Saturday 02 May 2009
- Bible Book:
- Acts
"Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers." (v.31)
Background
The "young man named Saul" (Acts 7:58), who was leading thepersecution of the early Church, has now been converted toChristianity and the opposition has subsided somewhat, leaving theChurch to exist in relative peace. "Living in the fear of the Lord"is using the word 'fear' in the sense of 'awe' - a worshipfulreverence for the God at work in their midst. And of course, herein the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is present, in this caseproviding comfort.
The Church was growing in numbers as the followers of Jesus spreadout from Jerusalem and preached the gospel of resurrection whereverthey found opportunity. In support of the words they were speakingthey also performed extraordinary signs and wonders. Here, twohealing stories are related involving the Apostle Peter, and theyare similar in style and content to the miracle stories of Jesus inthe Gospels.
Peter was seemingly on a tour of the small groups of Christians('believers' or 'saints') which were forming in the region, andhere he is found at Lydda, between Jerusalem and the coast. Aeneashad been confined to bed for eight years with paralysis but asPeter uttered the words "Jesus Christ heals you" he was immediatelymade well. Thus, in the name of Jesus and in the power of the HolySpirit the signs and wonders that accompanied Jesus' ministry wererepeated in the early Church. Large numbers (not literally 'all')in Lydda and Sharon, the coastal plain to the north, came tobelieve in Jesus as a result of what they heard and saw.
The second story is told in a little more detail. Joppa (modern dayJaffa) lay 12 miles from Lydda, on the coast. Peter was called fromLydda to Joppa on the death of Tabitha, a disciple of greatdevotion and good works. The parallels with the story of Jesusraising the daughter of Jairus (
Peter and the other witnesses to the Resurrection were sharing whatthey had seen and heard, and found themselves to be effectivecommunicators of both the words and deeds of Jesus. The consistencywith Jesus' own ministry underlined the belief that the HolySpirit, so evident in the book of Acts, was inextricably related toJesus and was equipping the disciples, as Jesus promised, tocontinue his work.
To Ponder
How would you explain why some of the healingstories in the book of Acts appear to be so similar to those in theGospels?
What would your reflections be on the fact thatthe signs and wonders recorded in the book of Acts are seeminglynot so prevalent now?
If you had been present with Peter in Lydda andJoppa what questions would you have wanted to ask him?
How would you describe the relationship betweenJesus and the Holy Spirit?