Acts: Intro

THE BOOK OF ACTS IS A REMARKABLE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE GOSPELS AND THE EPISTLES.

THIS BOOK AND THE GOSPLE OF LUKE ARE BOTH DEDICATED TO A MAN NAMED THEOPHILUS, WHOSE NAME MEANS “GOD LOVER” OR “BELOVED OF GOD”.

IN LUKE HE IS NOTED AS ‘MOST EXCELLENT” WHICH SEEMS TO BE A CLUE THAT HE WAS A HIGH OFFICIAL WHO MAY HAVE BEEN A BELIEVER WITH LUKE PROVIDING HIM

A LENGTHY REPORT ON ALL THINGS HAPPENING WITHIN THE NEW SPIRITUAL TIMES AND THE NEW CHURCH FOUNDED IN ACTS.

SOME WRITERS HAVE SUPPOSED THAT BECAUSE LUKE WAS A PHYSICIAN, HE MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN THE PERSONAL DOCTOR TO THIS OFFICIAL.

THE GREAT MISSIONARY COMMISSION, WHICH APPEARS IN CONCEPT IN ALL FOUR GOSPELS, IS CONFIRMED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

ACTS GIVES THE HISTORY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCHES TO WHICH THE EPISTLES ARE SENT.

THE THEME OF ACTS IS SEEN IN 1:8:

“But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”

THE FIRST SEVEN CHAPTERS RECORD THE WORK BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN JERUSALEM.

CHAPTERS 8-12 RECORD THE WORK BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE APOSTLES IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA.

THE REST OF ACTS RECORDS THE WORK BY THE HOLY SPIRIT UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH AT THAT TIME.

ACTS IS SAID TO BE INCOMPLETE AS IT TRULY IS NEVER FINISHED AS THE WORK OF THE LORD’S HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUES UNTIL HIS RETURN.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF ACTS ARE CLEARLY EVIDENT:

FOCUS UPON THE WORK OF CHRIST AFTER HE ASCENDED AND ARRANGED THE PROMISED COMFORTER’S ARRIVAL.

FOCUS UPON THAT NEW PERSON OF THE TRINITY TO BE AN INDWELLING POWER TO ALL IN FAITH.

FOCUS ON THE POWER GIVEN TO THE CHURCHES AND THE APOSTLES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO PLANT THEM.

FOCUS UPON MANY NEW BELIEVERS. LUKE MENTIONS 110 PEOPLE BY NAME AND EACH HAD A ROLE IN THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCHES.

FOCUS UPON THE RESURRECTION WHICH IS THE CENTER HEART OF THE GOSPEL, ESPECIALLY IN THE PREACHING OF PAUL.

FOCUS IS STRONGLY UPON PETER IN THE FIRST PORTION OF ACTS AND PAUL IN THE REMAINDER OF THE BOOK.

A PREVIEW OF THE STUDY OF ACTS IS INSTRUCTIVE:

PREPARATION FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT (CHAPTER 1):

• 40 DAYS OF MINISTRY BY JESUS AFTERTHE RESURRECTION.

• HIS ASCENSION AND PROMISE OF RETURN.

• WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT.

• APPOINTMENT OF A NEW APOSTLE.

DAY OF PENTECOST (CHAPTER 2):

• COMING OF THE SPIRIT AS PROMISED.

• FIRST SERMON OF THE NEW CHURCH.

• THE BELIEVING OF THE 3,000.

FIRST MIRACLE AND SECOND SERMON (CHAPTER 3):

• HEALING OF THE LAME MAN.

• PETER’S ADDRESS.

• THE BELIEVING OF THE 5,000.

FIRST PERSECUTION (CHAPTER 4)

DEATH OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA (CHAPTER 5)

APPOINTMENT OF DEACONS AND WITNESS OF STEPHEN, A DEACON (CHAPTER 6)

STEPHEN’S ADDRESS AND HIS DEATH (CHAPTER 7)

GOSPEL IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA (CHAPTERS 8-12)

GOSPEL IN THE UTTERMOST PARTS (CHAPTERS 13-28)

ACTS DETAILS THE REMARKABLE RAPID SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL FROM JERUSALEM TO ROME AND BEYOND.

IT CLEARLY SHOWS THE OBEDIENCE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

GENTILE BELIEVERS ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE CHURCHES WITH EQUALITY TO THE JEWS WHO BELIEVE WITHOUT HAVING TO BECOME JEWS FIRST.

ACTS REVEALS TO US THE WILL AND PLAN OF GOD FOR THE SPREAD OF HIS WORD EVEN AFTER JESUS ASCENDED AND THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN TO ALL WHO SHALL BELIEVE.

THAT FACT HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE DAY OF PENTECOST UNTIL TODAY AS WE AS BELIEVERS CONTINUE HIS WILL AND PLAN IN OUR WITNESS OF OUR WORDS AND LIVES.

MANY CENTURIES LATER SAINT FRANCIS RECONFIRMED THIS COMMAND WHEN HE SAID:

“Preach the Gospel daily and use words if necessary.”

Acts 1: The Marching Orders of the Church

JESUS REVEALED HIS PLANS AND PROMISED HIS POWER FOR THE WORK OF HIS CHURCH WAS TO ACCOMPLISH. HIS PLANS AND PROMISES SHOULD STILL MOTIVATE HIS CHURCHES TODAY.

WE LOOK TODAY AT THE FIRST CHAPTER OF A STORY THAT IS STILL BEING WRITTEN, THE PLAN THAT THE LORD HAS FOR HIS CHURCHES TO BUILD THE EARTHLY CHURCH UNTIL HIS RETURN.

THE FOUR GOSPELS ARE A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BOOK OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES DOES.

MUCH INFORMATION IS REVEALED TO US IN THIS BOOK, WHICH AT 28 CHAPTERS IS TIED WITH MATTHEW AS THE LONGEST BOOK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK IS LUKE AND HIS GOSPEL AND THE BOOK OF ACTS ARE TWO VOLUMES, PART ONE AND TWO OF THE WORK OF JESUS.

IN LUKE WE SEE THE WORK OF JESUS WHEN HE WAS ON THE EARTH, WHILE IN ACTS WE SEE THE MINISTRY OF JESUS FROM HEAVEN.

IN LUKE WE SEE THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, WHILE IN ACTS WE SEE THE TEACHINGS OF THE APOSTLES.

IN LUKE WE SEE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL, WHILE IN ACTS WE SEE THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

IN LUKE WE SEE CHRIST REVEALED HISTORICALLY, WHILE IN ACTS WE SEE CHRIST REVEALED MYSTICALLY.

LUKE BEGINS WITH JESUS COMING TO THE EARTH WHILE ACTS BEGINS WITH HIS RETURN TO HEAVEN.

LUKE ENDS WITH THE DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM, WHILE ACTS ENDS WITH THE APOSTLE PAUL IN ROME.

IN LUKE WE SEE CHRIST FOR US, AND IN ACTS WE SEE THE NEW COVENANT IN ACTION WITH CHRIST WITHIN US.

THIS TWO VOLUME SET IS 28% OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, MORE THAN ALL THE WRITINGS OF PAUL COMBINED.

WE KNOW THAT LUKE WAS A COMPANION OF PAUL AS WE SEE THE TRAVELS OF PAUL IN ACTS 16 & 20 & 21 & 27 & 28, IN THE 2ND, 3RD, & 4TH MISSIONARY JOURNEYS WHEN LUKE USES THE 3RD PERSON PLURAL “US” IN HIS DESCRIPTION.

PAUL HIMSELF CONFIRMS THIS IN COL 4:14 & 2 TIMOTHY 4:11, AS LUKE WAS STILL WITH PAUL WHEN HE WAS IN THE ROMAN JAIL.

LUKE WROTE THE BOOK OF ACTS IN THE LATE FIRST CENTURY.

ACTS SEEMS TO BE MAINLY ABOUT THE LIVES OF PETER AND PAUL AND THE TWO LESS SEEN CHARACTERS OF STEPHEN & PHILLIP.

IT IS A BOOK OF VICTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH LEADERS OVER PERSECUTION THAT WAS COMMON IN THOSE DAYS.

WE SEE CHRISTIANS IN THE EARLY CHURCH NOT WITH HALOS BUT WITH THE EVERYDAY PROBLEMS AND DIVISIONS OF TRYING TO ESTABLISH THE EARLY CHURCH.

WE SEE THEIR FAILINGS AND SHORTCOMINGS. THESE ARE HELPFUL TO SEE BECAUSE IF THE LORD CAN DO SO MUCH WITH THESE VERY HUMAN MEN, HE CAN ALSO USE US AS WELL.

WE ALSO SEE SOME SURPRISES COME TO US IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

IN CHAPTER 6 WE SEE THE OFFICE OF DEACON FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY WERE ESTABLISHED TO FREE UP THE APOSTLES TO DO THE IMPORTANT WORK OF PREACHING.

BUT IN CHAPTERS 7 & 8 WE SEE IT IS THE DEACONS WHO DELIVER THE GOSPEL.

IN CHAPTER 7 WE SEE SAUL OF TARSUS WATCHING THE STONING OF STEPHEN, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE LORD CALLS THIS STRONG PERSECUTOR TO BE AMONG HIS STRONGEST EVANGELISTS.

ACTS IS NOT A “HOW TO” BOOK. WE ARE NOT TOLD HOW TO SPEAK IN TONGUES, OR HOW TO HEAL, OR HOW TO PERFORM MIRACLES. WE ARE NOT TOLD HOW TO EVANGELIZE NOR HOW TO PLANT A CHURCH.

ACTS IS THE STORY OF HOW THE LORD CONTINUED HIS MINISTRY TO HIS CHURCH THROUGH HIS SAINTS, BY MEANS OF HIS SPIRIT.

THE WORK OF HIS SPIRIT HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE EVENTS OF ACTS. IT REMAINS ACTIVE IN HIS SAINTS EVEN TODAY.

WHILE THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF ACTS IS TO REVEAL THE CONTINUED TEACHING OF JESUS THROUGH OTHERS, THE BOOK ALSO DEFENDS PAUL AND CHRISTIANITY IN THE FACE OF JEWISH ATTACKS AND ROME.

THE BOOK IS A FULFILLING OF THE COMMAND OF JESUS IN 1:8 TO PREACH THE GOSPEL EVEN TO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH.

THE KEYS TO THE BOOK OF ACTS ARE FOUND IN ITS TEACHING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH THIS PHRASE FOUND 45 TIMES,

ON THE POWER THAT THE SPIRIT BRINGS, FOUND 11 TIMES,

AND THE OVERALL PURPOSE KEY OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR US TO WITNESS.

IN THE FIRST TEN CHAPTERS, WE SEE THE WORK OF PETER AND OTHERS AS THE CHURCH IS ESTABLISHED, PERSECUTED AND SCATTERED, AS WELL AS THE ENTRY OF GENTILES INTO THE EARLY CHURCH.

THE LAST 18 CHAPTERS REFLECT FOR US MAINLY THE WORK OF PAUL AS THE CHURCH IS EXTENDED THROUGH HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEYS AND PAUL SUFFERS MUCH PERSECUTION AND IS FINALLY IMPRISONED.

ACTS BECOMES A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE GOSPELS AND THE EPISTLES.

IT REVEALS THE DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE WORK AND COURAGE OF THE APOSTLES AFTER THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES AT PENTECOST.

AT THE END OF THE GOSPELS THE APOSTLES WERE AFRAID AND IN HIDING AND WERE DOUBTFUL AND IN DESPAIR.

IN ACTS THEY STAND BEFORE PRIESTS AND PRINCES AND KINGS, BOLDLY PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL AND RESURRECTION OF THE LORD.

THE BOOK BRINGS THE BEGINNING OF THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE OF JESUS TO “BUILD HIS CHURCH” WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN.

THE BOOK OF ACTS DESCRIBES FOR US HOW GOD USED ISRAEL TO BRING THE GENTILES INTO HIS CHURCH.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT IT WAS NOT THE OBEDIENCE OF ISRAEL THAT RESULTED IN THE GOSPEL BEING EXTENDED TO THE GENTILES.

IT WAS THE DISOBEDIENCE OF ISRAEL THAT BROUGHT THIS RESULT OF THE GOSPEL EXTENSION TO THE WORLD UNDER THE COMMAND OF JESUS.

IT WAS ALSO THE JEWS WHO INSISTED THAT PAUL BE ARRESTED WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LAST MISSION TRIP IN CHAINS TO ROME.

AFTER THESE THOUGHTS CONCERNING THE DETAILS OF THE FIRST CHAPTER, IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO CONSIDER WHAT IS THE ACTUAL TRUE MESSAGE OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS IMPORTANT BOOK.

LET'S LOOK ONCE MORE AT THE STRONG TEACHING GIVEN BY CHRIST IN VERSES 1:6-8

THESE VERSES ARE AMONG THE LAST WORDS JESUS SPOKE ON THE EARTH.

HIS PROMISE TO HIS CHOSEN FEW IS FOUND IN VERSE 5 JUST BEFORE WHEN HE GRANTS THEM THE COMMAND TO AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR NEW BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY GHOST.

WHILE THERE WERE QUESTIONS AMONG THESE FEW BLESSED MEN CONCERNING THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM, THESE QUESTIONS WERE CENTERED AROUND THE THOUGHT OF THE EARTHLY KINGDOM THEY WANTED TO SEE.

THEY WANTED TO NOT ONLY KNOW WHAT BUT ALSO WHEN.

THE RISEN JESUS QUICKLY AND KINDLY REARRANGES THEIR THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS.

FIRST HE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT IT IS NOT FOR THEM TO KNOW THE TIME WHEN THE KINGDOM WILL ARRIVE.

HE CLEARLY TELLS THEM THAT SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS WITHHELD FROM ALL MEN AND IT RESTS ONLY WITH THE FATHER.

BUT NEXT HE PROVIDES THE ANSWER TO WHAT HE EXPECTS OF THEM AND HOW HE INTENDS TO PROVIDE THE MEANS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO MEET HIS EXPECTATIONS.

POWER WILL BE GIVEN TO THEM AS THE HOLY GHOST ARRIVES AND FROM THAT TIME FORWARD THEY ARE TO BE WITNESSES TO HIM IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE THOUGHTS THAT WE SHOULD EXPLORE CONCERNING THIS COMMAND AND POWER GIVEN TO MEET IT.

FIRST:

THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT INTENDED FOR US AND THAT WE ARE NOT TO KNOW.

FROM THIS MOMENT UNTIL TODAY, MEN HAVE CONTINUED TO CALCULATE THE TIME OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE KINGDOM.

NO MAN HAS EVER BEEN CORRECT IN HIS CALCULATIONS.

MANY DEVOUT LEADERS HAVE CLAIMED TO HAVE ARRIVED AT SOME SPECIAL WISDOM TO KNOW THE TIME.

ALL WHO TRY TO SET THE DATE ARE WRONG.

WE ARE NOT SENT INTO THE WORLD TO BE PROPHETS.

JESUS NEVER USED SUCH WORDS IN HIS COMMAND.

IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT A VEIL HANG BETWEEN US AND GOD CONCERING HIS RETURN.

EACH GENERATION IS TO LIVE ALL OF LIFE EXPECTING THE RETURN TO BE TODAY, AND TO BE ALWAYS AND FOREVER   READY.

WHEN JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY HE USED THE PHRASE  “THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE.”

THIS IS HOW WE ARE TO PRAY, UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM IS ONLY WITHIN HIS WILL, NOT OURS.

IT IS NOT PROPER TO DWELL ON THIS MATTER.

IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN HE DECIDES AND NOT ONE MINUTE SOONER.

NO AMOUNT OF STUDY  OR PRAYER WILL REVEAL TO US THE MOMENT DECIDED. JESUS WAS CLEAR THAT THIS KNOWLEDGE IS NOT FOR US, SO WE SHOULD NOT WASTE ONE MOMENT OF OUR SHORT TIME HERE TRYING TO KNOW SOMETHING THAT CHRIST HAS ALREADY TOLD US WE CANNOT KNOW.

WE SHOULD REST ONLY IN THE LOVE PROMISED THAT HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR NEVER FORSAKE US.

THIS MATTER SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN AN ISSUE OF FAITH, NOT SIGHT. REMEMBER HOW JESUS ANSWERED THOMAS IN JOHN 20:29 WHEN HE SAID THAT THOMAS BELIEVED BECAUSE HE SAW, BUT BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE NOT SEEN, AND YET BELIEVE.

SECOND:

THERE ARE SOME THINGS FOR US TO RECEIVE.

THE SAVIOR TOLD THE ELEVEN THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE POWER AS THE HOLY SPIRIT ARRIVED, AND IT DID ARRIVE AND THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY GRANTED THE POWER PROMISED.

WHEN EACH OF US SAID YES TO JESUS CHRIST WITH OUR HEARTS, MINDS AND OUR BODIES, THIS SAME HOLY INDWELLING OVERCAME US AND RESTS WITHIN US FROM THAT MOMENT UNTIL OUR LAST MORTAL BREATH.

WHILE WE MAY NOT BE GIVEN THE MIRACLE POWER GRANTED TO THE ELEVEN, EACH OF IS GRANTED THE POWER TO DEFEAT SIN IN OUR OWN LIVES AND TO CONVEY TO OTHERS HOW TO DO SO.

WE ARE EACH QUICKEND (MADE ALIVE) IN THE SPIRIT AT THE MOMENT WE ACCEPT THE GIFT OF HIS GRACE.

WE ARE GIVEN MORAL POWER TO RESIST TEMPTATION, TO SPEAK AND INFLUENCE OTHERS WITH OUR TESTIMONY, AND TO BE EXAMPLES OF DEVOTION, LOVE AND PATIENCE.

THESE ARE THE PHYSICAL GRACES GIVEN.

SPIRITUAL GRACE AND POWER IS ALSO GIVEN TO US.

WE BECOME ONE WITH GOD, UNITED WITH HIM AS ONE BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT, AND ARE FOREVER HIS CHILD.

THE POWER OF PRAYER AND ITS ANSWERS IS THE STRONGEST FORM OF OUR SPIRITUAL POWER, FOR IT IS COMMUNION WITH GOD ONE ON ONE.

THIRD:

THERE IS SOMETHING FOR US TO BE.

NOTICE THAT JESUS DID NOT SAY “HERE IS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO”. HE SAID WE ARE TO BE WITNESSES.

WE ARE TO WITNESS TO ALL WE MEET IN WORD AND DEED THAT WE ARE HIS.

WE ARE TO WITNESS ONLY HIS GOSPEL TO THE WORLD, AND TO WHAT HE HAS DONE IN OUR OWN LIVES.

WE ARE TO SAY:

“HERE I STAND AS PROOF OF WHAT THE LORD CAN DO.

I AM HIS SERVANT, SAVED AND MADE WHOLE BY HIS BLOOD,

REDEEMED FROM SIN FOREVER ONLY BY HIS POWER,

AND I AM A LIVING MONUMENT TO HIS LOVE.”

WE ARE TO WITNESS THE GOSPEL ONLY AND ARE TO STAND READY TO DEFEND IT AND CONTEND FOR IT WHEN CALLED TO DO SO.

WE MUST NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE POWER OF THE EXAMPLE WE ARE TO THE WORLD THAT JESUS DESCRIBED IN JOHN 13:35.

WE SHALL BE KNOWN AS HIS BY THE LOVE WE SHOW ONE TO ANOTHER.

WE HAVE BECOME PRIVILEGED TO RECEIVE HIS HIGHEST HONOR WHICH IS TO LIVE FOR HIM AND NO OTHER.

SOME ARE CALLED TO DIE FOR HIM AND THEY ARE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER UP THEMSELVES.

WE ARE CALLED AND BLESSED TO LIVE FOR HIM.

THIS FIRST CHAPTER OF ACTS IS THE POINT AT WHICH ALL FOUR GOSPELS COME TOGETHER.

MATTHEW ENDS WITH THE RESURRECTION AND THE GREAT COMMISSION.

MARK ENDS WITH THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE ASCENSION.

LUKE ENDS WITH THE NEED TO AWAIT THE POWER TO COME.

JOHN ENDS WITH THE PROMISE THAT HE WILL COME AGAIN.

ALL THESE ARE THE DIVINE PLAN AND EACH IS A FOUNDATION STONE OF THE WORK JESUS BEGAN AND EXPECTS US AS BELIEVERS TO CONTINUE UNTIL HIS RETURN.

SOME PEOPLE LOOK BACK TO THE TIME PRESENTED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS AS A TIME THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST TIME TO LIVE DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH ON EARTH.

I SAY IT WILL BE A FAR BETTER THING TO BE HERE AT THE END OF THE CHURCH ON EARTH.

SO LORD, YOUR CHILDREN ARE IMPATIENT, SO PLEASE HURRY THE RAPTURE.

Acts 2: The Holy Spirit Empowers the Churches

THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME TO EMPOWER AND GUIDE THE LORD’S CHURCHES IN THEIR WORK UNTIL THE END OF THE CHURCH AGE.

WE KNOW THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS THAT 120 BELIEVERS OBEYED THE COMMAND OF JESUS TO WAIT IN JERUSALEM FOR THE POWER PROMISED TO ARRIVE.

THESE INCLUDED THE DISCIPLES, MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, THE BROTHERS OF JESUS.

DURING THE WAITING TIME, CHURCH BUSINESS WAS BEING CONDUCTED AS LOTS WERE CAST TO DETERMINE A REPLACEMENT FOR JUDAS ISCARIOT, AND MATTHIAS WAS CHOSEN.

SO THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS NOT THE ACTUAL DAY CHOSEN TO ESTABLISH THE CHURCH AS IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY JESUS DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY.

THE PENTECOST DAY WAS THE EMPOWERING DAY FOR THE CHURCH TO BEGIN ITS MISSION UNDER THE HOLY SPIRIT.

 2:1-4:

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST ALWAYS FOLLOWED PASSOVER BY 50 DAYS.

IT CELEBRATED THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE WHEAT HARVEST. NUMBERS 28:26 HAD INSTRUCTED NO WORK DONE THEN, AND A NEW MEAT SACRIFICE GIVEN IN A HOLY CONVOCATION.

PENTECOST WAS ONE OF THREE GREAT FEAST DAYS AMONG THE HEBREW PEOPLE, AND IT REQUIRED A GATHERING IN JERUSALEM.

IN THIS CASE THE TIME WAS TEN DAYS AFTER THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD.

HIS FOLLOWERS WERE TOLD TO WAIT AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID, AND THEY WERE IN ONE ACCORD.

AS THEY WAITED AND LIKELY PRAYED, SCRIPTURE SAYS THERE WAS THE SOUND OF A MIGHTY WIND. WE NOTE THAT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY THERE WAS WIND, JUST A SOUND LIKE IT.

VERSE 3 SAYS THERE APPEARED TONGUES OF FIRE OVER THE FOLLOWERS. AGAIN, SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY THERE WAS FIRE BUT ONLY THE APPEARANCE OF IT AS THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARRIVED AND DIVIDED ITSELF INTO INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS AND CAME OVER EACH FOLLOWER.

WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY GHOST INTO EACH ONE JUST AS HAPPENS TO EACH CHRISTIAN CONVERT SINCE, A DIVINE GIFT TO REMAIN WITH A BELIEVER FROM CONVERSION UNTO MORTAL DEATH.

WE WILL LATER SEE THE SAME OCCURRENCE AT SAMARIA (8:17), AND CARESAREA (10:44), AND EPHESUS (ACTS 19:6), MEANING THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMISED BEFORE.

THOSE INSTANCES PROVED THAT THE LORD HAD INTENDED GENTILES TO BE A PART OF THE CHURCH AND THE SPIRIT WAS FULFILLING THAT PLAN.

THE MANIFESTATION EVIDENCE OF THIS MOMENT WAS THE POWER GIVEN THOSE WHO HAD RECEIVED IT WERE ABLE TO SPEAK IN MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SO THAT ALL GATHERED THERE COULD HEAR AND UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

THESE FOLLOWERS GENERALLY SPOKE IN ARAMAIC AND DID SO WITH A SPECIAL ACCENT FROM GALILEE AS WE KNOW FROM THE ACCUSATION OF PETER WHEN JESUS WAS ARRESTED AND HIS ACCENT GAVE HIM AWAY AS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS.

2:5-13:

GALILEANS WERE KNOWN TO BE CORSE AND UNEDUCATED PEOPLE AND NOT ELOQUENT OF SPEECH.

WHEN THOSE GATHERED THERE HEARD FOLLOWERS SPEAKING IN THE FOREIGN TOUGUES, THEY WERE AMAZED

HERE WAS A REVERSAL OF THE COMMAND OF GOD IN GENESIS 11 WHERE HE GAVE MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES TO THOSE BUILDING THE TOWER OF BABEL AND THE CONFUSION CAUSED THE BUILDING TO STOP. THIS CHANGE WAS INSTANTLY DONE.

THIS LANGUAGE WAS ALSO INSTANTLY DONE AND WHEN IT WAS HEARD, SOME FELT THE FOLLOWERS WERE DRUNK ON WINE, SPOUTING GIBBERESH. THESE WERE MOCKERS OF UNBELIEF.

ALL GATHERED THERE COULD HEAR AND GRASP THE MEANING OF THE GOSPEL TEACHING AND THEREBY TAKE IT WITH THEM AS THEY RETURNED TO THEIR OWN HOME TOWNS.

VERSES 8-11 LIST FOR US THE VARIOUS LANDS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THIS GATHERING WHO HEARD THE GOSPEL AND WE NOTE IN VERSE 10 THAT THERE WERE STRANGERS FROM ROME IN THIS CROWD.

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN THE IDENTITY OF THOSE WHO FOUNDED THE ROMAN CHURCH BUT MANY BELIEVE IT ACTALLY STARTED ON PENTECOST DAY AND THESE STRANGERS TOOK IT

HOME WITH THEM AND OPENED THE CHURCH THERE.

2:14-36:

JUST AFTER THE POWER TO SPEAK IN OTHER LANGUAGES WAS SEEN IN THE FOLLOWERS, PETER ROSE TO SPEAK.

HE PREACHED THE FIRST SERMON OF THE NEW CHURCH THAT DAY.

HE QUICKLY DISPOSED OF THE IDEA OF FOLLOWERS BEING INFLUENCED BY WINE AND SAID THE THESE FOLLOWERS HAD BEEN GIFTED BY THE SPIRIT THEIR ABILITY AND THAT IT WAS MID MORNING WHICH WAS PRAYER TIME, NOT DRINKING TIME.

BEGINNING IN VERSE 16, PETER CITED THREE OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES, JOEL 2:28-32, PSALM 16:8-11, & PSALM 110:1.

THESE OT PASSAGES FORETOLD THE EVENTS THAT WERE HAPPENING ON PENTECOST DAY IN JERUSALEM.

IT SEEMS PROPER TO RECALL THAT IN THE OT, THE SPIRIT PASSAGES MENTIONED WERE GOD PLACING HIS SPIRIT ON KINGS, PROPHETS, AND PRIESTS.

UNDER THE NEW COVENANT, THE SPIRIT ENTERS EVERY BELIEVER AS A GIFT OF FAITH.

PETER SAID THAT THE GOSPEL WAS NOW AVAIALABLE TO ALL PEOPLE, JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE SO THAT PEOPLE COULD REPENT AND BELIEVE REGARDLESS OF THEIR ETHNIC OR CULTURAL BACKGROUND.

THE FOCUS OF PETER’S TEACHING IN THIS SERMON WAS ELOQUENT BUT SIMPLE. HE TAUGHT OF THE CRUCIFIED AND RISEN MESSIAH, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

HE FOCUSED UPON THE IMPORTANT POINT THAT JESUS HAD DIED, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN TO ARRANGE THE SALVATION OF ALL WHO WOULD BELIEVE. PETER NEEDED TO PREPARE THE PEOPLE FOR WHAT HE WOULD SAY NEXT.

THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS WAS, ACCORDING TO PETER, IN THE OVERALL PLAN OF GOD FROM ETERNITY PAST.

PETER THEN TOOK THIS MOMENT TO SAY THAT THE WICKED ACTIONS BY THE JEWISH LEADERS IN JERUSALEM WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING ABOUT THE DEATH OF JESUS.

HIS INCLINATION WAS NOT TO PLEASE THE CROWD BUT RATHER TO BE COMPLETELY TRUTHFUL.

HE STRONGLY PROCLAIMED THAT DESPITE THE DEATH OF JESUS, ARRANGED BY THE JEWS, HE WOULD NOT REMAIN IN DEATH.

HE WOULD BE RAISED AGAIN, RESURRECTED BACK INTO LIFE BY GOD.

PETER LIKENS THIS RAISING TO THE BIRTH PAINS WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO BEAR BUT CANNOT STOP THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD COMING.

THE PAINFUL DEATH OF JESUS DID NOT STOP THE RESURRECTION TO COME.

PETER THEN QUOTED PSALM 16 TO EXPLAIN THE RESURRECTION. THE PSALMIST WAS NOT SPEAKING OF HIS OWN BODY BUT WAS PROPHECYING ABOUT THE BODY OF THE HOLY ONE TO COME THAT WOULD NOT REMAIN IN THE TOMB.

PETER IS SAYING THAT DEATH COULD NOT HOLD JESUS AND THAT KING DAVID FORETOLD THIS MOMENT SO THAT ALL ISRAEL MAY KNOW IT AND UNDERSTAND IT.

THERE WAS NO CORRUPTION TO THE BODY OF JESUS .

THERE WERE MANY EYE WITNESSES TO HIS RISING AND SAW HIM,

PETER REMINDED THE PEOPLE THAT DAVID HAD DIED AND HIS BODY WAS STILL BURIED IN JERUSALEM, AND HE DID NOT ASCEND BODILY TO HEAVEN.

THE POINT WAS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE JEWS HAD ARRANGED THE CRUCIFIXION, HE WAS SHOWN TO BE BOTH LORD AND CHRIST, AND HIS RESURRECTION WAS CLEAR PROOF OF THAT FACT.

WE SHOULD MAKE AN IMPORTANT POINT HERE IN THIS PORTION OF THIS CHAPTER.

MORE THAN SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RAISED FROM DEATH BY JESUS AND APOSTLES. JESUS RAISED LAZARUS AFTER FOUR DAYS IN HIS TOMB, AND THIS FACT WAS THE BREAKING POINT TO THE PHARISEES TO MORE STRONGLY SEEK THE DEATH OF JESUS.

BUT NO ONE WHO WAS EVER RAISED FROM DEATH WAS RESURRECTED.

JESUS ONLY WAS RESURRECTED BECAUSE AT HIS RISING HE REURNED IN HIS GLORIFIED FORM. ALL OTHERS WHO WERE RAISED RETURNED INTO THEIR SINFUL MORTAL BODIES AND EVENTUALLY DIED AGAIN A MORTAL DEATH.

JESUS AROSE NEVER TO DIE AGAIN.

2:37-41:

AS PETER PREACHED, ANOTHER WORK WAS DONE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE MOVED INTO THE HEARTS OF THOSE LISTENERS AND THEY WERE CONVICTED AND REALIZED THE HEAVY HEART THAT SIN HAD PLACED IN THEIR BODIES.

THEY WERE SAID TO BE “PRICKED” IN THEIR HEARTS RECOGNIZED THAT ALL WERE COMPLICIT IN THE DEATH OF JESUS WHO HAD COME TO SAVE.

EVERY HUMAN BEING IS ALSO COMPLICIT IN THIS MATTER AS WE ARE BEINGS INFESTED BY BOTH ORIGINAL SIN AND A LIFELONG SIN NATURE.

PETER GAVE THEM THE ANSWER THEY WERE SEEKING. THEY ASKED WHAT SHOULD THEY DO, AND PETER TOLD THEM TO REPENT, MEANING TURN AWAY FROM SIN AND TO CHRIST, AND BE BAPTIZED.

EVERY GENERATION SINCE THAT ONE NEEDS TO HEAR THE SAME ADVICE AND TO ACT UPON IT WHEN CALLED BY GOD.

IN THIS INSTANCE WE ARE TOLD THAT 3,000 WERE SAVED.

HERE BEGAN THE LIFE CHANGING WORK OF THE GOSPEL AS GUIDED BY PREACHING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

MANY OF THESE 3,000 WENT HOME CHANGED AND SURELY TOOK THE MESSAGE WITH THEM TO OTHERS, WHICH WAS IN OBEDIENCE OF THE GREAT COMMISSION IN CHAPTER ONE, BE WITNESSES.

2:42-47:

ONCE THE PROMISE OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARRIVED AT PENTECOST, THE DISCIPLES BEGAN TEACHING WHAT THEY HAD BEEN TAUGHT BY JESUS HIMSELF.

THE LORD’S CHRISTIAN CHURCH (THE PROFESSING & POSSESSING CHURCH) STILL HEARS THE SAME MESSAGE SPOKEN ON PENTECOST DAY.

IT IS THAT JESUS CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THOSE LOST AND FAITH IN HIM WITH A BROKEN SPIRIT AND CONTRITE HEART THAT REPENTS FROM SIN AND CLINGS FOREVER TO HIM.

WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT OUR ETERNAL LIFE BEGINS AT THE SAME MOMENT FAITH ARRIVES AND IS EVIDENCED BY OUR INDWELLING OF THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT PROMISED LONG AGO.

THE RESULT OF ALL THESE EVENTS WAS THAT FROM THAT MOMENT ONWARD THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH AS HE SAW FIT (2:42).

ACTS 2 BEGINS WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING TO DELIVER THE POWER JESUS HAD PROMISED.

DURING THIS TIME WONDERS AND SIGNS WERE DONE AND MEETINGS BEGAN TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL, WITH INSTRUCTION AND BELIEF IN THE APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE.

STUDY, WORSHIP, AND FELLOWSHIP WAS EVIDENT AMONG THE SAINTS.

VISUALLY, WHEN THE 3,000 SAVED WERE LEAVING JERUSALEM TO TRAVEL HOME, THEY WERE NOT EXTERNALLY CHANGED.

BUT IN HEART, THE DIVINE POWER CHANGED EACH FROM WHAT THEY HAD BEEN INTO NEW CREATURES, HAVING FAITH, BELIEVING,

AND EACH LIFE FOREVER CHANGED.

ONCE PETER STARTED PREACHING THIS FIRST SERMON HE WAS FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS EXACTLY WHAT GOD HAD PROMISED THROUGH HIS PROPHET JOEL:

“… TO POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS.”

AND THOSE DAYS OF THE PROPHECY HAD ARRIVED.

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN SERMON WAS CHRIST CENTERED.

PETER PREACHED CHRIST, HIS INCARNATE LIFE, CRUCIFIXION, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND PRESENCE WITHIN THE HOLY SPIRIT GIFTED TO THE 120 WHO WAITED, AS INSTRUCTED, TO RECEIVE IT.

PETER DID ALL THIS IN JUST OVER 600 WORDS.

HE EXPLAINED GOD’S OFFER OF HIMSELF IN CHRIST, WHAT PEOPLE HAD DONE TO REFUSE IT; WHAT GOD DID DESPITE THE REFUSAL, AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO NOW RESPONDED.

THE BASIC PURPOSE IS A CLEAR DECLARAION THAT LIFE IN CHRIST IS GOD’S WILL FOR HIS PEOPLE AND ALL CREATION.

IT WAS GOD WHO WAS MANIFESTED IN THE ONE KNOWN AS JESUS.

HE DID THE MIRACLES, WONDERS, AND SIGNS THROUGH HIM.

PETER COULD PREACH WITH SUCH OBVIOUS COURAGE BECAUSE HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE MESSIAH’S LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION WERE THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S IRREVOCABLE WILL FOR SALVATION OF THE WORLD, BEGINNING THAT DAY.

WHAT PETER IS SAYING TO THE CROWDS IN JERUSALEM IS THAT GOD’S WILL IS THE ATONEMENT AND THAT RECONCILIATION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN STOPPED, DELAYED, OR ALTERED BY MAN.

IT WAS GOD’S PLAN AND HE DID IT.

THOSE WHO CRUCIFIED JESUS THOUGHT THEY WERE THE DECIDERS OF HIS DESTINY, BUT GOD’S GREATER WILL WAS BEING DONE THROUGH IT ALL.

WHAT HE SAID ABOUT GOD’S WILL IN THE ATONEMENT STRIPPED AWAY THEIR ARROGANCE.

THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD JUDGED JESUS AND PUT HIM TO DEATH.

JESUS WAS GOD’S JUDGEMENT ON THE WORLD.

THE SUFFERING SAVIOR’S DEATH WAS GOD’S WILL FOR THE JUDGMENT AND ATONEMENT OF SIN.

BUT IT WAS ALSO GOD’S GRACE. SALVATION WAS ONLY MOMENTS AWAY FOR THESE UNDESERVING LOST SOULS.

WHAT APPEAL OF PETER’S PREACHING CUT TO THE CORE OF THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS? THE CLEAR DECLARATION OF WHO CHRIST IS AS THE WILL OF GOD FOR THEM.

THE JEWS WERE NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WERE NOT DEALING WITH A CARPENTER FROM GALILEE, BUT GOD HIMSELF.

NO WONDER THEY CRIED OUT, “WHAT SHALL WE DO?”

PETER WAS READY WITH AN ANSWER AS THE FIRST CHRISTIAN INVITATION WAS GIVEN TO A CONGREGATION:

“REPENT, AND LET EVERY ONE OF YOU BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS; AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.” (VERSE 38)

THE CALL TO BE BAPTIZED MUST HAVE BEEN SHOCKING TO THEM.

BAPTISM WAS USED BY THE JEWS FOR RADICAL RECONSECRATION OF ONE WHO WAS IN URGENT NEED OF FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SIN.

PETER WAS TELLING THEM THEIR SINS WERE BOTH SPIRITUAL AND MORAL.

WHAT MADE THIS MOMENT SO BOLD WAS THAT PETER SAID THEY MUST BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

“NAME” MEANS POWER AND AUTHORITY. JESUS CHRIST HAS THAT AUTHORITY TO SAY: “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN”.

WHEN HIS POWER CONVINCES A HEART TO REPENT IT IS HE WHO HAS CREATED BOTH THE DESIRE AND THE HEART’S RESPONSE.

NONE MAY COME BEFORE DIVINE CALLING.

IT MAY SEEM THAT THE DECISION TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR CHOICE, BUT THAT CHOICE IS HIS FULL INFUSION OF DESIRE FOR HIM, MAKING US WILLING TO RECEIVE.

THAT MOMENT BEGINS THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE SINNER WHICH IS THE BENDING OF THE HUMAN WILL TO THE DIVINE WILL.

WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING TO THESE 3,000 HEARTS LISTENING TO PETER IS THEY FINALLY UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS SET THEM FREE IN THEIR HEARTS TO WANT WHAT HE WANTED TO GIVE.

Acts 3: Proclaiming the Gospel is Necessary before Lives can be changed

THE JERUSALEM CHURCH WAS ONE OF JOYFUL BEGINNING

WITH THE MEMBERS MEETING DAILY IN HOME LOCATIONS TO WORSHIP AS WELL AS MEETING FOR PREACHING AND TEACHING IN THE TEMPLE.

WE MUST RECALL THAT INSIDE THE GREAT COMMISSION GIVEN BY JESUS WERE SOME IMPORTANT SPECIAL WORDS SEEN IN ACTS 1:8:

“… ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”

THAT POWER PROMISED MEANT PREACHING & TEACHING POWER

SEEN IN ACTS 2 WHEN PETER GAVE THE POWERFUL FIRST SERMON OF THE NEW CHURCH, HIM BEING FILLED FULLY WITH THE SPIRIT WHILE DELIVERING THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE, AND 3,000 LOST SOULS WERE SAVED BY THE LORD’S CALLING.

THE PROMISED POWER WAS EXERCISED AND SEEN BY THOUSANDS WHEN PETER SPOKE.

THE POWER PROMISED MEANT FAR MORE THAN SPIRITUAL HEALING POWER.

IT ALSO MEANT PHYSICAL HEALING POWER.

CHAPTER 3 BRINGS US THE FIRST PHYSICAL MIRACLE OF THE NEW CHURCH AGE WITH THE HEALING OF THE LAME MAN AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE OF THE TEMPLE.

IT WILL ALSO BRING US PETER’S SECOND SERMON TEACHING EXACTLY HOW THE MIRACLE WAS ACCOMPLISHED, POINTING ALL WHO HEARD THE SERMON TOWARD THE SOURCE OF THE POWER THAT HAD BEEN SEEN.

PREACHING IS ALWAYS MOST POWERFUL WHEN IT CONTAINS A TRUE WITNESS AND THIS SECOND SERMON BEGAN THAT STRONG TRADITION THAT REMAINS MOST EFFECTIVE EVEN TODAY.

ACTS 2:43 BEGAN THESE MIRACLE MOMENTS BY TEACHING US:

“…many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles…”.

IN THESE FIRST MOMENTS AFTER PENTECOST ALL THINGS THE APOSTLES HAD BEEN TAUGHT BY JESUS IN THE 3 YEARS OF HIS MINISTRY BEGAN TO MAKE SENSE.

THE SCATTERED PIECES OF THE MINISTRY PUZZLE THEY HAD SEEN CAME TOGETHER IN THEIR MINDS AND HEARTS.

WHAT THEY BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE WAS THE MORE ABUNDANT LIFE JESUS HAD PROMISED THEM.

NOW THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT MEANT TO ABIDE IN HIM.

NOW THEY WERE ABLE TO MORE FULLY GRASP THE TRUE MEANING OF CALVARY THAT HAD FRIGHTENED THEM SO MUCH.

NOW THEY UNDERSTOOD THE VICTORY OF THE RESURRECTION AND WHAT IT MEANT AND WITHIN HOURS OF THE TONGUES OF FIRE,

THEY THEMSELVES WERE FULLY QUICKENED AND WERE MADE INTO NEW CREATURES OF FAITH, NO LONGER FEARFUL.

PETER WROTE OF THESE FIRST HOURS IN 2ND PETER 1:4:

HE SAID THEY WERE “… PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE…”.

IN PETER’S MESSAGE, HE CALLED UPON THE PEOPLE TO REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND TURN TO JESUS, ACKNOWLEDGING HIM AS THEIR SAVIOR AND MESSIAH.

PETER ALSO DECLARED HOW JESUS WILL RETURN AND RESTORE ISRAEL TO THE STATUS OF BEING GOD’S FAVORED PEOPLE AGAIN.

HIS MESSAGE WAS DIRECTED PRIMARILY TO JEWS AS WE CAN SEE BY HOW HE MENTIONS SUCH NOTABLES IN JEWISH HISTORY AS ABRAHAM, MOSES, AND SAMUEL, PLUS A GENERAL REFERENCE TO THE PROPHETS THAT GOD SENT TO THE JEWS.

AS JEWS, PETER AND JOHN CONTINUED TO GO TO THE TEMPLE FOR PRAYERS, IN THIS CASE THE 9TH HOUR, OR 3:00 P.M. THE DEFINITION OF PARTICULAR HOURS FOR PRAYER WAS NOT DETAILED IN THE LAW OF MOSES BUT HAD BECOME A CUSTOMARY PRACTICE.

WE SAW THIS CUSTOM CLEARLY IN OUR STUDY OF DANIEL WHO OPENED HIS WINDOW TOWARD JERUSALEM AND PRAYED THREE TIMES EACH DAY.

WHEN APPROACHING THE TEMPLE, ONE PASSED THROUGH A SERIES OF COURTYARDS, WITH THE FIRST BEING THE COURT OF THE GENTILES, WHERE ANYONE COULD BE ADMITTED.

WHILE NOT MANDATORY, THE APOSTLES CONTINUED THE CUSTOM OF PRAYER AS SUCH A TIME ALLOWED OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS TO JEWS ABOUT THE LORD.

AS THESE TWO APOSTLES ASCENDED THE TEMPLE MOUNT THEY ENTERED BY THE BEAUTIFUL GATE.

JOSEPHUS WROTE THAT THIS GATE WAS ADORNED BY BEAUTIFUL BRASS WITH DOUBLE DOORS 75 FT. HIGH.

CLOSE BY WAS A LAME MAN PLACED AT THE GATE BY OTHERS EACH DAY TO BEG FOR ALMS FROM ALL WHO PASSED BY.

HE HAD BEEN IN THIS PLACE FOR YEARS AND WAS KNOWN BY ALL WHO ENTERED THE GATE.

JEWS CONSIDERED IT A POINT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO GIVE TO THOSE AFFLICTED AND LESS FORTUNATE AND THE MAN LOOKED TO PETER AND JOHN FOR A DONATION.

SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT THEY FASTENED THEIR EYES UPON HIM.

PETER SPEAKS TO THE MAN TELLING HIM THEY HAVE NO SILVER OR GOLD BUT HE SAID HE WOULD GIVE THE MAN WHAT THEY DID HAVE AND TOLD THE MAN:

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

INSTANTLY THE MAN’S FEET AND ANKLES WERE GIVEN STRENGTH AND HE STOOD AND THEN BEGAN LEAPING, AND HE THEN WALKED INTO THE TEMPLE WITH THE APOSTLES.

THE MIRACLE OF HEALING WAS NOT PROGRESSIVE BUT WAS INSTANT.

WE ARE TOLD THIS MAN WAS 40 YEARS OLD AND WAS LAME FROM BIRTH. HE WAS RECOGNIZED BY THOSE ALREADY INSIDE THE TEMPLE AND THEY WERE AMAZED TO SEE HIM MADE WHOLE.

WE KNOW JESUS ARRANGED MANY MIRACLES IN HIS MINISTRY, HEALING AND CLEANSING EVEN THOSE POSSESSED AS WELL AS RAISING SEVERAL FROM THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE.

BUT EACH MIRACLE JESUS DID WAS OF HIS OWN POWER WHICH WAS WITHIN HIM TO USE AS HE SAW FIT.

NOW, HOWEVER, A NEW TYPE OF POWER IS EVIDENT, STILL IN THE POWER OF JESUS, BUT POSSESSED BY HIS APOSTLES WHO MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEIR HEALING WAS IN HIS NAME.

HERE WAS CLEAR AND EVIDENT PROOF THAT THE POWER AND MINISTRY OF CHRIST WAS NOT EITHER ENDED OR DELAYED BY HIS DEATH. RATHER NOW, THERE WERE MORE THAN SEVERAL WORKING IN HIS NAME DOING HIS WILL.

PEOPLE INSIDE THE TEMPLE HAVING SEEN THE MAN NOW WHOLE, BEGAN TO GATHER AROUND PETER AND JOHN AND PETER SPOKE TO THEM WITH A POWERFUL WITNESS IN VERSE 12:

“… Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man walk?”

PETER KNEW THE CROWD WOULD PRESUME THIS POWER WAS OF THE MEN THEMSELVES.

PETER WAS CAREFUL TO INDICATE THAT THEY WERE VESSELS GOD USED, BUT THE POWER FOR THE MIRACULOUS WORK WAS CLEARLY WITH GOD.

PETER STATES STRONGLY THAT THE MIRACLE WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED BY HIS OWN POWER NOR GODLINESS.

THAT POWER THEY HELD PETER KNEW JESUS HAD PROMISED WOULD ARRIVE WHEN THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN.

PETER THEN BEGAN A SMALL SERMON TO FURTHER EXPLAIN AND IT WAS AIMED CLEARLY AT THE JEWS AROUND HIM:

“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son, Jesus, whom ye delivered up , and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.”

HE NOTED THAT JESUS WAS THE PERFECT SERVANT, WHICH HAD BEEN FORETOLD IN ISAIAH 42, 52, AND 53.

FOR THE JEWS TO ADMIT THAT JESUS FULFILLED ISAIAH 53 WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE JEWS THEN, FOR TO DO SO WOULD TESTIFY TO WHAT THEY HAD DENIED BEFORE JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED.

IT IS STILL NOT POSSIBLE TODAY. EVEN TODAY, IN JEWISH WORSHIP, ISAIAH 53 IS SKIPPED AND NEVER MENTIONED AND WHEN ISAIAH IS PREACHED, THE SERMON GOES FROM CHAPTER 52 TO 54.

THE STATEMENT PETER USED IN VERSE 14 OF DESCRIBING JESUS AS THE “HOLY ONE” WAS BOTH POWERFUL AND DIRECT.

IN THE OT THIS PHRASE IS FOUND 40 TIMES AND EACH ONE REFERS TO YAHWEH AS HIS DESCRIPTION, SO PETER IS USING IT HERE TO INSURE THE JEWS HEARD HIM DESCRIBE JESUS AS GOD HIMSELF.

IN VERSE 17 PETER CALLS THESE JEWS BRETHREN, INDICATING HE DID NOT HATE THEM. HERE PETER LIKELY RECALLED HIS OWN DENIAL OF JESUS, WHICH WAS INDEED TEMPORARY.

THESE JEWS CONSISTENT DENIAL WAS NOT TEMPORARY AND EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SINNED IN WILLING IGNORANCE, THEY WERE STILL GUILTY.

DESPITE THEIR EFFORTS THEIR ACTIONS HAD NOT STOOD IN THE WAY OF THE PLAN OF GOD TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

IN GENESIS 50 JOSEPH TOLD HIS BROTHERS THAT THEIR EVIL DEED WAS TRANSFORMED FOR GOOD BY GOD.

THE SAME CONCEPT THAT WAS FOUND IN GENESIS IS FOUND HERE IN ACTS 3.

THE EVIL DEEDS OF THE JEWS AGAINST JESUS WAS TRANSFORMED INTO GREAT HOLINESS AND POWER THROUGH THE APOSTLES BY GOD’S GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THESE JEWS HAD SCREAMED OUT TO PILATE TO RELEASE BARABAS, A MURDERER, RATHER THAN JESUS AND THAT MOMENT WHEN PILATE WAS TRYING TO RELEASE JESUS WAS TURNED INTO A MOMENT TO TAKE JESUS TO THE CROSS.

PETER REMINDS THE JEWS THAT MOSES HAD FORETOLD THE ONE WHO WOULD COME AND HE DID.

(DEUT 18:15-19).

PETER REMINDED THEM ALSO THAT MOSES SAID EVERY SOUL WHICH WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET SHALL BE DESTROYED.

PETER REMINDS THEM IN VERSE 26 THAT GOD HAD HONORED THEM BY RAISING HIS SON JESUS WHICH HAD BEEN SENT TO THEM FIRST, BEFORE ANY OTHER PEOPLE.

AFTER THE EVENTS ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED THE CHURCH MEMBERS AT JERUSALEM TO DISPLAY THE GIFTS THE SPIRIT HAD BROUGHT, THE DISCIPLES BEGAN TO MINISTER IN THE CITY.

THE HEALING AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE BECOMES A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE GIFTS GIVEN AND THEIR USE TO WORK THE WILL OF GOD AMONG THE PEOPLE.

PETER’S PROMISE TO THE LAME MAN LIKELY WAS ORIGINALLY HEARD AS A REJECTION, FOR HE WAS LOOKING FOR SILVER OR GOLD, OF WHICH PETER & JOHN HAD NONE.

THE GIFT THEY DELIVERED WAS FAR BEYOND HIS NEED FOR DAILY FOOD OR DRINK NORMALLY GRANTED HIM BY BEGGING.

BY THE POWER OF THE LORD, PETER HEALED HIS LIFE LONG HANDICAP.

FROM THAT EVENT, OBSERVED BY THE JEWS WITHIN THE HOLY TEMPLE, THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL WAS GIVEN GREATER LEGITIMACY AND AWARENESS BECAUSE OF THIS MIRACLE.

WHAT ARE THE LESSONS WE ARE GIVEN IN CHAPTER THREE THAT MAY BE APPLIED IN OUR OWN TIMES?

FIRST, FAITH IS NOT A HUMAN INITIATED CAPACITY. WE CANNOT PRODUCE FAITH ON OUR OWN.

FAITH IS A RESPONSE TO CHRIST’S LOVE REVEALED ON THE CROSS AND IN HIS RESURRECTION.

FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE TRUTH.

WHEN OUR MINDS ARE ASSURED OF HIS FORGIVENESS AND ACCEPTANCE, HE GIVES US THE GIFT TO RESPOND.

COMMITMENT AND SURRENDER ARE OUR EVIDENCE OF A CHANGED HEART.

SECOND, THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO GIVES US THE GIFT OF FAITH TO BELIEVE ALSO GIVES US THE GIFT OF KNOWING HOW TO APPLY OUR FAITH. PAUL SAID IT IS REVEALED “FROM FAITH TO FAITH” IN ROMANS 17, FROM ONE LEVEL TO A GREATER LEVEL.

THIRD, THE SPIRIT OF THE RESURRECTED LORD IS THE HEALING POWER OF THE WORLD. THERE IS NO HEALING THAT TAKES PLACE APART FROM HIM, EVEN THOUGH SO MANY OF US NEVER ACKNOWLEDE HIM OR THANK HIM.

THAT SPIRITUAL HEALING POWER TO HEAL THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE IN HIM IS REWARDED WITH ETERNAL LIFE AT THE MOMENT OF FAITHFUL REPENTANCE & ACCEPTANCE, (JOHN 3).

FOURTH, ALL PRAYERS CARRY THE DEPTH OF THE ANSWER OF EACH SEEKER IF AND ONLY IF THEY ARE SENT IN HIS HOLY NAME.

THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF THE POWER OF PRAYER.

AS WE CONCLUDE THE STUDY STOP IN ACTS 3 WE SHOULD TAKE A MOMENT TO BE SURE WE DO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED AND WHAT IT MEANS TO US AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.

WE SEE IN VERSE 4 THAT PETER INSTRUCTS THE LAME MAN TO “LOOK ON US”. WHY DID PETER DO THAT?

BECAUSE OTHERS WERE ENTERING THE TEMPLE AT THAT GATE OF ENTRY AND THE LAME MAN WOULD BE CALLING OUT TO THEM BEGGING FOR ALMS AS HE DID EACH DAY.

PETER MADE SURE HIS ATTENTION WAS ONLY UPON HIMSELF AND JOHN.

THE LORD PROVIDES US WITH THREE LESSONS FOR THIS HEALING.

FIRST, HE LOVED THE LAME MAN AND RELEASED HIS HEALING POWER OUT OF HIS HEART OF COMPASSION AND CONCERN.

SECOND, HE WANTED TO ALERT THE PEOPLE, MOST DEFINITELY THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL, THAT THE MOVEMENT THAT HE HAD BEGUN AS JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS CONTINUING THROUGH HIS DISCIPLES IN WHOM HE WAS NOW LIVING AFTER THE LEADERS HAD HIM KILLED.

WHEN JESUS MINISTERED BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE HEALED PEOPLE OUT OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR THEM BUT ALSO AS A SIGN OF HIS AUTHORITY AND POWER AS THE MESSIAH.

THIRD, THE HEALING OF THE LAME MAN WAS UNDENIABLE FURTHER SIGN THAT HE WAS NO LONGER DEAD BUT WAS ALIVE AND STILL WORKING AMONG THE PEOPLE THROUGH HIS CHOSEN DISCIPLES.

ONCE AGAIN HE WAS SEIZING JERUSALEM’S ATTENTION AND IN DOING SO HE SHOWED THE FORCE OF ALL HIS POWER WAS STILL WORKING.

THE PURPOSE OF PENTECOST WAS NOW SHOWN TO BE EVIDENT IN FAR MORE THAN SPIRITUAL RESULTS. NOW THE PURPOSE WAS SHOWN TO INCLUDE ALL OF LIFE, MEANING BOTH THE SPIRIT AND THE BODY.

WE MUST NOT LEAVE THIS CHAPTER WITHOUT BRINGING OUR FOCUS ON HOW THE LORD REVEALS HIS WILL. THE MEANS THAT GOD USES TO IMPLEMENT HIS WILL IS KNOWN AS HIS PROVIDENCE.

AT TIMES HIS PROVIDENCE MAY SEEM DARK TO US.

WE SEE IN ACTS 3 THAT ONE WHO WAS BORN LAME AND IS NOW 40 YEARS OLD AND HAD TO BE CARRIED DAILY TO SIT AND BEG WAS HEALED. IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT HE WAS IN THAT SPOT AT THE MOMENT PETER & JOHN WALKED BY.

VERSE 16 REVEALS HIS HEALING WAS A LESSON IN FAITH GIVEN TO THE JEWS IN THE HOLY TEMPLE.

WE SEE THE SAME FOCUS IN JOHN 9 WHEN A MAN BORN BLIND WHO WAS NOW AN ADULT LIVED IN PHYSICAL DARKNESS ALL HIS LIFE AND ALSO WAS REDUCED TO BEGGING AND WAS FOUND IN THE PATH OF JESUS.

THE DISCIPLES ASKED WHO SINNED THAT HE WAS BORN BLIND, HIM OR HIS PARENTS. IF HIS SIN CAUSED HIS BLINDNESS HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO SIN IN THE WOMB.

JESUS SAID NEITHER SINNED BUT THAT HE WAS BLIND AND PRESENT SO THAT THE WORKS OF GOD SHOULD BE MANIFEST IN HIM.

(JN 9:3)

WE SEE THE SAME FOCUS IN JOHN 11 WHEN JESUS WAS TOLD HIS FRIEND LAZARUS WAS SICK AND JESUS WAS ASKED TO GO TO HIM.

JESUS REFUSED AND SAID THAT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD LAZARUS WAS SICK THAT THE SON OF GOD BE GLORIFED IN HIS ILLNESS.

JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE WAS GLAD FOR THEIR SAKE HE WAS NOT THERE SO THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE.

LAZARUS WAS SICK SO THAT THE FAITH OF THE DISCIPLES, HIS SISTERS, AND THE PHARISEES PRESENT MIGHT SEE THE POWER OF GOD EXPRESSED IN JESUS HIMSELF.

(JN 11:36-37)

THESE ARE WORKS OF GOD’S PROVIDENCE AND EVIDENCE THAT HE USES DARK MATTERS TO REVEAL HIS WILL TO US.

GOD REVEALED SUCH FOCUS TO HIS PROPHET JONAH AS JONAH WAS POUTING ON THE HILLSIDE ABOVE NINEVEH, WHEN HE MADE A GOURD VINE TO GROW OVERNIGHT TO SHIELD JONAH AND THEN MADE A WORM TO KILL IT TO MAKE HIS POINT TO HIS POUTING PROPHET.

(JONAH 4:5-11)

NEXT LESSON WE WILL STUDY THE POWER OF BOLDNESS GIVEN BY GOD IN CHAPTER 4 AS THE GOSPEL BEGINS TO SPREAD THROUGH PERSECUTION, MORE DARK PROVIDENCE.

Acts 4: Persecution because of the Gospel

PERSECUTION BECAUSE OF THE GOSPEL.  WHERE THE GOSPEL IS PROCLAIMED, PERSECUTION SHOULD BE EXPECTED.

CHAPTER FOUR PROVIDES THE SIGN OF THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH IS BOLDNESS.

THE FEAR OF THE APOSTLES, EXCEPT JOHN, WHO FLED AT THE TIME OF THE CROSS, HAS BEEN ERASED BY THE RESURRECTION AND THE PROMISE MADE BY THE RISEN JESUS OF POWER TO COME.

THE POWER ARRIVED IN THE FORM OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN TONGUES OF FIRE THAT SETTLED ON THE 120 FAITHFUL WHO WERE WAITING IN JERUSALEM AS COMMANDED.

WE SEE THE WORD “BOLDNESS” USED IN BOTH VERSES 13 & 31 TO DESCRIBE THE CHANGE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT BROUGHT. THERE IS NO BETTER WORD TO DESCRIBE WHAT ACTS 4 TEACHES US. HE WE SEE:

• THE BOLDNESS OF THE RESURRECTION (1-4)

• THE BOLDNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (5-8)

• THE BOLDNESS OF THE NAME (9-11)

• THE BOLDNESS ONLY FOUND IN JESUS (12)

• THE BOLDNESS OF A TRANSFORMED LIFE (13-14)

• THE BOLDNESS TO RESPOND TO OPPOSITION (15-22)

• THE BOLDNESS OF PRAYER (23-31)

THE MOTIVE OF THE BOLDNESS OF THE APOSTLES WAS THE RESURRECTION, BOTH OF JESUS AND THEN THEIR OWN IN GIFTED SPIRIT AND STRENGTH.

THE HEALING OF THE LAME MAN WAS DONE AT THE 9TH HOUR, AROUND 3:00 P.M. HIS LEAPING AND WALKING INTO THE TEMPLE

WITH PETER AND JOHN WAS SEEN BY THE ENTIRE CROWD OF JEWISH

MEN, BOTH OF THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES.

A GROUP OF BOTH GATHERED AROUND THE APOSTLES TO CONFRONT THEM ABOUT THE WORK THEY HAD DONE.

REMEMBER THAT JESUS HAD CALLED THE PHARISEES HYPOCRITES AND HAD TOLD THE SADDUCEES THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND SCRIPTURE ABOUT MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN.

THE SADDUCEES DID NOT BELIEVE IN ANGELS OR ANY RESURRECTION.

THE PRIESTS AND PHARISEES HAD WITNESSED THE MIRACLE OF THE RAISING OF LAZARUS BY JESUS AND IN JOHN 11 HAD SEEN THE DANGER OF ALLOWING JESUS TO CONTINUE HIS WORK AMONG THE PEOPLE.

PETER WAS SPEAKING OF THE MIRACLE DONE WITH THE LAME MAN BEING IN THE POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WHO WAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, CAUSING THE SADDUCEES TO BECOME ANNOYED AND TROUBLED.

IN VERSE 3 THE TEMPLE MASTERS HAD BOTH PETER AND JOHN ARRESTED AND JAILED OVERNIGHT.

IT WAS ALREADY TOO LATE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL FOR MANY WHO HEARD PETER SPEAK WERE BORN AGAIN, SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, WITH THE NUMBER GIVEN AS 5,000 MEN.

THE NEXT DAY PETER AND JOHN WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN AND MADE TO STAND IN THEIR MIDST.

ANNAS THE HIGH PRIEST WAS PRESENT AS WELL AS CAIAPHAS, AND OTHERS. WE KNOW AFTER THE ARREST OF JESUS, HE WAS FIRST TAKEN TO THE HOUSE OF ANNAS AND THEN TO THE HOUSE OF CAIAPHAS. (JN 18:13)

THE QUESTIONS ASKED OF THE APOSTLES WERE TWOFOLD:

BY WHAT POWER HAVE YOU DONE THIS WORK OF HEALING?

BY WHAT NAME HAVE YOU HEALED THIS MAN WHO WAS LAME?

VERSE 8 TEACHES US THAT PETER WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AS HE BEGAN TO ANSWER.

PETER EXPRESSED NO FEAR IN THIS IMPORTANT MOMENT AND FORMED HIS REPLIES POLITELY.

IN VERSE 9 PETER SAID IF THE INQUIRY WAS CONCERNING THE GOOD DEED DONE TO THE LAME MAN, THE ANSWER WAS CLEAR.

PETER THEN PROCLAIMED THAT THE HEALING WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, WHOM YOU CRUCIFIED, AND WHOM GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

IT WAS BY HIM THAT THIS MAN STOOD BEFORE YOU WHOLE, GIVEN STRENGTH AND HEALTH. THE MAN WAS RESTORED BOTH IN BODY AND SPIRIT AS HE HAD PRAISED GOD CONTINUALLY IN THE TEMPLE AFTER HIS HEALING

PETER THEN QUOTED PSALM 118:22 TO THE TEMPLE MASTERS, SAYING THIS ONE (JESUS) IS THE STONE SET AT NAUGHT (IGNORED AND DESPISED) OF YOU, BUT NOW HE HAS BECOME THE CORNERSTONE (HEAD OF THE CORNER), MEANING HE SITS NOW IN POWER WITH THE ALMIGHTY.

IN VERSE 12, PETER FURTHER EXPLAINED HIS EXACT MEANING WITH ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL STATEMENTS MADE IN THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT.

HE SAID THAT “NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED”.

NOW IN VERSE 13 WE SEE THE PRIESTS AND ELDERS MARVELLED AT THE BOLDNESS OF THE WORDS SPOKEN AND REMEMBERED THAT THESE APOSTLES WERE UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS STRONGLY ACTIVE IN THIS MOMENT, GIVING THE WORDS TO PETER TO SPEAK WITH AUTHORITY.

THE TEMPLE MASTERS REMEMBERED THESE MEN HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

THEY BELIEVED THEY HAD RID THEMSELVES OF JESUS WHEN THEY HAD HIM CRICIFIED BUT NOW THE DISCIPLES, TRAINED BY HIM, WERE SPEAKING WITH THE SAME AUTHORITY HE HELD AND WERE HEALING IN THEIR MIDST IN HIS NAME.

IN THE MOMENT THESE ELDERS WERE CONFRONTED WITH SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT BE DENIED, THE MAN HEALED STOOD THERE ON STRONG LEGS AND FEET IN THEIR PRESENCE.

THEY COULD THINK OF NOTHING ELSE TO SAY AND SENT PETER AND JOHN AND THE HEALED MAN OUT OF THE COUNCIL ROOM TO DISCUSS THE MATTER AMONG THEMSELVES.

THEY WERE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION AS THERE COULD BE NO DENIAL THAT THE MAN LAMED WAS NOW WHOLE AND MANY SAW IT TAKE PLACE.

THE APOSTLES WERE HOWEVER, NOW PROCLAIMING A GOSPEL THAT TAUGHT THAT ALL MEN WHO REPENTED WOULD BE RESURRECTED AND JOIN JESUS IN HEAVEN IN A COMPLETE RESURRECTION OF ALL BELIEVERS.

IN MATTHEW 28 THE TEMPLE MASTERS HAD BRIBED THE GUARDS AT THE TOMB OF JESUS TO SAY HIS BODY HAD SIMPLY BEEN STOLEN.

THEIR PROBLEM CONCERNING JESUS WAS MUCH WORSE NOW THAN WHEN JESUS WAS ALIVE.

NOW MANY WERE TEACHING IN HIS NAME, HEALING IN HIS NAME, PREACHING IN HIS NAME, AND CONVERTING THOUSANDS IN HIS NAME.

SOME WONDERED HOW LUKE KNEW WHAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED IN THIS COUNCIL, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PRIVATE.

SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT SAUL, WHO WAS A PHARISEE, HAD LATER INFORMED LUKE ON THESE DISCUSSIONS AFTER HE HAD BEEN RADICALLY SAVED ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, AND BECAME PAUL OR PERHAPS NICODEMUS REVEALED IT LATER.

WHEN THEY CALLED THE APOSTLES BACK INTO THE COUNCIL ROOM, THEY COMMANDED THEM NOT TO SPEAK OR TEACH IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

THESE THREATS DID NOT INTIMIDATE THE APOSTLES, AND IN A MOMENT OF PURE ELOQUENCE, PETER ASKED THE TEMPLE MASTERS

TO DECIDE WHETHER THE APOSTLES SHOULD OBEY THESE LEADERS OR GOD.

NOW THE APOSTLES DECLARED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO STOP TELLING WHAT THEY HAD SEEN AND HEARD.

AFTER GIVING FURTHER THREATS THE TEMPLE MASTERS RELEASED THE APOSTLES. DOING SO MADE THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE TEMPLE MASTERS WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE GOSPLE OR IT’S PREACHING.

AS SOON AS THEY WERE FREE, PETER AND JOHN WENT BACK TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE, WHICH WAS THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, A FAMILY OF GOD EXPLAINED BY PAUL IN EPHESIANS 2:19.

IT SEEMS CERTAIN THAT THEIR SPIRITUAL FAMILY HAD BEEN MUCH IN PRAYER FOR THESE TWO MESSENGERS OF THE LORD, AND SURELY THEY REJOICED IN THEIR RELEASE, AND THE APOSTLES TOLD THE ENTIRE STORY TO THE OTHER FOLLOWERS.

VERSE 24 TEACHES US THAT THE WARNINGS AND THREATS OF THE JEWISH LEADERS DID NOT FRIGHTEN THE BELIEVERS. NEITHER DID THEY IGNORE THEM. THEY TOOK THEM TO GOD.

HERE WE SEE THEY SPOKE TO GOD AS IN ONE VOICE, JOINING TOGETHER IN PRAYER IN UNISON, IN ONE ACCORD.

MUCH CAN BE LEARNED FROM THIS PRAYER.

FIRST THEY RECOGNIZED WHO GOD IS. THEY ADDRESSED HIM AS LORD (WITH THIS WORD MEANING MASTER OR SOVEREIGN).

THEN THEY RECOGNIZED THAT HE ALONE IS GOD, THE GOD OF ALL POWER AS HE IS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND ALL THAT EXISTS IN EVERY PART OF IT, AND HE RULES IT.

HE IS SOVEREIGN, TRUE KING OVER ALL THINGS BY HIS RIGHT AS CREATOR.

SECOND, THEY BASED THEIR PETITION ON HIS HOLY WORD, SPOKEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE LIPS OF DAVID.

PSALM 2:1-2 SPEAKS OF OPPOSITION LIKE THAT THEY WERE FACING FROM THE JEWISH LEADERS.

DAVID HAD IDENTIFIED THIS RAGE EXISTING IN HIS DAY AS KINGS OF THE EARTH TRIED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AGAINST THE LORD, AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED ONE.

THE PRAYER RECOGNIZED THAT THE JEWISH LEADERS WERE JUST LIKE THOSE GENTILES IN DAVID’S DAY.

THESE BELIEVERS NOW LUMPED TOGETHER HEROD, PONTIUS PILATE, GENTILES AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HERSELF ALL OF WHOM GATHER TOGETHER TO OVERCOME THE LORD’S GOSPEL.

NOW IN VERSE 28 THOSE IN PRAYER CLEARLY STATE THAT ALL THOSE IN OPPOSITION COULD ONLY DO WHAT GOD BY HIS OWN HAND AND COUNSEL ALLOWED THEM TO DO.

(THEY FULLY UNDERSTOOOD THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD)

EVEN SO, THOSE OPPOSED TO THE GOSPEL HAD THEIR ACTS DETERMINED BY THE LORD BUT WERE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN DEEDS.

GOD HAD BEEN IN FULL CONTROL WHEN THEY CRUCIFICED CHRIST AND GOD PERMITTED IT. JESUS WAS GOD’S SERVANT WHO ACCOMPLISHED GOD’S WILL ON THEIR BEHALF.

HERE THEY ARE IN FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE DARK PROVIDENCE OF GOD, WHO ALLOWS MATTERS TO OCCUR TO FURTHER HIS KINGDOM EVEN WHEN THEY SEEM DARK.

THEY ASK GOD TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW HIS SERVANTS WHICH THEY WERE TO CONTINUE HIS WORK IN SPITE OF THE THREATENINGS OF THE JEWISH TEMPLE MASTERS.

WHAT THEY WERE ASKING WAS THAT LIKE THE HEALING OF THE LAME MAN IN THE TEMPLE, MORE OPPORTUNITIES BE GIVEN THEM TO DISPLAY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BOLDLY, IN THE NAME OF THY HOLY CHILD JESUS.

THEY WISHED TO BRING UNMISTAKABLE AND UNDENIABLE SIGNS AND WONDERS TO GLORIFY THE GOSPEL THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN.

AFTER THIS PRAYER OF UNITY AND SUPPLICATION THE PLACE WHERE THEY HAD GATHERED WAS SHAKEN, NOT BY AN EARTHQUAKE, BUT BY THE MIGHTY POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST AND AS THE SHAKING CONTINUED, EACH ONE WAS FILLED WITH A FURTHER GIFT OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

IN THAT MOMENT THEY SPOKE BOLDLY THE WORD OF GOD.

THE MULTITUDE OF THEM THAT WERE IN PRAYER AND BELIEVED WERE OF ONE HEART AND OF ONE SOUL.

THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS WERE SECURED IN UNITY BY GOD,

UNITY OF MIND AND PURPOSE AND DESIRE ONLY TO GLORIFY THE LORD.

IN VERSE 33 WE SEE THAT THE APOSTLES WERE ABLE TO KEEP GIVING WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS WITH GREAT POWER, MEANING WITH SUPERNATURAL DEEDS GRANTED TO THEM BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

GREAT GRACE WAS SUPPLIED TO ALL, NOT JUST TO THE APOSTLES.

GOD’S FAVOR RESTED GREATLY ON THEM ALL, A WONDERFUL SPIRIT GIFT OF GENEROSITY.

NONE OF THEM LACKED FOR ANYTHING NEEDED AND HOUSES AND OTHER ASSETS WERE SOLD TO ASSURE ALL WHO HAD NEEDS FOUND THEM FILLED.

THE FUNDS RECEIVED FOR THESE SALES WERE LAID AT THE FEET OF THE APOSTLES, WHERE DISTRIBUTION WAS MADE TO ANY IN NEED.

LUKE GIVES US A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE TO US IN VERSES 36-37.

JOSES, ALSO NAMED BARNABAS, WHICH MEANS “SON OF ENCOURAGEMNT” SAW THIS CARE FOR ALL IN THE GROUP AND HIS HEART WAS MOVED.

HE SOLD A FIELD AND BROUGHT THE MONEY GAINED TO THE APOSTLES AND WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE SPIRIT OF THE GROUP.

THIS ACT BY BARNABAS SET THE STAGE FOR CHAPTER 5 WHICH WILL ALLOW US THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO SEEMED TO BE WILLING TO DO THE SAME BUT TRIED TO WITHHOLD A PORTION OF THE FUNDS RECEIVED.

THE MATTER COVERED IN CHAPTER 5 IS NOT THAT THERE WAS A SALE AND THEN A DONATION TO THE NEED OF OTHER FOLLOWERS.

IT WAS THAT BOTH OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED LIED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT ABOUT WHETHER THEY DONATED WHAT THEY HAD RECEIVED AS THEY CLAIMED OR WITHHELD SOME OF THE MONEY RECEIVED AND SAID THAT THEY HAD NOT DONE SO.

WHAT CAN WE CONCLUDE AS OUR LESSONS FROM THIS STUDY STOP IN CHAPTER FOUR?

AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKED THROUGH THE APOSTLES, HE PROVIDED POWER BEYOND SPIRITUAL HEALING OF THE BROKEN HEART.

HE PROVIDED POWER TO ENABLE PHYSICAL HEALING OF THE BROKEN BODIES AS WELL.

THESE POWERS CREATED A SWEET SPIRIT OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP AMONG THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WHICH WAS MANIFESTED IN THEIR MONUMENTAL GIVING TO ASSURE THE NEEDS OF ALL FOLLOWERS WERE MET.

THEIR GENEROSITY BECAME OVERFLOWING WITHIN THE NEW CHURCH.

BARNABUS, A LEVITE FROM CYPRUS, WAS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE AS HE SOLD HIS OWN ASSETS AND LAID THE FUNDS RECEIVED AT THE FEET OF THE APOSTLES.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE TAUGHT IN CHAPTER FOUR THAT PRAYER HAD A PROMINENT PLACE IN THE MINISTRY OF THE EARLY CHURCH AND ITS MEMBERS.

THEY PRAYED IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION AND THEY CONTINUED TO PRAY WHEN THE THREAT OF DANGER HAD PASSED.

THEIR PRAYERFULNESS MADE THEM RECEPTIVE TO THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS WELL AS RECEPTIVE TO HIS CONTROL.

THROUGH THE POWER OF PRAYER AND FAITHFUL COMMITMENT, THE APOSTLES RECEIVED THE BOLDNESS THEY NEEDED TO BOLDLY PROCLAIM THE WORD OF THE LORD IN WAYS NEVER BEFORE KNOWN.

Acts 5: Persecution Reveals Holiness

HOLINESS IN WORSHIP, PURPOSE, AND PRACTICE BY GOD’S PEOPLE WILL GREATLY IMPACT THE COMMUNITY.

WE BEGIN THIS STUDY STOP BY REMEMBERING THAT HOLINESS IS DEFINED TO BE SET ASIDE, APART FROM OTHERS, BELIEVING AND LIVING DIFFERENTLY AS DEVOTED TO GOD RATHER THAN MAN.

WE FIND TWO STRONG LESSONS FOR US IN CHAPTER 5.

FIRST WE EXAMINE THE INCIDENT OF THE QUICK DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE WITHIN THE EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

SECOND WE EXAMINE THE CONTINUED PERSECUTION BY THE JEWISH TEMPLE MASTERS OF THOSE WHO PREACH & TEACH OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD.

PETER AND JOHN HAD ENDED CHAPTER 4 BY ASKING A POWERFUL QUESTION TO THE JEWISH LEADERS WHICH WAS:

“WHOM DO WE OBEY: GOD OR MAN?”

IN ACTS 5, VERSE 29, THEY ANSWER THEIR OWN QUESTION:

“WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN.”

THAT QUESTION AND ANSWER STILL RESIDES IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TODAY AND EACH GENERATION OF BELIEVERS MUST ASK AND ANSWER IT AGAIN.

IN THE CLOSING VERSES OF CHAPTER 4 WE ARE GIVEN AN INCIDENT IN WHICH BARNABUS SOLD SOME LAND AND BROUGHT THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE LAYING IT AT THE FEET OF THE APOSTLES TO HELP THE NEEDS OF BELIEVERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH.

INCLUDING THIS INCIDENT IN HOLY SCRIPTURE PROCLAIMED THE GOODNESS OF THIS MAN WHO SHOWED HIS WILLINGNESS TO GIVE FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS, A TRULY CHRISTLIKE THING TO DO.

THERE WERE TWO OTHERS, A COUPLE, WHO SAW HIM PROCLAIMED AND WISHED TO BE THEMSELVES LIKEWISE VIEWED BY THE CHURCH.

THESE TWO PEOPLE, ANANIAS (MEANING YAHWEH IS GRACIOUS) AND SAPPHIRA (MEANING BEAUTIFUL) DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE ACT OF BARNABUS.

THEY SOLD SOME PROPERTY AND BROUGHT PART OF THE PROCEEDS TO THE APOSTLES.

PETER WAS LEADING THE EARLY CHURCH AND WAS HIMSELF FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH PROVIDED HIM WITH THE ABILITY TO DISCERN BOTH ACTION AND INTENT.

THIS SPIRIT GIVEN CAPACITY ALLOWED PETER TO QUICKLY DISCERN THAT WHILE THE PROCEEDS HAD BEEN GIVEN, THE DONATION WAS NOT A GIFT IN FULL.

HE QUESTIONED ANANIAS AND IN VERSE 3 REVEALED THAT HE KNEW THAT SATAN HAD A HAND IN THIS DONATION FILLING THE HEART OF THIS MAN TO WITHHOLD A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FOR HIMSELF.

PETER QUICKLY UNCOVERED THE MAIN POINT WHICH WAS THAT THE LAND SOLD WAS THE POSSESSION OF ANANIAS AS WERE THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE.

NO ONE ASKED OR COMMANDED THE LAND TO BE SOLD.

NOR DID ANYONE ASK OR COMMAND THE PROCEEDS BE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH.

BUT THE DONATION WAS IMPURE BECAUSE THIS COUPLE PRETENDED THE ENTIRE PROCEEDS HAD BEEN DONATED WHEN A PORTION HAD BEEN HELD BACK FOR PERSONAL USE.

PETER DISCERNED THE HEART OF THIS MAN AND KNEW HE HAD LIED TO THE HOLY GHOST. (VERSES 3 & 4)

WITHOUT SPEAKING A SINGLE WORD IN HIS OWN DEFENSE, ANANIAS FELL DEAD BEFORE PETER, AND WAS CARRIED OUT AND BURIED.

THREE HOURS LATER SAPPHIRA APPEARED BEFORE PETER NOT KNOWING HER HUSBAND HAD DIED.

PETER ASKED THE SAME QUESTION OF SAPPHIRA WHICH WAS DID YOU SELL THE LAND FOR SO MUCH, MEANING THE AMOUNT DONATED? YES, SHE SAID, FOR SO MUCH.

PETER THEN ASKED HOW IT WAS THAT BOTH PEOPLE AGREED TOGETHER TO DONATE A PORTION BUT TO SAY THEY HAD DONATED ALL THEY HAD RECEIVED, TEMPTING THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.

SAPPHIRA ALSO FELL DEAD AT THE FEET OF PETER AND WAS CARRIED OUT AND BURIED ALONG SIDE HER HUSBAND.

HERE WAS SPIRITUAL DISHONESTY IN ITS HIGHEST FORM.

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA WERE NOT LYING TO PETER OR TO THE CHURCH BUT TO GOD.

PETER DID NOT TAKE THESE TWO LIVES. THEY GAVE UP THEIR LIVES AS A RESULT OF THEIR SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THIS EVENT BROUGHT GREAT FEAR INTO THE CHURCH BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH THAT HAD BEEN REVEALED BEFORE THEIR EYES.

THE LORD HAD BROUGHT GREAT GOODNESS IN THE GIFT OF BARNABUS AND HAD BROUGHT GREAT DARKNESS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE DECEPTION INSIDE THE CHURCH, LED BY SATAN, KNOWN BY GOD, AND QUICKLY REPAID BY GOD WITHOUT DELAY.

LOYALTY AND LACK OF IT WERE BOTH SEEN AND VISIBLY EXPOSED.

THE LESSON FOR US TODAY IS STRONG.

THE DIFFICULTY IN LOCAL CHURCHES TODAY IS THE WITHHOLDING OF A PORTION OF OURSELVES FROM THE LORD.

HERE ONCE MORE WE LEARN THAT THE DEVOTION OF ANY BELIEVER IS MEASURED ONLY BY THE DEPTH OF HIS SURRENDER.

THE LORD’S CHURCH WAS TAUGHT A GREAT LESSON BY THIS EVENT AND THEN MOVED ONWARD TO THE WORK GIVEN IT BY GOD.

IN VERSES 12-16 WE SEE CONTINUED SIGNS AND WONDERS BEING DONE AMONG THE PEOPLE.

MULTITUDES OF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH.

THEY BROUGHT THE SICK OF THE COMMUNITY AND LAID THEM ON BEDS AND COUCHES SO THAT WHEN PETER WALKED BY, HIS SHADOW MIGHT FALL ACROSS THEM.

SICK PEOPLE WERE BROUGHT FROM SURROUNDING CITIES WERE BROUGHT TO JERUSALEM AS WELL AS THOSE TORMENTED BY UNCLEAN SPIRITS.

ALL WERE HEALED.

THE CHURCH WAS THEN OF ONE MIND AND SOUL WITH LOYAL COMMITMENT TO THE RISEN CHRIST, AND LOYALTY TO EACH OTHER.

WHAT WAS DEMONSTRATED IN THESE DAYS ABOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH?

IT WAS SUPERNATURAL CHURCH:

• SIGNS AND WONDERS WERE DONE IN GREAT NUMBERS, EVIDENCE OF THE POWER OF THE LORD WORKING THROUGH THOSE CHOSEN JUST AS PROMISED BY JESUS IN ACTS ONE.

IT WAS A RESPECTED AND GROWING CHURCH:

• AUTHENTIC BELIEVERS WERE BEING REBORN BY THE LORD’S DOING THROUGH HIS GIFTED HOLY SPIRIT.

IT WAS A HEALING CHURCH:

• THE HAND OF THE LORD MOVED THE APOSTLE’S HANDS AND WORDS TO ARRANGE EVERY ILLNESS TO BE HEALED.

• NONE WERE LEFT BEHIND. VERSE 16 TEACHES US THAT ALL WHO CAME WERE GIVEN HEALING.

IN VERSES 17-21 WE ARE TOLD THAT THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS SADDUCCES WERE FILLED WITH INDIGNATION AT THESE EVENTS.

THEY CHOSE TO ARREST THE APOSTLES AND PUT THEM IN PRISON, INTENDING TO DEAL WITH THEM HARSHLY THE NEXT DAY.

DURING THE NIGHT AN ANGEL OF THE LORD OPENED THE DOORS OF THE PRISON AND LED THE APOSTLES OUT OF THE PRISON.

THE ANGEL COMMANDED THEM TO AGAIN ENTER THE TEMPLE AND SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE WHICH THE APOSTLES OBEYED EARLY THE NEXT MORNING.

THE TEMPLE MASTERS ASSEMBLED AND SENT FOR THE APOSTLES TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THEM FROM THE PRISON.

THE OFFICERS SENT TO BRING THE APOSTLES RETURNED EMPTY HANDED AND TOLD THE TEMPLE MASTERS THE APOSTLES COULD NOT BE FOUND IN THE PRISON.

THEN ANOTHER OFFICER ARRIVED TO SAY THESE SAME APOSTLES WERE NOW IN THE TEMPLE TEACHING THE PEOPLE.

THE GUARDS COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE PRISON. THE APOSTLES HAD BEEN STRONGLY SECURED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND NOW WERE INEXPLICABLY GONE.

THE TEMPLE MASTERS COULD NOT SILENCE THE APOSTLES OR COULD NOT EVEN KEEP THEM IN PRISON FOR ONE NIGHT.

WHAT COULD THEY DO? THE POPULARITY OF THE APOSTLES AMONG THE PEOPLE WAS CLEAR AND THE CONTINUED HEALINGS WERE EVIDENCE TO THE PEOPLE THAT GOD WAS MOVING AMONG THEM.

ALL THEY COULD DO WAS TO BRING THE APOSTLES BACK FOR MORE THREATS AND WARNINGS.

AS THEY DID SO, PETER SPEAKS AGAIN TO THE TEMPLE MASTERS KNOWN AS THE SANHEDRIN, MAKING THREE POINTS HE HAD USED BEFORE:

• HE AND THE APOSTLES MUST OBEY GOD AND NOT MAN.

• JESUS CHRIST IS GOD’S MESSIAH AND IS ALIVE, NOT DEAD.

• JESUS IS LIVING IN EACH OF US BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN.

AFTER MORE THREATS WERE GIVEN TO THE APOSTLES INCLUDING THE ANGRY TEMPLE MASTERS DISCUSSING AMONG THEMSELVES APPLYING THE DEATH PENALTY TO THESE CHRIST FOLLOWERS,

A HIGHLY RESPECTED RABBI ROSE TO SPEAK.

HE REQUESTED THE APOSTLES BE REMOVED FROM THE COURT CHAMBER BEFORE HE SPOKE.

HIS NAME WAS GAMILIEL, A MOST WISE AND HONORED PHARISEE WHO WAS THE GRANDSON OF AN EVEN MORE RESPECTED RABBI NAMED HILLEL WHO HAD FOUNDED A RABBINICAL SCHOOL AMONG THE PREVIOUS GENERATION.

NOW GAMILIEL REASONED WITH THE ENTIRE SANHEDRIN AGAINST THEIR RUSH TO JUDGMENT AGAINST THE APOSTLES.

GAMILIEL REMINDED THE TEMPLE MASTERS THAT SERIOUS DISRUPTION HAD OCCURRED BEFORE IN JERUSALEM.

HE REMINDED THE GROUP THAT A PREVIOUS CULT WITH MANY FOLLOWERS LED BY A MAN NAMED THEUDAS HAD RISEN AND THEN FADED AWAY BECAUSE GOD WAS NOT WITH HIM.

HE FURTHER REMINDED THAT THIS MAN HAD LED A REBELLION THAT HAD 400 MEN ALL OF WHOM SCATTERED WHEN THE LEADER HAD BEEN KILLED

THERE WAS ANOTHER CULT LED BY A MAN NAMED JUDAS OF GALILEE WHICH ALSO FAILED.

NOW HIS WISDOM WAS GIVEN TO THE TEMPLE MASTERS,

HE SAID THAT THESE APOSTLES ARE BEST LEFT ALONE BY THE SANHEDRIN AND IF THEIR GROUP IS NOT GOD LED, IT WILL FADE AS HAD OTHERS.

IF IT IS OF GOD, NOTHING THE SANHEDRIN CAN DO WILL BE ABLE TO STOP IT. IF IT WAS OF GOD AND THE TEMPLE MASTERS STOOD AGAINST IT, THEY WOULD BE STANDING AGAINST GOD HIMSELF.

THE COURT OF PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES ACCEPTED THE WISDOM OF GAMILIEL, AND AGREED THEY WOULD NOT SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST THE APOSTLES.

INSTEAD, THE APOSTLES WOULD BE HARSHLY WARNED AND BEATEN TO ASSURE THE WARNING WAS SERIOUS THIS TIME.

IT WAS LIKELY THAT THE LAW FOUND IN DEUTERONOMY 25:2-3 WAS USED WHERE ONE BEATEN HAD TO LIE FACE DOWN AND ACCEPT AS MANY AS 40 STRIPES.

AFTER THE BEATINGS, THE WARNING WAS AGAIN GIVEN THE APOSTLES NOT TO CONTINUE THEIR TEACHING IN THE NAME OF CHRIST AGAIN.  THEN THE APOSTLES WERE FREED.

VERSE 41 TEACHES US THAT THE APOSTLES LEFT REJOICING THAT THEY HAD BEEN CONSIDERED WORTHY TO BE BEATEN FOR THE LORD.

THE APOSTLES MADE NO CHANGE IN THEIR PREACHING OR TEACHING BOTH IN THE TEMPLE AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL.

THEY BOLDLY DEFIED THE ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE MASTERS NUMEROUS TIMES, OBEYING GOD RATHER THAN MAN.

FROM THE EXPOSURE OF THE SINS OF ANANIAS & SAPPHIRA TO THE HEALING OF THE LAME MAN TO THE TRIALS BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN, THE APOSTLES PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL BOTH IN WORD AND DEED.

NO GOVERNMENT OF MAN HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE GOSPEL BY PERSECUTION.

NO DEFEAT HAS EVER BEEN GIVEN TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE BY MAN.

IN JUST OVER 250 YEARS AFTER THESE EVENTS, THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL WAS GIVEN TO A ROMAN GENERAL NAMED CONSTANTINE BY A SIGN AND AFTER HIS MILITARY VICTORY IN 315 A.D. HE BECAME CEASAR OF ROME AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH WAS DECLARED THE OFFICIAL RELIGION OF ROME AND ALL OF ITS PROVINCES. 

HERE GOD HIMSELF WAGED AND WON THE CULTURE WAR OF THIS TIME.

CONSTANTINE’S MOTHER WENT TO JERUSALEM AND BUILT MANY CHRISTIAN WORSHIP CENTERS INCLUDING THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER AS WELL AS THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.

IT WAS WRITTEN THAT SHE FOUND THE TRUE CROSS AS WELL AS THE TWO CROSSES ON WHICH THE TWO THIEVES WERE CRUCIFIED.

NEXT STUDY STOP WILL TEACH US OF THE MINISTRY OF THE NEW OFFICE OF DEACONS AND HOW THE GOSPEL WAS SPREAD EVEN BY THEM, LEADING US CLOSER TO THE RADICAL SALVATION OF PAUL.

Acts 6 & 7: Faithful Deacons have a Powerful Effect in the Lord’s Churches

ACTS 6:1-7 & 7:54-60

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH FOUNDED IN JERUSALEM WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ISSUES.

THERE WAS STRONG OUTSIDE PERSECUTION FROM THE TEMPLE MASTERS WHO HAD COMMANDED TWICE TO THE APOSTLES THAT THEY PREACH OR TEACH NO MORE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE APOSTLES HAD BEEN BEATEN TO INSURE THEY HAD GOTTEN THE MESSAGE AND HAD IGNORED THOSE WARNINGS.

THE EVIL WORK OF THE ENEMY OF THE LORD AND HIS CHURCH SOUGHT TO DISRUPT THE CHURCH FROM WITHIN.

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA HAD DECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HAD PAID FOR THAT SIN WITH THEIR LIVES AS GOD STRUCK BOTH DEAD.

THE CONSEQUENCE OF LYING AND HYPOCRISY HAD BEEN SEEN BY MANY AND BROUGHT FEAR TO THE MEMBERS AND ANOTHER INTERNAL ISSUE HAD BECOME EVIDENT.

VERSE 6:1 BRINGS THIS ISSUE QUICKLY TO OUR ATTENTION:

“…there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”

THERE HAD BEEN FOR A SHORT WHILE IN THE NEW CHURCH AN ATTEMPT AT COMMUNAL LIVING AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL TEMPORARILY.

THE ISSUE WAS NOT AN ISSUE OF RACES OR A MATTER OF ANTI-SEMITISM. GREEK SPEAKING JEWS TENDED TO FOLLOW THEIR GREEK CULTURE AND HEBREW SPEAKING JEWS TENDED TOWARD THE LAW OF MOSES.

THE POPULATION OF THE CHURCH AT THAT TIME WAS MANY THOUSANDS AS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD CALLED AND CONVERTED MANY TO JOIN THE CHURCH.

EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH WAS STILL YOUNG, IT APPEARS IT WAS NOT PERFECT, BECAUSE, OF COURSE, MAN WAS INVOLVED.

THE GREEKS WISHED THEIR WIDOWS TO BE TREATED WITH EQUAL CARE TO THE WIDOWS OF THE HEBREWS. THE CONFLICT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE APOSTLES IN VERSE 2:

“… the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God, and serve tables.”

A SOLUTION WAS FOUND IN WHICH SEVEN MEN WERE SOUGHT TO CARRY THE BURDEN OF SERVICE, MEN WHO WERE OF A GOOD REPORT AND FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST, AND WISDOM.

THE APOSTLES WOULD CONTINUE IN LEADERSHIP OF PRAYER AND MINISTRY. THUS WAS THE OFFICE OF CHURCH DEACON FOUNDED.

A SPECIAL POINT WAS ORIGINALLY FORMED IN THIS OFFICE WHICH IS THAT THEIR DUTIES WERE PHYSICAL AND WERE WITHIN THE CHURCH BUT THOSE DUTIES WERE TO BE VIEWED FROM A SPIRITUAL BASIS.

ONE WHO WAS IMMEDIATELY CHOSEN WAS STEPHEN.

VERSE 10 TEACHES THAT NO ONE COULD RESIST WHEN HE SPOKE WITH WISDOM AND SPIRIT, MEANING HE WAS FULL OF FAITH, NOT ONLY SERVING FAITH BUT WITNESSING FAITH AS WELL.

THE FIRST TWO MEN LISTED, STEPHEN AND PHILLIP WERE TO BE SEEN LATER IN ACTS BY THEIR MANY DEEDS AND THERE WERE FIVE MORE WHO SERVED BUT ARE NOT LATER MENTIONED:

PROCHORUS, NICANOR, TIMON, PARMENAS, & NICHOLAS WHO WAS A BELIEVER FROM ANTIOCH.

THESE WERE PRESENTED TO THE APOSTLES AND APPROVED BY THEM BY THE LAYING ON OF THEIR HANDS UPON THEM.

WE REMEMBER OUR STUDY OF LEVITICUS WHERE SINNERS LAID HANDS ON A GOAT TO CARRY AWAY THEIR SIN SUCH THAT THE GOAT TOOK THE PLACE OF THE SINNER IN SACRIFICE.

THIS MOMENT OF THE LAYING ON OF HANDS MEANT THE DEACONS WERE PARTNERS WITH THE APOSTLES AND WERE TO CARRY AWAY A PORTION OF THE BURDENS OF THE APOSTLES.

IN VERSE 7 WE ARE GIVEN IMMEDIATE RESULTS SHOWN BY THIS IMPORTANT DECISION:

“… the Word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of priests were obedient to the faith.”

HERE WAS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE NOT TO BE IGNORED. CERTAIN PRIESTS HAD SEEN THE RENTING OF THE VEIL IN THE TEMPLE AND HAD COME TO BELIEVE AND NOW WERE WITHIN THE CHURCH SERVING ITS NEEDS.

OUR STUDY STOP IN CHAPTER SIX NOW TURNS OUR ATTENTION TO STEPHEN, ONE OF THE GREAT MEN OF THE EARLY CHURCH.

VERSE 8:

“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”

HERE WE SEE THAT THE DEACONS APPOINTED WERE ONE WITH THE APOSTLES IN HAVING THE GIFT OF SIGNS,

BECAUSE STEPHEN WAS SO GIFTED AND BEING SUCH A STRONG WITNESS OF THE GOSPEL CAUSED HIM TO INCUR THE HATRED OF THE SADDUCCES, WHO BROUGHT FALSE WITNESSES AGAINST HIM TO THE SANHEDRIN COUNCIL.

IN VERSES 9-15 WERE SEE THAT CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE LIBERTINES AND OTHERS FOUND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO RESIST THE WISDOM OF STEPHEN AND HIS SPIRIT WHEN HE SPOKE.

THE FALSE WITNESSES WHO WERE PERSUADED TO LIE TESTIFIED THAT STEPHENWAS IN BLASPHEMY AGAINST MOSES AND GOD.

THEY STIRRED UP THE COUNCIL AND SCRIBES AND ELDERS WERE SENT TO CAPTURE STEPHEN AND BRING HIM TO THE COUNCIL.

THE FALSE WITNESSES TESTIFIED FALSELY AND TWISTED THE GOSPEL THAT STEPHEN PREACHED AGAINST HIM.

THEY SAID THAT STEPHEN PREACHED THAT THE TEMPLE WOULD BE DESTROYED AND REBUILT BY JESUS IN THREE DAYS, NOT MENTIONING JESUS SPOKE OF HIS BODY, NOT THE TEMPLE MADE OF STONE.

THEY CLAIMED THAT THE INTENT OF THE GOSPEL WAS TO CHANGE THE CUSTOMS OF MOSES CONSIDERED BY THEM TO BE HOLY.

AS THESE LIES WERE SPOKEN, THOSE OF THE COUNCIL LOOKED UPON STEPHEN SAW HIS FACE THAT APPEARED TO THEM TO BE THE FACE OF AN ANGEL. REMEMBER THE SADDUCCES NEVER BELIEVED IN ANGELS OR THE RESURRECTION.

THE FALSE WITNESSES FURTHER SAID THAT STEPHEN HAD SAID THE TEMPLE WOULD BE DESOLATE WHICH ACTUALLY WAS TRUE BECAUSE THE TEMPLE MASTERS WHO CONTROLLED THE TEMPLE HAD REJECTED THE SON OF GOD THEREBY BRINGING ON THEIR OWN DESOLATION.

CHAPTER 7 BRINGS THE WORDS OF STEPHEN BEFORE THE COUNCIL, WHICH ARE NOT ACTUALLY A DEFENSE BUT ARE RECITING THE REBELLION OF ISRAEL AGAINST GOD.

HE CHARGES THE COUNCIL OF BEING BETRAYERS AND MURDERERS OF CHRIST.

SUCH WORDS BRING EVEN MORE HATRED UPON STEPHEN AND WILL LEAD TO HIS CERTAIN DEATH SOON AFTER.

IN VERSES 7:1-2 STEPHEN CALLED THE COUNCIL BRETHREN AND THE OLDER MEN FATHERS SHOWING RESPECT TO ALL THE COUNCIL AND DOES NOT EVEN MENTION THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

STEPHEN REVIEWS ALL THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL BEGINNING WITH ABRAHAM, WHO WAS NOT CHOSEN BECAUSE HE BELIEVED, HAVING COME FROM AN IDOL WORSHIPPING FAMILY BUT DID COME TO BELIEVE GOD(GENESIS 15).

STEPHEN MOVES FROM ABRAHAM TO THE PERIOD OF THE PATRIARCHS SPEAKING OF GOD’S SAVING OF JOSEPH AND DELIVERING HIM FROM ALL HIS TRIALS AND AFFLICTIONS.

HE THEN MOVES ONWARD TO DISCUSS WHY GOD PROVIDED MOSES TO HIS PEOPLE TO LEAD THEM AWAY FROM BONDAGE, BUT ALSO MENTIONING HOW MOSES TREMBLED BEFORE GOD.

GOD SENT HIS ANGEL TO TROUBLE PHARAOH WITH PLAGUES TO DELIVER HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE.

STEPHEN SPEAKS OF THE WILDERNESS YEARS AND OF THE GREAT SIN OF AARON WHEN THE PEOPLE REJECTED BOTH MOSES AND GOD.

HERE STEPHEN IS CLEARLY TEACHING THAT ISRAEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN REBELLIOUS AGAINST GOD.

HE SAYS THE HEBREWS TOOK UP THE WORSHIP OF IDOLS, EVEN ACCEPTING MOLECH TO WORSHIP RATHER THAN THE GOD OF THE TABERNACLE, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO SACRFICE THEIR OWN CHILDREN BY FIRE.

HE SPEAKS OF JOSHUA WHOM GOD USED TO DRIVE OUT THE GENTILE PAGANS FROM THE PROMISED LAND.

HE SPEAKS OF KING DAVID WHO WANTED TO BUILD THE TEMPLE BUT GOD REFUSED ONLY ALLOWING SOLOMON TO DO SO.

AFTER THESE LESSONS, STEPHEN COMES TO THE CONDEMNATION OF THE RELIGIOUS RULERS OF HIS DAY WHO ARE THE TEMPLE MASTERS.

VERSES 51-53:

“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

WHILE THE COUNCIL WOULD ALL HAVE BEEN CIRCUMCISED IN THE FLESH, THEY WERE NOT CIRCUMCISED IN THE HEART.

THE CONDEMNATION OF STEPHEN CUT THEM TO THEIR UNCIRCUMCISED HEARTS AND THEY CLINCHED AND GROUND THEIR TEETH TOWARD HIM, SAID TO BE GNASHING THEIR TEETH.

THEIR ANGER AND RAGE BECAME GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE.

STEPHEN SPEAKS OF NOW SEEING THE GLORY OF GOD ABOVE AND JESUS STANDING AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND.

WE REMEMBER IN OUR STUDY OF HEBREWS WE WERE TAUGHT IN CHAPTER 1 VERSE 3 THAT JESUS AFTER HE HAD PURGED OUR SINS SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.

WHILE JESUS WAS IN GLORY AND HAD SAT AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND, HE WAS STILL WORKING ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO ARE HIS, FOR NOW HE IS STANDING AGAIN AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND.

WHEN STEPHEN SPOKE THOSE WORDS, THE COUNCIL STOPPED UP THEIR EARS, RUSHED AT STEPHEN, CAST HIM OUT OF THE CITY AND STONED HIM TO DEATH.

THOSE WHO CAST STONES LAID THEIR OUTER CLOTHING AT THE FEET OF A YOUNG MAN NAMED SAUL.

STEPHEN CALLED OUT TO JESUS ASKING HIM NOT TO LAY THIS SIN AGAINST THESE UNBELIEVERS AND ASKED JESUS TO RECEIVE HIS SPIRIT AND THEN DIED.

HERE TWO YOUNG MEN, STEPHEN AND SAUL (LATER PAUL) ARE TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ONLY TIME ON EARTH.

THEY ARE ENEMIES AND STAND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CROSS.

WE SHALL SEE IN 8:1 THAT IN THIS MOMENT SAUL WAS CONSENTING TO THE DEATH OF STEPHEN.

THEY WILL MEET AGAIN YEARS LATER WHEN PAUL ALSO BECOMES A MARTYR FOR CHRIST AND HOPEFULLY WAS GREETED BY STEPHEN AS HE ENTERED THE GATES OF HEAVEN.

STEPHEN IN THIS MOMENT WAS A GREAT WITNESS TO SAUL, WITH SAUL LIKELY LOOKING UPWARD AND UNDERSTANDING THAT STEPHEN SEES SOMETHING HE COULD NOT SEE WITH HIS OWN MORTAL EYES.

PAUL WILL SEE HIS OWN SIMILAR VISION OF THE RISEN JESUS IN CHAPTER NINE AT HIS RADICAL SALVATION.

BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS IMPORTANT STUDY STOP WE MUST ASK SOME STRONG QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT STEPHEN’S DEATH DID TO THE CHURCH.

FIRST, IT RAISED PROFOUND QUESTIONS.

WHAT WAS THE LORD DOING?

HOW COULD HE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO ONE SO FAITHFUL?

WHY DIDN’T HE STOP IT?

STEPHEN WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS POWER AS A WITNESS.

WHY SNUFF OUT SO BRIGHT A FLAME FOR THE LORD?

THE LORD WAS NOT FINISHED.

THROUGH STEPHEN’S DEATH THE CHRISTIANS OF THE EARLY CHURCH SCATTERED AND TOOK THEIR FAITH WITH THEM.

THEY WERE TO BE PART OF THE FINAL COMMAND OF THE GREAT COMMISSION TAKING THE WORD TO THE UTTERMOST PARTS KNOWN AT THAT TIME.

THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT JERUSALEM WITHOUT THE PERSECUTION AND PUNISHMENT INFLICTED ON THEM.

THE DEATH OF STEPHEN LIT THE FIRE OF THE PENT UP HATRED OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS.

THE FIRE EXPLODED WITH FURY. THEY HAD TO LEAVE.

IN THEIR SCATTERING, MANY WENT TO OTHER CITIES AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND PLANTED THE SEED WHICH WOULD LATER SPROUT INTO EARLY CHURCHES.

THE SAYING OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS PROVEN TRUE IN THIS MOMENT WHICH IS THAT THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS IS THE SEED OF THE CHURCH.

THIS WAS NEVER MORE TRUE THAN WITH THE FIRST BLOOD OF THE FIRST MARTYR, STEPHEN.

HE WORE A NATURAL CROWN OF HUMAN ABILITY GIFTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO FILLED HIM AND HE WORE HIS OWN CROWN OF THORNS WITH GRACE AND HUMILITY, EVEN PRAYING FOR HIS OWN MURDERERS.

STEPHEN WAS THE TURNING POINT  AND EVENTUALLY THE CAUSE OF THE BEGINNING OF THE HEART OF SAUL OF TARSUS TURNING LATER ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD, WHO IN HIS OWN CONVERSION MOMENT ASKED “WHO ARE YOU LORD?”

SURELY IN THAT MOMENT WHEN HE SAW THE GREAT LIGHT, HE THOUGHT OF THE MOMENT WHEN HE CONSENTED TO THE DEATH OF STEPHEN, AND FINALLY HEARD AND ACCEPTED THE TRUTH.

Acts 8: The Jerusalem Church is Scattered

ACTS 8:1-40

THE LORD WILL USE PERSECUTION WHEN NECESSARY TO MOVE HIS CHURCHES TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION.

AS WE BEGIN THIS STUDY STOP WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT JESUS PREPARED HIS DISCIPLES FOR THE PERSECUTION THEY WOULD FACE.

IN JOHN 15:20-21 JESUS TAUGHT:

“Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you, if they have kept my saying, they will keep your also. But all these things will they do unto you for my names sake, because they know not him that sent me.”

WHEN THE FOUR GOSPELS ENDED, THERE WERE ONLY A FEW BELIEVERS AND THE APOSTLES IN JERUSALEM, ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION AND ITS GLORY.

WHEN THE BOOK OF ROMANS BEGINS, WE SEE A NEW AND MOST POWERFUL PREACHER AND TEACHER DISCUSSING TAKING THE WORD TO THE ENTIRE EARTH, TO THE JEW FIRST, AND THEN TO THE GREEK.

WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THESE TWO EPISODES IS THE BOOK OF ACTS.

HERE WE HAVE THE ACCOUNT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING INTO THE CHURCH ON EARTH, CONTINUING THE MINISTRY BEGUN HERE BY JESUS.

WHILE MOST OF THE BOOK OF ACTS REFLECTS THE WORK OF PETER AND PAUL, THE REAL WORK IN ACTS IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE BOOK EXPLAINS HOW THE GOSPEL WAS EXPANDED BOTH TO OTHER LANDS AND TO THE GENTILE PEOPLES.

IT ACTUALLY IS THE BEGINNING OF THE GIVING OF GRACE TO THOSE OUTSIDE THE JEWISH NATION BY THE TEACHING OF THE LORD.

PAUL WROTE ABOUT THIS GIVING LATER IN EPHESIANS 2:14 WHEN HE SPEAKS OF THE BEGINNING OF BREAKING DOWN THE MIDDLE WALL BETWEEN BELIEVERS.

WHEN WE BEGAN OUR STUDY OF ACTS, WE WERE GIVEN A TEACHING BY JESUS IN 1:8:

“BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU, AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH”.

THE BOOK OF ACTS IS THE STORY OF HOW THAT COMMAND TOOK PLACE.

AFTER LAST WEEK'S LESSON IN CHAPTER 7, WE COME TO THE TIME OF CHANGE IN THE EARLY CHURCH WHEN THIS COMMAND BECAME TRUTH.

UNTIL THIS POINT THE EARLY CHURCH WAS CENTERED IN JERUSALEM.

AFTER THE STONING DEATH OF STEPHEN BY THE ANGRY MOB OF THE SANDHEDRIN, GOD'S PLAN FOR THIS COMMAND UNFOLDED.

WHILE IT APPEARED EVIL HAD THE VICTORY, GOD’S PLAN WAS UNFOLDING EXACTLY AS HE COMMANDED TO ASSURE HIS PLAN.

AT THE STONING OF STEPHEN, THOSE EXECUTING THE DEACON LAID THEIR CLOAKS AT THE FEET OF A YOUNG PHARISEE NAMED SAUL.

ACTS 8:1-4 ALLOWS US A VIEW INTO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

THE SANHEDRIN STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD SILENCED THE EARLY CHURCH BY ARRANGING THE CROSS EXECUTION OF JESUS AND NOW THE STONING DEATH OF STEPHEN.

BUT WITHOUT REALIZING IT, THEY HAD ACTUALLY PREPARED THE WAY FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST APOSTLES TO BE GIVEN HIS VOICE.

THIS WAS PAUL.

THIS IS THE WAY GOD WORKS. IT IS CALLED HIS PROVIDENCE.

FROM THE TIME JOSEPH TOLD HIS BROTHERS THAT THEY HAD MEANT HIS SALE INTO SLAVERY FOR EVIL, BUT GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD, WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD WORK THROUGH OPPOSITION TO STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH.

AFTER STEPHEN'S DEATH, SAUL BROUGHT HAVOC INTO THE CHURCH, DRAGGING BELIEVERS FROM THEIR HOMES AND WORSHIP INTO PRISON SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN JESUS CHRIST.

THIS IS THE PUREST FORM OF PERSECUTION.

THESE FIRST 4 VERSES ARE THE TESTIMONY TO THE PERSECUTION THAT CAME UPON THE CHURCH AND IT WAS SO EFFECTIVE THAT WE ARE TOLD THE MEMBERS FLED TO JUDEA AND SAMARIA, LEAVING ONLY THE APOSTLES IN JERUSALEM.

THE FIRST 4 VERSES BEGIN WITH PERSECUTION, AND IN VERSE 5 WE SEE JESUS PROCLAIMED IN SAMARIA BY PHILLIP, A FELLOW DEACON  ALONG SIDE STEPHEN.

THE CHURCH HAD GONE FROM 120 PEOPLE AT PENTECOST INTO LITERALLY THOUSANDS AND NOW BACK AGAIN TO ONLY 12 IN JERUSALEM.

EVEN BEFORE SAUL CONSIDERED HIS TRIP TO DAMASCUS AND WAS CONVERTED BY JESUS HIMSELF, GOD WAS USING THIS PERSECUTOR TO SCATTER HIS PEOPLE INTO EXACTLY THE LANDS JESUS HAD COMMANDED.

GOD USED THIS PRESSURE (NOTED IN OUR APPLICATION TODAY) TO PLACE THESE NEW BELIEVERS INTO EVANGELISM, AND WITNESS.

THEIR STRENGTH WAS INCREASED AS WAS THEIR KNOWLEDGE, PROPHECY, AND ALL OTHER GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL.

THE IMMEDIATE REFLECTION OF GOD'S WILL AND WORK WAS SEEN IN SAMARIA AS SHOWN IN VERSES 6-13.

GOD'S PLAN WAS WORKING AND THERE WAS GREAT JOY.

NEXT WE SEE THE SPIRIT FILLED WORK OF PHILLIP AS HE PREACHED, TAUGHT, AND HEALED THE SICK AND CAST OUT DEMONS. HIS WORK WAS SO POWERFUL THAT MULTITUDES CAME TO HIM AND WERE SAVED AND BAPTIZED.

WE KNOW THIS WORK WAS TRULY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THREE REASONS:

1. THE PEOPLE HEARD THE TRUTH. HE SPOKE AS JESUS HAD SPOKEN WITH TRUTH AS JOHN 7:46 REMINDED US THAT NEVER HAD A MAN SPOKEN THIS WAY. THE RESULTS GIVEN TO PHILLIP BY GOD WERE THE SAME, MANY CAME, LISTENED, AND WERE CONVERTED.

2. THERE WAS POWER IN HIS WORDS. BY HIS LIPS UNCLEAN SPIRITS AND DEMONS WERE CAST OUT AND HEALINGS WERE MADE, AND ALL WHO BELIEVED WERE MADE FREE FROM PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL AFFLICTION.  WHEREVER THE GOSPEL IS TRULY GIVEN, LIBERTY IS FOUND.

FREEDOM IS THE RESULT OF FAITH.

3. THERE WAS MUCH JOY. WHEN PEOPLE ARE SET FREE FROM THEIR BONDAGE, OF ILLNESS, OF POSSESSION, OR FROM SIN, MUCH JOY RESULTS. CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCE ALMOST ALWAYS CHANGES THE HEART.

WHILE PHILLIP WAS ENLARGING THE CHURCH IN SAMARIA, THERE WAS ONE NAMED SIMON MAGNUS WHO WAS KNOWN TO BE A SORCERER, AND HAD PRESENTED HIMSELF TO THE SAMARITANS AS A GREAT MAN.

HE WAS GIVEN HEED BY THE PEOPLE AS HE HAD BEWITCHED THEM BEFORE PHILLIP ARRIVED, AND NOW BECAME A BELIEVER AND WAS BAPTIZED.

HE FOLLOWED PHILLIP TO SEE THE MIRACLES AND WONDERS DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

THE WORK DONE IN SAMARIA WAS SO POWERFUL AS TO COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE APOSTLES IN JERUSALEM.

THEY SENT PETER AND JOHN TO SEE THIS WORK.

PETER AND JOHN ARRIVED AND GAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE NEW BELIEVERS BY THE LAYING ON OF THEIR HANDS.

THIS SORCERER SIMON SAW THIS GRANTING OF THE SPIRIT AND WANTED IT FOR HIMSELF, BUT REVEALED HIS TRUE UNBELIEF BY ASKING PETER & JOHN TO GIVE THE SPIRIT TO HIM FOR PAYMENT OF MONEY.

PETER QUICKLY DENIED HIM, AND DISCERNED THAT HIS HEART WAS NOT TRUE, AND REBUKED HIM FOR THINKING THE GIFT OF GOD MIGHT BE PURCHASED.

REMEMBER SIMON HAD REPRESENTED HIMSELF AS A GREAT MAN BRINGING PRAISE ONLY TO HIMSELF. NOTICE HIS EFFORTS ARE ALL ME-ME-ME!

PAUL HIMSELF LATER TAUGHT ON THIS MATTER IN 2 COR 4:5:

“WE PREACH NOT OURSELVES BUT CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, AND OURSELVES YOUR SERVANTS FOR JESUS' SAKE”.

THIS MAN SIMON MAGNUS CONTENDED AGAINST PETER THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IN THE BOOK OF THE LESSER GOSPELS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BIBLE, ACTUALLY ONCE TOOK A MAN'S LIFE BY HIS WORD ALONE IN FRONT OF A CROWD, CHALLENGING PETER TO RESTORE HIM, WHICH AFTER PRAYER, PETER DID.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, IN THAT SAME BOOK, KNOWN AS THE ACTS OF PETER, PETER ASKED THE LORD TO BRING DEATH UPON SIMON AND THE LORD GRANTED THE REQUEST.

SCRIPTURE IS VERY CLEAR THAT THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD WILL NOT ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE INVOLVED IN WITCHCRAFT OR SORCERY FOR IT IS AGAINST THE WILL OF GOD.

2ND CHRONICLES 33 TEACHES OF THE LORD’S DISDAIN FOR EVIL WORK BY KING MANASSEH, PROVOKING THE LORD TO ANGER.

THIS EPISODE IS THE THIRD EXAMPLE OF SATAN'S WORK IN THE EARLY CHURCH:

1. ANANIAS & SAPPHIRA

2. THE DISSENSION BEFORE THE GRANTING OF DEACONS.

3. THE SORCERER SIMON MAGNUS.

ALL WERE OVERCOME BY THE WISDOM AND WORK OF THE APOSTLES, GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

NOW THE EARLY CHURCH IN SAMARIA WAS EMPOWERED BY GOD'S CHOSEN ONES TO FULFILL THE COMMAND OF JESUS.

NOW WE SEE THE CONTINUED WORK OF THE LORD BY THE SENDING OF HIS ANGEL TO PHILLIP COMMANDING HIM TO GO TO GAZA IN THE DESERT.

HERE HE FINDS AN ETHIOPIAN ENUCH, THE TREASURER OF THE QUEEN OF ETHIOPIA, WHO WAS RETURNING HOME AFTER VISITNG JERUSALEM TO WORSHIP.

AS THE EUNUCH SAT IN HIS CHARIOT READING THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECTED PHILLIP TO JOIN HIM.

PHILLIP RAN TO THE MAN, AND SEEING HE WAS READING ISAIAH, ASKED HIM IF HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WAS READING.

NOTICE THAT THE VERSES 25 & 26 ARE SPIRIT LED WHILE DIRECTING THE DEACON TO DO GOD'S WILL.

THE MAN REPLIED TO PHILLIP THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND UNLESS SOMEONE GUIDE HIM.

HE ASKED PHILLIP TO JOIN HIM IN THE CHARIOT, AND TOLD PHILLIP THAT HE WAS READING WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS ISAIAH 53:7.

THE QUESTION THE MAN ASKED PHILLIP WAS WHO WAS THE PROPHET DESCRIBING, HIMSELF OF SOME OTHER MAN?

PHILLIP BEGAN TEACHING HIM AT THE SAME POINT IN SCRIPTURE, PREACHING JESUS CHRIST TO HIM.

AS THEY WENT ON THEIR WAY TOGETHER, THE MAN SAW WATER AND ASKED PHILLIP IF HE MIGHT BE BAPTIZED, AND PHILLIP ASKED THE QUESTION THAT IS STILL ASKED EVEN TODAY TO ONE UNDER CONVICTION: IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THY HEART...

NOW THE MAN CONFIRMS HE BELIEVES THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.

BOTH WENT INTO THE WATER AND THE MAN WAS BAPTIZED.

THE FINAL MIRACLE IN CHAPTER 8 HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE TOLD THAT AS BOTH MEN CAME OUT OF THE WATER, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAUGHT AWAY PHILLIP AND THE EUNUCH SAW HIM NO MORE.

PHILLIP WAS TAKEN BY THE SPIRIT TO AZOTUS, CONTINUED PREACHING AND MADE HIS WAY INTO CAESAREA.

WE SEE IN ACTS A MOST POWERFUL LESSON CLEARLY TAUGHT THAT THOSE WHO BELIEVE SHOULD STAND AND SPEAK BOLDLY FOR THE LORD.

THE SPIRIT TRANSFORMED PETER AND STEPHEN AND PHILLIP AND OTHERS WHO WERE GIVEN BOLDNESS TO BE READY TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH, WHICH THEY DID STRONGLY.

AS SOON AS THE APOSTLES WERE LOCKED UP IN PRISON FOR PREACHING JESUS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD RELEASED THEM AND THEY WENT RIGHT BACK TO THE GIVEN MISSION.

EVEN THEIR BITTER ENEMIES SAW THE BOLDNESS OF THEIR APPROACH AND ADMIRED THEIR STRENGTH.

THIS WAS THE POWER PROMISED BY JESUS.

THE BOOK OF ACTS IS AN UNFINISHED WORK. IT WILL REMAIN AN UNFINISHED WORK UNTIL THE LORD RETURNS.

THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD BEEN GIVEN AND WILL LEAD AND TEACH ALL BELIEVERS TO STAND BOLDLY FOR THE LORD.

IT IS AN ONGOING EFFORT, OF WHICH WE ARE A PART.

THAT SAME SPIRIT GIVEN IN ACTS IS STILL GIVEN EACH OF US AT OUR MOMENT OF SURRENDER TO JESUS.

WE ALSO ARE TO BE BOLD IN THE FAITH.

JUDE 3 TEACHES US THAT WE ARE TO EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH.

BY THE GREAT COMMISSION WE ARE STILL UNDER THE SAME COMMAND OF JESUS TO SPREAD THE WORD.

HE PROMISED TO PROVIDE THE MEANS FOR US TO DO SO IF WE WILL SIMPLY OBEY.

THE MEANS HE GIVES IS THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT WHICH LIVES WITHIN EACH WHO HE CALLS TO FAITH, AND THEN LIVE TO BEAR FRUIT FOR HIM.

IN OUR NEXT STUDY STOP WE WILL LEARN OF THE MOST RADICAL SALVATION OF PAUL AND WE WILL BEGIN THAT STUDY STOP DISCUSSING HOW THE FREE WILL OF MAN APPLIES TO THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD.

Acts 9: Intro - The Radical Salvation of Paul

As we consider the radical salvation of Paul, we must begin with the understanding that Paul is the 2nd abortionist of the New Testament. His sole purpose before his radical salvation was to kill the Christian church in its infancy before it could become fully formed and birthed.

The 1st abortionist of the New Testament was King Herod, who ordered the slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem with the same intent.

What better displays God’s glory to man than the choices God makes to implement His will in His creation? In this study we will consider this thought as revealed in His choosing when He spoke two words as revealed in His choice of Paul, which are “… chosen vessel …”.

John’s gospel sets our stage as Jesus says in John 15:16:

“You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”

This matter of choosing harkens us all the way back to Deuteronomy 7 where God told the Hebrews that He had chosen and redeemed them before He required their obedience.

We must consider divine choosing before we consider the radical salvation of Paul.

An interesting component of this radical salvation moment, a most powerful and almost violent moment, is how the event bears witness to the Christian concept of free will.

We are taught consistently by our Baptist preachers that we are created as free moral agents and our free will is a crucial part of both our creation and our spiritual walk. We are well advised by holy scripture that the free will of Paul at the time of his conversion was to do all in his power to gather believers and to harm them by physical punishment, even unto death.

There is no scripture which leads us to know Paul ever considered Jesus Christ as his personal savior before the trip along the Damascus road. We have no scripture that allows us to know that Paul ever entertained such thoughts.

We find strikingly similar episodes with other patriarchs.

We have no scripture that Abram, who was raised in a land and family of pagan idol worship had ever once sought Yahweh. (Joshua 24:2)

Abram gave us no scripture that he was unhappy in the worship of false gods and his complete free will was in doing so until Yahweh chose him and spoke to him that he should leave his land and kindred and go to a land God would later show him. He obeyed.

Scripture is clear that he was not chosen because he believed or with his own free will chose the true and living God. Abram believed because he was chosen. He was not chosen because he believed. (chosen in Genesis 12/believed in Genesis 15)

Moses by scripture showed no unhappiness living in the Midian desert tending the flocks of Jethro, marrying Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro. He remained there 40 years and used his free will to stay there and continue that life.

A burning bush gave Moses a new command for his life and his free will choice of being a shepherd instantly became secondary to the will of God, who chose him.

Job was introduced to us by God as the greatest man in the east, displaying a sincere life of sacrifice to God, even extra sacrificing for his ten children. He was wealthy and even Satan was aware of his status as protected by God.

We have no scripture that teaches us that his free will included poverty, disease, or the terrible loss of all ten of his children. Not one verse tells us that he chose those things of his own free will.

God’s will for this man by turning over Job’s entire existence to the evil one  instantly overcame Job’s will, and Job’s will was no longer free for the last 40 chapters of his book.

Job’s free will devotion became secondary to the contest of Satan’s will versus the will of God. 

His free will efforts became subordinate to Satan’s allowance from the Lord to kill all of Job’s children, and to destroy his wealth and his health in spiritual warfare to test the faith of Job. 

While Job passed the test and never cursed God, he also was never told why he had been so cruelly cursed. During all these matters, Job still professed his faith that he himself would one day see his redeemer, but his will was forever changed. Job 42:11 reveals who wrought the evil upon Job and it was not Satan, who disappeared after chapter two.

The point of this consideration of radical salvation is that we are all created by God as free moral agents and we can live in our own free will until we cannot.

It is the sovereign will of God that rules our lives and has since the first man was created. His disobedience made us all sinners and God promised in Genesis 3:15 that a redeemer would arrive and He did in Jesus Christ, incarnated not in human flesh but in the likeness of it (Romans 8:3), thereby inheriting no original sin.

God further showed us in Revelation 13:8 that this redeemer was slain from the foundation of the world. The plan of God’s will to rule all things was arranged from the beginning of all things.

We are free of will until we are not by God’s command.

What was Paul’s free will leading him to do before the great light appeared? How free was his will from that moment onward? From the moment of the light, Paul’s will reflected God’s will only and his will became secondary to God’s will until his martyrdom.

We end this portion of our study by reminding ourselves that no man has ever and no man will ever be able to choose heaven of his own free will.

Our created free will allows us on our own to choose hell if we wish, but only God chooses us for heaven.

John 6:44 is very clear on this matter:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him …”

The first step of eternal salvation is not ours. It is His.

Did Paul seek the Lord or did the Lord seek him? Acts 9:15 is our answer and Jesus makes very clear that the choosing was His decision and did not belong to Paul, as Jesus says Paul is “… a chosen vessel…”

Our final scriptural proof of the proper understanding of the priority of the will of God over the will of man is given us in John 1:13 which reveals how we become sons of God:

“… which were born not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.”

Let us now discuss Paul.

Paul created about ¼ of the New Testament plus another 1/12 of its pages when his life is discussed in Acts.

He was born between 1 & 5 A.D. into an Israelite family descended from the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5), and we know he had at least one sister (Acts 23:16).

His birth in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia gave him both Israeli and Roman citizenship, as Rome had designated Tarsus as a “free city” (Acts 22”25).

He studied in Jerusalem at the school of Rabbis under the teacher Gamiliel, and his study there led him to become a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). The wisdom of Gamiliel is displayed for us in Acts 5.

He claimed himself to be a “Hebrew among Hebrews”, (Phil 3), showing his standing among the Jews, later bragging he was a “Pharisee and a son of a Pharisee”. (Acts 23:6)

He participates in the early persecution of those “in the way” which was the early name for believers in Christ (Acts 7), and he was present at the stoning of Stephen and consented to it.

He bragged of persecuting, capturing, binding, and delivering believers, both men and women, unto death. (Acts 22:4)

He was holding written documents of indictment from the high priest against all believers he may encounter when he went on the road to Damascus. He intended to seek and capture any who may have faith in Jesus Christ, and to assure their punishment for abandoning the Jewish faith, considering any believer to be a spiritual rebel deserving death.

His salvation by Jesus was a majestic move of genius. 

No man could out Pharisee Paul, and his education prepared him to be able to answer all Jews as to their disdain of Christ and what Christ meant as the Messiah sent by God to the Jewish people.

There was likely no better choice by the Lord to take the mantle of Apostle to the Gentiles and defender of the Christian faith against the constant Judiazers.

We are now ready to consider his radical salvation.

Acts 9:1-8

Paul was breathing out threats and slaughter against those who were followers of Jesus Christ. Later when he spoke to King Agrippa, he told how many of the saints he had put into prison and how he voted for their death.

As a results of this persecution, many believers left Jerusalem.

Paul apparently heard of the successful gospel preaching elsewhere and he determined to do something about it. He went to the high priest for permission to pursue these followers wherever they may be. Some of those who had scattered went north to Damascus which was then part of Arabia.

Paul asked for letters authorizing him to pursue them and bring them bound to Jerusalem, which would mean a trial for them before the Sanhedrin and probably a death sentence.

He called these believers as followers of “the way”, which was an interesting title for them because they taught that Christ was the way of salvation and the way of life.

Damascus was about 140 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Near the end of the road, a great light from heaven suddenly shined around Paul. When Jesus had risen from the dead his resurrection body was transformed and was now immortal, incorruptible, and glorified.

He now appeared to Paul within the light as the risen and glorified Christ.

As the brilliant light shone around him, Paul fell to the ground overwhelmed and he heard a voice saying:

“Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me?” 

Here Luke uses the Hebrew version of the name for Paul, and Paul will later confirm in Acts 26:14 that Jesus spoke in the Hebrew language.

This appearance of Jesus was something special, extraordinary, and beyond  normal.

Paul now answers Jesus and says, “Who are you Lord?”. The answer came instantly. The Lord said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest, and it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.” The pricks are the sharp ox goads.

Paul was so full of fury that he seemed only to think of his zealous defense of the Jewish faith and his journey to stop the spread  of the gospel.

But now Paul was faced with Jesus, not just a man, but the divine Lord, and his whole attitude changed and he answered simply, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

In response to this evidence of genuine repentance, Jesus told Paul to rise and go into the city of Damascus where he would be told what is necessary for him to do.

In Galatians 1, Paul made it very clear that he was commissioned directly by Jesus himself, not by any man. That statement proved he was indeed an apostle, meaning one who is sent.

The men who were with Paul on the road stood speechless, likely from fright, hearing the sound of the voice but not the words, and seeing no one. These men saw a light but did not see Christ himself.

The vision was only for Paul, and only he saw Jesus and heard the words meant only for him. Paul continually witnessed in later writing that he had seen the risen Christ and, therefore, was as much an apostle and those who knew Jesus before He went to the cross, and then saw Him afterward. 1st Corinthians 9 & 15 teach this message.

When Paul arose from the ground he was blind. His companions had to lead him by the hand into Damascus. What a contrast this time was to the way he had begun the journey.

• Once leading, now he was being led.

• Intending to arrest others, now he had been arrested by Christ.

• Having authority in his hand from the high priest, 

• he had now come under the authority of the great high priest.

• Expecting to put chains on believers, he was now captured and helpless.

Acts 9:9-19

Paul remained three days in the house where he was taken. Unable to see, he neither ate nor drank. This time gave Paul a long period of consideration and prayer. 

It was also a time when the Holy Spirit was revealing the understanding of the Messiah to his heart, mind, and soul.

Now Paul knew he was wrong about Jesus and the believers and could not help but realize that he had been wrong about the Old Testament teachings and its prophecies.

Paul now knew that what he had said and done against Christ was blasphemy. He was in physical darkness, but the light and love of Christ was being shed into his heart.

On the third day, the Lord appeared in a vision to a disciple named Ananias. This was a supernatural moment, not a dream. Ananias responded by saying “Here I am, Lord” and showed he was willing to obey whatever God may command.

Later, in Acts 22:12, Paul will reveal that Ananias was a devout Jew converted to the Lord and still kept a good reputation among the Jews in Damascus.

Jesus told Ananias to rise and go to the street called straight and find in the house of Judas a man named Saul of Tarsus. Might we mention how detailed were the instructions given to God’s messenger?

Ananias was told Paul was praying, meaning that Paul was humbled and waiting before God. Ananias was told that a vision had been given to Paul identifying by name the man commanded to come to him, who would lay hands on him and restore his sight.

God was preparing Paul even before Ananias arrived.

We notice here that Jesus did not call Peter or John, nor was it necessary for any other apostle to lay hands on Paul. Ananias was a godly man but was not an apostle.

This instance was so that Paul did not get his commission from any other apostle, but from the command of Jesus himself through a humble helper who was simply a believer.

Though Ananias originally expressed his willingness to obey the Lord, he grew concerned when given the name of the man to whom he was to be sent. He knew about this man and that he had done many terrible things to believers and to the church in Jerusalem. 

But Jesus told him to go as commanded and that this man was a chosen vessel unto Christ, to bear His name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel.

Jesus further said that He would show Paul how great things he must suffer for the name of the Lord.

Ananias went as ordered and found Paul and laid his hands upon him, calling him “brother Saul”, and confirmed to Paul that he knew Jesus had appeared to Paul and that he had come to Paul to restore his sights and to deliver to him the Holy Ghost.

At that moment the scales fell from the eyes of Paul and with his sight restored, Paul rose and was baptized. Paul ate and gained strength and stayed with the Damascus believers for several days.

He went and preached in the synagogues, preaching Christ as the son of God.

We have no scripture that gives us any information about Ananias before this moment, nor do we have any scripture that teaches us what he did after this moment. 

This man, and his faithful devotion, reminds us of the time when Elijah was hiding in fear of the death threat of Jezebel, and he told God he was the last one faithful to the Lord. God replied that he had 7,000 who had not bent the knee to the false god Baal, and by this moment assured Elijah, and us, that God will always have His own people ready to accept His commands and do His will.

Acts 9:20-32

Paul immediately became a part of the body of disciples and believers in Damascus. He did not wait to begin to preach the gospel, and he did so at the very synagogues where he had originally intended to arrest Christian believers.

He preached boldly that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior, as well as the Son of God. This was the first time in Acts that the phrase “Son of God” was used to describe the Lord. 

He used the Old Testament to make his preaching points, as well as preaching the fact that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Romans 1:4 certifies this factor.

Those in the synagogues were astonished that this one who had so strongly persecuted those in “the way” now brought his zeal to preaching that same message they believed. Now Paul was worshiping the One he had hated.

Paul was filled with more and more supernatural power, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving from scripture that this Jesus was indeed the Christ, the anointed One.

Many were upset by his preaching and his scripture proofs from the Old Covenant angered them even more, exactly as the preaching of Stephen had done in Jerusalem.

Believers were encouraged and were strengthened by what they saw and heard, and they realized they were seeing proof of the power of the gospel.

The unbelieving Jews now began a plot to kill Paul.

Paul later told the Galatians that he had left Damascus and went to Arabia.

The death plot became known to him and the Jews were watching the gates to capture him and put him to death. The believers put Paul into a woven basket and let him down over the city walls so he would not have to leave through the city gates.

Paul went south to Jerusalem and tried to join in with the disciples there who feared him and wanted nothing to do with him, for his reputation was known to them.

They were justifiably extra cautious.

It was hard to believe that the one who was most furious was now a follower of Christ. In time, they did learn that the gospel has the power to save even the worst enemies of the Lord.

Barnabus was sympathetic toward Paul, living up to the literal meaning of his name, which was “son of encouragement”. He investigated Paul and the change in him, and came to feel Paul was truly converted and, therefore, brought Paul to the apostles and vouched for Paul.

Galatians 1:18-24 tells us that Paul stayed only 15 days on this visit.

Barnabus explained how Paul had seen the risen Lord and how he was now speaking freely and boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 

When the believers in Jerusalem found out about the plan to kill Paul by the Jews, they took him to Ceasarea and then sent him onward to Tarsus.

Acts 22:17-21 teaches us that Jesus himself appeared to Paul and told him to leave the area. His move to Tarsus allowed him to move and preach openly, as it was his original home city.

Acts makes no further mention of Paul until 11:30 and Luke began a sequence of writings to explain the movement of the gospel directly to Gentiles, with Peter called by the Lord to preach and witness to the Roman centurion Cornelius, who was converted and was actually seen by Peter to receive the same Holy Spirit that had been gifted to the disciples at Pentecost.

Short of death, Paul likely suffered more for Christ than any other messenger.

His suffering was painfully physical for many years but those sufferings never deterred or delayed Paul from the duties given him by Christ.

Several ancient writers were forcefully writing of his work.

Jerome wrote: “He is the vessel of election, the trumpet of the gospel, the roaring of our lion, the thunder of our nations, the river of Christian eloquence.”

Eusebius wrote: “Paul was the athlete of Christ, taught by Him, anointed by Him, crucified in spirit with Him, glorious in him, a man who lawfully maintains a great conflict in the theater of his world in which he became a spectacle for angels and man. Him, I say, we joyfully behold with the eyes of faith as he presses onward to the prize of his high calling.”

Paul’s work brought to all believers of his time, and to all Christians since. a profoundly new understanding of man’s relationship with God and God’s will implemented among His creation through mankind.

Paul’s experience of the resurrected Jesus led him to reframe the message of God’s reign as the Lordship of Christ, God’s Son and Messiah, and of the life of the believer IN HIM!

According to Paul, the Gospel is an account of the planned and executed intervention of God into the history of Israel, and further to the Gentiles, in order to set right the ways of the world gone wrong.

God’s gift of His own Son demonstrates for Paul that God is both faithful to the covenant and righteous, finding a way to deal with the matter of human rebellion and sin (Romans 3:21-26), even when we were enemies of God (Romans 5:6-10).

In Paul’s eyes, this work of God was amazing grace and amazing love.

In terms of Paul’s teaching on Christ’s death on the cross, Paul taught that:

“In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself.” (2nd Cor 5:9)

“His death was God’s act of love.” (Romans 5:8)

“God did not withhold His own Son, but gave Him up for all of us.” (Romans 8:32)

“God put Christ forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood.” (Romans 3:25)

Paul’s work can be summarized as the fact that the believer actually participates in Christ’s death and rising, and thereby are:

1. Justified, or restored, to a right covenant relation with God and others.

2. Incorporated into a particular manifestation of Christ’s body on earth, which is the true church.

3. Infused both individually and together by the Spirit of God’s Son, gifted to all who believe in faith, so that they may lead lives focused upon His first coming, and look ahead to His second coming based upon:

Cross shaped faith

Hope toward God

Love toward both neighbors and enemies

Paul taught that this event was the conclusion of the human story of Jesus, a life story of self-emptying, self-giving obedience, and of self-giving love. Paul viewed the work of Christ as utter abandonment of self in service to God, called in the Greek word “kenosis”, which is the noun form of “to empty”.

For Paul, the cross is an act of God’s love, being God’s loving sacrificial gift and Christ’s sacrificial loving obedience, all planned from the foundation of the world.

Paul was certainly the foremost teacher of the subject of justification by faith. It is on this teaching that almost all Bible preachers and teachers have rested in the 2,000 years since Paul. 

Paul’s most powerful teaching is that God’s grace means that those who have become His through this gift are restored to Him and will be eternally spared, from conversion onward, from His coming wrath. (Romans 5:1-11 & 8:1)

Paul clearly believed that all believers will be transformed from a mortal existence into one of immortality. This transformation will occur at the time of the removing from the earth both the dead in Christ and those still living in Christ, which is known as The Rapture, a preview of the second coming.

“Listen, and I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die but we will all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”  (1st Cor 15 & 1st Thess 4)

Paul says that the person who says “YES” to the Gospel, and is justified into co-crucifixion with Christ in the experience of faith and baptism, makes a spiritual move from being outside Christ, and the covenant peoples of God. to being inside Christ and God’s people.

To be in Christ is to have Christ within.

“It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me…” (Galatians 2:20)

Justification and participation in the life of Jesus Christ are to Paul the opposite sides of the same coin, the coin of relationship to God in Christ and the believer.

Acts 10 & 11: The Message of Salvation

The message of salvation and God's kingdom work is not restricted by race, language or nationality but is for every person in every condition in every place.

HERE IN ACTS 10 WE SEE A LESSON OF THE TRANSFORMATION AND SAVING OF ONE MAN AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF AN APOSTLE CONCERNING THE TRUE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL.

THIS STORY PROVIDES US THE LESSON AS TO THE WILL OF GOD FOR HIS TRUTH TO BE SPREAD FAR BEYOND THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

EVEN FROM THE EARLY CHURCH DAYS, THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN CALLED THE PENTECOST OF THE GENTILES.

ACTS 10:1-8

THIS STORY IS A STRONG & IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME WE SEE THE GOSPEL GOING OUT TO A GENTILE HOUSEHOLD.

AND WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS SENDING WAS AT THE DIRECTION OF THE LORD'S ANGEL AS A RESULT OF GOD ANSWERING THE PRAYERS OF A SEEKING HEART.

THIS MAN CORNELIUS WAS A GENTILE SOLDIER, A ROMAN CENTURION.

MOST OFFICERS OF THE ROMAN ARMY WERE HARDENED VETERANS OF BATTLE AND WERE IN WORSHIP OF THE ROMAN FALSE GODS AS WELL AS CEASAR.

THIS MAN WAS DIFFERENT.

CORNELIUS IS A GODLY MAN. HE IS DEVOUT. HE KNOWS THERE IS ONE GOD AND HE IS SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER.

HE IS A GENEROUS MAN RECOGNIZING THAT TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED, AS HE GIVES ALMS FOR THOSE IN NEED.

HIS PRAYER LIFE WAS CONSTANT.

HE WAS A MAN TO BE ADMIRED.

BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REVEALING A VERY IMPORTANT FACT FOR US IN THIS STORY.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A RELIGIOUS, DEVOUT, SINCERE, EARNEST, AND PRAYERFUL MAN, HE WAS NOT SAVED.

HE WAS MANY GOOD THINGS BUT HE WAS NOT BORN AGAIN.

THIS MESSAGE TEACHES US TO BE AWARE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN OUR OWN TIME SAY THAT ALL YOU NEED TO ENTER HEAVEN IS TO OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS, AND LIVE RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT SO.

JESUS HIMSELF SO TAUGHT IN HIS EVENING CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS.

NOTICE THE IMPORTANT FACT IN THIS STORY THAT WHEN THE ANGEL CAME TO CORNELIUS HIS REPLY WAS “... WHAT IS IT LORD?”

HIS REPLY REMINDS US OF THE FIRST REPLY SAUL GAVE ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD, “... WHO ARE THOU LORD?”

NOTICE ALSO THAT IN BOTH CASES, THE LORD GAVE SIMILAR REPLIES. HE TOLD SAUL TO GO ONWARD TO DAMASCUS AND TO AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF GOD'S MAN.

HE TOLD CORNELIUS TO SEND FOR GOD'S MAN, PETER, AND TO WAIT FOR HIS ARRIVAL.

WE SHOULD ALSO REMEMBER THAT HERE IS THE PROOF OF THE GREAT TEACHING IN HEBREWS 11:6 WHICH TELLS US THAT ALL WHO WISH TO DRAW CLOSER TO THE LORD MUST DO TWO THINGS:

1.THEY MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS.

2. THEY MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.

CORNELIUS DID BOTH.

WE MUST ALSO CAREFULLY NOTE THAT THE ANGEL DID NOT PREACH THE GOSPEL TO CORNELIUS. ANGELS DO NOT PREACH.

THEY ARE MESSENGERS WHO DO GOD'S WILL ON EARTH.

THE ANGEL LED CORNELIUS TO THE MAN WHO WOULD PREACH THE GOSPEL. HE TOLD HIM TO SEND MEN TO JOPPA TO FETCH A MAN NAMED PETER WHO WAS STAYING WITH A MAN NAMED SIMON, A TANNER OF HIDES.

SO HERE WAS A DEVOUT MAN SEEKING GOD, PRAYING CONSTANTLY AND NEEDING SOMEONE TO SHOW HIM THE WAY.

ON THE OTHER END OF THIS STORY WAS GOD'S MAN WHO COULD SHOW HIM THE WAY AND BRING HIM TO THE GRACE OF GOD UNDER WHICH ALL WHO ARE CALLED ARE SAVED.

GOD'S PLAN WAS UNFOLDING AND WAS A MARVEL TO BEHOLD.

THERE WAS A NEED, AND GOD MET THE NEED.

THERE WAS A NEED FOR CHANGE IN CORNELIUS AND GOD WAS MEETING THAT NEED.

BUT GOD ALSO SAW A NEED FOR CHANGE IN PETER HIMSELF AND WAS ARRANGING THAT CHANGE AS WELL, BEFORE HE WOULD ALLOW PETER TO GO TO CORNELIUS.

ACTS 10:9-17

AS PETER IN JOPPA PRAYED THE NEXT DAY UP ON THE ROOF OF THE HOUSE OF SIMON, HE REALIZED HE WAS HUNGRY, BUT AS FOOD WAS BEING PREPARED, HE FELL INTO A TRANCE.

GOD SENT A VISION UNTO THE APOSTLE TO TEACH PETER THAT HE HIMSELF NEEDED CHANGE AS WELL.

PETER HAD GROWN UP UNDER THE PHARISEES AND THE LAW WHICH DICTATED THE VERY STRONG LESSON AS TO WHAT WAS CONSIDERED CLEAN AND UNCLEAN FOR FOOD.

WHILE THIS PART OF THE LAW WAS INDEED GIVEN BY GOD THROUGH MOSES, THE JEWS HAD ON THIS MATTER, AND OTHER MATTERS, EXPANDED THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE LAW, AND HAD COME TO CONSIDER THEMSELVES BETTER THAN ALL OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY LOOKED DOWN ON THE SAMARITANS AS WELL AS ALL GENTILES.

THEY TOOK THIS SUPERIOR ATTITUDE SO FAR AS TO FEEL OTHER PEOPLE WERE LESS PURE THAN THE JEWS, AND EVEN CONSIDERED THEM AS DOGS.

TODAY, WE WOULD SAY THEY HAD DEVELOPED A “HOLIER THAN THOU” ATTITUDE. (MY GRANDMOTHER HAD A SAYING THAT THEIR NOSE WAS SO FAR UP, THEY MIGHT DROWN IN RAIN).

IN TERMS OF OTHER NON-JEWISH PEOPLE AND CUSTOMS, PETER WAS A BIGOT.

IN THOSE DAYS IF A GENTILE MIGHT BRUSH AGAINST THEM ON THE STEET THEY HURRIED HOME TO WASH.

NOW GOD, UNDERSTANDING WELL THE STATE OF PETER'S HEART, DECIDED THAT THE TIME HAD COME FOR CHANGE.

HE SENDS A VISION OF A LARGE SHEET COMING FROM HEAVEN DOWNWARD WITH MANY ANIMALS, REPTILES, AND BIRDS OF THE EARTH.

HE SPOKE DIRECTLY TO PETER TELLING HIM TO RISE, KILL, AND EAT.

NOTICE IN VERSE 14 THAT PETER ACTUALLY SAYS. “NOT SO, LORD”.

THESE WERE THE WORST WORDS THAT PETER COULD HAVE POSSIBLY SAID.

WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO US, WE ARE NOT TO TELL HIM THAT HIS WORDS ARE NOT SO.

BY THESE WORDS PETER WAS SAYING THAT THE LORD'S WORDS WERE INCORRECT.

WHILE WE KNOW THAT PETER WAS QUICK WITH A WORD OR ACTION, BEING AN IMPETUOUS MAN THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE, DO WE SEE A REFLECTION OF OURSELVES IN HIM HERE?

HERE IS THE SAME INCONSISTENCY WE SEE AGAIN & AGAIN WITHIN OURSELVES.

HOW OFTEN DO WE SAY, MANY TIMES WITHOUT THE WORDS THEMSELVES, THAT WE KNOW BEST, AND WE ARE IN CONTROL?

PETER WAS DWELLING IN HIS LEGALISTIC SELF, TAUGHT BY SELF EMPOWERED PHARISEES.

HE TOLD GOD HE HAD NEVER EATEN ANYTHING COMMON OR UNCLEAN.

GOD STRONGLY CORRECTS PETER AND TELLS HIM NOT TO CALL COMMON ANYTHING GOD HAS CLEANSED.

GOD SHOWS PETER THE VISION THREE TIMES AND THEN TOOK THE SHEET BACK INTO HEAVEN.

AT THIS EXACT MOMENT THE MEN SENT FROM CORNELIUS ARRIVED AT THE GATE TO THE HOUSE IN JOPPA SEEKING PETER.

GOD'S THREEFOLD VISION TO PETER WAS TO SHOW HIM THAT THIS SPIRIT OF BIGOTRY AND PREJUDICE WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD, AS IT IS CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF THE FINAL COMMANDMENT GIVEN BY JESUS.

HE DIRECTED HIS GOSPEL TO GO OUTSIDE ISRAEL, MEANING THAT IT MUST GO TO THE GENTILES.

WE SAW LAST CHAPTER THAT HE HAD FURTHER DIRECTED A MAN TO BE HIS CHOSEN VESSEL TO DO JUST THAT.

BUT NOW, THE SPIRIT HIMSELF TELLS PETER THAT MEN ARE AT THE GATE FOR HIM AND HE SHOULD HAVE NO DOUBTS, AND HE SHOULD GO WITH THEM, FOR THE SPIRIT HIMSELF SENT THEM.

SO NOW PETER TAKES CERTAIN MEN WHO ARE WITH HIM IN JOPPA AND TAKES THE JOURNEY TO THE HOME OF CORNELIUS.

WHEN HE ARRIVES, CORNELIUS TRIES TO WORSHIP PETER, BUT PETER CORRECTS HIM, REMINDING HIM THAT HE HIMSELF IS A MAN, NOT TO BE WORSHIPPED.

NOW PETER WITNESSES TO CORNELIUS AND TO ALL HIS PEOPLE THE HISTORY OF THE WORK OF JESUS ON EARTH AND OF HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS AND HIS RISING AND SHOWING HIMSELF ALIVE OPENLY.

PETER CLOSES BY HIS STRONG ALTAR CALL IN VERSE 43 TEACHING THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL HAVE REMISSION OF SINS.

PETER GIVES THIS CALL AFTER HAVING REVEALED IN VERSE 34 THAT HE NOW KNOWS GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS, AND THOSE IN EVERY NATION WHO FEARS GOD AND WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ACCEPTED.

NOW THE BARRIERS PUT UP BEFORE BY THE JEWS ARE CRUMBLING THROUGH GOD'S WILL AND VISION.

ALL THOSE WHO WERE JEWS (THE CIRCUMSION) WERE THEN ASTONISHED AS TO WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN BY GOD, POURED OUT UPON THIS HOUSEHOLD OF NEW BELIEVERS, JUST AS IT HAD BEEN GIVEN BEFORE AT PENTECOST.

THESE NEW CONVERTS SPOKE IN TONGUES, AND MAGNIFIED GOD.

PETER HIMSELF IS TRULY CHANGED IN SPIRIT AND REALIZES THE SPIRIT IS FOR ALL WHO TRULY SEEK IT.

HE SEES THE SPIRIT WAS GIVEN TO THESE JUST AS IT WAS GIVEN TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS ON PENTECOST DAY.

PETER NOW COMMANDS THEM TO BE BAPTIZED.

SALVATION HAS ARRIVED.

GOD'S PLAN UNFOLDS EXACTLY AS JESUS HAS COMMANDED.

PETER NEXT RETURNED TO JERUSALEM AND THE WORK AT THE HOUSE OF CORNELIUS HAD ALREADY COME TO BE KNOWN AND HE IS CHALLENGED AS TO THE FACT THAT PETER DID GO AND EAT WITH GENTILES.

THIS ISSUE RISES AGAIN AT ANTIOCH WHEN PAUL CONTENDS WITH PETER OVER EATING WITH GENTILES (GAL 2).

HE TELLS THE WHOLE STORY AND IN VERSE 11:17 CLOSES THE STORY BY SAYING THAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE VISION AS TO THE WILL OF GOD, AND WHO WAS HE TO WITHSTAND GOD?

VERSE 18 SHOWS THE MATTER IS SETTLED AS TO CORNELIUS AND THE NEW GENTILE BELIEVERS AS THESE WHO WERE CONTENDING WITH PETER HELD THEIR PEACE AND GLORIFIED GOD BY ACCEPTING HIS WILL ON THE GENTILES.

THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL OF THE APOSTLES WILL LATER SETTLE THIS MATTER FOR THE EARLY CHURCH BY RULING THAT GENTILES SHOULD OBEY GOD'S MORAL LAW, BUT NOT BE FORCED TO ACCEPT CEREMONIAL LAW OR CIRCUMCISION.

WE TODAY NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO FEEL THAT WE ARE SUPERIOR EITHER IN CUSTOM OR FAITH TO ANY OTHER PEOPLES.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THE TEACHING OF JESUS IN MARK 7 THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS THE HEART THAT DEFILES, NOT THE DIET.

PAUL REPEATED THIS SAME TEACHING IN ROMANS 14:17 WHEN HE TEACHES THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT MEAT AND DRINK BUT JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST.

OUR STRONG LESSON TODAY IS THAT SALVATION IS OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE AS LORD ALONE.

Acts 12: A Praying Church and God’s Power

WE ARE TAUGHT THAT THERE WAS A PERIOD OF ABOUT 10 YEARS OF LESS PERSECUTION AFTER PAUL RETURNED TO HIS HOMETOWN OF TARSUS.

ACTS 9 TEACHES THAT THE CHURCHES HAD REST, WALKED IN FEAR OF THE LORD, REMAINED IN THE COMFORT OF THE HOLY GHOST, AND WERE MULTIPLIED.

UNFORTUNATELY THIS PERIOD OF REST WAS NOT TO BE PERMANENT AND AS ACTS 12 BEGINS, PERSECUTION RETURNS.

THOSE KNOWN AS THE HERODS HAD LONG BEEN KNOWN AS PERSECUTORS OF CHRISTIANS.

HEROD THE GREAT KILLED ALL BOYS IN BETHELEM UNDER TWO YEARS OLD IN ORDER TO REMOVE JESUS FROM LATER BECOMING A THREAT TO HIS RULE. (MATT 2:16)

HIS SON HEROD ANTIPAS, BEHEADED JOHN THE BAPTIST. (MATT 14:3)

THE HEROD WE MEET IN ACTS 12 IS THE GRANDSON OF HEROD THE GREAT AND IS KNOWN AS HEROD AGRIPPA, AND HE KILLED THE APOSTLE JAMES.

WHEN HE UNDERSTOOD THE KILLING OF JAMES PLEASED THE JEWS, HE INTENDED TO GO FURTHER AND DECIDED TO ARREST AND EXECUTE PETER IN PUBLIC.

IT SEEMS PETER WAS ARRESTED SHORTLY BEFORE PASSOVER AND THIS FEAST TIME WOULD HAVE COVERED EIGHT DAYS, DURING WHICH PETER WAS HELD.

HEROD WAS AWARE OF ESCAPES FROM PRISON BY THE APOSTLES BEFORE SO IN THIS CASE HE PLACED PETER NOT IN ANY LOCAL OR JEWISH PRISON BUT IN A ROMAN PRISON.

ROMAN SOLDIERS WERE CHAINED TO PETER TO GUARD AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE WITH THE GUARDS CHANGED EVERY FEW HOURS.

VERSE 4 SAYS THAT HEROD INTENDED TO BRING PETER INTO A PUBLIC PLACE AFTER THE PASSOVER AND GATHER A JEWISH CROWD TO SEE HIM EXECUTED.

WE REMEMBER THAT JAMES WAS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM AND WAS SO DEVOUT THAT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE NICKNAME “OLD CAMEL KNEES” BECAUSE OF THE CALLUSES ON HIS KNEES FROM MUCH PRAYING.

IF PETER COULD BE EXECUTED PUBLICLY, HEROD WAS SURE THE CHURCH WOULD BE DEVASTED AND HE WOULD BE IN GREAT FAVOR WITH THE JEWISH TEMPLE MASTERS.

VERSE 5 INDICATES THAT UPON HEARING OF THE ARREST OF PETER, THE CHURCH MEMBERS BEGAN TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. THE WORD USED MEANS THE PRAYERS WERE “FERVENT” WITH THIS WORD USED ONLY ONE OTHER TIME IN SCRIPTURE IN 1ST PETER 4:8.

PILATE HAD AGREED TO A WATCH OF SOLDIERS OVER THE TOMB OF JESUS AND NOW HEROD HAD TAKEN VERY STRONG MILITARY STEPS TO SECURE THE HOLDING OF PETER.

ALL THAT MAN COULD DO WAS DONE AND IN NEITHER CASE WAS IT ENOUGH TO HOLD EITHER.

WHILE PETER SLEPT IN HIS CHAINS, AN ANGEL WAS SENT TO AWAKEN HIM AND DID SO BY STRIKING PETER ON HIS SIDE.

THE ANGEL TOLD HIM TO RISE, GET DRESSED, AND FOLLOW.

THE GUARDS WERE NOT AWAKENED AND THE CHAINS HOLDING THEM TO PETER WERE LOOSED ON PETER AND THE ANGEL LED PETER OUT OF THE PRISON INTO THE CITY.

CHAINS WERE LOOSED, PRISON DOORS WERE OPENED, AND THE LIGHT FROM THE ANGEL HIMSELF LED THEIR WAY. 

NO ONE OTHER THAN PETER WAS ABLE TO EITHER SEE OR HEAR THE ESCAPE. PETER FOLLOWED THE ANGEL OUTWARD AND WAS FREED BY DIVINE INTERVENTION.

OUR SCRIPTURE TEACHES US THAT THIS REMOVAL OF PETER FROM PRISON WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE HEROD INTENDED TO MAKE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF THE EXECUTION OF PETER.

VERSE 11 ALLOWS US TWO LESSONS ON THIS MATTER:

PETER WAS DELIVERED OUT OF THE HAND OF HEROD

AND

HE WAS DELIVERED FROM ALL THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE JEWS.

HERE IT APPEARED THAT PETER FACED CERTAIN DEATH THE SAME WAY JAMES WAS KILLED WHICH WAS BY THE SWORD, MEANING BEHEADED.

PETER PROCEEDED TO THE HOME OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF JOHN MARK AND SISTER OF BARNABUS.

THE PRAYER MEETINGS WERE STILL IN PROCESS. 

PETER KNOCKS ON THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE GATE AND WAS HEARD BY A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED RHODA.

SHE WAS WARY BECAUSE OF THE HOUR BEING PERHAPS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND SHE ASKED WHO WAS THERE AND SHE RECOGNIZED THE VOICE OF PETER WHO REPLIED.

SHE RAN INTO THE HOUSE AND ANNOUNCED THAT THE ONE WHO WAS THE CENTER OF THEIR PRAYERS WAS AT THE GATE.

NO ONE BELIEVED HER.       THE ACTUAL REACTION WAS THAT SHE WAS MAD (MEANING INSANE). SOME SUGGESTED PETER’S ANGEL WAS AT THE DOOR, THINKING HE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED.

PETER KEPT KNOCKING AND FINALLY SOMEONE CAME TO LET HIM ENTER AND ALL WERE ASTONISHED AT THIS PRESENCE.

IN VERSE 17 PETER ASKED THE CROWD TO BE QUIET SO THAT HE COULD RELATE HOW HE WAS NOW BACK AMONG THEM. 

HE CAREFULLY SAID THAT ALL WAS THE WORK OF GOD ON HIS BEHALF.

HIS SMALL SPPECH WAS HIS CURRENT FAREWELL AS HE SAID HE NEEDED TO GO TO SOMEWHERE ELSE THAN JERUSALEM.

WHERE HE WENT IS UNKNOWN AND THIS VERSE IS THE LAST MENTION OF HIM IN ACTS EXCEPT FOR THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL DISCUSSED IN ACTS 15:6-11.

IN VERSES 18-19 THE MORNING ARRIVES AND WE ARE TOLD THERE WAS NO SMALL STIR AMONG THE SOLDIERS AS NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN HOW IT IS THAT A MAN WHO WAS IN CHAINS CONSTANTLY IN A ROMAN PRISON WAS NOW MISSING.

HEROD’S ANGER WAS SO HOT IN LOSING HIS CHANCE TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC EXECUTION OF PETER THAT HE ORDERS THE GUARDS WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY TO BE PUT TO DEATH.

WITH PETER NO LONGER IN CUSTODY FOR PUBLIC EXECUTION, HEROD HIMSELF LEAVES FOR CAESAREA WHERE HE MEETS WITH OFFICIALS FROM TYRE AND SIDON.

HEROD WAS CLOTHED IN HIS ROYAL FINEST ROBES AND SPOKE TO ALL THOSE GATHERED TO SEEK HIS FAVOR.

HIS HAUGHTINESS AND PRIDE WERE ELEVATED WHEN THE OFFICIALS SAID IN VERSE 22 THAT HIS VOICE WAS OF A GOD AND NOT OF A MAN.

WHILE HE WAS BASKING IN THE PRAISE GIVEN, VERSE 23 SAYS HE WAS STRUCK DEAD BY AN ANGEL OF THE LORD.

HE DIED OF BEING INFESTED WITH WORMS EATING HIM FROM WITHIN. HERE THE MAN WHO KILLED JAMES AND WOULD HAVE KILLED PETER WAS KILLED IN A MOST HORRID AND PAINFUL WAY BY THE LORD.

THE PROGRESS OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL CONTINUED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

BARNABUS AND SAUL HAD GONE TO JERUSALEM TO DELIVER  AN OFFERING FROM THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH FOR THE CHURCHES IN JUDEA.

THEY THEN RETURNED TO ANTIOCH, A DISTANCE OF 275 MILES.

ON THEIR RETURN THEY TOOK JOHN MARK WITH THEM WHO WAS ANXIOUS TO WORK WITH THEM IN THEIR MINISTRY.

LATER IN THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY, JOHN MARK WOULD CAUSE FRICTION BETWEEN THE TWO PREACHERS. 

AND WE KNOW LATER HE WROTE THE 2ND GOSPEL UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF PETER.

HERE IN CHAPTER 12 WE ARE GIVEN SOME VIVID EXAMPLES OF THE SOVEREIGNITY OF GOD.

JAMES WAS SLAIN BUT PETER WAS SAVED NUMEROUS TIMES BY WAY OF ANGELS WHO BROUGHT MIRACLES.

HEROD WAS APPLAUDED BY MEN AND CALLED A GOD BY MEN BUT WAS STRICKEN DEAD BY GOD IN A HORRIBLE WAY.

DESPITE ALL THAT WAS DONE TO PERSECUTE THE MESSENGERS OF GOD, THE GOSPEL CONTINUED TO GROW.

THE PURPOSE OF GOD WAS NOT DELAYED, NOR DISCOURAGED, NOR DESPAIRED, BUT WAS EXPLODING ACROSS THE REGION EXACTLY AS JESUS HAS COMMANDED IN ACTS ONE.

THIS CHAPTER PROVIDES SOME ESSENTIAL AND VERY BASIC LESSONS ON PRAYER & IT’S ANSWER.

FIRST WE MUST NOTE THAT ONCE AGAIN THE TRUTH TOLD BY RHODA OF PETER NOW FREE AND PRESENT WAS NOT BELIEVED.

WE RECALL THAT PETER AND JOHN DID NOT BELIEVE THE WOMEN WHO RETURNED FROM THE EMPTY TOMB OF JESUS AND REPORTED THEY HAD ACTUALLY SEEN THE RISEN LORD.

WHILE THE PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE RHODA THEY KEPT PRAYING WHILE THE ANSWER WAS ALREADY GIVEN AND WE SEE THAT PETER KEPT KNOCKING AT THE GATE TO ENTER THE PRAYER MEETING.

MOST LIKELY AFTER THE INITIAL TIME HE LIKELY WAS NO LONGER KNOCKING BUT WAS NOW POUNDING.

THE STORY BRINGS US FOUR LESSONS:

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE LORD’S ANSWER WERE STRONG AND MUCH PRAYER WAS SENT UPWARD ASKING FOR THE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC ANSWER TO ARRIVE.

THE LORD DOES INDEED ANSWER ALL PRAYER. SINCE HE KNOWS SO MUCH MORE THAN WE POSSIBLY CAN, HE SOMETIMES SAYS YES, SOMETIMES NO, AND SOMETIMES WAIT. HIS TIMING IS ALWAYS PERFECT WHETHER WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

OFTEN THE ANSWER IS AT THE DOOR OF OUR LIVES IF WE ARE WILLING TO BELIEVE AND ACCEPT HIS TIMING INSTEAD OF INSISTING ON OUR OWN.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE ARE SO INTENT ON PRAYING THAT THE PRAYER IS ALL TALKING AND NO LISTENING, EVEN WHEN THE ANSWER IS KNOCKING.

NEXT WEEK WE BEGIN THE STUDY OF MESSENGERS SENT TO START NEW CHURCHES TO FURTHER SPREAD THE WORD.

Acts 13: Missionaries are sent to start new Churches

THIS STUDY STOP BEGINS THE SECOND HALF OF THE BOOK OF ACTS.

ACTS 1-12 FOCUSES MAINLY ON THE WORK OF PETER, THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, AND THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL IN JUDEA AND AREA CLOSE BY JERUSALEM.

ACTS 13-28 FOCUSES ON PAUL AND THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN WORLD THROUGH HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEYS AND MANY CHURCHES WERE ESTABLISHED IN ROMAN CITIES.

IN THIS SECOND SECTION, WE SEE THAT SALVATION IS FOR ALL PEOPLE AND BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES ARE SAVED AND TOGETHER FORM NEW CHURCHES IN WHAT JESUS CALLED THE UTTERMOST PARTS KNOWN AT THAT TIME.

AFTER PAUL WAS CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE DIRECTLY BY JESUS HIMSELF ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD, PAUL HAD YET TO ACT AS AN APOSTLE.

NOW SOME 11 – 12 YEARS LATER PAUL BEGINS TO ACT ON HIS CALLING. HERE WE SEE THE VERBAL DIRECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN VERSE 1-3 TO CALL PAUL & OTHERS FORWARD TO START THE APOSTOLIC WORK.

THIS EVENT BEGINS WITH A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS GATHERED IN ANTIOCH AND AMONG THE GROUP ARE CERTAIN PROPHETS AND TEACHERS. IN THE GREEK ORIGINAL LANGUAGE THERE WERE SAID TO BE THREE PROPHETS AND TWO TEACHERS.

THE PROPHETS ARE SAID TO BE:

BARNABAS WHO WE HAVE MET BEFORE.

SYMEON, CALLED NIGER, LIKELY A BLACK BELIEVER FROM NIGERIA.

LUCIUS OF CYRENE, ALSO FROM NORTHERN AFRICA.

WE MAY HAVE MET THIS MAN SYMEON BEFORE AS ONE BY THAT NAME WAS COMMANDED BY THE ROMANS TROOPS TO HELP CARRY THE CROSS OF JESUS UP TO THE HILL OF CALVARY.

THE TEACHERS ARE SAID TO BE:

MANAEN, A MEMBER OF THE COURT OF HEROD THE TETRARCH, KNOWN TO BE THE FOSTER BROTHER OF HEROD.

SAUL OF TARSUS WHOM WE KNOW NOW AS PAUL, HERE LISTED AS A TEACHER.

THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE TO THE GROUP COMMANDING THAT BARNABAS AND SAUL BEGIN THE WORK WHICH THE SPIRIT HAS CALLED THEM TO DO.

NOTICE THE LORD CHOSE THE MEN AND HE CHOSE THE WORK.

HE SAID THEY ARE TO BE SET ASIDE.

VERSE 4:

“So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.”

VERSE 5 TEACHES THAT JOHN WAS SEEN IN SALAMIS.

PAUL AND BARNBAS DECIDED ON THE DESTINATIONS AND AS THEY ARRIVED THEY BEGAN IN THE SYNAGOGUES OF THE JEWS, A NATURAL STARTING PLACE AS THE JEWS ALREADY HAD THE SCRIPTURES.

IN ROMANS WE ARE TAUGHT THAT THE GOSPEL WAS TO GO FIRST TO THE JEWS AND THEN AFTERWARD TO THE GENTILES. PAUL BEGAN ALMOST EACH STOP IN ALL HIS WORK WITH THE JEWS.

WHEN THE WORD WAS REJECTED BY THE JEWS, THESE MISSIONARIES TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO THE GENTILES.

THESE MEN CHOSE AN INTERN TO TRAVEL WITH THEM, NAMED JOHN MARK, THE SON OF THE WEALTHY WOMAN MARY, AND A COUSIN OF BARNABAS.

LATER THERE WERE CONFILCTS WITH PAUL AND MARK RETURNED HOME. IT IS THOUGHT HE WAS THE RICH YOUNG RULER WHO HAD EARLIER APPROACHED JESUS SEEKING THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.

LATER, UNDER PETER’S GUIDANCE, HE WOULD PEN DOWN THE SECOND GOSPEL.

FOR NOW, HE TRAVELS WITH THE MISSIONARIES.

VERSES 6-8 ALLOW US TO KNOW THEY WENT FROM EAST TO WEST AND VISITING CITIES BEFORE ENDING UP IN PAPHOS, THE CAPITAL OF THE ISLAND NATION.

THERE AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT HAPPENS.

THE MEN CAME UPON A JEWISH FALSE PROPHET NAMED BAR-JESUS, WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE HIGH OFFICIAL SERGIUS PAULUS, SAID TO BE A VERY INTELLIGENT MAN, WHO SUMMONED THE MISSIONARIES TO HEAR THEIR TEACHING.

BUT THE FALSE PROPHET, KNOWN AS A MAGICIAN, WITHSTOOD THEM AND TRIED TO TURN THE OFFICIAL AWAY FROM THE MISSIONARIES.  

HERE IS A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS TO PROSPER THE GOSPEL.

PAUL AND BARNABAS HAD NO IDEA THEY WOULD GET A MEETING BEFORE THE GOVERNOR OF THE ISLAND WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE ROMANS. BUT THAT MAN, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A PAGAN ROMAN, SENT FOR THEM AND ASKED FOR THEM TO SPEAK TO HIM THE WORDS OF TRUTH.

THE MISSIONARIES CAME TO HIM AND PREACHED JESUS TO HIM.

THE MAGICIAN OPPOSED THE MISSIONARIES WHILE THEY WERE BRINGING WITNESS TO THE GOVERNOR, PROVOKING PAUL BY TEACHING CONTRARY THINGS WHICH MADE PAUL’S SPIRIT TO BE ANGRY AND HE SAID TO THE MAN IN VERSES 9-10:

“Then Saul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said … thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”

IN VERSES 11-12 PAUL BROUGHT THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BEAR AGAINST THE MAN AND MADE THE MAN BLIND FOR A SEASON IN A MIST AND DARKNESS.

WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAW WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE BELIEVED AND WAS ASTONISHED AT THE DOCTRINE OF THE LORD.

IT WAS AT THIS MOMENT THAT PAUL BECAME AN APOSTLE BOTH IN NAME AND IN POWER.

NOW HE SPEAKS WITH THE SAME AUTHORITY SEEN IN PETER WHEN PETER ADDRESSED ANANIAS & SAPHIRRA AS BOTH THEIR LIVES WERE TAKEN BY THE LORD.

THIS WAS THE FIRST OF THE SIGNS OF AN APOSTLE SHOWN BY PAUL AMONG MANY MORE TO COME. THIS MOMENT WAS STRONG JUDGMENT AND ONLY THE APOSTLES HAD SUCH POWER.

HERE IS THIS MOMENT AS PAUL BECOMES AN APOSTLE IN FULL, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TEAM SHIFTS TO PAUL AS WE SEE IN VERSE 13.

NOW WE NO LONGER HEAR OF BARNABAS AND SAUL BUT FROM HERE FORWARD WE HEAR OF PAUL AND BARNABAS, WITH THE VERSE MENTIONING “PAUL AND HIS COMPANY”.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT MINISTRY OF PAUL WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY HIS TEACHING. THE GOVERNOR SAW WITH HIS OWN EYES THE RADICAL DOCTRINE OF CHRIST IN ACTION AND THE RESULT WAS FAITH.

IN VERSES 13-15 WE VIEW THE DEPARTURE OF PAUL AND BARNABUS AND ARRIVAL IN PERGA IN PAMPHYLIA AND JOHN THEN RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH THEIR NEXT STOP IN ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA.

AS USUAL THEY WENT FIRST TO THE SYNAGOGUE, HEARD THE READING OF THE LAW AND PROPHETS AND WERE INVITED TO SPEAK.

HERE WAS THE MOMENT WHEN JOHN MARK LEFT THE JOURNEY, WITH SOME DISAGREEMENT WITH PAUL ABOUT THE EXPECTATION OF ALL THE GROUP TO FACE MORE HARDSHIPS THAT WERE SOON TO COME. AS THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SMALL GROUP SHIFTED TO PAUL, JOHN MARK WAS NO LONGER AS GOOD FIT.

SO THEY CAME TO ANTIOCH, NOT THE ORIGINAL ANTIOCH IN SYRIA, BUT IN THE REGION OF PISIDIA. PAUL VISITS THE SYNAGOGUE AND SPEAKS THERE WITH A SERMON OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, WHICH SHOOK THE ENTIRE CITY.

HE FORMED A SPEECH ON THREE POINTS:

GOD HAD GIVEN THE LAND OF CANNAN AS AN INHERITANCE AFTER ABOUT 450 YEARS.

GOD GAVE THEM JUDGES UNTIL SAMUEL CAME.

GOD THEN GAVE THEM A KING NAMED SAUL FOR 40 YEARS AND THEN REMOVED SAUL AND MADE DAVID KING AND LATER GAVE THEM JOHN THE BAPTIST WHO ANNOUNCED JESUS WAS NOW PRESENT.

VERSES 26-31 WAS THE SECOND DIVISION OF HIS PRESENTATION SHOWING THE HISTORY FROM ABRAHAM TO THE PROPHETS TO THE JEWS CONSPIRING TO HAVE JESUS KILLED WHO GOD RESURRECTED AND WHO IS NOW THE MESSIAH TO THE JEWS.

VERSES 32-33 IS THE FINAL NAIL FROM PAUL AS HE QUOTES SCRIPTURE FROM PSALM 2 THAT GOD HAD BEGOTTEN JESUS AND HE WAS NOT TO SUFFER CORRUPTION AFTER DEATH, JUST AS DAVID HAD FORETOLD IN PSALM 16, AND THEN HAMMERED HOME HIS MESSAGE.

THROUGH THIS MESSIAH FORGIVENESS OF SIN IS PROCLAIMED TO YOU TO ALL WHO BELIEVE WHICH COULD NOT BE DONE UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES.

THESE WERE SHATTERING STATEMENTS.

HERE WERE MEN WHO HONORED THE LAW OF MOSES ABOVE ALL AND THOUGHT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WERE THE GREATEST WORD EVER GIVEN BY GOD TO MAN.

EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW THEY HAD NEVER BEEN ABLE TO OBEY THE LAW, STILL THEY SPENT THEIR LIVES TRYING TO DO SO.

PAUL NOW ANNOUNCES TO THEM THAT THEY WILL NEVER MAKE IT INTO THE KINGDOM ON THAT PATHWAY. NO ACCEPTANCE BY GOD IS POSSIBLE ALONG THAT PATH AS NO MAN KEEPS THE LAW.

THE TEN COMMANDS ACTUALLY CONDEMN EACH MAN AS THEY CONSTANTLY SHOW THE INADEQUATE STATUS OF MAN BEFORE GOD, AS A CONSTANT SINNER UNABLE TO OVERCOME SIN BY THEIR OWN EFFORTS.

PAUL THEN TELLS THEM GOD HAS ANNOUNCED A WAY TO ACCEPT MANKIND EVEN THOUGH MAN IS UNABLE ON HIS OWN TO ENTER GOD’S KINGDOM DOORWAY.

THE WAY TO GOD IS ONLY THROUGH HIS SON, HIS GIFT OF A MESSIAH TO PURGE MAN’S SIN THROUGH HIS PERFECT SACRIFICE MAKING MAN FREE FROM SIN.

BEING FREED BRINGS A NEW CONCEPT WHICH PAUL TERMS AS BEING JUSTIFIED, WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES.

JUSTIFICATION MEANS HAVING YOUR SINS ERASED (FORGIVEN) IN A WAY THAT HONORS GOD AND PRESERVES HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WHEN MAN HUMBLY ACCEPTS THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST INTO HIS LIFE BY SURRENDER TO HIM AS SAVIOR AND LORD.

GOD CONSTRUCTED A WAY TO REMOVE MAN’S SINFULNESS BY THE WORK ON THE CROSS WHERE JESUS ACCEPTS MAN’S SIN AND ALSO MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR MAN TO ACCEPT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST AS HIS OWN BECAUSE MAN HAS NONE IN HIS OWN BEING.

THEREFORE THE RESULT OF JUSTIFICATION IS FULL ACCEPTANCE WHICH HAS OVERCOME ALL SIN BY LOVE WHICH HEALS ALL SCARS AND HURTS AND EACH BELIEVER BECOMES WHOLE ONLY ON THE JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE.

SUCH TEACHING WAS WORLD SHATTERING TO THE JEWS WHO FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS WERE CONVINCED THEY MUST DO SOMETHING TO GAIN GOD’S FAVOR.

NOW THEY ARE TAUGHT BY THIS NEW TEACHER THAT GOD’S FAVOR IS ALREADY GIVEN IN THE BEGOTTEN MESSIAH HE SENT, PROVEN BY HIS RESURRECTING HIM AFTER DEATH REMOVING ALL FEAR FROM MANKIND AND GRANTING ETERNAL LIFE WITHOUT FEAR SIMPLY BY FAITH IN THE ONE SENT.

THE POWER IN THESE CONCEPTS IS GIVEN BY PAUL IN VERSES 39-41:

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.”

HERE PAUL QUOTES HAB 1:5.

HERE PAUL WARNS THAT TO REJECT THIS GIFT OF GOD PUTS THESE JEWS INTO DANGER OF ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, BECAUSE ONLY GOD’S LOVE RESCUES MAN.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS MEETING THE PEOPLE BEGGED FOR MORE OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE AND THEY FOLLOWED PAUL AND BARNABAS OUTWARD SEEKING MORE OF THIS TRUTH.

THE NEXT SABBATH, ALMOST THE WHOLE CITY GATHERED TOGETHER TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.

BUT WHEN THE JEWS SAW THE MULTITUDES INCLUDING GENTILES, THEY WERE FILLED WITH JEALOUSY AND CONTRADICTED THE WORDS SPOKEN BY PAUL AND REVILED HIM.

PAUL AND BARNABAS SPOKE OUR BOLDLY AND SAID IN VERSES 42-48:

“It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles, For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God. and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”

THIS IS THE SAME MESSAGE PAUL PROVIDES LATER IN ROMANS 13:1:

“The powers that be are ordained of God.”

VERSES 49-52 TEACH US THAT THE JEWS INCITED PERSECUTION OF PAUL AND BARNABAS DRIVING THEM OUT OF THEIR REGION.

BUT THE MISSIONARIES SHOOK OFF THE DUST OF THAT PLACE FROM THEIR FEET AND WENT ONWARD TO ICONIUM.

THE LAST SENTENCE IS SURELY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL:

“… the disciples who remained in that area were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.”

THIS IS THE GREAT SIGN OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN THE HUMAN HEART, FLOODING THE HEART WITH LOVE AND JOY.

THE TRUTH OF SALVATION HAD ARRIVED FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE WHICH IS THAT THEIR HEARTS HAD BEEN MOVED FROM BROKEN TO NOT.

IN OUR NEXT STUDY STOP WE WILL STUDY THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MISSIONARIES AS THEY SPREAD THE WORD OF GOD.

Acts 14: Responsibilities of Missionaries who give an account of all the Lord has done

AFTER PAUL AND BARNABAS LEFT CYPRUS ON THEIR FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY, THEY GO NORTH TO THE COAST OF ASIA STOPPING AT PERGA IN THE REGION OF PAMPHYLIA.

IT IS HERE THAT JOHN MARK LEFT THE TEAM AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM. HE BECAME A PERSON OF CONFLICT BETWEEN PAUL AND BARNABAS.

NOW THE TEAM TRAVELS NORTH FOR ALMOST 100 MILES THROUGH RUGGED TERRITORY, MOST LIKELY ON FOOT.

PAUL REVEALS IN GALATIANS 4:13 THAT SOME ILLNESS AFFLICTED HIM ALONG THIS JOURNEY, WHICH HE CALLED “INFIRMITY OF THE FLESH”.

IN 2ND TIMOTHY 3, PAUL REFERS AGAIN TO THIS TIME WHEN HE WRITES:

“Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured … but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”

THIS JOURNEY BEGAN A NEW MOVEMENT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

HERE BEGAN THE LAST PHASE OF THE LORD’S GREAT COMMISSION AS THEY WENT TO WHAT WAS THEN THOUGHT OF AS THE “UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH”.

THIS TIME HAS BEEN CALLED “THE PATTERN SETTERS” BECAUSE IN THIS SECTION OF ACTS WE FIND THE PATTERN FOR CHRISTIAN WITNESS IN ANY AGE.

THE CHURCH IS INTENDED TO LIVE IN THIS PATTERN. IF IT HAS FALLEN SHORT AT CERTAIN TIMES IT IS BECAUSE THE PATTERN HAS BEEN NEGLECTED.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ZEALOUS EVANGELICAL ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE TAKEN AS THEIR MOTTO “ THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE WORLD IN OUR GENERATION”.

THIS IS A PERFECTLY SCRIPTURAL GOAL. MARK 16:15 COMMANDS THE GOSPEL TO GO TO EVERY CREATURE.

THE ULTIMATE FAILURE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS OVER TIME WAS NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ZEALOUS, EAGER, COMMITTED, AND DEDICATED, AND CERTAINLY NOT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF MONEY MADE AVAILABLE.

THEY FAILED BECAUSE THEY MISSED THE APOSTOLIC METHOD WHICH WE SEE IN OUR STUDY STOPS DID INDEED BRING SUCCESS IN ALMOST EACH EFFORT.

IN ACTS 14 WE SEE PAUL AND BARNABAS MINISTERING IN THREE CITIES, ICONIUM, LYSTRA, AND DERBE.

THE CONDITIONS WERE DIFFERENT IN EACH CITY. IN TWO OF THEM THEY MET MOST SERIOUS AND VICIOUS OPPOSITION, SOMETIMES VIOLENT.

OUR UNDERSTANDING IS HELPED AS WE SEE HOW THEY APPROACHED EACH SITUATION.

WE BEGIN IN VERSES 1-4:

“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greek believed.

But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.”

IN ICONIUM, THOUGH THIS WAS A PAGAN GENTILE CITY, THERE WAS A STRONG COLONY OF JEWS WHO HAD A SYNAGOGUE.

PAUL AND BARNABAS WENT RIGHT TO IT BECAUSE THE JEWS THERE WERE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THE SCRIPTURES, AND SHOULD HAVE VALUED THE TRUTH OF GOD.

THAT IS THE FIRST RULE OF WITNESSING: START RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

THIS IS WHERE PAUL AND BARNABAS BEGAN, EVEN IN THIS PAGAN CITY.

WHEN THEY CAME TO THE SYNAGOGUE THEY FOUND AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

HERE WAS THE SECOND MARK OF THE GOSPEL, AS IT IS GENUINELY PREACHED.

THERE IS ALWAYS AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT. WE READ HERE THAT THEY “SO SPOKE THAT A GREAT COMPANY BELIEVED, BOTH OF JEWS AND GREEKS.”

THIS IS TESTIMONY TO THE RADICAL CHARACTER OF THE WORD THEY BROUGHT.

THIS WAS A GOSPEL THAT HIT LIKE A TON OF BRICKS. IT HIT WITH POWER AND IMPACT. IT SHOOK PEOPLE AND JOLTED THEM AND MADE THEM SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.

A GREAT CROWD BELIEVED WHEN THEY HEARD PAUL AND BARNABAS.

HERE WAS A SYNAGOGUE, A PLACE WHERE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE HAD LONG GATHERED DISCUSSING THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD.

A GREAT DEAL OF TRUTH WAS AVAILABLE THERE BUT THERE ALSO WERE EMPTY HEARTS.

ALL THEIR KNOWLEDGE HAD NOT BROUGHT THEM TO PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.

BUT WHEN PAUL DECLARED THE GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS, THE FACT THAT IN JESUS THERE IS A WAY TO RECEIVE FROM GOD ALL THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR – A CLEANSING, FORGIVENESS, FREEDOM FROM GUILT, AND MUCH MORE – THESE PEOPLE BELIEVED AND THEIR FAITH MADE A LARGE CHANGE IN THEM.

THE GREAT TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL IS THAT JESUS CHRIST CLEANSES, SETS FREE, FILLS WITH JOY, AND MAKES MEN WHAT GOD HAD INTENDED MEN TO BE.

A THIRD MARK OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS THAT IT WILL AROUSE OPPOSITION. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

WE READ: “BUT THE UNBELIEVING JEWS STIRRED UP THE GENTILES AND POISONED THEIR MINDS AGAINST THE BRETHREN”.

THEY NOT ONLY DISBELIEVED THE GOSPEL; THEY WOULD NOT GIVE IT A CHANCE OR EVEN CONSIDER IT.

THESE PEOPLE STIRRED UP THE GENTILES WHO WERE PRESENT AND POISONED THEIR MINDS.

THESE MEN WERE NOT MET WITH OUTRIGHT OPEN OPPOSITION SUCH AS THAT THEY HAS FACED IN ANTIOCH.

HERE IT IS SUBTLE, WHISPERING, DECEITFUL, POISONOUS PROPOGANDA AND IT HAD ITS EFFECT.

MANY WERE TURNED AWAY. BUT DR. LUKE TELLS US THIS OPPOSITION WAS OVERCOME. HE SAYS “ SO THEY REMAINED FOR A LONG TIME, SPEAKING BOLDLY FOR THE LORD, WHO BORE WITNESS TO THE WORD OF HIS GRACE, GRANTING SIGNS AND WONDERS TO BE DONE BY THEIR HANDS.”

GOD WORKED WITH HIS CHOSEN ONES BY CONFIRMING HIS WORD WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS.

THIS IS THE FOURTH ELEMENT WHICH IS ALWAYS PRESENT WHEN THE TRUE GOSPEL IS BEING PREACHED.

THERE IS A BAFFLING QUALITY ABOUT IT.

THINGS HAPPEN WHICH ARE BEYOND THE NORMAL WORK OF THE HANDS OF MAN AND THIS BAFFLING ELEMENT IS WHAT MAKES THE GOSPEL SO ATTRACTIVE AND COMPELLING TO THE WORLD.

HEARTS ARE CHANGED FROM BROKEN TO NOT.

THE FIFTH AND FINAL ELEMENT SEEN IN CHAPTER 14 IS THAT OF DIVISION.

HERE MORE WORDS OF DR. LUKE TEACH US:

“BUT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY WERE DIVIDED; SOME SIDED WITH THE JEWS, AND SOME WITH THE APOSTLES.”

THIS IS ALWAYS THE CASE WITH THE GOSPEL. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BRING PEACE, EXCEPT TO THE INDIVIDUAL HEART.

IT IS INTENDED TO BE DIVISIVE.

JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 10:34:

“Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I have come to bring a sword.”

WE NOTE ONE MORE INTERESTING THING HERE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE BOOK OF ACTS BOTH BARNABAS AND PAUL ARE CALLED APOSTLES, IN VERSE 4 AND AGAIN IN VERSE 14.

VERSES 5-7 REVEAL THE SWORD SPOKEN OF BY JESUS:

“When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to molest them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lyconia, and to the surrounding country; and there they preached the gospel.”

HERE WE COME TO THE SECOND CITY IN THIS CHAPTER, THE GENTILE CITY OF LYSTRA.

HERE THERE WAS NO JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.

WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH NO DESIGNATED PLACE TO BEGIN?

VERSES 8-13 SHOW US THE NEW PATHWAY FOR THESE APOSTLES.

“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked.

The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lyconia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.”

GOD HAD OPENED THE DOOR OF THE CITY TO HIS CHOSEN MEN.

VERSES 14-18 PROVIDE US WITH THE PATTERN NEEDED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO NON-RELIGIOUS PEOPLE:

“Which, when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

AS WE SEE THE APPROACH PAUL USED FROM NON-RELIGIOUS PEOPLE IS THROUGH NATURE, NOT OF SCRIPTURE FOR THESE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY WORD AS DID THE JEWS.

WHEN HE WENT TO THE GENTILES, HE STARTED WITH NATURE, THE TRUTH OF GOD WHICH ALL THERE KNEW. HE POINTS OUT THREE THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY PLAIN TO THEM AS THEY THINK ABOUT THEIR CONTACT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.

FIRST HE SHOWS THAT THERE IS ONE TRUE LIVING GOD.

SECOND, HE FOCUSES UPON THE ONE LIVING GOD PERMITS MEN FREE CHOICE AND THEREFORE BY THAT FREE CHOICE ALLOWS EVIL.

PAUL IS SAYING THAT GOD, IN GENERATIONS PAST, ALLOWED ALL THE NATIONS TO WALK IN THEIR OWN WAY WHICH IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING HE GAVE THEM FREE WILL.

IN ORDER TO PERMIT FREE WILL, HE MUST ALLOW EVIL. PAUL’S EXPRESSION HERE IS NOT ABLE TO BE ANSWERED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT RELIGIOUS.

THIRD HE SAYS, GOD WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO GO TOO FAR.

HE DOES NOT ALLOW EVIL TO FULLY ENGULF HUMANITY AND WIPE MAN FROM THE EARTH, AS HUMAN EVIL WOULD LIKELY DO IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IF LEFT UNRESTRAINED.

GOD HAS RESTRAINED IT.

GOD HAS SHOWN HIS LOVE BY GIVING RAIN, AND FRUIT, AND HARVEST AND GLADNESS AND THOSE THINGS ARE PROVIDED BY HIS GOODNESS.

THESE IDEAS ARE OF THE GOD PAUL PREACHED AND THE CITY WAS OPENED TO PAUL BRINGING THE GOSPEL AND PROCLAIMING IT IN POWER AS HE HAS ALREADY SHOWN IN SIGNS AND WONDERS SEEN.

AT THIS POINT THE COUNTER ATTACK OF THE ENEMY BEGAN STRIKING BACK AT THE GOSPEL PREACHED WHOSE POWER HAD BEEN UNLEASHED AND THE ATTACK WAS MADE IN THE FORM OF DIRECT VIOLENCE AS SEEN IN VERSES 19-20:

“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.”

SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME PAUL WAS STONED.

HIS ENEMIES DRAGGED HIM OUT OF THE CITY AND THREW HIM OUT LIKE RUBBISH THINKING HE WAS DEAD.

HOW HORRIBLE MUST HAVE BEEN THIS TIME FOR BARNABAS AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES.

AS THEY GATHERED AROUND PAUL ALSO THINKING HIM DEAD, PAUL SUDDENLY SITS UP AND GOD RESTORES HIM AND ON THE NEXT DAY THEY LEFT FOR DERBE.

VERSES 21-23 TAKE UP THE STORY AS THE GROUP MOVES ON TO THE THIRD CITY OF THIS CHAPTER.

“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

HERE IS AMAZING EVIDENCE OF COURAGE.

THEY HAD BEEN EXPELLED FROM ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA, THREATENED IN ICONIUM, ACTUALLY STONED IN LYSTRA, BUT YET, WHEN GOD RAISED PAUL UP, THEY GO RIGHT BACK TO THOSE SAME CITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE DISCIPLES.

SUCH COURAGE COMES ONLY FROM FULL TRUST IN THE LORD.

THEY WERE CONFIDENT THAT GOD WAS WITH THEM AND SO BACK THEY WENT WITH COURAGE.

AS THEY RETURNED TO ANTIOCH THEY GATHERED THE CHURCH TOGETHER AND DECLARED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM AND HOW HE HAD OPENED A DOOR OF FAITH TO THE GENTILES AND THERE THEY REMAINED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

HERE WAS A MISSIONARY MEETING, WITH A REPORT GIVEN OF ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED INCLUDING THE EXCITING STORIES OF SO MANY WHO HAD COME TO CHRIST THROUGH THE MINISTRY. 

Acts 15: The Gospel Plain and Simple

CHAPTER 15 PROVIDES US WITH A SIMPLE BUT VERY STARK MESSAGE.

IT IS EXPRESSED IN A SMALL QUESTION:

• WHAT IS THE PRICE OF SALVATION?

THE ANSWER HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN US WITHIN THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS, THE ROMAN PAGAN CENTURION.

THAT ANSWER ARRIVED IN CHAPTER 10, VERSE 43:

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive the remission of sins.”

JESUS HIMSELF HAD PROVIDED THE SAME ANSWER IN HIS CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS IN JOHN 3:14-15:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

JESUS FURTHER PROVIDED THIS ANSWER OF TRUTH AS HE ASKED A SIMPLE QUESTION OF HIS OWN DISCIPLES IN JOHN 16:31:

“Jesus answered them, do ye now believe?”

HERE WE HAVE THE TRUTH OF THE PRICE OF SALVATION FROM THE SENDING OF PETER TO THE GENTILE PAGAN FAMILY TO THE TEACHING WORDS OF CHRIST HIMSELF.

THE PRICE OF SALVATION IS FAITH.

JESUS SAID SO IN JOHN 3:18:

“He that believeth is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

THIS ANSWER IS THE RADICAL TEACHING OF THE EARLY CHURCH TO BOTH THE JEWS AND THE GENTILES.

THE EARLY CHURCH NEVER WAVERED ON THIS TEACHING.

1500 YEARS LATER MARTIN LUTHER CONFRONTED THE ENTIRE ROMAN CHURCH WITH THE SAME TEACHING, PREVAILING IN THAT SPIRITUAL WAR WITH A SIMPLE SENTENCE:

• SALVATION IS BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE.

THE CHURCH THAT JESUS ESTABLISHED WAS NO MORE THAN 30 YEARS OLD WHEN TEACHING ERRORS WERE SEEN ON THIS MATTER.

WE VIEW THIS CONFLICT IN VERSE 1 IN TEACHING BY CONVERTED PHARISEES THAT “… Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

PAUL AND BARNABAS CONFRONTED THIS FALSE TEACHING  STRONGLY AND THE CONFLICT WAS SO HARSH THAT IT WAS DECIDED IT MUST BE BROUGHT TO THE ELDERS IN JERUSALEM.

THIS ISSUE IS SIMPLY ONE OF SEPARATING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW FROM THE FREEDOM OF GRACE.

WHILE THE ISSUE SEEMED SIMPLE, THE DECISION WAS MONUMENTAL. IT HAS CARRIED THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ALONG THE JOURNEY OF THE CENTURIES SINCE THAT TIME.

WE NOTICE VERSE ONE REFERS TO THE TEACHERS OF ERROR AS “TEACHING THE BRETHREN”.

THESE WERE SAVED GENTILE BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCHES OF ANTIOCH, SYRIA, AND CELICIA. (V23)

THESE CHURCHES WERE BORN FROM THE SCATTERING OF BELIEVERS AFTER THE DEATH OF STEPHEN.

PAUL CLEARLY GAVE THE TRUTH ON THESE MATTERS IN GALATIANS 5:6 WHEN HE SAID THAT NEITHER CIRCUMCISON OR UNCIRCUMCISION MEANS ANYTHING, BUT FAITH WORKING THROUGH LOVE IS THE ONLY PRICE OF SALVATION.

PAUL, BARNABAS, AND SOME OTHER BELIEVERS WERE SENT TO JERUSALEM TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER.

THESE MESSENGERS WERE WELL RECEIVED IN JERUSALEM AS THEY DECLARED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE THROUGH THEM AS THEY SHARED THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT IT HAD BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE THE JERUSALEM CHURCH HAD ACCEPTED GENTILE CONVERTS ON AN EQUAL BASIS AS JEWISH CONVERTS.

WE REMEMBER THE STRONG TEACHING OF GOD TO PETER AS TO WHAT WAS CLEAN AND NOT CLEAN BEFORE HE ALLOWED PETER TO TRAVEL TO CORNELIUS.

NOW IN VERSE 5 WE SEE A CALL TO LEGALISM, APART FROM GRACE.

IF ANYTHING WAS TO BE ADDED TO GRACE, IT IS NO LONGER GRACE.

IN VERSES 6-11 WE SEE THE DISCUSSION AMONG THE APOSTLES AS THEY CONSIDER THIS IMPORTANT MATTER.

THERE WAS FORCEFUL DISCUSSION EVEN MUCH DISPUTING.

AFTER SOME DEBATE PETER ROSE IN THE ASSEMBLY TO REMIND THE GROUP THAT GOD HAD MADE THE CHOICE TO ACCEPT GENTILES EQUALLY ON FAITH AND HE HAD GIVEN THE HOLY GHOST TO PAGAN CONVERTS JUST AS HE HAD TO THE JEWS AT PENTECOST.

VERSE 9 STATES THAT GOD PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND US AS GOD PURIFIED THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH.

VERSE 10 REVEALS SO VERY WELL THE UNDERSTANDING OF PETER AFTER HIS VISION WHEN HE ASKS WHY GOD IS TO BE TEMPTED BY PUTTING A YOKE ON THE NECKS OF DISCIPLES WHICH NEITHER OUR FATHERS OR OURSELVES WERE ABLE TO KEEP?

IN VERSE 11 PETER REMINDS ALL THERE THAT ONLY THROUGH THE GRACE OF JESUS BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES WERE SAVED.

SILENCE OVERCAME THE GROUP.

NOTICE THE ORDER OF PETER’S STATEMENT.

INSTEAD OF SAYING THAT GENTILES ARE SAVED THE SAME WAY JEWS ARE SAVED, HE SAID THE OPPOSITE.

HE SAID JEWS ARE SAVED THE SAME WAY GENTILES ARE SAVED.

THE HOLY GHOST WAS SURELY GUIDING THESE SPECIAL WORDS.

JAMES, THE LEADER OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH, SPEAKS NEXT.

VERSES 12-21 REVEAL THE DECISION AFTER THEY HEARD OF THE MANY SUCCESSES AMONG THE GENTILES BY PAUL AND BANABAS FROM THEIR OWN LIPS.

JAMES ASKS ALL IN THE ASSEMBLY TO HARKEN TO HIS WORDS.

FIRST HE SAID HE AGREED WITH THE WORDS OF PETER.

HE POINTED OUT THAT PETER WAS THE FIRST TO GO TO THE GENTILES, EVEN BEFORE PAUL AND BANABAS WERE SENT AND HE QUOTED AMOS 9:11 REMINDING ALL THERE THAT GOD PLANNED THE REBUILDING OF THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID AND NOW IT WAS TO OCCUR.

SECOND, JAMES SAID THERE WAS NO REASON TO MAKE FAITH HARDER THAN IT WAS INTENDED TO BE  BY REQUIRING GENTILES TO OBEY JEWISH RULES AND CUSTOMS.

THIRD, HE SAID THE GOSPEL SHOULD BE PLAIN AND SIMPLE WITH ONLY A FEW UNDERSTANDINGS FOR GENTILES:

• ABSTAIN FROM THE POLLUTION OF IDOLS

• ABSTAIN FROM FORNICATION

• ABSTAIN FROM THINGS STRANGLED

• ABSTAIN FROM CONSUMING BLOOD

 THESE FEW ITEMS HARKENED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE DAYS OF NOAH WHICH GOD HIMSELF COMMANDED IN GENESIS 9:4.

WE NOTE JAMES DID NOT COMMAND JEWISH BELIEVERS TO STOP CIRCUMCISON OR THEIR OWN DIETARY MANNERS.

HE SIMPLY SAID THESE ARE NOT TO BE REQUIRED OF GENTILES BELIEVERS TO BECOME CHRISTIANS.

SIMPLY SAID, DO NOT INSULT EACH OTHER BUT HAVE RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.

THE ASSEMBLY FELT THE WORDS OF JAMES WERE APPROPRIATE AND SHOULD BE ADOPTED AND A LETTER GIVEN TO PAUL AND BARNABAS FOR THE GENTILE CHURCHES SO THAT ALL MAY KNOW THE DECISION OF THE ELDERS.

WITNESSES WERE ALSO SENT ALONG TO ASSURE THE UNDERSTANDING WAS A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF THE DECISION.

HERE IS THE FIRST INSTANCE OF A CHURCH WRITING TO ANOTHER CHURCH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

VERSE 24 CLARIFIES THE FALSEHOOD WHICH WAS BEING OVERCOME AND THAT THE JERUSALEM CHURCH NEITHER HAD SENT THE FALSE TEACHERS NOR ACCEPTED THEIR TEACHING AS TRUTH.

VERSE 28 REVEALS THE REASON FOR THE LETTER. IT CLEARLY STATES THAT THE HOLY GHOST HAD INSPIRED IT SO THAT NO GREATER BURDEN BE PLACED ON BELIEVERS THAN DIRECT AND PURE FAITH.

THE WORDS “GREATER BURDEN” MEANT THE RULES OF THE JEWS.

VERSE 29 CONCLUDES THAT IF THESE FEW ITEMS WERE FOLLOWED, THE CHURCHES WOULD “FARE THEE WELL” AS THE DETAILS WERE LISTED IN VERSE 20.

VERSES 30-35 TELL OF THE DELIVERY OF THE LETTER.

THE TRIP OF 300 MILES WAS MADE TO ANTIOCH, GATHERING TOGETHER THE MULTITUDE, AND DELIVERING THE DECISION.

THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER BROUGHT GREAT JOY AND WAS A LIBERATING MOMENT FOR ALL GENTILE BELIEVERS.

PAUL, BARNABAS, AND SILAS ALL REMAINED IN ANTIOCH TO GUIDE THE CHURCH AND HELP IT CONTINUE TO GROW.

IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THIS PERIOD MAY HAVE BEEN WHEN PETER MADE THE JOURNEY THERE TO ANTIOCH AND PAUL CONFRONTED HIM CONCERNING EATING WITH GENTILES ONLY UNTIL JEWS ARRIVED.

IN VERSES 36-40 WE SEE PAUL WISHING HIMSELF AND BARNABAS TO REVISIT EARLIER CHURCHES AND TO CHECK ON THEIR PROGRESS.

HERE A STRONG DISAGREEMENT HAPPENS AS BARNABAS WISHED TO TAKE JOHN MARK WITH THEM IN THE TRAVEL.

JOHN MARK HAD SPENT PART OF THE TIME WITH PAUL AND BARNABAS ON THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY BUT HAD LEFT THEM AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM BEFORE THE JOURNEY WAS COMPLETE.

WE ARE GIVEN NO DETAILS ON WHY BARNABAS WAS SO DETERMINED, BUT POSSIBLY HE SAW THE NEW TRAVEL AS A POSSIBILITY FOR JOHN MARK TO REDEEM HIMSELF, CONSIDERING THAT JOHN MARK WAS SAID TO BE A COUSIN TO BARNABAS.

THE CONTENTION WAS STRONG AND PAUL WAS DETERMINED NOT TO TAKE THE YOUNG MAN WITH HIM WHO MAY AGAIN QUIT THE TEAM IF THE TRAVEL SEEMS DIFFICULT.

AFTER HEATED DISPUTE THE TWO MEN “DEPARTED ASUNDER”, MEANING THE WERE TORN APART FROM EACH OTHER OVER THIS MATTER.

WE DO KNOW THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED LATER AS PAUL WRITES SEVERAL YEARS LATER KINDLY ABOUT BARNABAS IN 1ST CORINTHIANS 9:6.

BARNABAS TOOK MARK AND WENT TO CYPRUS AND LUKE DOES NOT MENTION BARNABAS AGAIN IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

PAUL WENT THROUGH SYRIA AND CELICIA TO ASIA MINOR WHERE HE MAKES HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

WE DO KNOW THAT LATER PAUL SEEMED MORE AGREEABLE TOWARD MARK AND ACCORDING TO COLOSSIANS 4:10 MARK WAS WITH PAUL IN ROME.

PERHAPS MARK MATURED DURING HIS TRAVELS WITH BARNABUS AND HE BECAME THE WRITER OF THE SECOND GOSPEL UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF PETER.

WE SHOULD CONCLUDE WITH THE FACT THAT THE TEACHING TO ADD NOTHING TO GRACE FOR SALVATION THAT PAUL PREACHED IS STILL ACTIVE TODAY.

PAUL & BARNABUS TAUGHT THAT ONLY FAITH IN REPENTANCE TO CHRIST WAS NEEDED FOR SALVATION. HE WILL STRONGLY TEACH THIS LESSON AGAIN IN ACTS 16 TO THE PHILLIPIAN JAILER.

NO SIGN IN THE FLESH WAS NECESSARY, MEANING ONE WHO WAS A GENTILE NEED NOT BE CIRCUMCISED TO GAIN ETERNAL LIFE.

PAUL WILL LATER TEACH IN PHIL 3:3 & COL 2:11 THAT THE CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART WAS NECESSARY, NOT OF THE FLESH.

IF WE SUBSTITUTE THE WORD “BAPTISM” FOR THE WORD “CIRCUMCISION” WE SEE SUCH TEACHING REMAINS AROUND US TODAY.

SOME WHO CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIAN TEACH THAT SALVATION DOES NOT ARRIVE UNTIL ONE IS BAPTIZED IN WATER, THAT FAITH IN CHRIST AND HIS GRACE IS INSUFFICIENT.

THEY WILL MOVE MOUNTAINS TO ASSURE BAPTISM SAME DAY AS ACCEPTANCE AND TEACH THAT ONE IS NOT SAVED WITHOUT IT.

(CHURCH OF CHRIST / POINT 5 IN THEIR ARTICLES OF FAITH)

OF COURSE THEY TRY HARD TO NEVER DISCUSS THE SALVATION OF THE THIEF ON THE CROSS.

THESE WHO TEACH THIS FALSEHOOD ARE JUST AS SINCERE AS THE JEWS WERE IN THE DEBATE IN THE EARLY CHURCH.

THEY ARE SINCERE BUT ARE SINCERELY WRONG.

THOSE WHO ARGUED STRONGLY FOR CIRCUMCISION FOR SALVATION HAD NO ANSWER AS TO HOW THE HUNDREDS OF GENTILES ALREADY SAVED GAINED SALVATION WITHOUT IT.

CORNELIUS AND HIS HOUSEHOLD WERE GREAT EXAMPLES OF GENTILES WHO EXPRESSED FAITH AND ALL WERE BOTH SAVED AND WERE SEEN BY PETER TO HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT COME UPON THEM.

GOD HAD ALREADY GIVEN MUCH EVIDENCE AS TO WHAT WAS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION, AND THEREFORE PAUL AND THE OTHER APOSTLES PREVAILED IN THE MEETING AT JERUSALEM.

NEXT WEEK WE STUDY THE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY OF THE SPIRIT.

Acts 16: An Open Door for Ministry

IN ACTS 16 WE SEE GOD’S PLAN FOR REACHING THE WORLD WITH THE GOSPEL SPREADING UNTO THE AREA DESCRIBED BY JESUS IN ACTS 1 AS THE UTTERMOST PART.

THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED IN PHILLIPI WAS CLOSE TO THE HEART OF PAUL AS HE REVEALS IN PHILLIPIANS 1:6-8.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

THIS CHURCH CONTINUED ITS SUPPORT OF PAUL AS HE WRITES IN PHILLIPIANS 4:14-16.

“…, ye sent once and again to my necessity…”.

ACTS 16:1-5 EXPRESSES THE MANNER IN WHICH PAUL CONFIRMS THE CHURCHES OF HIS 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY. THE GREEK WORD FOR HIS WORK IS TRANSLATED “TO MAKE STRONGER”.

THE VISITS FROM PAUL AND BARNABAS GREATLY STRENGTHENED AND ENERGIZED THESE YOUNG CHURCHES.

AS THEY WENT THROUGH LYCONIA AND GALATIA, THEY CAME TO DERBE AND LYSTRA.

IN THE 1ST MISSIONARY JOURNEY PAUL AND BARNABAS PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL THERE AS WELL AS HEALING A CRIPPLED MAN.

HERE WAS THE PLACE WHERE SOME PEOPLE TURNED AGAINST PAUL AND HE WAS STONED AND LEFT FOR DEAD, WITH THE LORD HEALING HIM QUICKLY TO CONTINUE THE MINISTRY.

PAUL NOW REVISITS DERBE AND LYSTRA, ALONG WITH SILAS, AND THERE HE MET A CERTAIN DISCIPLE NAMED TIMOTHY, WHO BECAME THE ONLY MAN PAUL EVER DESCRIBED AS HIS “OWN SON IN THE FAITH”. (1ST TIMOTHY 1:2)

THIS YOUNG BELIEVER WAS THE SON OF A JEWESS MOTHER AND A GREEK FATHER, A SPIRITUALLY DIVIDED HOME.

LUKE DESCRIBES TIMOTHY AS WELL RESPECTED IN THE SISTER CHURCHES AND WELL REPORTED BY THE CHURCHES IN LYSTRA AND ICONIUM.

TIMOTHY ACCOMPLISHED FOR PAUL AND SILAS WHAT JOHN MARK WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE 1ST JOURNEY.

BEING HALF JEW HE HAD AN INROAD TO THE JEWS AND BEING HALF GENTILE ALLOWED THE SAME INROAD TO THE NON JEWS.

PAUL CIRCUMCISED TIMOTHY TO REMOVE ANY DISTRACTION FROM HIM BEING ABLE TO MINISTER TO THE JEWS. THIS ACT WAS NOT A COMMANDED ACT BUT AND ACT OF DEFERENCE TO ASSURE TIMOTHY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE SYNAGOGUES.

THIS TEAM TOOK THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT FROM THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL TO THE CHURCHES TO SETTLE ANY CONTINUING ISSUE CONCERNING GENTILE BELIEVERS.

THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THIS LIBERATING LETTER WAS THAT THE CHURCHES “ESTABLISHED IN FAITH” AND “INCREASED IN NUMBER DAILY”.

FELLOWSHIP OF HARMONY WAS FELT AND NEW CHURCHES WERE PLANTED.

VERSE 6-10 PROVIDE THE CALL TO THE TEAM TO MACEDONIA.

THE TEAM INTENDED TO TRAVEL WEST INTO ASIA MINOR NEXT BUT VERSE 6 TEACHES THAT THEY WERE FORBIDDEN TO DO SO BY THE HOLY SIPRIT.

“THE SPIRIT SUFFERED THEM NOT”

GOD LATER USED OTHERS TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL IN THESE PROVINCES IN BITHYNIA, GALATIA, AND CAPPADOCIA AS STATED IN 1ST PETER 1:1.

GOD CLEARLY WANTED PAUL AND THE TEAM TO GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. AS GOD CLOSES SOME DOORS, HE OPENS OTHERS.

THE TEAM THEN CAME TO TROAS, THE ANCIENT CITY OF TROY.

PAUL WILL LATER REPORT IN 2ND COR 2:12 THAT THIS MOMENT WAS A NEW DOOR OPENED TO HIM BY THE LORD.

WHILE IN TROAS A VISION WAS SENT TO PAUL IN THE NIGHT OF A MAN OF MACEDONIA ASKING PAUL TO COME OVER TO MACEDONIA AND HELP THOSE PEOPLE. (VERSE 9)

THIS VISION CAME TO PAUL WHEN HE WAS AWAKE AND IT WAS NOT A DREAM. PAUL AND THE TEAM PREPARED TO OBEY THE VISION.

IN THIS MOMENT WE SEE AN INTERESTING CHANGE IN THE SCRIPTURE.

UNTIL THIS TIME, THE WRITER LUKE HAD REFERRED TO THE MISSIONARY TEAM USING THE 3RD PERSON PLURAL TERM OF “THEY” SEVERAL TIMES IN VERSES 6,7, & 8.

BUT NOW HE SWITCHES TO THE 1ST PERSON PLURAL IN HIS WRITING USING THE WORD “WE” & “THE LORD HAD CALLED US”.

LUKE HAD NOW JOINED THE MISSIONARY TEAM AND WENT WITH PAUL TO PHILLIPI UNTIL THEY DEPARTED THAT CITY IN VERSE 40.

LATER ON THE 3RD MISSIONARY JOURNEY PAUL WRITES THAT LUKE HAD REJOINED HIM AND PAUL SAID IN 2ND TIMOTHY 4:11 THAT

“ONLY LUKE IS WITH ME”.

ANOTHER SPIRITUAL EPISODE OCCURS IN VERSES 11-18 WITH THE CONVERSION OF A SPECIAL PRAYERFUL WOMAN SEEKER.

IN PHILLIPI, A CHIEF CITY BEING A ROMAN COLONY, HAVING ALL THE STATUS OF ROMAN CITIZENS, PAUL MEETS SEEKERS OF THE LORD.

THERE WAS NO SYNAGOGUE IN PHILLIPI SO THEY WENT OUT OF THE CITY TO A PLACE NEAR THE RIVER WHERE PRAYER WAS MADE, AND IT SEEMS ONLY WOMEN WERE PRESENT.

PAUL AND THE TEAM SAT DOWN AND SPOKE TO THE WOMEN, SHARING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.

CLEARLY THIS WAS NOT A COINCIDENCE ANY MORE THAN THE ETHIOPIAN MAN TRYING TO READ THE SCROLL OF ISAIAH WHEN PHILLIP WAS SENT TO HIM.

ONE IN THE PRAYER GROUP WAS A CERTAIN WOMAN NAMED LYDIA, A WOMAN OF MEANS WHO TRADED IN PURPLE CLOTH IN THE CITY OF THYATIRA.

SHE HAD SOME UNDERSTANDING OF GOD, BEING IN PRAYER, BUT DID NOT SEEM OF HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MESSIAH AND WE ARE TOLD THAT GOD OPENED HER HEART SO THAT SHE WOULD ATTEND TO THE WORDS OF PAUL.

OUR LESSON HERE ON LYDIA IS ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE LESSON WE LEARNED IN ACTS 9 ON THE RADICAL SALVATION OF PAUL HIMSELF.

THE FREE WILL THAT PAUL EXERCISED TO CREATE HAVOC IN THE CHURCH AND TO HARM AND KILL CHRISTIANS WAS ENDED AND FROM THAT MOMENT ONWARD UNTIL HIS MORTAL DEATH HIS WILL

REFLECTED GOD’S WILL FOR HIM, NOT HIS OWN TO DESTROY.

JESUS WAS VERY CLEAR THAT NONE MAY COME TO HIM EXCEPT BY THE FATHER’S DRAWING.

HERE WAS THE DRAWING OF THE LORD OF THIS PRAYERFUL WOMAN.

SHE BELIEVED AND WAS CONVICTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WAS CALLED TO SALVATION BY THE GRACE OF GOD ON THAT RIVERSIDE.

SO THE FIRST SAVED HELP REQUESTED BY THE MAN OF MACEDONIA IN THE VISION WAS A WOMAN.

LYDIA OPENED HER HOME TO THE MISSIONARY TEAM AND BESOUGHT THEM TO RESIDE IN HER HOME WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE LARGE TO WELCOME 4 NEW GUESTS.

VERSE 16-21 PROVIDE PAUL’S CONFRONTATION WITH A DEMON WHO HAD POSSESSED A YOUNG WOMAN, PERHAPS A SLAVE, WHO EXERCISED DEMONIC POWER TO DIVINE THE FUTURE AND MADE MONEY FOR HER MASTERS BY SOOTHSAYING.

THE DEMON WHO POSSESSED THIS WOMAN WAS VERY AWARE OF THE MISSIONARY TEAM AND LOUDLY ANNOUNCED IN VERSE 17:

“These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation…”.

AFTER MANY DAYS OF THIS WOMAN FOLLOWING PAUL WITH HER UNWANTED ATTENTION PAUL HAD ENOUGH OF HER AND HER DEMON AND HE STOPPED IT PERMANENTLY IN VERSE 18:

“… being grieved, turned and said to the spirit I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”

THE DEMON CAME OUT OF THE WOMAN IN THE SAME HOUR.

NOTICE PAUL DID NOT ADDRESS THE WOMAN, BUT ONLY THE DEMON POSSESSING HER.

GOD’S POWER THROUGH PAUL WAS STRONGLY EVIDENT.

THE MASTERS OF THE WOMAN WERE INFURIATED AS THEIR INCOME WAS GONE AND THEY DRAGGED PAUL AND THE TEAM INTO THE MARKET PLACE AND ACCUSED THEM BEFORE THE CITY ELDERS OF TROUBLING THE CITY.

IN VERSES 22-24 THE TEAM WAS CAPTURED AND BEATEN WITH RODS.

VERSES 25-34 IS THE STORY OF THEIR DELIVERANCE.

THEY WERE THEN PLACED IN PRISON AND HELD IN STOCKS ON THEIR FEET TO ASSURE THEIR CAPTIVITY WAS SECURE.

AT MIDNIGHT, PAUL AND SILAS PRAYED AND SANG SONGS OF PRAISE.

A GREAT EARTHQUAKE CAME IN THE NIGHT AND WAS SO STRONG THAT THE PRISON WAS SHAKEN AND THE DOORS OPENED AS WELL AS THE STOCKS ON THEIR FEET.

THE JAILER WHO WAS CHARGED WITH THE PRISON SECURITY CHOSE TO KILL HIMSELF RATHER THAN FACE AUTHORITIES  THINKING ALL THE PRISONERS WERE ESCAPED.

PAUL CALLED OUT TO HIM TO DO HIMSELF NO HARM AS ALL THE PRISONERS WERE STILL THERE.

PAUL’S ASSURANCE WAS EFFECTIVE, AND THE JAILER CALLED FOR A LIGHT AND ASKED WHAT MUST HE DO TO BE SAVED.

PAUL’S ANSWER WAS CLASSIC GOSPEL:

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

AS WITH LYDIA, THE SALVATION WAS COMING TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND ALL IN THEIR HOUSE WHO ALSO BELIEVED.

THE JAILER TOOK PAUL AND SILAS HOME WITH HIM, WASHED THEIR STRIPES, FED THEM, AND THEN REJOICED BECAUSE OF SALVATION ARRIVING AND BAPTISM WAS MADE.

IN VERSES 35-40 WE SEE THAT THE NEXT DAY THE TOWN MAGISTRATES SEEM TO REALIZE AN INJUSTICE WAS DONE AND THEY RELEASED THE MISSIONARY TEAM TELLING THEM TO GO IN PEACE.

PAUL WAS UNWILLING TO ALLOW THIS INJUSTICE TO PASS AND HE INSISTED THAT THE TEAM WAS WRONGFULLY TREATED WITHOUT PROPER ACCUSATION WHICH ROMAN LAW REQUIRED.

SO THE AUTHORITIES CAME AND PERSONALLY ESCORTED THE TEAM FROM THE CITY AFTER THEY VISITED THE HOME OF LYDIA TO SAY GOODBYE.

IT MAY BE THAT LUKE STAYED IN PHILLIPI TO WORK WITH THE NEWLY FORMED CHURCH BECAUSE IN CHAPTER 17 HE ONCE MORE BEGAN USING THE PRONOUN “THEY” INSTEAD OF “WE”, SHOWING HE WAS NOT PERSONALLY IN THEIR COMPANY FOR A TIME.

WHEN THE TEAM LEFT, THE FIRST NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH ON THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE WAS A FUNCTIONING PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.

THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL IN THIS CITY BEGAN WITH A SMALL GROUP OF WOMEN ON THE RIVERBANK PRAYER CENTER USED BY JEWISH WOMEN SINCE THERE WAS NO SYNAGOGUE.

ONE WOMAN WAS CALLED, CONVICTED, AND SAVED AND BAPTIZED WITH HER FAMILY AND SHE MADE A TEMPORARY HOME FOR THE MISSIONARY TEAM.

THE DEMON FROM HELL AROSE AND WAS FOUND WITHIN A SLAVE GIRL TO USE DEMON POWER AMONG THE PEOPLE AND RECOGNIZED THE TRUE IDENTITY OF THE MISSIONARIES AND WAS REMOVED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN PAUL.

PAUL AND SILAS WERE CAPTURED AND BEATEN AND PLACED IN PRISON AND WERE NOT DEFEATED. THEY SANG SONGS OF PRAISE AND WHEN FREED BY THE EARTHQUAKE, WITNESSED TO THE JAILER WHO WAS SAVED ALONG WITH HIS HOUSEHOLD.

COURAGE IN ADVERSITY WAS THE CHARACTER OF THE TEAM AND GOD’S WORK WAS ACCOMPLISHED REGARDLESS OF THE PERSECUTION.

FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WERE CLEAR THOUGHOUT THIS CHAPTER.

NEXT WEEK WE STUDY THE MISSIONARY TEAM IN THESSALONICA

WHEN THE TEAM IS ACCUSED OF TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

Acts 17: A New Church in Thessalonica

IN LAST WEEK'S LESSON AND ALSO IN TODAY'S MESSAGE WE FIND THE TWO MOST FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION STONES OF THE GOSPEL, WHICH ARE THE SAVING OF SOULS AND OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD'S WILL.

WE REMEMBER THAT WE SAW THE DIRECT AND STRONG COMMAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FORBIDDING PAUL TO GO WHERE HE WANTED TO GO, AND PAUL SENT WHERE GOD WANTED HIM TO GO BY A VISION IN THE NIGHT.,

PAUL'S 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY NOW CONTINUES FROM PHILLIPI, WHERE THEY LEFT LUKE & TIMOTHY, THROUGH AMPHIPOLIS AND APPOLONIA INTO THESSALONICA.

IN OBEDIENCE TO THE COMMAND OF JESUS TO TAKE THE GOSPEL FIRST TO THE JEWS, PAUL ENTERS THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE JEWS AND FOR THREE WEEKS BRINGS THE MESSAGE OF JESUS.

SOME JEWS BELIEVED, MOST DID NOT.

MANY GREEKS TOOK THE GOSPEL INTO THEIR HEARTS AND WERE SAVED.

HERE IS AN INTERESTING LESSON WE SEE RARELY IN SCRIPTURE, LUKE ALSO REVEALS THAT MANY WOMEN WERE CONVERTED TO THE LORD.

THE CITY OF THESSALONICA WAS THE LARGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT CITY IN THE ROMAN PROVINCE OF MACEDONIA.

THIS WAS A HARBOR CITY OF ABOUT 250,000 PEOPLE WHERE GREEKS, ROMAN SAILORS, TRAVELERS, TRADESMEN AND BUSINESSMEN FLOURISHED.

THE CITY WAS ON THE MAJOR EAST/WEST HIGHWAY KNOWN AS THE EGNATIAN WAY, RUNNING ALL THE WAY FROM WHAT IS NOW ALBANIA TO BYZANTIUM (NOW ISTANBUL).

SUCH A POSITION ASSURED THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS AS WELL AS THE GOSPEL ACROSS MANY LANDS.

THIS CITY HAD BEEN FOUNDED IN 315 BC BY CASSANDER, ONE OF THE GENERALS FOR ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND HE BECAME KING OF THE CITY AFTER THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER.

IN 42 BC IT WAS MADE A “FREE CITY” JUST AS TARSUS (PAUL'S HOMETOWN) MEANING NO ROMAN TROOPS WERE STATIONED THERE.

THE PERSECUTION THAT HAD CAUSED PAUL TO LEAVE OTHER AREAS CONTINUED IN THESSALONICA.

PAUL'S ENEMIES ACCUSED HIM OF PREACHING ONLY TO CAUSE MUCH CONFUSION, AND OF SLANDER AGAINST ROME.

PAUL'S DEFENSE AGAINST THESE FALSE CHARGES LATER BECAME THE LETTERS TO THE CHURCH IN THE CITY AND THESE LETTERS ARE NOW WHAT WE CALL 1ST & 2ND THESSALONIANS.

IN ADDITION TO PAUL'S WRITTEN DEFENSE IN THESE TWO LETTERS TO THE THESSALONIANS, HE ALSO SENT SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL TEACHINGS TO THIS CHURCH IN THE LETTERS:

1. MORAL PURITY COMES FROM DISCIPLINED LIVING.

2. THIS CHURCH SHOULD BE PROUD OF:

• GENUINE CONVERSIONS

• CONTINUAL INCREASING FAITH

• GROWING LOVE

• HOPE THAT PERSEVERS

• ALWAYS SEEKING FIRST THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST

• STAYING STRONG, COURAGEOUS, AND READY

3. NOTE ALSO IN THE LETTERS THAT PAUL GIVES HIS MOST DETAILED TEACHING ON THE SECOND COMING AND THE RAPTURE.

FIRST THERE WILL BE A FALLING AWAY.

SECOND THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE REVEALED.

THIRD HE WILL SIT IN GOD'S HOLY TEMPLE DEMANDING TO BE WORSHIPPED AS GOD.

PAUL'S METHOD FOR PLANTING CHURCHES AND THE SEED OF THE GOSPEL WAS SOUND.

HE CHOSE LARGE AREAS TO PREACH & TEACH, AND THEN BY THOSE CONVERTED THE WORD WOULD FLOW TO THE SMALLER TOWNS.

IT WAS A HUB & SPOKE GOSPEL, SOUND IN TECHNIQUE AND SUCCESSFUL.

PROBABLY PAUL PURSUED HIS TRADE OF TENT MAKING DURING EACH WEEK IN THESSALONICA AND THEN FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE SABBATHS HE ENTERED THE SYNAGOGUE TO PREACH JESUS.

PAUL FOUND READY EARS & HEARTS AMONG THE GENTILE MEN AND THE WOMEN BUT THE RESISTANCE TO THE GOSPEL WAS STRONG AMONG THE JEWS.

THE JEWS STILL WERE SETTLED INTO THEIR BELIEF THAT A TRUE MESSIAH WOULD DEFEAT THE ROMANS, FREE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE, AND WOULD NEVER BE PUT TO DEATH IN THE HUMILIATION OF A CROSS EXECUTION.

PAUL'S MESSAGE OF UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE TO ALL, FREE & BOND, JEW & GREEK, MALE & FEMALE, ALL BEING ONE IN CHRIST FOUND READY ACCEPTANCE AMONG MANY AND THE CHURCH WAS BEING PLANTED AMONG THOSE WHO HEARD AND BELIEVED.

SO THERE WAS A GREAT IMPACT ON THE CITY OF THESSALONICA.

THIS WAS GOD IN SPIRIT MOVING THROUGH THE WORDS OF HIS CHOSEN PREACHERS TO CONVICT HEARTS TO ACCEPT HIS GRACE TO SALVATION.

BUT SATAN WAS WELL AWARE OF THE NEW AND POSITIVE SPIRIT MOVING AMONG THE PEOPLE.

HE MOVED JUST AS QUICKLY TO DO ALL HE COULD TO DETRACT FROM OR DIMINISH THE WORK OF THE LORD'S CHOSEN ONES.

VERSES 5-9 TEACHES US OF HOW SATAN WORKED AGAINST THE NEWLY PLANTED CHURCH.

NOTICE THAT THE JEWS COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY LAY HANDS ON PAUL & SILAS SO THEY DRAGGED JASON, WHO HAD RECEIVED THEM, TO THE AUTHORITIES.

TWO CHARGES WERE MADE:

1. CONFUSION & DISCORD ARE BEING BROUGHT BY THESE MEN.

2. THESE MEN ARE ACTING AGAINST CAESAR, OFFERING A NEW KING NAMED JESUS.

THE PATTERN HERE IS NOT NEWS.

THE JEALOUS JEWS COULD NOT EVER WIN AGAINST THE POWER OF THE HOLY WORD OF THE LORD SO THEY TURN TO VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION (THE SAME WAY THEY WORKED AGAINST CHRIST).

THE MATTER WAS FINALLY SETTLED BY THE AUTHORITIES TAKING SECURITY FROM JASON, MEANING THAT HE PAID A FINE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THESE PREACHERS TO ESCAPE THE UNJUST CHARGES.

PAUL HAD TO PROMISE TO LEAVE AND NOT RETURN.

WE SEE THIS UNDERSTANDING IN 1ST THESS 2:17-18:

“WITH GREAT DESIRE WE WANTED TO SEE YOU AGAIN FACE TO FACE BUT SATAN HINDERED US”

PAUL & SILAS MOVED ONWARD TO BEREA, A SMALL MOUNTAIN CITY ABOUT 60 MILES AWAY AND BEGAN TO TEACH THERE IN THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.

ACTS 17:11 TEACHES US THAT THESE JEWS WERE MORE RESPONSIVE AND NOBLE AND RECEIVED THE WORD WITH EAGERNESS.

BUT 13-15 TEACHES THAT THE JEWS OF THESSALONICA NOW CAME TO BEREA AND STIRRED UP DISCORD AMONG THE EAGER BELIEVERS JUST AS THEY HAD IN THESSALONICA.

THESE WERE THE HOUNDS OF HELL, LED ONWARD BY SATAN TO TRY TO DESTROY THE WORK DONE FOR THE LORD IN PAUL'S EFFORT TO PLANT ADDITIONAL CHURCHES OF THE GOSPEL.

TO AVOID VIOLENCE, THE FRIENDS OF PAUL SENT HIM ONWARD TO ATHENS, AND SILAS & TIMOTHY STAYED BEHIND TO CONTINUE THE WORK.

16-34

PAUL LIKELY DID NOT PLAN TO REMAIN LONG IN ATHENS AS HE SENT FOR SILAS & TIMOTHY TO JOIN HIM THERE.

IT SEEMS THE PLAN WAS FOR THE THREE OF THEM TO MOVE ONWARD TO CORINTH.

WHILE WAITING IN ATHENS PAUL SAW A CITY FILLED WITH IDOLS.

HE DEBATED WITH THE PHILOSOPHERS, THE DEVOUT THAT WERE FOUND AS WELL AS THE JEWS FROM THE SYNAGOGUE.

PAUL WAS DOING WHAT SIGHTSEERS NORMALLY DO, WALKING AROUND THE CITY, SEEING WHAT HE COULD SEE, AND MEETING THOSE HE FOUND WILLING TO ENGAGE HIM IN CONVERSATION.

HERE IN ATHENS HE SAW THE TEMPLE OF ZEUS WHICH WAS LARGER THAN THE PARTHENON:

• 104 COLUMNS EACH 56 FEET TALL

• MADE OF SOLID MARBLE

• 315 FEET LONG AND 131 FEET WIDE

• HOLDING A 30 FOOT STATUE OF ZEUS

• CONSIDERED ONE OF THE 7 WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

REMEMBER ATHENS WAS KNOWN THEN AS THE HOME OF THE GREAT THINKERS, SUCH AS PERICLES, SOCRATES, PLATO, ARISTOTLE, & EURIPIDES.

400 YEARS BEFORE HAD BEEN THE GOLDEN AGE WHICH WAS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THESE THINKERS WHOSE IDEAS STILL ARE STUDIED EVEN TODAY IN OUR GREAT UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD.

THERE WERE THEATERS, MARKETS, TEMPLES TO OVER 30,000 GODS, AND BEAUTIFUL GREEK ARCHITECTURE.

LUKE TELLS US THAT THE SPIRIT OF PAUL WAS MOVED WHEN HE SAW ALL THESE THINGS AND HE BECAME PROVOKED AT WHAT HE SAW.

HE SAW A GREAT CITY GIVEN OVER TO IDOLATRY WITH EACH STATUE OF A GOD TWISTING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PEOPLE AND BELIEF IN IMMORALITY.

THESE PEOPLE WERE ENSLAVED TO FALSE WORSHIP AND HAD BEEN FOR GENERATIONS SO PAUL VIEWED THIS CITY AS FERTILE GROUND FOR THE WORD OF TRUTH & LIFE ETERNAL.

THE CITY WAS UNDER THE BLACK DARKNESS OF SUPERSTITION.

SO PAUL RESOLVED TO BRING THE WORD TO THIS LOST CITY AND HE BEGAN TO PREACH JESUS CHRIST.

FIRST, HE WENT TO THE SYNAGOGUE, AS WAS HIS CUSTOM.

THERE SEEMED TO BE LITTLE EFFECT WITH THE JEWS WHO WERE STILL ONLY WILLING TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

SECOND, HE WENT TO CITIZENS IN THE MARKETPLACES AND THESE WERE IN TOTAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE FALSE IDOLS THEY HAD KNOWN FOR GENERATIONS.

THEY WERE GRIPPED BY THE FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY THAT ALWAYS COMES WITH FALSE GODS.

THIRD HE BEGAN TO SPEAK TO THE PHILOSOPHERS WHO FELT THEMSELVES ABOVE THE IDOL WORSHIP OF THE MANY FALSE GODS BUT WHO ALSO OFFERED ONLY PAGAN PHILOSOPHY AS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO THE GODS OF WOOD & STONE.

THE EPICUREANS WERE ATHEISTS, AND DENIED GOD EVEN EXISTS.

THE STOICS WERE PANTHEISTS, FOLLOWING A LEADER NAMED ZENO WHO TAUGHT THAT GOD WAS IN EVERY ROCK & TREE.

AS PAUL SPOKE THEY LOOKED UPON HIM AS A BABBLER NOT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BUT WERE TAKEN BY HIS MANNER AS IT WAS SOMETHING NEW THEY HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE,

THEY ACTUALLY THOUGHT PAUL WAS BRINGING A MESSAGE OF TWO GODS, ONE NAMED JESUS AND ONE NAMED RESURRECTION.

PAUL'S MESSAGE WAS THE PURE GOSPEL, CHRIST FROM GOD, MINISTERING TO MAN, TAKING MAN'S SINS UPON HIMSELF, CRUCIFIED, AND RISEN.

AS PAUL STOOD IN THEIR MIDST, HE TOLD THEM HE SAW THAT THEY WERE GOD FEARING AS SO MANY GODS WERE WORSHIPPED.

PAUL TOLD THESE PEOPLE HE HAD SEEN AN ALTAR TO AN UNKNOWN GOD, AND HE DECIDED TO USE THAT ALTAR TO BRING HIS MESSAGE BY TEACHING THAT THIS UNKNOWN GOD IS JEHOVAH AND HIS SON AND OUR SAVIOR IS JESUS.

HE TOLD THEM THIS WAS THE TRUE GOD WHO HAD MADE THE WORLD AND ALL THINGS IN IT. HE MADE MAN.

IN ALL OF THE OTHER GODS WORSHIPPED IN ATHENS, MAN MADE GOD.

JEHOVAH IS THE MAKER, NOT THE MADE.

THE FALSE GODS OF ATHENS WERE DISTANT FROM THE PEOPLE, LIVING SUPPOSEDLY ON MOUNTAIN TOPS.

PAUL TAUGHT THAT THE TRUE GOD IS NOT DISTANT BUT IS LIVING WITHIN US AFTER SALVATION AND NEVER LEAVES OR FORSAKES US.

THE LESSON OF PAUL IN ATHENS IS STILL PURE FOR US TODAY.

SO MANY WORSHIP THINGS AND CREATE THEIR OWN FALSE GODS WHOM THEY UPHOLD AS WORTHY.

THESE ARE MONEY, FAME, IMMORALITY, AND MAN MADE THINGS.

PAUL TAUGHT THE PEOPLE OF ATHENS THAT MAN HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD GOD.

THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HEAR, ACCEPT AND BELIEVE AND TO WORSHIP ONLY THE TRUE LORD AFTER REPENTING OF ALL OTHER WORSHIPS.

SOME THERE BECAME BELIEVERS AND SOME MOCKED PAUL.

BUT THROUGH THESE FEW WHO BELIEVED AND WERE SAVED, A NEW CHURCH WAS PLANTED IN ATHENS AND IT GREW AND PROSPERED.

THE LIGHT OF THE LORD ONCE MORE SHONE BRIGHT & PURE.

NEXT WEEK WE SEE THE EFFORTS OF THE MISSIONARIES CONTINUE AS THEY MOVE ONWARD TO ESTABLISH A NEW CHURCH IN CORINTH.

Acts 18: A New Church in Corinth

IN OUR LAST FOUR CHAPTERS WE HAVE TAKEN THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY WITH PAUL.

THE BEGINNING WAS POSITIVE AS TIMOTHY JOINED PAUL AS A HELPER AND THE TEAM VISITED CHURCHES PLANTED IN THE 1ST JOURNEY.

PAUL HAD RECEIVED THE VISION CALL BECKONING HIM TO MACEDONIA AND PAUL’S WORK WAS STRONG IN SPREADING THE WORD OF GOD.

LUKE JOINED IN TROAS AND MUCH EFFORT RESULTED IN CHURCHES

IN PHILLIPI, THESSALONICA, BEREA, AND OTHERS.

TROUBLE FOLLOWED PAUL IN PHILLIPI BUT BOTH HE AND SILAS WERE DELIVERED FROM PRISON BY THE LORD’S EARTHQUAKE AND THE JAILER AND HIS FAMILY WERE CONVERTED.

PAUL WAS CHASED OUT OF THESSALONICA AND WELL AS PUSHED OUT OF BEREA.

SOULS WERE BEING SAVED, THE WORD WAS SPREADING, AND OPPOSITION SEEMED TO GAIN STRENGTH.

AFTER FLEEING BEREA, PAUL FOUND HIMSELF ALONE IN ATHENS.

THE MASSIVE IDOLATRY THERE HURT HIS SPIRIT. A FEW SOULS WERE INDEED SAVED, BUT AGAIN PAUL WAS CHASED AWAY, LIKELY TIRED AND DEJECTED.

NOW WE TRAVEL WITH PAUL DURING THE 2ND JOURNEY AS HE ARRIVES IN CORINTH.

HERE HE MEETS AQUILA AND PRISCILLA, WHO WERE TENTMAKERS THAT HAD RECENTLY ARRIVED FROM ROME. PAUL JOINED THEM IN THEIR BUSINESS TO MAKE HIS OWN LIVING AND HE HAS MANY TIMES SHOWN HIS WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO TAKE ON MANUAL LABOR TO PAY HIS OWN WAY.

WE NEXT SEE PAUL ENTER THE SYNAGOGUE IN CORINTH AND PREACH JESUS AND HIM CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED.

SILAS AND TIMOTHY ARRIVED WITH GOOD NEWS THAT THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH WAS STRONG AND GROWING. IT WAS DURING PAUL’S TIME IN CORINTH THAT HE WROTE BOTH 1ST & 2ND THESSALONIANS.

CORINTH WAS THE MOST WICKED CITY OF THIS TIME. IT WAS THE CESSPOOL OF EVIL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, A PLACE OF THE TEMPLE OF VENUS THAT BOASTED 1,000 VESTIAL VIRGINS ALL OF WHOM WERE ANYTHING BUT.     ALL WERE PROSTITUTES.

TWO OF PAUL’S MOST EFFECTIVE MINISTRIES WERE CORINTH & EPHESUS. EPHESUS WAS A RELIGIOUS CENTER AND CORINTH WAS

A CENTER OF SIN. BOTH WERE STRONG COMMERCIAL CITIES.

THE SYNAGOGUE ELDERS WERE MUCH OPPOSED TO PAUL AND IN VERSE 6 PAUL’S FEELINGS OVERFLOWED AGAINST THESE UNWILLING LISTENERS:

“And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said to them, Your blood be on your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”

HIS TURN AWAY FROM THE JEWS SEEMED TO GUIDE PAUL FROM THIS MOMENT ONWARD, AS WE SEE IN EPHESUS AND MORE IN ROME.

PAUL NEVER LOST HIS LOVE FOR THE JEWS BUT HE SEES HERE HE HAS LITTLE EFFECT ON THEIR SPIRITUAL POVERTY.

PAUL WENT TO A MAN’S HOUSE WHO WAS NAMED JUSTUS AND THERE THE CHIEF RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE CAME TO FAITH  ALONG WITH MANY CORINTHIANS, AND WERE BAPTIZED.

IN ALL, PAUL SPENT ABOUT 18 MONTHS IN CORINTH AND IT WAS HERE THAT THE LORD GAVE PAUL ENCOURAGING NEWS IN A NIGHT VISION AS REVEALED IN VERSE 9-10:

“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”

HERE GOD SPOKE TO PAUL ALMOST THE SAME WORDS HE GAVE TO ELIJAH WHEN ELIJAH FELT ALL ALONE IN HIS PITY MOMENT AND GOD TOLD HIM THERE WERE 7,000 WHO HAD NOT BENT A KNEE TO BAAL, THE FALSE GOD.

OPPOSITION, HOWEVER, CONTINUED.

VERSE 12 TEACHES THAT THE JEWS ROSE AGAINST PAUL AND FORCED HIM TO APPEAR AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT TO BE ACCUSED.

THE FIRST ACCUSATION WAS THAT PAUL TAUGHT WORSHIP CONTRARY TO THE LAW, MEANING THE LAW OF MOSES.

THE JUDGE, A MAN NAMED GALLIO, REFUSED TO JUDGE PAUL BECAUSE THE DEBATE WAS RELIGIOUS NOT CIVIL.

THEN THE GREEKS TOOK THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE WHO HAD ACCUSED PAUL AND BEAT HIM.

HERE WE SEE A “HANDS OFF” POLICY BY THE CIVILIAN JUDGE CONCERNING RELIGIOUS MATTERS.  IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF OUR OWN JUDGES FOLLOWED THIS EXAMPLE.

SOMETIME AFTER THESE EVENTS PAUL TOOK AQUILA & PRISCILLA WITH HIM AND DEPARTED TO SYRIA, AND TOOK AN OATH WHICH WAS LIKELY HIS VOW FOR A TIME AS A NAZARINE, AS HE SHAVED HIS HEAD.

HIS NEXT STOP WAS EPHESUS AS HE PREACHED AND REASONED WITH THE JEWS THERE AS NOTED IN VERSE 19.

EARLIER THE HOLY GHOST DID NOT ALLOW PAUL TO VISIT EPHESUS BUT HE DOES STOP THERE FOR A TIME ON HIS WAY HOME.

WHILE THOSE THERE ASKED PAUL TO STAY THERE, HE DID NOT AGREE TO DO SO.

PAUL ARRIVED AT CAESAREA, WENT THEN TO JERUSALEM, GAVE HIS REPORT THERE, AND THEN WENT ONWARD TO HIS HOME CHURCH IN ANTIOCH.

HIS 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY WAS CONCLUDED.

HIS 3RD MISSIONARY JOURNEY BEGINS AS HE GOES TO GALATIA AND PHRYGIA STRENGTHENING THE DISCIPLES WHO WERE IN THE FAITH.

HE WILL GO TO EPHESUS ON THE NEXT JOURNEY BUT BEFORE HE DOES WE FIND ANOTHER PREACHER HAS ARRIVED THERE, NAMED APOLLOS, A CERTAIN JEW, MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES.

HE WAS FROM ALEXANDRIA WHICH CONTAINED THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPLETE LIBRARY IN THE KNOWN WORLD AND THERE WAS A LARGE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE THERE AS WELL.

WE ARE TOLD HE WAS AN ELOQUENT MAN, WELL TRAINED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY OF THE LORD, BUT KNOWING ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.

WHEN HE PREACHED HE WAS NOT PREACHING CHRIST AND AQUILA AND PRISCILLA HEARD HIM AND KNEW QUICKLY HE WAS LIMITED IN HIS KNOWLEDGE.

THEY TOOK HIM UNDER THEIR WING AND INTO THEIR OWN HOME AND WE ARE TOLD THEY EXPOUNDED THE WAY OF GOD TO HIM MORE PERFECTLY.

THEIR WORK PAID HELPFUL BENEFITS AS HE PASSED ONWARD INTO ACHAIA, A REPORT CAME BACK THAT HE WAS BRINGING THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION BY GRACE WHICH BROUGHT MANY TO FAITH.

VERSE 28 TEACHES THAT HE THEREAFTER MIGHTILY CONVINCED THE JEWS AND HE PUBLICLY SHOWED BY THE SCRIPTURES THAT JESUS WAS CHRIST.

HIS TRAVELS TOOK HIM TO GREECE, INCLUDING CORINTH AND ATHENS PREACHING JESUS AS MESSIAH AND SAVIOR.

WE HAVE SEEN IN PAUL’S 2ND JOURNEY TIMES OF GOOD SUCCESS AS WELL AS TIMES OF BOTH PERSECUTION AND FAILURE BUT THE LORD WAS FAITHFUL TO THE WORK THE HOLY SPIRIT ASSIGNED TO PAUL.

HE NEVER LEFT HIM NOR FORSOOK HIM. HE WAS WITH HIM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND EVEN ARRANGED FOR CHARGES BY THE JEWS TO BE DROPPED BY A CIVILIAN GOVERNOR.

WE SAW THE GREATER EDUCATION TO AN ELOQUENT PREACHER BY TWO TENTMAKERS WHO WERE KNOWN OF PAUL AND EVEN TRAVELED WITH PAUL AT TIMES.

WE SEE THAT APOLLOS BECAME SUCH A POWERFUL VOICE FOR THE LORD THAT A SEGMENT OF THE CHURCH MEMBERS AT CORINTH FORMED A PARTY DEDICATED TO FOLLOWING HIM. (1ST COR 1:12)

THE LORD CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT HIS PLAN, UNFOLDING IT ACROSS THE GENTILE AREAS, EXACTLY AS JESUS HAD TOLD ANANIAS WOULD BE THE ASSIGNMENT TO HIS CHOSEN VESSEL PAUL.

CHAPTER 18 ENDS WITH AN INTERESTING NARRATIVE THAT CAN BE HELPFUL TO US IN THE MODERN CHURCH.

PAUL HAD LEFT AQUILA AND PRISCILLA IN EPHESUS AND LUKE INTRODUCED US TO A CERTAIN JEW NAMED APOLLOS.

THIS MAN HAD NOT BEEN EVEN MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE BEFORE.

HERE HE IS SEEN SERVING THE LORD IN EPHESUS AND IN CHAPTER 19 WE WILL SEE HIM AGAIN IN CORINTH AND LATER HE WAS THE ONE PAUL ASKED TITUS TO HELP (TITUS 3:13).

APOLLOS KNEW THE LORD. HE WAS INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY OF THE LORD AND WAS A ZEALOUS BELIEVER AND PREACHED AND TAUGHT DILIGENTLY.

BUT HIS KNOWLEDGE WAS INCOMPLETE AND AQUILA AND PRICILLA READILY UNDERSTOOD THAT WHEN THEY HEARD HIM SPEAK.

HIS EDUCATION IN ALEXANDRIA WAS EXCELLENT AND HE SPOKE WITH ELOQUENCE, BUT HE ONLY UNDERSTOOD THE BAPTISM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THAT IS WHAT HE PREACHED IN THE SYNAGOGUE.

THEY TOOK APOLLOS UNTO THEMSELVES AND EXPOUNDED TO HIM THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WHICH ARRIVED AFTER THE GOSPEL TAUGHT BY JOHN THE BAPTIST.

HE THEN REVEALED WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN HIS BEST GIFT WHICH WAS THE WILLINGNESS TO LEARN MORE.

THE ISSUE WITH HIM WAS THAT HE KNEW THE BEGINNING OF THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST BUT DID NOT KNOW THE GOSPEL OF GRACE THAT WAS THE FOUNDATION OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION WHICH ARE THE PILLARS OF GOSPEL PREACHING.

THIS LOVING COUPLE GAVE OF THEIR TIME & KNOWLEDGE TO COMPLETE THE EDUCATION OF THIS BELIEVER AND HE THEN BECAME A COMPLETE AND FINISHED PRODUCT OF THE COMPLETE GOSPEL MESSAGE.

HE RESOLVED TO GO TO ACHAIA AND PREACH AND THE COUPLE AND OTHERS IN EPHESUS WROTE A LETTER OF INTRODUCTION RECOMMENDING HIM TO THE BRETHREN THERE.

LUKE RECORDED HIS RECEPTION WHICH WAS STRONG AND HE MINISTERED MIGHTILY TO BOTH THE JEWS AND PUBLICLY WHICH MEANT HE DEFEATED THE JEWS IN PUBLIC DEBATE AND IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE WE ARE TOLD HE CONTINUED TO DO SO.

HE BECAME SO POWERFUL IN HIS PREACHING AND DEBATE THAT WE FIND LATER A GROUP ON THE CHURCH AT CORINTH DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO HIS TEACHING (1ST COR 1:12).

HIS CHANGES CAME FROM LOVE OF THE COUPLE WHO HELPED HIM TO KNOW MORE AND THEREBY BECAME A MUCH BETTER SERVANT OF THE LORD.

WHEN WE MEET OTHERS WHO MAY NOT YET FULLY UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL WE SHOULD PATTERN OURSELVES AFTER THIS FAITHFUL COUPLE AND HELP THOSE IN NEED WITH LOVE AND KIND DEVOTION.

WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THERE IS NO SIN IN BEING IGNORANT. THE ONLY SIN IS STAYING THAT WAY.

WE SHOULD ALSO SEEK A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORDS GOD SPOKE DIRECTLY TO PAUL IN THE VISION REPORTED BY LUKE IN CHAPTER 18, VERSES 9 & 10:

“Then spake the Lord unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace.

For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”

WE CAREFULLY NOTICE THAT LUKE DOES NOT REVEAL IN CHAPTER 18 THAT PAUL IS AFRAID. HIS TESTIMONY WAS FORCEFUL AND DIRECT AS WE SEE IN VERSE 6 THAT DISPLAYS HIS ANGER.

WHAT CAN WE CONCLUDE BY THIS MOMENT?

THE ACCOUNT OF PAUL’S TIME IN CORINTH IS NOT ONLY A RECORD OF HOW THE SPIRIT MINISTERED THROUGH HIM BUT IS ALSO A STIRRING DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE SPIRIT MINISTERED TO HIM.

THE LORD CLEARLY IS WELL AWARE OF PAUL NEARING

 DISCOURAGEMENT AND HAVING FEAR IN HIS HEART, AND THEREFORE THE VERY FIRST THING GOD SAID TO PAUL IN THE VISION WAS “BE NOT AFRAID”.

EVEN THOUGH LUKE ALLOWS NO MENTION OF PAUL’S FEAR, WE KNOW IT WAS TRUE AND KNOWN BY GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT PAUL SAID TO THE PEOPLE OF CORINTH IN 1ST CORINTHIANS 2.

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.”

THERE WERE GOOD REASONS FOR PAUL TO BECOME DISCOURAGED IN THAT MOMENT.

HIS 50 MILE WALK FROM ATHENS TO CORINTH GAVE HIM MUCH TIME TO PONDER OVER THE SMALL BIT OF SUCCESS HE FOUND IN ATHENS, THE INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL OF THAT PORTION OF THE WORLD IN HIS DAY.

HE HAD BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF MACEDONIA AND BARELY TOLERATED IN ATHENS AND IN CORINTH HE MET THE SAME TYPE OF HOSTILITY HE HAD FOUND BEFORE FROM THE JEWS. HE DECLARED IN VERSE 6 HIS ANGER OVER THEIR HARD HEARTEDNESS.

GOD PROVIDED PAUL WITH SEVERAL CURES FOR ANY DISCOURAGEMENT.

HE GAVE PAUL NEW FRIENDS WHO SHARED PAUL’S LOVE FOR THE LORD. THESE WERE TENT MAKERS LIKE PAUL, AND WERE HEBREW CHRISTIANS DRIVEN OUT OF ROME BY CLAUDIUS.

HE GAVE PAUL A WONDERFUL SUCCESS IN CORINTH WHEN THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, A MAN NAMED CRISPUS, WAS SAVED WITH THIS HOUSEHOLD.

GOD ASSURED PAUL THAT HIS FEAR SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND BY THE ONE THING THAT COULD CURE SUCH A THING, THE LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS CHOSEN VESSEL.

A DEEPER LOVE REPLACED ANY FEAR IN HIS MINISTRY.

A GIFT OF COURAGE TO REPLACE ANY CAUTION. AND

A FREEDOM FROM THINKING HE MAY BE ALONE WITH FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE LORD HAD SURROUNDED PAUL WITH A STRONG FORCE OF FAITHFUL PEOPLE, SILAS, TIMOTHY, AND LUKE, AS WELL AS AQUILA & PRISCILLA AS WELL AS JUSTUS WHO BEFRIENDED PAUL.

THE LORD WAS GATHERING HIS PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF HIS CHOSEN AND APPOINTED VESSEL.

WE SEE THAT AS PAUL LATER LEFT CORINTH, TAKING WITH HIM AQUILA AND PRISCILLA TO THE PORT OF CENCHERA TO MAKE HIS WAY TO JERUSALEM, PAUL HAD HIS HAIR CUT BEFORE HE BOARDED HIS SHIP TO BEGIN A 30 DAY VOW OF REPLENISHING HIS FAITH.

NEXT WEEK WE STUDY THE MIGHTY WORK DONE IN EPHESUS.