Okay, it’s another week and I’ve been pondering Ananias and Sapphira all week. The juxtaposition between God who can kill people and yet God who shows mercy upon mercy to his wayward people. Believers all, Sinners all, and yet some die by his hand in dramatic fashion. This week we come to Acts 5:12-16. Not a long passage, but one that focuses on the many signs and wonders done in this time period.
12 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. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 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. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
What are the many signs and wonders that were done?
The time of the apostles was a great time for the start of the church. The apostles were kept busy. They regularly performed signs and wonders among the people.
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.
I found this picture of Solomon’s Porch. This makes me rather curious. Why were they in Solomon’s Porch? Did they live their or just gather there regularly? What was the significance of this?
And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
Regardless of what was going on with Solomon’s Portico they were there. Visible. And I guess kinda scary. No-one would join them. I’m supposing that they were held in too high of regard because of all the signs and wonders being done among them. But even though folks wouldn’t join them, they were admired. They were also being noticed.
14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 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.
They were being noticed so much that believers were being added. Both men and women. In multitudes.
Isn’t that interesting?
Isn’t it? People watched them. Waited for the disciples. Wanting just a hint of power to pass over them. (Peter’s shadow).
So this group of believers, this close knit group that stayed at Solomon’s Portico, that had signs and wonders performed among them daily, that no-one would come near and where held in high regard. This group impressed enough people that others were drawn to them, drawn in to become believers. So many people that they overflowed the porch into the streets, hoping that Peter’s shadow would fall over them.
I have to admit, this feels so foreign to me. I’m imagining people living in this porch area of Solomon’s temple, or at the very minimum going there everyday all day. Just being where the apostles were and seeing all the marvelous things that were happening. I can see the draw, but at the same time it’s like….going to the same place everyday? Maybe living at a temple? Just seeing wonders and signs and being amazed?
Maybe I’m too practical but I’d also want to be getting on with the business of living too. It seems so outside my paradigm of thinking that I’m not sure what all to think.
At the same time, I want to have this draw you know? This need to be part of a community that is so connected with each other they want to be together. A community that has God working visibly in it. A community that is perceived well by those around them. So different from many communities of faith now-a-days. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see this lived out today?
People Healed
16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
If we could see this today I’m betting we would also see people coming from all around wanting to be part of it all. People wanting to be healed. Along with people wanting to just see the show you know?
Sick person … healed. Demon possessed person…healed. Signs and wonders performed by the disciples.
I was thinking about this passage today and this is just after Ananias and Sapphira’s death caused great fear to arise in the church. And now God is at work every time they turn around. It’s like people got a real taste of who God is and then God shows up even more clearly. The awe (fear based) and wonder (surprise at God at work healing/helping) must have been great (as in surpassing). So to go from that fear to the anticipation of God daily working miracles, to seeing all those signs and wonders of people healed. It’s like how do you reconcile that all in your mind? From death to new life seen.
And so one longs
Oh, it makes me long for those days you know? When people truly feared the Lord and were blessed by God at work in their lives in visible ways. Too many people, myself included, take God for granted. “He’ll forgive, He’ll understand, He watches over me…. etc etc.” Without remembering just WHO God is. Mighty, powerful, just, awe-inspiring, kind, compassionate, healer, etc. He is so much more than what we often give him credit for.
I don’t know.
I read a facebook post the other day that signs of revival are starting to be seen here in Canada. Would be rather neat eh? But I wonder….will God show up in signs and wonders to help people see him power and might more clearly? Curious hmm?
Follow Along
If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?
- Acts 1:1-5
- Acts 1:6-11
- Acts 1:12-26
- Acts 2:1-13
- Acts 2:14-41
- Acts 2:42-47
- Acts 3:1-10
- Acts 3:11-16
- Acts 3:17-26
- Acts 4:1-4
- Acts 4:5-12
- Acts 4: 13-22
- Acts 4:23-31
- Acts 5:1-11
- Acts 5:12-16
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