Short Read.  A good catch up day.

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Peter returns and has to explain his actions.  I love this story!  I can just picture him saying “I know right, this story is crazy!  So there I was in a gentile’s house….” LOL.  BUT then he says

¹⁷ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

¹⁸ When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Through the death of Stephen, the Gospel is being scattered.

Barnabus and Saul go to Antioch.  Why Antioch?

Antioch was the third-largest city in the Roman Empire. Only Rome in Italy and Alexandria in Egypt were larger. Antioch was a busy seaport trade hub with a mix of people from different cultures and religions.  The city was the home to the Jews that were scattered after the captivity (Diaspora).  We learned about the Hellenistic Jews, these are called the “Diaspora Jews”.  They were mostly businessmen that were were citizens so they had Roman privileges but maintained their Jewish faith.  Through them, many Gentiles in Antioch were drawn to Judaism and, eventually, Christianity.   Saul and Barnabus spent a year reaching both Jews and Gentiles-notice the Bible uses the word they become “Christians”.

The scripture to use the word “Christian” is in this chapter.  I researched this a little and I found that this phrase was a derogatory word used by others that opposed this movement.  (I speak from experience being an atheist most of my life…it still can be used that way)

Chapter 12

Who remembers this fun visual?

Now we are at #9.

 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³ When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also.

James becomes the first apostle to become a martyr.

The deliverance of Peter from prison is a summary of the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Notice the parallels:

• A Herodian leader
• The feast of Unleavened Bread
• The Passover
• The arrest and illegal trial
• The appearance of an angel
• The mention of women witnesses
• The disbelief
• The execution of 2 others

Chapter 12 ends with the beginning of Paul’s mission trips:

²⁵ When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

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For some, this may be a familiar phrase “The road to Damascus”.  If you know this account, try to read it brand new and see it from God’s perspective.  The person in your life or in this world who is LEAST likely to become a FAITHFUL follower of Christ can.  So when you pray for that person, do you say “no way” when you end??  Do you not believe that God can?

Chapter 9

Saul:

• was born in Tarsus in Cilicia around AD 5 in modern-day Tersous, Turkey.
• He was from the tribe of Benjamine
• His parents were Pharisees—fervent Jewish nationalists who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses—who sought to protect their children from “contamination” from the Gentiles.
• Saul’s family were Roman citizens but viewed Jerusalem as a truly sacred and holy city
• At age thirteen Saul was sent to Palestine to learn from a rabbi named Gamaliel, under whom Saul mastered Jewish history, the Psalms, and the works of the prophets.
• Saul becomes a lawyer, and all signs pointed to his becoming a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court of 71 men who ruled over Jewish life and religion.
• Saul became determined to eradicate Christians, ruthless in his pursuit as he believed he was acting in the name of God. (I think of him as a religious terrorist)
• He approved the stoning of Stephen AND held the clothes of the “stoners” so when they hit the main artery the blood would not squirt and soil their garments.

Damasus was about a 6-day journey on foot from Jerusalem.  (Currently the capital of Syria).  Nabatean King Aretas ruled the large city in Saul’s day and it was a hub for Jewish families and Synagogues.  Saul took it personally that anyone would be a convert in such a major Jewish Community.  He was given permission by the High Priest to arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem for a reason: He did not have Roman authority to kill them there, he needed the Sanhedrin authority and that was limited to Judea.

OK, enough of me rambling.  Read the story and be amazed.  We tend to concentrate on the experience on the road, the theophany of Jesus, the 3 days, the “I was blind but now I see”, BUT this is about two men being called, not just one.  Ananias is called to care for the most dangerous man in town. In obedience, his first word to Saul is “Brother”.💜

Also, when the Prophets were “lamenting” about how could the capacity of the Hebrews in the Old Testament bring anything good- we see now a vehicle for sharing the Gospel-The Synagogue.  Without the captivity, the Jews never would have built hundreds of Synagogues for teachers to share a sermon or a message.   Saul uses these as his platform to teach.  However, it is very clear from God’s statement to Ananias that Saul will also bring a strong message to the Gentiles.  (What??? Oh, Saul’s parents would roll over in their graves if they heard this!!)

²³ After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

Just marinate on that whole paragraph for a minute.

Yesterday we read about Acts 1:8 and 8:1.  And NOW look…

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Just as Jesus commanded, with the Power of the Holy Spirit, Peter continues Jesus’ ministry in healing. Aeneas and Dorcas are healed not for their sake, but as a witness to the power of Jesus, and The Way continued to grow. To the GENTILES

Cornelius is a Centurian (wealthy military commander of Rome, in charge of 100 men) from Caesarea.  Just hearing the name of the city we know that it is named after Caesar so it will be a gentile Roman major city.  Peter (oh how I love him) enters the house and opens with-

²⁷ While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. ²⁸ He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

Bless!  He is comparing them to unclean animals!  Imagine if someone came to your house like that.  But that was the point of the vision from the Lord.-“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”-

God does not show favoritism.

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 

and then shares the Gospel in a Gentile community, and it will be scattered and taken back to Roman towns.-

💜

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

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Chapter 7

You have to go back and read the end of Chapter 6 to really get this amazing retell of the entire OT and WHY Stephen did it.  He was accused of:

• blasphemy against God
• blasphemy against Moses
• blasphemy against the Temple

Stephen defends this accusation with the longest Sermon in the book of Acts.

• He defends how God was rejected by the Hebrews.  Read between the lines as you read it.  Look how Jesus was portrayed through people like Joseph.  Underline the words for God and see how He provided for them and yet God was rejected by rejecting Joseph.  (But notice in verse 13-ON THE SECOND VISIT he was recognized!  Oh on Jesus’ 2nd coming He will not be mistaken either!)
• Then Stephen defends Moses starting in verse 20.  Again, you will see how Moses too was rejected.  Tons of foreshadowing in this text…you don’t need me…you will spot them.
• Last, Stephen defended the Temple and sacrifices that were also discarded by the Hebrews.

This message was told at a Synagogue that was led by a young man named Saul!  Stephen began the sermon with:

“Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory… (Verse 2)

and ended with: 

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (verse 55)

The First Martyr for the Gospel: Stephen

⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

This is a wonderful place in the Bible to explain to people why do bad things happen to good people.  Stephens’s death is the beginning of something God is about to do…Paul!

Chapter 8 

And Saul approved of their killing him. (If you don’t know I want to let you know this is Saul who will become Paul)

Let’s go back to Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This will happen through ministry OR persecution:

Acts 8:1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

Saul of Tarsis:

• began to destroy the Church
• going from house to house dragging off men and women and putting them in prison

BUT people were scattered…the seeds of the Gospel are being scattered. ❤️

Simon the Sorcerer.  This is actually a very famous person written about it in many historical texts.  He was considered “a god” and people actually erected statues of him. The apostles coming into town were the “new” ones to follow and Simon was not the ‘god’ any longer.  It says that “Simon believed and was baptized”.  But did he?? Or did he just want to be the Sorcerer people followed again??

Let’s see…

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Philip and the Ethiopian

The Lord prompted Simon for a divine appointment.  (I love when that happens to me).  He met up with an Ethiopian Eunuch (castrated man) so he can safely work in the Palace around the Pharaoh’s woman if you know what I mean.  He was wealthy and had his own copy of the Scriptures (this is VERY rare, but speaks to how much $$ he had).  What is he reading??  ISAIAH 53!!  I kid you not!! 

Listen…Be a Philip!  You have been reading for 323 days.  Be a Philip!  Listen to God prompting you to have these conversations!  Look for some Eunuchs! 😁

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You need to know the Sadducee theology for this read:

• The first five books of Moses (the Torah) only
• Sadducees flatly rejected the Pharisee teaching that oral tradition was equal to Scripture in authority.
• They believed in unrestrained free will—meaning God had no role in the personal lives of humans. Everyone was a master of his or her own destiny.
• Sadducees rejected the supernatural, refuting belief in angels, demons, heaven, hell, and resurrection. To their way of thinking “souls die with the bodies.” The End.

Chapter 4 begins with the Sadducees ticked off about the “message”.  Well knowing what the Sadducees believe makes total sense.  So they bring Peter and John to Annas and Caiphas.  Deja Vu!  The same first trial that Jesus went to. Do you remember who Annas was?  The High Priest position is supposed to be for life, but the Romans gave it to Caiphas as a figurehead (Annas’s son on Law).  But Annas still had ALL the power (he was in the good ole’ boys club with the politicians “the Sadducees”).

Peter, was the one who denied knowing Christ.  BUT this Peter has the Holy Spirit!!  Fearless!  In Matthew 10 Jesus said to the disciples:

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. ¹⁸ On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

#truestory

Peter then quotes a messianic psalm: Psalm 118

¹¹ Jesus is

Now we come to a compare and contrast.  As the church comes together it is BEAUTIFUL!

• All the believers were one in heart and mind.
• No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
• there were no needy persons among them.
• From time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales, and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
  • Even a Levite names Joseph (name changed to Barnabas) sold his field and donated it

Chapter 5 is the contrast: Annanias and Sappharias.  They broke the unity of the church.  Peter tells them it was not about holding money back…it was about lying to God about it.

⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Is this really any different than what Adam and Eve did?  They LIED to God.

This story shows the judgment of God is the same in the Old Testament and the New Testament.  BUT so is His love and healing power.  God contrasts the death of Ananias and Sappharias with the healing of many.

Gamaliel (Supposedly the President of the Sanhedrin). I like this guy so far!  He talks about 2 revolutionaries that formed revolts that both failed.  Gamaliel advice is-“Better safe than sorry”

³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”  

Well, I think that was proven already, don’t you?  ANGELS let them out of Prison!  Did that happen for Thudeas or Judas the Galilean when they protested?  No.  Their activity was of human origin.  The Angels prove Peter and John are coming on behalf of God.

Chapter 6

Let’s start with What is a Hebrew Jew verse a Hellenistic Jew?

Hebrew Jew– Aramaic speaking, local-born and raised in the area, read the Hebrew scriptures (spoke Hebrew in the Synagogue)

Hellenistic Jew- if you remember when we talked about Alexander the Great, he “Hellenized” the regions by making everything Greek (It’s all Greek to me!!😂). During the Hellenization period, the scriptures were translated into Greek and they are referred to as the Septuagint. (Sept=70). Seventy scholars translated the Scriptures.  Hellenistic Jews were the descendants of those from the captivity that were scattered.  They lived among the Gentiles and used the Septuagint for their scriptures instead of the Hebrew version.  (Hmmm, sounds like people who get frustrated when other people read from a different version translation).

the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Wait? What?  I thought in Chapter 4 they were all in unity?  See the word ‘complained’.  It is the same word used in the Old Testament for ‘Grumbling’ in the desert after the Exodus…Noooo!  This breaks my heart.

(I am not pointing the finger at who was right or wrong.  The Hebrews really thought they were ‘above’ the Greeks so they probably did short-change them.  The Greeks made it worse by ‘Grumbling/complaining’. )

The yappoint 7 men (notice they are Greek to diffuse the situation) and a summary statement is made:

⁷ So the word of God spread. (this will be repeated in Chapter 12 and 19 in summary too)

Stephen-

⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen.

The Freedmen were Jews that were ex-slaves that were free that actually, a guy by the name of Saul headed up (just setting you up for Saul/Paul coming up).

They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. ¹³ They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

Sound familiar? Same accusations were read before the Cross

• accused of blasphemy against God
• accused of blasphemy Moses
• accused of blasphemy the temple

To be continued…

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In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

So the book of Luke could have ended with a “to be continued…” at the end of it. Go back and see where it left off and it will make total sense.  The intro reads like a checklist.

• ^✅3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.
• ✅He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
• ^✅4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

And then the Bomb is dropped…

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

They still are thinking about the Triumphal Entry.  BUT you cannot blame them.  They do not have the discerning Spirit yet to help them understand.   And then…Jesus ascends to be with His Father. ❤️

We are in need of a 12th man to replace Judas Iscariot.  Evidently, the branch he hung himself did not hold his weight (Verse 18 🤢). I guess he should have chosen “The Branch” (now that right there is good!!)

Peter as the leader of the pack, after quoting from 2 Psalms, says the new man that is chosen must have been with us the WHOLE time.  He is going to be given ‘apostolic gifts’, so he must have been with us all the way back to John’s Baptism to the Reseruction.  Two men fell into that category.  But how to choose?? Quiz Bowl? Rock, Paper, Scissors?    The Lord chooses- Matthias.

Chapter 2-The Holy Spirit Comes

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

The Holy Spirit came down on them feeling like a strong wind from Heaven and suddenly they spoke in tongues.  I LOVE  that we are reading this!  So many people are confused about this concept.  If it comes across your path and you need to explain it to someone: just read chapter 2 to them.

 ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?

Remember, this is 50 days after the Passover Festival.  The Feast of Weeks is being celebrated.  Just like the Passover, people from ALL over have descended on the city.  All the different cultures and languages.  After Passover, 2.5 million people scattered back to their homes spreading what they had witnessed 50 days before.  NOW, God chooses the Feast of Weeks (Harvest Festival) to spread the news of the Holy Spirit.  When the Spirit came upon them, they were able to speak EVERY LANGUAGE-EVERY TONGUE so that the Gospel was open to ALL. They all were able to understand.

Oh, how I love the detail Luke puts in his writing:

¹³ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

😂

Acts 14-41 I think is my new Favorite!  Peter finds his voice (well, of course, the Holy Spirit).  He gives the 1st public sermon and catches a lot of fish!  He is now a fisher of men!!!  3,000 on his first net!

“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

He quotes directly from the book of Joel to explain what they are witnessing and then he turns his attention to the Israelites and shares the Gospel:

²² “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³ This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Knowing they hold the Covenant of David he restates even what David had proclaimed:

⁶ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Jesus is King and Messiah!

So now what?? The Israelites have heard it, their hearts felt it, so now what??  I can see Peter’s eyes looking over the crowd looking and pointing to BOTH the Jew and the Gentile equally…

⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

So the Church was established!!

• ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
• ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
• ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common.
• ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
• ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
• ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 
• And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Chapter 3.   The gate called Beautiful was the main gate into the Temple (not the city)

The healing of the lame man made me think of something I never thought about before.  The “healing power” of the apostles.  This miracle was done at the colonnade, the very place Jesus healed.  Many of the Jewish Leaders witnessed it when Jesus performed them.  Now the apostles performed them.  You can kill Jesus, you cannot kill the Word.

“All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

❤️

With a crowd at attention, Peter is unglued!  He is preaching!  He talks about all the scriptures that led to this point in history. Peter hits the big ones: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Samuel.  Then the Drop Mic moment…The Promise of Abraham from Genesis.  Peter says:

He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’

Genesis 12² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”