Peter’s Shadow, Paul’s Perspiration
August 13, 2008 in News Leave a reply
By Peter Barfoot
“They brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” (Acts 5:15)
We Pentecostals, God bless us, are sometimes almost superstitious when it comes to supernatural power, especially in such instances as the power of Peter’s shadow and Paul’s handkerchief to heal sick people.
Because our secular society is so skeptical of God’s power, it’s not hard to work out why Christians would wish to see such 1st century evidences of God’s power happening in the 21st century.
There’s a fine line between genuine spirituality and superstition, and it’s not at all hard for Christians to cross—especially those who pursue the power that was evident in the lives of Peter and Paul. Pentecostals don’t so much wish to go back to the days of such power as they’d like to bring it forward to today, as proof positive to skeptics that God works at least as much miraculously as He does mysteriously.
But if you’ve ever tried casting your shadow over the sick people in some street and it didn’t work—did you wonder why it didn’t?
A shadow appears when a solid substance blocks direct sunlight. The more solid the substance, the darker the shadow. Peter was a man of substance—even before being filled with the Holy Spirit and preaching powerfully on the Day of Pentecost.
It was Peter who had the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. Peter had his faults (don’t we all?) but he knew how to use the “keys” Jesus gave him to unlock the kingdom to 3000 Jews that day, and to the household of Cornelius ten years later. Peter dominates the spiritual scene throughout the first twelve chapters of the book of Acts.
Would you like to see the sick healed in a similar way? Then become a more substantial Christian! ‘Christianity Lite’ is simply not solid enough to throw a strong shadow over the sick. (Not that the shadow itself healed them, but their faith in Peter as an anointed man of God.)
To add more substance or character to your life, study the life of Peter, whose given name Simon meant “Reed”. Jesus renamed him Peter, which means, “Rock”. With his Lord’s help, Peter changed from a man who would “bend with the wind” to a rock-solid and immovable apostle. Peter the disciple denied Jesus, but Peter the Spirit-filled apostle “stood up” and witnessed boldly about his Lord to thousands!
If Peter’s life threw a strong shadow, similarly, Paul’s integrity was seen in his miracle-working aprons and handkerchiefs.
“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” (Acts 19:11,12)
In the original NT Greek manuscript, “handkerchiefs” is “soudaria” (from “sudor”, sweat) meaning, “sweat cloths, napkins”. The Greek word for “aprons” is “simikinqia”, which refers to the linen aprons used by servants, artisans, and—in Paul’s case— tent-makers. Paul used sweat rags and wore aprons while working manually at Ephesus.
“You know very well that these hands have ministered to my needs, and to those that were with me. I have shown you all things, how that labouring like this you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:34,35)
The fact that God worked “special miracles” through Paul’s soiled aprons and sweat-stained handkerchiefs reveals God’s power at work through Paul’s humanity. Paul’s sweat-stains showed his integrity—how that he “laboured with his own hands” while discharging his apostolic ministry. (Acts 18:3; 1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8)
Inspiration and perspiration are productive co-workers in God’s kingdom! Like to see “special miracles” in your ministry? Off to work then! Support others, as well as yourself, so that your integrity may be seen in the work of your hands, as well as the words of your mouth. Manual work brings out the best in a man—and the worst in one that won’t work.
Peter’s shadow and Paul’s perspiration—pointers to the substance of Peter’s character and Paul’s integrity!
