Scripture: Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 5:12-16 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Ananias and Sapphira bring a portion of the proceeds of a property they sold to the church leaders, representing it as the total amount. Ananias implements the farce, but Peter discerns otherwise and confronts him for succumbing to Satan’s temptation to retain a portion while lying to the Holy Spirit. Peter clarifies that Ananias lied not to man but to God. Mortified, Ananias collapses and dies. Those witnessing are terrified by the severity of the consequences. About three hours later, Sapphira joins the gathering, unaware of her husband’s fate. Peter questions her regarding the sales price, and she, too, lies. So Peter calls her out for conspiring with her husband to test the Spirit of the Lord and informs her that they will carry her body away in the same manner they took her husband. And, like Ananias, she falls headlong dead. So they bury her with her husband, provoking fear throughout the church.
For today’s reading, Luke summarises to his audience that:
- The apostles continue to perform many signs and wonders.
- They continue to worship and pray in Solomon’s Portico (eastern side of the outer temple courtyard).
- Those who hear about Ananias and Sapphira’s fate keep a safe distance but hold this sect in high esteem.
- God adds to their numbers as fellow Jews bring their sick and place them along the streets where Peter walks to the temple—hoping his shadow will bring healing.
Lastly, Luke adds that as the news spreads, people come from neighboring towns to bring their sick and spiritually ill to find healing.
Takeaway: Theologian Richard Longenecker contends that Luke presents a chronologically jumbled summary to thematically link the Sanhedrin’s earlier arrest of Peter and John (4:1-3)—when they commanded Peter and John to cease proclaiming Jesus as the resurrected Messiah—to Peter and John’s defiance that spurs church growth, to their second arrest (5:18-19), and to imprisonment (tomorrow’s devotion). That said, we can identify three groups of people from this segue and their responses to the shockwaves of the Sanhedrin’s threats and Ananias and Sapphira’s fate:
- The Christians continue to worship in public in the temple courtyard.
- The unbelieving Jews hedge their bets by ingratiating themselves with the Christians while keeping a safe distance.
- The responsive Jews move beyond fear and doubt and join the community of Christ-followers.
And the Jews seeking healing for their loved ones most likely comprise those from the latter two groups. But Luke wants his audience to connect the dots between Jesus’ ministry (Volume 1: Gospel of Luke) and Peter’s (Volume 2: the early chapters of Acts). Indeed, while people flocked from neighboring towns in Galilee to find healing from Christ, similarly, people now scurry from villages surrounding Jerusalem to seek restoration from Peter (through the Spirit that indwells him). In both instances, some become followers of Christ.
Our takeaway? Two thousand years later, it’s still the same. Christians continue to worship in sacred meeting spaces. Unbelievers who want all the benefits of joy, peace, and hope will flirt with the idea of becoming a Christian but will keep a safe distance to avoid committing to a radical lifestyle change. Still, others whom the Holy Spirit is wooing through our proclaiming of the Gospel find spiritual healing and join our fellowship.
Our part? Like Peter and John, we lean on the strength, encouragement, and guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern where God is working in others’ lives and then do our part to lead them to Christ, whether planting, watering, or harvesting. And if there’s pushback from those hostile to our message, we lean on the Holy Spirit to give us the right words in response or to lead us elsewhere where people are receptive to the Good News.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for redeeming us through the sacrifice of your beloved Son. And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who delivers us from the power of sin and guides us in our thoughts, words, and deeds that spur love and obedience to you and your Son over those who threaten us. And while the challenges of our faith journey are still the same as they were two thousand years ago, the solution is also. So would you please help us to lean on your Holy Spirit to rise above others’ intimidation tactics and press on with proclaiming your Good News to those seeking unfailing love and purpose in life? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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