Of One Accord
At the time John the Baptist began to preach about the coming of Jesus, the Jewish faith was being led by two opposing groups known as the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Both groups were offended by Jesus and the power He had in getting people to follow Him. He warned His disciples to beware of them and their false teachings. Many of the people held to the faith passed down by their ancestors who had originally entered the promised land. These were the ones most open to the teachings of Jesus and many chose to follow Him, believing that He was who He claimed to be, the Messiah God had promised to send.
Following Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the eleven remaining disciples met in the upper room where they had been staying.
Acts 1: 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
At one such meeting, when about one hundred and twenty of Jesus followers had gathered, Peter stood up and explained the need for them to choose a replacement for Judas who had betrayed them all and sent Jesus to His death on the cross. After praying for God’s guidance, they chose two, Barsabas and Matthias, to be voted on. They cast their lots and Matthias was elected to be the twelfth disciple.
Acts 2: 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, (The Holy Spirit appeared) they were all with one accord in one place. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The people were amazed and some thought these men of God must surely be drunk, but when Peter explained to them what had happened and told them of the power of Jesus and His ability to save their souls they gladly believed and were baptized. That same day about three thousand souls were saved.
Acts 2: 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.
One day , as Peter and John were entering the temple, a lame man who was born cripple and was carried to the temple every day to beg from those entering, got their attention. Acts 3: 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.
Peter took the man by his right hand and lifted him up….and immediately his feet and ankles were healed. The people were amazed for the man was forty years old and had not walked a day in his life. Now he was jumping and praising God. They ran to Peter and Paul and Peter was quick to tell them it was the power of Jesus, whom they had crucified, that the man was healed.
The priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees heard this and, just as they did with Jesus, they arrested Peter and John. Also as with Jesus, they could find no fault with what they had done and because of their fear of the people, after many threats and demands that it never happen again, they let them go.
Peter and Paul returned then to the people and reported what had happened. Acts 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which has made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: They continued to pray. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
As with Israel then, there are many divisions among believers today. As we notice in the scriptures here, the words “of one accord,” we see the importance of unity in our purpose and of being on the same page. We must all come together in our belief that Jesus is who He said He was: the Son of God…. and the only one with the name above all others with the power and ability to save our souls from hell. Let us pray for boldness to stand up and tell others about this power and of the love God has for us.
If He was not willing that one should perish, then we must not be willing either to let anything keep us from sharing the Gospel with those who need it. Let’s pray, in one accord, to be filled with the Holy Ghost that we might speak His Word with boldness and that many will hear and be saved through the power of Jesus name!
