Escalation of the Apostolic Witness

In answer to the saints' petition, God had intervened to protect His Church's witness to His Son and His gospel. He had prevailed - and would continue to prevail - to build His Church by preserving its life and testimony in the world; threats from within and without would not withstand the divine determination to "sum up all things in the heavens and the earth in Christ." Luke punctuated this truth in the present context, specifically by setting it in marked contrast with his account of the healing of the lame man in chapter 3. The general features of the two episodes are very similar, but in the present context each feature shows marked development over its predecessor. There one man was healed; here every person brought to the apostles was healed. Moreover, Peter's healing work now reached beyond physical affliction to demonic oppression. This enlarged witness, in turn, was extending the reach of the gospel beyond the bounds of Jerusalem to the neighboring towns and villages, bringing multitudes of people to faith in Christ. God had not merely preserved the witness and work of His Church from opposing forces, He was escalating it. Jesus' promise of worldwide witness and a global Church was beginning to be realized.