Acts 5:12-16

Acts 5:12–16 (KJV 1900)

12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Many Signs and Wonders Done

Cause and Effect

If we back up one verse to vs. 11 (from last weeks teaching)

Acts 5:11 KJV 1900

11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

This leads right into vs. 12

Acts 5:12 KJV 1900

12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

Cause and Affect

Great fear - Reverence

results in many signs and wonders

The greater the reverence for God…the things of God…and for God ordained authority, the greater the miracles.

Lets look at God ordained authority

First and foremost it is the Word of God

There are practical ways that reverence for the Word can be increased

Stand for its reading

One way that my grandfather had implemented, but I am mindful of…I’m not saying you are going to hell if you don’t follow this…but I don’t have another book on top of my Bible

Pastoral leadership - Dipping into this topic two weeks in a row is actually pretty awkward.

I recognize talking about it could appear to be self-serving

Especially when I reached back into a text from last week to bring the point out.

However, there is an undoubted connection between the increased reverence and the overflow of signs and wonders.

Here is what I will say that to this. You should have reverence for Pastoral authority. If you don’t believe that you are under God ordained authority…that you under Godly leadership…someone that you can reverence....RUN to get under God’s authority....If you don’t feel like there is God ordained leadership nearby, so you are just settling because this is the closest thing you can find…Go home tonight, quit your job, sell your home and MOVE to a church with leadership that you trust is God ordained.

IT is that important!!!

With one accord in Solomon’s porch

Conclusion of vs. 12 Acts 5:12

Acts 5:12 (KJV 1900)

(and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

Four times in the first 5 chapter of Acts, this term “in one accord” has been mentioned.

Acts 1:14 They were all in one accord in prayer

Acts 2:1 They were all with one accord in one place (that being the upper room)…when the Holy Ghost was poured out

Acts 2:46 With one accord in the temple daily

Acts 5:12 They were in one accord in Solomon’s porch

Unity isn’t a 10 to 2 thing on Sunday morning. Unity as a church isn’t a Sunday thing.

It isn’t a Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 thing. Its not a midweek service thing.

A unified church is unified all the time, everywhere, with everyone.

Ephesians 4:3 KJV 1900

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

To endeavor is to passionately work

Ephesians 4:3 NLT

3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Ephesians 4:3 ESV

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:3 AMP

3 Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.

The point is that unity is hard work…but it is work that is worth it!!

I know that the main themes in the book of Acts are the (1)outpouring of the Spirit, (2)the expansion of the church, (3)Salvation coming to the Gentiles, and (4)miracles worked through the hands of the Apostles.

But unity the unity within the church is talked about as much or more than any of these topics especially in the first 5 chapters.

Acts 1:14.

Acts 2:1.

Acts 2:42-46.

Acts 4:32-36.

And now Acts 5:12

Acts 5:12 NASB95

12 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.

Unity in the body of Christ is essential!!

Reverence for the Apostles

Acts 5:13 KJV 1900

13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

Acts 5:13 NLT

13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them.

The people magnified them!

The people had high regard for them (NLT)

The fact is that you are going to have hero’s. You’re going to hold someone in high regard.

Why not teach your children that Sunday School teachers are hero’s?

That missionaries are hero’s?

That preachers are examples they should look to.

Well…thats dangerous…they might let them down. Compared to what? Their hero’s now are athletes, actors and influencers…most of whom have no morals and are propagating values that are in direct opposition to the Word of God.

Why not raise your children to have hero’s that run the aisles. That pray. That play the drums…the are faithful in their marriages.

They magnified them…they held them in high regard…but at the same time, they durst not join them…they didn’t dare to join them.

Even though the looked up to them, they wouldn’t join them.

Jesus experienced this as well.

John 3:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we (not I know…we know that thou art a teacher come from God…I’m not the only one that knows that you are come from God! I’m the only one willing to come forward and admit…and even at that, I’m only willing to come at night, when nobody can see me!!:

John 9:19–22 (KJV 1900)

After Jesus had healed the man by spitting in the dirt and rubbed mud into his eyes, the Pharisees ask the parents in John 9:19...

19 Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

John 12:42 (KJV 1900)

42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

There are people that are watching you live for Jesus! They hold you in high regard, but they don’t join you because they fear what it will cost them.

Can I tell you that it is not time to abandon morals, and Godly values. it is not time to abandon holiness and righteous living…Don’t think that just because they are joining you means they are rejecting you…they just don’t know if they are willing to pay the price that it is going to cost.

But look at the next verse…

Acts 5:14 KJV 1900

14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Commentaries explain the paradox presented in Acts 5:13 and 14…The great reverence that the people had two very polarizing effects…while they all held the disciples in high regard, some were repelled, while others were drawn.

John Stott in his commentary “The Bible speaks Today” summarizes it this way

The Message of Acts (3. The Apostles Heal Many People (5:12–16))

The presence of the living God, whether manifest through preaching or miracles or both, is alarming to some and appealing to others. Some are frightened away, while others are drawn to faith.

Acts 5:15 (KJV 1900)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

I’ve always read this, and in my mind I translated that they laid them in the street so that the shadow of the Apostles would fall on them and they would be healed.

but it doesn’t say that. It says that the shadow of Peter would fall on them

Why Peter? Why not John, or Thomas, or Matthew...

Because Peter had been the one that had stood up against the sin of Ananias and Saphirrah.

He had been the one to confront sin!

In an hour where nobody wants to confront sin, miracles and signs are only going to come to a church that stands against sin!

When it comes down to it and people are looking for salvation, not a social club, or feel good gathering…when they are tired of sin and want deliverance, they are going to want to be under the shadow of a church that has stood for holiness and righteousness.

I know the message is being declared that nobody wants righteousness, but I can promise you that people in this community are taking note of churches that are taking a stand!