Apostles highly esteemed in Christ, many healed from all over, and the family of Jesus Christ grows.

Acts 5:12-16

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.” Acts 5:12-13

Through the Apostles, the Spirit of God did many signs and wonders among the people, which would be miracles that brought the people to believe in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. And brought the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. All of the Believers were in one accord on Solomon’s Porch. A picture of Solomon’s Porch is seen below.

Solomon’s Porch was part of the temple structure during the days of Jesus, before it was destroyed in 70A.D. under the rule of Roman Emperor Titus. From what I could gather from the pictures of the temple, at the back of the Bible, Solomon’s Porch, also known as the Royal Porch, Royal Portico, Hall of Pillars, or Royal Colonnade, is as seen in the image on the right. Solomon’s Porch would be the structure with the brown roof. If someone was standing in the Kidron Valley, looking towards the temple, Solomon’s Porch is what would have been seen. The image to the left is what Solomon’s Porch would have looked like from the inside, or from under the roof. That area would have been able to accommodate many people.

“None of the rest dared joined them” refers to the rest who were like Ananias and his wife Sapphira who had no respect for the Holy Spirit and were struck dead, as described in the posts on Acts 5:1-11. Everyone else gave respect to the Apostles as ministers of the message of God, who had the words of forgiveness and Salvation, through whom the Holy Spirit came to the people, in the name of Jesus Christ.

“And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” Acts 5:14-16

The only way Believers can be added to the Lord is by being receptive to the Holy Spirit, “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3 Upon hearing the Good News from the Apostles, they believed in God through Jesus Christ, and rejoiced in not having to serve God through the laws of Judaism. Graciously and mercifully, Christianity includes men and women very much more than the customs of the Jewish culture rooted in Judaism.

Many people said “Yes” to Jesus Christ and brought the sick onto the streets of Jerusalem. They were hoping that as Peter passed by, just his shadow touching the sick would bring healing. Faith is what healed the sick, not Peter’s shadow. They knew Peter had the power of the Spirit of God working through him in the name of Jesus Christ, and they glorified the God of Peter and gave their life to the way of Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8 People had faith for a healing and returned home as Believers in Jesus Christ not as healers.

Also, upon hearing about the Apostles ability to heal, in the name of Jesus Christ, a multitude came from the surrounding cities of Jerusalem seeking healing. They were seeking healing from sickness and those with unclean spirits. They saw the Apostles as people with the Spirit of God working through them in the name of Jesus Christ. They were all healed. Healings brought people to the Apostles where they would hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and returned home as Believers not healers. People were healed and became Believers in God through the Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ not through the written laws of Judaism.

In today’s culture, there is a beast with power over every cell of physiology and is able to perform physical healings. This is the same beast that gives people what to speak, think, feel, and do. The one miracle that beast cannot do is to give live to belief in God, to enliven faith in Jesus Christ, and to give the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus Christ, we turn away from physical healings that do not add to the family of Jesus Christ. Our faith is not in healings but is in our Lord Jesus for the Salvation of the soul. The beast with power over physiology gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people. They are groomed to the mark, name, and number of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11