1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Please
click on the current date # above or scroll down to read the devotional
for the day!
It is our desire to make these devotionals readily available to anyone
who can use them. We pray that as you daily read and meditate on God's
Word, you will be able to use these to help you spiritually grow in
your daily walk with the Lord
It is our desire to make these devotionals readily available to anyone who can use them. We pray that as you daily read and meditate on God's Word, you will be able to use these to help you spiritually grow in your daily walk with the Lord.
May God richly bless you this day!
SOME OF THE ACTS OF SOME OF THE APOSTLES
BY THE MINISTRY OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT - ACTS 1
I. A new Ministry
"The former treatise (Epistle) refers to is the Gospel of Luke (i.e.
Luke. 1:1-4) in which Luke told the story of what Jesus began to do and
teach while He was on earth. Acts picks up the account by telling what
He is continuing to do and teach through the church. Luke tells of Christ's
earthly ministry in His physical body. Acts tells of His Spiritual Ministry
from heaven through His spiritual body, the church. Example, in 1:24 the
believers ask the ascended Christ to show them which man to elect as an
apostle to take Judas' place. 1) Below for source
"Every Christian needs to move out of Luke into Acts. Knowing about
the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ is enough for salvation,
but not for Spirit-empowered service. We must identify ourselves with
Him as our ascended Lord and allow Him to work through us in the world.
The church is not an organization; but a divine organism, the body of
Christ on earth, through which His life and power must operate. He died
for the lost world; we must live so as to bring that lost world to Christ.
(1:3-8) 2) See below for source
"Christ ministered to the apostles during the forty days He was on
earth after His resurrection. (Cf. Luke 24:36ff) should be read in connection
with these verses. In both places, Christ instructed the apostles to remain
in Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Spirit. They were to begin
their ministry in Jerusalem. This baptism of the Spirit had been announced
by John the Baptist. The coming of the Spirit would unite all the believers
into one body, to be known as the church (see 1 Cor. 12:13). The Spirit
would also give the believers power to witness to the lost. Finally, the
Spirit would enable the apostles to speak in tongues and perform other
miraculous deeds to awaken the Jews." (See 1 Cor. 1:22-the Jews require
a sign.) 3)
(Excerpted Added to and Edited from Expository Outlines of the New Testament
by Warren W. Wiersbe).
The 40 Days between the Resurrection and the Ascension
"This period of 40 days was an instruction period for the Disciples
as to their new work without Jesus as their Leader however they were not
to be left on their own. Rather their new leader was the Holy Spirit sent
to give them instructions and their dependence was to be on the Spirit's
leading. We too, today are dependent upon the leading of the Holy Spirit
in both the small and the large activities we do for the Lord.
Going back to the last chapters of the four Gospels we find instructions
given by the Lord Jesus as to their responsibilities.
A. "Marks of a Good Pastor or Leader,
(1) He is to be filled with spiritual knowledge, as recorded in the following 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:5; Galatians 5:16-26.
(2) He is sure of his Divine call to the Ministry, Acts 13:3; I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11; and Romans 11:29.
(3) He is to be sure of his Motives, Luke 19:10; Acts 20:28; II Corinthians 5:14-21, Ephesians 4:12.
(4) He is to preach the Word, one of the signs of the Laodicean Church is that preaching has lost its power, because the church is rich and does not want to hear the Word of God. It is the contention of this writer that we are already in the Laodicean age. (Revelation 3:14-22)
B. "Christ says, of this church that they were neither
cold nor hot, The only righteousness you will find in the Laodicean
church that is they were only lukewarm. Or we could say "tepid."
Then the Lord says I would that you were either hot or cold. Most of the
mega-churches of today have gone to the "Christian Rock" for
of music, entertain the congregation with a short message that pleases
the ears of the listeners and gives no challenge or Gospel message. The
church is proud and self satisfied with the way things are. Preacher don't
disturb us or try to change us, we are satisfied with the status-quo.
The church is rich and yet poor and naked and self-righteousness. Just
give us some pabulum and say nice things about us and we are satisfied."
(ibid)
The BAPTISM of the HOLY SPIRIT
"There are two occurrences of this Spirit baptism in Acts; in chapter
2, when He baptized the Jews; and in chapter 10 when He came upon the
Gentile believers. According to Eph. 2:11ff, the body of Christ is composed
of Jews and Gentiles, all baptized into this one spiritual body. It is
wrong to pray for a baptism of the Spirit; we may ask God to fill us (Eph.
5:18) or empower us for special service (Acts 10:38), but we should not
pray for His baptism as many charismatic believers do.Were the apostles
correct in asking Christ about the kingdom (vv. 6-8)? Yes! In Matt. 22:1-10,
Christ promised to give the nation of Israel another opportunity to receive
Him and the kingdom. In Matt. 19:28 Christ promised that the apostles
would sit on twelve thrones (see Luke 22:28-30). In Matt. 12:31-45, Christ
stated that Israel would have another opportunity to be saved even after
sinning against the Son. The apostles knew that their ministry would begin
with Israel. Now they wanted to know what Israel would do. Would the Jewish
nation accept or reject their message? Christ had not told them whether
it would or would not. If He had told the apostles that Israel would spurn
this good news, they could not have given their people an honest offer;
their ministry would have been false. What He did tell them was that they
would be witnesses, starting in Jerusalem, and eventually reaching across
the world.
III. A New Message (1:9-11)
"Do not confuse the promise of v. 11 with that of the rapture of
the church as given through Paul in 1 Thess. 4. The angels here are promising
that Christ will return to Mt. Olivet, visibly, and in glory. Luke 21:27
and Zech. 14:4 give the same promise. Had Israel accepted the apostles'
message, Christ would have returned to Mt. Olivet (see Acts 3:19-21) and
established His kingdom. The Jewish missionaries would have spread His
Gospel to the ends of the earth, and Israel would have been the center
of blessing for all mankind as promised in Isa. 35:1-6 and 65:19-23.
The HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS HOW to APPOINT
a REPLACEMENT for JUDAS, the APOSTATE
IV. A New Apostle (1:12-25)
"Were the apostles correct in selecting this new man? Of course!
There had to be twelve men to sit on the twelve promised thrones (Matt.
19:28; Luke 22:28-30) should Israel repent and receive the kingdom. Their
decision was based on the Word of God (Ps. 109:8 and 69:25) and on continued
prayer (vv. 14 and 24). The new choice, Matthias, was ratified by God
since he, with the others, was filled with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost,
and had evidently witnessed the ministry of Christ.
"Note that Peter took charge of the meeting. This is perhaps another
use of his "binding and loosing" powers given by Christ in Matt.
16:19. Heaven directed them in their decision and ratified their decision
after it was made.
"Everything was now in readiness for the coming of the Spirit. It
was now a matter of time, and as the believers waited for the Day of Pentecost
to arrive, they spent their hours in prayer and fellowship in the Upper
Room.
Acts 2
"The Feast of Pentecost took place fifty days after the Feast of
First fruits. (The word "Pentecost" means "fiftieth.")
This feast is described in Lev. 23:15-21. Just as Passover is a picture
of the death of Christ (1 Cor. 5:7), and First fruits a picture of the
resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:20-23), so Pentecost pictures the coming
of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). The loaves of bread with leaven were
presented that day, a picture of the church composed of Jews and Gentiles.
(In 1 Cor. 10:17 the church is pictured as a loaf of bread.) The leaven
in the bread speaks of sin yet in the church. There are two occurrences
of the Spirit's baptism in Acts: upon the Jews in Acts 2, and upon the
Gentiles in Acts 10. The two loaves presented at Pentecost foreshadowed
these events." (ibid)
The First of the Apostolic Miracles
I. The Miracles (2:1-13)
"The believers were waiting and praying as Christ had commanded (Luke
24:49), and at that time, the Spirit descended. When He did, He baptized
them into one spiritual body in Christ; He filled them with power for
witnessing (2:4). The sound of rushing wind reminds us of John 3:8. The
tongues of fire symbolize the divine power that would speak for God. The
baptism of fire mentioned in (Matt 3:11) refers to the time of Israel's
tribulation. Since every believer is baptized by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).
"The believers spoke in (other tongues) New American Standard. They
did not preach in tongues, but rather praised God in languages they did
not naturally know (see 2:11). Apparently they were in the Upper Room
when the Spirit descended (2:2), but had moved out to the temple courts
where a great crowd gathered. The purpose of the gift of tongues was to
impress the Jews with the fact that a miracle was taking place.
II. The Message (2:14-41)
"Peter first answered their charge that the men were drunk. No Jew
would eat or drink anything before 9:00 A.M. on a Sabbath or feast day,
and it was then the third hour, or 9:00 A.M. Note that throughout this
sermon, Peter addresses Jews only (vv. 14, 22, 29, 36). Pentecost was
a Jewish feast, there were no Gentiles involved. In this sermon, Peter
spoke to the Jews and proved to them that their Messiah had been raised
from the dead. In vv. 16-21, Peter referred the men to Joel 2:28-32. He
did not say that this was a fulfillment of the prophecy.
"For Joel's words will not be fulfilled until the end of the Tribulation
when Christ returns to earth. Peter does say that this is that same Spirit
spoken of by Joel. Verses 17 and 18 took place at Pentecost, but vv. 19-21
did not, and will not until the end times. Between vv. 18 and 19 would
unfold the entire church age. Peter now proved to the Jews that Jesus
Christ was alive." (ibid)
The First of the Apostolic Miracles, Continued
"Peter used Five very Convincing Arguments:
(1) Christ's Person and life demand that He be raised from the dead (22-24).
See John 10:17-18. He who raised others could not remain dead himself!
(2) Psalm 16:8-11 predicted the resurrection (vv. 25-31).
(3) The apostles themselves were witnesses and had seen the risen Christ
(v. 32).
(4) The coming of the Spirit is proof that Jesus is alive (v. 33).
(5) Psalm 110:1 promised His resurrection (vv. 33-35).
Keep in mind that Peter was not preaching the Gospel of the cross as we
preach it today. He was accusing Israel of a great crime (vv. 23) and
warning them that they had rejected and crucified their own Messiah (v.
36). Peter was giving Israel one more opportunity to receive Christ. They
had slain John the Baptist and Jesus, but God was now giving them another
chance. The resurrection of Christ was the promised "sign of Jonah"
that proved He was the Messiah (Matt. 12:38-40).
"The men were convicted and asked Peter for counsel. Peter told them
to repent, believe and be baptized; in that way they would be identifying
themselves with Jesus as the Christ. This is the same message John the
Baptist (Mark 1:4) and Jesus (Matt 4:17) preached. To make baptism essential
for salvation and the receiving of the Spirit is to deny the experience
of the Gentiles in Acts 10:44-48, which is God's pattern for today. (See
the introductory notes on Acts.) The Jews in Acts 2 received the Spirit
when they repented and were baptized; the Samaritans in Acts 8 received
the Spirit by the laying on of the apostles' hands; but believers today
receive the Spirit when they believe, as did the Gentiles in Acts 10.
There is no salvation in the waters of baptism, for salvation is by faith
in Jesus.
"Peter stated that the promise of the Spirit was not only for the
Jews present in Jerusalem, but also for the Jews scattered abroad (v.
39, see Dan. 9:7). This verse cannot refer to Gentiles because the Gentiles
did not receive any promises," (Eph. 2:11-12). (ibid)
The First of the Apostolic Miracles, Continued
The Multitude (2:42-47)
"The Spirit gave them unity of heart and mind and added believers
to the assembly day by day. These verses are a beautiful description of
what life will be like during the kingdom age. While the church (as we
know it) was then in existence in the mind of God, the full revelation
of it was not given until later by Paul. Acts 2 is a message to the Jewish
people, so do not read into these verses truths that were not revealed
until later. The kingdom offer was still open and would continue to be
until the events of Acts 7, when the leaders of the nation resisted the
Spirit one more time and killed Stephen.
Acts 3, The Second Miracle Apostles filled with Supernatural Power
I. Power (3:1-11)
"The fact that Peter and John still attended the temple and kept
the Jewish customs is evidence that these first seven chapters of Acts
are Jewish in emphasis. No Christian today who understands Galatians and
Hebrews would participate in OT practices.
"This cripple is an illustration of the lost sinner in that: (1)
he was born lame, and all are born sinners; (2) he could not walk, and
no sinner can walk so as to please God; (3) he was outside the temple,
and sinners are outside God's temple, the church; (4) he was begging,
for sinners are beggars, searching for satisfaction.
"Peter performed this miracle, not only to relieve the man's handicap
and save his soul, but also to prove to the Jews that the Holy Spirit
had come with promised blessings. Isaiah 35:6 promises the Jews that Israel
would enjoy such miracles when their Messiah was received. The man's conduct
after the miracle shows how every Christian ought to act: he entered the
temple in fellowship with God's servants and praised God. His walk was
new and different, and he did not run from persecution. His was such a
testimony that the officers had no explanation for what had happened."
(ibid)
This Miracle laid the Groundwork for the Preaching of the Gospel,
Acts 3
Preaching (3:12-26)
"Note that he addressed "Men of Israel" as he did in 2:14
and 22. He preached Christ to them and accused them of denying their own
Messiah. Just a few weeks before, Peter himself had denied Christ three
times. Yet because Peter confessed his sin and made things right with
the Lord (John 21), he was able to forget his failure.
"Verse 17 is important, for here Peter stated that Israel's ignorance
caused them to commit this awful crime. Ignorance is no excuse, but it
does affect the penalty handed out. This is why Jesus prayed, "Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). God was
now giving Israel one more opportunity to receive their Messiah. Peter
promised in vv. 19-20 that if the nation would repent and receive the
Lord, He would blot out their sins (Isa. 43:25 and 44:22-23), send Christ
to them, and give them "times of refreshing." These "times"
were described in Jer. 23:5, Micah 4:3, and Isa. 11:2-9, 35:1-6, and 65:19-23.
Peter was not describing individual salvation here so much as the blessing
that would come to the nation if they would repent, and believe.
"Heaven would receive and hold Christ until Israel would repent,
and then the "times of restitution" would come. This refers
to the kingdom Christ will set up when Israel turns to Him and believes.
This event was spoken of by the prophets, Peter states in v. 21, which
proves that he was not talking about events of the church. The "mystery"
of the church was not revealed to the OT prophets. The prophets spoke
of Israel's future kingdom.
"What about the Gentiles? Peter answered this in v. 25. The Jews
were children of Abraham, and God would keep His promise to Abraham and
bless the Gentiles through Israel. "And in your seed [Abraham's]
shall all the families of the earth [Gentiles] be blessed," (Gen.
12:3 and 22:18). (ibid)
The Mystery of the Gentile's Salvation Revealed
"God's program in the O.T. was to bless the Gentiles through restored
Israel and Peter and the other Jewish apostles knew this. They realized
that God promised to bless the Gentiles when Israel was established
in its kingdom. The apostles could not understand why Paul went to the
Gentiles after Israel had been set aside. They did not realize then
the "mystery program" that God then revealed through Paul,
that through Israel's fall the Gentiles would be saved (see Romans 11:11-12).
This program was a "mystery" hidden in OT days, but revealed
through Paul (read Eph. 3). When the nation killed Stephen (Acts 7)
and committed that "unpardonable sin" against the Holy Spirit,
God's prophetic program for the Jews came to a halt. From that day,
Israel was set aside, and the church took center stage.
"How did the nation respond to the invitation? Many of the common
people believed and were saved, but the rulers had the apostles arrested.
The Sadducees, of course, did not believe in the resurrection and rejected
Peter's message that Christ had been raised from the dead. The Pharisees
hated Jesus because He had condemned them (Matt. 23). The persecution
that Christ promised the apostles in John 15:18-16:4 began to take place
as we will see in the next chapter.
Acts 4
The First Persecution of the Apostolic Church
I. The Arrest (4:1-4)
"This is beginning of the persecution of the church. The Sadducees
did not believe in the resurrection of the dead and were opposed to
Peter's preaching. The priests, of course, did not want to be indicted
for the crucifixion of Christ. Little did Israel's religious leaders
realize that Peter's message was the one thing that could save their
nation! Had they admitted their sin and received Christ, He would have
bestowed the promises that the prophets had proclaimed centuries before.
The Jewish leaders did not understand that they had killed their Messiah
and we vehemently opposed to any reference to the Crucified Christ."
(ibid)
Beginning of the Church's Persecution, Acts 4
II. The Trial (4:5-22)
"The court assembled here, composed primarily of the high priest's
family, had become corrupted over the years. This was an official meeting
of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish council. Some of these very men had
assisted in the "trial" of Christ not many weeks before. In
fact, their question in v. 7 reminds us of Jesus' trial (read again Matt.
26:57ff). Jesus had promised the disciples that the world would treat
them the same way it had treated Him (John 15:17ff). Note, too, that in
Matt. 21:23-44 these same leaders had questioned Christ about His authority.
"Peter's reply was directed by the Holy Spirit, in fulfillment of
the promise in Luke 21:12-15 and Matt. 10:20. Believers today should never
claim this promise as an excuse for neglecting to study or prepare for
teaching or preaching. The Holy Spirit assists us in those emergency hours
when preparation is impossible, if we have been faithful at other times.
Peter boldly stated that Jesus Christ, the crucified and now living Lord,
performed the miracle through His apostles. How those Jews must have trembled
to come face-to-face with their awful crime! Yet it did no good, because
their hearts had become calloused.
"Verse 11 identifies Christ as the Stone and the Jewish leaders as
the builders. This is a quotation from Psalm 118:22-23. Christ Himself
used this passage in debating with these very leaders (Matt. 21:43). The
Jews rejected Christ as the Chosen Stone on whom the kingdom would be
established; that Rejected Stone became the Chief Cornerstone of the Church
(Eph. 2:20). Note that Peter stated clearly that Israel had rejected Christ.
However, in 4:12sinners can only be saved in the name of Christ. While
this verse certainly applies to all sinners of every age, it had a special
meaning for the nation in Peter's day. Had the leaders repented and received
Christ, He would have saved the nation from the awful tragedy that came
in just a few years when Rome destroyed the temple and the city."
(ibid)
The Apostles Threatened and Released, Acts 4
"In vv. 13-17 the "jury" recessed to consider the case.
They were impressed with the boldness of the apostles. This is significant
inasmuch as Peter had denied his Lord in fear just a few weeks before.
The phrase "unlearned and ignorant" (v. 13) literally means
"untaught and unlettered"; that is, the apostles had not been
instructed in the official schools of the rabbis. Yet they knew so much
more about the Scriptures than did the religious leaders. The leaders
also realized that these men "had been with Jesus" (v. 13) in
the Garden and during His last week in Jerusalem before His death. But
they faced an even greater problem: how could they explain the healing
of the beggar? They could not deny the miracle, so they decided to silence
the messengers.
"The apostles did not accept this verdict, for their loyalty to Christ
meant more than any protection from the government. The judges finally
had to let them go. The boldness of the disciples, the power of the Word,
and the testimony of the healed beggar were too good a "case"
and the judges had no answer.
III. The Victory (4:23-37)
"True Christians always return "to their own company."
(Read 1 John 2:19.) The assembly did not lament because persecution had
begun; rather, the believers rejoiced and prayed! Note that in vv. 25-26
they referred to Psalm 2, which is a messianic Psalm, speaking about the
day when Christ shall return to rule with power. Christians today ought
to imitate the first Christians in their praying, for they tied their
praying to the word of God (John 15:7).
"They prayed for boldness, and God answered by filling them with
the Spirit. This was not a "second Pentecost," for the Spirit
came to fill with power and not to baptize the believers. The Holy Spirit
also gave them a wonderful unity, so much so that they sold their goods
and shared with those who had a need. This "Christian communalism"
was another proof of the presence of the Spirit, a sample of what will
happen in the kingdom age when all nations have the Spirit and unselfishly
love for one another." (ibid)
The Apostles Threatened and Released,
Acts 4
"Please note that this sharing of goods was a temporary occurrence
and is not required by the church of Christ today. While Christians today
are to have the same spirit of love, they are not expected to sell their
goods and form a separate community. In 11:27-30, the Christians at Antioch
had to send relief to the Jerusalem believers. (See also Rom. 15:26; 1
Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:1-4 and 9:2.) When Israel rejected the message,
this gracious working of the Spirit gradually disappeared. The pattern
for NT church giving is found in 2 Cor. 8-9, 1 Tim. 5:8 and 2 Thes. 3:7-13.
"Boldness seems to be a key thought in this chapter. See how the
early believers received this boldness: they were filled with the Spirit
(vv. 8 and 31), they prayed (v. 29), and they relied on the Word of God
(vv. 25-28). You and I may have boldness in our walk and witness if we
feed on the Word, pray, and surrender to the Spirit. We may have boldness
on earth because Christ gives us boldness in heaven (Heb. 4:16 and 10:19).
Acts 5
Opposition from Satan and Within the Church
"Satan is still attacking the believers, and as he does, he uses
a dual plan: deception from within and persecution from without. Satan
is a liar and a murderer. I. Opposition from Within (5:1-16)
"Here we see Satan operating as the serpent, using believers within
the assembly to hinder the work of the Lord.
A. The deception (vv. 1-2).
"Ananias and Sapphira wanted to gain the reputation for being more
spiritual than they actually were. When the others brought their donations
(4:34-37), these two were jealous and wanted the same recognition. Please
keep in mind that their sin was not stealing money from God, because Peter
stated in v. 4 that it was in their own power to use the money as they
wished. Their sin was hypocrisy, trying to appear more spiritual than
they really were. They lied to the Holy Spirit." (ibid)
Opposition from Satan and Within the Church,
Acts 5
B. The discovery (vv. 3-4).
"Peter was a man with Spirit-given discernment. Here we see him exercise
the "binding and loosing" power given to him by Christ (Matt.
16:19). Sin is always discovered in one way or another. This couple had
not mentioned anything openly, but the terrible sin was in their hearts.
They had lied to the Spirit of God who was graciously working in the hearts
of the believers, leading them to sell their belongings and share with
others.
C. The deaths (vv. 5-11).
"This was not a case of "church discipline" since God dealt
with the sinners directly. The two deaths illustrate the kind of judgment
Christ will exercise during the kingdom (see Jer. 23:5 and Rev. 19:15).
Unlike local church discipline, where the pastor and the church investigate
a matter, give opportunity for repentance and forgiveness, and seek to
restore the erring ones, this was a definite case of divine judgment.
It is interesting to compare this chapter to Joshua 7, where the covetous
Achan tried to hide sin from God and was killed. Great fear fell on the
church (v. 11) as people saw the hand of God at work.
D. The testimony (vv. 12-16).
"The assembly was now unified and magnified, and it therefore multiplied.
This will always happen when an assembly is purged of sin. Satan works
inside the church and tries to divide it, disgrace it, and destroy it;
but if we let the Spirit work, we will detect the devil's operation and
avoid church problems. A local church must have standards and must let
the Spirit lead. However don't put your standards before the direction
of the Holy Spirit. Satan still opposes the work of the church from within.
Paul warned the elders that wolves would come in from the outside to attack
the flock, but also that men would arise "from among yourselves"
to harm the church (Acts 20:29-30, NKJV). The greatest danger the church
faces today is not so much opposition from without, but sin from within.
This is why it is important to seek God's guidance in receiving new members
and in disciplining those who stray." (ibid)
II. Opposition from Without (5:17-34)
"The Jewish leaders (spurred on by the unbelieving Sadducees) were
filled with jealousy ("indignation" in v. 17) at the success
and popularity of the apostles. This time the entire apostolic band was
probably put in prison, most likely in public prison and not a special
ward. An angel of the Lord (this may have been Christ Himself) delivered
them, and thus graciously God gave the nation another chance to hear the
message of salvation. Note that the men went straight to the temple, for
this is where they would find the people who needed their message. Imagine
the surprise of the leaders when they discovered the prisoners gone! Keep
in mind that deliverance is not always God's plan; He allowed Peter to
be delivered but James to be slain (Acts 12) because each event worked
out for His glory.
"The leaders refused to pronounce the name of Jesus (v. 38)! "This
man's blood" reminds us of what the nation had said in Matt. 27:25.
The Jewish nation will not be cleansed until they see their Messiah and
are purged from their sin (Zech. 12:9-13:1).
"Peter and the apostles would not give in. Again they announced that
God would save Israel. (v. 31). If the leaders turned from their sin,
the people would follow their example (see John 7:48). The Word, like
a sword (Heb. 4:12), cut the rulers to the heart, and they wanted to murder
the apostles, just as they murdered Jesus!
"Gamaliel wisely gave his advice to the council: stay neutral and
find out whether God was in this movement or not. This appeared to be
wise counsel, but actually it was not. No one can be neutral about Christ.
To delay making a decision is to court disaster. It is interesting to
note that Gamaliel was a Pharisee, and not a part of the Sadducee group
that led the arrest. He is also the great Jewish rabbi who taught the
Apostle Paul (Acts 22:3). His pupil made a better decision than he did!
The apostles were beaten and released, but they went away in joy, not
defeat! They counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ (see Phil. 1:27-30).
The ministry of the church continued: (1) daily, (2) in public, places
and (3) in private homes." (ibid)
Acts 6, The First Deacons Chosen
I. A Family Difficulty (6:1-7)
"In one sense, the complaining was an evidence of blessing! The
assembly had increased so rapidly that the apostles were not able to
handle the daily distribution of food, and as a result some of the Grecian
Jews had been neglected. It is encouraging to trace the growth of the
church: 3,000 believed (2:41); then believers were added daily (2:47);
then the church grew to 5,000 men (4:4); then this number multiplied
(6:1); and then the number multiplied again greatly (6:7).
"What was the secret of this amazing growth? (Read 5:41-42) for
the answer: the leaders were willing to pay any price to serve Christ,
and the people lived their faith daily. Godly pastors and officers alone
cannot make a church grow; every member must do his or her part.
"The food problem was solved by putting first things first. The
apostles knew that their primary ministry was prayer and the Word of
God. If local churches would allow their pastors to obey (Acts 6:4),
we would see increase in spiritual power and in numbers. Prayer and
the Word go together (John 15:7) In Acts 1, through prayer and the Word
the apostles found God's will. Ephesians 6:17-18 states that prayer
and the Word will overcome the devil. (II Cor. 9:9-15) indicates that
the ministry of prayer and the Word will provide the financial resources
a church needs. Prayer and the Word will build a church in every way
(Acts 20:32-36).
"These seven men are not actually called "deacons," although
the word "ministration" in 6:1 is diakonia in the Gk., and
this word is transliterated "deacon" elsewhere in the Bible.
The word simply means "servant"; in 6:2 it is translated as
"serve" and in 6:4 as "ministry." Note that the
assembly did the choosing. The apostles also, led by the Spirit, laid
down the requirements which the believers gladly accepted. This is a
picture of unity and harmony between spiritual leaders and the members
of the flock. Whenever deacons or other church officers shackle the
pastor and make him a sanctified errand boy, God cannot bless."
A Spirit Led and Faithful Deacon (6:8-15)
"The name Stephen means "victor's crown," and certainly
he earned a crown by being faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10). According
to v. 3, Stephen had a good reputation among the believers, was Spirit-filled,
and had practical wisdom. What a combination for any Christian! He had
a two-fold witness: his words (v. 10) and his deeds (v. 8).
"There were hundreds of synagogues in Jerusalem, many of them established
by Jews from other lands. The synagogue of the Libertines was made up
of Roman Jews who were descendants of Hebrew slaves who had been set
free. ("Libertines" in v. 9 could be translated "freedmen.")
It is interesting to note that Stephen testified in the place where
there were Jews from Cilicia, for Paul was from that place (21:39) and
might well have faced Stephen in debate there in the synagogue.
"The enemy is always at work, and before long Stephen was arrested.
They accused him of blaspheming Moses and the Law and charged him with
saying that the temple would be destroyed; this may be a reference to
Christ's words in John 2:19-21. The Jews treated Stephen the way they
treated Christ: they hired false witnesses, made dubious accusations,
and did not give him the benefit of a fair trial. (See Mark 14:58 and
64.) God gave witness to Stephen's faith by radiating His glory from
his face (2 Cor. 3:18).
Stephens Testimony and Death, Acts 7
"This chapter records the longest single speech in the Book of
Acts as well as the turning point in Israel's spiritual history. It
records the nation's third important murder (John the Baptist, Christ,
and now Stephen) and their final rejection of the message of salvation.
In his address, Stephen reviewed the history of Israel and pointed out
that the nation always rejected God's chosen leaders when they first
appeared, but received them the second time. Both Moses and Joseph were
examples of this pattern (7:13 and 35). This is the very way Israel
treated Christ: He was presented to the nation on earth, but it refused
Him. Israel will receive Christ when He appears the second time."
(ibid)
Stephen's Historical Review of the
Old Testament
I. God's Covenant with Abraham (7:1-8)
"The covenant with Abraham is recorded in Genesis 13:14-18, as
well as in Genesis 15 and 17. It included the ownership by Abraham's
seed of the land of promise, and the promise of a multiplied seed
in the years to come. The seal of this covenant was circumcision.
This covenant with Abraham was the foundation of the Jewish nation.
God did not make this covenant with the Gentiles, nor does it apply
to the church. To "spiritualize" these promises and apply
them to the church is to misunderstand and twist Scripture. God promised
the Jews a land and a kingdom; because of their disobedience, they
lost possession of the land and failed to receive their kingdom. This
covenant with Abraham still stands, however, and will be fulfilled
when Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth.
Israel's Rejection of Joseph (7:9-16)
"Joseph bears a wonderful resemblance to Christ in many ways:
(1) he was beloved of his father (Gen. 37:3; Matt. 3:17); (2) he was
hated by his brethren (Gen. 37: 4-8; John 15:25); (3) he was envied
by his brethren (Gen. 37:11; Mark 15:10); (4) he was sold for the
price of a slave (Gen. 37:28; Matt. 26:15); (5) he was humbled as
a servant (Gen. 39:1ff; Phil. 2:5ff); (6) he was falsely accused (Gen.
39:16-18; Matt. 26:59-60); (7) he was exalted to honor (Gen. 41:14ff;
Phil. 2:9-10); (8) he was not recognized by his brethren the first
time (Gen. 42:8; Acts 3:17); (9) he revealed himself to them the second
time (Gen. 45:1ff; Acts 7:13; Zech. 12:10); (10) while rejected by
his brethren, he took a Gentile bride (Gen. 41:45; Acts 15:6-18).
"Stephen's argument here is that the Jews had treated Christ
the way the patriarchs treated Joseph, but he did not bring this accusation
out until the end. Just as Joseph suffered to save his people, so
Christ suffered to save Israel and all humankind; yet the Jews did
not receive Him." (ibid)
Israel's Rejection of Moses (7:7-41)
Like Joseph, Moses was strikingly similar to Christ:
(1) he was persecuted and almost slain when a child (Ex. 1:22; Matt. 2:13-20);
(2) he refused the world that he might save his people (Heb. 11:24-26;
(3) he was rejected the first time he tried to help Israel (Ex. 2:11-14; Isa. 53:3);
(4) he became a shepherd (John. 10);
(5) he took a Gentile bride during his rejection (Ex. 2:21);
(6) he was received by his brethren the second time (Ex. 4:29-31; Acts 7:5);
(7) he delivered the people from bondage through the
blood of the lamb (Ex. 12; 1 Peter 2:24). Moses was a prophet (Deut.
18:15-19; Acts 3:22), a priest (Ps. 99:6), and a king (Deut. 33:4-5).
"A comment may be needed on v. 38, where Israel is called "the
church in the wilderness." This word ekklesia means "a called-out
assembly" and does not suggest that Israel was the "church"
in the OT. We do not find prophecies about the church in the OT. Israel
(an earthly people) was not in the same relationship to God in the
OT as believers (a heavenly people) were in the NT.
"Though Israel had a godly leader and God Himself in their presence
(v. 38), they still rebelled and rejected God's will! "In their
hearts they turned back again to Egypt!" (v. 39) They turned
to idolatry, and God gave them up. Had they not done the same thing
while Christ was with them on earth? Moses performed miracles, met
their needs in the wilderness, and gave them the Word of God; Christ
also had performed mighty works, fed the people, and had given them
God's Word-yet they turned away!
Israel's Rejection of the Prophets (7:42-50)
"In these verses Stephen refers to Amos 5:25-27 and Isa. 66:1-2.
The Jews thought that because they had their temple, they were safe
from harm, and God had to bless them. The prophets all warned them
that the temple would not assure them of blessing if their hearts
were not right. How can God, who fills all heaven and earth, be confined
to a temple made with hands?" (ibid)
Israel's Judgment Sealed (7:51-60)
"Israel had committed two murders and was about to commit the
third. In allowing John the Baptist to be slain, they rejected the
Father who had sent John to prepare the way for Christ. When they
crucified Christ, they rejected the Son. Now, in slaying Stephen,
they were committing the final "unpardonable sin" (Matt.
12:31-32) of resisting the Holy Spirit. God would have forgiven the
nation of its treatment of His Son, but He could not forgive the Jews
once they resisted the Spirit who witnessed so mightily to His Son.
God had given every evidence to the nation that Christ was their Messiah,
but they preferred to harden their necks and hearts (7:51). How like
sinners today!
"Stephen used the Word, the "sword of the spirit" (Eph.
6:17; Heb. 4:12) cut them in conviction to the heart. About to be
slain, Stephen lifted his eyes to heaven and saw the glory of God.
"Ichabod-the glory hath departed" (1 Sam. 4:19-22) could
now be said of the nation of Israel; but Stephen saw that glory in
Christ, where we see it today (2 Cor. 4:1ff). Verses like Ps. 110:1,
Mark 16:19, and Heb. 1:3 and 10:12 indicate that Christ "sat
down" because of His finished work; but v. 55 speaks of Him standing.
We think Christ stood as a witness, the usual posture of witnesses
in the Jewish court, testifying to His servant's message and ministry.
Another fact we want to note is that Stephen's death closed the offer
of the King to the Jews and was the turning point in Acts, for now
the church as the body of Christ assumes importance; and it is to
the church that Christ has His ministry at the right hand of God.
The Jewish leaders would certainly recall Christ's testimony.
"Stephen's prayer shows his own love for his people and reminds
us of Christ's intercession on the cross. Perhaps Stephen thought,
seeing Christ standing, that He was going to bring judgment on the
nation for their repeated sin (see Ps. 7:6), and so he prayed for
grace and a postponement of wrath. "He fell asleep" is a
beautiful picture of what death means to a believer!" Israel's
judgment was sealed; in the following chapters we will see the Gospel
of grace (not the message of the kingdom) moving from the Jews to
the Samaritans and the Gentiles. (ibid)
Acts 8 - Paul, Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch are the main Characters in this Chapter
"Chapters 1-7 have described the "Period of Testing,"
during which the kingdom was offered to Israel for the third time.
Chapters 8-12 describe the "Period of Transition" during
which the following changes take place:
(1) The center of activity moves from Jerusalem to Antioch.
(2) The message goes from the Jews to the Samaritans and then to Gentiles.
(3) Peter's activities assume less importance as Paul becomes leader.
(4) The communism of the "kingdom economy" is replaced by
the activity of the church. The church had been in existence since
Pentecost, but its meaning and place in God's program were now revealed
through Paul's ministry of grace.
(5) The Gospel of the kingdom is replaced by the Gospel of the grace
of God. If the Ethiopian eunuch was black (as some say he was), then
in chapters 8-10 you have three remarkable conversions paralleling
the three sons of Noah in Gen. 10:18. The Ethiopian would have descended
from Ham; Paul, a Jew, from Shem; and Cornelius, a Gentile, from Japheth.
Thus we have a picture of the Gospel going to the whole of humankind.
Philip the Evangelist (8:1-25)
"Satan again attacked as a lion, seeking to devour the believers.
Paul was the chief leader in this great persecution and admitted it
later several times (Acts 26:10-11; 22:4-5 and 18-20; 1 Tim. 1:13;
1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13). Note that Paul definitely stated that he
persecuted the church of God, which proves that the church was in
existence before Paul's conversion, though its place in God's plan
had yet to be revealed. To begin with, the apostles did not leave
the city, but courageously remained to give their message to the Jewish
leaders and to witness to the lost." (ibid)
Acts 8 - Paul, Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch are the main Characters in this Chapter
"The apostles were hoping against hope that Israel would repent
and be saved. They could have this ministry only in Jerusalem. Christ's
commandment to them was to remain there; it was Paul who would take
the Gospel "to the uttermost parts."
"Persecution is an opportunity for service, and Philip is given
here as an example of an evangelist (Eph. 4:11). Called to be a deacon
(6:5), like Stephen before him, Philip discovered added spiritual
gifts and became a mighty evangelist. He took the Gospel to Samaria,
just as Christ had done in John 4; and thus for the first time in
Acts we see the ministry of the Word moved from Jewish territory.
Persecution only opened the door for soul-winning; what began as "great
persecution" (v. 1) became "great joy" (v. 8).
"What Satan could not accomplish through destruction he here
sought to accomplish through deception; the lion becomes the serpent
(John 8:44). Simon the sorcerer made a profession of faith in Christ
and was even baptized; but subsequent events proved that his heart
was never changed. His "faith" was like that described in
John 2:23-25.
That Simon was never saved is evident:
(1) Peter said, "Your money perish with you" (v. 20);
(2) he also said, "You have neither part nor lot [fellowship] in this word" (translated "matter" in v. 21);
(3) v. 23 indicates Simon was in the bond of iniquity.
Simon was a Satanic counterfeit, a "child of the devil."
Wherever the true seed (Christians-see Matt. 13:36-40) is sown, Satan
sows his counterfeits." (ibid)
There are many today that have succumbed to "easy believism"
Just pray and you are saved. I remember when I asked deacon, "How
long would I have to pray until I would know that I was saved?"
That deacon well knew his scripture because he said, "You can
pay until you die and not know that you are saved." Faith in
Christ and Hope are essential to your salvation, without these you
are only going through the motions. Romans 10:9-10 and Ephesians 2:8-9
are perfect examples of how to be saved. Pastor Bob
Peter's 2nd Use of the Keys of the Kingdom, Acts 8
"Peter made his first use of "the keys of the kingdom"
at Pentecost, when he opened the door of faith to the Jews; he uses
them for the second time here when he imparts the Spirit to the Samaritans.
Until now, people had to be baptized to receive the Spirit; but now
the gift was given through the laying on of hands (see Paul's case
in 9:17). Those who teach that Peter's command in Acts 2:38 is God's
demand today have a hard time explaining how these Samaritan believers
received the Spirit several days after they were baptized. When we
reach Acts 10-concerning the Gentiles-we have God's order for today:
hear the Word, believe, receive the Spirit, be baptized.
Philip the Personal Worker (8:26-40)
"Any Christian would enjoy a revival such as that which God gave
in Samaria, but not everyone would leave such a meeting to lead one
soul to Christ! Philip obeyed the Lord and found an Ethiopian, undoubtedly
a proselyte to the Jewish faith, a man who was a high officer in his
land. We see in this event the factors necessary for effective personal
work and soul-winning.
The man of God.
"Philip was obedient to the Spirit, going where God led him.
He knew Christ as his own Savior. God's method for winning others
does not use organizational machinery, worldly attractions, or high-powered
promotion. God uses people-dedicated men and women who will obey the
Spirit. Philip was the kind of evangelist who was willing to leave
the public meeting with its excitement to help a soul find peace in
a private place where only God could see.
The Spirit of God.
"The Holy Spirit is the Lord of the Harvest, and it's through
Him that we have the power to witness (Acts 1:8). The Spirit opened
the way for Philip to come to the man; He opened the Scriptures to
the seeking sinner; and He opened the sinner's heart to the Savior.
A man cannot be saved who does not understand what he is doing, and
only the Spirit can teach the sinner the truths of the Gospel. (ibid)
Contiued
The Keys of the Kingdom: The Word of God."
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God"
says Rom. 10:17 (NKJV). Isaiah 53 was the chapter Philip used (vv.
32-33), that wonderful picture of the Lamb of God; from that chapter
Philip preached Christ. He began where the man was and took him through
the Scriptures, explaining who Jesus was and what He had done. There
can be no real conversion apart from the Word of God. Consider these
Scriptures: John 5:24; Eph. 1:12-14; 1 Thes. 2:1-6; 2 Thes. 3:1; 2
Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 1:3. The personal witness that finally bears fruit
is the witness that plants the seed of the Word and exalts Jesus Christ.
The Ethiopian proved his faith by his baptism, in obedience to the
Word of God. Philip was caught away for a ministry elsewhere; but
the treasurer went on his way rejoicing! When Philip preached Christ
in the city, there was great joy (v. 8), and when he presented Christ
in the desert, he sent the new believer on his way rejoicing. Joy
is one of the evidences of true conversion. See Luke 15:5-7, 9-10,
23-24, 32.
Acts Chapter 9
"The conversion of Paul is the great turning-point in God's dealings
with Israel. His whole program for the evangelization of the world
depended on this unusual man. If we are to rightly divide the Word
of Truth, we must keep in mind that Peter and Paul in the Book of
Acts represent two different ministries. Note these contrasts:
"Too many Christians confuse these two ministries and thus turn
the local church into a hodgepodge of "kingdom truth" and
"church truth." Paul is God's spokesman to the local church;
even Peter admits this (2 Peter 3:15-16). To follow the practices
of the local assembly in Acts 1-7, and thus ignore God's instructions
to the church through Paul, is to disobey the Word. Even Peter did
not fully understand God's new program revealed through Paul and had
to be instructed further (see Gal. 2). (ibid)
Paul and the Lord (9:1-9)
"Paul's conversion was all of grace; God suddenly interrupted
him on his murderous mission and by grace transformed him into a new
person. Just as the church is one body composed of Jews and Gentiles,
so Paul was one man with both Jewish and Gentile relationships. He
was a Jew by birth, but a Gentile by citizenship. He was God's choice
servant (v. 15) to announce the message of the church, this "mystery"
that God had kept secret from ages past. Being associated with both
Jews and Gentiles, trained in the OT Scriptures as well as the Greek
philosophies and Roman laws, Paul was the ideal man to give this new
message that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile in Christ.
"His conversion experience can be summarized in these statements:
(1) He saw a light;
(2) He heard a voice;
(3) He obeyed a call.
Every sinner is in the dark until the light of the Gospel shines on him. Paul heard the voice of the Lord through the Word of God, although Paul heard Christ speak audibly. (The men with him heard sounds, but did not hear the words.) How Christ humbled Paul! He "fell" not only physically but in his heart as well; for unless we fall in humility we cannot be saved. Verse 4 is another proof that the body of Christ was in existence; otherwise how could Paul persecute Christ? When he laid hands on believers, he laid hands on the members of His body, and this affected the Head of the body, Christ.
Paul and Ananias (9:10-19)
"Paul had seen in a vision that Ananias would visit him, for
when God works, He works at both ends of the line. Ananias's fears
were answered by God's promise that Paul would have a special ministry
to the Gentiles, and how those words must have shocked this faithful
Jewish believer! (See Acts 22:12-13.) Paul's ministry was primarily
to the Gentiles; see Acts 13:46-47; 18:6; 22:21. The fact that Paul
was already saved when Ananias arrived is seen in Ananias's greeting,
"Brother Saul." Some misunderstand Paul's baptismal experience
as recorded in Acts 22:16: "Arise, and be baptized, and wash
away your sins" (NKJV). (ibid)
Paul and the Jews (9:20-31)
"Two evidences are given of Paul's conversion: he prayed (v.
11) and he preached (v. 20). Talking to God for men and to men for
God are good proofs of conversion. Paul started where he was and preached
what he knew, another good policy for new Christians to follow. His
conversion was probably in the year A.D. 37. He spent time in Damascus
preaching, then went to Arabia (Gal. 1:15-18), returning to Damascus
"after many days" (Acts 9:23). This covered a period of
probably three years, during which time Paul was being taught the
truths of God's "mystery of the church." When back in Damascus,
he was attacked by the Jews and had to leave through a window at night
(2 Cor. 11:32-33; Acts 9:23-26.)
"This takes us from A.D. 37 to A.D. 39, at which time he went
to Jerusalem, where he met the apostles (Acts 9:26-29; 22:15-21; Gal.
1:17-20). The apostles were afraid of Paul, and it was Barnabas ("son
of consolation," Acts 4:36) who introduced Paul to the group.
The fact that Paul was a stranger (and even an enemy) to the apostles
is important: it proves that he got his message of grace from Christ
Himself and not from men. (See Gal. 1:15-18.) God took every precaution
to keep separate the ministries of Paul and the twelve apostles. What
a tragedy that people confuse them today. Paul stayed with Peter for
fifteen days (Gal. 1:18), but he did not see any other apostle (Gal.
1:19). He did visit James, the Lord's brother (Gal. 1:19) who later
took Peter's place as the spiritual leader in Jerusalem (Acts 15).
Paul wanted to minister to the Jews in Jerusalem, but God commanded
him to depart from the city (Acts 22:17-21). God's kingdom program
at Jerusalem was now at a close, and Paul had a ministry to fulfill
among the Gentiles." Further persecution made it necessary for
Paul to leave, so he returned to his home at Tarsus. Gal. 1:21 suggests
that Paul preached in that region, and Acts 15:23 indicates that there
were churches in that area. Further persecution made it necessary
for Paul to leave, so he returned to his home at Tarsus. Gal. 1:21
suggests that Paul preached in that region, and Acts 15:23 indicates
that there were churches in that area. (ibid)
Paul and the Jews (9:20-31)
"It is possible that during his stay of four or five years, Paul
preached the Gospel of the grace of God and established Gentile churches.
When the center of ministry moved from Jerusalem to Antioch (a Gentile
city), Barnabas went and sought for Paul and brought him back to minister
with him (see Acts 11:19-30).
Peter and the Saints (9:32-43)
"Why does Luke discuss Peter at this point? The answer may have
to do with the city he mentions: Joppa (vv. 36 and 43). This city
reminds us at once of the prophet Jonah, who went down to Joppa to
flee to Tarshish (Jonah 1:1-3). God called Jonah to carry His message
to the Gentiles; and God was about to call Peter to do the same thing
(Acts 10). Peter lived in Joppa with Simon, a tanner, suggesting that
some of Peter's Jewish prejudices are now being set aside, for tanning
was "unclean" as far as Jews were concerned. Peter was about
to discover that nothing is unclean that God has sanctified.
Acts 10, Revival among the Gentiles
"This chapter is one of the most important in the entire Book
of Acts, for it records the opening of the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Peter had used "the keys of the kingdom" to open the door
of faith to the Jews (Acts 2) and the Samaritans (Acts 8:14ff), and
now would complete his special ministry by opening the door to the
Gentiles (see Acts 15:6-11). You should also read Acts 11:1-18 to
get Peter's picture of this momentous event.
"We noted in Acts 8 that, when God wants to do a work, He calls
a man of God, empowers him with the Spirit of God, and enables him
to preach the Word of God. This same program is seen in operation
in this chapter." "Caesarea was a Roman city, the Roman
capital of Palestine. Cornelius was a God-fearing Gentile who did
not know the truth of the Gospel. He was devout, honest, generous,
and sincere; but he was not a saved man. (ibid)
Preparation by the Spirit of God (10:1-22)
The Spirit prepares Cornelius (vv. 1-8).
"It is possible to be very religious but still be lost! Were
it not for the fact that God in His grace spoke to Cornelius, he would
never have become a believer. We see here a fulfillment of Christ's
promise in John 7:17, "If any man is willing to do His will,
he shall know the truth." An angel spoke to him and told him
to send for Peter. Why did not the angel give Cornelius the message
himself? Because God has not given to angels the ministry of sharing
the Gospel with sinners. What a privilege we have in telling the Gospel
to lost souls, a privilege that angels do not have! Peter was thirty
miles away at Joppa, but with soldier-like obedience, Cornelius called
for two servants and a guard and sent them on this important mission.
The Spirit was leading all of this activity (vv. 19-20).
The Spirit prepares Peter (vv. 9-22)
"Whenever God is at work, He leads "at both ends of the
line." He prepares us for what He is preparing for us. Peter
saw all kinds of creatures, both clean and unclean (ceremonially speaking,
cf. Lev. 11) and was commanded to kill and eat. His "Not so,
Lord!" reminds us of Matt. 16:22, where he told Christ not to
go to the cross. Anyone who says "Lord" cannot say "Not
so!" If He is truly Lord, we must obey Him. While Peter thought
about this vision, which occurred three times, the Spirit spoke to
him directly and told him, "Arise and go!" Peter did not
go to the Gentiles because he understood the vision, but because the
Holy Spirit Himself told him to go (see 11:11-16). Later, he fully
understood the meaning of the vision that God had, through the cross,
broken down all division between Jews and Gentiles." (ibid)
Obedience of the Man of God (10:23-33)
"Keep in mind that, up to this time, the Apostles had not preached
to the Gentiles. Even the Samaritans (Acts 8) were "half-breed"
Jews with reverence for the Mosaic law. Peter did not go to the Gentiles
because he was obeying the Great Commission, but because the Spirit
had distinctly commanded him to go. (ibid)
Obedience of the Man of God (10:23-33)
"When Peter arrived at Cornelius' house, he asked, "For what
reason have you sent for me?" (v. 29, NKJV) And when he preached,
God had to interrupt him in order to accomplish His purpose (v. 44 and
11:15-16). Like the other apostles, Peter was still clinging to the
Jewish outlook, and he knew that the Gentiles could not be reached until
the Jews had accepted their Messiah and He had set up His kingdom. But
now Peter was going to learn that God was introducing a new program-the
church. Please do not assume that Peter understood all about this new
program; in fact, Paul later had to rebuke Peter for his inconsistency
(see Gal. 2). During this period of transition (Acts 8-12) we see Peter
disappearing from the scene and with him the kingdom message to Israel.
The Preaching of the Word of God (10:34-48)
"A prepared preacher and a prepared congregation make a wonderful
team! Read Heb. 11:6 in connection with v. 35; Peter did not say that
all who "do good" are saved. He began with the message of
Christ to Israel, starting with the ministry of John the Baptist. He
stated that Cornelius and his friends knew already the message about
Christ's miracles, His death, and His resurrection and that these events
were related especially to Israel. In v. 42 he said, "And He commanded
us [Jewish witnesses] to preach unto the people" (meaning the Jews),
which is what the apostles did up to that time. What Peter had said
was simply that Christ came to save the nation of Israel, but now he
realized that with God there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles.
He spoke the key truth in v. 43 when he said, "whoever believes
in Him will receive remission of sins" (NKJV).
"At this point the Spirit interrupted Peter and wrought a miracle
in the hearts of these Gentiles. They believed the Word! And when they
believed, the Spirit was poured out upon them, the evidence being that
they spoke with tongues. (See Gal. 3:2.) The Jews with Peter were astonished
that God would save the Gentiles without first making them Jewish proselytes."
(ibid)
The Preaching of the Word of God (10:34-48)
"Led by the Spirit, Peter commanded that they be baptized; and
Peter and his friends stayed and ate with these new believers (11:3).
"Review once again the relationship in Acts between the Spirit
and baptism. In Acts 2, the Jews believed and had to be baptized to
receive the Spirit. In Acts 8, the Samaritans believed and were baptized,
but they received the Spirit by the laying on of the apostles' hands.
But here in Acts 10 we are on true "church ground," for
these Gentiles heard the Word, believed, received the Spirit, and
then were baptized. The events of Acts 2:38 and 8:14-17 are not the
pattern for the church today. Ephesians 1:13-14 should be read carefully.
The Spirit's coming was actually a baptism, as Peter explained in
Acts 11:15-16. Only two times is the word "baptism" used
in Acts with reference to the Spirit: in Acts 2, when the Spirit came
upon the believing Jews, and in Acts 10, when He came upon the believing
Gentiles. This fulfills what Paul describes in 1 Cor. 12:13, "For
by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews
or Gentiles." This "one body" is the church (Eph. 2:11-22).
In fact, in 11:15 Peter stated that the baptism in the home of Cornelius
was identical to the one at Pentecost. Today, when sinners accept
Christ, the Spirit comes into their bodies, and they are baptized
into the body of Christ.
"As we will see in Acts 11 and 15, the conversion of the Gentiles
created a great problem for the Jewish believers, not because they
were guilty of prejudice, but because they did not understand "the
mystery" of the church (Eph. 3)." (ibid) The A-Millennial
teachers of today do not believe God will ever return to the Jews,
rather they try to put the Pre-Millennial teaching completely out
of their minds. There also is a teaching of "British Israelism"
that teaches that the Anglo-Saxons are the Jews of today and have
all the blessings of the Jews in the church. In other words, the born
again ones of today will receive all the blessings that formerly belonged
to the Jews. Both these teachings are wrong and Romans 10, 11- and
12 teach that the Jews are to be restored to Israel and be blessed.
RJS
The Preaching of the Word of God (10:34-48)
"They thought that the Gentiles could be saved only through Israel's
rise as a kingdom; but God revealed through Paul that through Israel's
fall the Gentiles were saved (Rom. 11:11-25). The message of the kingdom
given through the prophets (Acts 3:18-26) was replaced by the message
of the grace of God, revealed in its fullness through Paul (Acts 13:38-43).
Israel was set aside and will not be prominent in God's program on
earth again until after the church has been raptured.
"The church's commission today is found in Matt. 28:19-20. We
are to make disciples, which calls for evangelism; we are to baptize,
which implies fellowship in a local assembly; and we are to teach
the Word, which the Spirit uses to convict the lost. Let us be busy
sowing the seed of the Word, watering it with our prayers and tears
(Ps. 126:5-6; Acts 20:19) and patiently waiting for the harvest.
Acts 11
"In this chapter we learn of the relationship between believers
in Jerusalem (a Jewish church) and the new Gentile disciples. Keep
in mind that the Jerusalem church's problem is not prejudice but rather
a misunderstanding of the purposes of God. The OT understanding of
God's program was that of an earthly kingdom which would bless the
Gentiles through the reign of Israel's Messiah. But the nation had
rejected Christ and His kingdom; did this mean that the Gentiles could
not be saved? Must they first become Jewish proselytes? Peter's experience
at Caesarea (Acts 10) and Paul's revelation of "the mystery of
the church" (Ephesians 3) helped to answer these questions. Both
experiences proved that both Jew and Gentile stand condemned before
God and can be saved only through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Jerusalem Church Accepts the Gentiles (11:1-18)
"The faithful Jews contended with Peter because he had fellowshipped
and even eaten with Gentiles. As long as God's kingdom plan was still
being offered to the Jews, Peter's actions were wrong. God's message
was "to the Jew first" (Acts 1-7). (ibid)
The Jerusalem Church Accepts the Gentiles - Acts (11:1-18)
"Christ had commanded the disciples to start in Jerusalem (Luke
24:47; Acts 1:8), and when Jerusalem believed, the nation would
receive the Messiah and the kingdom would be established (Acts 3:25-26).
Peter did not go to Cornelius' house because he understood God's
new program, but because he had been commanded personally by the
Holy Spirit (11:12). These believing Jews who criticized Peter did
so not because they hated the Gentiles, but because they wanted
to be faithful to God's revealed will.
"When Peter told them how the Spirit had guided him and sealed
his ministry by coming upon the believing Gentiles, the Jewish Christians
rejoiced and glorified God.
Note that Peter proved what he did was God's will by appealing to
: (1) his own personal experience (vv. 5-11),
(2) the leading of the Spirit (v. 12), and
(3) the Word of God (v. 16). Three essentials are always necessary if we are to do God's will: personal testimony, the leading of the Spirit in our hearts, and the clear teaching of the Word of God.
The Jerusalem Church Encourages the Gentiles (11:19-26)
Now the Gospel goes into new Gentile territory, Antioch, a key city
in Syria. (Do not confuse this with Antioch in Pisidia, which is
mentioned in Acts 13:14. Consult your Bible maps for these two cities.)
The persecution described in 8:1ff had scattered Christians as far
as Antioch, about 300 miles north of Jerusalem. True to their commission,
they had preached to Jews only (this was before the events of Acts
10, of course); but some disciples began to preach to the Gentiles.
The word "Grecians" in 11:20 is not the same as the word
in 6:1, where it means "Hellenized Jews." Here, the word
actually means "Greeks"-in other words, Gentiles. Many
Gentiles came to know Christ as their Savior, and the Jerusalem
church sent Barnabas to investigate the situation. But his mission
was unlike that of Peter and John's in 8:14-17, for these believers
had already received the Spirit. (ibid)