Acts 5:12-42 - Corps Notes - March 4, 1976
Acts 5:12-42 March 4, 1976 The Way College of Emporia Now following upon the greatness of that which occurred in verses 1-11 we go to verse 12. Acts 5:12 “porch” – portico, or arcade “one accord” - this is its fifth usage in the Book of Acts. “signs and wonders” - Some of you that are Advanced Class grads have copies that I have distributed on signs, miracles and wonders. You ought to study it. Signs and wonders never occur until believing goes up, as far as men working. When the believing of a community goes up, then there will be an increase of the signs, miracles and wonders. “by the hands of the apostles” - a figure of speech meaning - by their work. It had nothing to do with Peter having especially blessed hands physically, or John or Andrew. By the hands of the apostles were many signs, miracles and wonders wrought among the people because of the things that had occurred; like the Levite, Joseph, having land, sold it. The plurality which people had, they had gotten rid of. See, they got their foot off the hose and as they got their foot off the hose things began to gel, things began to move. I think that illustration from God’s Word taught in the 4th and 5th chapters should speak very loudly to our ears this time; as loudly as it did to theirs then. But no matter who you are you cannot do much for anybody or any group of people unless the believing goes up. You can’t rise beyond your believing nor believe more than what you’re taught, nor teach anymore than what you know. Now if the truth is taught and people believe it, then they’re going to see the results of it. If not, we’re going to see the consequences of our negative action. Acts 5:15 - Again let me go to 12 and show you. Everything in between, following upon the word “people” in verse 12 to the conclusion of verse 14 is a parenthesis. Following here with “many signs and wonders wrought among the people,” - “insomuch that they brought forth the sick”--that had to be tremendous believing. They got to the
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the greatness of our country. Acts 5:35-36 “obeyed” - followed This Theudas here is not the one mentioned in Josephus. This is one who was put to death the last years of the reign of Herod the Great. Acts 5:37 “Judas of Galilee” - was from the city of Gamala. “taxing” - the enrollment, but not the one at the time of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:2. This is the time when Archelaus was deposed and when Cyrenius was the governor of Syria at 7 B.C. “obeyed him” - followed him, believed what he said. Acts 5:38 “refrain from these men” - restrain yourself from doing what you said you wanted to do (slay them). Acts 5:39 That was a very smart decision, a very wise statement. Acts 23:9 It shows up here what Gamaliel said. It was tremendous what Gamaliel said. You cannot overthrow it. You can sort of hold it back, sort of make it look like it’s not going to develop but if it’s of God you cannot ove