The Progress of the Gospel; Acts 5:12 – 16 – Part-1

Church History:12The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
This is a general account of the miracles which the apostles performed: By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders brought among the people, many miracles of mercy for one of judgment. Now the gospel power returned to its proper channel, which is that of mercy and grace. God had come out of his place to punish, but now returns to his place, to his mercy-seat again. The miracles that were performed proved their divine mission. They were not a few, but many, of diverse kinds and often repeated; they were signs and wonders, such wonders as were confessedly signs of a divine presence and power. They were not done in a corner, but among the people, who were at liberty to enquire into them, and, if there had been any fraud or collusion in them, would have discovered it.
The church was kept together, and confirmed in its adherence both to the apostles and to one another: The members of the church were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. They met in the temple, in the open place that was called Solomon's porch. They all met together in public worship; They were there with one accord, unanimous in their doctrine, worship, and discipline; and there was no discontent nor murmuring about the death of Ananias and Sapphira, as there was against Moses and Aaron about the death of Korah and his company: You have killed the people of the Lord, (Numbers 16:41). The separation of hypocrites, by distinguishing judgments, should make the sincere bond to each other and to the gospel ministry.
It gained respect for the apostles, who were the prime ministers in Christ's kingdom. The other ministers kept their distance: Of the rest of their company, no man claimed to be their equal or an associate of them; though others were endued with the Holy Ghost, and spoke with tongues, yet none of them at this time did such signs and wonders as the apostles did: and therefore they acknowledged their superiority, and in everything yielded to them. All the people admired them, and had them in great veneration, spoke of them with respect, and represented them as the favorites of Heaven, and unspeakable blessings to this earth. Though the chief priests vilified them, and did all they could to make them contemptible, this did not hinder the people from magnifying them, who saw things in a true light. The apostles were far from magnifying themselves; they transmitted the glory of all they did very carefully and faithfully to Christ, and yet the people magnified them; for those that humble themselves shall be exalted, and those honored that honor God only.