Thoughts for the Day

The Apostles Heal Many

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

The Apostles Are Persecuted

Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.’ When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, ‘We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.’ Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, ‘Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’ Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We see the Apostles are back at Solomon's Portico (or Colonnade), the area of the Temple that is open to the public and where they have taught the people before their arrest and release by the Sanhedrin Council. Hundreds of people are gathering, not just to hear their teaching, but to witness their "signs and wonders". We also hear that women were present and that the people from the surrounding towns brought their sick to be healed. We get to read about the extraordinary power and authority shown by the Apostles through the miracles they performed, which then led to an increase of faith among the people, as well as a recognition that their power comes from God.

But the authorities cannot let this go, the whole spectacle as far as they are concerned must be closed down before their Roman masters see it as a threat. The High Priest aided by the aristocratic Sadducees (who don't believe in angels or spirits) arrest the Apostles and throw them into prison. Then an almost farcical situation occurs the next morning when the police discover they have lost their prisoners, only to find that they are back teaching the people in the Temple again, and have to be re-arrested.

What do we make of this, over 2,000 years afterwards, and how is it helpful to our journey of faith today? Look at the disciples, at their authenticity. With strong Galilean accents that designates them as uneducated 'peasants' they face the possibility of the same death as Jesus, yet they have no fear. Then look at the evidence of their healing - men who have been lame for years don't just get up and walk; and those who are mentally sick can't be cured instantly. Whether we believe in the angel (or perhaps a guard who lets them out of prison) is unimportant, for sometimes God works His miracles through people and their ordinary actions. What you cannot disparage is the power of the Holy Spirit at work in these new believers and in the Apostles to achieve His work in the world. Work which He continues this day!

Holy Spirit, Power of God,
give us the desire to engage with Your work
in our life, in our family, and in our community.
Give us courage to become peacemakers,
where there is any disagreement,
and help us to stand steadfast against those who
disparage our faith.
Amen.