In Acts chapter 3, Peter healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. Everyone knew this lame man and when he was healed, he began walking, leaping, and praising God. This miracle drew everyone’s attention and all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. It also drew the attention of the rulers, elders, and scribes. Peter then preached the Gospel to those who gathered after witnessing and hearing of the miracle. Many of those who heard The Word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. When was the last time you heard of 5,000 men being saved in one meeting?
The excitement mounted as the word spread about this one miracle. In Acts chapter 4, it is written by THE SPIRIT:
5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,
6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Rest assured that those who are carnally minded will challenge us who are spiritually minded for we will challenge their current system in place which serves their selfish motives and livelihood. Our message is Christ and being led by The Holy Spirit, we will speak only the exact Truth given to us by FATHER according to HIS perfect Will. Isn’t this what Peter did after he had been filled with The Holy Spirit and had been breathed upon by Jesus? The Beloved Disciple wrote in by THE SPIRIT in John chapter 20:
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Jesus took a very specific action to prepare the disciples for what lied ahead. They received a boldness which had not been there prior to that point. They were being prepared for a public ministry that would continue the ministry and message of Christ. The fruit included miracles, signs, and wonders which drew the masses and confirmed The Word. Those in positions of authority were amazed by the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Shouldn’t we expect Our Lord Jesus Christ to do the same in our midst? Are we willing to be commissioned for the public ministry in like manner, not by some religious organization but Christ Himself? Have we made a full commitment to Christ to follow Him and accept our part in establishing The Kingdom?
Speaking of five thousand men, the following video provides perspective when a large number of men come together in unity: https://youtu.be/9nFE3VSBWG0