Acts 5:15, commentary and pictures

After lying and deception brought sudden death and holy fear upon the church, the sick were carried into the streets of Jerusalem and laid on beds and couches hoping that even Peter's passing shadow might fall upon them, and every one of them was healed. The cure came not from any power of the apostles themselves but through earnest prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit and of the risen Jesus working in his name. The mercy was joined to bold proclamation of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour, giving evidence that Jesus was the Messiah and daily adding multitudes of believers despite the efforts of priests and rulers to stop it. That public work was done in the face of deepest prejudice by humble men without wealth or earthly honor, and those healed shouted God's praises and glorified the name of the One who had been crowned with thorns and crucified. The same healing follows the truth presented in simplicity and godliness with tenderness, sympathy, and united prayer, and it calls for no exalted spirit but for careful, prayerful, God-reliant labor.

Setting and Healing Event

The healings hoped for from Peter's shadow came after the sudden deaths of Ananias and Sapphira for lying to God and tempting the Spirit by selling a possession, keeping back part of the price, and agreeing together in deception, after which great fear came upon the church and upon all who heard. At that time the apostles were all with one accord in Solomon's porch, where outsiders dared not join them except those united in heart and mind with the believers, while the people magnified them and multitudes of both men and women were added to the Lord, daily and by baptism.

The sick were brought forth into the streets of Jerusalem and laid on beds and couches, hoping that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall upon and overshadow some of them. A multitude also came from the cities round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and those vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed every one. In one account the sufferers were laid in the streets as Peter and John passed by, so that their shadows might fall on them and heal them.

This was bold public work in Jerusalem, where the deepest prejudice existed and the most confused ideas prevailed about One who had been crucified as a malefactor. It was done by humble men without wealth, earthly honor, or recognition, with no weapon but the Word of God, going forth in Christ's strength as heroes of faith and speaking with boldness the words of life with divine eloquence. Those who were healed shouted the praises of God and glorified the name of the One whom the Jews had condemned, crowned with thorns, and crucified, to the amazement of those who had expected to find the disciples discouraged and crestfallen.

Divine Power and Witness

The healings were not done by the apostles' own power but by earnest prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of Jesus, the power of the risen Saviour working through them, performed in Jesus' name and through His name. The Holy Spirit enabled them, and the healings gave evidence of the Saviour's power and confirmed their witness that the crucified Jesus was the Messiah. By the power of Jesus the disciples healed every afflicted and sick person brought to them, and their ministry was accompanied by mighty miracles.

After Christ left, the disciples assembled together and prayed for the Holy Spirit, and when the Spirit came upon them they healed the sick. That healing was a work of mercy joined to proclaiming with great power a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour. It set before the Jews His work and mission, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, and through this work hundreds enlisted daily under Him.

The miracles exalted Jesus as the Prince of life and were remarkable signs accompanying the preaching of Jesus that led people to believe despite the rulers' efforts to stop the preaching. The signs and miracles daily increased the number of believers, with hundreds enlisting daily. They perplexed the priests and rulers, especially the Sadducees whose denial of the resurrection was threatened with extinction.

The healing work led to persecution when Peter and John were shut up in prison for their witness. It led to deliverance when an angel released them and opened the prison doors and commanded them to keep speaking about this life. It led to bold witness when commanded to stop, declaring they had a message to bear. The chapter stands as proof that God will just as surely punish deceptive, oppressive, and unjust dealings in His work, such as using lawyers to take advantage, doing injustice, hindering the work, exacting exorbitant prices, conniving in fraud, and diverting His means into a wrong channel, bringing His punishment and judgment upon the actors in order that the truth shall triumph.

Pattern for Later Church

The healing connected with Peter's shadow was accomplished not by self-exaltation or an exalted spirit but by the kindness of Christ expressed in tenderness and sympathy and love for souls. After Christ departed, the disciples assembled together and prayed earnestly for the Holy Spirit, and when the Spirit came upon them they healed the sick by His power. That same kind of united, prayerful missionary work can be done in Oakland, exceeding in scope anything done before.

The bringing out of the sick to lie where Peter's passing shadow might fall upon them is reflected in a vision of sick people being healed as the truth is presented in the simplicity of true godliness. Although the apostles were men of faith filled with the Holy Spirit who healed the sick and did many mighty miracles, they made no hasty movements in choosing men for important church duties and burdens. They moved with much trembling and fear, with much prayer and reliance on God, exercising great care rather than haste in choosing those who should bear the burdens of the church.