WE all no doubt have many refreshing reminiscences of occasions when we have had to face what appeared to be over-whelming odds, but in actual experience they have only proved to be suitable conditions for learning how abundantly ample are our resources in the Lord. Whatever the danger confronting us He has given “more grace.” If however we cannot cite such instances from our own experience, we can always refer to what is far more reliable—the histories of scripture. We find one, for example, in the narrative of Acts 4 and 5.
When Peter and John left the council-chamber of the chief priests and elders and went to their own company, they could hardly have been altogether oblivious of the perilous position they then occupied, taking it of course solely from a human point of view. Their immediate progress in the path of obedience to their Lord’s commands was opposed by a frowning and threatening Sanhedrin which would, if necessary, be reinforced, even in the question of putting them to death, by the military power of the Romans. And they—who were they? A feeble band of country folk, all utterly unskilled in the arts of human strife and defense. Little pigmies as they were, what could they do against such sons of Anak as now mustered in battle array against them? But if they could not resist their adversaries with swords and staves, they could with prayer. As David the stripling looked up beyond the towering crest of Goliath to Jehovah of hosts on high, so did the apostles and those with them turn their eyes upward to the sovereign Lord of all.
They had the Master’s own promise, made before His departure. He had pledged Himself and His Father that they should have whatsoever they asked. In the confidence born of this assurance of the Lord they sought that, in spite of the intimidations of the council, (1) they might speak the word with all boldness, and (2) that the word might be confirmed by signs following (Acts 4:24-3024And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (Acts 4:24‑30)).
And not only so, but grace wrought in the most unexampled fashion in their mutual relations. In consequence, we have an exhibition in Jerusalem of brotherly kindness, holy affection and self-sacrificing concern for the needs of one another that is absolutely without parallel among God’s saints even in the pages of holy writ.
On this point of attack therefore the enemy was distinctly-repulsed. It was sought to prevent them teaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:1818And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18)); instead of this being accomplished a more powerful testimony was sounded abroad in that name by the disciples, while the holy self-denial first seen in Christ was again manifested in Jerusalem, being reproduced by the Spirit working upon the hearts and minds of the saints there.
There remains the second portion of their prayer. We have seen how they themselves received a fresh endowment of the power of Christ upon and in them. But they sought on behalf of others also. They asked that the Lord’s hand might be stretched out in healing, and that signs and wonders might be done in the name of Jesus.
After the parenthetical account of the summary judgment which fell upon Ananias and Sapphira because of their mimicry of the fruit of the Spirit in the saints (Acts 5:1-111But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. (Acts 5:1‑11)), we are shown the abundant effects of the Lord’s hand working by means of His servants. “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them; but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one” (Acts 5:12-1612And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. (Acts 5:12‑16)).
Here then were the “signs and wonders” prayed for; but they do not come first in the narrative. On the contrary they are introduced, as far as the history goes, somewhat tardily, as if to impress us who all have an innate love and generally a preference for the marvelous, with the relative importance of the word and the sign.
Miracles in scripture are always given a secondary place. They follow, not precede. Of the herald of Christ, it was said, “John did no miracle.” Miracles like tongues “are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not” (John 10:4141And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. (John 10:41); 1 Cor. 14:2222Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (1 Corinthians 14:22)). They were given then as sure indications to the nation of the authority with which the preachers spoke (Heb. 2:44God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:4)).
The “works” of the Lord Himself were of this character, corroborating His words, and removing every shadow of excuse from the unbeliever (John 14:1111Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. (John 14:11)). And He granted His followers the power of a similar testimony, saying to them, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father” (John 14:1212Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)). And yet though He went to the Father He was none the less with them, even as we read, “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:2020And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:20)).
In response therefore to their appeal to stretch out His hand to heal He wrought mightily in Jerusalem. But it is instructive to note that the Spirit of God in recording this fact wrote, “By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought.” This passage reminds us of seeing a tiny child holding the reins of a galloping horse. But the child was seated on its father’s knee, whose strong hands held the reins as well. The boy prattled innocently of how he was “making Dobbin go,” but we knew all the while whence came the strength and guidance for the child’s wee fingers. And while in Solomon’s porch all kinds of sick folk-were being cured by laying on of the apostles’ hands, it was, in point of fact, the hand of Jehovah’s holy Servant, Jesus, stretched out from on high to heal the diseases of Israel. And not their sicknesses only, He would “heal their backsliding” also, if they would but have faith. Indeed we do find that “believers were the more added to the Lord.” And what was true of some might have been of all; but Israel would not.
Here again we observe the defeat of the enemy. It was because one crippled man was healed that the apostles were put in prison and sternly threatened by the Jewish council. We now see that multitudes were being healed, of all kinds of diseased folk.
And the news of the marvelous power associated with the name of Jesus of Nazareth spread beyond Jerusalem out into the circumjacent towns and villages, so that there was a remarkable immigration of invalids into the city. The narrow streets were lined with sufferers prostrate on their beds, all seeking the healing virtue of Him Who not so long before was led through those very streets to Calvary. Such confidence had been inspired by the words and deeds of the apostles that they believed that even the shadow of Peter brought a blessing with it. “They were healed everyone,” we read.
We delight to ponder upon this display of miraculous power. We know that miracles have ceased; nor could we expect them in the midst of a ruined church. But it is a sample of what He can do Whose we are and Whom we serve. It was His power and His grace. And He is unchanged. Let us adore Him. Let us trust Him to work in His own way with us as He did with His servants of old.