“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” –Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)..
Peter was greatly empowered by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and preached openly to those gathered in Jerusalem. We are told in Acts 2:41 that those who heard and accepted the dynamic message of Peter added about three thousand to their number that day.
We don’t know the logistics of the situation. How did Peter make himself heard to so many without benefit of electronics and amplification? Surely all the disciples must have been actively witnessing and counseling, and afterwards helping Peter perform baptism for the numbers of believers added to the church. The “how” is left to our imagination. But the summary as given in the Acts of the Apostles allows us to see Peter and the others fulfilling God’s mission and the results of faith and obedience. They were found faithful. They were seeing Jesus’ prediction come true: “And greater things will he do because I go to my Father” (John 14:12).
The disciples were now apostles—those sent out with a message. This was and has continued to be the method of evangelistic success. From Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost to the faithful through the ages since the days of the early church, those sent out with a message have, through the power of the Holy Spirit, seen the results of hearing the Word. The principle of Vine and Branches as given by Jesus in John 15 bears fruit in repentance and faith. “How beautiful…the feet of them that bring glad tidings..who proclaim salvation” (Isaiah 52:7).
In the days of the early church and even to this twenty-first century it has been thus. Maybe not 3,000 in one day, as with Peter; and maybe again, yes. Do we not hear of the thousands who responded in Billy Graham evangelistic crusades? And now with radio, television, internet and e-mail as methods of spreading the Word, we cannot begin to estimate how many hear and respond to the Word. But we can never lose sight that belief and faith come to each person meeting Jesus Christ at the point of realized need for salvation, conviction, repentance, belief and obedience to follow Him. Believer meets Christ, One-to-one: this is always the way to faith.
We don’t know the logistics of the situation. How did Peter make himself heard to so many without benefit of electronics and amplification? Surely all the disciples must have been actively witnessing and counseling, and afterwards helping Peter perform baptism for the numbers of believers added to the church. The “how” is left to our imagination. But the summary as given in the Acts of the Apostles allows us to see Peter and the others fulfilling God’s mission and the results of faith and obedience. They were found faithful. They were seeing Jesus’ prediction come true: “And greater things will he do because I go to my Father” (John 14:12).
The disciples were now apostles—those sent out with a message. This was and has continued to be the method of evangelistic success. From Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost to the faithful through the ages since the days of the early church, those sent out with a message have, through the power of the Holy Spirit, seen the results of hearing the Word. The principle of Vine and Branches as given by Jesus in John 15 bears fruit in repentance and faith. “How beautiful…the feet of them that bring glad tidings..who proclaim salvation” (Isaiah 52:7).
In the days of the early church and even to this twenty-first century it has been thus. Maybe not 3,000 in one day, as with Peter; and maybe again, yes. Do we not hear of the thousands who responded in Billy Graham evangelistic crusades? And now with radio, television, internet and e-mail as methods of spreading the Word, we cannot begin to estimate how many hear and respond to the Word. But we can never lose sight that belief and faith come to each person meeting Jesus Christ at the point of realized need for salvation, conviction, repentance, belief and obedience to follow Him. Believer meets Christ, One-to-one: this is always the way to faith.
c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, April 12, 2010
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