Acts 9:31-11:30 – Peter’s Ministry

Peter Heals the Paralytic and Tabitha

Verse 31 characterized the growing church as a time of peace.  It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit.  It grew and lived in fear (wisdom) of the Lord. 

What would it take for the church today to look like the 1^st century church?

Is your church at peace and growing? 

Do you complain about trivial things and cause dissention and agreements in the church?

As Peter traveled and spread the good news and healed many.  He healed a paralytic who had been bedridden for 8 years.  A disciple named Tabitha was sick and died.  Peter prayed and she lived again.  Many believed as result of this miracle. 

Two miracles of physical healing tell us at least 2 things:

1.       Only through faith in Jesus can the apostles heal and only through faith in Jesus can we be healed (Mark10:52, Luke 7:50, 18:42).

2.      Just as Jesus can bring us comfort by physical healing here on earth, He can bring spiritual healing.  Without Him all are spiritually dead.

Cornelius the Gentile

Cornelius was a Greek and a good and religious man.  We’re told he was devout and God-fearing.  He was highly respected by the Jewish people.  He and his whole family worshiped God, but he didn’t know Jesus.  He was constantly praying and helping the poor.  One day he had a vision and an angel of God told him to send men to Joppa and bring back Peter.

Meanwhile, Peter was praying and had a vision.  Heaven opened and it looked like a large sheet coming down to earth filled with all kinds of animals.  A voice said, “Get up, Peter.  Kill and eat.”  Peter thought these were unclean since Old Testament law had strict rules - to not eat unclean animals and birds (Lev. 11, 17:10-14, 20:25) and to eat food with non-jews, but now God said nothing He made was impure or unclean.  This happened 3 times and Peter wondered what this meant.  Then men sent by Cornelius asked Peter to go back with them as Cornelius had asked.

In those days God often spoke to people through visions, because they didn’t have the complete written Word as we do today.  Today we have access to His written Word, the Bible.  However God sometimes does reveal His will to people by dreams or visions.

Jesus’ death changed the Old Testament law.  Peter now realized that God does not show favoritism and accepts men from every nation (Acts 10:35) - Jew or Gentile.  Does this mean that God accepts people from every nation in His family without belief in Christ?  No.  He is saying everyone is eligible.  (John 14:6) - Jesus said He is the only way. (Acts 4:12) – Salvation is found in no other.

How do you show prejudice?

Do you pass judgments on someone by how they look?

Peter went knowing he would be criticized for eating with Gentiles and not obeying the Jewish traditions.  He knew God was guiding him and that it was God’s will so he went without fear.

Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house where his friends and family were waiting.  They expected something exciting to happen and it did.  Peter’s shared the gospel with them.  He told of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and His forgiveness of sins for anyone who repents and believes.  He told them he and the other disciples were witnesses of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  While he was speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on them.  They were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles.  “For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” - Acts 10:44.  This was like a confirmation of the Holy Spirit which was important in that day and time.  Also note, the Holy Spirit came prior to baptism confirming baptism does not save, but is an outward sign of the beginning of a new life.

Principle:  Salvation is not based on national identity or good works. 

How available are you to the Holy Spirit?

Do you understand why you find it hard to get alone to do Bible study? (The enemy, Satan doesn’t want you to.)

What do you need to change in your life to be available to Jesus Christ?

Peter Criticized

The well-meaning church criticized Peter for what he had done for the Gentiles, but Peter said who am I to go against the Lord (Acts 11:16-17).  Then there were no further objections.

 Antioch was the capitol of Syria.  It was a city of sin.  It was corrupt with pagan influences and desperately needed the cleansing power of Jesus.  There are 4 events in the early history of this important church at Antioch:

1.       They told the Greeks (Gentiles) about Jesus

2.      Barnabas and Saul taught great numbers of people.

3.      Disciples were called Christian for the first time.

4.      Prophets came to Antioch and prophesied

The Lord’s hand was on them because a great number of people turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21).  The news reached Jerusalem and the church sent Barnabas who had the biggest heart in the church.  He believed in Saul and wasn’t afraid when others were.  We all need a Barnabas in our lives.  He wouldn’t care what background we came from or if we shown up on Sunday at church wearing holey jeans.   He wouldn’t look at the external, but the internal.  The name Barnabas means son of encouragement.   

Do you have a Barnabas or are you a Barnabas?

Barnabas brought Saul to help teach in Antioch.  When they arrived in Antioch there was evidence of God’s grace (Acts 11:23-24).  Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and faith and great numbers of people were brought to the Lord.  More and More people were converted.

Principle:  People come to God only through faith in Jesus Christ.

The gospel was first preached to the Jews and then to the Gentiles as God’s grace to save all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ.  There are prejudices all around us, but the lesson here is we need to put away any prejudice and put on love for all people.  God shows no favoritism.  He loves and wants to save everyone.

Join me here next week for our next study in the book of Acts.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Acts 8-9

Acts 8 – Persecution Spreads the Gospel

Saul was there at Stephen’s death and gave his approval.  Persecution officially began against the church.  Saul began to destroy the church.  He went from house to house and dragged off men and women and put them in prison (Acts 8:1-2).  The apostles and the early church were persecuted for their belief in Jesus.  We today as Christians can expect persecution.  Though the apostles were persecuted, it did not stop them.  Even good things happened.  This persecution united them even more.  They were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. (Acts 8:4) - They preached the word wherever they went.  By being scattered they could now preach to more people. 

When facing hard times do you talk about what God is teaching you?

Philip went to Samaria where the apostles had already proclaimed the Christ there.  When Philip performed miraculous signs, they listened.  Many people received Christ and were baptized.  Preaching the word to them was a new outlook for the Jewish Christians.  The Jews and Samaritans did not get along at all.  The Jews thought they were special, since they had the law and were God’s chosen people.  Samaritans were thought to be the lowest of people and were despised by the Jews.  They were probably the last people the apostles thought they would ever preach to.

Do you let your prejudices stand in your way of telling others about Jesus?

Simon

The apostles came face to face with the occult.  Simon was a sorcerer and had many followers.  He boasted that he was someone great.  When he heard Philip’s preaching of the good news and saw his great signs and miracles, Simon believed and was baptized.  To believe doesn’t always mean saving faith.  (Even Satan believes.)  When he saw Peter and John giving the people who believed the Holy Spirit, Simon offered them money and said “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit” – Acts 8:19.  Peter explained that he cannot buy this gift of God and he had no part in this ministry because your heart is not right before God.  Peter told him to repent of this wickedness and pray for forgiveness. (Acts 8:20-23)  Simon was amazed by the power of the Holy Spirit and not interested in salvation.

Simon was awed by the miracles he saw Philip do, but his faith was not real.  His heart was not right.  He never truly repented.  This shows that God knows your heart and you cannot deceive the Holy Spirit.  You cannot manipulate Him for your own purposes.

Salvation is a matter of God changing your heart. (Acts 8:21).  He makes you a new creation in Christ.  Believers don’t live for self like Simon, but for God and His glory.  Living for God’s glory is a live long process.  Believers struggle daily, but continue to repent and trust God.

The Ethiopian

An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south toward Gaza.  On this way he met an Ethiopian who was going to Jerusalem to worship.  He was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah.  The Ethiopian didn’t understand the Isaiah passage.  He was dedicated to God, but didn’t know Jesus Christ.  God knew the Ethiopian’s heart and sent Philip to witness to him.  Philip did not question God, he just went.  God prepares the person and makes all the arrangements of time and place.  Philip was prepared.  A student of the scriptures and he knew Jesus Christ.  Philip explained Isaiah 53 to him.  This passage is talking about Jesus and how He was led to the cross as the sheep to slaughter.  Jesus didn’t try to talk His way out.  He was humiliated and deprived of justice and His life was taken.  God sends just the right person just when we need them as He did for the Ethiopian.

Principle:  God evangelizes the world through obedient Christians.

How much are you really seeking God?

How willing and available are you to go where He’s directing you?

How willing are you to cross over boundaries like life style, race, etc.?

Are you willing and ready or intimated to share the gospel?

Acts 9:1-30 – Saul’s Conversion

Saul was a highly religious and educated man.  He was the leading persecutor of Christians.  He believed he was working for God.  Saul was threatening the disciples and persecuting them and their followers.  One day on the road to Damascus a bright brilliant light from heaven slashed all around him and he fell to the ground blinded.  He heard a voice (Jesus) saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” – Acts 9:4.   To hurt any Christian is to hurt Jesus Himself.  The voice replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  Now get up and go to the city and you will be told what you must do.” – Acts 9:5.  The men traveling with Saul led him to Damascus and for 3 days he was blind and didn’t eat or drink anything. 

Who are you persecuting?

Then a disciple named Ananias (this is a different Ananias that the one in chapter 5) was told by the Lord to go and minister to Saul.  Ananias is not described as a pastor or of anyone special.  He was afraid and for he had heard of Saul’s reputation for persecuting Christians, but Ananias overcame his fears and obeyed God.  By the time he arrived, Saul was ready to receive God’s gift of the Holy Spirit.  He placed his hands on Saul and immediately Saul could see again.  Saul believed and was baptized.  God turned his mission of hate to a mission of heaven.

Saul (later known as Paul) then preached in Damascus.  Then he went to Jerusalem and to all Judea to the Gentiles, preaching that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.  He never lost sight of the glory of God throughout his life.  He endured many types of persecution, but continued to do God’s will.

We must follow God’s will and obey whatever He asked, even if we are afraid.  What if Ananias had said “No”?  What a privilege he had to lead Saul to Christ.  God used Saul to evangelize to most of the unknown world.  He wrote much of the New Testament. 

Principles:  No heart is too hard for Jesus Christ to change.

Who do you identify with?

            Philip – trusting, going without question and doing what God says

            Ethiopian – seeking God, but clueless

            Ananias – feeling fearful and overwhelmed of what God is asking you to do

            Saul – showing a hard heart

Do you have a Saul in your life?

 Are you willing to minister and pray for them? 

God wants all of us to be ready, willing and available to help someone else to have life in a new direction.

Join me here next week for our next study in the book of Acts.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Acts 6-7 – Stephen - the Man, the Message, the Martyr

As a church grows there is always some kind of strife.  Satan is always at work to divide and conquer, because he hates the church.  It happened in the first church and it happens today.  The church and the apostles were threatened and distracted from their God-given call, because the Grecian Jews complained that some of the widows were being overlooked in daily food distribution.  God wanted the apostles to spread the word of God and saturate themselves in prayer and ministry of the word and not let social pressures of the time divert their attention.  So the whole church met together and they appointed 7 men (first elders of the church) to be responsible for such matters.  They were to be full of the Holy Spirit and full of wisdom.  They must be in submission to God’s Word.  1 Tim. 3 tells many more characteristics deacons and elders should have like being trustworthy, men of respect, self-controlled, able to teach, etc. 

The church presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So God’s Word kept spreading and the number of disciples increased.  God worked through the gospel to bring people to salvation.

God set His seal of authority on their choices.  One of the men chosen was Stephen.  He was as powerful as the apostles by doing great wonders and miraculous signs (Acts 6:8). 

Stephen was a godly man and displayed courage as he witnessed for Jesus.   He was full of the Holy Spirit.  He was full of wisdom.  He was full of faith.  He was full of grace.  He was full of power. 

Opposition arose.  Members of the Synagogue began to argue with Stephen, but they couldn’t stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit in him.  They secretly persuaded men to be false witnesses against him saying he spoke blasphemy against the temple and the law. 

Stephen answered the Jewish leaders’ accusations by reminding them of their history from Abraham to Moses.   He showed them God’s grace throughout history.  He reminded them of their continued rejection and their resistance to the Holy Spirit.  He accused them of the murder of Jesus and disobeying of the law.  He called them “stiff-necked people”.  He used the Bible quoting Isaiah 66:1-2. 

When they heard all Stephen said they were furious, but Stephen was calm and confident.  This was the start of persecution of the church.  They dragged him out of the city for stoning.  He looked up and saw the glory of God in heaven and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  As Stephen was stoned to death he asked God to not hold this sin against them just as Jesus asked God to forgive them as He died on the cross.

Principles:  God’s truth will be opposed.

As we witness we should be prepared for opposition especially when we talk to religious blinded, hardened sinners.  These kinds of people can’t defeat the message so they go after the messenger.   They took Stephen’s statements and twisted them.  Does that sound familiar?  I’m sure it’s happened to you sometime during your life time no matter the subject.  I see it in our politics with words and actions being twisted to serve the opposition’s purpose.  There is blinded hate and jealousy when we should be living in unity.  Logic and wisdom are not enough to make converts.  Only God can do that.  We just have to plant the seeds and God will do the work.

Principle:  God gives us power through the Holy Spirit to share the truth.

What effect does opposition to Christian activity and life in the Spirit have on you?

Are you a Christian, but living otherwise?

Do you pray for your pastor and church leaders?

What truths are you refusing to receive that God has shown you?

Where do you need to stand up for Jesus?

Do you tell others about Jesus? When witnessing you don’t need to be defensive, just tell your story.

 

Join me here next week for our next study in the book of Acts.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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