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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Acts 5

Acts 5:1-11 – The Deception

There were problems in the early church just as there are problems in our churches today.  There was sin, legalism and persecution.  Some sins we are told about are that of Ananias and his wife Sapphira.  They sold a piece of property and decided to donate a portion of the money, but they lied to the apostles telling them they gave all of the profit.  It’s not uncommon for some to try to look holy for personal gain.  Ananias and Sapphira certainly wanted to look holy.  They were hypocrites.  They should have been honest about the sale.  Peter was given supernatural knowledge of what they had done.  He told them they lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3).  They lied not to men, but to God (Acts 5:4).  When Ananias heard this, he fell dead.  Later Sapphira also lied and she fell dead.  They paid the price of their lies with their death. 

Their greed was based on pride, deceit, and selfishness.  Death is the consequence of sin.  This shows me that the Holy Spirit knows all and we cannot hide anything from God.  Also it teaches God does not tolerate sin.  This may appear to be a harsh judgment, but they could not live in the atmosphere of purity that marked the church at that time.  They may have been in such shock that their sin was exposed that they had heart attacks.  It’s impossible to say that they did or did not go to heaven.  Only God knows.  We do know true Christians don’t lose their salvation by sinning, because we all sin daily.  The difference is we don’t let sin rule our lives.

We learn from this passage that there are two kinds of people in the church and it’s sometimes impossible to tell them from the outside.  We may be able to get away with sin for a while, but it will catch up with us.  We learn that we can hide nothing from God.  He knows all even the secrets of our hearts.  We learn that sin is a deadly serious matter to God.

Many Christians’ fear in not the sinning itself, but in being found out.  When we as Christians act this way, it may cost someone else their salvation.  It can turn them away from Christ - not toward Him.  Note:  In verse 11 the word church is used for the first time.

How does your life demonstrate pride, deceit or selfishness?

Principle:  Nothing can be hidden from God.

Acts 5:12-16 – The Healings

The apostles continued performing many signs and wonders and the church began to grow.  All the believers met together in Solomon’s Colonnade.  (Solomon’s Colonnade was also known as Solomon’s Porch.  It was located on the eastern side of the Temple’s Outer Court in Jerusalem.)  Some of the people were too afraid to meet with them, but more and more people believed and were saved.  People brought their sick and those tormented by evil spirits and all of them were healed.

Acts 5:17-42 – The Consequences

The high priest and his associates were filled with jealousy and the apostles were persecuted for their teachings and healings.  They were arrested and put in jail, but during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.  They again went to the temple and preached to the people.  They were questioned by the Sanhedrin and gave strict orders not to preach.  Peter and the other apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men!” – Acts 5:29.  This infuriated the religious leaders and they wanted to put the apostles to death, but a Pharisee named Gamaliel convinced them not to take such drastic measures.  So the apostles were flogged and ordered again not to speak in the name of Jesus.

The religious leaders ignored the clear signs of the power of God.  They ignored that jail doors were locked.  They ignored the teachings of the apostles.  They ignored the apostles as eye witnesses.  The persecution didn’t stop the apostles.  If anything, it made them bolder and more courageous to spread the gospel.

There was persecution of Christians in the early church and it is the same today.  Christians are persecuted all around the world for their faith.  This persecution added to the perseverance of the church, because the church belongs to God and He will let nothing destroy it.

The apostles continued teaching in the temple and going from house to house.  They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Do you obey God or do you worry about what others will think of you?

What’s keeping you from sharing the gospel?

Principles:  We must obey God rather than men.

 

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 3-4

Acts 3 – The Ministering Church

In Acts 3 Peter heals the crippled beggar.  There are physical healings that point to Christ’s spiritual healing of a person.  (1) Rom. 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing the word.  Peter healed the crippled man in the name of Jesus. (2) Acts 3:2 – The man was helpless to change himself.  Without Christ, God calls us all “dead in trespasses and sins”.  (3) Eph. 2:8 - by grace you are saved.  God healed the man through His grace. (4) John 10:10b – “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”.

At three in the afternoon Peter and John were going to the temple to pray.  Three in the afternoon or the ninth hour was probably a special significance to them because this was the hour when Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished” in John 19:30.  On the way they saw a beggar who asked for money.  They didn’t ignore him like most people would, but looked straight at him.  Peter said, “Look at us!”  - Acts 3:4.  Then Peter told him he had no money, but that he had something better.  The Holy Spirit prompted Peter and God gave Peter supernatural ability to trust Him.   He simple spoke and told him in the name of Jesus, “walk”.  Peter took his hand and helped the beggar up and he began to walk. 

Compare Peter’s healing miracle with today’s so called healers.  The healers today usually put on a fraudulent show and they do it for money.  This gift was given to the apostles following Pentecost.  These miracles were getting the attention of the same crowd who crucified Christ.  They were hearing the gospel, repenting and receiving the gift of salvation from the very one they crucified.  This healing of the Holy Spirit got their attention and validated the power of God giving authority to the message that would follow.  Healing power is available to Christians today by the power the Holy Spirit through prayer.

The man followed Peter into the temple and shouted with joy praising God and telling everyone what God had done.  The name of Jesus is powerful!  Acts 3:15 – He is the author of life.  Acts 3:16 – His name heals.  Acts 4:12 – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:30 – miraculous signs and wonders are performed through His name.   

As people heard the man telling his story, a crowd quickly assembled.  Peter took advantage of the moment to share the gospel.  They were the ones who disowned and rejected Him.  They handed Jesus over to be killed.  He said “you killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead.” – Acts 3:15.  He told them this was God’s plan to let Him be crucified because it was the only way to save sinners. 

Yes, it was God’s plan that Jesus die on the cross.  You can’t sin in such a way that God hasn’t prepared for it.  There’s no sin that Jesus didn’t take care of on the cross.  Peter told them they were personally responsible for Jesus’ slaughter.  If He can forgive that, He can forgive anything.  Nothing is impossible for God.

The healings done in the Bible are not only physical but point to Jesus’ spiritual healing.  The man was helpless to heal himself.  We can’t help ourselves.  Only Jesus can help us.  God helps those who have no hope in helping themselves.  That is the message of the Bible.

  

John 10:10  - “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Rom. 10:17 – “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

Eph. 2:5 – “when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” 

Eph. 2:8 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Are you a believer, yet living in a helpless way?  The beggar’s healing in a picture of the spiritual life.  God is able and willing to transform your life.  All you have to do is truly believe and trust Him.  Give Him time in personal Bible study, prayer and obedience.  Depend on His strength.  He will give you the power to change your thoughts and actions.

When Peter saw how the crowd reacted, he asked them why they were surprised.  Jesus had healed all kinds of people and it shouldn’t seem strange that He is healing from heaven.  He made it clear that he was speaking about the God of Israel.  Peter wasn’t afraid to confront them in boldness.  He said they had handed Him over to be killed and you killed Him.  “You killed the author of life” – Acts 3:15.

But Peter offered them hope.  He told them to repent and turn to God so their sins would be wiped away.  In the same way we have hope.  Acknowledge your sins, repent, believe and trust in Jesus and you will be saved.  Then your sins will be forgiven and erased from your record.

Principle:  Jesus is the author of life.

Acts 4 – Persecution Begins

Peter and John were arrested by the Sanhedrin, because they were teaching and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  The rulers saw their courage and that they were just ordinary men – uneducated, but knew the scriptures.  They knew they had been with Jesus and they saw the proof of the man who was healed.  The rulers knew there was nothing they could do since the apostles had done nothing against the law.  So they ordered the apostles to stop teaching the people and warned them to not speak in Jesus’ name.  But Peter and John said, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)  God allowed this opposition in order to unite the apostles and deepen their roots in Christ.

Will you ask God to give you a firm conviction that Jesus is the only way?

Do you share your salvation with others?

If you are not, what is keeping you from it?

The central message that Peter and John proclaimed is in Acts 4:12 – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

The apostles returned to their own people.  They prayed to God who has all power and authority over all (Acts 4:24), prayed using the promises and prophecies of Scripture (Psalm 2) as a basis for prayer in the will of God (Acts 4:25-28), and asked for more boldness to witness and more power to help others (Acts 4:29-30).  God answered by power (Acts 4:31) with an outward sign of an earthquake.

Notice how they prayed.  First they acknowledged who God is, that He is sovereign and Creator.  They asked that He enable them to speak with boldness.  They asked that God heal and perform miraculous sings and wonders.  Does this make you think about how you should pray?

Again all the believers were one in heart and mind.  They shared everything they had.  There were no needy persons among them.  They often sold their properties and gave the money to the apostles to be distributed to anyone in need.

Principle:  God gives His people power to speak boldly about Jesus.

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

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