Act 5:12, 15-16, 19:12 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 12. And by the hands , etc. By the apostles. This verse should be read in connexion with , to which it belongs. Signs and wonders . . Miracles. . With one accord . With one mind , or intention. . In Solomon's porch . . They were doubtless there for the purpose of worship. It does not mean that they were there constantly, but at the regular periods of worship. Probably they had two designs in this; one was to join in the public worship of God in the usual manner with the people, for they did not design to leave the temple-service; the other was that they might have opportunity to preach to the people assembled there. In the presence of the great multitudes who came up to worship, they had an opportunity of making known the doctrines of Jesus, and of confirming them by miracles, the reality of which could not be denied, and which could not be resisted, as proofs that Jesus was the Messiah. (b) "many signs" (*) "one accord" "consent"

Acts 5:12

Verse 12. And by the hands, etc. By the apostles. This verse should be read in connexion with Acts 5:15, to which it belongs.

Signs and wonders. Acts 2:43. Miracles. Acts 2:43.

With one accord. With one mind, or intention. Acts 1:14.

In Solomon's porch. Mt 21:12, Jn 10:23. They were doubtless there for the purpose of worship. It does not mean that they were there constantly, but at the regular periods of worship. Probably they had two designs in this; one was to join in the public worship of God in the usual manner with the people, for they did not design to leave the temple-service; the other was that they might have opportunity to preach to the people assembled there. In the presence of the great multitudes who came up to worship, they had an opportunity of making known the doctrines of Jesus, and of confirming them by miracles, the reality of which could not be denied, and which could not be resisted, as proofs that Jesus was the Messiah.

(b) "many signs" Acts 4:30, Rom 15:19, Heb 2:4 (*) "one accord" "consent"

Acts 5:15-16

Verse 15. Insomuch. So that. This should be connected with Acts 5:12. Many miracles were wrought by the apostles, insomuch, etc.

They brought forth. The people, or the friends of the sick, brought them forth.

Beds. κλινων. This word denotes usually the soft and valuable beds on which the rich commonly lay. And it means that the rich, as well as the poor, were laid in the path of Peter and the other apostles.

Couches. κραββατων. The coarse and hard couches on which the poor used to lie, Mk 2:4,9,11,12, 6:55, Jn 5:8-12, Acts 9:33.

The shadow of Peter. That is, they were laid in the path so that the shadow of Peter, as he walked, might pass over them. Perhaps the sun was near setting, and the lengthened shadow of Peter might be thrown afar across the way. They were not able to approach him on account of the crowd; and they imagined that if they could any how come under his influence, they might be healed. The sacred writer does not say, however, that any were healed in this way; nor that they were commanded to do this. He simply states the impression which was on the minds of the people that it might be. Whether they were healed by this, it is left for us merely to conjecture. An instance somewhat similar is recorded in Acts 19:12, where it is expressly said, that the sick were healed by contact with handkerchiefs and aprons that were brought from the body of Paul. Comp. also Mt 9:21,22, where the woman said respecting Jesus, "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole."

Might overshadow. That his shadow might pass over them. Though there is no evidence that any were healed in this way, yet it shows the full belief of the people that Peter had the power of working miracles. Peter was supposed by them to be eminently endowed with this power, because it was by him that the lame man in the temple had been healed, Acts 3:4-6, and because he had been most prominent in his addresses to the people. The persons who are specified in this verse were those who dwelt at Jerusalem.

(1) "into the streets" "in every street" Verse 16. There came also, etc. Attracted by the fame of Peter's miracles, as the people formerly had been by the miracles of the Lord Jesus.

Vexed. Troubled, afflicted, or tormented.

Unclean spirits. Possessed with devils; called unclean because they prompted to sin and impurity of life. Mt 4:23,24.

And they were healed. Of these persons it is expressly affirmed that they were healed. Of those who were so laid as that the shadow of Peter might pass over them, there is no such affirmation.

(a) "bringing sick folks" Mk 16:17,18, Jn 14:12 (b) "and they were healed" Jas 5:16

Acts 19:12

Verse 12. So that from his body. That is, these handkerchiefs which had been applied to his body, which he had used, or which he had touched. An instance somewhat similar to this occurs in the case of the woman who was healed by touching the hem of the Saviour's garment, Mt 9:20-22.

Unto the sick. The sick who were at a distance, and who were unable to go where he was. If it be asked why this was done, it may be observed,

(1.) that the working of miracles in that region would greatly contribute to the spread of the gospel.

(2.) We are not to suppose that there was any efficacy in the aprons thus brought, or in the mere fact that they had touched the body of Paul, any more than there was in the hem of the Saviour's garment which the woman touched, or in the clay which he made use of to open the eyes of the blind man, Jn 8:6.

(3.) In this instance the fact, that the miracles were wrought in this manner by garments which had touched his body, was a mere sign, or an evidence to the persons concerned, that it was done by the instrumentality of Paul, as the fact that the Saviour put his fingers into the ears of a deaf man, and spit and touched his tongue, Mk 7:33, was an evidence to those who saw it, that the power of healing came from him. The bearing of these aprons to the sick was, therefore, a mere sign, or evidence to all concerned, that miraculous power was given to Paul.

Handkerchiefs. The word used here--σουδαρια--is of Latin origin, and properly denotes a piece of linen with which sweat was wiped from the face; and then any piece of linen used for tying up, or containing anything, In Lk 19:20, it denotes the "napkin" in which the talent of the unprofitable servant was concealed; in Jn 11:44, 20:7, the "napkin" which was used to bind up the face of the dead, applied to Lazarus and to our Saviour.

Or aprons. σιμικινθια. This also is a Latin word, and means, literally, a half-girdle--a piece of cloth which was girded round the waist to preserve the clothes of those who were engaged in any kind of work. The word aprons expresses the idea.

And the diseases departed. The sick were healed.

And the evil spirits. Mt 4:24. It is evident that this power of working miracles would contribute greatly to Paul's success among the people.

(h) "handkerchiefs or aprons" Acts 5:15