Acts 5:12
The Book of Acts – Chapter Five Another Review Acts 5:12-16 3| One Accord| Acts 5:12 “And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch” (Acts 5:12). Luke gives us a third “state of the Church” report (Acts 5:12-16). His consistent attempt is to highlight the unity among the believers in the worst of circumstances. In his first report, along with other statements of unity, Luke writes, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2:46). Luke does not use the phrase “with one accord” in his second report but focuses on a commitment of belief that caused them to experience “one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32). However, in this third report, he reverts to the statement of “with one accord” (Acts 5:12). The Greek word translated “with one accord” is “homothymadon.” Many other translations use “together,” however, there is a deeper intent than the early Church members’ physical location. “Homothymadon” means unanimous, of one mind and reaches into the inner heart and bespeaks a focus. Luke uses it in the political realm for the visible, inner unity of a group faced by a common duty or danger, not for common personal feelings or emotions but a cause more significant than the person. It is a focus! The Book of Acts manifests a double kind of “homothymadon,” oneness. “Homothymadon” applies to the members of the Church and their enemies. The cause of each is the same, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The Church responds with faith and worship, while the leaders of Israel respond in hatred and rejection. The enemies of the Church unite as they reject the claims of Christ because they see their religious traditions and their commercial interests threatened. The Church’s oneness is not based on the sharing of the same human or religious feelings and convictions but on the reality of Christ, who has brought together both Jews and Gentiles! The oneness of “homothymadon” refers to the person of Jesus. The members of the early Church did not develop a new set of traditions or ceremonies. Although they expressed their oneness in action, that oneness was not because of uniformity of dress or religious rules. Neither was theology the cause of their oneness. Jesus had captured their lives. He was all they promoted, the irritation that caused the unity of rejection among Israel’s leaders. While divided on many other issues, the early Church members came together in oneness concerning Jesus. Their heart’s single issue was the threat that “from now on they speak to no man in this name” (Acts 4:17). The “homothymadon” of the early Church is the person of Jesus! We might aid the clarification if we distinguish between “with one accord” (homothymadon) and “unity” (henotes). The Greek word “henotes” is used only twice in the New Testament. Paul encourages us to be worthy of the call of Christ on our lives by being patient, humble, and long-suffering, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). We are to minister to each other “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). “Henotes” is a form of the word “heis,” meaning “one.” Paul used “henotes” to describe the Church as the body of Christ. Christ is the head “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share” (Ephesians 4:16). The heart of unity comes from the “Shema,” the daily confession and creed of the Jew. It comes from “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Our Trinity God is united. There are no other gods; the so-called gods do not exist. We do not believe in three Gods, but in One because of their unity! The three merge in spiritual and mystical oneness, making them united. This unity does not exist in purpose or cause as in “homothymadon” only but in spirit and heart. The nature of the Trinity is intertwined, causing them to be one. The heart of Christianity is man’s merger with the Trinity God. When believers unite with the Trinity, they express the unity of the Trinity. In the high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed for us. He said, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:21-23). This unity is far beyond cause, duty, or task. It is the uniting of natures, the intimacy of spirits, and the formation of a new creature! While there is a distinction between “with one accord” (homothymadon) and “unity” (henotes), both present in the believer, one is not present without the other; both must exist to form the whole of the Christian person. Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Cause and purpose connect with the indwelling of the Spirit of Jesus. But this cause is directly related to the merging of man’s nature and God’s nature. In unity with the heart of Christ, I begin to think with a redemptive perspective. God’s desires become my desires. Therefore, while “with one accord” (homothymadon) and “unity” (henotes) are distinct, they are also united in oneness. In each of the three statements of the early Church’s condition, Luke hints of the oneness of heart and nature (unity), but he highlights the believer’s “with one accord.” The passion of Christ’s heart drives them to redeem the world at any cost. Regardless of the persecution, they must impact their world with the message of Jesus. That cause overshadows all differences between them. The adverb “with one accord” is highlighted in the Book of Acts and occurs ten times, appearing in one other place in the New Testament (Romans 15:6). Luke primarily uses it in these summary statements expressing the heart of the early Church. The State Luke declared, “And they were . . . “(Acts 5:12), a translation of the Greek verb “eimi.” It is a verb of existence, a state of existence. We can easily miss this state in light of the miracles at the hands of the apostles. The early Church’s physical accomplishments were so strong in quality and quantity that they captured everyone’s attention. The surrounding cities of Jerusalem brought their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits to the early Church (Acts 5:16), attracted by the physical activities of the Church. This attraction to the physical “doing” is always a danger in the Christian faith. But the core secret to the early Church was not their physical activities but their state of existence. They were “with one accord” in a state of being captured by a cause, Jesus. The person of Jesus so engulfed these believers that they focused on Him. Everything else became non-essential and unimportant in comparison. Therefore the essence of Christian experience became this state, not any series of activities. The Christian faith’s invitation is not to merely embrace new rules or activities for life but to embrace a spiritual state of intimacy with Jesus. This state is better experienced than described or only spoken. The young man who truly falls head over heels in love with the young lady enters into a state of existence. There is an entire list of activities involved, but these activities do not merely describe it. He dwells in a state of “in love.” All kinds of attitudes and feelings are beyond activities. There is a focused passion that seems to dominate his entire thought pattern. How does one describe the state in which he dwells? This state controls all of his activities, schedule, and purpose for life. I have been trying to help someone who dwells in a state of depression. Psychiatry describes depression as a mental condition, an inner state of mind. It is a state characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep. However, all of the physical characteristics are merely expressions of depression. Therefore, depression is not a physical activity but an inner state! Luke describes the early Church as having an inner state, “with one accord” or captured by a cause. The Greek word “homothymadon,” translated as “with one accord,” is a combination of two Greek words. The first word is the Greek word “homo,” meaning “together” or “the same.” The second Greek word, “thymadon,” has to do with passion as in heavy breathing. This combination of two words is expressive and signifies that they concentrated their minds, affections, desires, and wishes on one object. Every man had the same end in view. They had but one desire. There was no person uninterested, unconcerned, or lukewarm; all were in earnest. The early Church existed in a state that controlled all of their activities. It was a passionate state focused on Jesus! The Scope The Greek word commonly translated as “all” is “pas.” However, in our text, Luke places a prefix on this word, “hapas,” increasing the word’s strength in the passage. The prefix “hama” can be translated “together,” giving a double emphasis of the focus of “homothymadon,” “with one accord.” The early Church was united in a cause, Jesus. Every other endeavor simply did not matter in light of His person. They were so passionate about Him that even persecution did not detour their focus. Jesus brought them together and overshadowed all other issues that generally divide. Luke tells us that everyone in this group of believers had this central passion for Jesus. He was the common element. There was diversity among these believers, but the great passion for Jesus made them a unit. In the future, they would select a group of seven men to oversee the daily distribution of goods to the widows (Acts 6:1-4), allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word. There were various responsibilities and activities in ministry within the believers’ group, but their one focus was Jesus. Their passion was not their particular responsibilities, such as youth, senior adults, or children; it was Jesus. Paul magnified this idea by calling the believers the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12). He was clear that Christ is the head (Colossians 1:18). Each member of the body united and focused on and through the head, received their directions from the head, and responded only to the head. The early Church was together in one accord because of their passion for Jesus. He captured them! If anyone wanted to join this group, they must be passionate about Jesus. There was no other driving force. Luke indicates this in the verse following our text. “Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly” (Acts 5:13). This verse requires a study on its own, but we must see it in the context of the focus of the early Church upon Christ. No one joined the early Church because of their excellent suppers. No one was merely lonely and wanted the fellowship of others. No one was homeless and needed somewhere to sleep for the night. No one joined the Church for the miracles they could receive. The issue of the early Church was the person of Jesus. If a person did not want to embrace Jesus fully, they did not dare become a part of this group! The early Church’s passion for Jesus was not due to established and strict membership rules. Luke proclaimed the attitude of the early Church. The Church’s passion exerted an inner pressure, which could not be tolerated by those not passionate about Jesus. They refused no one for membership who had this passion. The standard of intimacy and merger with Jesus was so strong no one attempted to join without it. That was especially true in light of the recent events in the lives of Ananias and Sapphira. This group of “all” was about Jesus! The Solid Luke ends his third summary with this opening statement, “And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch” (Acts 5:12). The Greek word translated “and” is “kai.” It is a linking term joining two clauses together. This statement links with the emphasis on signs and wonders done among the people through the apostles. The signs and wonders pointed to the spiritual power moving through the apostles. The Spirit of Jesus’ presence charged the atmosphere of the gathering. Luke gave further evidence to this by highlighting Peter’s shadow. God’s power was known and experienced through the touch of the apostles’ hands and the extension of Peter’s image among the people. No one would want to discount the spiritual atmosphere dwelling among the people of God. The activity of God in the unseen world around us is a marvel. Christians believe that more is occurring in the unseen world than we can see in the seen world. However, Luke’s emphasis is to continually make us aware of the activity of the mystical, spiritual presence of Christ demonstrated and experienced in the physical world in which we live. No one experienced the unseen Divine movement in a trance or vision; they experienced the unseen activity in the practical exchange among people in their physical existence. Solomon’s Porch was the location of all that happened. This colonnade was reportedly double-columned and spanned 49 feet. The columns were 38 feet tall monoliths of white marble and supported cedar-paneled ceilings. Nothing remains of Solomon’s Porch except for the platform on which the builders founded it. Although we glory in God’s power and greatness, people experienced a moment in history in this location. They shared that event in a physical place where hundreds of people filled with the Spirit of Jesus and passionate about Him assembled. We cannot isolate the power of God’s presence to high spiritual moments in the prayer closet; we must know and express it in the present moments of our physical lives. Luke consistently pressed this upon us as he described the movement of God through the early Church. The financial generosity expressed in physical care for each other is listed. The apostles demonstrated the miracle of His presence in physical healings and demon deliverances. The early Church was not a mystical, spiritual movement that abandoned the physical world around them. The persecution of the leaders of Israel expressed this same dynamic truth. They recognized the name of Jesus was causing such physical change in their traditions and ceremonies that all would be lost if not stopped. They crucified Jesus because of the physical changes initiated by His spiritual teachings. It continued into the message of the apostles as they proclaimed His name. While we focus and are passionate about the person of Jesus, it must affect our physical actions and expressions. There is an old story of a monk visited by God’s presence during his prayer time in the chapel. Jesus was so real in those moments, the monk did not want to leave, but the hour to feed the poor was approaching. Should he stay in the presence of Jesus and abandon the needy of his world? The monk, with great regret, slipped out to minister to the poor. He rushed back as soon as he could to the place of prayer only to discover the presence of Jesus was more real than before. The monk expressed his surprise to Jesus and apologized for needing to leave to help others. Jesus quickly replied, “If you had stayed, I would have left!”