Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our first reading for this week, from Acts 5:12-32, describes a period in which the very first Christians were publicly visible. As I read this passage, I am struck by the many times the word “all” is used. In verse 12 the apostles are all together in a public place of worship. In verse 16 all the people coming to the apostles for prayer were healed.
The Christians, however, are not the only people with unanimity. In verse 17 all those with the high priest were jealous of the apostles. For this reason, they locked the apostles up. In turn, the apostles were told by an angel to go and proclaim all the words of life. That is precisely what the apostles continued to do.
The Gospel is presented as absolutely public and applicable to all who will hear. Is there opposition? Certainly. But the people of our world still need to hear all of God’s Word, which is for their benefit.
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