In the second chapter of Acts, we see the Spirit empowering the Apostles to the bold proclamation of the Word, namely the salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Peter’s sermon at Pentecost gives us a glimpse into this bold teaching. Through the preaching of the Gospel, men were cut deep to their hearts, their sin exposed and their need of a Savior made apparent. And as boldly as Peter had preached Christ’s resurrection, he now extended the mercy and grace purchased by Christ’s blood. The Spirit established the church through the bold preaching of the Christ, and added to their numbers by the extension of forgiveness and mercy.
As chapter 2 finishes, we are told that the Spirit added to their numbers daily those being saved. This statement leads me to believe that the following chapters (3-5) are intended as giving examples of the natural works of the Apostles through which the Spirit was Supernaturally working to grow and strengthen the church.
In Chapter 3 we see that the people of the church, and in particular the Apostles, devoted themselves daily to the teaching of the Word. They frequently traveled to the Temple, and were known among the people there. One day, a lame beggar was in his normal place at the entrance to the Temple. When he saw Peter and John approaching, the beggar asked for a gift from their assumed riches (because who would follow the teachings of poor men?). Instead, the beggar is told that these men have nothing of material worth to give, but what they can offer is Jesus, and on the power and authority of His name, the man was healed. The man rises and, with Peter and John, he enters the Temple to rejoice and worship this Jesus through whom he has been healed.
As others looked on when the Apostles entered, many saw the former beggar walking with them, and they marveled over the healing of his physical ailment. Peter again spoke boldly, pointing, not to the miracle of physical healing, but to the Christ through whom perfect and complete healing had come to all who would believe. Again the Spirit laid bare the hearts of many, and again mercy and grace were extended to all who would believe. So just as it was in Chapter 2, the Spirit convicted through bold preaching, and gathered through grace and mercy. Through this, many more were added to their numbers.
Among those gathered at the Temple were several leaders who did not appreciate the teachings of the Apostles. Chapter 4 begins by showing a contrast from the many who believed and those who sought to question and (if possible) quiet the Apostles’ teachings. Instead of passively listening to the questions of the leaders, they were again emboldened by the inner-workings of the Spirit. They again preached boldly the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Instead of cutting these men, the teaching exposed in them a heart of stone that has not been opened to the beauty of Jesus. But, in demonstration of the promise the God’s Word never returns void of accomplishing the purpose for which it is sent out, the leaders were not unaffected. Rather than conversion, the response from the leaders is an understanding of the reality of what the Apostles were teaching. Now unable to contradict the teachings of these men, the leaders tried to simply tell the Apostles that they must cease their teachings.
This interaction between the church and the world could have caused a deep injury, but instead it drove the followers to prayer for even more, deeper boldness in the proclamation of the truth. They sought intensified fervor for the work laid before them. It was an act of unification, and bonding of one to another, giving of themselves to the betterment of them all through offerings given in faith. And thus the Spirit continued adding to their numbers, and emboldening their willingness to offer of themselves.
Then, in Chapter 5, we get a different kind of example, one not of growing the church, but rather a warning to guard the church, thus strengthening her. Without Chapter 5, we might be willing to believe that continued numeric growth was the goal of the early church. Instead, we see that the Spirit protects the church from the impure heart, and those who are seeking personal gain. The church must be diligent to ensure that it is pursuing the purification and sanctification of her people as premier above and beyond riches. The death of 2 patrons who were more interested with what the church could do for their benefit helped to further unify the church. Having all things in common together, and a unified desire of furthering the Kingdom allowed for increased persevering boldness.
The increased boldness of the church, combined with the increasing numbers led directly to another meeting between the leaders and the Apostles. This time, the arresting of the Apostles and a night in prison allows an opportunity for another miracle among the people. The Spirit’s miraculous opening of the jail cell, and release of the Apostles ends with the Apostles again boldly proclaiming that Christ is the Messiah. The leaders, with their understanding that they could not deny the teachings of the Apostles, and realizing that imprisoning them would not stop the teaching, further reveal the depth of their depravity in deciding they would have to kill them to quiet them. But mercy prevailed again through the words of one of the leaders. Gamaliel spoke, not as a man converted, but as a man of reason, that the leaders need to step lightly lest they find themselves opposing God. The leaders agree to just beat the Apostles instead of killing them. The beatings came with yet another warning to cease the teachings of Jesus as the Christ. These warnings show the complete misunderstand of the reality of life with Christ, persecution leads only to increased boldness of the people of God. Beating the Apostles only worked to allow the Spirit to stoke the flames of their hearts.
So, how do we establish a church, grow a church, embolden the church, and strengthen the church?
“And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” Acts 5:42
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