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?

Today’s passage: Acts 9:1-22

Helpful thoughts:

• Saul was not softening to Christianity over time.  His hatred and efforts against it were only growing.
  • Saul understood that early persecution had sparked the first missionary movements.  He was seeking to bring missions to an end.  God had other plans.
  • Saul became a follower of Jesus Christ because he was chosen (Verse 15).
• When someone persecutes the church, they are persecuting Jesus Himself.
  • John 15:18-25
• Paul immediately began calling Christ, “Lord” in verse 6 and he began following the Lord through obedience to baptism and in becoming a missionary.  He began preaching immediately in the synagogue right there in Damascus, the Christ “He is the Son of God.”

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it important to know where Saul’s heart and mind were concerning Jesus and the Christians when he started on this journey?
2. We can see the evidence of change in Saul after his conversion.  But how was Ananias’ faith evidenced as well?  What fears did he overcome to obey the Lord?
3. God has commanded us to share the good news about Jesus, and just like Paul we can give proof that Jesus is the Son of God, but whose power makes a sinner call Jesus his Lord?  How does this truth encourage you to go share with others?  How does this truth help you to think about the “likelihood” that someone will repent?  Why does this truth encourage us to pray for the salvation of the lost?

Today’s passage: Acts 8:26-40

Helpful thoughts:

• The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53.
• There are many manuscripts that include (Or exclude) verse 37:
  • And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (NASB)
  • Please remember, verse numbers were not added until the 16th century.
  • This verse is not included in the oldest manuscripts.  Many scholars believe that as the manuscripts were copied and passed along, commentary or verbal accounts were added.  Whether this verse is or is not part of Luke’s original writing of the book doesn’t change the meaning of the passage or any doctrine at all.  Philip would not have baptized the Ethiopian if he had not believed.
• The term “Eunuch” could be used to speak of a government official.  He may or may not have been emasculated.
  • Ethiopia covered the region of Africa south of Egypt.
  • This man was a worshiper of the Lord and knew the importance of studying the Scripture!
  • Through these miracles, Philip’s obedience, and the faith of this official, the Gospel was now going to Africa.

Questions to consider:

1. Even with all the miracles we saw in this passage, what was the means of sharing the message with the Ethiopian? (Verse 35)  Do miracles convince people or does God bring people to life through the Word?
2. How does this passage further the promise of Jesus from Acts 1:8?
3. If you were sharing the Gospel with someone starting in Isaiah 53:7-8, how would you do it?  How does this remind us that the whole Bible points to the story of Jesus?  In what ways can this account encourage us to be confident in the power of God through the Scriptures in our evangelism?

Today’s passage: Acts 8:9-25

Helpful thoughts:

• Simon’s “belief” could be compared to the belief of those in John 2:23-24.
  • Simon may have been the first false convert in the history of the church.
  • In Jerusalem, the persecution would have prevented others from doing such a thing.  In Samaria the positives outweighed any negatives in Simon’s mind.
  • Early church fathers claimed Simon as a founder of Gnosticism.
  • Simon never repents in verse 24.  He simply begs to avoid the consequences.
• The delay in receiving the Spirit in the early church happened when new people groups entered into the church (Acts 10, Acts 19).  It happened on these occasions and then did not happen again.
  • This benefited the Jews in ending any doubt in their minds that the Samaritans could be their brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • It also benefited the Samaritans.  They now knew that their faith did not have to exist in isolation, apart from the Jews.  The Apostles of the Jewish believers were their Apostles as well.  They were now one people in the Kingdom of God.

Questions to consider:

1. What was it that attracted Simon to Christianity?  What did he value more than Jesus Christ?  Was he interested in following Jesus or did it seem he thought he’d found a new and more powerful way to gain more followers for himself?
2. What environment was conducive to seeing a first false convert?  In what atmosphere might a lost person find it advantageous to play along for personal gain?  How have those kinds of conditions existed in different ways throughout history since the days of the early church? (Think Europe, the powers of the Pope in the Middle Ages, Christian nations in the west, etc.)
3. What fruit would we have seen had Simon’s conversion been genuine?  How would this passage have been different?  What does true conversion result in for Christians?

Today’s passage: Acts 8:1-8

Helpful thoughts:

• Saul (Paul) approved of the execution and martyrdom of Stephen, but that was just the beginning.  He became a force for persecution against the church.
• The scattering of Christians only resulted in the furtherance of the Gospel.  The first missionaries were sent.
• Persecution doesn’t kill the church, it makes it grow.

Questions to consider:

1. As a Christian, what would you think the pros and cons of persecution would be for the church?
2. Does this passage evaluate the spiritual superiority or inferiority of those who stayed in Jerusalem and those who left?  What was it clear that all of them continued to do, no matter where they were?
3. If persecution like this were to come, where would we find the strength to respond in courage and with a missionary zeal, faithful to Christ in the face of opposition?

Today’s passage: Acts 7

Helpful thoughts:

• In this chapter, Stephen delivers his defense.  This would have been a similar defense to the times before as mentioned in Acts 6:9-10.
• Stephen’s defense was a survey of the Old Testament!
  • Verses 35-37 point forward to the Messiah.
  • Stephen reminded them of Israel’s rebellion.
  • Stephen also reminds them that God is not confined to the Temple.
    • The Temple was a means to worship God, who is bigger than the Temple.
    • Stephen is rebuking them for putting the Temple (And the life it gave them) above God.
• This is the first time we see Saul (The future Apostle Paul).  He was not a new guy in town when he was converted.  Saul was involved and active in the early persecution of the church.
  • He heard Stephen’s defense.  He was cut to the heart and infuriated.  He gnashed his teeth.  He cried out and covered his ears.  He helped rush Stephen out of the city gates. He held the outer clothes of those casting stones.

Questions to consider:

1. What did Stephen offer as his defense?  Where did the information come from?  What would have been the right response from the Jewish leaders?
2. Did Stephen mess up?  Did he do something or say something wrong?  Did he fail as an evangelist?  When we are deciding whether or not to share the Gospel with people for fear that it won’t go well, what are our greatest concerns?
3. The book of Acts was written by Luke, who accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys.  How would Luke have learned then of the account of Stephen’s martyrdom?  How might this encourage us to share Christ with others even when we don’t expect it to go well?