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. (13) Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. (14) And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (15) 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. (16) 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 was written by Luke, historian of the early church, writer of the gospel, physician and dear companion to the apostle Paul. Today’s verses tell us of the remarkable growth of the early church – signs and wonders performed by the apostles by the power of God. The apostles had been arrested and brought before the the Jewish “rulers, elders and scribes, as well as Annaias the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and as many as were the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.” The apostles were commanded by them “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” Then they were let go. The response of the apostles was to not only preach Christ but to do so publicly on Solomon’s porch which was surrounding the temple area. Clearly the early church was a supremely effective church with the ministry of healing at the forefront of church work. The power of God was evident to win others for the Lord. Many believers were added and here Luke no longer give us numbers – evidently there were so many – and he writes that multitudes were drawn, men and women.

The many miracles of healing had an increasingly powerful impact – the purpose for God granting those miracles was to confirm the gospel message and to authenticate the apostles as God’s messengers in the early church. One of the interesting things in that time was the opposition by the Jewish leaders to Jesus; even though they became more jealous and antagonistic the Jews chose to react with moderation as their quandary was that the miracles could not be denied even by those not believing. The gospel of Christ was about to explode to all the known world.

The reverence for the apostles was evident by those placing the sick so that the shadow of Peter might fall on them. There is no mention that cures were a result of this but this is an apt reminder of “shadow ministries”. We do not know how we influence people put in our paths. In our upside down world the shadow is reality and “reality” is ephemeral. We never know who or how we influence or touch in our path. Everything we do matters. In joy, everything we do, we should do for the Lord.