“At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people ; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were being healed.” Acts 5:12-16
We find on the one hand that the people were all with one accord in the temple, at Solomon ‘s portico, where the miracles and wonders were taking place, but “none of the rest dared to associate with them”. These were spectators and fans. Not disciples. The Sanhedrin had arrested these guys once; they were marked men! It is one thing to experience the blessing of a healing service or a revival meeting. Yet it is still another to join a community of believers, in covenant with the Lord. The latter were after the Lord of the blessing, not the blessing itself.
They had certainly heard about the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, and that this power of God was not just for healing; it was not to be toyed with. The Spirit of God was a part of everything this faith community did, and that did not dissuade the men and women who wanted to fully commit their lives to the Lord, and “were constantly added to their number”. The Spirit of God did not stop at physical healing but also delivered from unclean spirits through the hands of apostles.
It was much like when Jesus fed the five thousand. “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs; but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” Jesus went on to explain “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:26,35). Jesus goes on to say “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in your yourselves.” “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said,’This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”….” “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69)
Peter did not completely understand all that Jesus said either. But like a future apostle (Paul) would say to a young pastor: “For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
(2 Tim.1:12)
Spectators and fans will come and go. The Lord knows who are His. Peter would cling to this faith to sustain him, for he and John were about to journey to a place where the rubber meets the road.
Questions To Think About:
We find on the one hand that the people were all with one accord in the temple, at Solomon ‘s portico, where the miracles and wonders were taking place, but “none of the rest dared to associate with them”. These were spectators and fans. Not disciples. The Sanhedrin had arrested these guys once; they were marked men! It is one thing to experience the blessing of a healing service or a revival meeting. Yet it is still another to join a community of believers, in covenant with the Lord. The latter were after the Lord of the blessing, not the blessing itself.
They had certainly heard about the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, and that this power of God was not just for healing; it was not to be toyed with. The Spirit of God was a part of everything this faith community did, and that did not dissuade the men and women who wanted to fully commit their lives to the Lord, and “were constantly added to their number”. The Spirit of God did not stop at physical healing but also delivered from unclean spirits through the hands of apostles.
It was much like when Jesus fed the five thousand. “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs; but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” Jesus went on to explain “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:26,35). Jesus goes on to say “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in your yourselves.” “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said,’This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”….” “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69)
Peter did not completely understand all that Jesus said either. But like a future apostle (Paul) would say to a young pastor: “For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
(2 Tim.1:12)
Spectators and fans will come and go. The Lord knows who are His. Peter would cling to this faith to sustain him, for he and John were about to journey to a place where the rubber meets the road.
Questions To Think About:
- The scripture mentions that many “dared not associate “ with the apostles despite holding them in high esteem. What “social costs” or fears currently hinder you from being more public or committed in your walk with Christ ?
- Jesus’ teaching in John 6 caused many to walk away. Can you identify a “difficult statement “in Scripture that challenges your lifestyle or logic? What keeps you from “withdrawing” when the teaching gets hard?
- Peter didn’t have all the answers, but he knew Jesus had the “words of eternal life.” When you face a situation you don’t understand, do you tend to look for explanations or do you lean into the Person of Jesus?
Posted in The Dilemma of Faith