In Vs 23-31 we recall that after being threatened to talk no more about Jesus (which they of course rejected) Peter and John came back to their “own people” and raised their voices in honor to God. After the prayer, the actual place they were in was physically shaken. Wow, just wow! That was the first thing that happened after the healing of the lame man, after the testimony they had shared before the Sanhedrin and the people, after they refused to budge an inch in their testimony of Jesus, then after their praising God with their people. So, obedience to God to boldly move in the power of the Holy Spirit to do the work that God called them to do was in their hearts and souls. Then, still feeling the fire of the Holy Spirit within they refused to not obey the commandment of the Lord to share the Gospel at every opportunity. Their hearts were overflowing with the wonder and joy of God and they shared all that had happened with the fellow believers, thereby blessing and encouraging them. Immediately after that all that there was the powerful shaking of the room as the power of God flowed out of all of them. Oh praise God! How grand to be so filled with God, so yielded to the Holy Spirit, that a room filled with Believers would be shaken! As wonderful as that is, something even more spectacular follows.
The shaking of the room almost seems like God making the Believers aware that “Wait, there is more!” We go on to read that the believers were unified. Wait, thousands of believers were of one heart and mind? One heart and mind, isn’t that a miracle? Think of a church we attend, any church will do. Is everyone who attends the church so united that it could truly be said that all are of one heart and mind, with no “yeah, buts?” I can’t think of no church that is truly like that. Now it is best to take the Bible at its word. It states that all believers were of one mind and one heart. The Word of God says it and so I believe it. I’m sure many will rush forward and say that we have to be reasonable and know that it is certain that there were things they differed on, and that is okay. Yet, that is not what the Word states. The ones who rush forward believe that since they have not experienced such unity then it is not possible. Well, have they ever been so united, so powerfully obedient and in love with God, so filled by the Holy Spirit flowing into and out of them with great power, that the room they were in was shaken? Yeah, likely none. Family, these people were so in love with God and with each other that they knew the kind of unity that was fulfilling the command of Jesus in John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Also let’s consider what Jesus said in John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” The unity Jesus was praying about was a unity between the Trinity itself and a unity of us with Him, and a unity of us with one another. Is that what we today walk in? Let’s not change the meaning of the Word of God to excuse ourselves. Do our lives reflect the unity that God wants us to have? Really? If so, I have never seen that, not by me, or anyone else. Though, many are pulling in and praying! Let us love God and each other with all that we can. Then maybe rooms will shake!
More powerful than the room shaking was the saturation of love they all shared. There were many in town for the holy days. Thousands became believers at Pentecost. Thousands more after that. Many out-of-towners were new in the Lord and staying to learn more of Jesus Christ and to grow in the Holy Spirit. They needed a place to stay, food to eat and a place to bathe and sleep. The Believers who could help were quick to let their actions be proof of their love. They sold land and property to help those who need help. Barnabas is noted as He is a prominent member of the first generation church. This very name for him noted his love for others. Wow, to be known by that name was a great honor. May we all bear it!
Now some will say that these verses are a call for communism, or socialism. Not at all! This was merely Brothers and Sisters expressing the love of God within them to one another. This was meeting specific needs at a specific time. It was not the setting up of government, it was not promoting communism or socialism. For starters, they were not trusting in a government to be so pure as to with complete transparency, honesty, care, lack of selfishness for self, family and friends that they could be trusted to rule over the people in such a way. In fact, knowing the heart of men, they knew no person or persons could be what these two governments required. No Family, these people were living out their hearts, minds and spirits in a spiritual theocracy with God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit at the helm. And they were willing servants to the One they call Master and Lord. Things were shaking as they were empowered by the Holy Spirit with a boldness to speak the Gospel regardless of circumstances. Praise God and perhaps we all may live in love and unity and be so bold and see great miracles happen.
More powerful a miracle than the shaking of the room was the unity, love and boldness to serve God. That, from all of us, is truly miraculous. May that be the miracle that today we are blessed with! Love God. Love each other. Live it like we mean it. Love and blessings to all! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.