12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Acts 5:12-13

The early Believers met openly in the outer courts of the Temple. They were not hiding away in an upper room, away from the masses as they had done prior to the Holy Spirit coming down upon them. It took a lot of guts to meet so openly. They performed all of their healings and miracles out in the open. Yet many of the people around them were afraid. They could not deny what was happening through these Believers, even though they were not able to discern what was happening.

Peter and john and the rest of the Disciples had known that fear. And they had a distinct advantage over those they were preaching to: they had direct contact with the Messiah!

But the Believers continue to preach and teach and perform miracles. The stories may have been different in their messages, but the message was the same: repent and believe.

That’s the gist of the Gospel message, isn’t it? Two millennia have passed but the message is still the same. How we go about telling it is different, but the truth is still truth.