Second Week of Easter : Friday 12th April 2024

After Peter and the Apostles on Pentecost spoke about Jesus, a thousand people accepted and believed (Acts 2:41). The Apostles “worked many signs and miracles” (Acts 5:12), and more and more became believers (v14). Nothing stopped the work of the Spirit in them, even in the midst of resistance and formal warning. To this remarkable occurrence, a well respected member of the Sanhedrin and doctor of the Law, Gamaliel (v34), said that if the movement was of human origin, it would die off with their leaders. He reminded them of two leaders, Theudas and Judas the Galilean and their movements that ended.

However, he cautioned them that if it was of God, then “you will not only be unable to destroy them, but you might find yourselves fighting against God” (v39). The Apostles were set free after being flogged, happy and honoured to have suffered ‘humiliation for the sake of the name’ (v41). Their preaching was uninterruptible.

In the same manner, Jesus’ work of curing and caring for the sick and hungry was unstoppable. A small boy’s five barley loaves and two fish feed as many as five thousand through the work of Jesus. The only resistance to such divine work was to make Jesus the utilitarian provider according to their fancy.

Lord, let us allow every opportunity for Your Spirit to work through our hands, especially in our vulnerable moments.