Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 5:12-16
12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. 14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. 14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
Commentary:
5:12–16 This summary centers on the Holy Spirit’s activity in the apostles’ healing ministry.
5:12 The Christians had prayed for God to grant them the power to perform signs and wonders (cf. 4:30). This was mightily fulfilled through the apostles, especially in the temple area of Solomon’s Portico, where the Christians often witnessed (3:11). A “portico” (Gk. stoa) is a covered walkway (cf. 3:11; John 5:2; 10:23).
5:13 None of the rest dared join them. Some take the antecedent of “them” to be “the whole church” in v. 13 and understand “they” in v. 12 as referring to all the believers. Others understand “them” to be “the apostles” in v. 13 and understand “they” in v. 12 to refer to the apostles as well. The Greek grammar allows for either interpretation. The first interpretation would show that unbelievers were afraid to attach themselves to the church unless they were truly converted. The second interpretation would show the unique authority and miraculous power of the apostles.
5:15 his shadow might fall on some of them. Though this may seem strange to modern readers, it indicates that the Holy Spirit was so powerfully manifested in and around Peter that even those who only came near him experienced the healing of the Holy Spirit (cf. 19:12).
5:12 The Christians had prayed for God to grant them the power to perform signs and wonders (cf. 4:30). This was mightily fulfilled through the apostles, especially in the temple area of Solomon’s Portico, where the Christians often witnessed (3:11). A “portico” (Gk. stoa) is a covered walkway (cf. 3:11; John 5:2; 10:23).
5:13 None of the rest dared join them. Some take the antecedent of “them” to be “the whole church” in v. 13 and understand “they” in v. 12 as referring to all the believers. Others understand “them” to be “the apostles” in v. 13 and understand “they” in v. 12 to refer to the apostles as well. The Greek grammar allows for either interpretation. The first interpretation would show that unbelievers were afraid to attach themselves to the church unless they were truly converted. The second interpretation would show the unique authority and miraculous power of the apostles.
5:15 his shadow might fall on some of them. Though this may seem strange to modern readers, it indicates that the Holy Spirit was so powerfully manifested in and around Peter that even those who only came near him experienced the healing of the Holy Spirit (cf. 19:12).
Questions:
- In Acts 5, we see that the apostles were performing a lot of miracles, so much so that people were bringing them the sick out into the streets hoping that Peter's shadow would fall across them as he walked by. This is a direct answer to the prayer they had just prayed in chapter 4, when they cried out to God for boldness to share the Gospel and for more miraculous signs and wonders. When was the last time you experienced a direct answer to your prayers?
- Sometimes that previous question might be difficult to answer, not because God isn't answering but because we aren't praying. Are you faithful to pray to God daily? How often are you consistently bringing things in your life to him?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would be faithful to be in prayer this week.
- That you would notice the answers to those prayers and be faithful to give God glory.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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