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.
Study Note
Study Note
The second Pentecost-like filling (following 2:4) — 'they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with boldness' — occurs immediately after the community's prayer (vv. 24–30), establishing the pattern of prayer → Spirit → bold witness that structures Luke's narrative of early Christian mission. The physical shaking of the place (eseisthē ho topos) deploys theophany language (Sinai: Exodus 19:18; Isaiah 6:4) to frame the Spirit's coming as a covenantal renewal event within the pattern of divine presence. The prayer itself (vv. 24–30) is the longest recorded community prayer in Acts and models the christological interpretation of persecution through Psalm 2, providing a template for praying Scripture in crisis. The verse is important for understanding the Spirit's role in Acts as the empowering agent of mission rather than primarily the guarantor of individual experience.
Other Translations
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.
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,
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.
Cross References
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I …
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they …
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the …
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave …
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house …
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; …