What would you like your church to be known for in your local community? This church was held in high esteem – they were clearly valued, appreciated and admired for the impact they had as a faith community on their surroundings (vs 13,14). 

Today’s passage makes clear that not only people throughout Jerusalem but also from the neighbouring towns (v 16) knew that God’s power was real and prevalent in the early church. Imagine the scenes in which people were using Google Maps to follow Peter’s whereabouts in order to carry their sick family or friends and those struggling with demons in cots or on mats into the streets in order for his shadow to fall on them (v 15)! Why not pray for your church leaders to grow in God’s power and be appreciated and respected by the surrounding town or area? 

In addition to the ‘many’ signs and wonders (v 12), ‘multitudes’ of men and women were trusting in Jesus and being added to the church. Perhaps some of us might read this passage and think of it as a particular time in a particular place, but God has poured out his Spirit at many different locations since in remarkable revivals. If he did it once, couldn’t he do it again? 

‘Fight the good fight with all thy might; / Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right.’¹

Solomon’s Colonnade ran along the east side of the Court of the Gentiles, which was an outer section of the Temple. The Christians described here were meeting, then, right under the noses of the Temple authorities who had only recently arrested Peter and John for preaching about Jesus and warned them not to teach about him any more. In view of this, we would expect the believers to be uneasy and afraid. However, we are told it was other people who were the fearful ones: verse 13 says that ‘No one else dared join’ these Christians. Many commentators think that these fearful people who kept their distance were non-believers.² Of what were they afraid? The news of God’s judgement on Ananias and Sapphira could have struck fear into them, or, as Tom Wright suggests, they may have been nervous about associating with the apostles because they knew this could get them into trouble with the authorities.³

Even though many of those outside the church kept away out of fear, people continued to come to Christ. Verse 14 says that ‘more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number’. So, the challenges and commitment involved in following Jesus did not deter everyone. Are there lessons for us in this? A church’s efforts to reach those who are not Christians can often focus upon being welcoming and making new people feel comfortable and at ease in our services and meetings. Might this sometimes mean we present faith as being too easy? Are we honest enough about the costs involved in being a Christian? If we fear that this would put people off, then this passage suggests that there are many who would be attracted to a faith that involves sacrifice and commitment.

What are the hard things about being a Christian for you? How would you explain to someone who is not one that those costs are worth it?

¹ John Monsell, ‘Fight the Good Fight’, 1863  ² Eg I Howard Marshall, Acts, IVP, 1998, p115  ³ Tom Wright, Acts for Everyone pt 1, SPCK, 2008, p84