Although Peter is the central character in the first 12 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, there is scant mention of him in the immediate chapters which precede today' s reading. The apostles' encounter with Simon in Samaria who wanted to pay money for the power of the Holy Spirit is recorded in 8:14-25. Prior to this account, Peter is last seen in Jerusalem pushing through crowds of the sick and demon-possessed who wished to experience Peter' s healing touch, or failing that at least have his shadow fall upon them that they might thereby be healed (5:12-16).

The chapters preceding our text, then, rather than focusing on Peter, interject the account of Stephen' s martyrdom and Saul' s conversion before returning to the driving force behind the expansion of the early church. For when we …