Acts (Written)

Thursday, 24 February 2022

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. Acts 5:16

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse spoke of ailing people being brought into the streets in hopes that “the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.” From there, Luke records, “Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem.”

The word “gathered” is an imperfect verb. It should read something like, “Also a multitude were gathering.” The people came, and they just kept on coming. At this point, the ministry is limited to Jerusalem. This is still the beginning of the command of the Lord to the apostles that said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

However, despite not yet going forth into the surrounding cities, the surrounding cities were coming to Jerusalem because of the message of hope which is based upon faith in Christ Jesus. And the gathering was no small group. Rather, Luke records it as a multitude. The word was going forth, and those who heard of it were passing it along so that the streets of Jerusalem were filling up as many were “bringing sick people.”

The word signifies “without strength,” and it indicates those who are feeble, frail, weak, sickly, and so on. It is a general word that is defined well by the simple word “sick.” Any who were generally ailing, for whatever reason, would be brought. Along with them were “those who were tormented by unclean spirits.”

Here, the verb is a present participle. It speaks of those “being tormented.” One can imagine people being brought forth who were actively going through the torments of possession, just as was seen of those brought to Jesus. They may be argumentative, foaming at the mouth, struck dumb, or whatever else. They were in an active state of possession, and there was no other hope but to bring them to Jerusalem where there were apostles of Jesus Christ, proclaiming healing in His name, “and they were all healed.”

It is interesting to note that the previous verse did not include this final statement of healing. People were anticipating the shadow of Peter passing by to fall on the sick. From this, it appears that the term may have been used to indicate a hope for Peter to stop and actually heal the people. In the act of stopping, his shadow would actually fall on the individual while he took the time to proclaim healing in Jesus’ name. It is speculation, but it appears to be a valid thought.

Life application: The word “all” does not always mean “all” in the Bible. Paul says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Because of the words of Paul, some immediately come to the conclusion that there is one judgement for all people. From that springboard, an incredibly confused theology arises. For example, the judgment spoken of by Jesus is suddenly lumped in with what Paul refers to –

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:31, 32

This is a giant problem with this. Actually several. First, Jesus was speaking to Israel about issues that were relevant to Israel. The synoptic gospels focus on His ministry under the law and in anticipation of the coming millennial kingdom. Paul, on the other hand, was writing to Gentiles in the church – a completely separate body in a completely different dispensation.

Secondly, even if that is misunderstood, Paul clearly states that those being judged are saved and their judgment has nothing to do with condemnation. On the other hand, those Jesus refers to will either be brought in to inherit the kingdom or they will be cast into the everlasting fire. And so on.

Thus, the word “all” used by Paul is clearly not speaking of the same group of people mentioned by Jesus. In other words, context must be maintained or a pretext will naturally be the result. Understanding this, the “all” mentioned in Acts 5:16 does not have to mean that everyone who was so afflicted was healed, but that all who met up with the apostles were.

It is not Jerusalem that brought about healing, nor is it Azusa Street that somehow has power to bring about healing, revival, and so forth. Likewise, it is not an individual – like Peter or Paul – that brought about healing. Rather, it is God who supernaturally healed in all instances. And there are those instances recorded in Scripture where healing by an apostle did not occur, such as 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Philippians 2:25-30, 1 Timothy 5:23, 2 Timothy 4:20, and so on.

With the Bible recorded and the epistles completed, we are to refer to those same epistles for our doctrine and our instruction. We are to pray for others, we are to ask for the Lord’s hand of healing upon us if it is His will, and we are to take the appropriate measures concerning physical healing that are developed by competent people in whatever field they are trained in.

At times, the same people who refuse medical treatment of one kind or another (or all medical treatment) because of some inane religious reasoning will still put on warm clothes when it gets cold, wash their hands with soap, use disinfectants (natural or otherwise), and so on. The disconnect in thinking is astonishing.

Taking preventative measures and not taking curative measures is about as smart as buying a gun and not buying bullets for it. Or maybe the same person will buy both a gun and bullets, but never put the bullets in the gun. Such would indicate a very unclear thinker indeed.

Think things through, use reason, and remember to take everything in context. In failing to do so, there will always be faulty doctrine in your life.

Heavenly Father, help us to reasonably consider Your word and to take what it says in the proper context at all times. In this, we will avoid many pitfalls that come before us in order to trip us up. Yes, Lord, help us to be sound in our thinking and theology. Amen.

Wednesday, 23 February 2022

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. Acts 5:15

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse noted how believers were increasingly added to the Lord. With that stated, it now says, “so that they brought the sick out into the streets.” The words seem to logically connect to verse 5:12 –

“And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people…so that they brought the sick out into the streets.”

As such, the words “so that they” would then be speaking of the people. It is the populace who would bring any person who was sick out into the streets, probably at the time they knew Peter would be going to the temple (Solomon’s Porch, noted in verse 5:12) or returning from it. With this thought in mind, it next says, “and laid them on beds and couches.”

The words in Greek are klinōn and krabattōn. The words are suitably described by Albert Barnes –

klinōn. “This word denotes usually the ‘soft’ and ‘valuable’ beds on which the rich commonly lay.”

krabatōn. “The coarse and hard couches on which the poor used to lie.”

The meaning then is that people of every social class, from the rich to the poor, understood that Peter was able to heal. It signifies a hopeful belief that his passing might bring the person to restoration. That is seen in the next words, saying, “that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.”

The translation is deficient. Rather, it reads, “that at the coming of Peter, even his shadow might overshadow some one of them” (YLT).

It is not that Peter’s shadow would pass by, but that as Peter came by, his shadow might come upon them. It is possible that this means that they hoped his shadow passing over them might heal them, and this is how it is generally taken. In Acts 19, a similarly unusual type of healing is noted –

“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11, 12

This more closely aligns with the thought of the people touching the hem of Jesus’ garment as is recorded in Matthew and Mark. There is physical contact.

As the physical contact is highlighted, and because of the way the words are written concerning Peter coming by, it very well may be a way of saying, “that at the coming of Peter, he might stop to heal them.” In the act of stopping, his shadow would thus be over them.

If this is the case, it is not the mere passing of the shadow, but the fact that Peter was willing to stop and be attentive to the sick. While he was there, his shadow (his presence) would be on them.

Whatever the actual meaning, the words do not in any way negate the notion of the other apostles also healing. The point is not that Peter is the only one who heals, but that the focus of the narrative is on him. As noted elsewhere, the focus is on Peter in the first twelve chapters of Acts, and then it moves to Paul in chapters 13-28.

In this, a point is being made about the transfer of the spiritual banner from Jew to Gentile, Peter being the apostle to the circumcision, and Paul being the apostle to the Gentiles. The accounts are given to show this movement away from Israel and to the Gentiles.

Life application: It is common for Pentecostals to claim all kinds of spiritual occurrences, including healings, by merely being around a particular area or person. Such a sensationalist approach is certainly based on verses from Acts, as if what happened through the apostles is still normative for the church today.

This is a poor way of arranging one’s theological position because the accounts in Acts prescribe nothing. They only describe what occurred, and when rightly considered, what is described is to make a point concerning what is going on in the greater picture of redemptive history.

In interpreting Acts already, many of the verses that describe various events are simply ignored by these same Pentecostals, as if the “good stuff” still applies today, but the “other things” don’t. This is a pick and choose theology that is not supported by the epistles.

As far as the epistles, they establish doctrine, they set the guidelines for conduct in the church, and the things they do not address (casting out demons, for example) means that those things are not to be considered as a part of Christian faith and practice. God has not left anything out of His word that we need to conduct affairs in the church, and He has not put things into His word that are superfluous. Rather, what is there is given for us to evaluate based on the context in which it is presented.

Be careful what you accept, be sure it is supported by the epistles (which are prescriptive for the church age), and be sound in your doctrine lest you get misdirected down many strange and unhealthy paths.

Heavenly Father, keep us from those who are unschooled in properly handling Your word. May we not get pulled down the wrong paths as we live out our lives. Instead, help us to think clearly on Your word, rightly applying its precepts to our lives. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, Acts 5:14

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse noted that “none of the rest dared join them.” The words are debatable, but they were seen to possibly be referring to joining the apostles during their open, public speaking. People would hear and quietly listen, but not openly attach themselves to the group while among the multitudes.

However, this verse now does note that growth did continue. As Luke records, “And believers.” This is referring to people who have heard the gospel that Christ died for their sins, that He was buried, and that He had risen again. They believed this, accepting the words as true. Thus, they are reckoned among believers. It is to people of this group, believers, that they “were increasingly added.”

The verb is imperfect, signifying an ongoing process. They were increasingly (kept on being) added. It shows a continued growth that means people were truly converted, and they had been saved according to the words of the Lord that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The Lord’s work was finished, the people accepted Him as their Messiah, and they were saved. Thus, the next words, “to the Lord,” refer to Jesus. It is the Greek word kurios that can be used in a multitude of contexts to mean a variety of things. In this case, it speaks of Jesus who is the God/Man. He is the Master of the faith, and the One who saves those who come to Him.

Luke next records that this included “multitudes of both men and women.” Despite being a somewhat common word, the plural of the word “multitudes” is found only here. It reveals the great expansion in numbers that occurred, so much so that the exact numbers are no longer included as the narrative continues. Also, the inclusion of women is an expected thing for Luke to note. He was careful to include them in many narratives in his gospel account, and he continues with this in Acts.

Life application: The early church expanded quickly, and this is not an unexpected thing. The people of Israel had heard Jesus speak throughout His ministry. The things that He did were brought into conversations throughout the land. The connection between their sacrificial system and His fulfillment of the typology would be easy to make and simple to understand.

They had the culture, the Scriptures, and the personal connection to what the anticipated Messiah would come to do. As these things were the case, many believed. However, the word “many” was still just a small portion in relation to the whole society. And further, until the leaders accepted Him, it could not be considered a national turning of the heart.

To this day, there has been no such turning. While nations have arisen and received the gospel message, even to its highest authorities, Israel has languished under the curses of Deuteronomy 28 for their failure to recognize Christ for who He is.

Be sure to pray for Israel’s collective eyes to be opened, and be ready to evangelize any who come your way, Jew or Gentile. But be sure to present your words to Jews in a manner that includes the thought that Jesus isn’t some Gentile person who is followed by Gentile nations, but that He is the fulfillment of their own Scriptures and the true Messiah of Israel. Many have no idea that this is so.

Once they realize He is a Jew who shares in the same culture as they do, they can more easily break through the barriers that have been erected around them by their religious leaders for so very long.

Heavenly Father, help us to get the word out about Jesus! Help us to present Him in a way that is understandable and relevant to each person we talk to. May we be about this most important task. Thank You that You allow us to share this precious message of life and restoration. Amen.

Monday, 21 February 2022

Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. Acts 5:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The previous verse noted that “they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.” This was probably a general statement that when the people met, any who were free at the moment were in a state of agreement and contentedly came together. Now, another difficult set of words is given by Luke, beginning with, “Yet none of the rest dared join them.”

Who this is referring to is not at all agreed upon. If “them” is referring to the apostles, then some think that the other disciples feared to be closely associated with them lest they should wind up like Ananias and Sapphira. But this would not align well with the fact that they are said to be in one accord elsewhere. That implies that they were all like-minded and without any sort of fear.

Vincent’s Word Studies says this refers to unbelievers and then aligns that with Ananias, thus indicating he was never a true believer. As such, the rest of the unbelievers would not join the church under false pretenses because they were scared they might suffer his fate. This is possible, but the vague nature of Luke’s words makes this view suspect. If this were the case, he could have stated it directly, leaving no room for such intense speculation.

Some see this as any who had not yet joined with the apostles, whether believers or unbelievers, having been shied away from any open union with them, especially while in the public area, because of what happened to Ananias and Sapphira. This is possible, and it would alleviate any contradiction in the next verses.

Another possibility is that this is referring to non-believing Jews in general who may have sympathized with the work and message of the apostles, but they were afraid of openly aligning with them – either because of the fate of Ananias and Sapphira, or because of fear of others who would then spurn them. If this final view is correct, it is not at all unlike what is said about this same type of individual in the book of John –

“Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:42, 43

One of the two latter options seems to be more in line with the general tenor of the attitude of the people. There is also no contradictory sense to be found with the coming verses. Despite a group standing off from aligning with the apostles, Luke next notes that this didn’t mean they weren’t regarded in a most respectable light, saying, “but the people esteemed them highly.”

Here, the same term is used as in verse 5:12. Many signs and wonders were done among the people, and the people esteemed them highly. This refers to the population in general. There was nothing among them that said, “This is just a crazy cult,” or “These people are deviants and miscreants,” or any other such thing. Rather, there was an understanding that they were doing nothing wrong, and that they were – in fact – worthy of note and even high respect.

Life application: The words of this, and the surrounding verses, can be a bit challenging to determine exactly who Luke is referring to. But the overall idea is clear. The apostles and disciples were surrounded by people who held them in esteem, even if some of them were reticent to join with them for one of several possible reasons.

There is nothing contradictory in these two thoughts, and there are many modern parallels to consider what the ministry was like. One of the most obvious is that of the Billy Graham Crusades. Whether you agree with his method, style, doctrine, or other aspects of his ministry, it is quite clear that he was highly regarded by almost all the people.

He brought many to Christ through his ministry, and yet, there were many who respected him highly who would not dare to join him. This included Jews who were afraid of being shunned by their own synagogues and families, Muslims who had the same fears, and so on. There was a great respect for the man, and there was a great admiration for his message.

In looking at the parallels between Acts 5 and Billy Graham’s ministry, it helps us to maybe see a little more clearly the intent of Luke’s otherwise difficult words. The main point being that the word of the Lord, the gospel, was being preached and people were choosing to accept it or reject it, but those who conveyed it carried themselves in such a favorable light that it allowed the message to be the main deciding point. The messengers themselves did nothing to alienate the general populace from making a decision about the content of the message.

Let us apply this to our own lives by being above reproach in our conduct. Then, when we share the gospel, the decision to accept or reject the message will be based on the message itself and on the personal choice of the hearer. May our personal character not interfere with getting the message across.

Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to live our lives in such a manner that others will see our conduct and not find anything in it by which the name of Jesus is diminished in their eyes. Rather, may our lives be of the caliber that people will want to know why we possess the hope we profess and want to hear the wonderful story of what You have done in the giving of Jesus. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Sunday, 20 February 2022

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. Acts 5:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The matter of Ananias and Sapphira is complete. With that out of the way, the last verse said, “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” That thought now ties in with what is next given by Luke, beginning with, “And through the hands of the apostles.”

This is a somewhat idiomatic expression. Something done “through the hand” means “by the power of,” or “under the authority of.” It does not necessarily mean that physical contact is required, even if that is often the case. For example, the death of Ananias and Sapphira could be said to have been done by the Lord through the hand of Peter.

Peter clearly didn’t strike them, but it was under the authority of the Lord, and by Peter’s spoken word, that the events took place. That authority and power is now stated to be not just with Peter, but through the hands of the other apostles as well. And this power was reflected in “many signs and wonders.”

As has been noted, the difference between a sign and a wonder comes down to whether the thing accomplished points to something else (a sign), or if it simply speaks for itself (a wonder).

The sign will authenticate the purposes of the Lord, pointing to what He is doing in the process of redemptive history. In this case, that is accomplished through the signs given by the apostles. The wonder is given to elicit a response of awe from those who behold it, but it does not necessarily speak of anything beyond itself. Luke notes that both of these “were done among the people.”

The early church was provided these, and indeed unbelievers beheld them as well, to convince and convict them of the truth of the apostles’ message concerning Jesus. Thus, these things were given to establish the early church, grounding it, and solidifying the faith of the people. The record here describes what occurred, it does so in relation to the apostles, and it prescribes nothing for anyone else in future times.

As for the ongoing events, Luke next notes, “And they were all with one accord.” Who “all” is referring to is debated. The subject of the previous sentence was the apostles. However, the nearest antecedent is “the people.” The next verse seems to indicate that it is referring to the apostles, but even that can be debated.

Due to the ambiguity, Luke’s intent may just be “And they all – apostles and those who came to hear them – were all in one accord.” Thus, it would be a general statement that when the people met, any who were free at the moment, were in a state of agreement and contentedly came together “in Solomon’s Porch.”

This is where the healing of the beggar in Acts 3:11 was highlighted. It is also where Jesus is said to have walked in John 10:23. Due to the size and layout of the area, it was a good place to gather, and so this is where the people would come to teach and be taught.

Life application: As has been noted, and as will certainly continue to be stated as the book of Acts continues to unfold, there were signs, wonders, miracles, and demonstrations of power in the early church. These served their purpose by establishing a reliable basis of authority for the apostles, and they stood as a witness to the people that the Lord was working through them.

In this, the people could then fully trust that what was done was true and that it was also approved by the Lord. These instances describe what occurred, and their record is now written down for us to accept or to reject. Either way, however, there is no longer a need for such demonstrations of power because the recorded testimony has been given. It now stands as the authority and witness to us. As such, there is no longer a need for such events to occur.

But more, there are no longer any apostles of Jesus to do such miracles. The word of God has been given, it testifies to what they have done, and that written testimony then testifies to the power of the Lord working through them. As we have this word, what more do we need? And more, what more should we expect? As Paul says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

The word is given, and it sufficiently provides all we need to make our decision concerning Christ. Therefore, we do not need – nor should we expect – anything beyond it. Let us be content in this knowledge. Let us accept the word as a suitable and sufficient witness. And then, let us go forward proclaiming the good news that is recorded there.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the precious and sacred word that You have given us. It is just what we need to lead us to You, it tells us all that we need to know about You, and it establishes and grounds our faith in You. It is sufficient, and we shall look to it for our guidance as we live our lives out before You. Amen.