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the dedicated dozen
Acts 5:12-16 (JDV)
Acts 5:12 Many signs and marvels were being done among the people through the hands of the missionaries. They were all with the same passion in Solomon’s Colonnade.
Acts 5:13 No one else had the audacity to stick with them, but the people spoke well of them.
Acts 5:14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers – multitudes of both men and women.
Acts 5:15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
Acts 5:16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean breaths, and they were all healed.
the dedicated dozen
Scholars are not in agreement on the referent of the phrase “They were all with the same passion” in verse 12. Does it refer to all of the believers, or all of the missionaries (the twelve apostles)?
My guess is that Luke was referring to the twelve missionaries who met daily and preached at Solomon’s Colonnade. Luke explains that this group did not grow because people were afraid to join them, but that everyone respected them.
This dedicated dozen formed a core ministry group. They would preach once a day at the temple area, and go about from place to place throughout the city.
At least some among this core ministry group had gifts of healing. Peter is mentioned here as an example. The purpose of the healing ministry was to draw people’s attention to the preaching ministry, so that new believers were always being added to the Lord.
Lord, thank you for those who minister and lead in our congregations. May they always have the same passion, and use all their gifts to build up your church.
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