Discovery BoxActs 4:31-33 
Context4:31 When 1 they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, 2 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak 3 the word of God 4 courageously. 5
4:32 The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, 6 and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. 7 4:33 With 8 great power the apostles were giving testimony 9 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all.
1 tn Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
2 sn The place where they were assembled…was shaken. This signifies that God is in their midst. See Acts 16:26; Exod 19:18; Ps 114:7; Isa 6:4.
3 tn The imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect (“began to speak”). Logical sequencing suggests that their speaking began after they were filled with the Spirit. The prayer was answered immediately.
4 tn Or “speak God’s message.”
5 tn Or “with boldness.”
6 tn Grk “soul.”
7 tn Grk “but all things were to them in common.”
sn Everything was held in common. The remark is not a reflection of political philosophy, but of the extent of their spontaneous commitment to one another. Such a response does not have the function of a command, but is reflective of an attitude that Luke commends as evidence of their identification with one another.
8 tn Grk “And with.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
9 tn Or “were witnessing.”
