Topical Bible: Faith: Faith in Christ: About Five-Thousand People

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The account of about five thousand people coming to faith in Christ is a significant event in the New Testament, illustrating the power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit in the early church. This event is recorded in the Book of Acts, specifically in Acts 4:4, which states, "But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand" .

Context and Background

This remarkable increase in believers occurred shortly after the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to preach the Gospel with boldness and perform miraculous signs. The apostles, particularly Peter and John, were actively proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which was central to their message. The healing of a lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful (Acts 3:1-10) served as a catalyst for this surge in faith, drawing attention to the apostles and providing an opportunity to preach the Gospel.

The Message of Faith

The core message that led to the conversion of about five thousand people was the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the risen Lord and Savior. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in Jesus, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. In Acts 3:19, Peter calls the people to repentance, saying, "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away" . This call to repentance and faith in Christ was met with a powerful response, as many were convicted by the Holy Spirit and believed in the message.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The conversion of such a large number of people highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the early church. The Spirit not only empowered the apostles to preach with authority but also worked in the hearts of the listeners, opening their eyes to the truth of the Gospel. This event is a testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).

Impact on the Early Church

The addition of about five thousand believers significantly impacted the early Christian community. It demonstrated the effectiveness of the apostles' witness and the growing influence of the church in Jerusalem. This rapid growth also posed challenges, as the apostles had to address the needs of a burgeoning community, ensuring that the new believers were grounded in the teachings of Christ and integrated into the fellowship of the church.

Faith and Persecution

The increase in believers also attracted the attention of the religious authorities, leading to persecution. Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, where they boldly testified to the power of Jesus' name (Acts 4:1-22). Despite the threats and opposition, the apostles remained steadfast in their faith, continuing to preach the Gospel and relying on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance.

Conclusion

The account of about five thousand people coming to faith in Christ is a powerful example of the early church's mission and the work of the Holy Spirit. It underscores the centrality of the resurrection in the apostolic message and the transformative impact of faith in Jesus Christ. This event serves as an enduring reminder of the power of the Gospel to draw people to salvation and the importance of faithful witness in the face of opposition.

Nave's Topical Index

Acts 4:4
However, many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Patriarchs and Prophets by Pointing Out the Advent of Christ ...
... and prophets, who even prefigured our faith, and disseminated ... that this crucified
Jesus was the Christ, the Son ... baptized three, and four, and five thousand men ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxiii the patriarchs and prophets.htm

The Christian Sabbath --Peter's Confession of Faith.
... supper on the hillside, when more than five thousand were fed ... Then Peter, the believing
disciple, made his confession of faith,". "Thou art the Christ, the Son ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvi the christian sabbathpeters.htm

The Perseverance of Faith
... Let us, by faith, bring them to him, and lay ... It was a token of Christ's presence
and power that ... the small food-baskets mentioned when the five thousand were fed ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/the perseverance of faith.htm

Faith and Courage.
... had an army of a hundred and thirty-five thousand he said ... his cowardice and had been
restored to faith and courage ... any man who is working for Christ loses heart ...
/.../moody/to the work to the work/chapter iii faith and courage.htm

Jesus the Bread of Life.
... came from there to the place where Christ had fed the five thousand, by which many ...
by hearing that to please God the first requirement is faith in Christ. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus the bread of life.htm

John Chapter vi. 14-Jan
... being raised to faith and purged by faith, we might ... veil of the temple rent, while
Christ is hanging on ... For why were there five thousand, but because they were ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxiv john chapter vi.htm

The Story of the Man at the Beautiful Gate
... Yes, it is faith in Christ that has given him this perfect ... the Lord; and the number
of the followers of Christ rose from three thousand to five thousand. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the man.htm

The Feeding of the Four Thousand - to Dalmanutha - the Sign from ...
... On the former occasion there were five thousand fed with five ... as the Pharisees had
asked, but what faith might ever expect from Christ, when following ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvi the feeding of.htm

Lives of Faith and Trust
... death of a citizen of Portsmouth, with a bequest to the Home of five thousand dollars. ...
As the life of faith consists in bearing the cross of Christ, we must ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/lives of faith and trust.htm

Bread from Heaven
... (For they were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, Make ... Their
faith was feeble, and Christ rebuked them for their slowness to learn ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/bread from heaven.htm