NT Wright on Acts

One of the best things about living in Lexington, KY is being near Asbury Seminary, where I recently finished a degree. Occasionally they will have tremendous speakers who lecture in the evening when I am able to attend. Such was the case tonight when biblical scholar N. T. Wright gave a one hour overview of Acts, followed by a 30 minute question & answer session.
Well, I mustered up the courage to ask a question, and (halting though it was) it went something like this: Would you please comment on the seeming lack of power exhibited "in Jesus' Name" in the contemporary Western church? (Or, as John Wimber asked upon visiting a church, "Where's the stuff?")

I thought Wright's answer was really good. Basically, he said that Acts covers a lot of ground and focuses primarily on the highlights. Miracles abound. It is a very honest book, though, and there seem to be long periods of time where no visible miracles occur.

Though there are apathetic and lukewarm churches today, there are many churches in the West that are vibrantly alive with love for Jesus. Just because we don't see supernatural things happening all the time is no reason to question whether God is at work. It's like the seed principle. Much of what happens to a seed when you plant it in the ground goes unseen. We must be patient.

Two examples he gave were particularly powerful to me. He compared the conversion experiences of the Philippian jailer and Lydia. The Philippian jailer's conversion was accompanied by an earthquake, near suicide, great drama, etc. Conversely, Lydia's conversion happened quietly. The Lord worked in her heart as she listened to Paul. Obviously, God's power was behind both conversion experiences.

Wright also compared Paul's years of waiting in a Roman jail with Peter's deliverance. Did some question Paul (or God) when such deliverance tarried for Paul? Why was Paul not set free as Peter had been?

Surely God's power is real, and we should expect and pray for Him to act. But, reminds Bishop Wright, His seeming "lack" of activity does not at all mean He is inactive, indifferent, or incapable.