What Does Acts 4:4 Mean in the King James?

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Acts 4:4 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

What is heard here does not remain information: the verb for “believed” carries trust taking hold, and the count makes that trust visible.

THE MEANING

The word reaches its hearers and becomes trust; that trust is visible in a growing community. What is received inwardly moves outward among many.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse dissolves the idea that hearing is mere exposure: what is heard becomes trust and takes visible form in a growing community.

THE ROOT

ἐπίστευσαν

episteusan

GROWS FROM

⁨πείθω⁩ (peithō), with the related ⁨πιστ-⁩ (pist-) stem

Persuade or be persuaded; come to trust with settled confidence.

The verb ⁨ἐπίστευσαν⁩ (episteusan, “they trusted”) belongs to a word family that links being persuaded, trust, and reliability. “Believed” can sound like a conclusion held in the mind; this root carries the sense of entrusting weight to what has been heard, so the word becomes common footing for many.

ALSO GROWS

pistis: Trust, confidence.

πίστις

This noun names the trust that the verb enacts: a response to what has been heard.

pistos: Steady, reliable, trustworthy.

πιστός

The same word family links trust with reliability, showing why trust can rest on what is perceived as firm.

THE PATTERN

A word received as trustworthy moves its hearers into a shared response.

Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.

Psalm 106:12 · KJVThe Hebrew ⁨וַיַּאֲמִינוּ⁩ (vayya’aminu, “they trusted”), from ⁨אמן⁩ (‘aman, “firm, steady”), joins receiving the words with a shared response.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 · KJVThe Greek ⁨πίστις⁩ (pistis, “trust”) is directly linked to hearing the word.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 · KJVThe heard word is received as God’s word, and it works in those who trust; the response continues beyond hearing.

THE THREAD

And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

John 4:42 · KJV

The word translated “believe” here is ⁨πιστεύομεν⁩ (pisteuomen, “we trust”), from the same Greek word family as Acts 4:4. John shows hearing carrying people from another person’s testimony into trust; Acts shows that trust spreading among many.

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