“Many signs and wonders were performed among the people by the hands of the apostles…. They even brought the sick out into the streets and placed them on beds and mats, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might touch some of them.”
Acts 5:12, 15
Typical Responses
Before writing this article, I researched other Christian’s views about Peter’s shadow. I couldn’t help but notice how determined they were to deny any connection between these healings and Peter’s shadow. A typical comment is that the passage doesn’t say anyone was healed by being in Peter’s shadow.
I understand their concern. They don’t want people to fall prey to superstition. And I applaud their goal even though I think they miss the point. And I agree that Peter’s shadow didn’t have any power. But I do believe people were healed by being in Peter’s shadow. So, what was it that healed these “sick?” Let’s talk about this question.
Parallels with Jesus’ Healings?
Did Peter’s shadow heal people? Often the works of Jesus are duplicated by the Apostles. Jesus said this would happen:
“Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me will do the works that I do also. And he will do greater works than these, because I am going to My Father (John 14:12).”
The Woman Who Touched Jesus’ Cloak
Are there any parallel passages that are like this? Is there a Biblical pattern? Did something similar happen during Jesus’ ministry? Yes, there is it’s like when a woman touched Jesus’ cloak:
“And a certain woman had a hemorrhage for twelve years…. When she had heard of Jesus, she … touched His garment. (Saying), “If I may touch His garments, I shall be healed.” And immediately her hemorrhage dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction (Mark 5:26-29).”
Symbolic Faith
Many people say she touched Jesus’ cloak out of superstition. However, it’s more likely that what she did was symbolic. A cloak in that society was a symbol of protection. So, by touching Jesus’ cloak, she pictured herself under Jesus’ care. And Jesus recognized how she showed faith in Him:
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction (Mark 5:34).”
Jesus’ Cloak and Peter’s Shadow
Jesus’ cloak in this story equates to Peter’s shadow. There wasn’t any healing power in Jesus’ cloak any more than there was healing power in Peter’s shadow. Her faith made her well!
What is Superstition?
Stories show that some people superstitiously believe that the person’s character rubs off if you’re in their shadow and they’ve even intentionally moved a child out of someone’s shadow and put them in a greater person’s shadow. That is superstition.
We know that God doesn’t honor superstition. So, if He isn’t condoning superstition, why does He approve of these practices and heal these people?
The Apostle Paul’s Handkerchief
There’s still another related incident; this time, it involves the Apostle Paul:
Touching the Cloth Healed People
“God worked powerful miracles by the hands of Paul. So handkerchiefs or aprons he had touched were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11-12).”
The “Bringers” Faith
There’s no power in handkerchiefs–or aprons—so why did touching them lead to healing? And the passage doesn’t say the sick were exercising faith (though I think they were); the ones who believed were the ones who brought the cloths to the sick.
Are there any parallels between this situation and Jesus?
The Opened Roof
“They came to Him (Jesus) bringing (a paralytic) carried by four men. When they could not come near Him … they uncovered the roof where He was. When they had broken it open, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you (Mark 2:3-5).”
Again, the “Bringers” Faith
Yes, Jesus honored the faith of the men carrying the paralytic. In the same way, He accepted the faith of the people carrying what Paul had touched. Of course, they weren’t healed by Paul’s authority; they were healed by Jesus’ power, and Paul represented Jesus. It wasn’t the superstition God honored; it was peoples’ faith.
Each Incident Looked Superstitious
Interestingly, God gave us these examples. Each involved a superstitious practice that we know God doesn’t honor—by itself. But even though God discourages superstition, he honored the people’s faith in Him shown either personally or through His representatives.
Did Peter’s shadow heal people?
So, we don’t want to deny that people were healed by being in Peter’s shadow. They were. We should deny that the power came from his shadow because only Jesus has the innate authority to heal. The Apostles Peter and Paul represented Him, and Jesus responded to the people’s faith.
