Acts 5:15 contains one of the strangest scenes in the New Testament. Luke records the sick being carried into the streets of Jerusalem in hopes that Peter’s shadow would fall on them and heal them. In light of the sensational nature of Luke’s account, the text has received considerable attention, but no consensus exists concerning the background or significance of the perceived healing properties of Peter’s shadow. This paper will survey the proposed solutions to the perplexing event and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
The first section will introduce the theme of divine healing in the book of Acts and situate the events of Acts 5:12-16 in the broader context of miraculous healings in Luke-Acts. The second section will survey the proposed solutions to the perceived problem of the “shadow healings” in Acts 5:15, providing a clear and concise summary of each proposal. The third section will evaluate the various proposals for interpreting Acts 5:15, noting both their strengths and weaknesses. The final section will summarize the findings, rule out the most improbable explanations, and suggest a possible way forward.