The Answer to Their Prayer.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke the word of God with boldness (vs. 31).
Their prayer was answered: (1) The place shook: this physical effect was a wonder of itself (see Exodus 19:1818And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. (Exodus 19:18); Psa. 68:88The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. (Psalm 68:8)); for the omnipotent God was there in the person of the Holy Ghost-showing His presence with them besides being in them (for the Holy Spirit is now on earth with the Church, as well as in the bodies of the individual saints): (2) “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” and the result was immediately seen in this particular: (3) “they spoke the word of God with boldness.” This was the permanent moral effect. The same sign was not given, “for that first baptism by the Holy Ghost was not to be repeated;” but the shaking of the place―the sign of His continued presence with them; in token of His ability to control all visible objects and persons, and impart to them power to continue their work and testimony to the name of Jesus. “They were assembled” when this happened: it was the assembly of God. Their being all filled with the Holy Ghost was a fresh thing. But some would say if they had the Holy Ghost they could not be more filled than they were: but the language implies a fresh and renewed filling, although the Holy Ghost did not come from heaven to do it. If one might reverently refer to a steam-engine, by way of giving a forcible illustration: there is steam in it, but it is standing quite still; but when the steam is up it is so filled that it works with power: there was nothing fresh put in; but that which was in it was applied with a fresh power. So of the Holy ‘Ghost: He is there with all power and all ability to empower them to heal and speak; but, on the prayer that power was applied. The form of the words shows it was personal; the Holy Spirit Himself―not an influence of the Spirit, nor yet “new illapses of the Spirit” (see chapter 1:8; 2:33, 38; 9:31; 10:45). Filled with the Holy Spirit “they did speak the word of God with boldness.” The case having been appealed to God, He now hereby declared His approval of their conduct.