Jesus-Like Powers

There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Thus, Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:1-8)

Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.  What a turn around with Saul becoming Paul with an entirely different mindset towards the followers of Jesus.  

One wonders how he transformed.  The fall from his horse and then conversion is a fanciful story that took on life through paintings of the supposed event.  In his letters Paul never mentions a horse – only a fall.  Luke in Acts puts a horse into the story.  Paul’s history and conversion continue to be debated with no consensus because his letters are often contradicted by what is said about him in the Acts of the Apostles.  

This reading also mentions Philip who proclaimed the Christ to the Samaritans.  Remarkably, Philip caused unclean spirits – crying out in a loud voice – to come out of many possessed people, and he cured many paralyzed and crippled people.  

I find it strange that the apostles would have such Jesus-like powers, although interpretation is everything.  For example, we cure people paralyzed by fear when we comfort them.  We cure people crippled by guilt when we forgive them.  We cause unclean spirits to come out of people when we show them love and compassion and convince them that God will deliver them from evil.  We are not magicians; we are simply part of the Body of Christ that picks people up when they fall, whether from a horse or not.

Deacon David Pierce