Priorities. Peter and John were not so caught up with large crowds that they had no time for individuals. Nor were they so busy in ministry that they could not pray. They had learned their lessons well from the Lord Jesus (Mark 1:35; Luke 8:40ff.).
Power. The emphasis in chapters 3–4 is on the name of Jesus (3:6, 13, 16, 20, 26; 4:2, 7, 10, 12, 17–18), the name above every name (Phil. 2:9–11). Faith in the name of Jesus releases power so that lives are changed. To pray or minister in His name means to ask or act on His authority (Matt. 28:18–20) so that He alone gets the glory.
Proclamation. At Pentecost, the sound of a rushing wind drew the crowd (2:2, 6); but here the witness of a changed life brought the people together. Thus, Peter had the opportunity to preach, and two thousand people were converted. Reach out to the individual (v. 7) and God will give you opportunities for a bigger harvest (John 4:28ff.).
“It’s the individual touch that tells. He [Jesus] doesn’t love in the mass, but in ones.”
