Acts 5:12

Acts 5:12 states, 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. We find the apostles with one accord at Solomon's porch.  Of one accord seems to be a common theme when speaking of the disciples after Jesus's resurrection.  When we are gathered today, we need to be of one accord.  Too often our thoughts are scattered on too many other things. They were in one accord about doing God's will.  To be of one accord about politics or football or anything else is not what we need.  Verse thirteen adds, And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.  Even though the disciples were performing miracles, of the rest of those around them no one would join them, even though people magnified them.  Some people still allow fear to keep them from following Christ, even if they see miraculous things being done.  Verse fourteen continues, And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)  Many believers were added to the number of disciples because apostles were continually following God's will.  Yet, while some were afraid to join the disciples in following Jesus, many others did.  This is still true today, but it seems that fewer are willing to follow.  Verse fifteen says, 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.  Verse sixteen adds, 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.  The people around them were bringing the sick and those with unclean spirits and they were being healed. How often today do people bring the sick to the church to be healed and how often do we want them there?  Verse seventeen states, Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,  Verse eighteen adds, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.  Peter and John had already spent the night in jail, but they were back openly preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The high priest and the Sadducees grabbed the apostles and threw them in the common prison.  As His followers today, we hear that we may soon be thrown in jail for preaching the Gospel, but how many of us would be found guilty of doing so outside the walls of the church building or our group of friends?  Even now, when we are not being thrown in jail, how much are we openly sharing the Gospel? Verse nineteen continues, But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,  Verse twenty concludes, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.  God sent an angel to free the apostles and sent them back to do what they had been doing, which was standing in the temple and proclaiming the words of life, which is the gospel.  We must do more than complain to our fellow believers about how bad things are or may become and get busy proclaiming Christ to a lost and dying world.  We will never need an angel to deliver us from jail if we never stand in faith to do God's work.  Had the Apostles obeyed the threats, they wouldn't have needed an angel either.