ACC ~ Acts 5 v12 - 16

OVERVIEW:

This is the third general description or summary statement that Luke gives in regard to the life of the early community in Jerusalem. More than the other two, the accent is on the apostles working “signs and wonders,” a phrase often found in the Septuagint to describe God’s acts on behalf of his people and used seven times by Luke to convey the same notion, linking it with Jesus and the apostles. In comparison with their remarks on the two previous summaries (Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35), the Fathers are less abundant in their comments. The most interesting aspect of their teaching is that the healings wrought in the midst of the church reveal its heavenly nature and origin. The signs and wonders made earth look like heaven (CHRYSOSTOM). Peter’s intercession is powerful (BEDE). Peter remains the ruling voice for the apostles (ARATOR). Their inner radiance bore a king’s image (CHRYSOSTOM).

5:12 | Signs and Wonders

EARTH BECAME A HEAVEN. CHRYSOSTOM: Earth was becoming like heaven, for their way of life, boldness of speech, wonders, for all besides. Like angels were they looked upon with wonder. They were unconcerned about ridicule, threats, perils. They were compassionate and beneficent. Some of them they helped with money, and some with words, and some with healing of their bodies and of their souls; they accomplished every kind of healing. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 12.

5:15 | The Sick Carried into the Streets

RELIEVING THE INFIRM. BEDE: At that time Peter visibly relieved the infirm by the shadow of his body. Now, he does not cease to strengthen the infirm among the faithful by the invisible screen of his intercession. And because Peter is a type of the church, it is beautifully appropriate that he himself walked upright, but by his accompanying shadow he raised up those who were lying down. So the church, concentrating its mind and love on heavenly things, passes like a shadow on the land, and here [on earth], with sacramental signs and temporal figures of heavenly things, it renews those whom there [in heaven] it rewards with everlasting gifts. Some relate to this passage that saying of the Lord in the Gospels: “He who believes in me, the works that I do he also will do, and greater than these he will do.” COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 5.15.

PETER RULES THE CHURCH AND ITS EARTHLY TYPE. ARATOR: We dwell in the church on earth, which, no one may doubt, signifies a heavenly [church]; but that is more truly [the church] which, at rest above the stars, is called celestial and high. This [earthly church], which is seen in the brief career of an uncertain world, is appointed as the way of life and in this [present] time directs to the eternal [church] those whom it gathers, and to those found acceptable it is the road for going from here to heavenly things. Peter rules both armies, and for their lot he gives the stars to those squadrons led from here, as has been revealed by the words of God, “What you have loosed,” he said, “and what you bind on earth thus remain bound or loosed in heaven.” This [church] that we see cultivated on soil, therefore, will be a type; what the clouds carry is firm. Peter, ruling both, designs there the body and here the shadow, in order that those sick people whom he freed from vices and offenses might be led unharmed to it [the church above], which endures in heaven [and] will receive the holy throngs cleansed by this [earthly church]. ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1.

MANIFESTING THE INNER RADIANCE. CHRYSOSTOM: For had they not borne a king’s image and their radiance been unapproachable, their garments and shadows had not wrought so mightily. For the garments of a king are terrible even to robbers. Would you see this beaming even through the body? “Looking steadfastly,” he said, “upon the face of Stephen, they saw it as if it were the face of an angel.” But this was nothing to the glory flashing within. HOMILIES ON 2 CORINTHIANS 7.6.