Christ a wonderful confirmation of this view. The disciples in their faith and fellowship following their Master and accepting the responsibilities of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 4:31

Wherein they were gathered for when they were assembled, A.V. When they had prayed . When they had finished the preceding prayer. The place was shaken , perhaps by a mighty wind, as in Acts 2:2 . The word σαλεύεσθαι is properly used of ships or of the sea agitated and tossed by the wind; so Matthew 11:7 , "A reed shaken by the wind." But it is also applied to the rocking caused by an earthquake ( Acts 16:26 ), which maybe the kind of shaking here meant. In this fresh... read more

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