Acts 5:12 ¶ And by the
hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people;
(and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to
them: but the people magnified them. 14
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men
and women.) 15 Insomuch that they
brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and
couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some
of them. 16 There came also a multitude out
of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which
were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
This is a disruption of
routine that must have driven the authorities to distraction. Many signs and
wonders were performed by the Apostles, who alone of the believers stayed and
preached and performed miracles in Solomon’s Porch also mentioned back in
chapter 3. Multitudes were added to the followers of Christ. Peter was given
miraculous healing powers and the sick and the possessed were brought to him.
Many people were healed. It would seem to the authorities that Christ had not
been taken away. Instead of embracing these events are signs from God we will
see that the leadership decides on draconian measures.
Signs and wonders were very important in the
establishment of the people originally set apart for God, the Jews. The nature
of the Jew at that time was that they were more impressed by miracles while the
Gentile was often persuaded by a sound argument.
1Corinthians 1:22 For the
Jews require a sign, and the Greeks [Paul’s
word for Gentiles as Greek was the dominant culture and language] seek after wisdom:
Here is the definition
of overshadow in verse 15 as relates
to;
Luke
1:35 And the angel answered and said
unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore
also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of
God.
It is clearly not like
pagan mythologies where a god assumes human form and has sexual relations with
a woman. It is about a power doing just what the word implies, overshadowing.
There is no physical act of intercourse in Luke 1:35
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