Acts 5:15-16 “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. (16) Also, a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”
In the next passage of scripture quoted above, we see the apostle Peter operating in the spiritual gift called the gifts of healings. In this instance we see that the apostle Peter was so anointed by the Holy Spirit, that just his shadow falling on the sick as he walked past them would cause them to receive their healing from the Lord. In other words Peter was not praying for these individuals; he was just walking past them. So why did this phenomenon occur? The same principle applied here as with the Lord Jesus. Word got out that Peter was anointed to heal the sick, and as his reputation spread, more and more people came to him expecting to be healed. Eventually the faith levels were so high in Peter’s anointing to heal, that even his shadow touching people was enough to trigger their faith to be activated thus drawing on the healing power that Peter was carrying. There can be no doubt that Peter operated in the spiritual gift called gifts of healings.
Acts 9:40 “But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.”
In the next passage of scripture quoted above we see the apostle Peter operating in the spiritual gift called the working of miracles. The context of this passage is that a disciple named Tabitha had recently died, and her fellow disciples had asked Peter to come and minister to her. If you read the account in scripture, the implication is very strong that they fully expected Peter to raise her from the dead, because she had already died before they went to call Peter. And so we see in this passage that Peter did exactly that, i.e. he raised her from the dead. There can therefore be no doubt that Peter operated in the spiritual gift of the working of miracles. As with the apostle Paul, there are no recorded prophecies given by Peter during his ministry, but we know that Peter taught on prophecy in his letters, and that he also both spoke with tongues and laid hands on others to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. And so we see that the apostle Peter also operated in all nine spiritual gifts. From the examples that we have examined in this section we can see that the New Testament pattern clearly reveals to us that one, who stands in the office of the apostle will operate in all nine gifts of the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 “for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. (12) Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Paul tells us that a true apostle displays signs and wonders and mighty deeds through their ministry. The reason that they can do that is because apostles operate in all nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. And so we see that another qualification that is needed for one to stand in the office of apostle is the manifestation of all nine gifts of the Spirit operating through their ministry.
Michael E.B. Maher
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