Acts 5:16, commentary and pictures

Multitudes from the cities around Jerusalem came bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and every one of them was healed. The healing was wrought not by any power of the apostles themselves but through the Holy Spirit and the power of the risen Saviour in the name of Jesus, continuing Christ's own healing ministry after His ascension. It followed the judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Ghost, when many signs and wonders were done, believers were added in multitudes, and the sick were laid in the streets that Peter's passing shadow might fall on them. It accompanied the bold public witness of humble men to Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension in Jerusalem where deepest prejudice against Him prevailed. Those healed glorified God and exalted Jesus above priests and rulers, giving evidence that the crucified Jesus was the Messiah and daily adding hundreds of converts to the church. The same work hardened the priests and rulers because it proved their guilt in Christ's death and threatened their doctrines and ceremonies, so the Sadducees and Pharisees imprisoned the apostles, yet angels freed them to preach on in the temple without being silenced.

Setting and Healing Ministry

Multitudes came out from the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and them vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed every one. Crowds from the towns around flocked to Jerusalem with the sick and those troubled and tormented by unclean spirits, and every one of them was healed.

That universal healing was not done by the apostles' own power but through the Holy Spirit and by the power of the risen Saviour resting upon them, in Jesus' name. They were men of faith full of the Holy Spirit whose words and works represented Jesus, and after Christ's ascension they continued His healing ministry and work of mercy through His disciples. The healings were signs of the risen Saviour's power working through them and of the Holy Spirit empowering their witness.

The healing came after Ananias with Sapphira kept back part of the price, lied to the Holy Ghost and tempted the Spirit of the Lord, and both fell down dead, and great fear came upon the church and upon all that heard. Then many signs and wonders were wrought by the hands of the apostles, and believers were added to the Lord in multitudes both of men and women. At the same time the sick were brought into the streets and laid on beds and couches, that Peter's passing shadow might overshadow and heal them as Peter and John passed by. It was a time when Jews were gathered for one of their great occasions, after the disciples had assembled together and prayed earnestly for the Holy Ghost after Christ left them, and the healing came with the coming of the Holy Ghost in answer to united prayer.

The healings accompanied the disciples' public witness in Jerusalem, proclaiming with great power a crucified and risen Saviour. They were humble men without wealth whose only weapon was the Word of God, yet speaking with boldness the words of life about the work and mission of Christ, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. They bore this witness where the deepest prejudice existed and confused ideas prevailed about Him who had been crucified as a malefactor. The miracles were signs accompanying their work and preaching, exalting Jesus as the Prince of life.

Witness Results and Opposition

Those who were brought from the surrounding cities and healed every one shouted the praises of God and glorified and honored the Redeemer. Their praise exalted Jesus, whom the Jews had condemned, crowned with thorns, and crucified, above the priests and rulers. Jesus was thus honored above the priests and rulers through those He had healed.

The miracles gave those who had been misled by the religious leaders evidence of the Saviour's healing power and confirmed the apostles' testimony that the crucified Jesus was the Messiah. Crowds collected and were drawn, and the signs daily increased the number of believers and multiplied converts to the faith. Hundreds enlisted daily under the banner of a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour, and numbers were continually added to the church by baptism. Yet none dared join who were not united heart and mind with the believers in Christ.

The priests and rulers opposed the work although it gave them evidence, and their prejudice and hatred persisted. They opposed it because it exposed their rejection and murder of Christ and proved them guilty of His death. It extolled Christ above the priests and rulers. It endangered the Sadducee doctrine that there is no resurrection of the dead and undermined the Pharisee ceremonies and sacrificial offerings.

To stop the excitement the Sadducees and Pharisees together laid violent hands on the apostles and shut them in the common prison. But angels of God opened the prison doors and set them free, telling them, contrary to the command of the high priest and elders, to go into the temple and speak all the words of this life. The council assembled and sent officers who found the prison shut with all safety and the keepers standing outside, yet no man within. Word came that the men were standing in the temple teaching the people, and the captain brought them without violence for fear the people would stone them. The high priest charged them with disobeying the strict command not to teach in that name, with filling Jerusalem with doctrine, and with intending to bring Jesus' blood upon the leaders. When commanded to stop they refused to be silenced because they had a message to bear.

Pattern for God's Work

The whole chapter shows that after Ananias with Sapphira kept back part of the price and lied to the Holy Ghost and tempted the Spirit of the Lord, and both fell down dead and great fear came upon the church and all that heard, many signs and wonders were wrought by the hands of the apostles. Believers were then added to the Lord in multitudes of both men and women, the sick were brought into the streets on beds and couches that Peter's passing shadow might overshadow them, and a multitude from the cities round about Jerusalem brought sick folks and those vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed every one. Taken together this proves God was carrying His work to triumph. It stands as the pattern by which He will just as surely punish deceptive, unjust and oppressive dealings in His work, including taking advantage by lawyers, injustice, exorbitant prices exacted, connivance of fraud, hindrance of truth, and diverting His means into a wrong channel.

The healing came after the disciples assembled together and prayed earnestly for the Holy Ghost after Christ left them, at a time when Jews were gathered for one of their great occasions. It came with the coming of the Holy Ghost in answer to united prayer, joined with the kindness of Christ and tenderness and sympathy and love for souls. In this it is the pattern for missionary work done by earnest prayer and meeting together to pray. After healing the sick they were shut up in prison, the angels of God opened the prison doors and set them free, and when commanded to stop they refused to be silenced because they had a message to bear.

The apostles who did this were men of faith and full of the Holy Spirit who healed the sick and did many mighty miracles. Even with that spiritual power, they made no hasty movements in selecting men to important church duties. They moved with much trembling and fear, with much prayer and reliance upon God. This teaches that character must be developed and thoroughly known to be fit before persons are put into office in the church.