Acts 5:12-16

 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 continuation of the ministry of Jesus.  The results were spectacular.

THE APOSTLES GATHERED IN PRAYER: The apostles spent time together in Solomon’s Portico.  This was room on the side of the Temple in Jerusalem.  The text does not describe what they were doing in that room, but we can presume that they spent time studying the Scriptures together and praying together.  This time spent behind closed doors was vital to the impact they had once the doors were opened.  We are in a relationship with the Lord.  Every relationship requires time spent together.  Too often, time with the Lord is neglected in favor of entertainment and even ministry done in our own strength.  Prayer and Scripture are the means of cultivating a relationship with the Lord and the power behind our efforts in ministry.

THE APOSTLES MINISTERED IN POWER: The manifestations of the power of the Spirit are amazing in this passage.  The sick were brought from all the surrounding villages and all were healed.  Even the shadow of Peter passing over someone brought healing to them.  This mass healing does not seem to continue throughout the book of Acts and it does not seem to be such a large issue for the apostles.  The impact on the church and community is clear as new believers were being added to the blossoming Christian community on a daily basis.  Physical healing is a blessing but the salvation from sin is of far greater eternal consequence.  The Spirit is at work to build the Church and the disciples of Jesus have the privilege of being His instruments.  We still have this same opportunity today.  The Spirit is using us to spread the message of Jesus to a world that desperately needs the hope that is found in Him.

APPLICATION: The time we spend behind closed doors will make a dramatic impact on the ministry we do outside of those doors.  When we place all our focus on doing things in public, we rely only our own strength.  When we prioritize our time with the Lord in Bible study and prayer, the supernatural power of the Spirit makes our ministry efforts so much more productive.

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