Acts 4:33 - Sharing among Believers

With great power
The apostles' ability to perform miracles and speak with authority was a testament to the Holy Spirit's work within them. This power was not of human origin but was a divine enablement, as seen in Acts 1:8, where Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would empower His followers. The Greek word for "power" here is "dynamis," which is also used in Acts 2:22 to describe the miracles of Jesus, indicating a continuation of His ministry through the apostles.

the apostles continued to give their testimony
The apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and their testimony was foundational to the early church's growth. This testimony was not a one-time event but an ongoing proclamation, as seen in Acts 2:32 and 3:15. The Greek word for "testimony" is "martyria," which later came to mean "martyrdom," reflecting the cost of their witness.

about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
The resurrection was central to the apostles' message, as it validated Jesus' claims and demonstrated His victory over sin and death. This event fulfilled Old Testament prophecies such as Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53:10-12. The resurrection was a cornerstone of apostolic preaching, as emphasized in 1 Corinthians 15:14-17, where Paul argues that without it, faith is futile.

And abundant grace was upon them all
The phrase indicates the favor and blessing of God resting on the apostles and the early church community. This grace enabled them to endure persecution and continue their mission. The concept of grace is central to the New Testament, as seen in Ephesians 2:8-9, where salvation is described as a gift of grace. The communal aspect of grace here suggests a shared experience of God's favor, fostering unity and generosity among believers, as described in Acts 4:32-35.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Apostles
The primary figures in this passage, the apostles were the early leaders of the Christian church, tasked with spreading the message of Jesus Christ. They were eyewitnesses to Jesus' resurrection and were empowered by the Holy Spirit to testify about it.

2. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Central to the apostles' testimony, the resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian faith, affirming Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of humanity.

3. Abundant Grace
This refers to the divine favor and empowerment that was evident among the apostles and the early Christian community, enabling them to carry out their mission with boldness and effectiveness.

4. Jerusalem
The setting of this event, Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life and the birthplace of the early Christian church.

5. The Early Church
The community of believers who were united in faith and purpose, sharing their resources and supporting one another as they spread the gospel.

Teaching Points

The Power of Testimony
The apostles' testimony was powerful because it was rooted in their personal experience with the risen Christ. Believers today are encouraged to share their own testimonies of how Jesus has transformed their lives.

The Centrality of the Resurrection
The resurrection is the foundation of Christian faith. Understanding and believing in the resurrection is crucial for a vibrant and effective Christian witness.

Living in Abundant Grace
Just as the early church experienced abundant grace, believers today are called to rely on God's grace in their daily lives, trusting in His provision and strength.

Unity and Community
The early church was marked by unity and a sense of community. Christians are encouraged to foster unity within their local churches and support one another in their spiritual journeys.

Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
The apostles' boldness came from the Holy Spirit. Believers are reminded to seek the Holy Spirit's empowerment for living out their faith and sharing the gospel.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Acts 4What evidence supports Jesus' resurrection?How should one effectively communicate spiritual teachings?How can you effectively share your Christian testimony?How does your character reflect your faith?

(33) With great power gave the apostles witness.--The Greek verb implies the idea of paying or rendering what was due, as in Matthew 22:11. They were doing that which they were bound to do.

Great grace was upon them.--The words may stand parallel with Luke 2:40 as meaning that the grace of God was bestowed upon the disciples in full measure, or with Acts 2:47 as stating that the favour of the people towards them still continued. There are no sufficient data for deciding the question, and it must be left open. The English versions all give "grace," as if accepting the highest meaning, as do most commentators.

Verse 33. - Their witness for witness, A.V. (τὸ μαρτύριον). Their witness. It was one of their chief functions as apostles to bear witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (see Acts 1:22, note). Great grace, etc. Some understand this of the singular favor with which the people regarded them. But it is better to take it of the grace of God which abounded towards them in spiritual gifts and abundant unction and rich blessing, crowning their labors with success. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

[With] great
μεγάλῃ (megalē)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

power,
δυνάμει (dynamei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

apostles
ἀπόστολοι (apostoloi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

continued to give
ἀπεδίδουν (apedidoun)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 591: From apo and didomi; to give away, i.e. Up, over, back, etc.

[their]
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

testimony
μαρτύριον (martyrion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3142: Neuter of a presumed derivative of martus; something evidential, i.e. evidence given or, the Decalogue.

about the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

resurrection
ἀναστάσεως (anastaseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 386: A rising again, resurrection. From anistemi; a standing up again, i.e. a resurrection from death (its author), or a recovery.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

Jesus.
Ἰησοῦ (Iēsou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

And
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

abundant
μεγάλη (megalē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

grace
χάρις (charis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5485: From chairo; graciousness, of manner or act.

was
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

upon
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

them
αὐτούς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

all.
πάντας (pantas)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

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Acts 4:33 Catholic BibleNT Apostles: Acts 4:33 With great power the apostles gave their (Acts of the Apostles Ac)