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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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After being threatened and released by the council, Peter and John return to the believers, who pray together for boldness rather than safety.
What Does Acts 4:31 Mean?
Acts 4:31 shows prayer answered visibly and powerfully -- the believers had prayed for boldness, and the room shook, the Spirit filled them, and they spoke God's word fearlessly. Peter and John had just been released by the council with threats and a command to stop speaking about Jesus. Rather than retreating into fear, the community gathered and prayed. Notably, they did not ask for protection or for their enemies to be removed. They asked for boldness to keep speaking.
The answer was immediate and dramatic. "The place was shaken where they were assembled together" -- a physical sign that God had heard and was present. This echoes earlier moments when God's nearness was marked by trembling and wind. Then "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." The Greek pleroo means to be filled completely, to be controlled and empowered. Though many of these same people had been filled at Pentecost, here is a fresh filling for a fresh need. The result was exactly what they had asked for: "they spake the word of God with boldness." The Greek parresia means freedom of speech, fearless confidence, openness without holding back. The threats of the powerful had not silenced them; instead, prayer had emboldened them. This verse reveals a pattern -- when opposition comes, the answer is not less testimony but more, fueled by prayer and the Spirit's power.
In the Original Language
The Greek "pleroo" (filled) means to be completely filled and empowered, and "parresia" (boldness) means fearless, open confidence in speech.
Cross References
“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,”
- Acts 4:29
“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,”
- Ephesians 6:19
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
- Acts 2:4
Application
When facing pressure or opposition, the believer's first instinct can be prayer for courage rather than comfort; God meets such prayers with fresh strength to keep speaking and living for Him.