Acts 2:43 – Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

This very straight forward and specific verse of scripture gives us a glimpse into the life of the early church. Luke described the entire church community experiencing the fear of God which was directly related to the signs and wonders that were literally filling the atmosphere in those days. They had experienced the outpouring of the Spirit, a large group of people worshipping in other tongues, prophetic preaching, and apparently many miracles that began to take place from that first day. All of this flowed out of an extreme awareness of the presence of God which filled all of their lives and was obviously the source of these signs and wonders. Here is how the Pillar Commentary describes this passage.

“The apostolic preaching and the response it generated had an ongoing effect in Jerusalem: everyone was filled with awe (‘and fear came upon every soul’). This clause suggests an enduring sense of awe inspired by the consciousness that God was at work in their midst, so that they were witnesses of the final drama, and indeed participants in it.’ Moreover, many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. By such means, God confirmed the teaching and the special status of the apostles in his plan and purpose. Apart from Jesus, the only other persons who are said to do ‘signs and wonders’ in Acts are Stephen and Philip. Such mighty works were signs of the approaching ‘day of the Lord’ and were an indication of the close connection between these individuals and Jesus. Signs and wonders were particularly performed by the apostles, as Christ’s agents. A notable example follows in 3:1-10, where it is made clear that the healing was achieved ‘in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth’.”

Recently I watched a video recorded in 1969 of a Kathryn Kuhlman healing service. The atmosphere was charged with God’s presence as many people were being healed by the power of God. The atmosphere was charged with the joy of the Lord which is quite different from anything this world offers. People were rejoicing as God was touching people but the atmosphere of joy was also permeated with the fear of God. This is one of the strange characteristics of God’s presence, an unusual combination of joy and the fear of God. This is a common theme every time God’s glory comes on the scene.