Context No. 2622 of 4322 · Acts

Acts 5:9-16: in context

9But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things. 12By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13None of the rest dared to join them; however, the people honored them. 14More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 15They even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might overshadow some of them. 16The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits; and they were all healed.

In the early days of the church, after the shocking deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, the text records the atmosphere in a single phrase: great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard. Alongside that fear, the apostles were doing many signs and wonders; the sick were carried into the streets hoping even Peter's shadow might fall on them, and crowds came and were healed. Fear and wonder together.

The word fear here is not terror of punishment but reverent awe, the sense that God was really, palpably present among them, and that he is holy. The early church trembled because it knew it was standing near something not tame. We have, on the whole, lost that. We have made God so approachable, so safe, so much our friend, that the awe has drained away, and with it something vital. The same church that trembled was the church through which the sick were healed in the streets. Reverent fear and living power went together. To lose the fear is often to lose the sense that God is actually here.

Is there a reverent awe in my sense of God's presence, or have I made him so safe and casual that the holy fear has drained away?

Sources

Acts 5:11: Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
Acts 5:12: By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.
Proverbs 9:10: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.