Acts 5:12 kjv
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
Acts 5:12 nkjv
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.
Acts 5:12 niv
The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
Acts 5:12 esv
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.
Acts 5:12 nlt
The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon's Colonnade.
Acts 5 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference (Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 7:3 | But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. | God's use of signs and wonders to establish His authority. |
| Deut 13:1-5 | If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder... | Signs and wonders can occur, but test prophets by their loyalty to God's word. |
| Isa 8:18 | Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts... | Prophets as signs and wonders, pointing to God's truth. |
| Mt 11:20-24 | Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not... | Jesus performing mighty works/miracles, demanding repentance. |
| Mk 16:20 | And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. | God confirming the apostolic message through accompanying signs. |
| Lk 7:21 | And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits... | Jesus' ministry marked by signs and wonders. |
| Jn 10:23 | And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. | Solomon's Portico as a place where Jesus Himself taught and ministered. |
| Jn 14:12 | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also... | Believers (apostles initially) empowered to do greater works. |
| Acts 1:8 | But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses... | Promise of Holy Spirit power enabling witness, including signs. |
| Acts 1:14 | These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication... | Early church unity and common purpose ("one accord"). |
| Acts 2:1 | And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. | Unity of the disciples before the Holy Spirit outpouring. |
| Acts 2:22 | Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders... | God authenticated Jesus' ministry with signs and wonders. |
| Acts 2:43 | And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. | Similar phrase, reinforcing apostolic ministry of signs. |
| Acts 2:46 | And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple... | Daily unity and gathering in the temple. |
| Acts 3:6-8 | Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee... and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. | Example of healing by apostles' hands, a specific "wonder". |
| Acts 4:29-30 | And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. | Prayer for boldness and continued signs and wonders to confirm the Word. |
| Acts 4:32 | And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul... | Deeper emphasis on the profound unity among early believers. |
| Acts 6:8 | And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. | Signs and wonders not exclusive to apostles, done by empowered believers. |
| Rom 15:18-19 | For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me... through mighty signs and wonders... | Paul's apostolic ministry also validated by signs and wonders. |
| 2 Cor 12:12 | Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. | Apostolic office authenticated by the working of signs and wonders. |
| Heb 2:3-4 | How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord... God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders... | God confirms the message of salvation, delivered by apostles, with signs. |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another... | Christian fellowship as an expression of unity. |
Acts 5 verses
Acts 5 12 Meaning
Acts 5:12 describes the continuous divine confirmation of the early Christian message through the apostles. God, through the apostles' ministry, was actively performing numerous miracles and wonders among the people, leading to both awe and spiritual discernment. Crucially, the believers maintained a powerful unity, regularly gathering in a public and significant location within the temple precincts. This verse encapsulates the supernatural power attending the gospel's spread, the apostolic authority, and the cohesive fellowship of the nascent Church in Jerusalem.
Acts 5 12 Context
Acts chapter 5 immediately follows the narrative of Ananias and Sapphira, whose deaths at the hands of God (via Peter's declaration) instilled a profound fear throughout the church and among all who heard of it (Acts 5:1-11). This dramatic event served to purify the community and establish the gravity of dealing deceptively with the Holy Spirit and with God's work. Following this, the early believers continued their pattern of fellowship, teaching, and prayer. Verse 12 serves as a pivotal summary of the supernatural dimension of the apostles' ministry at this time. It sets the stage for increasing numbers of conversions, healing, and eventually, renewed persecution by the Jewish authorities who perceived the apostles as a growing threat. The location, "Solomon's porch," underscores the public and highly visible nature of their ministry within the very heart of Jewish religious life.
Acts 5 12 Word analysis
- And by the hands:
- Hands (Greek: cheirōn) literally refers to the physical extremities but often metaphorically represents power, authority, means, or instrumentality in Scripture. Here, it denotes the apostles as God's chosen instruments through whom His power flowed. It emphasizes that these actions were God's work, executed through the apostles.
- of the apostles:
- (Greek: tōn apostolōn) Refers to the twelve men specifically chosen and sent by Jesus with divine authority and commission to establish the Church and proclaim the gospel (Lk 6:13; Acts 1:26). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the resurrection and recipients of Pentecostal power is key to understanding the supernatural authentication of their message.
- were many signs and wonders:
- Signs (Greek: sēmeia): Miraculous occurrences that serve a specific purpose, pointing to a divine truth, a messenger's authenticity, or God's presence and power. They are not merely displays of power but convey meaning.
- Wonders (Greek: terata): Extraordinary events that evoke astonishment or awe, often connected with a divine cause. This term emphasizes the effect of the miracles on the observers.
- Paired together ("signs and wonders"), this phrase is common in both Testaments to describe divine attestation to a messenger or message (e.g., God through Moses, Jesus, and now the apostles).
- Many (Greek: polla): Indicates the frequent and abundant nature of these occurrences, not isolated incidents.
- wrought:
- (Greek: egineto, from ginomai - "to come into being," "to happen," "to be done") This verb is in the imperfect tense, suggesting a continuous or repeated action. It means these "signs and wonders were continually being brought about" or "were being worked." It points to God as the ultimate agent, working through His apostles.
- among the people:
- (Greek: en tō laō) Refers to the general Jewish populace of Jerusalem. The miracles were public, observable by many, validating the apostles' claims and drawing attention to the new movement.
- and they were all with one accord:
- They all refers to the collective body of believers, including the apostles, gathered together.
- With one accord (Greek: homothumadon): A crucial word in Acts, appearing ten times, describing the remarkable unity, unanimous agreement, and singleness of purpose of the early church. It speaks to a deep spiritual harmony, not just superficial agreement.
- in Solomon's porch:
- (Greek: stoa Solomōnos) A prominent covered colonnade or portico on the eastern side of the temple's outer court in Jerusalem. It was a well-known public gathering place where Jesus himself taught (Jn 10:23). Its use by the apostles highlights their boldness in preaching publicly within a significant religious and civic hub, indicating openness rather than clandestine activity.
Acts 5 12 Bonus section
The consistent use of "signs and wonders" in Acts reinforces the New Testament pattern of divine attestation for pivotal moments in redemptive history or for those bearing a foundational message. Just as Moses, empowered by God, performed signs and wonders to deliver Israel and authenticate the Law, and Jesus performed countless miracles to authenticate His messiahship and His teaching, so too were the apostles equipped for their unique role as the founders and early disseminators of the Church. These acts served not merely as demonstrations of power, but as irrefutable proof of God's hand at work, solidifying the foundational truths of the new covenant message in the eyes of a skeptical world. This emphasis suggests a distinct phase of authentication in the early church's formative period.
Acts 5 12 Commentary
Acts 5:12 succinctly captures the vibrant activity of the early Jerusalem church, portraying a critical period where divine power manifested publicly to authenticate the apostolic message. The continuous working of "many signs and wonders" through the "hands of the apostles" served as irrefutable evidence that God was actively endorsing their proclamation of Jesus Christ. These miracles were not random acts but intentional "signs," pointing to Jesus' divine authority, validating the apostles' divine commission, and confirming the truth of the gospel message. The concurrent phrase "wrought among the people" highlights the public and verifiable nature of these manifestations, compelling observers to reckon with the reality of God's power.
Crucially, this supernatural attestation was coupled with an internal spiritual reality: the believers were "all with one accord." This profound unity (homothumadon) in prayer, purpose, and fellowship was a consistent characteristic of the early Church in Acts and an undeniable testament to the Spirit's presence. Gathering in "Solomon's porch" was a strategic choice, a place of public discourse within the sacred temple precincts, where Jesus himself had taught. It demonstrated the apostles' courage, openness, and their desire to engage directly with the very heart of Jewish religious life, making the powerful testimony of Christ and His Church undeniably visible to all. The combination of supernatural power, profound unity, and bold public witness made the early church a force that could not be ignored.