Acts 4:33

4:32-37 The disciples loved one another. This was the blessed fruit of Christ's dying precept to his disciples, and his dying prayer for them. Thus it was then, and it will be so again, when the Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high. The doctrine preached was the resurrection of Christ; a matter of fact, which being duly explained, was a summary of all the duties, privileges, and comforts of Christians. There were evident fruits of Christ's grace in all they said and did. They were dead to this world. This was a great evidence of the grace of God in them. They did not take away others' property, but they were indifferent to it. They did not call it their own; because they had, in affection, forsaken all for Christ, and were expecting to be stripped of all for cleaving to him. No marvel that they were of one heart and soul, when they sat so loose to the wealth of this world. In effect, they had all things common; for there was not any among them who lacked, care was taken for their supply. The money was laid at the apostles' feet. Great care ought to be taken in the distribution of public charity, that it be given to such as have need, such as are not able to procure a maintenance for themselves; those who are reduced to want for well-doing, and for the testimony of a good conscience, ought to be provided for. Here is one in particular mentioned, remarkable for this generous charity; it was Barnabas.

With great power; by sundry miracles which they wrought, as also by their boldness with which they spake; it being no small wonder to see and hear such illiterate men testifying the truths of the gospel amidst so many learned rabbins. The resurrection was the greatest point in controversy, which being granted, all things concerning Christ and the gospel could not be denied; and therefore here it is especially mentioned. Great grace; favour and acceptation; men could not but think well of their doctrine and ways, whom they saw so innocent and holy, meek and good; especially God’s grace was manifest in their words and actions.

Acts 4:33 . Ἀπεδίδουν , the apostles gave or rendered [37]) Being assured of the truth themselves, they tried to assure others of it.— οἱ ἀπόστολοι , the apostles ) The giving testimony was peculiarly their province; for they had seen the facts. To them also was given an extraordinary measure of the Spirit: ch. Acts 5:12 .— χάρις , grace ) The grace of GOD and the favour of the people. [37] The ἀπὸ implies, that they gave testimony as a thing that was due , as of a thing which, having received themselves, they gave in turn to others.—E. and T.

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. Acts 4:33

33 . And with great power gave the apostles witness ] [Better, their witness.] The Greek verb implies a great deal more than our English gave . It is the word so constantly used for paying a debt ( Matthew 18:25 ; Luke 7:42 ), or rendering an account ( Matthew 12:36 ; Hebrews 13:17 ). So that there is implied in it the sense of obligation under which the Apostles felt themselves to lie of declaring “the things which they saw and heard” ( Acts 4:20 ). and great grace was upon them all ] i.e. like their Master, while experiencing the favour of God, they were also finding favour with men. Cp. Acts 5:13 .

Acts 4:33 . And with this unity of love in the bosom of the church, how effective was the testimony of the apostles , and the divine grace , which was imparted to all the members of the church! τῆς ἀναστ . τ . κυρ . Ἰησοῦ ] This was continually the foundation of the whole apostolic preaching; comp. on Acts 1:22 . They bore their witness to the resurrection of Christ, as a thing to which they were in duty bound. Hence the compound verb ἀπεδίδουν , which (see Wyttenbach, Bibl. crit. III. 2, p. 56 ff.) καθάπερ ἐγχειρισθέντας αὐτούς τι δείκνυσι καὶ ὡς περὶ ὀφλήματος λέγει αὐτό , Oecumenius. Comp. 4Ma 6:32; Dem. 234. 5. Observe, moreover, that here, where from Acts 4:32 onwards the internal condition of the church is described, the apostolic preaching within the church is denoted. The χάρις μεγάλη is usually understood (according to Acts 2:47 ) of the favour of the people . Incorrectly, as οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐνδεής κ . τ . λ ., Acts 4:34 , would contain no logical assignation of a reason for this. It is the divine grace , which showed itself in them in a remarkable degree ( 1 Corinthians 15:10 ). So, correctly, Beza, Wetstein, de Wette, Baumgarten, Hackett. ἦν ἐπὶ πάντ . αὐτ .] upon them all : of the direction in which the presence of grace was active. Comp. Luke 2:40 .

(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.

And with great power - See Acts 1:8 . The word "power" here denotes "efficacy," and means that they had "ability" given them to bear witness of the resurrection of the Saviour. it refers, therefore, I rather to their preaching than to their miracles. Gave the apostles witness - The apostles bore testimony to. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus - This was the main point to be established. If it proved that the Lord Jesus came to life again after having been put to death, it established all that he taught, and was a demonstration that he was sent from God. They exerted, therefore, all their powers to prove this, and their success was such as might have been expected. Multitudes were converted to the Christian faith. And great grace ... - The word "grace" means "favor." See the notes on John 1:16. The expression here may mean either that the favor of God was remarkably shown to them, or that they had great favor in the sight of the people. It does not refer, as the expression now does commonly, to the internal blessings of religion on a man's own soul, to their personal advancement in the Christian graces, but to the favor or success that attended their preaching. The meaning probably is, that the "favor" of the "people" toward them was great, or that great success attended their ministry among them. Thus, the same word grace (Greek) is used in Acts 2:47.