Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 4:33

"And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." — Acts 4:33 (ASV)

Because of its juxtaposition with v.32, we must understand that the “great power” accompanying the apostles’ witness “to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” refers not just to rhetorical, homiletical, or even miraculous power but to the power of a new life in the believing community—a new life manifest in sharing possessions to meet the needs of others. It was this kind of power Jesus had in mind when he said, “All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” . In view of such a combination of social concern and proclamation of the Word, it is no wonder that Luke goes on to say, “And much grace was upon them all” (cf. Lk 2:40).