Acts 5:15
The Book of Acts – Chapter Five Another Review Acts 5:12-16 6| Your Shadow| Acts 5:15 “So that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on them” (Acts 5:15). There is a mystical element present in this paragraph (Acts 5:12-16), though it is somewhat dangerous to suggest that reality. I have always considered myself a mystic. According to the English dictionary, a mystic is “a person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect.” Of course, we must understand this within the boundaries of biblical truth. The wonder of merging with the Trinity God who desires to share His life with us is a mystical reality. An individual filled with God’s essence and sharing His mind and heart is beyond the practical and is mystical! In the opening verse of our paragraph, Luke presents the issue of “signs and wonders were done among the people” (Acts 5:12). It is mysticism within the realm of practical everyday life of Jerusalem’s people. The apostles were the physical instruments of God’s mystical presence, accomplishing beneficial physical results. The physical location of this mystical invasion was Solomon’s Porch. The early Church gathered there “with one accord” (Acts 5:12), meaning they were passionate about the cause of Jesus! But it was not a dead Jesus who was a mere memory; it was Jesus alive in them, a mystical reality. The presence of Jesus was so evident among them that “none of the rest dared join them” (Acts 5:13). A mystical presence of the Trinity God so powerfully permeated the atmosphere of this group of believers’ that it repelled anyone who did not have the same spiritual hunger. How strange this must have been to the narrow, legalistic Jew who knew nothing but ceremonies and duty. It would have been as frightening for them as God descending on Mt Sinai in thunder and lightning was for the ancient Israelites. However, another group appears in our paragraph; they experience the mystical movement of the Spirit of Jesus and are “added to the Lord” (Acts 5:14). The mystical power of God relocated these Jews into a different and superior spiritual realm. It follows this immense emphasis on the mystical element of spiritual atmosphere that Luke introduces us to the idea of people wanting to get into a position where “at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them” (Acts 5:15). The tendency is to take this statement and remove it from the mystical and place it in the practical. When “they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches,” it was practical. But the moment we do not consider the practical in light of the mystical, confusion appears, and superstition dominates. Luke attempted to communicate the state of the early Church. They lived in the atmosphere of God’s power, the mystical realm of the Spirit! Significantly, Luke never recorded or indicated any miracles resulting from Peter’s shadow. Peter’s shadow did not have miracle power any more than Peter had miracle power. Jesus used Peter to heal the lame beggar (Acts 3). It was remarkable because of the man’s age. He was over forty years of age and was known because he had been consistently begging at the temple gate for years. He reportedly held onto Peter and John as if they were responsible for his miracle (Acts 3:11). When the crowd gathered in Solomon’s Porch, they were amazed at the healing of this man holding onto Peter. Peter was horrified at their response. He asked them, “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” (Acts 3:12). They knew all the Old Testament stories that highlighted the deliverances of God! Why would it shock them that the same mystical power was working in this hour? Their focus should not be on the presence of a human being when God’s divine, mystical presence was moving among them. It was not about a shadow but about the mystical power of God that was beyond understanding! Sequence A large amount of controversy surrounds this verse. It primarily relates to the opening words of the verse, “so that,” a translation of the Greek word “hoste,” which indicates “for this reason.” However, another Greek word not translated in our version, “kai,” is a common conjunction meaning “and.” The action of those who brought the sick into the streets is directly connected to what took place prior. But who is it that Luke links with this action? We must also note “they brought,” a translation of the Greek word “ekphero,” which is an infinitive that depends on the main subject of the sentence. Who are “they,” and what caused them to bring the sick out into the streets? Many Bible scholars in the past made verses twelve through fourteen an insert section with parenthesis around it. That makes the paragraph read, “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people . . . so that they brought the sick out, etc.,” which is the Geneva Bible arrangement of the text copied by the King James Version. Other scholars dismiss the parenthesis and attach our verse to the end of verse thirteen, which reads, “but the people esteemed them highly . . . so that they brought the sick out, etc.” However, there is no reason to accept either of these ideas. The natural sequence of the verses tells the correct story. Evangelism was increasing in the ministry of the early Church. Believers were added to the Lord, “multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14). These were the people who brought the sick into the streets (Acts 5:15). The increase in believers relates to the rise in miracles! It is not that miracles occurred; therefore, people became believers; but people became believers, and miracles took place. Miracles resulted from people abandoning themselves to Jesus. The miracle of salvation affected both the spiritual and physical life of the new believer. The Spirit of Jesus invading the life of an individual does something to the total being. While this does not establish the premise that salvation always involved total physical wholeness, it does indicate that salvation brings the entire being under the influence and purpose of Divine invasion. If this is not true, one might attempt to manipulate God for self-centered advantages. Demanding a miracle from God before abandoning one’s life to Him does not establish a salvation relationship with Him. It certainly does not fit the picture of the early Church, whose members “were all with one accord” (Acts 5:12). They were with heavy breathing, extreme passion, and focused on Jesus, who enabled the miracles in their midst. Superstition In the Hebrew tradition, “shadow” never connotes a sinister or threatening phenomenon. It most often represents welcome shelter from the heat of the noonday sun (Judges 9:15; Job 7:2; 40:22; Isaiah 4:6; 32:2; 34:15; Hosea 4:13; Jonah 4:5+). “Shadow” can therefore signify protection (Isaiah 30:2+). The “shadow of Yahweh’s wings” (Psalms 17:8; 36:7) and the “shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2; 51:16) are metaphors for divine protection. While in a pagan world, “shadow” may involve superstition, there is no reason to come to the New Testament with such an understanding. The Jewish culture of Peter’s day would not permit us to view superstitious people who believed Peter’s shadow could do miracles. There are two other passages in the New Testament that relate to this belief. Jesus accompanied Jairus to his house to minister to his daughter. A woman experiencing a physical condition for twelve years tried to get the attention of Jesus, but “the multitudes thronged Him” (Luke 8:42). In desperation, she came up behind Him and touched the border of His garment, and Jesus immediately healed her. She testified to the surrounding crowd that she intended to touch Jesus’ garment, the only point of contact she could have because of the multitude. The purpose of the passage is not to relate healing through the power of the garment but through the person of Jesus. Paul was an instrument of God for unusual miracles (Acts 19:11). Further stated, it reads, “so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them” (Acts 9:12). We must carefully note that this practice was not the consistent pattern of the early Church. There is no biblical record of any other like activity, and no one should base a pattern or doctrine on one verse in the Bible. Luke explicitly highlights the power of God as the only source of the miracles. “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul” (Acts 19:11). Luke focuses again on the person of God, not the magic of handkerchiefs. The Scriptures are clear! Why would I stand in the shadow of a man when Jesus can fill me with Himself? Why would I desire the cloth that the apostle Paul touched and prayed over when I could go directly to the heart of God? Why would I want a guardian angel hovering over me when the Spirit of Jesus can fill me? We must stay focused! It is the trick of Satan to misdirect our attention. He may do it through addictions to drugs or drink; however, he will also use hobbies or other particular interests to distract us. It might even misdirect us in religious matters. It is easy to focus on methodology and programs rather than on Jesus. Satan loves it when we are theology-centered instead of Christ-centered. The leaders of Israel persecuted the early Church for one reason, their focus on Jesus. The social good of the early Church did not concern these leaders. They did not care about the various gatherings of the early Church, their suppers, or their fellowship times. They did not even care about them teaching the doctrine of the resurrection. Their issue was always Jesus. The early Church must be silent about Jesus! Let us not get distracted by a “shadow ministry” or a “cloth ministry.” Let us not turn to “magic” when we have the risen Lord! Shadow The Old Testament imagery of the shadow points to our Trinity God’s protection. David prayed with confidence for our final salvation (Psalms 17). A factor in that confidence was the shadow of the great wings of Jehovah. He prayed, “Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From deadly enemies who surround me” (Psalms 17:7-9). David considered the “shadow of the Almighty” not a place to escape for temporary safety but a permanent dwelling place. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’” (Psalms 91:1). The Greek words and word order in our passage are somewhat pointed. Not only does Luke use the idea of Peter’s “shadow” (skia), but in addition, he includes the verb “episkiazo,” translated “might fall.” This word is used only five times in the New Testament. The other four times, scholars translated it “overshadow.” These usages refer to the great and sovereign power or presence of God coming upon a person or people. For instance, the angel Gabriel confronted Mary. The purpose of his visit was to inform her of her position as “highly favored.” Due to this position, she was told, “You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Significantly, Mary responded with total submission to this announcement with only one question, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34). The answer was simple. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow (episkiazo) you” (Luke 1:35). While there is a mystery about what this might mean, it is clear that the power of God’s resource presence engulfed Mary to the core of her physical and spiritual life. While we cannot understand or explain all that happened in this “overshadowing,” we do not consider it magic but Divine embracing. The Divine presence merged with human flesh and brought an expanded revelation of who God created us to be! Peter, James, and John experienced the same “overshadowing” on the Mount of Transfiguration. After six days of the disciples resisting the message of the cross, Jesus took three of the most influential to a prayer meeting on the mountain. He transformed before them, and Moses and Elijah visited them, representing the law and the prophets. According to Luke’s Gospel, they spoke of His death as they encouraged Him to stay faithful to His calling. Peter decided to interrupt the heavenly conversation, expressing his desire to build three tabernacles in honor of this experience. “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed (episkiazo) them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (Matthew 17:5). Mark and Luke both recorded this same account in their Gospels (Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34). The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary; the presence of God overshadowed Jesus. This overshadowing speaks to the intimate involvement of the Trinity God in human life. The Trinity God designed the redemptive plan, and God’s power accomplished it. But He decided to limit that power in a way to allow human participation. God would not redeem humanity without the involvement and cooperation of humankind. Mary knew the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit to have her humanity extended into the Redemptive Agent of the world. This Redemptive Agent knew the overshadowing of the sovereign God to establish such a redemption. Now Peter, filled with the Spirit of Jesus, overshadowed those in Jerusalem, extending the presence of God in his shadow. Does this not cry out to us the biblical truth? We are to merge with the Divine nature. This merger will produce oneness, creating a new creature. Everything about this new creature is an extension of a helpless person filled with the Spirit of Jesus. This infilling saves us from the uncertainty of achieving holiness. We focus on intimacy with His person and allow Him to influence our lives. This intimacy arrests us from performance activities allowing God to use our lives, removing the fear of failure and giving us confidence in Him. He uses us when we do not know it. It is not our duty of conscious service that affects the lives of others but the unconscious flow of His presence. Could I be the shadow of God for my world? This truth speaks the reality of our lives that we take for granted or do not even consider. Could God use these things to bring about healing? Could the power of His presence use me, and I am unaware? Could people find refuge in my presence because He is present?