Acts 5:14-16 – How can I help the sick and tormented?

Nevertheless (even though no non-Christian dared join them at church), more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. (Acts 5:14-16).

On my first day as a physical therapist, I shadowed Lori, an experienced clinician, and learned the ropes from her. In the same way, Peter mentored the early Christians. Peter was like them because at one time they all denied Jesus. But Peter rose to be their leader because he was the role model for forgiving himself, making God his refuge, and letting the Holy Spirit begin a new work in him.

We read yesterday that non-Christians were afraid to enter the early church because of what happened to Sapphira and Ananias. God wanted the church to be holy, and they weren’t. So it’s important that Peter wasn’t a Sunday-only Christian because belief and conversion didn’t take place on the Sabbath at Solomon’s Colonnade where the early Christians met. It’s in the difficult pathways of life that people realize they need a savior, and Peter was available on the streets of Jerusalem every day to tell about Jesus and bring people to God.

As a mentor, Peter teaches us to ask questions. A good one to ask the sick and tormented is, “Do you need a savior?” If they answer, “Yes,” tell them about Jesus, so they can be healed.

Father God, I praise you for healing me. Many in the crowds need a savior. Use me to help someone. Help me study and retain Your word and give me Your wisdom like You did Peter, so I can be a good mentor and people will want to be in my shadow. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Acts 5:14-16 – How can I help the sick and tormented?

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