The Early and the Latter Rain: Courage and Renewal in Acts 4:23–31

Acts Commentary 7: Acts 4:23-31

There are a number of references in the Bible to the “first rain” (early rain) and “second rain” (latter rain). They are agricultural terms that have powerful theological meaning of a symbolic kind. Ancient Israel had two essential rainy seasons:  Early Rain — fell in autumn (Oct–Nov). It softened the soil and allowed planting to begin. The Later Rain — fell in Spring (Mar–Apr). It matured the crops and prepared them for harvest. Here are a number of Biblical examples,

Ø  Deuteronomy 11:14 — God promised Israel “the early and latter rain” as a covenant blessing;

Ø  Jeremiah 5:24 — God “gives the former and latter rain in its season;” and in

Ø  Hosea 6:3 — God “comes like the rain… like the latter and former rain;”

Ø  Joel 2:23 — says that God restores “the former rain and the latter rain;” and in

Ø  James 5:7 — The farmer waits for “the early and latter rain” as an analogy for patient hope.

This is worth mentioning because there is an example of both rains in the early chapters of the Acts. The description of Pentecost in Acts 2 could be viewed as an example of the first rain of the Holy Spirit which enabled the planting of Christianity and it’s taking root in the lives of a minority of Jewish people. Following its initial success, persecution kicked in. Stephen was stoned to death, and Peter and John were harassed and imprisoned by the Jewish authorities because of their evangelising work and their performance of deeds of power. When the two apostles were released, they returned to the Christian community. Following the honeymoon period after Pentecost, the disciples were becoming apprehensive about the growing opposition and persecution they had to face. It is interesting that although they prayed for boldness and courage in proclaiming the gospel, a proclamation that would be supported by charismatic deeds of power, what they received was a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit which was reminiscent of Pentecost. This was the second rain which would enable the disciples to complete the work they had begun. Two points follow from this.

Firstly, can a person experience only one, or many outpourings of the Spirit? To answer this question St Thomas Aquinas says that each time a person is blessed by an outpouring of the Spirit, he dwells in us in such a way as to live in us in a new way in such a fashion as to empower us to act in a novel manner. This was obviously true when the disciples received the Spirit at Pentecost. But St Thomas wrote: 'There is an invisible sending (of grace) with respect to an advance in virtue or an increase in grace ... Such an invisible sending is especially to be seen in the kind of increase of grace whereby a person moves forward into some new act, or some new state of grace: as, for instance, when a person moves forward into the grace of working miracles, or of prophecy, or out of burning love of God offers his life as a martyr, or renounces all his possessions, or undertakes some such arduous thing.’ The account in Acts 4:13-21, is a good example of what St Thomas had in mind. Needless to say, this point continues to be relevant in contemporary society when Christians have to face resistance, mockery and different forms of discrimination and persecution.

Secondly, the Greek word used by Luke to refer to boldness is parrhesia. The same word is used in other texts, e.g., in Eph 6:19-20 where we read these words of Paul, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” In 1 Cor 16:13-14 St Paul, who was so courageous himself, urged the believers,  “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”  In par. 259 of Evangelii Gaudium Pope Francis wrote, “The Holy Spirit also grants the courage to proclaim the newness of the Gospel with boldness (parrhesía) in every time and place, even when it meets with opposition. Let us call upon him today, firmly rooted in prayer, for without prayer all our activity risks being fruitless and our message empty. Jesus wants evangelisers who proclaim the good news not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God’s presence.” In Par 133 of Gaudete et Exsultate Francis said, “We need the Spirit’s prompting, lest we be paralyzed by fear and excessive caution, lest we grow used to keeping within safe bounds.”