Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

4:24 After praising God, the believers prayed, quoting Ps. 2:1-2 (Acts 4:25-26), which they treated as a messianic prophecy inspired by the Spirit speaking through David.

4:25 who through the mouth of our father David . . . said. Scripture is truly and totally the word of God even though it comes through flawed men like David. Even as they are persecuted, they address God as master and are in service to his will.

4:27 The psalm is interpreted in light of Jesus' death. The "kings" and "rulers" of v. 26 correspond to Herod Antipas (see note on Matt. 14:1) and Pilate (see note on Matt. 27:2), while the Gentiles and peoples of Israel exemplify those who participated in the crucifixion (Acts 2:23). Much as in Peter's second temple sermon (3:18), this is viewed as being planned by God. Human responsibility is compatible with divine predestination (cf. notes on 2:23; 3:13-16; 3:17).

4:28 In their prayer, reported with approval by Luke, the believers affirm both God's sovereignty and human responsibility. Whatever includes all of the evil rejection, false accusation, miscarriage of justice, wrongful beatings, mockery, and crucifixion that both Jews and Gentiles poured out against Jesus. These things were predestined by God, yet the human beings who did them were morally "lawless" (see 2:23, 36); they were responsible for their evil deeds (see 3:13-15); and they needed to "repent" (see 2:38; 3:19). This prayer reflects both a deep acknowledgment of human responsibility and a deep trust in God's wisdom in his sovereign direction of the detailed events of history.

4:29 Their prayer for boldness in witness shows a determination to directly disobey the command of the Sanhedrin. They do not pray against those who persecute them but pray for their own faithfulness in witness.

4:30 and signs and wonders are performed. The believers do not hesitate to pray that God would work more miracles as they continued proclaiming the gospel. Such a prayer does not indicate deficient faith but is rather an evidence of their strong belief that God would work in their midst in an immediate way that authenticates the gospel.

4:31 God answered the believers' prayer. The place where they were gathered was shaken as if by an earthquake, and the Spirit descended upon them in a way they could perceive. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit indicates that people could be "filled" with the Holy Spirit more than once, for Peter was among them and he had already been "filled with the Holy Spirit" (v. 8), and all the disciples present at Pentecost had been "filled" with the Spirit as well (2:4). The Holy Spirit's power did not come on them automatically but in answer to their expectant, believing prayer.