SIGNS AND WONDERS WROUGHT

Acts 5:12-16 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

The Holy Spirit-inspired sermon delivered by the apostles on the Day of Pentecost brought, to the world for the first time, the hope of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. It resulted in three thousand believing souls being baptized for the remission of their sins and being added to the church of Christ. As they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers, ...fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles (Acts 2:42-43). This spiritual truth continues to be noted in the lesson text. As the newborn Christians were assembled together with one accord, it is said that by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. The reason for these miraculous gifts was explained by the writer of the Hebrew letter. They were granted by God to His select messengers to bear witness, or confirm, the New Testament teaching of the apostles and other inspired men of the Heavenly Father, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will (Heb. 2:4).

This was the scene that took place in the Jewish temple in Solomon's porch. While the saints in Christ were gathered together with the apostles, none of the rest dared join them (NKJV). These were probably the rich, influential members of the Sanhedrin as well as those that refused to assemble with the apostles for fear of shame or of retribution from the Jewish leadership. But the people esteemed them highly (NKJV), that is, the majority of the common people were filled with awe at the New Testament preaching of God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and the miracles, which they performed, that confirmed their message to be that of God. Here we find proof that when hearts are unprejudiced and open to hearing the word of God, both in the age of infancy of the church as well as in today's age, people will accept Jesus as their Savior, confess Him to be the Son of God, repent of their past sinful life, and be baptized for the remission of their sins. The result today will be the same as it was then: And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.

The fame of the miracles, which were wrought by the power of God through the apostles, spread throughout the countryside insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. What a great demonstration of faith in the miraculous power of these messengers of Christ. We are not told that those overshadowed by the apostles were healed, but it is insinuated in this context. We know that the apostles performed miracles without the laying on of their hands. God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul. Even when the handkerchiefs or aprons of Paul were brought unto the sick, ...the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11-12).

Not only were the sick folks, and those vexed with unclean spirits from the city of Jerusalem brought to the apostles for healing, but a multitude of people came out of the cities that were nearby Jerusalem, and they were healed every one. The bodies and minds of the sick and afflicted were made whole. Indeed, by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people. Although these miracles were administered by the apostles, there source was God. They were wrought by God (Acts 15:12), and by the power of the Spirit of God (Rom. 15:18-19),to confirm the teaching of the apostles. The reason for the apostles' miracles, both then and now, was the same as in the days of Christ. They were performed for those present then, and recorded for our benefit today, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name (See John 20:30-31).