Continuing The Works Of Jesus: An Exposition Of Acts 5:12-16

Continuing the Works of Jesus: An Exposition of Acts 5:12-16

Jesus in John 14:12 states that the apostles would do even greater works than Jesus Himself did because He was returning to the Father. this brings up the question of how our works could possibly be greater than what Jesus did. He raised the dead, healed lepers, cast out demons, healed all manner of sickness, and fed thousands at one sitting with a totally insufficient amount of bread and fish. Besides this, His greatest work was dying on a cross for our sin? Even if we were to die for the faith, our martyrdom would save no one. How then can our works be greater?

I think it fair to say that our works can not be greater in the sense that we perform more stupendous miracles than Jesus did. But as Jesus’ works were limited in His humanity to the general area of Palestine. The church, on the other hand, is worldwide. In this sense, our works are greater in that they are greater in scope rather than greater in quality. We must also remember that when these works are done, they are not properly our works. Peter and John did not heal the lame man in their own authority and power but in the name of Jesus. So even these “greater works” are being done by God in the name of Jesus.

In Acts 1:1, Luke tells Theophilus that he wrote the former treatise to him of all that Jesus began to do and to teach. This implies that the Book of Acts is the continuation of the works and teaching of Jesus through the ministry of the Apostles. We continue in this Apostolic mission today when we evangelize and do works of healing. This is the true meaning of “Apostolic Succession.” Paul finished his course in Rome preaching the gospel to the end. But God raised up others to continue this mission. He raises people today to continue to do what Jesus began to do and teach, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

When we look at today’s text from Acts 5, we see a glimpse of the works of the Apostolic Church. We have already seen in the sermons of Peter at Pentecost and at Solomon’s porch that Peter continued the teaching of Jesus. Jesus pointed to the Scripture (Old Testament) and said that it prophesied about Him. (John 5:39) Scripture testifies that Christ must suffer and enter into His glory. (Luke 24:26-27) Jesus opened the eyes of the Apostles that they might understand how Scripture points to Him. (Luke 24:46-47. Central to this message was repentance. John the Baptist preached repentance because the Lord was coming. Jesus preached repentance as the one who came to teach, preach, suffer on the cross for our sin, rise again on the third day, and ascend to the right hand of the Father, from which vantage point He can oversee the mission of His Church. Peter and the Apostles centered their preaching upon the person of Christ and the implications thereof and called those who heard the message to repent. This preaching was not greater in content than the preaching and teaching of Jesus. It is good enough that our preaching be the same message Jesus taught. But Jesus could only preach one place at a time in the days of His sojourn here on earth. But today, The message of and about Jesus is being preached around the entire world. If the church as a whole would just follow the tradition of the apostolic preaching and not substitute another Gospel!

Satan tired as hard as he could to derail the mission of Jesus. We see this in the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. We ironically also see how Satan used Peter himself to attempt to alter the gospel. To these temptations, Jesus answered: “Get behind me Satan!” Matthew 16:23; Matthew 4:10) Satan also tried to derail the church. This was attempted first be outward persecution in the arrest of Peter and John after the healing of the lame man in the name of Jesus. But the persecution only further united the church and they preached with all the more boldness. (Acts 4:31) Satan also tried internal corruption when he tempted Ananias and Sapphira to lie about whether their donation to the church was the full amount of the land sale, which it was not. When God struck them dead, it is recorded that great fear fell over the church. God is holy! What could have been a great scandal for the church was avoided. The church emerged victorious from the event. If only the church today would stand up to the task and emerge from persecution and scandal united and stronger than ever!

This morning’s text begins with the apostles returning to Solomon’s Porch, a place where rabbis taught the people. This is where Peter had preached after the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful gate. It seems that Jesus had also taught the people there when He was in Jerusalem. A great crowd who had witnessed the healing had assembled there. The miracle was a sign which drew people to hear the Gospel. Now those who had heard about what had happened to Ananias and Sapphira rushed to the place. As Solomon’s Porch only was open to approved rabbis, the apostle’s presence there was bound again to stir up the indignation of the High Priest and the Sanhedrin. The people were in fear of God. but they also were in fear of the authorities. They came, but were reluctant to join the Christians.