Acts 8: Strange scriptures lead to life

This chapter`s theme is about the growth of the gospel despite attempts to squelch it by Saul and the establishment. Philip the evangelist moves as he is led sharing the gospel even in Samaria. He is then led south of Jerusalem where he finds an usual situation.

What he finds is an Ethiopian court official of the Queen of Ethiopia.  The official is on his way back to his country after visiting Jerusalem. While in Jerusalem he has secured a copy of some of the Scriptures, including the writings of the prophet Isaiah. No doubt he was curious about things he had been hearing from Jerusalem. He had probably heard about this controversial teacher and healer named Jesus, and upon inquiring more, could have been told that this man's appearing and life was actually forertold in the Scriptures. A much sought after copy of those writings are now in his hands as he makes his way back home. Little did he know how this reading material would transform his life.

What followed would do just that. He comes to a section that describes that someone would die as a lamb and that his death serve a significant purpose. As he pauses to ponder what this could mean, a stranger approaches their caravan. This stranger ends up answering all his questions and helps him begin a personal relationship with this lamb-like Savoir. He believes, he is baptized, and he carries this mysterious and live changing message to his nation and Queen.

Who may God want to use you to be a Philip to, and will you follow his lead?

Acts 7: History haters never learn.

Stephen preaches one of the most accurate and concise overviews of Hebrew history ever recorded. In it he does not diminish the law and in fact honors the role of Moses in their history, and yet these are the two things the people are holding against him.

The truth is that what engaged them in this sermon was when they are called out as stiff-necked people and uncircumcised in heart and ears. If any thing he is upholding the law and showing them how they had failed to keep it. (Vs 53). Then in their response they reveal that the accusation they hated so much was spot on, so proud of themselves and so stiff-necked that they killed him for calling attention to their character flaws. And yet in a fashion that we should be getting use to, God glorifies his truth even through death and chooses the one holding the coats of the stoner's as the next evangelist to rise up and fill Stephen`s place. So whether it be Candace Cameron speaking up about her biblical values as a wife or Natalie Grant walking out of a godless Grammy awards night be assured that as Christ-followers, we will be hated. Stephen is an example to us today that truth, morals, and biblical values will be misinterpreted and misunderstood. Haters will get offended and will go to unusual means to shut the mouths of those that live out the truth. Its really an age old story.

And so it is time and again, Satan tries to use death to bring an end, and over and over again God uses it as a beginning and to expand the Kingdom. And over and over again history haters are shown that the best, that is ahead, can only be found by looking back.

Acts 6: Be careful about conservative spin

In this chapter there is an interesting theme of the power of words. The Hellenists brought a word of concern about their own widows being left out, the word that resulted was one of compassion and concern finding a way to meet their needs, and finally the words being shared about this guy named Stephen, an over-zealous Christ-follower.

The message regarding Stephen’s zeal was one of great concern to the law promoting, conservative Pharisee’s of the day. After all, this guy was saying that Jesus had changed the value that should be placed on the temple and the law. He was speaking against Moses and telling the people that many of the long-held to customs were just not necessary. The last few verses of this chapter reveal that there was some amazing spin put on about the message of Stephen, enough to call for this peaceful preachers death.

You have now entered the spin zone of Phariseism, in which turf must be protected at all costs. If Stephen would be allowed to continue propagating his liberal agenda and these progressive ways, just think what may be allowed to happen on the Sabbath? Imagine what would become of the priestly responsibilities in the temple? The entire economical hub surrounding Jerusalem and the Temple would be greatly altered, and if Jesus was the Messiah and there is no longer any need for sacrifices and ceremonial law, what exactly would the Pharisees do everyday? Would they exchange their protecting of the law for proclaiming a message of freedom in Jesus Christ? That would truly be conversion and life transformation. That would include a spiritual revolution as well as a change in profession. So what do they do with this message of deliverance…. Kill the messenger and hope the message dies too; and yet in hindsight, they killed the messenger only to see the message multiplied by thousands and Christianity spread world-wide. This is a dangerous, yet unfruitful, spin zone that should serve as a caution today to not be so steeped in tradition that the truth is rejected while legalistic stones are being thrown to protect ones turf.

Acts 5: A prison break and a word to Christianity’s haters

This chapter includes some mysterious demonstrations of God’s power: people dying that lied to the body of believers, people being healed even as Peter just walked by, and then the entire band of the apostles seemingly translated out of the local prison and into the temple.

The last one includes some interesting details that get too quickly looked over. First I would say we often give most of our attention in the “holy prison breaks” category to the deliverance of Paul and Silas as they were singing and the prison keeper ends up being a follower of Jesus. While that one certainly has some awesome moments, this one included all, or at least a good group of the apostles. That flows into the second interesting detail, that the entire band just walked right out of the prison doors and back onto the street when the angel opened them (vs 19). The crazy part here is that no one saw this happen, no guards saw nearly a dozen guys being led by an angel through the halls and out the front door. Nearly as if this kind of entourage occurs daily at the JJC (Jerusalem Justice Center). Thirdly, upon being investigated, the doors at JJC were found securely locked and guards were faithfully standing beside them (vs 23).  Fourth, possibly the strangest thing is that as they are brought from their temple teaching to be questioned, nothing is said of their JJC escape. It is almost as if the officials don’t want to know. They must have known it was a miraculous thing rather than any normal prison break, and decided that to call attention to the miraculous would only stir up greater interest and cause there to be more believers.

The item of most interest is the way in which this commotion ends. Gamaliel, one of the leaders in the city, basically stands up and says let’s just let this group run its course. He calls attention to several other instances of strange teaching and their followers eventually just losing interest or creating so much commotion that they were killed. So after arresting the apostles, throwing them into prison, re-arresting them after they walked out unhindered, interrogating them, and beating them they decide to let them go in the hope that this evangelical movement will just die off the scene and be forgotten. Now nearly 2000 years later people, just like Gamaliel, are still waiting for these followers of Jesus to fade into oblivion. Those who are waiting, and doubting, and mocking may want to take heed to the rest of Gamaliel’s advice, “If it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God.”( Vs39)

Acts 2: The gospel chapter

This chapter is amazing. The gospel is astoundingly prevalent immediately after Jesus ascends to heaven. This was his plan: that people would believe the gospel and follow him for eternity, notice what happens as we see the gospel behind this entire chapter.

Verse 1: the gospel unifies; they were brought together to hear the gospel.
Verse 2: the gospel empowered: one of the very reasons for the giving our the Holy Spirit was to empower the proclamation of the gospel.
Verse 3,4: the gospel set free: God was not about to allow the gospel to get trapped in just one culture or language.
Verse 5: the gospel is for every nation.
Verse 6: the gospel is multi-lingual: how beautiful to hear the gospel shared in every language.

Verse 7-11: the gospel is the sharing of the mighty acts of God, something that every language must hear.
Verse 12: the gospel places everyone in the place of deciding what must be done with this news.
Verse 13: the gospel and God's unusual work in his followers lives will be misunderstood by onlookers. (This is not or goal, but it may happen none the less. )
Verse 14-21 the gospel is God's plan; Peter by quoting the prophet Joel demonstrates that that plan connects to the past and will continue to grow in powerful ways in the future.


Verse 22: the gospel is Jesus: Peter reminds them that Jesus is the center of the gospel.
Verse 23: the gospel was not an after thought of the Almighty, it was always the plan.
Verse 24: the gospel is that Jesus died and was risen to establish gain for those who believe.
Verse 25,26: Jesus and his gospel makes us glad, gives us something to remove in today, and provides hope for the future.
Verse 27,28: the gospel delivers from Hades, gives purpose to living, and allows us to enjoy God's presence.
Verse 29-31 the gospel is timeless: King David attested to this gospel long before Jesus came to earth.
Verse 32,33 the gospel is to be proclaimed: they were witnesses of the gospel of Jesus and his resurrection.
Verse 33,34 the gospel includes the truth that it is because of sin and singers that Jesus was crucified.
Verse 37: when the gospel is declared it cuts to the heart.
Verse 38 the response to the gospel is to repent, believe, and be baptized.
Verse 39: the gospel is for you and your children.
VERSE 40,41: THE GOSPEL is worth repeating.
Verse 42-47: the gospel leads to multiple manifestations inside community with other believers: teaching, fellowship, baking of bread, prayers, signs, commonality, giving, generosity, worship, friendship, and bringing new people to a saving knowledge of this gospel.

This is the gospel - this is amazing - this is for you.