College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 5:12-16
ON SOLOMON'S PORCH. Acts 5:12-16.
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.
But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them;
and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both men and women.
insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.
And there also came together the multitude from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Acts 5:12 The outcome of the purity produced by the discipline.
1) It has already been noted that fear or holy awe was one result.
2) We must consider also that power was a fruit of the cleansing. The leaders of the church could effectively carry forth their work. The power by which they performed their work was vindicated. These men could not be deceived. They were God's Ambassadors. When the apostles went forth into the temple area not just one sign or wonder was performed as with the lame man, but many signs and wonders were wrought among the people by the hands of the apostles. Solomon's portico continued to be the place of meeting, but now not only the saints, but also many sinners came to see, and hear, and to be healed.
165.
What is meant by the statement that, power was a fruit of the cleansing?
3) But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them. Here is another result of this purity.
We understand this passage to carry this meaning: That of the multitude of the unsaved (in contradistinction to the apostles in this case) none who might have some of the tendencies of Ananias and his wife dared join himself to these holy believers, lest there should fall upon him the same fate. But in it all the people magnified them. The people admired the straight and holy position of the apostles and the Jerusalem church. The world will always magnify a church that will stand uncompromisingly for holiness of life and word. It is only when the lives of the saints are diluted by worldly compromise that the church ceases to be a power and the world begins to laugh.
166.
What is meant by: But of the rest durst not any man join himself to them?
4) As we have said, the immediate result of holiness and preaching is the conversion of souls. In verse fourteen we have the statement that believers were the more added to the Lord; multitudes both of men and women. What is the meaning of the expression added to the Lord? When we refer to Ephesians 1:22-23 (and other passages) we find the church is referred to as the body of Christ, thus we can draw the logical conclusion that the thought of being added to the Lord was in reference to the action of being added by their conversion and baptism into the Lord's body, His church, (Compare Acts 2:41; Acts 2:47.)
167.
What is the meaning of the expression added to the Lord?
Acts 5:15 The intimation of verse fifteen is that many of these persons who became members of Christ's body did so as a result of the miraculous deeds of the apostles, accompanied as they were with the word of truth, so that now we see the believers and others carrying the sick folk out into the streets, laying them on beds and couches, that as Peter came by at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them. The thought of healing power in Peter's shadow was an Oriental superstition that attributed virtue to the shadow of a righteous man and evil to the shadow of a wicked man.
The text does not say that anyone was healed from Peter's shadow, but only that this was the belief of the people.
169.
Was there any healing power in Peter's shadow? Explain your answer.
168.
What connection did the miracles have with the conversions?
5) Verse sixteen speaks of the far reaching effects of the power of the Jerusalem church. The word of the apostles-' miraculous ministry soon was carried to the cities round about Jerusalem and they brought their sick folk and those that were vexed with unclean spirits. They were not disappointed for they were healed every one. (Somewhat different than cases of healing today by those who claim the same power of the apostles.) Doubtless many of these same persons became Christians and thus caused churches to spring up in the cities round about Jerusalem. This probably accounts for the origin of the church visited by Peter at a later time. (Cf. Acts 9:31-32.)
When Peter and John stood before the high priest they had faithfully promised to disobey the charge given them: Not to preach nor teach any more in this name. They had taught and preached in this name with outstanding success. Note the progression of events:
1) They returned from the Sanhedrin to their own company; they prayed and the Lord answered with great encouragement.
2) Sin entered the fold but God turned it into a triumph for His cause.
3) The apostles continued to preach on Solomon's porch. The power of the apostles manifest in the punishment of Ananias and Sapphira greatly strengthened their position in the eyes of the common folk. The apostles were almost worshiped by those of the city. Every day their message and popularity grew.
170.
What comment in verses Acts 5:12-16 speaks of the far reaching effects of the miraculous ministry of the apostles?
171.
What difference can be noted between the healing of the apostles and of those of today who claim this power?
172.
What relation does Acts 9:31-32 have with these miracles?