1) Peter and John had just been involved in healing a man (3:1-10) and now Peter has boldly proclaimed the truth to the religious leaders (4:8-12). How did these very ordinary men do these very extraordinary things?
2) In Acts 2 we read the account of the Holy Spirit filling the waiting believers (Acts 2:1-4). So what is happening in 4:31?
3) What should real community look like among those following Jesus? What did the early church experience (see 4:32-36)? How does this compare to our experiences today?
Peter and John were ordinary men, but they had been with Jesus (4:13). They heard what Jesus said and saw what Jesus did. Now that they had been filled with the Holy Spirit, God was able to do extraordinary things through them. This could be you and me today!
Filled and filled again. That’s the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives. The disciples experienced this (2:4, 4:8, 4:31) and Paul commanded it (see Ephesians 5:18). There is a real sense that we need to come back to God over and over again to be filled with His Spirit.
In this passage we read about the community experienced by the early church. We often consider the incredible way they freely gave to one another (4:34-35). But don’t miss the other aspects of their community. They were one in heart and mind (4:32), they testified with great power (4:33), and they experienced much grace (4:33).
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