Acts 5:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This did not happen under Christ, and from this one may see that what He said was now fulfilled in deed. What exactly was this? "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do" (Jn 14:12). Great was the faith of those who came, even greater than under Christ. Why did this happen? Because Christ had foretold it, saying, "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do" (Jn 14:12). They remained there and did not go about through cities and villages. Yet everyone brought their sick to them on beds and couches, and everywhere they manifested wonders.

"So that they even brought the sick out into the streets." Under Christ it did not happen that the sick received healing in the streets and from a shadow.

The handkerchiefs and aprons of the Apostle Paul had the same miraculous effect upon the sick and the possessed (Acts 19:12). So also now, by the grace of God present in the Orthodox Church, many wondrous healings of every disease occur.

They come through the incorrupt relics of God’s holy saints, through their veils and garments, and through their holy icons. Miracles are performed in a particular place and upon particular people only by the grace of God and by the faith of those who turn to God for help.

For this reason Christ said more than once: “Rise and go; your faith has saved you.” And again: “According to your faith let it be to you” (Lk 8:48). Therefore, Orthodox Christians, have a pure and firm faith in God (Mk 11:23).

We inhabit the earthly Church, yet no one may doubt that she is called heavenly. Dwelling above the stars, she is called heavenly and exalted. She abides on earth, but she is given to lead to eternal life. On this path she strengthens those whom she gathers.

It is best for the sheep to follow this path. Peter governs the flock and determines the further lot of those entrusted to his care. This is clear from the words: “Whatever you bind,” He says, “and whatever you loose on earth will remain bound or loosed in heaven” (cf. Mt 17:19).

This field, by which we mean the cultivated ground, is therefore a figure. Immutable, however, is that field borne by the clouds. Peter has been appointed to govern there also, and here he cares for its preparation.

Those suffering ones whom he freed from their infirmities and diseases are led unharmed to that Church which reaches the stars. She receives the pious assemblies and brings them to perfection.

At that time Peter visibly helped the suffering by the shadow of his body. Peter even now does not cease to strengthen the infirmities of the faithful by the shelter of his invisible intercession.

Since Peter is an image of the Church, it is fitting that he himself walks upright, yet by the shadow accompanying him he raises those who lie prostrate. For the Church, with her mind lovingly directed toward heavenly things, passes over the earth as a shadow.

Here she renews, through temporal mysteries and figures of heavenly things, those whom there she rewards with eternal gifts. Some connect this passage with what the Lord said in the Gospel: “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do” (Jn 14:12).

So many signs and wonders were done by the hands of the apostles that the people, seeing them, laid their sick on beds and couches and carried them out onto the main roads. They placed them there so that, when Peter passed along that way, at least his shadow might touch one of them. From this it is clear that even Peter's very shadow healed the sick. Otherwise there would have been no reason to carry them out onto the roads. Here is the fulfillment of the words of our Savior: "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do" (Jn 14:12). Christ healed the woman with the flow of blood and the infirm sick dwelling in the land of Gennesaret not by His shadow, but by the hem of His garment (Lk 8:44, Mt 14:36).

While many signs and wonders continued to be done among the people by the hands of the apostles, unanimity continued to reign among all the Christians. When they came to the temple at the hours of worship, to take part with their countrymen in prayers and hymns to Jehovah, they all remained with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Because of its considerable size, this porch was a more suitable place in the temple for the Christians, who by that time had already become a great number, to separate themselves and withdraw from those who did not believe in Christ. At these gatherings in a public place, the Christians' seclusion could most easily have been disturbed. Yet even there, none of the outsiders dared attach himself to them.

"So that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them"; v. 15. Such faith did the apostles acquire through the miracles worked in the name of the Lord Jesus. Without doubt, they did this because they saw wonder-working power proceed from the apostles to the sick, even when the apostle's shadow overshadowed someone. This also explains why the people magnified the believers, and especially the apostles, and why multitudes of men and women joined the community of believers in Jesus Christ.

Thus even Peter’s shadow, falling upon the sick, brought them miraculous healing or relief. This was certainly not by its own power, for what power can a shadow have? Rather, it was by power borrowed from the Apostle Peter.

Yet Peter himself testified that he too healed the lame man not by his own power, but by the name, or power, of Christ (3:12, 16). Therefore one and the same divine wonderworking power of Christ extended from Christ to Peter, and from Peter to Peter’s shadow.

So one and the same light of the sun extends from the sun to the moon, and from the moon to many other objects. By their nature they are dark, yet through the heavenly luminaries they become bright.

Sixth, the healings of the sick were especially numerous, and they were wrought in particular by the Apostle Peter. “That the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow them.” The writer of Acts does not say that Peter’s shadow healed the sick.

Yet they certainly would not have carried the sick into the streets for this unless Peter’s shadow healed them. Clearly the people believed in the healing power of Peter’s shadow. They believed this, of course, because they had seen healings from that shadow.

As one touch of Christ’s garment, even without His knowledge, was sometimes accompanied by the healing of those who touched Him (cf. Mt 9:20 and parallels), so one overshadowing by Peter’s shadow produced healing.

The healings were so remarkable that some believed in the power of the Apostle Peter’s shadow. For this reason they placed the sick so that the shadow might touch them. They also brought those possessed by evil spirits. And all were healed.

The wide spread of the miracles, and especially their rare manner, stirred many to ask why such wondrous miracles had not occurred even with Jesus Christ Himself. But Jesus Christ Himself gave the answer. He said: “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do” (Jn 14:12).

We have already said why a multitude of miracles was then needful (see the explanation of Acts 2:43). Through them unbelievers were called to the faith, and those of little faith were strengthened.

On the visible inequality of the reward given to the saints (on v. 15). Since the power of Christ is almighty, it accords with its nature that He works wonders through the saints whenever this is pleasing to the Lord. So once He worked wonders through the headcloths and handkerchiefs that had touched the body of the holy Apostle Paul and had received his sweat (Acts 19:12). So also He worked through the mere overshadowing of the shadow of the holy Apostle Peter (Acts 5:15). What wondrous recompense for piety: by it not only is the human spirit raised to gracious communion with Christ, but even the body becomes a partaker of Christ's gracious power. By this body we perform these small labors of fasting, prayerful kneeling, and service in brotherly love.