And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

ACTS 4:33KJV
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Acts 4:33 (KJV)

What does Acts 4:33 mean?

Acts 4:33 says that the apostles spoke powerfully about Jesus rising from the dead, and everyone in their group experienced a special favor or kindness from God. The verse highlights both the strength of their message and the sense of blessing that rested on the early Christian community.

In this part of Acts, Luke is describing the life of the first followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. The apostles are the main speakers, sharing their eyewitness testimony about Jesus’ resurrection with great conviction. The verse also notes that “great grace” was on them all, suggesting that God’s help and generosity were clearly seen among everyone in the group.

The Greek behind Acts 4:33

  • The word for “power” is δύναμις (dynamis), which often means strength or ability. Here, it emphasizes that the apostles’ testimony about Jesus’ resurrection was delivered with real force and effectiveness, not just words.
  • The phrase “great grace” uses χάρις (charis), meaning favor, kindness, or blessing. The Greek here carries the sense that the whole community was experiencing a remarkable measure of God’s goodwill, not just the apostles.
  • The word for “witness” is μαρτυρία (martyria), which means testimony or evidence. This highlights that the apostles were not just sharing beliefs but giving firsthand accounts of what they had seen.

Why Acts 4:33 matters

  • Acts 4:33 clarifies that the early Christian message centered on the resurrection of Jesus, showing what the apostles saw as most important.
  • The verse emphasizes that the effectiveness of the apostles’ message came from both their personal experience and a special empowering from God.
  • By mentioning “great grace” on everyone, Acts 4:33 shows that the sense of God’s presence and kindness was not limited to leaders but was shared by the whole community, helping explain the unity and generosity described in the surrounding verses.

Where else these words appear

“witness” Greek G3142 · used in 20 verses

  • Matthew 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
  • Luke 5:14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

“resurrection” Greek G386 · used in 40 verses

  • Matthew 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
  • John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
  • Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

“gave” Greek G591 · used in 46 verses

  • Matthew 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
  • Matthew 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
  • Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

“apostles” Greek G652 · used in 80 verses

  • Matthew 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
  • Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
  • 2 Corinthians 11:5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.