“All the words of life.”

Acts 5:12-20, 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. But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

What an amazing time in the spread of the gospel, for people to be added daily to the Lord and for so many being healed. And even the persecutors had to be amazed at those being released from prison and returning immediately to proclaim the words of this new Life in Christ. Do we have faith that He will move with His power in our own time or are we more like the people of Jesus’ home town where even He could not do many miracles because of their unbelief?

Lord, help our unbelief! Use us to bring glory to Your name in our time.

ESV Lectionary