Acts 14 "Misguided Worship Rejected"

"And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, 'The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.' And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes." (vv.11-13)

Paul and Barnabas performed one miracle (the healing of a man lame from birth), and the people are calling them gods. In Greek mythology, it was common for the gods to come to earth in human form, though they did not always do so for the good of man. The people of Lystra had a legend that once Zeus and Hermes visited their land disguised as mortals, and no one gave them any hospitality except for one older couple. In their anger at the people, Zeus and Hermes wiped out the whole population, except for the old couple. This may help explain why the Lystrians were so quick to honor Paul and Barnabas.

We also see in the later portion of our text (v.13) those same people went so far as to attempt a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas. Yet, when Christ, the Son of God, appeared in the likeness of man, and did many miracles, men were far from wanting to sacrifice to Him. On the contrary, they made Him a sacrifice, claiming His miracles were done by the power of Satan.

The god of this world (satan) is the author of confusion and can so close the carnal mind of man to be blinded to the truth, but be willing to accept a lie. While some servants of God might have easily obtain these undue honors, Paul and Barnabas did not. They were more concerned with God's honor than their own. When the people spoke of worshiping them they could not bear it; "they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, Sirs, why do you these things" (v.15), rebuking the people for their misguided worship.

The longer I live, the more evidence I see of how satan is the author of confusion. One only has to watch the evening news to see that. The lines of right and wrong have become so blurred that they fad into the policies of humanism with no absolutes. Simply “doing what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6, 21:25), and believing a lie rather than the truth because it benefits them.  

But be of good cheer, for with God all things are possible. He is the answer to all that troubles us if we would recognize our sin, repent from it, and turn to Him as King to heal our land.   

The Truth: But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) 

Acts 13 “Blessing And Conflict”

“For so the LORD has commanded us: “I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.” (v.47)

Here Paul is reminding the Jews in Antioch of their responsibility to the gentiles. Quoting from the book of Isaiah, Paul declares, “God made you a light to the gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” This immediately causes both blessing and conflict.

For those who believed in God, this clearly defined their destiny. When they embraced that destiny, “the word of the LORD spread throughout the entire region” (v.49). However, some Jews were stirred up at this same word. They raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their region (v.50).

Today we see these same divisions when it comes to sharing the gospel. Those who receive it are glad and those who reject it are stirred up. However, knowing our responsibility as believers, may we look for those appointments to speak the truth in love. The destiny of many people depends on it!

The Truth: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

Acts 12 “A Miraculous Deliverance”

“Constant prayer was offered to God for [Peter] by the church. (v.5) 

Chapter 12 describes a situation in which Peter's odds of survival were slim and none. He was, "bound with two chains between two soldiers" while others guarded the door of a prison (v.6). King Herod had already executed James, one of Jesus' closest followers, and he had the same fate in mind for Peter (v.1-3). Yet God's plan for Peter included a miraculous deliverance, one that even those who were interceding for him found hard to believe (v.11-13)

God can and does operate outside of human understanding. How? Through His omnipotent power. The One who loves us and gave Himself for us is in charge of our lives. In both ordinary circumstances and impossible situations, God can reveal His power. Whether we are showered with success or sustained in sorrow, He is with us. 

I’ve seen the miraculous power of prayer both in my life and the lives of others. Therefore, when we pray, let us be confident that God "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20) and give the glory to God when it occurs.

The Truth: "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16)

Acts 11 "The Church in Antioch Grows"

“Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord." (vv.19-21)

At first, Christians scattered over the Roman Empire preached only to Jews. But they eventually began to preach Jesus Christ to Gentiles as well. 

Here in our text we read of some unnamed spiritual pioneers (v.20). These unnamed disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene began the first mentioned “mission to the Gentiles” (here called Hellenists) in Antioch.

Antioch was about 300 miles (480 kilometers) north of Jerusalem and about 20 miles (32 kilometers) inland from the Mediterranean Sea. So not exactly a short walk. Many considered Syrian Antioch the third greatest city in the Roman Empire, behind Rome and Alexandria. Antioch was known for its business and commerce, for its sophistication and culture, but also for its immorality. And it was here that these unnamed disciples began their mission.

Our text tells us that, "the hand of the LORD was with them." And because God was with these guys, their ministry was blessed and multiplied, resulting in a great number believing and turning to the Lord. 

This phrase, “believed and turned to the Lord” is a good description of the work of both faith and repentance. So much so that the news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem (some 300 miles away), and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch (v.22). 

At the church in Antioch, when Barnabas saw the grace of God (Gentiles turning to the LORD), he was glad. And, there was something in the work and atmosphere among the followers of Jesus in Antioch that made Barnabas able to see “the grace of God” present there.

Oh, that others would  be able to see the grace of God at work among us wherever we gather. That others would not see an emphasis on self, on man-made rules, on human performance – but on the glorious grace of God. 

The Truth: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 3:7) 

Acts 10 “LORD Of All”

"There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always." (v.1-2)

Cornelius was a first-century Roman military official. He was assigned the task of maintaining order in the turbulent area of Judea. Most Romans of that time believed in many gods but, not Cornelius. He feared the one true God, gave generously to the needy, and prayed regularly (v.2). Even though the Jewish people didn't accept him as one of their own, God recognized him as one of His.

Because of Cornelius' faith, God chose him for a special assignment and sent an angel to tell him what to do. The angel didn't explain why, and he didn't say what the outcome would be, but Cornelius followed the instructions. Because he obeyed, he and his household became the first Gentile believers to receive the Holy Spirit (v.45). 

The example of Cornelius shows us that God has no partiality (v.34), He is not just the God of the Jews, but of the gentiles as well. His promises of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are for all who believe. 

He truly is “The LORD of all.” (v.36)

The Truth: “Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13)

Acts 9 "Saul's Conversion"

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (vv.3-6)

Somewhere outside of Damascus this (a light shone around him from heaven), suddenly happened to Saul. This spectacular event must be regarded as unusual. God does not normally confront sinners with a heavenly light and an audible voice from heaven. In Acts 22:6 Paul revealed that this happened at mid-day, when the sun shines at its brightest. Yet Paul said that this light was brighter than the sun (Acts 26:13). Saul’s reaction was simply to fall to the ground. This wasn’t because of honor or reverence for God, it was simply a reaction of survival – he was terrified at the heavenly light.

Then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" When God repeats a name twice, it is to display deep emotion, but not necessarily anger (as in the Martha, Martha of Luke 10:41 and the Jerusalem, Jerusalem of Matthew 23:37). As the heavenly light overwhelmed him, Saul was confronted by the true nature of his crime: He persecuted God, not man. You see, Saul thought that he was serving God in viciously attacking Christians, but now discovered he was fighting God. Then Saul responded to the voice with two of the most important questions anyone can (and must) ask God. Who are You, Lord?… Lord, what do You want me to do? Wow! 

So now we see Saul, the most zealous persecutor of the church; about to be converted, baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit, and immediately begin preaching Christ in the synagogues. How did this happen? Somewhere along the 150-mile road between Jerusalem and Damascus, the one who was going to stamp out “the Way” was instead, stamped forever by the Lord Jesus. It was here on the road where Our LORD; called Saul, instructed him to go to Damascus, struck him with blindness (v.8), and brought Ananias to him there (vv.10-12).

Then Ananias, through instruction and encouragement by God (v.15-16) would; heal Saul’s blindness (v.18), see him filled with the Holy Spirit (v.17), baptize him (v.18), feed him (v.19) and watch as he immediately began to preach in the synagogues (v.20). Now that’s a conversion!

Saul’s conversion reminds us that God finds some who, by all appearance, are not looking for Him at all. Seeing how God reached Saul encourages us to believe that God can reach the people in our life that we think are very far from Him. We often give up on some people and think they will never come to Jesus; but the example of Saul shows God can reach anyone.

Therefore, continue to pray for those around you who are lost, for there is hope!

The Truth: “Then came the Word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying, “I Am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:26-27)

Acts 8 "The Church Is Scattered"

 "Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word." (v.4)

Saul hated Christians. He did all he could to hurt the cause of Christ when he launched his intense persecution of the early followers of Jesus. But when they fled Jerusalem to escape persecution, they proclaimed the gospel everywhere they went. This caused the church to grow more rapidly, the opposite of what Saul intended.

The statement that they preached the word is misleading; the Greek expression does not necessarily mean more than shared the good news. We shouldn’t think then that those who left Jerusalem left as formal preachers. Most were “accidental missionaries” who talked about Jesus wherever they went. 

Therefore, we can be just like these early Christians. We can share the good news of what Jesus has done in our lives. Most people don’t come to Jesus through a professional preacher or an evangelist; they come to Jesus through people just like us. C.S. Spurgeon wrote, “In every church where there is really the power of the Spirit of God, the Lord will cause it to be spread abroad, more or less. He never means that a church should be like a nut shut up in a shell; nor like ointment enclosed in a box. The precious perfume of the gospel must be poured forth to sweeten the air.” 

For centuries, Christians have been hated and viciously opposed in many nations. But persecution has not destroyed Christianity. Even under the most dire circumstances it has not only survived but continues to grow, and forces of hell itself has not nor will not overcome it!

The Truth: "I also say to you that you are Peter, "And upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

Acts 7 "Stephen's Death A Great Witness"

"Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul." (vv.57-58) 

When Stephen declared that he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (v.56), it was too much. The Sanhedrin reacted quickly, violently, and together. For Stephen to suggest that the crucified Jesus stood in a position of authority at the right hand of God must have ranked as blasphemy in the thinking of those who knew that a crucified man died under the divine curse ("cursed is he who hangs on a tree"). Interestingly enough, Jesus stood before this same body of men and declared that He would sit at the right hand of God - they had the same reaction and sealed His death as a blasphemer (Matthew 26:64-66).

The reaction of the Sanhedrin seems extreme (they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord, ran at him, cast him out and stoned him), but is typical of those who reject God and are lost in spiritual insanity. They wailed in agony and covered their ears at the revelation of God, which they regarded as blasphemy. This out-of-control mob rushed at Stephen in order to kill him, which was done without regard for Roman law, but was performed according to traditional Jewish custom. 

Now Saul stood there as the supervisor of the operation. As a member of the Sanhedrin, he had also approved of Stephen’s execution. Saul fervently believed that Christians presented a menace and a threat to the religion which he had been trained in so thoroughly. This rabbi desired to prove his dedication to the traditions of his Jewish faith by becoming the chief persecutor of Christians. Yet God will eventually call Saul to become a powerful leader in the Christian faith. 

Stephen’s life ended in the same way it had been lived: In complete trust in God, believing that Jesus would take care of him in the life to come. Steven's last words, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin" (v.60) were used to touch the heart of a man who energetically agreed with his stoning – even though the man didn’t know the prayer would be later answered. 

Both in life and death people around us will be watching to see how we as Christians handle our faith. Saul, who is specifically mentioned in attendance to Stephen’s death, became a living testimony to the effectiveness of prayer through his later conversion (9:17; 22:3-21). And Stephen, peacefully "fell asleep" while being stoned to death for speaking truth (v.60), demonstrating the Spirit's presence in his life, which left a lasting impression on Saul.

Stephen is truly a model of great faith. Willing to testify of Christ and courageous to face persecution for the truth. When we get to heaven, we should thank Stephen for every blessing brought through the ministry of Saul of Tarsus. 

May our lives reflect the same courage to stand in the face of persecution when it comes.

The Truth: “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)