Acts 5:12 Meanwhile, the apostles were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Hall, and they did many remarkable miracles among the people. 13 The other believers didn’t dare join them, though, but all had the highest regard for them. 14 And more and more believers were added to the Lord, crowds both of men and women. 15 Sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow would fall across some of them as he went by! 16 And crowds came in from the Jerusalem suburbs, bringing their sick folk and those possessed by demons; and every one of them was healed.
Oh dear! Now the Jewish religious leaders are really in a fix! It was bad enough when Peter and John acted as channels for the Holy Spirit to heal a cripple, but now things are escalating. The apostles are doing remarkable miracles right there in the temple, and people are getting healed and delivered even if Peter’s shadow simply falls across them. The first time it happened, Peter was completely gob smacked, for this was the last thing he anticipated. But when Peter realized what was happening, he began walking among the crowds so that his shadow would touch as many people as possible. This phenomenon has two advantages: lots of people are getting delivered and healed, and Peter is encouraged to be out with people as much as possible rather than hiding with some of the other believers. The longer Peter is witnessing in public, the more other believers are willing to do so.
After the first few times Peter’s shadow fell on someone, leading to their healing, the other disciples quietly questioned him. But Peter had no explanation, for he wasn’t doing anything special or different. Peter was simply praying and praising God and God was the One doing everything. Why was Peter favored in this fashion? Despite all the previous warnings from religious leaders, Peter was brave enough to circulate among the crowds while many others remained in the shadows. But the religious leaders can’t possibly allow Peter to continue in this fashion.
Acts 5:17 The High Priest and his relatives and friends among the Sadducees reacted with violent jealousy 18 and arrested the apostles, and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go over to the Temple and preach about this Life!”
21 They arrived at the Temple about daybreak and immediately began preaching! Later that morning the High Priest and his courtiers arrived at the Temple, and, convening the Jewish Council and the entire Senate, they sent for the apostles to be brought for trial. 22 But when the police arrived at the jail, the men weren’t there, so they returned to the Council and reported, 23 “The jail doors were locked, and the guards were standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”
AAAAND this would be an “OOPS!” While the religious leaders are stroking their beards and congratulating themselves on having jailed these pesty apostles, God smiles and sends an angel who releases them and orders them to return to the temple to preach.
We read this story and wonder why God delivers the disciples when so many believers since then have died for their faith. We must continue to remember that God’s ways are higher than ours as Isaiah tells God knows the hearts of the religious leaders, and there might be many who want to believe in Jesus but who fear ostracism from their fellows. Who knows how many of these leaders quietly begin believing in Jesus, leading others to a saving faith?
There’s a lot you can say about Peter. Peter is impetuous, given to hyperbole, and sometimes heavy-handed. But of all the disciples, Peter is the one who walks through the streets of Jerusalem, allowing his shadow to fall on sufferers and leaving healing and deliverance in his wake. Other disciples, emboldened by Peter’s example, will also eventually do the same thing, glorifying God in the process.
What can we learn from Peter? There’s a time to remain in your room, praying and spending time listening to the Lord. But at some point, you must leave the safety of that room and meet people in all their imperfections, their sin, and their needs. As Peter walked through Jerusalem, he had no idea of the illnesses or the number of demons tormenting those around him; however, God knew everything and God guided Peter. If we will step out, God will guide us. We might never know how much God is doing, or we will only learn years later.
Forty years ago, my husband was working at an ambulance company in Memphis, Tennessee. One of the other EMT’s was a young woman struggling with drugs and alcohol abuse. She had narrowly escaped death when a boyfriend involved in witchcraft refused to murder her. We did what we could to encourage her and pray for her, but then we left for the mission field in 1988. Two years later, we were back in Memphis at a Christian concert. Suddenly, my husband heard a voice near him saying, “Bob? Bob Young? I got saved!!!” The speaker was our friend. She told us that she had felt as if she was underneath an enormous pile of garbage with only a pinpoint of light penetrating the darkness. When Bob would come, the light would get brighter, and when I would join him, the light shone brighter still. Eventually, our friend entered a Teen Challenge program. The night she got saved, she was praying by herself, and her prayer was, “God, whatever my friends have, I want it!” Our friend’s life changed forever that night, for she committed her life to Jesus and made a total-and permanent-change.
We were thrilled and shocked at our friend’s testimony, for we didn’t feel that we had done anything particularly unusual. We prayed for our friend, but we didn’t try to lecture her. But God took our availability and did something magnificent with it.
Our hospital chaplain tells a similar story. After passing through the hospital, praying for all the patients one morning, our chaplain was chatting with one of the relatives. “Pastor, I got healed when you prayed for my sister!” the lady exclaimed. Evidently, this lady was sick but was struggling to care for her sister who was even sicker. As our chaplain prayed one morning, this lady felt everything in her body coming back into alignment, and suddenly she knew that she was healed.
Once more, we realize that God is not as interested in our talent or our abilities as He is in our availability. When we allow God to use us, He will do miracles. So, get out of your comfort zone! Ask God to send you to people who need Him and then see what He will do.
PRAYER; Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be willing to go where You send us and do what You want us to do. In the mighty and precious name of King Jesus. Amen.
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