Lessons From the First Five Chapters of the Book of Acts

 It is also in this book that we witness the foundation and growth of the church.  The apostles seem to come to the full realization of who Jesus truly is around this time. They now speak with boldness and conviction something they lacked before. For example, Peter who had previously denied Christ out of fear, (Luke 22:57-62, Life Application Bible, King James version)  now stands before the Sanhedrin boldly refusing to negate the name of Jesus or to stop teaching in the name, Acts 4:8-20. It is also amazing that Peter and John actually  celebrate being beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus because they were “counted worthy to suffer shame” for the name of Jesus, Acts 5:40-42. This is amazing considering that when Jesus was arrested all His disciples forsook Him for fear of being associated with a condemned man.

The day of Pentecost also known as the feast of weeks, was a time that Jews from all nations congregated in Jerusalem to give thanks offering to God in line with the Old Testament command in Deuteronomy 16:16-17. A multitude of Jews from all nations were congregating in Jerusalem at this time which made it easier for the gospel to be preached to an international community resulting in a world wide harvest of new believers. It makes sense then that the Holy Spirit would be released at this time for the people were together “in one accord” Acts 2:1. Those who were present at the release of the Holy Spirit “were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” Acts 2:2-4. The events that happened prepared the ground through which Peter was able to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ by explaining through scripture what those present had witnessed. Peter asked them to “repent” and “be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” in order for them to receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit”, Acts 2:38-39. That day alone 3,000 people became believers and were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.

The apostles were followed by signs and wonder and would use the opportunity to preach the gospel.  An example is when a man lame “from his mother’s womb” was healed by Peter in the name of Jesus Christ. On seeing the people’s amazement of the miracle, Peter took the opportunity to show them how Jesus was the Christ “and many who heard the word believed and the number of the men came to be about five thousand” Acts 3,4:4.  Jesus commissioned his disciples to go and preach the gospel to the entire world starting with Jerusalem. Not only did they preach, but signs and wonders followed the apostles in accordance with what Jesus promised to those who believed and were baptized “—in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” Mark 16:15-18. John the Baptist had stated that he baptized with water but there would come another after him who would baptize with the “Holy Spirit and fire” Luke 3:16 and thus his prophecy was fulfilled.  

Another important aspect is the unity of the believers which was important for the growth of the church. The Holy Spirit seems responsible for the unity that is witnessed at this time.  Before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the disciples were waiting in one accord, Acts 2:1. After the conversion of the 3,000 we are told that the believers “with one accord” ate food with “gladness and simplicity of heart” and the “Lord added to the church those who were being saved” Acts 2: 46. Later, we are informed that the multitude of those who believed were of “one heart and one soul.—nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessor of land sold them —-and distributed to each as anyone had need.” Acts 4:32-35.

Today, the Church has lost its saltiness and seems to have become a “toothless bulldog”. One would be correct to say that the world has come to the church and changed it instead of the church going to the world and changing it. The church is not united because of doctrinal issues. In fact there are churches that believe that signs and wonders are no longer available to the modern church, in effect suggesting that the Holy Spirit is no longer functioning in our lives. The devil is out there manifesting his counterfeit “signs and wonders” through magic and the occult to all sundry while the church debates on whether the Holy Spirit still empowers Christ followers. From the chapters above, it is obvious that it is the Holy Spirit who prepares the ground for preaching the gospel and the hearts of men to receive it. If we do not believe in His relevance then it follows that the church loses its power, growth in knowledge, understanding and status.  

Peter preached that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12. Today this is a very rare message in church, because the church wants to be politically correct. There is also too much intellectualizing of the gospel thereby complicating it just like the Pharisees complicated the law. In churches where the full gospel is still being preached, there is evidence of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit manifested by signs and wonder. In such places many are being saved and delivered just like it was in the first church. This proves that the gospel has not changed even if the context or times have changed.