Acts
Characteristics of the early Church
Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they questioned what they should do (v. 37). Notice how the Holy Spirit took Peter’s message and caused the listeners to be angry about their sin. He told them they must repent, turn to God, and be baptized (v. 38). Repenting means to change our mind …
Opposition in Iconium
Christians who are doing anything for Christ must learn how to deal with many kinds of rejection. One rejection can tip the scales weighted with hundreds of affirmations. Satan’s trick is to get our mind so occupied with a rejection that we forget all about the good things that are happening. Paul …
Paul?“A Roman Citizen
The crowd listened until Paul made this last statement (v. 22). Then they started shouting, “Get rid of this man! He doesn’t deserve to live.†For Paul’s sake, it was probably good that the courtyard was paved. Had there been stones lying around the Jews may have …
Results of Religious Greed
Paul made plans to return to Greece and Palestine, and then go to Rome (v. 21). Two and a half years had passed since Paul arrived in Ephesus, and he felt his work there was over. To prepare the believers in Macedonia for his coming, Paul sent two of his disciples (Timothy and Erastus) …
Paul’s Trial before Festus and his Appeal to Caesar
At the beginning of this chapter, we find Festus, the new governor, coming into power (v. 1). Felix had been recalled to Rome in disgrace. Festus was a much stronger leader, but he only served two years before dying in office. Ananias took the opportunity to get rid of Paul (vv. 2-3). When Festus …
Paul?“An Example of Faithfulness
Paul traveled on foot from Troas to Assos (about 18 miles) while his friends sailed there directly (v. 13). Perhaps Paul wanted some time alone to think, pray, and plan. From Assos they sailed along the coast of Asia Minor to Miletus (vv. 14-15), an important port city. Paul had decided to …
Paul & Silas Trust God’s Strategy
Paul and Silas traveled 100 miles from Philippi to Thessalonica. According to verse one they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia but didn’t minister in those cities. Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia, with a population of about 200,000. Paul’s master plan for missions was to …
Four proofs of the Resurrection and Ascension
These verses include four proofs of the Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension: The empty tomb (vv. 29-31)The witness of the Resurrection (v. 32) The witness of the believers (v. 33) The presence of the Holy Spirit (vv. 34- 36)If the Holy Spirit is in the world, then God mu …
Stephen Summoned before Synagogue Leaders
Up to this point, the sign gifts seem to have been administered only by the apostles, but now we find Stephen, a newly appointed deacon, also demonstrating these extraordinary powers. Apparently his ministry was primarily among the Hellenistic Jews, referred to here as the “ …
Boldness at the Barracks
It was the time of Pentecost, and Jews were present in Jerusalem from all over the world. Some Asian Jews saw Paul and his companions in the Temple area. In their mind Paul was a strong opponent of Judaism, the temple, the priesthood, and the law. They had heard him preach against …