Today’s passage: Acts 13:1-12

Helpful thoughts:

• Chapter 13 begins a new section in the Book of Acts.  The gospel is now going toward the ends of the earth.  The narrative will follow Paul’s ministry more closely from this point on.
• John, their assistant (Verse 5), is John Mark.  He is the writer of the Gospel of Mark.  John Mark at different times served alongside Paul, Barnabas, and the Apostle Peter.
• Bar-Jesus’ name means “Son of Jesus.”  Paul calls him instead, a son of the devil.
  • Jesus Christ obviously didn’t have any biological sons.  But, there were many men with this name at that time.
  • Bar-Jesus and Elymas are the same man.
• Bar-Jesus, as a false prophet, did not cease speaking the name of God.  Instead, he “did not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord.”
  • Satan is a liar and deceiver.  Some of his best deceptions are those labeled as “Christian.”
  • “Satan’s greatest weapon is man’s ignorance of God’s Word.” – A.W. Tozer

Questions to consider:

1. What was different about this moment of the Holy Spirit speaking to these leaders and what we might see from someone writing a book about God talking to them today?  How many people were present and involved in hearing this instruction?  What was the point of God’s message?  Was it to reassure their felt worth and value or to accomplish His will?
2. What truly astonished the proconsul?  Not what do we assume astonished him…what does this passage tell us truly astonished him (Verse 12)?
3. How important is the truth we find in 2 Timothy 3:16-17?  When we might be tempted to hope for a special revelation from God, what do we want Him to tell us?  What has He already given us through the completed, authoritative Word of God?  If we want something more than what God calls “complete” or to be equipped for more than “everything,” what are we revealing about our view of Scripture?
4. What was most important about these men, that they heard this call or that they were ready and willing to obey it?

Today’s passage: Acts 12:20-25

Helpful thoughts:

• Herod did not have to believe in God to be held accountable for not giving Him the glory He deserves. (Romans 1:18-25)
• Josephus the historian gives account of Herod wearing a robe made of silver on this occasion and then enduring terrible pain for five days before he died.
• In the midst of political upheaval, Paul, Barnabas and the church kept focused on the task at hand.  They weren’t ignorant of what was going on around them, but they weren’t ruled by it either.

Questions to consider:

1. How should the Christians in 44 A.D. have viewed King Herod?  To whom was he responsible ultimately (Just the Caesar or Someone higher)?  How can this help us to think correctly about politicians and politics in our day and in this country?  What do presidents and governors need more than our vote?  How do our responses and criticisms help or hurt the cause to which Christ has called us?
2. How can Herod’s responsibility before God also bring us peace in the midst of political or governmental uncertainty and turmoil?  Who is in control? (Proverbs 21:1)  Regardless of who is in office, who is God defending? (Romans 8:31-39)
3. What ministry would God have us fulfill right now?  How can we keep the main thing the main thing? (Matthew 28:18-20)

Today’s passage: Acts 12:1-19

Helpful thoughts:

• This “Herod” was Herod Agrippa I.  He didn’t have a great relationship with Rome which would have given him a greater reason to seek favor with the Jewish leaders over which he reigned.  Persecuting the Christians was proving effective.
• Peter was detained by a rotation of sixteen soldiers.  Four would guard him at a time, where two would be chained to Peter and two would guard the door.
• Jews believed that each person had a guardian angel who could take on their physical form.  This isn’t in the Bible, it was simply a traditionally held belief.
• The James who died in verse 2 was the Apostle John’s brother (The disciple from the Gospels).  The James who needed to hear the news of Peter’s escape from prison was the leader/pastor of the church in Jerusalem who was Jesus’ half-brother.  He is the James who wrote the book of James in the New Testament.

Questions to consider:

1. What do you think the believers at Mary’s house were probably praying if they didn’t believe Peter was actually at the front door?  If God wants to give us more than we ask, is He limited by our prayers? (Ephesians 3:20)
2. Peter would eventually die a martyr’s death.  His death would greatly honor the Lord.  Why didn’t Peter die on this occasion? (Psalm 139:16, Philippians 1:19-26)
3. With Heaven and perfect fellowship with God ahead of us, why does God still have us here in this world?  (If you are here, it’s because God has a purpose for you!)  What would He have you to do today?  How can you live for Christ in obedience to God’s Word today?

Today’s passage: Acts 11:19-30

Helpful thoughts:

• This passage details how word traveled to the believers who had left Jerusalem before Cornelius’ household believed.
  • They hadn’t received the “memo” to preach to the Gentiles as well.  The encouraging Barnabas (And man from Cyprus according to 4:36) was recruited to spread the word.
• “Christians” was not a term of endearment.  This is what the people of Antioch called the church.  Of course for those who know the glories of our Lord and Savior, it is an honor to be named with Him!
  • That the people came up with a name for the church tells us the growing impact the church was having on the community.
• This is the first time we see elders in any of the churches.  They were the leaders in each local church who were in the place of leadership the Apostles and Prophets would have held.
  • The elders were always mentioned in the plural throughout the New Testament.  There were always elders…never just an elder.

Questions to consider:

1. What condition may Saul have been in when Barnabas found him in his hometown according to his own testimony in Philippians 3:8?  If you were Barnabas, where would you have gone to find him?
2. What was the purpose for Agabus’ prophecy in verse 28?  Was he just proving that he was a prophet?  What was the Lord’s intended fruit of revealing this truth to the church outside of Jerusalem?  What would have been true if Agabus’ prophecy didn’t prove true?
3. If elders were already in place by this time, what can we learn about the place of Apostles and Prophets even in the early church?  Did they replicate themselves?  Was there an endless supply in every local church?  What should we expect to see in the leadership of local churches today?

Today’s passage: Acts 11:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• When others heard of this new realm of ministry opportunity, they found fault and brought accusations.
  • Their unbelief was met with the same testimony and sign as Peter saw with his own eyes.
• The Gentiles were not cleansed when the Jews started to feel comfortable with the idea.  God brought the cleansing, then He graciously gave the believing Jews awareness of what was already true.
  • Who are we that we could withstand God?
• God has granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!
  • My guess is most of the readers of this devotional are benefactors of this truth.

Questions to consider:

1. Who all was included in the “all your household” of verse 14? (See 10:44)  Would infants have been included in that number? Who were the people who were baptized?
2. In what way did the sign of tongues prove useful in this instance?  Did they need to occur once again or were the reports from eye-witnesses sufficient?  As we read this account, how are we still benefiting from the same eye-witnesses today?
3. What habits, comforts, cultural norms might we hold dear that could interfere with our ability to be involved in God’s work?  None of us want to withstand God…how can we stand with Him in our day?

Today’s passage: Acts 10:1-48

Helpful thoughts:

• The way Cornelius is introduced teaches us that he had given up his pagan idolatry and feared God.  However, he had not become a proselyte Jew.  Cornelius was still an uncircumcised Gentile.
• Peter understood that his vision from God was not just about food.  God had called the Gentile people clean (Verse 28).  The Church is an in-gathering of Jew and Gentile alike, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb!
• The Jewish Christians hadn’t believed the Gentiles would be welcomed straight into the family of God, not without first becoming proselyte Jews.  These tongues confirmed their unbelief in this matter was in error. (1 Corinthians 14:22)

Questions to consider:

1. What message did Peter preach to them?  What did they need to hear and know to believe?
2. If someone were to mistakenly use Peter’s words in Acts 2:38 to teach baptism is necessary to earn salvation, how would this passage correct that?  On the other extreme, does this passage teach baptism as optional for new believers?  What will new Christians do in humble obedience to their Lord’s command?
3. How does this passage fit into the promise of Acts 1:8?  Why is it so important that Peter was the Apostle whom God chose to use on this occasion and not Paul?  In what way do the events of this passage change the trajectory of the rest of the book…and the world?

Today’s passage: Acts 9:32-43

Helpful thoughts:

• It was customary to bury the bodies of the dead almost immediately.  The Christians in Joppa had another plan.
  • Peter gave her a command in the same way Jesus had commanded Lazarus to get up and come out of his grave.
• Lydda and Joppa are slightly north and west of Jerusalem and toward the coast (Joppa being at the coast).  Sharon is the region surrounding Lydda.
  • If you want to use a modern map to locate the cities, look for Lod and Jaffa.
• Peter did not only do miracles in these places.  He also preached the Gospel.  otherwise, the people would not have known what to believe! (Romans 10:17)

Questions to consider:

1. Tabitha/Dorcas (Her name means “Gazelle”) is named as a follower of Jesus Christ (However, she was dead).  Aeneas is mentioned as “A certain man,” indicating he was not a believer.  Were either Aeneas or Tabitha healed or raised from the dead because they had enough faith?  Why did God allow their healing?  What was the greater purpose?
2. How does this passage continue to move forward the promise of Christ from Acts 1:8?  How do these accounts fit into the overall narrative of the book?
3. When Peter healed Aeneas, what did he say?  Who healed Aeneas?  Who is the hero of your story?  When you share your life with others, to whom should they be pointed?

Today’s passage: Acts 9:23-31

Helpful thoughts:

• “Many days” equals about three years. (Galatians 1:17-18)
• Verse 22 ended by telling us that Paul proved Jesus was the Christ.
  • We can prove that Jesus is the Christ.  That is our responsibility and calling.  We cannot bring people to repentance.  Only God has that power.
    • John 3:19-20
    • Acts 13:48
• Without Saul of Tarsus spearheading the persecution of the church, and with historical evidence of a push from Rome to further limit the Jews’ ability to govern themselves, the church enjoyed a time of peace.
  • The church multiplied in a time of peace…and the church also multiplied in times of unrest and persecution.  There is no off-switch.  Christ builds His church.

Questions to consider:

1. What is our responsibility in taking the Gospel to others and in making disciples? (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 10:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)  What is God’s “responsibility” and promise? (Romans 8:29-30)
2. What role did Barnabas have in relation to the newcomer Saul, and to the established church members/leaders in Jerusalem?  Who has been a “Barnabas” to you?  For whom could you be a “Barnabas?”
3. In times of civil unrest, in the midst of all these changes in government, on what does the book of Acts continue to focus our attention?  How should our view of the world help us to stay above the fray and stay on mission during difficult times?