But many who heard the message believedThis phrase highlights the power of the apostolic preaching and the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church. The message refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ, which Peter and John were proclaiming. The context is the aftermath of the healing of the lame man at the temple gate, which drew a large crowd and provided an opportunity for Peter to preach about Jesus' resurrection. The belief of many indicates a positive response to the gospel, showing the effectiveness of the apostles' witness and the fulfillment of Jesus' promise that the Holy Spirit would empower them to be His witnesses (
Acts 1:8). This belief is not merely intellectual assent but a deep, transformative faith that leads to salvation.
and the number of men grew to about five thousand
This phrase provides a numerical account of the growth of the early church. The mention of "men" specifically may indicate that the count does not include women and children, suggesting that the total number of believers could be significantly higher. This growth is remarkable considering the opposition from religious authorities and the societal challenges faced by the early Christians. The increase from the initial 3,000 converts on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) to 5,000 men shows the rapid expansion of the church. This growth fulfills Jesus' parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32), illustrating how the kingdom of God starts small but grows large. It also reflects the early church's commitment to evangelism and the communal life described inActs 2:42-47.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Peter and JohnApostles of Jesus Christ who were preaching the resurrection of Jesus, which led to their arrest by the religious leaders.
2.
The SanhedrinThe Jewish ruling council that opposed the apostles' teaching about Jesus and His resurrection.
3.
The BelieversThose who heard the message of Peter and John and believed in Jesus, increasing the number of believers to about five thousand.
4.
JerusalemThe city where these events took place, a central location for early Christian preaching and the spread of the Gospel.
5.
The TempleThe place where Peter and John were preaching, and where the early church often gathered.
Teaching Points
The Power of the Gospel MessageThe message of Jesus' resurrection is powerful and transformative, leading many to faith.
The Role of Faithful WitnessesPeter and John's boldness in preaching despite opposition is a model for believers today.
The Growth of the ChurchThe early church's growth is a testament to God's work and the effectiveness of Spirit-led evangelism.
The Importance of HearingFaith comes by hearing the Word of God, emphasizing the need for believers to share the Gospel.
Perseverance Amidst OppositionDespite challenges, the apostles continued their mission, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Acts 4:4?
2.How does Acts 4:4 demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit's work?
3.What role did the apostles' boldness play in the growth of believers?
4.How can we apply the apostles' example of boldness in our daily lives?
5.How does Acts 4:4 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?
6.What steps can we take to effectively share the gospel in our communities?
7.How does Acts 4:4 demonstrate the power of early Christian preaching?
8.What historical evidence supports the conversion of 5,000 men in Acts 4:4?
9.Why is the number 5,000 significant in Acts 4:4?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 4?
11.(Acts 4:4) How historically credible is the claim that about five thousand people converted on the spot?
12.What distinguishes a disciple from an apostle?
13.What does an evangelist do?
14.Acts 3:12–16: Is there corroborating evidence outside the Bible confirming that Peter actually performed such healings?What Does Acts 4:4 Mean
But many– The conjunction “But” signals a sharp contrast with the hostility of the priests and Sadducees who had just seized Peter and John (Acts 4:1–3).
– Opposition could not stifle the gospel. Just as Joseph told his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20), so God turns persecution into opportunity.
– The word “many” underscores the breadth of God’s saving reach, echoing Jesus’ promise that the kingdom would grow like a mustard seed into a tree where “the birds of the air find nests” (Luke 13:18-19).
Who heard the message– Faith begins with exposure to the Word: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
– Peter’s sermon in Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 3:12-26) centered on the risen Jesus—exactly what Jesus commanded inMatthew 28:19-20 andMark 16:15.
– Hearing here is more than catching sound; it is attentive listening like Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened to “heed what Paul was saying” (Acts 16:14).
Believed– Belief is personal trust in the risen Christ, not mere assent to facts. The same verb appears when the Philippian jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” and Paul replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus” (Acts 16:31).
– Salvation remains solely by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), yet genuine belief produces visible change, as seen in the formerly crippled man leaping for joy (Acts 3:8).
– This belief fulfilled Jesus’ promise: “Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life” (John 5:24).
And the number of men grew to about five thousand– Luke records literal figures, just as he did with the three thousand on Pentecost (Acts 2:41). Counting men was common in that culture (cf.John 6:10), so the total crowd—including women and children—was likely much larger.
– Rapid growth highlights the Spirit’s power. In only a short span, the church had multiplied from 120 (Acts 1:15) to several thousand, fulfillingActs 1:8.
– Even as leaders jailed the apostles, God was “adding to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Resistance intensified, but so did the harvest (Acts 5:14).
summaryActs 4:4 shows the unstoppable advance of the gospel. Despite arrests and threats, many who attentively heard Peter’s Christ-centered message placed their trust in Jesus. The church’s ranks swelled to about five thousand men, a literal marker of explosive growth that anticipates the gospel’s spread “to the ends of the earth.”
(4)
The number of the men was about five thousand.--Better,
became,or
was made up to, about five thousand. It seems probable, though not certain, that St. Luke meant this as a statement of the aggregate number of disciples, not of those who were converted on that day. As in the narrative of the feeding of the five thousand (
Matthew 14:21), women and children were not included. The number was probably ascertained, as on that occasion, by grouping those who came to baptism and to the breaking of bread by hundreds and by fifties (
Mark 6:40). The connection in which the number is given makes it probable that it represents those who, under the influence of the impression made by the healing of the cripple and by St. Peter's speech, attended the meetings of the Church that evening. The coincidence of the numbers in the two narratives could scarcely fail to lead the disciples to connect the one with the other, and to feel, as they broke the bread and blessed it, that they were also giving men the true bread from heaven.
Verse 4.- But for
howbeit, A.V.;
that for
which, A.V.;
came to be for
was, A.V.
The number of the men; strictly, of the
males (
ἀνδρῶν) (
Acts 5:14), but probably used here more loosely of men and women. It is not clear whether the five thousand is exclusive of or includes the three thousand converts at the Feast of Pentecost; but the grammar rather favors, the former, as there is nothing in the word
ἀνδρῶν, itself to signify "disciples," or "believers," and therefore it is more naturally referred to those of whom it had just been predicated that, having heard the Word, they believed it.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Butδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.manyπολλοὶ(polloi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183:Much, many; often.whoτῶν(tōn)Article - Genitive 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.heardἀκουσάντων(akousantōn)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 191:To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative 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.messageλόγον(logon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056:From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.believed,ἐπίστευσαν(episteusan)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4100:From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.theὁ(ho)Article - Nominative 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.numberἀριθμὸς(arithmos)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 706:A number, total. From airo; a number.ofτῶν(tōn)Article - Genitive 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.menἀνδρῶν(andrōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 435:A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.grew toἐγενήθη(egenēthē)Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096:A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.aboutὡς(hōs)Adverb
Strong's 5613:Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.fiveπέντε(pente)Adjective - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4002:Five. A primary number; 'five'.thousand.χιλιάδες(chiliades)Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5505:A thousand, the number one thousand. From chilioi; one thousand.
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NT Apostles: Acts 4:4 But many of those who heard (Acts of the Apostles Ac) 
