Acts 4

In verse 22, we learn that the man healed was more than 40 years old and this is causing a huge stir among the people. Peter and John are fearless in teaching at the temple, the center of all Jewish authority and belief. The affect of the miracle and the power of Peter and John's teaching bring the foremost Jewish leaders they have Peter and John arrested until they can decide what they can do about them. When the leaders ask Peter by what authority they teach and heal, it says he is full of the Holy Ghost and in verse 10 he bears witness that the resurrected Savior is the source of this power and authority. In Acts, we'll se that when the apostles teach, the thing they emphasize is the resurrection of Christ.

The leaders are amazed that uneducated, plain men are able to speak with such power and authority and they don't know what to do since an obvious miracle has been performed. So they threaten them and tell them not to preach or perform any more miracles. Peter tells them to decide what if it is right for the apostles to hearken to God or to them. Not able to find anything wrong, they let Peter and John go and they return to their people and continue teaching. After praying with the people, the people are filled with the Holy Ghost and it says that 5,000 men were converted. If you were to count the women and children, it would probably number more than 10,000 people converted at this time, and it's because "with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all."

The change that comes in the lives of the people is evident when all of the people share things in common to take care of the poor. Many of the people sell their land and give the money to the apostles to help the poor. I think it's important to remember that there is an organization established and this is not just a group of men going about preaching. A church has been formed and people are coming to it. Soon, the churches will be established all over the middle east and into Italy.