Acts 4:29-31
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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When faced with threats, the apostles didn't ask God to remove the danger, but rather to empower them to continue speaking His word without fear. This prayer highlights that true boldness isn't the absence of opposition, but the courage to remain faithful despite it.
Fresh from being arrested, interrogated, and threatened by the Jewish ruling council, Peter and John, along with the other believers, turn to God in prayer. They acknowledge God's sovereign power over all creation and earth's rulers, reminding Him that the very opposition they face—from Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the crowds—was foreordained by God's plan for His Son Jesus. Now, they specifically ask God to consider the threats against them and to grant them continued boldness to proclaim His message, even as they also ask for signs and wonders to confirm their witness.
Ever felt that knot in your stomach when someone powerful warns you to back down? The early apostles faced this exact pressure. What did they do?
When the Sanhedrin, the religious and political leaders, threatened Peter and John, commanding them not to speak or teach in Jesus' name, their response wasn't fear or defiance. Instead, they gathered with their community and lifted their voices in prayer.
Notice their petition: 'And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings...' This wasn't a prayer for the threats to vanish, but a plea for God to see them and empower His servants in response. They recognized that the opposition wasn't just against them, but ultimately against God Himself. Their request wasn't for safety from the threats, but for courage through them. They understood that true strength and perseverance in ministry comes from leaning on God, not on their own capabilities. When faced with opposition, the courageous step is to bring the threat directly to God in prayer, asking for His intervention and strength, rather than trying to handle it alone.
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The apostles already spoke with boldness before the council (Acts 4:13). So why pray for it again? What does this tell us about spiritual courage?
The prayer in Acts 4:29 isn't asking for something new or unearned. The apostles had already demonstrated remarkable boldness. Yet, they specifically ask God to 'grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.' This reveals that boldness in proclaiming God's truth is not merely a personality trait or a human achievement; it's a gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit.
They understood that as the opposition intensified ('threatenings' is plural, indicating multiple and perhaps escalating dangers), their natural courage might falter. They weren't asking to be shielded from danger, but to be equipped to speak regardless of the danger. This boldness is a divine enablement, empowering believers to faithfully declare God's message even when it's unpopular, difficult, or dangerous. It’s a continuous reliance on God’s provision for ministry.
Understand the original words
parrēsias · Greek Noun
Fearless confidence and freedom of speech; a hallmark of the early church empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel.
sēmeia · Greek Noun
Acts of divine power that manifest God's kingdom, used to authenticate the message of the Gospel and demonstrate His compassion.
terata · Greek Noun
Extraordinary events that evoke awe and attest to the supernatural reality and power of God at work among His people.
proseuchomai · Greek Verb
To make an earnest petition or request to God; a fundamental expression of reliance on and communion with the Creator.
pneuma hagion · Greek Noun phrase
The third person of the Trinity, the divine presence who empowers believers, convicts the world, and sanctifies the church, evidenced by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant.
parrēsia · Greek Noun
A Greek term (parrēsia) denoting frankness, confidence, and courage in speech, especially when witnessing for Christ despite opposition or cultural pressure.
logos tou theou · Greek Noun phrase
The message of salvation revealed by God through prophets, apostles, and finally through His Son, centered on the Gospel and the person of Jesus Christ.
This prayer occurs immediately after the apostles faced direct threats from the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish religious authority. Their plea isn't for safety, but for divine enablement to continue their mission despite the danger.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The central events of Christian faith, leading to the birth of the Church.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit's Outpouring
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the rapid growth of the early Church.
c. AD 33
Healing of the Lame Man
Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the temple gate, attracting a large crowd.
c. AD 33
Arrest and Trial of Peter and John
The apostles are arrested by the temple authorities for teaching the people based on the name of Jesus.
c. AD 33— this verse
Release and Prayer of the Apostles
After being threatened and released by the Sanhedrin, Peter and John, along with other believers, gather to pray.
c. AD 33
Empowered Boldness and Continued Ministry
Following their prayer, the believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaim God's word.
Jesus promised His disciples that He would give them words and wisdom that their adversaries could not resist. This prayer in Acts is a direct appeal for that promise to be fulfilled in the face of real threats.
Psalm 2:1-4This ancient psalm describes the very 'kings of the earth' and 'rulers' conspiring against God and His Anointed, mirroring the situation the apostles faced. Their prayer directly quotes and applies this psalm to their current circumstances.
2 Timothy 4:17Paul's later encouragement to Timothy echoes this prayer, highlighting the ongoing need for divine enablement to speak God's word boldly, even when facing opposition and potential abandonment.
Philippians 1:14The Apostle Paul himself testifies that the Lord used his imprisonment to make many more brothers and sisters bold to speak God's word. This shows how God can turn threats into opportunities for boldness, just as the apostles prayed for.
Acts 4:31This passage immediately follows the prayer, showing God's powerful answer: the place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak God's word with even greater boldness, fulfilling their petition.
barnesActs 4:29: "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,"
Behold their threatenings - So look upon them as to grant us deliverance. They did not purpose to abandon their undertaking; they resolved to persevere; and they expected that this purpose would involve them in danger. With this purpose they implored the protection of God; they asked that he would not suffer them to be deterred from speaking boldly; and they sought…
clarkeActs 4:29: "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,"
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings - It is not against us, but against thee, that they conspire: it is not to prevent the success of our preaching, but to bring to nought thy counsel: the whole of their enmity is against thee. Now, Lord, look upon it; consider this. And grant unto thy servants - While we are endeavoring to fulfill thy counsels, and can do not…
When faced with threats, the apostles didn't ask God to remove the danger, but rather to empower them to continue speaking His word without fear. This prayer highlights that true boldness isn't the absence of opposition, but the courage to remain faithful despite it.
Fresh from being arrested, interrogated, and threatened by the Jewish ruling council, Peter and John, along with the other believers, turn to God in prayer. They acknowledge God's sovereign power over all creation and earth's rulers, reminding Him that the very opposition they face—from Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the crowds—was foreordained by God's plan for His Son Jesus. Now, they specifically ask God to consider the threats against them and to grant them continued boldness to proclaim His message, even as they also ask for signs and wonders to confirm their witness.
Fresh from being arrested, interrogated, and threatened by the Jewish ruling council, Peter and John, along with the other believers, turn to God in prayer. They acknowledge God's sovereign power over all creation and earth's rulers, reminding Him that the very opposition they face—from Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the crowds—was foreordained by God's plan for His Son Jesus. Now, they specifically ask God to consider the threats against them and to grant them continued boldness to proclaim His message, even as they also ask for signs and wonders to confirm their witness.
"And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”…" — When faced with threats, the apostles didn't ask God to remove the danger, but rather to empower them to continue speaking His word without fear. This prayer highlights that true boldness isn't the…
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