Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Solomon's portico - also mentioned in Acts 3:11; a colonnade running the length of the east side of the outer court of the Temple
"Possibly, the apostles gathered their followers there for public worship and instruction, when they went to the tempt at the stated 'hours of prayer.'" (Walker)
"Solomon's porch was a large outer court of the temple where the multitudes gathered together for prayer (cf Acts 3:1, 11). Remember that no revelation had as yet been given about freedom from the law. This was first proclaimed through Paul (Acts 13:38-39; 15:1-2; Gal 2:2; Rom 3:21-26). Hence it was proper for these Jewish believers in Messiah to observe Moses' law, and perfectly natural for them to gather in Solomon's porch daily under these circumstances. Faith in Messiah had evidently not caused them to lose interest in the temple worship. Furthermore, this would be a good place to reach the multitudes with their message (See Jn 10:22-24 and Acts 3:11). But there is greater significance in the connection of Solomon's porch with this fresh manifestation of the Spirit's power. Solomon was a type of Christ, David's greater Son (2 Sam 7:12-16) and the peace, prosperity and glory of his reign fore-shadowed that of Christ's. David, it is true, was also a king of Israel and also a type of Christ, but he was mainly a type of Christ in His humiliation and finished work. David was the man of blood; Solomon the king of glory. David won for Israel the peace and blessing enjoyed under Solomon (1 Chron 22:7-9). It is not strange, then, to find the disciples daily in Solomon's porch, for it was the greater Solomon whose glorious reign was now being offered." (Stam)
none of the rest dared join them - "Those, that is, who had not yet embraced the faith of Christ; or, possibly, those who were not prepared to become sincere believers. They fear of God was upon them, and they dreaded the consequences of presumption or insincerity...The phrase may mean that outsiders feared to intrude into these Church assemblies; or it may imply even closer association." (Walker)
as Peter came by - "He was the most prominent of the apostles and had specially dealt with Ananias and Sapphira, so that the people naturally held him in high regard in connexion with recent events." (Walker)
at least his shadow might fall on some of them - "We are not definitely told that miracles of healing actually resulted from his shadow falling on them, though the inference would seem to be that such was the case, and the Bezan text seems definitely to affirm it. In any case, there was no virtue in Peter's shadow. It was God's power alone, appropriated by sincere faith, which brought healing to the sick. Peter would have been the very first to repudiate the idea of any power attaching to himself (Acts 3:12, 16). The verb 'overshadow' is found elsewhere only in Matt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 1:35; 9:34; always of a supernatural phenomenon." (Walker)
"It was not dishonesty alone, then, that brought the wrath of God down upon Ananias and Sapphira, but dishonesty under such circumstances. They were stricken dead for pretending to join in with the program of Messiah's long-promised kingdom (in which all was to be shared in common) while actually keeping part of the price of their property for themselves...But the judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira had a wholesome effect. The 'great fear' that came 'upon all the church' was followed by great power. Many signs and wonders were wrought among the people. The sick were brought into the streets in beds and couches so that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on them. Nor was this limited to Jerusalem alone, for we read that multitudes from the cities round about, brought their sick and demon-possessed to be restored, 'and they were healed every one.' And the judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira had a salutary effect on those outside as well, for no one dared join the company who was not one with them in heart. Yet this in no way discouraged men from honestly joining the movement. Indeed it brought a great respect for it, for we read: 'and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women' (Acts 5:14)." (Stam)
Solomon's portico - also mentioned in Acts 3:11; a colonnade running the length of the east side of the outer court of the Temple
"Possibly, the apostles gathered their followers there for public worship and instruction, when they went to the tempt at the stated 'hours of prayer.'" (Walker)
"Solomon's porch was a large outer court of the temple where the multitudes gathered together for prayer (cf Acts 3:1, 11). Remember that no revelation had as yet been given about freedom from the law. This was first proclaimed through Paul (Acts 13:38-39; 15:1-2; Gal 2:2; Rom 3:21-26). Hence it was proper for these Jewish believers in Messiah to observe Moses' law, and perfectly natural for them to gather in Solomon's porch daily under these circumstances. Faith in Messiah had evidently not caused them to lose interest in the temple worship. Furthermore, this would be a good place to reach the multitudes with their message (See Jn 10:22-24 and Acts 3:11). But there is greater significance in the connection of Solomon's porch with this fresh manifestation of the Spirit's power. Solomon was a type of Christ, David's greater Son (2 Sam 7:12-16) and the peace, prosperity and glory of his reign fore-shadowed that of Christ's. David, it is true, was also a king of Israel and also a type of Christ, but he was mainly a type of Christ in His humiliation and finished work. David was the man of blood; Solomon the king of glory. David won for Israel the peace and blessing enjoyed under Solomon (1 Chron 22:7-9). It is not strange, then, to find the disciples daily in Solomon's porch, for it was the greater Solomon whose glorious reign was now being offered." (Stam)
none of the rest dared join them - "Those, that is, who had not yet embraced the faith of Christ; or, possibly, those who were not prepared to become sincere believers. They fear of God was upon them, and they dreaded the consequences of presumption or insincerity...The phrase may mean that outsiders feared to intrude into these Church assemblies; or it may imply even closer association." (Walker)
as Peter came by - "He was the most prominent of the apostles and had specially dealt with Ananias and Sapphira, so that the people naturally held him in high regard in connexion with recent events." (Walker)
at least his shadow might fall on some of them - "We are not definitely told that miracles of healing actually resulted from his shadow falling on them, though the inference would seem to be that such was the case, and the Bezan text seems definitely to affirm it. In any case, there was no virtue in Peter's shadow. It was God's power alone, appropriated by sincere faith, which brought healing to the sick. Peter would have been the very first to repudiate the idea of any power attaching to himself (Acts 3:12, 16). The verb 'overshadow' is found elsewhere only in Matt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 1:35; 9:34; always of a supernatural phenomenon." (Walker)
"It was not dishonesty alone, then, that brought the wrath of God down upon Ananias and Sapphira, but dishonesty under such circumstances. They were stricken dead for pretending to join in with the program of Messiah's long-promised kingdom (in which all was to be shared in common) while actually keeping part of the price of their property for themselves...But the judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira had a wholesome effect. The 'great fear' that came 'upon all the church' was followed by great power. Many signs and wonders were wrought among the people. The sick were brought into the streets in beds and couches so that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on them. Nor was this limited to Jerusalem alone, for we read that multitudes from the cities round about, brought their sick and demon-possessed to be restored, 'and they were healed every one.' And the judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira had a salutary effect on those outside as well, for no one dared join the company who was not one with them in heart. Yet this in no way discouraged men from honestly joining the movement. Indeed it brought a great respect for it, for we read: 'and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women' (Acts 5:14)." (Stam)
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