Acts 5:12-26 ~ signs and wonders

Acts 5:12-26

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


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.


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 and 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, 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.


We've had multitudes in the news lately, but not the signs and wonders of hope. Instead we've had riots all over the world. An Oxford don was quoted as saying the Church of England has played a part in the riots in the UK because the faithful have turned our faith into a personal matter so personal it is not for public display, consumption, or even a light flickering in the wind.

Yesterday, we looked at David's children undergoing all that a king or a peasant would not want. In the plentiful abundance of life or the riots of the needy and the hopeless.

Can you imagine yourselves being a rioter? I can. I once, at the age of 6, joined all my neighborhood children help tear down a lovely home being carefully constructed over an empty lot with a creek. We had enjoyed the lot, with huge Willow trees and large rocks. It was always shady and you would always meet more kids seeking relief from the Texas summer. We were looters and rioters. As we all carried home a chunk of the building materials, I told this group of little kids, teenagers and tweens, we'd had fun. We should do more things together. Everyone agreed. Maybe softball.

The builders of the home hired a guard to protect the property; my three other six-year-old friends and I became very good friends with the kindly, elderly man. After a few weeks, the man asked us did we know who had looted. All 3 little blond heads said no. The man explained to us that it was wrong and it had been an expensive vandalism. I went home to discuss it with my mother.

She said she remembered the board I had dragged home, didn't I put it back. I said yes, we didn't really have a need for a board. She asked me how many teenagers had been involved and I said every kid in the neighborhood had been there. She said something to the effect she knew teenagers were behind it all. I said not really, everyone showed up, for something to do.

Adults were told to look in their backyard for building materials. Some materials returned. It never happened again, even later when more houses were built.

Was it the fault of the churches? No. It took parents willing to talk to other parents. It look some frank discussions.

The media is interested if the looters joined up on Twitter or Blackberry. More profitable by far, would be better to ask who is using Social Media against the looting.

One UK barber is elderly and his barber shop is completely looted. No more chairs, tools or front windows. He has said he is destitute and how will he stay off becoming an old age pensioner relying upon the overtaxed welfare system? How will he rebuild? The local Church, named St. Mary's, has asked everyone trying to help the situation to bring food, tools and supplies. The Vicar of St. Mary's isn't a Vicar. St. Mary's hasn't had a large enough congregation to staff a Vicar. The man of God asking for the help is a Supply Vicar (traveling). How has the tiny congregation responded? For the last 3-4 days they have continuously been able to feed the people who are homeless due to fire and to help take care of them. Signs and wonders are still available.

Light of Jesus Christ - Shine.



<><