Gary Gleans

  Acts 5.12-16 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. The work of the Holy Spirit is evident in the lives of the early church as well as in the lives of the apostles.   God was demonstrating that these men were given authority to serve in His name.   The miracles they performed were very similar to those that Jesus Had performed earlier.   The acts they performed and the message they gave were clearly a con

  Acts 5:1-11 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,   and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.   But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?     While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”     When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.     The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.     And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”     B

  Acts 4:32-37 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.     And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.     There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold     and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.     Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,   sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. The success of the early Church is undeniable.   They were up against impossible odds from a human perspective.   They were being persecuted from all sides and were seen as a threat to the established rel

  Acts 4:23-31 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.     And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,     who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage,      and the peoples plot in vain?   The kings of the earth set themselves,      and the rulers were gathered together,      against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,     to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.     And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,     while you stretch ou

  Acts 4:13-22 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.     But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.   But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,   saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.     But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”     So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.     But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,   for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”     And when they had further threatene