It is clear that the disciples are carrying on Jesus’ ministry. Not only are they proclaiming the good news of God’s love and grace, but they were also accomplishing signs and wonders. People were being healed and demons were being exorcised. The disciples were doing even greater deeds than Jesus. People were being healed simply by having Peter’s shadow cross over them.

We can sometimes become a little envious of the disciples. It would be nice if signs and wonders accompanied our proclamation of the gospel. The healings and exorcisms are not what is important, though. They never were what created faith in the lives of people. What is important is that people’s needs are being met. They are being healed, counseled, encouraged and strengthened. People are hearing the good news of what God has done through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our ministries may not be flashy or impressive, but they are effective in touching the lives of people and meeting their needs.

Acts 5:12-16

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.