April 03, 2023 – Monday
Acts 5:12-14 NIV
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Comments
Not all versions of verse twelve mention believers. Instead, the ESV says, And they were all together while the NKJV says, And they were all with one accord so clearly they were talking about believers. Thus, the CJB however says, United in mind and purpose, the believers met in Shlomo’s Colonnade which is redundant comparted to the NIV.
But let’s see what verse twelve tells us, 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. The first thing it tells us is that prayers were answered. If we look back at Acts 4:29-30, we read that the believers were praying, 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. The signs and wonders were answers to the prayers of the believers. It is also clear that Christianity at its beginnings was mightily helped and advanced by miracles done in the Name of Jesus Christ. Also note, it was the apostles only who performed many signs and wonders thus increasing their standing and authority among the believers.
Verse thirteen may seem odd at first, 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. That is until you consider a few pertinent facts. It was a serious matter to follow Jesus as you may be ostracized by your family and synagogue. Also, a lack of true devotion was discouraged by what had happened to Ananias and Sapphira who had lied to God about what they were donating. God had struck them dead (see verses 1-10 of this chapter) rather than let them affect the flock.
But for people who were willing to make a real commitment, they still joined as followers of Jesus. This is shown in the very next verse, 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. They were added to the number of believers who believed in the Lord. Ellicott’s Commentary adds concerning men and women in the verse, The mention of the latter forms an introduction to the dissensions [disagreements] connected with the “widows” in Acts 6, and is itself characteristic of St. Luke as a writer who had seen and known the effect of the new Religion in raising women to a higher life, and whose knowledge of its history was in great measure derived from them.
Ellicott’s Commentary was included to shine a light on how women in this new Religion raised them up as to how they were viewed. Later Paul would make this clear in Galatians 3:28, 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Bottom Line: By signs and wonders for a time by the Apostles the number of believers in Jesus as Lord grew and grew beyond what could have been expected otherwise. Later this would occur through testimony of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for ensuring the number of believers would grow and continue to grow until the Good News of Jesus alone would be sufficient to bring people to the faith. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek