Tuesday 8 July 2025
When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul. (vs 31-32)
Background
Yesterday we read how the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council) questioned Peter and John and let them go (Acts 4:3-22). Today the story continues, recording the response of Peter, John and the other followers of Jesus to the threats of the Sanhedrin.
They pray to God, expressing their puzzlement that the authorities remain hostile despite Jesus’ resurrection. They recall this is not something new, citing Psalm 2 with its reminder that God is ultimately in control. In Ephesians 6:12 Paul was later to write about how Christians should accept they will have to fight "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." They ask God for more boldness, more healing power, more miracles.
On the issue of continuing their proclamation of the gospel there is no dissident voice. They are ‘one in heart and mind’, united in their determination to preach about Jesus. This is often taken to mean that they agreed on everything, but we know this soon changed and, like us, the early Christians had disagreements about what God wanted. The issue that eventually divided them most was whether Jesus’ message of salvation was intended just for the Jews or, as Peter and Paul came to believe, for all.
The deep fellowship felt among the early Christians was expressed through sharing their resources. It was expected that all possessions should be used for the common good. Some have described this as ‘communism’ but clearly this expectation, designed to help fellow Christians, was voluntary and not something enforced in the way that is associated with modern Russia and China. The communal system was dropped as the Church grew much bigger, and it became obvious that Christ’s second coming was not going to happen immediately, as had originally been thought. An emphasis on helping the unfortunate, whether they were Christians or not, replaced it. However, some small groups of Christians still practise common ownership. The message that God does not approve of a deep divide between rich and poor remains central to the thinking of many more.
To Ponder:
- In what ways is society today showing its opposition to the gospel message?
- Today Christians disagree on many issues. Is it possible to retain an underlying unity and, if so, what do all Christians agree on?
- What should be our attitude as Christians towards personal property in a world where the divide between rich and poor is getting ever wider?
Prayer
Heavenly God, forgive us for living in a world where the divide between rich and poor is ever increasing and in which money and power is put before the needs of the impoverished. It is so easy to focus on preserving our lifestyle and ignore the impact this is having on others. Help me to distinguish between what I want and what I actually need and to be more generous in my giving to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible notes author: Gary Best
Gary was headmaster of Kingswood School from 1987 to 2008 and volunteer warden of the New Room in Bristol from 2009 to 2019. He has published over 20 books, including The Christian Alphabet, a study book for home groups.