Acts (Part 39) - Acts 4:30-33

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Acts (Part 39) - Acts 4:30-33 1. 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. A. The Lord would grant the apostles boldness by giving them the ability to heal the sick through the power of God in the name of Jesus Christ as they had just done (Act 3:6, 12, 16). B. By working signs and wonders through them, the Lord was confirming that the words that they spoke were from Him (Mar 16:20; Heb 2:3-4). C. Knowing that they were speaking God’s word would give them boldness and confidence (Act 4:31). 2. 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. A. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; i. This would not be the last time that God would respond to the prayers of His saints with an earthquake (Act 16:25-26). ii. God answers the prayers of godly men in dramatic ways (Jam 5:17-18). B. and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. i. It is God’s will that His preachers preach boldly (Joh 7:26; Act 9:27; Act 14:3; Eph 6:20). ii. The Lord answered their prayer that was made according to His will (1Jo 5:14-15). iii. The Lord enables preachers to preach boldly by filling them with the Holy Ghost (1Pe 1:12). 3. 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. A. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: i. The Jerusalem Church was unified and of one mind, as Christians should be (1Co 1:10). ii. See comments on Act 1:14, Act 2:1, 46, and Act 4:24. B. neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. i. They practiced communal living at this time. a. This was not a commandment. b. It was a voluntary system. c. There is no record of other churches doing so. d. It appears to have resulted in poverty. e. See comments on Acts 2:44-45. ii. Another consideration is that the first Jewish converts in Jerusalem faced intense persecution for their faith in Christ, resulting in poverty. a. They endured a great fight of affliction and were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions (Heb 10:32-33).  b. They suffered joyfully the spoiling of their goods (Heb 10:34). c. This persecution included losing their jobs and livelihoods, which is likely why those who had extra sold it and give to those in need. d. “By becoming Christians the Jewish converts suffered the loss of all things, unless they had property independent of the will, favor, or patronage of others, and the proportion of these was few. So deep an offense against Jewish prejudices cast them loose from Jewish charities, and involved loss of employment to such as were traders, and dismissal from their employments to such as were workmen and servants, producing a state of destitution which rendered extraordinary exertions necessary on the part of the more prosperous brethren. This is illustrated and proved by what we actually see in operation at this day in Jerusalem. The first Christians did not adopt the fantastical and impracticable theory known in modern times by the name of communism, divesting themselves of individual property, and throwing all they had and earned into a common stock. They had a common fund, but that it was not binding upon all to contribute everything thereto is evident from what Peter said to Ananias, that he might have kept the land if he had chosen, or even have used its price after it was sold. The principle universally accepted was, that none should want while any of their brethren had the means of helping them.” (Ananias, Unger’s Bible Dictionary) 4. Acts 4:33 – And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. A. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: i. The apostles preached with great power from God (Act 1:8; Rom 1:16; Rom 15:19; 1Co 2:4-5; Eph 3:7; 1Th 1:5). ii. Their testimony of the resurrection of Christ was confirmed by signs and wonders done by the great power of God (Mat 10:1; Act 6:8; Mar 16:20). B. and great grace was upon them all. i. This is the only place in the Bible where “great grace” is used. ii. Great adj. – II. Having a high position in a scale of measurement or quantitative estimation. iii. Grace n. – II. Favour. 6. a. Favour, favourable or benignant regard or its manifestation (now only on the part of a superior); favour or goodwill, in contradistinction to right or obligation, as the ground of a concession. iv. The Lord was showing exceeding favor to the apostles at this time. v. They had just endured persecution and prayed for help, and God’s grace was increased to meet their need (Heb 4:15-16; 2Co 12:9). vi. Grace is given in different measures to God’s children (Eph 4:7). There is: a. More grace (Jam 4:6). b. Abundance of grace (Rom 5:17, 20; 2Co 4:15; 2Co 9:8). c. Exceeding grace (2Co 9:14). d. Exceeding abundant (1Ti 1:14). e. Manifold grace (1Pe 4:10). f. All grace (1Pe 5:10).