Acts 5:12, commentary and pictures

After judgment fell for lying to God, the believers remained united in heart and mind together in Solomon's porch. Through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done, not by their own power but by the Holy Spirit through the power and name of the risen Saviour. The sick were healed and those troubled by unclean spirits were freed, as multitudes flocked to Jerusalem and sufferers were laid in the streets so the passing shadow might fall on them. These works confirmed a bold public witness to Jesus as the crucified Messiah and risen Prince of life, adding believers daily and strengthening confidence in the message while stirring rulers, especially Sadducees and Pharisees, to imprison, beat, and forbid further preaching without silencing the apostles. The same account stands as proof that God will punish fraud, oppression, and misuse of His means, and that leaders must fill church offices only with prayer, caution, and proven fitness of character.

Signs and United Setting

The striking dead of Ananias and Sapphira for lying to God came just before, and great fear came upon the church and upon all who heard of it. After that judgment God worked many miraculous signs among the people through the apostles.

The believers were all united together in Solomon's porch. They were united in heart and mind with one another in Christ. None dared join them who was not thus united heart and mind with the believers.

The many signs and wonders were wrought by the hands of the apostles, not by their own power but through the Holy Spirit. They were done through the power of the risen Saviour that had fallen upon them and through the name of Jesus. They had gathered in prayer for the Spirit, and they worked as men of faith full of the Holy Spirit.

The signs included healing the sick and those troubled and vexed by unclean spirits. Multitudes flocked to Jerusalem bringing the sick and afflicted to the apostles. Sufferers were laid in the streets so that as Peter and John passed by their shadows might fall upon and heal them.

Witness Growth and Opposition

The signs accompanied a bold public witness to Jesus as the crucified Messiah and risen Saviour, exalted as the Prince of life. Their words and works reflected their Teacher's words and works, testifying to what they had seen and heard of His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. They fearlessly charged His blood guilt upon the Jewish leaders who had called for it upon themselves and their children. The miracles gave evidence of the healing power of the crucified Messiah, magnified the Lord's name, and testified through Jesus' name that He was the Messiah and the risen Christ. This witness was given by humble men relying on Christ's strength and the word of God.

The healings drew multitudes and crowds to hear, and those healed praised God and glorified Christ. Believers were added in multitudes and daily increased in number, added to the church by baptism, so that the word of God grew and multiplied. The work strengthened believers and increased confidence in the apostles and their message, with their discernment in detecting hidden sin adding to the confidence of the brethren. The sick and those troubled and vexed by unclean spirits were brought and healed as part of this growth.

That growth intensified the rulers' opposition and perplexed the priests and rulers. The Sadducees saw their denial of the resurrection threatened with extinction, and the Pharisees saw Jewish ceremonies and sacrificial offerings undermined. This led to imprisonment, but an angel released Peter and John and sent them back to speak again in the temple. The council then beat them and commanded them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, yet they triumphed over opposition, were not silenced, and had further witness yet to give before kings to the name of Jesus.

Warnings and Church Practice

After Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for lying to God and great fear came upon the church and upon all who heard, many miraculous signs were worked among the people through the apostles while the believers were all united together in Solomon's porch, believers were added in multitudes, and the sick and those vexed with unclean spirits were healed, and this stands as part of the proof that God will surely punish deceptive, unjust and oppressive dealings in His work, fraud, exorbitant exactions, and diverting His means into a wrong channel. The healing of the sick accompanied by intercession, confession, and conversions reflects that kind of work of signs and wonders among the people, and it is applied to a revival like the work of 1843 and 1844.

Even though the apostles were men of faith, full of the Holy Spirit, who healed the sick and did many mighty miracles among the people, they made no hasty movements in selecting men to important church duties. They moved instead with much trembling and fear, with much prayer and reliance upon God to choose those who should bear the burdens of the church, rather than acting in haste or by personal judgment. Church leaders must therefore act with the greatest caution in organization and placing men in office. They are to wait until character is developed unless all are thoroughly acquainted with the persons and know them to be fit for the office to bear the burdens of the church.