Seeking the Light

Acts 5: 21 – 42 The apostles persecuted

Acts 5: 21 – 42 The apostles persecuted

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associated arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin – the full assembly of the elders of Israel – and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, ‘We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.’ On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

Then someone came and said, ‘Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.’ At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,’ he said. ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’

Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead – whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.’

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honoured by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: ‘Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.’

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

* * *

A few days ago, in “Acts 4: 23 – 31 The believers pray” we saw how effective prayer revealed God’s will to the apostles. Their prayer had asked for the apostles to be enabled to “Speak out God’s word with great boldness,” and they asked God “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Their prayer was answered. They spoke out boldly and their ministry was accompanied by signs and wonders.

The apostles had been strictly warned not to preach and heal in the name of Jesus. When they persisted, the jealous high priest and his associates had them imprisoned. They were miraculously released from prison, and immediately started to teach the people.

The captain of the temple guard went with his officers and fetched the apostles from where they were teaching. The crowd must have been large and excitable; the officers didn’t use force to arrest the apostles, “because they feared that the people would stone them.”

So, once again the apostles were facing the Sanhedrin. The high priest charged them that despite strict orders not to teach in the name of Jesus, they had filled Jerusalem with their teaching.

Peter and the other apostles then gave strong testimony, proclaiming Jesus as the risen Lord, the Prince and Saviour, who had come “that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.”

In this chain of events, we see God’s wisdom. The apostles, men without any qualifications to preach, teach and heal, have been enabled to do all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit. Having prayed effectively, and obeyed God in what he has told them to do and say, God promptly answers the prayer with miraculous signs. This directly challenges sinners either to repent or to oppose God. The Sanhedrin, who oppose God’s will, take action against the apostles, thereby giving them another opportunity to state God’s message to the leaders of the nation.

After the apostles’ testimony, most of the Sanhedrin are outraged and want to put the apostles to death, but Gamaliel, a well-respected Pharisee, intervenes. He reminds them of some history, giving two examples where men claiming to be significant had attempted armed insurrection and failed. He points out, “For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.’

Once upon a time, I thought that was wise counsel. Now I see it as being mistaken and woefully inadequate.

Gamaliel knew that Jesus had performed healings and miracles; everybody in Jerusalem knew that. Now the apostles were claiming that Jesus had risen from the dead, and that they were witnesses. Furthermore, Gamaliel knew they were healing the sick.

Gamaliel knew there was evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. Why didn’t he enquire further? Why didn’t he use his status as someone “honoured by all the people” to urge his colleagues to investigate matters with open minds and be prepared to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord?

Gamaliel’s words are human wisdom. What a contrast with God’s wisdom!

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the testimony of the apostles. Please help me to do your will.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Acts 5: 12 – 21 The apostles heal many

Acts 5: 12 – 21 The apostles heal many

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared to join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought those who were ill into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were ill and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

The apostles persecuted

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

* * *

Miracles were happening. It wasn’t just the sick from Jerusalem who were being healed; people were being brought in from the surrounding towns. People were so convinced by the healings that they brought the sick into the streets “so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”

Even the high priest and his associates bear witness to the miraculous power being displayed, because they were “filled with jealousy.” If there had been no healing, there would have been no cause for jealousy. In this case, the jealousy was so great that the chief priests had the apostles arrested and put in the public jail.

But that didn’t stop the apostles. God sent an angel to open the jail doors and to bring them out. The angel gave them the instruction that they were to go and stand in the temple courts and tell the people all about this new life. First thing next day, there they were, in the temple courts teaching the people.

There are four things that stand out for me:

There were many healings;
The number of believers grew:
God’s angel released the apostles from imprisonment;
The angel instructed the apostles to tell the people “all about this new life” and the apostles obeyed.

The healings go hand in hand with the number of believers, and with the teaching of new life through Jesus. Furthermore, God was prepared to intervene with an obviously supernatural miracle when he sent his angel to release the apostles from jail.

Which brings me to some questions.

Does miraculous healing in the name of Jesus take place today?
Do we see growth in church numbers?
Are there any credible reports of God intervening through angels in the present day?
Are we telling people about new life in Jesus?
If these things aren’t happening in my church, why not?
What should I do about it?
What is God’s will for his church today?

I don’t pretend to have reliable answers for any of these questions, but I certainly think we should be asking them, asking them of ourselves, asking them of each other and, above all, asking them of God in prayer.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you that you have a plan and a vision for how you want your church to grow. Please guide my thoughts as to what you want me to do in your plan, and help me to be obedient.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Acts 5: 1 – 11 Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5: 1 – 11 Ananias and Sapphira

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, ‘Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?’

‘Yes,’ she said, ‘that is the price.’

Peter said to her, ‘How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.’

At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

* * *

This passage troubles me, mainly because it seems out of character with the rest of the New Testament.

The events described here happened within weeks of Pentecost. The community of believers was still pretty much confined to Jerusalem, and the apostles were at its head. All sorts of exciting things were happening, including the growth of a culture of sharing that was so generous that ‘there was no needy person among them.’ (Acts 4: 34)

Ananias and Sapphira were members of the early community of believers. They saw others selling property and wanted to do likewise. But, while they didn’t want to hand over everything to the apostles, they wanted the credit for having done so. They lied. They handed over some of the money and said it was the whole sum.

Note; they had the good impulse to give a substantial sum of money to the church

Peter, prophetically, recognised what they had done. He pointed out that they didn’t need to have sold the property; that wasn’t a condition of belonging. Once they’d sold the property, they didn’t need to hand over the whole sum; that wasn’t a condition of belonging either. But they had lied, and tried to deceive the Holy Spirit.

Confronted with their guilt, each of them fell down and died.

Peter wasn’t responsible for their deaths; he just spoke prophetically. It would seem that God himself took their mortal lives.

Luke says that “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”

This passage troubles me because God ended the lives of Ananias and Sapphira supernaturally. It was a deliberate act. There was no opportunity given for repentance and forgiveness (how did Peter feel about that, I wonder?)

I can think of nowhere else in the New Testament where God acts in this way. (However, my knowledge is not comprehensive, and I could be mistaken.)

It also troubles me because Luke tells us that one of the consequences was that “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.” I thought that an element of our redemption was that we no longer needed to fear death? To cause fear of death in the congregation seems contrary to that.

OK.

How can I understand this event?

I must start with confession; I’m not at all sure that this event happened. However, if it did, here are some thoughts about it.

First and foremost. I do not understand the intricacies of God’s plan. From that standpoint, if it’s true I just have to accept it.

What might God’s plan have been? Peter says, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?”

Thinking of this event in the context of spiritual warfare, the infant church was a group of several thousand believers in Jerusalem. It was extremely fragile. Satan was assaulting it externally, through the Sanhedrin, and now he was attacking it from within by tempting Ananias to greed and deception. Perhaps it was necessary for the believers to understand just how serious a matter it was to try to deceive the other believers?

In addition, we don’t know the status of Ananias and Sapphira before God at the moment of death. That they had tried to deceive was bad, but they had been moved to donate a substantial amount which suggests both faith and commitment. Maybe they both died in a state of grace?

If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you’ll know that I don’t believe that everything in the bible is literally true. This is one of those passages about which I have doubts. St Luke was not an eye witness to these events. He must have relied on an oral account of what happened. There are several ways that an exaggerated account might have circulated and become accepted as fact.

This is a significant event and I certainly can’t simply write it off as not true.

Nevertheless, this passage troubles me.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

I find it difficult to believe that every word of the bible is literally true. If I am wrong about this, please forgive me and set me right. I trust you and accept that your will for me is sovereign.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Acts 4: 32 – 37 The believers share their possessions

Acts 4: 32 – 37 The believers share their possessions

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there was no needy person among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’) sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

* * *

I think the key to this passage is the sentence:

And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there was no needy person among them.

People’s generosity was stirred up and they met every material need of the community. When we love our neighbour, we don’t want them to be in need.

I find this passage extremely challenging. Are we prepared even to have a family member live with us at our expense and costing us greatly in time, for example an elderly relative with dementia? If there are to be no needy people among us, we’ve got to be prepared to go beyond even this and welcome strangers into our lives and into our houses.

God’s grace (that was so powerfully at work in them) is his love for us, which exceeds anything we can imagine. The more aware we are of that love, the more we will want to pass it on to others.

The key to living like this seems to be that we must continuously experience God’s love. To do that we need to pray, to seek to understand what God wants us to do, to step out in faith and try to do what he’s telling us. In short, we need to practise experiencing the love and leading of God.

Fortunately, God doesn’t expect us to be perfect all at once. I confess that I am at the stage of taking baby-steps of faith. I try to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, but all too readily they slip back to my selfish preoccupations. All I can do is trust in Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for loving me. Please help me to trust in Jesus and in your Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Acts 4: 23 – 31 The believers pray

Acts 4: 23 – 31 The believers pray

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

‘ “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.”

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

* * *

Let’s look at the sequence of events.

Peter and John returned to their own people.
They reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
They prayed aloud and together.
They based their prayer on Scripture and the events that were taking place around them.
The spoken words of their prayer identified the will of God for them.
They aligned themselves with God’s will, his plan and purpose for them.
When they had finished praying, their meeting place shook.

Now let’s look a little more deeply at each of these events, and see something of what they can mean for us today.

Peter and John’s own people were part of the congregation of believers that was growing in Jerusalem – the early church, in fact. Very possibly it was mostly the disciples who had been with Jesus during his earthly ministry.

Our own people are the church to which we belong, and it is important that we each participate as fully as we can. God has surrounded us with people who can guide, encourage and help us understand God’s will.

John and Peter reported to their people. This had two results; their people could pray about what had happened, and how it fitted into God’s plan; and there was an oral record of an important miracle. The public healing of the lame man and the bold proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah are there in our bible to encourage us solely as a result of Peter and John reporting it to their people.

Likewise, it’s important that we share testimony of what we see the Lord doing. It gives us knowledge that we need to take God’s plan forward in our neighbourhood.

The congregation surrounding Peter and John prayed together and out loud.

How often do we do that? The church where I worship has a brief time for public intercessory prayer. I wonder if we should try to increase the amount of congregational prayer?

On this occasion, the apostles’ prayer was based on scripture (Psalm 2: 1,2) and on what was happening around them. They spoke of the conspiracy between Herod, Pilate and the Israelites against Jesus. They put this in the context of God’s plan, making a very definite assertion that the conspiracy “did what God’s power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” They also spoke of the threats made against Peter and John.

Prayer in the church where I worship doesn’t, on the whole, do this. Perhaps this is related to the rarity of testimony among us. Perhaps it is due to a lack of alertness to the will of God. Perhaps we don’t care enough for God’s plan.

The Holy Spirit inspired their prayer, and gave them words to pray that identified what they needed to do. They found themselves praying, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

If we prayed about our part in the mission of the church in specific concrete terms as the apostles did, we too would be inspired to our next actions.

The words that they prayed about their own actions led on immediately to a greater understanding of God’s plan for them, and they prayed, “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” They saw and understood the connection between the healing miracle and the opportunity to testify to thousands, and they prayed for that opportunity to be given repeatedly.

We need, today, to be aware that prayer is mostly about us learning from God what his will is for us. It is about trying to allow ourselves to be aligned with his plan through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God confirmed their understanding by making their meeting place shake, and perceptibly filling them with the Holy Spirit.

When was the last time your church building shook?

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for this passage of scripture telling us how we can do your will more effectively. Please help us to put the teaching into practice.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Acts 4: 1 – 22 Peter and John before the Sanhedrin

Acts 4: 1 – 22 Peter and John before the Sanhedrin

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Pater and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is

‘ “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. ‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.’

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’

After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

* * *

In this passage, we see something of how God’s plans work.

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

Luke identifies the Sadducees as being present on this occasion. They were Jews, mostly aristocratic or priestly, who took the bible literally, and didn’t believe in an afterlife or in the coming of a Messiah. Their faith was particularly challenged by the apostles’ teaching that Jesus was the Messiah and had risen from the dead.

Having delayed taking action against Jesus, and seen how the number of his followers grew, they don’t intend to make the same mistake with Peter and John. They put them in jail.

Despite this, the testimony of those who witnessed the healing convinced many people. “The number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”

The next day the Sanhedrin assembled. This was the supreme court of Israel, and had seventy-one members. They called in Peter and John for questioning. Imagine that. Seventy-one of the most learned and powerful men in Israel assembled to interrogate two ignorant men with no power whatsoever.

Furthermore, Jesus, the leader of the group to which the men belonged, had been crucified when this same court had handed him over to the Romans. It should have been no contest.

One of the Council started the enquiry by asking Peter and John, ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’

“Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…”

Peter first establishes the precise question that is being asked. However, he doesn’t do this by asking for clarification; no! His approach is much stronger than that. He says “If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel.” He goes straight to the heart of the matter and dares them to contradict him.

Having made clear what question he is answering, he then answers it, truthfully and powerfully.

“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”

This is a direct claim that Jesus of Nazareth has risen from the dead and is carrying out miracles through his followers.

Jesus is

‘ “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”

This is a quote from Psalm 118 verse 22, and it is a direct attack on the court. Peter is saying, “You rejected Jesus, but he is the foundation on which God is building, and furthermore God prophesied your rejection in your own Scriptures.”

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’

What a powerful statement this is! It’s practically the creed in miniature!

The line of argument adopted by Peter, which starts with his incisive definition of the question and ends with these three statements, is very sophisticated. It’s not at all the way you would expect a Galilean fisherman to construct an argument. I can’t account for it by any explanation other than the Holy Spirit. Even if Luke has “tidied up” what Peter said, I wouldn’t expect him to be able to write such a well-constructed argument. To me, it is utterly unexpected. It is the Holy Spirit at work.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished

Like the seventy-one leaders of the people I, too, am astonished.

“…they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Most of the Sanhedrin were bitterly opposed to Jesus and his teaching. However, even they couldn’t deny the truth that these men had been with Jesus.

But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

The evidence was there. A man that they’d all seen lame – he had sat every day at one of the gates to the temple, and they would all have walked past him day after day – and now he’s healed.

“Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.”

Behind closed doors, they even admit the truth of what’s happened; they could not deny it. But they still want to stop this doctrine from spreading. Why? Why? It’s hard to imagine the level of selfishness that can want to prohibit blessings like this healing.

So, what did they do?

How easy it would have been for the apostles to have agreed some deal that meant they could teach discreetly and hope the church would grow! But it would seem that God wanted the Sanhedrin to know his will as unambiguously as possible.

Look at exactly what’s said there, too. Peter and John say “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” The message was so strong in them, it filled them so full, that it spilled out to those around them. They couldn’t help speaking!

And look at the defeated – indeed, routed – Sanhedrin. They were furious. They would love to have punished the apostles, but “They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.”

Conclusion

I find this one of the most compelling pieces of evidence in the whole bible. This is either true or it’s a complete fabrication.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Luke’s account of the healing of the lame man. Please stir up your Holy Spirit so that I, too, cannot help but speak to others about Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 3: 11 – 26 Peter speaks to the onlookers

Acts 3: 11 – 26 Peter speaks to the onlookers

While the man held onto Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. When Peter saw this, he said to them, ‘Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.’

‘Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.”

‘Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, “Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.” When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.’

* * *

Yesterday we read that this healing was a sign to the crowd. It bore witness to Jesus, increased the faith of believers and built up the numbers of the church. Today, we’re going to look at it from a different angle; we’re going to look at it as an allegory for the healing that God brings about when somebody repents from their sin.

Human sin has dreadful consequences. Greed, lust, and ambition lead to oppression, suffering and death. Idleness, indifference, and lack of moral purpose allow selfishness to flourish. When we’re honest with ourselves, we can see that we all share the same faults and they all lead to the same end result.

Consider, for example, the way the UK supplies weapons to Saudi Arabia. The end result is that Yemeni civilians, including many women and children, are killed by British bombs dropped by British-built warplanes.

Are we, as a nation, outraged by what our leaders are doing?

No. The arms trade is a big earner for the country. It employs many thousands of people. Not many people protest against it. And yet thousands of innocents die, and we all benefit. Doesn’t that make us rather like those Israelites who stood in the crowd and disowned Jesus?

Consider, too, the poverty trap that catches so many of our society. It’s built into our culture’s economic system.

Or the supply and consumption of narcotic drugs. Or road rage. Or the greed that leads to a disproportionate ratio between the highest earnings and the lowest. Or unchecked consumerism that is wrecking the planet.

All these things are the direct result of a web of human sin and despair, and they’re often interlinked.

Human sin does indeed have dreadful consequences. It cripples us morally.

Despite our flaws, God loves all humanity. He wants to deal with our flaws both at the level of the individual and at the level of society.

This passage in Acts tells us how he is doing this. He has sent Jesus to us to heal us and to bring us life. We must allow Jesus to heal us of that sin that cripples us. Peter tells the Israelites who witnessed this healing: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out”.

According to Peter in his address to the crowd, the results of repentance are that your sins are wiped out and that times of refreshment will come from the Lord. Furthermore, the repentance of God’s people will enable the return of Jesus in his second coming, and allow God to restore everything.

What was the response of the lame man to his healing? He rejoiced. He literally jumped for joy. He went straight into the temple praising God. He was overjoyed to be free of his disability. What was the response of the crowd? They repented and were saved.

In the same way, when we recognise our faults and turn to God in repentance and faith, we hear him say, “My child, I love you. You are forgiven. Follow Jesus. Love each other.”

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you that I am one of your children. Please help me to keep following Jesus faithfully.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Acts 3: 1 – 16 Peter heals a lame beggar

Acts 3: 1 – 16 Peter heals a lame beggar

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

* * *

Peter and John were on their way to afternoon prayers in the temple, when they were hailed by a beggar. This beggar had been ‘lame since birth’. He had friends or family because he was carried every day to the place at the gate called Beautiful so that he could beg.

When the beggar called to them, Peter and John stopped.

“Peter looked straight at him, as did John.”

What was happening in those few seconds? They had been halted by the Holy Spirit. Although it doesn’t say so, I suspect they were praying, “This man? Healing? Now? Okay!”

First, Peter made sure he had the man’s full attention; “Look at us!” he said.

Then he ordered the man to walk.

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!”

At this point, the beggar had to show faith. He had to put his trust in the power of Jesus working through Peter. Perhaps he wavered. At all events, Peter took him by the right hand, and helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. As I read this, I had an image of Peter himself, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, walking on water by faith, and then needing Jesus to take his hand to save him.

“(The beggar) jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.”

How wonderful that the beggar’s first thought was to go into the temple to praise God for his healing!

When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

This miraculous healing is dramatic and very public. It’s a sign given to the onlookers to point them towards Jesus.

While the man held onto Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.

A crowd gathered, and Peter was prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak to them.

He makes it clear that this healing wasn’t accomplished by his power or godliness; it was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who had carried it out, in order to glorify his servant Jesus.

He also makes it clear to the crowd where they stand; he tells them very plainly that it was their sin that put Jesus on the cross.

Peter tells them that God has raised Jesus from the dead, and that he and John are witnesses to this.

This is how the healing happened, he declares: “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”

* * *

This was one of the ‘wonders and signs’ mentioned in yesterday’s passage. The purpose of this healing was to witness to Jesus, to increase the faith of believers and to build up the numbers of the church. From what I have read and experienced, this is often why God heals people.

There are several lessons we can learn from this passage

The power of God, in the name of Jesus, is still active in the world today.
Like Peter and John, we need to be open and alert to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Like Peter, we need to obey the Holy Spirit’s commands.
If we are being prayed for, we need to trust God to provide what we need.

As I think back over my own Christian journey, I am encouraged when I remember occasions when it was clear that God was faithfully providing what I needed spiritually. Now, my wish is to become closer to him, and to be better at listening to him and obeying him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you that you still work with power among your believers. Help us to show by the love in our lives that we are your faithful people.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Acts 2: 42 – 47 The fellowship of the believers

Acts 2: 42 – 47 The fellowship of the believers

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

* * *

This is a snapshot of a brief period in the life of the early church. With the apostles leading, helped, I expect, by many other disciples from the period of Jesus’ mortal ministry, the church experienced dramatic growth.

The Holy Spirit gave the church tremendous energy and focus.

The apostles taught. They weren’t teaching abstract matters, they were teaching about their own experience of Jesus.

Those who were converted by the teaching joined a fellowship. They met frequently in the temple courts, and at meals in peoples’ homes. They shared their money and possessions. Needs were met by sacrificial giving. The apostles performed many wonders and signs; I expect most of these were healings.

And all this came about because the apostles were obedient and took God’s promises about the Holy Spirit seriously. Their obedience empowered them to do God’s will and to see the church grow exponentially.

As St Luke puts it, the early church, with its radical community life, enjoyed “the favour of all the people.” They were an exemplary community.

What a wonderful picture St Luke paints! Surely we’d all like to live like this?

I wonder.

One thing is certain. We would have to surrender a great deal of our autonomy. If we wish to have radical community of the sort St Luke describes, we can’t keep our own front door. Our responsibilities extend into the community.

Even after conversion, we are still sinful human beings. If we live together like the early church, we will have to deal with jealousy, unfairness, bullying, hypocrisy, greed – the whole gamut of human sin and weakness.

Would we become too familiar with the prayers of our group? Would eating together remain an occasion to be enjoyed with glad and sincere hearts?

Perhaps those who most closely approach this way of life in the 21^st century are religious orders, monks and nuns. Perhaps the difficulties of communal life are why they are vowed to poverty, chastity and obedience? Perhaps that’s why they have a regimented life, with a strict hierarchy?

I wonder.

And yet, what are we going to have in heaven? Shared delight. Shared praise of God. The constant awareness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, shared with everybody else.

It’s going to be different from this life, that’s for sure.

Maybe communal life offers a way to prepare ourselves for heaven? Dealing with human sin can only be done by love. The effort we will have to put into achieving a community life will make us readier to experience God’s love in heaven. All the worship we give in this life will make open our hearts to praise God.

There is little doubt in my mind that the willingness to share and live life as an exemplary community was a large part of the cause of the explosive growth of the early church. Perhaps we should seek to achieve something similar?

Understanding how we are called to live is a very important part of our faith. I would be very grateful for any thoughts from readers. There is a “Comments” box at the bottom of this page. Do feel free to respond with comments and suggestions!

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please help us live our lives to your praise and glory in whatever way is most appropriate to us in the 21^st century.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Acts 2: 22 – 41 Peter addresses the crowd – Part 2

Acts 2: 22 – 41 Peter addresses the crowd – Part 2

‘Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

‘ “I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence..”

‘Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

‘ “The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ ”

‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’

Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.’

With many other words he warned them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

* * *

Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

I imagine Peter reminded them of specific miracles; the lame walking, the blind seeing, lepers cleansed and the dead raised to life. There would have been people in the crowd who had witnessed one or more signs, and as Peter spoke, they would have remembered. Whispers would have gone through the crowd; “I saw that!”

This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.

This is a key statement. Jesus was handed over to the Jews as part of God’s deliberate plan. Whether we view this as directly inspired by the Holy Spirit (which I do, personally) or as a statement of the belief of the church in its earliest days, the point being made is this: God handed over Jesus; he did not will Jesus’ crucifixion. Note as well that Jesus is referred to as “This man”; not “This God”, or this “This Son of God”, but “This man.”

…and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

The responsibility for Jesus’ death lies with humankind.

It was a common man, Judas, who betrayed Jesus. It was the Jewish religious authorities who fabricated criminal charges. It was a crowd of citizens who demanded the release of the murderer and rebel, Barabbas. It was the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, a Gentile, who condemned Jesus to the cross. It was Roman soldiers (Gentiles) who crucified him, while people from all nations mocked.

Judas could have chosen not to betray Jesus. The members of the Council who were sympathetic to Jesus could have supported him during his ministry rather than being talked down. The crowd could have called for Jesus to be released. Pilate could have defied the crowd and released Jesus, or kept him in protective custody. And the people who mocked Jesus as he suffered could have wept.

The original sin in humanity spreads through all nations and all classes of people. It mars each of us.

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

Jesus suffered the worst that humanity could do – desertion, betrayal, torture and death – and God raised him to life again. And Peter says “and we are all witnesses of it.”

Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

The crowd can see the apostles overflowing with joy. They can hear the many different languages being spoken by the apostles. They can see God working, and they can understand their own part in opposing God’s will.

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’

Those who were called by God realised that the resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came from God. For them, suddenly, the most urgent question in the world was, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’

This was the start of the outworking of the new covenant. God called those early converts to take personal responsibility for their sin, and repent of it, just as he calls us today.

We all fall short. It’s part of our human nature. God doesn’t hate us for it, but he does want us to work as hard as we can to overcome our sin. And that is because sin harms us, and harms those around us. God loves us; he doesn’t want us harmed, and he doesn’t want us to harm others. Once we have repented, we need to live in his love. We need to follow Jesus. We need to obey his command, ‘Love each other.’

Prayer

Heavenly Father

Thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Please help us to live as much as we can in your love, to be aware of your presence, and to listen to and obey your words.

In Jesus’ name, Amen