“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. — the answer to prayer is immediate and physical: the building itself shakes (seio, shaken, shook, moved), recalling theophanic traditions (earthquake as sign of God's presence, cf. Sinai, Philippians 4:26). The filling with the Spirit (pimplammai pneuma, filled with the Holy Spirit) produces boldness (parrēsia, bold speech, fearlessness) in proclamation. The threatened apostles are empowered to preach more boldly, not less.
Church Fathers on Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together. Acts 4:31 This was the proof that they were heard, and of His visitation. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. What means, They were filled? It means, They were inflamed; and the Gift burned up within them.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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