Glory of the Holy Spirit

God’s Glory through the Holy Spirit.

The New King James Version Chapter 5

12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch

The New American Commentary: Acts 7. The Miracles Worked by the Apostles (5:12–16)

This third summary statement in Acts comes close on the heels of the second. That one emphasized the community of sharing practiced by the church (4:32–35). This one emphasizes the healing ministry of the apostles and bears out the divine response to their prayer for signs and wonders in 4:30. In structure the first statement, about the signs and wonders done by the apostles (v. 12a), connects directly with v. 15 and constitutes the main new emphasis in the summary statements—the healing ministry. Verses 12b–14 are a sort of parenthesis, continuing emphases that have been made in all the summaries—the effectiveness of the Christians’ witness and their favor with the people (cf. 2:47; 4:33). The whole passage, with its focus on the healing ministry and the growing acclaim of the people, prepares for the renewed concern of the Sadducees and their arrest of the apostles, just as the healing of the lame man (3:1–10) led to the first arrest (4:1–22).

How Did God, through the Holy Spirit, do signs and wonders?

Where Did God do these signs and wonders?

Central theme of the Holy Spirit is Unity or One Accord

What do signs actually do?

Fear and Respect

The New King James Version Chapter 5

13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

The New American Commentary: Acts 7. The Miracles Worked by the Apostles (5:12–16)

Were they afraid of their power after what happened to Ananias and Sapphira? Were they afraid of being arrested by the temple authorities? Such timidity is scarcely likely for the community that prayed so boldly in 4:23–31. It is probably best, and the most likely reading, to follow the NIV and see v. 12b as referring to the other Christians joining the apostles in Solomon’s Colonnade. Peter had preached there after the healing of the lame man (3:11), and it was likely the customary gathering place for the Christians. Other references to their preaching in the temple may well have been in this place just inside the eastern wall

Why do people fear what they don’t understand?

Although some don’t understand they cannot ignore God’s glory through the Holy Spirit working in your life and ministry!

Growth of the Church

The New King James Version Chapter 5

14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

Why do many people not come to church?

What are you doing? How can you impact their lives?

Continuing Power in the Church

16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

5:15 Verse 15 returns to the main theme of the summary, the healing ministry of the apostles. Again Peter was the representative. So widespread was the fame of his healing powers that people would bring their sick friends and relatives into Peter’s presence in the hope that even his shadow might fall upon them. One is reminded of the woman who shared a similar hope that the fringe of Jesus’ garment might heal her (). In the ancient world a person’s shadow was the subject of much superstition and was believed to represent his or her power and personality, to literally be an extension of their person. Whether or not they were healed by Peter’s shadow Luke did not explicitly say, but the note underlines the strength of the apostle’s healing reputation.

5:16 In any event, crowds came from all the surrounding villages to Jerusalem to be healed by the apostles. One is reminded of Jesus’ own healing ministry as recorded in and the similar response of the people. At this point the apostles were still confined to Jerusalem. The people came to them from the outlying villages. Only later would they go forth from Jerusalem and take their gospel and their healing ministry into the villages of Judea

Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 164). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

What Glory should be in the church?

Healing- bring the sick

Deliverance- from strongholds, drug addiction, and unclean spirits

and they were healed.