Apostolic Signs and Bold Faith

Experience the power of apostolic signs and wonders in Acts 5. Despite persecution and imprisonment, the apostles’ bold faith and miraculous deeds sparked explosive church growth and transformed countless lives through divine intervention.

[Scripture]

[12] Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. [13] None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. [14] And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, [15] so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. [16] The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:12-16, ESV)

[17] But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy [18] they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. [19] But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, [20] “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” [21] And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. [22] But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, (Acts 5:17-22, ESV)

[23] “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” [24] Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. [25] And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” [26] Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. [27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, [28] saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (Acts 5:23-28, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Miracles took place through the apostles.

In particular, verse 12 states that signs and wonders were done “by the hands of the apostles” — just as Jesus healed the sick by laying his hands on them (Mark 6:5), the apostles likewise laid their hands on people. Beginning with the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, countless signs and wonders continued to occur. It is also worth noting that this moment can be seen as the turning point from which many believers (v. 12) kept gathering in Solomon’s Portico. Solomon’s Portico had become the place where the gospel was proclaimed.

On the other hand, the unbelievers mentioned in verse 13 dared not join them. The reason they did not dare to associate with the community was the power of God that had been made unmistakably clear through the incident of Ananias and Sapphira — they were afraid they too might die. Yet in contrast to them, the text records that even more people believed and turned to the Lord. (v. 14)

In verse 15, Peter again comes into the spotlight. Among those who were coming to faith and turning to the Lord, some held a superstitious belief that if even Peter’s shadow fell on them as he passed by, they would be healed. In the ancient world, people regarded a shadow — or one’s reflection in a mirror — as a representation of one’s own soul.¹In this way of thinking, Peter’s shadow was Peter’s very life and soul. Therefore, if Peter’s shadow fell over someone, people believed that the soul of the shadow’s owner came into contact with that person. For this reason, not only the sick but also many who were tormented by evil spirits flocked to that place and were healed in the name of Jesus.

However, this situation stirred up jealousy in the hearts of the high priest and the Sadducees, leading them to arrest the apostles and throw them into prison. Their jealousy stemmed from the belief that the apostles’ preaching posed a threat to Judaism. The Sadducees, in particular, denied the existence of angels. Yet, as we see in verse 19, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors during the night and commanded the apostles, [20] “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” (Acts 5:20, ESV). Why were they commanded to go to the temple? Because the temple was the place where God’s people gathered and where God made Himself known. And so, the apostles entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. (v. 21)

Meanwhile, the Sanhedrin assembled to interrogate the apostles and ordered that the prisoners be brought before them. But when the officers arrived at the prison, they found the doors securely shut and the guards standing at their posts — yet no one was inside. The apostles were in the temple, teaching the people. The authorities could not forcibly seize them, for they feared being stoned by the crowds who were receiving their teaching. And so, this time, the apostles came before the council not by force, but peacefully.

God’s purpose was not simply to rescue the apostles from prison. Had deliverance been His only aim, He would not have allowed them to appear before the council again. Rather, God’s focus was on the proclamation of the word of life. For the sake of that proclamation, the apostles could go to prison, to the temple, or into the streets.

We, too, have received the calling to proclaim the Word.

May we remember that every place we find ourselves is an opportunity for that very mission, and may we faithfully carry out the task entrusted to us — spreading the fragrance of Christ wherever we are.

Revival of the early church, the boldness of the apostles, jealousy of those in power, miracles and signs, persecution of faith

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com