Acts
Praying and Sharing
After being threatened, Peter and John returned to the other believers to report what had happened (v. 23). Then they all lifted their voice to God. This is one of the great prayers recorded in the Bible, a good example for us to follow. Their prayer was based on Psalm 2:25-26. Through His …
Paul’s Defense of His Heritage and Ministry
After gaining the silence of the crowd Paul defended himself by showing that he was a good Jew. He addresses them as friends and leaders and asks them to listen to what he has to say (v. 1). When the crowd heard Paul speak to them in Aramaic, they became quieter (v. 2). He used Aramaic not …
A lame man healed
It was three o’clock in the afternoon and a prayer meeting was about to start in the temple (v. 1). A new faith had come to Peter and John, but they still followed the law of Moses. For them, the new faith and the old discipline could walk hand in hand. Peter and John were opposites in their …
Beware of Cult Practices
In this passage we see that many people in Ephesus believed that illness and disease, and especially mental illness, were due to evil spirits who settled in a person. Exorcism was a regular trade. Many treasured their books on magic and their curios covered with charms because th …
Paul?“Steadfast to God’s Purpose For His Life
The ship’s passengers spent three months shipwrecked on the island of Malta (v. 11). Finally another ship gave them passage for the 100 miles to Syracuse in Sicily, then to Rhegium (70 miles) on the toe of Italy, and finally dropping anchor in Puteoli (180 miles) in the bay …
Cornelius on a Mission for God
The tenth chapter of Acts tells a story that is one of the great turning points in the history of the Church. For the first time a Gentile is to be admitted into its fellowship. Since Cornelius is so important in church history, let us gather what we can learn about him…
Jerusalem Council?“Discussion Re: Moses’ Law
The chairman of this Jerusalem council was James, the half brother of Jesus, who did not believe in Him until after the resurrection (v. 13). Peter was also an important participant in this meeting. It appears that at least four different meetings were involved in this strategic …
God Works His Will in His Servants
After eighteen months of ministry Paul decided that it was time for him to return to his sending church in Antioch. At Cenchreae (the seaport of Corinth) Paul cut his hair (the specifics of why he did this are unknown). His friends Aquila and Priscilla went with him as far as Ephesus, where …
Paul’s Determination despite Warning
Another warning came to Paul from a man named Agabus, who was a prophet from Judea (v. 10). He had prophesied that a widespread famine would affect the world (Acts 11:27-28) and his prophecy came true. He bound himself with Paul’s belt, using it as an object lesson, showing that …
Peer Pressure Adds to the Present Peril
After 14 days of drifting on the Mediterranean Sea the sailors realized that they were getting near land (v. 27). In the middle of the fourteenth night of the storm, the crewmen tested the waters and discovered that they were approaching land (v. 28). So, in the darkness of the night, they dropped …