Acts 5:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The handkerchiefs and aprons of the Apostle Paul had the same miraculous effect upon the sick and the demon-possessed (Acts 19:12).

So also now, by the grace of God present in the Orthodox Church, numerous and wondrous healings of every kind of sickness occur. They come from the incorrupt relics of God's holy saints, from their coverings and garments, and from their holy icons.

Miracles are performed in a given place and upon given 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, “Arise, go your way; your faith has saved you.” And again, “According to your faith let it be to you” (Lk 8:48).

So many signs and wonders were performed by the hands of the apostles that the people, seeing them, brought out their sick on beds and pallets to the great roads. There they laid them, so that even Peter’s shadow, when he passed that way, might touch one of them.

From this it is clear that Peter’s very shadow healed the sick. Otherwise there would have been no reason to bring them out to 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).

While many signs and wonders continued to be performed 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, they joined 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 convenient place in the temple for the Christians. By this time they had already become a great multitude, and there they could separate themselves from those who did not believe in Christ.

The report of the wondrous deeds performed by the apostles spread through the villages and towns around Jerusalem. That is, people heard that they were healing the sick of every kind.

Therefore “many also came together to Jerusalem from the surrounding cities, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed” (v. 16).

When the Lord Jesus preached the Gospel on earth, the sick and those possessed by unclean spirits were brought to Him from every side, and He healed them. So now the sick and those possessed by unclean spirits are brought to the apostles, and the apostles heal them.

Seventh, the fame of the healings performed by Peter spread through the cities neighboring Jerusalem. Many from there brought and led the sick and the demon-possessed, and all were healed.

This shows that Christian communities already existed in the surrounding cities as well. Yet perhaps even some who did not yet believe in Christ benefited from the apostles' miracles and were thereby brought to faith. This also happened during the Lord's earthly ministry.

“From every side amazement at the apostles increased: from those who had believed, from those who were healed, from those who were punished, from their boldness in preaching, and from their virtuous and blameless life” (Theophylact).

Those possessed by unclean spirits: see the note on Mt 4:24.

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

Such a wide spread of miracles, and especially this rare manner of them, stirred many to ask why such wondrous miracles had not occurred even with Jesus Christ Himself. But the answer to this was given by Jesus Christ Himself.

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).

Why so many miracles were then needful has already been said in the explanation of Acts 2:43. Through them unbelievers were called to faith, and those of little faith were strengthened.