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The book of Acts

Supplication and communion by believers

Chapter 4:23 to 37

The apostles Peter and John, released by the Sanhedrin under threats of reprisals if they "spoke or taught in the name of Jesus" returned to their fellow believers in the church meeting in Jerusalem, and reported all that the chief priests and the religious leaders had told them. Fellowship with their brethren in the faith was the safe way to get the comfort and encouragement they needed to proceed.

Hearing what Peter and John told them, they prayed to God unanimously: this means that all were in full agreement with the content of what was said. We understand that there would have been leadership in the prayer, to which all agreed. Perhaps, as today, they said "Amen".

The prayer was addressed to the "Lord", but this is a translation from the Greek "despot" usually the treatment given by the slave to his master as his absolute ruler: such was the degree of submissiveness in which those early Christians placed themselves before God. The Lord Jesus taught His disciples to address themselves in prayer to God as "Our Father" (Matthew 6: 9, etc.) and it is to the Father that we should direct our prayers and thanksgiving in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:23, Ephesians 5:20, etc.).

Recognizing that God created all things, in their prayer they cited a text taken from one of the Psalms (Psalm 2:1-2), a prophecy that Christ will fulfil when comes for His kingdom on earth: He will have to face opposition, which will come from rulers and world authorities. They cited this text because they saw that the situation they were in was similar: King Herod and Governor Pontius Pilate (the authorities) met with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to conspire against the "holy servant" of God, Jesus, anointed by Him. They perceived that what these enemies had done was in accordance with the plans of God: it was exactly what He had determined beforehand would happen. In their alliance to destroy the Lord Jesus, his enemies unwittingly promoted His glory, so the supreme dominion of God over all was manifested.

They made three requests to God:

1. To look at the threats of those enemies - they asked God to take the necessary measures against them. Submissively they did not tell him what they wanted Him to do against them, but left that in His wise hands.

2. That He would allow His servants to speak His word with all boldness – to preach the Gospel was their main objective, above their personal safety, and they needed great courage to do so in the circumstances in which they now found themselves.

3. To extend His hand to heal and do signs and wonders through the name of His holy servant Jesus. God operated miracles through the apostles, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in that way gave them authenticity before the people. They could not do this by their own will, so they asked that God would continue to operate them. The sentence construction also allows us to understand they asked God to give them signs as proof that He had heard them, so they might have all boldness in preaching the Gospel (even having to face death).

As soon as they had finished praying, the place where they were shook, like a small earthquake. Evidently they did not take it to be a coincidence, because they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (proving obedience to the Lord, walking in His light, and in submission to Him), and began to boldly proclaim the word of God - exactly what they had asked for in their prayer.

It is noteworthy that we find seven references in this book to events where the Holy Spirit filled men, and they were for the following purposes:

1. To proclaim the Word of God (2:4, 4:8 and 31).

2. To serve (6:3).

3. To tend (11:24).

4. To admonish (11:24). To die (7:55).

Then we find a remarkable description of the transformation that was taking place in those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and it was already a considerable crowd, considering the five thousand men mentioned in verse 4.

There were just one heart and one soul in those who believed. The uniformity or harmony in their thoughts and affections arose from their proximity to the source of this teaching: the apostles.  They had lived with the Lord Jesus, desired to follow faithfully what He had taught, spread the sense of brotherhood because they belonged to a family where all were adopted as children of God and, above all, their lives were directed by the Holy Spirit. They really loved their neighbours as themselves.

There will always be differences of opinion among the members of a church, but mutual love and spiritual unity are essential, expressed by loyalty, dedication and love of God and obedience to His Word. Love should not be only theoretical, but practical. In a church, the brethren did not consider themselves the sole owners of what they had, but were willing to share everything they had with needy brethren. It was a voluntary altruism, because there was no commandment requiring them to do so.

The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power despite the ban by the authorities, and so God answered the prayer of the believers. The message of resurrection was and is vital to persuade the unbeliever of the reality of eternal life. As stated by the apostle Paul, “if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." (1 Corinthians 15: 16-19).

The apostles were living witnesses that He had risen, thus assuring that death is not the end, only a stage when the spirit leaves the body, but is still in existence. Christ's spirit returned to His body, which had not been corrupted, but was transformed by acquiring superior properties. All the dead also will be resurrected, some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2).

God gave everyone great grace, to give His testimony and to live in His ways. For the common good, those who owned land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the sale to the apostles, who distributed to each as anyone had need. One of these contributors was a Levite from Cyprus, whose name was Joseph but was nicknamed Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement". We read about him later in this book, how he served the apostles and the nascent churches. Owning a field, he sold it and gave the proceeds to the apostles.

 

R David Jones

 

 

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

 

 

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

 

 

 

 

25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'WHY DID THE NATIONS RAGE, AND THE PEOPLE PLOT VAIN THINGS?
26 THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.'
27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

 

 

 

 

34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.