Acts 2:47
What does Acts 2:47 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 2:47 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 2:47 means
This verse summarizes the flourishing state of the early church, describing their sincere 'praising God' and their resulting 'favor with all the people.' Their godly conduct and communal love garnered respect from those outside the faith, creating a fertile ground for growth. Crucially, it was 'the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved,' emphasizing that church growth is ultimately a divine work, not merely human effort. This daily growth signifies the ongoing power of the Spirit.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Giving praise to God, and having the approval of all the people; and every day the number of those who had salvation was increased by the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862praising God, and having favour with all the people, and the Lord was adding those being saved every day to the assembly.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890praisingGod, and having favour with all the people; and the Lord added [to the assembly] daily those that were to be saved.
Context
This verse concludes the chapter, summarizing the vibrant life and impact of the early church. It reiterates their devotion and highlights the external consequence of their favor with the people. Most significantly, it attributes the church's continuous growth—'the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved'—to God's ongoing work, leaving the reader with a sense of divine purpose and momentum for the unfolding narrative of Acts.
v.46And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
v.47This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 11:24
for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
- Luke 2:52
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
- 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 16:5
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.
- Titus 3:4
But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared,
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