2:40 And with many
other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this
perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized;
and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking
of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders
and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were
together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods,
and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
Fear? That word keeps popping up in Scripture. The followers
of God fear Him. "Fear filled every soul" Luke tells us. What in the
world does that mean?

Here is some analysis of the original Greek word to chew on:
5401 phóbos (from phebomai, "to flee, withdraw") –
fear (from Homer about 900 bc on) 5401 (phóbos) meant withdrawal, fleeing
because feeling inadequate (without sufficient resources, Abbott-Smith).
Fear (5401 /phóbos) is commonly used in Scripture – sometimes
positively (in relation to God) but more often negatively of withdrawing from
the Lord (His will).
[Fundamentally, 5401 /phóbos ("fear") means
withdraw (separate from), i.e. flee (remove oneself) and hence to avoid because
of dread (fright).]
With that in mind what idea was Luke trying to convey when he
said fear came on every soul that joined The Way? The basic meaning of the root
word that has been translated 'fear' is 'to withdraw from'. This word 'phobos'
is where we get our word phobia. If I have a phobia of something I avoid it. I
seek to withdraw from wherever it is found whether my phobia be darkness or
spiders or whatever else. Is that what Luke had in mind? The new believers in
Jesus developed a phobia of Him and wanted to withdraw from Him? Clearly not.
The context does not leave any room for this explanation. They were meeting
regularly to learn more about Him, spend time together and with Him, sharing
meals and praying. It's hardly a scene of withdrawing from fear (terror) of
Him.
So what then? What were they withdrawing from? Note it never says
that a fear of God came over them. Luke just says fear came on every soul. The
next thing that happened as a result was that they came together and had
everything in common and sold their stuff and shared with anyone who had need.
Interesting.
They saw Jesus. They saw how He had nothing and gave
everything. Fear came. They withdrew from "normal". They developed
new eyes and a new way of seeing things. The purpose of life was not to get but
to give. Success was not in acquiring but in sharing. They saw the great
differences between them and Jesus. They felt His tremendous love and at the
same time felt so inadequate. Their love was nothing like His love. Their
developing phobia was not a phobia of Jesus but a phobia of themselves. They
looked at Him and then in the mirror and felt an overwhelming need to withdraw
from what they had been and draw close to Him.
I know that feeling. I feel it new every morning. He is so
amazing and I marvel at the great gulf between us. He is everything I want to
become and the most amazing part is that His love is relentless no matter how
wide or deep the gulf. What a Saviour.
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