Acts 25:13-26:32 A one track desire

Festus appears to be fair to Paul throughout, however, it does seem he is playing to the crowd (cf Acts 24:27, 25:9).  The promise of God in Acts 9:15-16 of him being used to take Jesus' name before Kings and to suffer is coming to fruition.  He is being used to speak for Christ, but also having to suffer for Him also.

Paul's life before his conversion was religious - known to others and sincere.  His conversion was abrupt and dramatic.  His commission was clear.  The question at stake was really "Has Jesus risen from the dead?" and "Is He now calling Paul to the Gentiles?"

Jesus describes the condition of the lost as darkness, the power of Satan.  He talks of the content of salvation as forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Him and the method being that faith and turning.

Paul demonstrates his obedience to God in doing what He wants and speaking what He calls him to.  Despite him speaking in the temple courts meaning they attempted to kill him, he kept on.  God gave him the help he needed, even before King Festus.

Paul's ultimate motive in everything was to preach so that others would come to know Jesus.  cf 26:29, 1 Cor 9:16-22, 2 Cor 5:14

Acts 23:11-25:12 Flawed accusations

Paul must have been under immense strain, mentally and physically as he literally 'feared' for his life.  He longed that these Jews would come to know the saving power of Jesus and yet, they had no desire to.  Paul must have been sustained by the Lord standing near to him, reminding and commanding him to take courage.  We need to remember the Lord's presence with us, no matter what we face - to be bold, strong and very courageous, for the Lord our God is with us.

God's deliverance for Paul came through extended family and through legal protection.  God will use anyone who is available to be used to serve His purposes.

Tertullus' four charges against Paul are:

He is a troublemaker.
He has been stirring up riots among Jews all over the world.
He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect.
He tried to desecrate the temple.

Paul answers:

He went to worship 12 days ago in Jerusalem
The accusers didn't find Paul stirring up trouble or arguing anywhere
They can't prove the charges they are making
On the contrary, Paul is a follower of the Way, agreeing and believing what the Prophets have said
He has a hope in the resurrection of the dead, and it is because of this that he is accused.

I have to ask myself how significant a place does the resurrection of the dead play in my life?

Felix had clearly seen Paul live out 'the Way'.  He was obviously intrigued by it and by Paul.  He had some fear, and he also had some twisted motives.

Before Festus, Paul realises that he needed to make more of the issue as there was much at stake, hence he took it further and further.  Ultimately, this is probably because of the gospel opportunities Paul sees and wishes to take.

Acts 21:37-23:10 Fear & Loathing by those in Jerusalem

Paul speaks of his own background – identifying himself as a Jew with them.  He outlines his credentials – brought up in Jerusalem, trained under Gamaliel in the law of their forefathers.  He shares his religious activity and zeal – he was as zealous as any of them were, he persecuted followers of the way to death, he arrested them and threw them into prison, he went travelling with a view to imprisoning Christians in Jerusalem.  

His conversion was sudden, as Jesus met him and he saw and understood who He was and what He was calling Him to do.  He was clearly called to know God’s will, to see Jesus and to be His witness to all people of what he had seen and heard. 

Again, Paul goes out of his way to avoid unnecessary offence.  He deliberately uses Aramaic and speaks well of Ananias.  Paul was completely concerned for his enemies and seeks to win them for Jesus.  The question asked of me is do I care for those who are hostile to me in the same way that Paul did?

Paul thinks he will be best served going to the Jews because of his remarkable  conversion – however, God is calling him to go to the Gentiles, because He knows and chooses where he will be best used.  We must remember God knows best and will place us and use us where He deems best. 

In contrast with Philippi, Paul chooses to use his rights of citizenship to prevent a beating.  In keeping with 1 Cor 9, Paul is willing to use his rights and his surrendering them to Christ to serve Christ best. 

Paul confesses to the Sanhedrin that he has done all that God has asked him to do in good faith and with a clear conscience.  As per Acts 24:16, Paul strives to keep his conscience clear before both God and humans.  This ought to be a clear distinctive of my ministry.

Paul keeps his cool, even when acting fiercely.  He retains righteous anger.  However, he also plays the situation with cunning and cleverness.  He effectively divides the Pharisees and Sadducees against each other.  Paul’s supreme concern is that the truth come out and the gospel be proclaimed.  Again, we should be those whose supreme motivations are to spread the good news of Jesus to all.  

Acts 20:17-21:36 Running the race amidst hardship and opposition

20:17-27  Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders

Paul points out:

His integrity & honesty - he has lived openly in front of them
His humility and tears, despite severe testing
His lack of hesitation to preach anything that would be helpful & his public teaching
His inclusivity in his message
His frankness about uncertainty for the future
His overwhelming desire to run the race and complete the task Jesus has given him
His innocence in terms of the blood of others
His certainty of opposition and attack in the future
His absolute confidence in God's care

All of these ask questions of me as to whether I am able to do the same?

20:28-35

Paul tells the leaders:

Keep watch over yourselves and the flock
Be shepherds - wolves will come to attack
Be on your guard
You are committed to God and His word of grace
Gospel ministry is hard work, but we give rather than receive

21:5

The Christian home can be a significant influence on visitors and children.  Throughout, Paul is dealing with families - our ministry is not just to key leaders, but to whole families and people committed to serving God together.

Paul had clear warnings that the way ahead for him would include imprisonment and suffering.  (cf 20:23-24) - Suffering is to be a part of the Christian's life & we should never shy away from it.

21:17-26

James saw that the Jews who have believed have been informed to turn away from Moses' law and that this could be a problem to him being welcomed among them.  Paul is advised to show that he has said no such thing (by shaving his head and joining in the purification rites), but that he is still living in obedience to the law.  Paul does not want to put any obstacle in their way and so agrees to this.  He follows 1 Cor 9:20-23 and 1 Cor 10:31-33 to avoid any stumbling block to others.  He goes out of his way to ensure there is no hindrance in the gospel going forward.

21:27-36

Paul is arrested at Jerusalem  - it is a parallel of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion:

It was a crowd versus an individual
There were false accusations
They seized him
It was taken to a higher authority
He was bound
The commander could not get to the truth
He paused to bide himself time
They cried "Away with him"

I need to ask myself whether I am willing to suffer and respond in the way my Lord was, or whether I ask for and expect better treatment?

Acts 19:1-20:16 Encouragement & opposition

Apollos had clearly been teaching an inadequate gospel - it was not the full gospel.  Paul realises this and corrects his incomplete teaching.  It is a reminder of the need to fully understand all we are teaching other.

19:20 sums up Paul's ministry in Ephesus and Luke's section.  Paul had clearly been called across by the man of Macedonia.  The power of the Lord was clearly at work, with Lydia's conversion, the Lord's speaking to Paul in the vision and then the extraordinary miracles that were happening.   The power was coming from the Holy Spirit and brought glory to Jesus through all that happened.

Paul clearly made it his plan to go to Jerusalem and Rome.  He has his strategy and wants to take the gospel increasingly to the Gentiles.  This is a reminder of the need for strategic work, not haphazard.

The riot in Ephesus started because of Demetrius, who was worried about his business.  Christian belief will come up in opposition against wealth and business priorities.  The lost people followed like sheep without a shepherd, concerned about the wrong priorities.  Paul experienced the wisdom of the counsel of friends, the safety of their protection and a reminder of the fellowship of being with other believers.  I need to remember the call to follow Jesus is costly and may call for me to endure pain, isolation and opposition.

Paul wasn't prepared just to leave encouragement to his young guns.  Instead, he was prepared to change his plans and do things that would benefit others, rather than himself.  While others meant it for evil, God meant it for good.

Paul demonstrated the encouragement of being with friends, the importance of having fellowship with other believers, and also talking with others to instruct them.  Paul's ability to do verifiable miracles testified to him being called God's servant and being used by God to accomplish his purposes.

Acts 17:16-18:28 The gospel goes to the Gentiles

Acts 17

Paul's motives for preaching the Gospel come from the distress of seeing Athenians worshipping idols. He saw the emptiness and futility of their conversations that were devoid of meaning. Paul sought to start where the people were and to bring Christ to them. He commended them where he could, used creation as a starting point, talked of certainties when he could and used their culture to talk of Christ and His coming judgment.

He talked of what they knew and what was around them v22-23, he then talked of God in relation to the universe they saw, humanity around them and the idols and images they were obsessed with, before talking of the response they needed to make. All this raises questions of what our preaching is like today? Are we even connecting with the everyday people in the marketplace? Is our message as clear and compelling as Paul's?

Ch 18 The gospel goes to Corinth

Paul seeks friendship with like-minded people, he has friends join him, and seeks the friendship and company of other believers. God's command and all comes to Paul to keep preaching the word of God because God "has many people" in Corinth.

Paul started in the synagogue, moved out of it and into the court when he was brought there. When hindrances came, he saw them as opportunities and used them.

Paul travelled widely, with the clear intent of preaching the gospel and encouraging the believers.

We are told Apollos has a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately. Aquila and Priscilla heard him and invited him into their home to explain the way of God more adequately. His preaching was a great help to others who had believed. Apollos was one link in the chain of the gospel going out to people and them believing.

I must similarly ask what my:

Knowledge of the scriptures is?

My enthusiasm is like?

My willingness to take help from others is?

My preaching is like?

Value is in preaching? Does it benefit others?

 

Acts 16:6-17:15 Persecution and growth

Paul was guided by the Holy Spirit, whom he calls the Spirit of Jesus and a vision of a Macedonian man. The travels were not what you would expect, but clearly were the way God was leading.

It seems Paul may have been joined in Europe by Luke. The personal pronoun changes to "we". It seems the start here was fairly small, but significant in God's eyes. (Cf Zechariah 4:10). Lydia's response is clearly one that has been changed by God - born again of the Holy Spirit. Am I someone who tries to organise a great work for God, or lets God start a lasting work in a small way?

The origin of the persecution was dashed hopes of making money. Previously, it had been because they were speaking of Jesus. This clearly wasn't an immediate reaction, but one that had taken days to get to. We mustn't rush into rash decisions.

Paul and Silas were calm and rejoicing, because they knew why they were being persecuted. Paul played to the legal system in maximising the opportunity for the gospel. He used his cunning for the cause of Christ.

The jailer believed because he saw something different about Paul and Silas. He saw the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Paul was willing to preach the gospel anywhere it hadn't already, so as to give others the opportunity to believe. He clearly preached the word of God and could be tested against the Scriptures. Those who believed came from a diverse cross section. Opportunity for strategic witness may only last a short time - we must take them when we can.

The Bereans are described as being more noble than the Thessalonians because they search the Scriptures to see if what Paul was saying was true. We must do likewise.

 

Acts 15-16:5 Grace v Works

Grace or works?

14:27 Paul & Barnabas are clear it is by grace through faith that we are saved. The teachers started saying it was through circumcision that we could be saved, as this was obeying the law of Moses.

14:7-11 Peter reminds them that:

God made a choice that the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe.

God knows the heart and shows His acceptance by giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles and the Jews.

God makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile - He purifies their hearts by faith. It is by the grace of Jesus that Jew and Gentile are saved.

Peter argues we should not be adding burdens to salvation that we or our forefathers were unable to bear. We must remember the simplicity of God's grace, through faith that saves us - and make sure we add nothing to requirements for our salvation.

James shows how the words of the prophets agreed with what Peter had said - the Gentiles would be called to the Lord. He then argues the Jews should not make it difficult for the Gentiles to turn to God. Instead, they should show that turning to God has certain responsibilities which show His work in our lives. This response would surely be agreeable to both Jew and Gentile.

The response was going to be made known by both letter and leaders. This resulted in a positive response.

When there is disagreement amongst fellow believers, it would be right to call everyone together, to listen to the perspectives, to go back to Scripture and make a judgment clearly and fairly, so there is clarity in belief. This is for essentials, whilst there is obviously room for variance on matters if the conscience.

Paul and Barnabas disagreed because of John Mark. Paul felt he had deserted them, so didn't want to take him with them. Barnabas disagreed. Both had pints, but possibly should have relented for the sake of the other. Later, Paul was able to see Mark was useful to him in ministry (2Tim 4:11)

God provided for Paul with Timothy. Encouragement and strengthening were the key points of their ministry at this time. We are called to help young Christians grow in their faith.

12:25-16:5 Key developments:

Paul and Barnabas sent off from Antioch.

Standing in synagogues testifying to what God had done and how He was calling the Gentiles. Affirming this together as a council.

Making this a priority in their work.

 

Acts 13:44-14:28 The Gospel goes to the Gentiles

The Jews at Antioch became jealous because of the crowds coming to listen to Paul and Barnabas.  Paul had devoted himself to preaching exclusively to the Jews of Jesus, but when they rejected him and his message, he shifted focus to the Gentiles.

This raises the question of to whom do I take the gospel?  Is it to those who will listen and receive, or do we focus on those who reject the message?  Our focus has to be on both, but our emphasis probably on those who are responding to the message.

The 2 reasons given for Paul and Barnabas' turning to the Gentiles were:

* Because the Jews reject it and do not consider themselves worthy of eternal life.
* Because God has commanded that they become a light for the Gentiles to take salvation to the ends of the earth.

As a result the gospel is taken to a wider number of people in a more geographically spread region, and the persecution against Paul and Barnabas continues.

14:1-7  3 main stages of the work:

Paul & Barnabas go into the Jewish synagogue & speak effectively.
Jews & Gentiles believe.
Persecution & opposition.

14:8-12
The cripple is healed.

He was lame from birth & had never walked.
He listened to Paul & had faith to be healed.
Paul saw his faith and called out to heal him.
He is immediately healed.
The people respond assuming that Paul & Barnabas are gods.

14:15-17  5 Elemental truths about God

He is living
He made heaven, earth and sea and everything in them
In the past, He let all nations go their own way
He has not left Himself without testimony
He has shown kindness by giving rain & crops, He provides with plenty of food and fills their hearts with joy.

His application from these truths is that they must turn from worthless things to the living God.

14:19-25

Despite opposition, Paul & Barnabas return to the cities where churches have been founded to strengthen them.  By even appearing, this must have been an encouragement to the churches.  We must look for ways in which we can encourage others, even if it is at personal cost and risk.

Paul & Barnabas report to the church that had sent them out (cf 13:1-3 & 14:26-28) - this is a reminder of good practice, in reporting to those from whom we have been commissioned.  Their emphasis is on all that God has done through them, showing how He has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  Our reporting should be similar.

Exodus 19-20, Acts 12:25-13:43 God on show - showing His work in the lives of believers

The character of God is revealed in His goodness to the Israelites in bringing them to Himself, in His holiness in that certain things must be kept to & the people must be consecrated and then His holiness and His redemption is what leads Him to giving the ten commandments.

God's purposes for His people is that they would be holy - obeying Him to bring Him glory.  He has a standard of 100% holiness, nothing less will do.

God expects His people to have Him as their only God, not making for themselves an idol of anything else.  They are to revere His name and keep His Sabbath holy.  They are to show their respect for Him by honouring their father and mother and respecting life, by not murdering.  Adultery, stealing, lying and coveting are not options for the people of God.


Acts 12:25-13:12

The Holy Spirit initiated the move of Paul & Barnabas  into Cyprus & other areas.  It was clear He had led them and was with them.  The local church were open to this, and moved along with the Spirit, thus meaning they were able to go as directed by the Spirit.  It seems that guidance and the work (voice) of the Spirit go hand in hand - the clear movement of the Spirit leads them to know what to do.

Paul & Elymas' clash comes about because of his opposition to Paul and Barnabas & his trying to turn others from the faith.  Paul sees this for what it is & names it, by being open about what he is doing.  The visible judgment that comes upon him is for not only himself, but for others to see, so that the fear and amazement of the Lord spreads.

13:16-25

Paul points back to the long periods of history, he links back to David and Saul, and then says how "God has brought to Israel the Saviour Jesus, as He promised..." - He then bases his message entirely around who Jesus is and what He has done, pointing out that He was the culmination of God's activity in the history of the OT.

13:30-39

When Paul speaks of the resurrection, he is clear that God raised Him and had clear witnesses, who have taken the message from Galilee to Jerusalem.  The promises to their fathers has been fulfilled, by Jesus being raised from the dead.  Jesus' resurrection means that through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to the people in Pisidian Antioch.    Jesus' resurrection was promised and was a promise that God would do greater things.  Through His resurrection comes justification.

Exodus 15:22-18 Grace in the midst of grumbling

The reason the redeemed Israelite people are allowed to suffer thirst, disappointment & hunger is "for the Lord to test them" (15:25, 16:4, cf Deut 8:2-3, 1 Peter 1:6-7)

The response God has asked for from those whom He provides for is obedience, faith and thankfulness.  God tests the Israelites as to their obedience, looks for their faith in trusting God will provide at the right time and thankfulness for His provision.  All of this is another example of His grace, when they have been grumbling.

The significance of the two events in ch 17 is found in the final sentences of both sections.
in v1-7, it is a time when the Israelites are asking the question "Is the Lord among us or not?"  The answer comes back a resounding "Yes!"  The second section is a reminder that the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.  One is about the people of God and the other is about the enemies of God.

In chapter 17, we are reminded that prayer is the vital link in God's hearing, changing circumstances and answering prayer.  Prayer is the upholding of heavenly arms towards Almighty God.  This incident was to be remembered throughout history - God is with those who call upon His Name.

God brought Moses & Jethro together.  Ultimately, His Sovereign plan was going to come to fruition.  But, to bring it together, He used His people.  Moses had to be teachable & listen to Jethro, Jethro needed to come with humility.  We need to remember that God uses different people to bring about His purposes and that no one person can do everything by themselves.

The leaders who were going to be delegated responsibility needed to be capable men, representing all the people, who feared God, were trustworthy and hated dishonest gain.  Similarly, in the NT, we read of men who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, people full of faith (Acts 6:1-4).  The question needs to be asked of our leaders & whether they have similar attributes.  

Exodus 12:1-15:21 Faith & faltering from the Israelites, victory from God

The angel of death (cf 12:12 - The Lord) passed over those houses where He saw the blood.  Likewise, we must be "covered" by the blood of Jesus & when the Lord sees it, He will pass over us.  We are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  (cf 1 Peter 1:18-19)

The Israelites were to use the lamb's blood and flesh so none went to waste.  It was to be considered precious and to be the cause of their freedom.  The bread was to be unleavened, as they did not have time to wait for it to rise - they needed it be made quickly.  The Lord knows who are His & so this was a symbol of their trust in Him.  cf 2 Cor 5:6-8 & 2 Tim 2:19

God expects those who are redeemed to follow in His ways and to tell their children what the Lord has done.  Moses and the Israelites obey God in these ways - following JUST as God has commanded and telling their children "this is because of what the Lord did for me."

Lessons on guidance 13:17-22

God will guide
His way may not seem 'the best' to us, but He has the full perspective.
He will not leave us.

ch 14 God's plans may have looked perplexing to the Israelites, but He is the Master Strategist.  He knew He would gain greater glory with this turn of events.  The Israelites had wilting, faltering faith, which did not trust God even when they ought to have known better.  God's salvation does not just get us out of a situation, but redeems us fully rescuing us from our foes and bringing us to a far better promised land.

ch 15 This song is all about God and who He is and what He has done.  It is a song of joy and honesty.  It shows that God is set apart from any other god.  The question is to be asked of my songs - do they sing of God, or me?  Do they sing with joy, celebration & thankfulness?

Exodus 9-11 Opposition to God vs Faithfuless to God

The plagues were there so that Pharaoh would know there is no one like the Lord our God and that he would know the Lord is in the land the Israelites we in.

The magicians are unable to replicate God's power and Moses allows Pharaoh to name the time the frogs would leave - all demonstrating further the power of God.

Pharaoh is a classic example of sorrow for the consequences of sin, rather than real grief and repentance for sin itself. He was too quick to change his mind and turn around again.

Faith in God's word involves a submission to it, a humble recognition of who we are before God and who He is. Unbelief sets itself up in opposition and hostility to God, and has no intention of following His ways whatever may happen.

The outcome of Pharaoh's persistent refusal was that God gave him what he wanted, but the consequences were far worse than he could ever have imagined.

Moses was not willing to compromise where God's name and fame were concerned. He persevered because he saw God and was concerned for His glory. Despite pain, cost and uncertainty, Moses persisted in what God was calling him to do.

 

Exodus 3:1-7:25 God as He really is

God's character is revealed in the burning bush as a miracle working God, One who does things out of the ordinary. He is holy and set apart. And yet, He calls us to Him to work for Him and be used by Him.

Moses' reluctance to serve God was not good. He was more focused on himself than God. However, he was admitting his inability - he should have done this whilst recognising his need for God's help and work.

The Israelites' different attitudes was to do with impatience and not trusting God would keep His word, even if it took time to fulfil. Moses' response was to turn back to God in prayer. He was in a helpless and hopeless situation without God. God's answer was to assure Moses of His promises and to remind Moses who He was. God is fully faithful and reliable in keeping His promises.

God allowed Moses to have to wait to see how futile he was in himself, but to realise how God could do the impossible. The people's impatience meant Moses had to depend on God.

Pharaoh did not know God and responded accordingly. He thought his people could do as much and showed it, but in doing so did not recognise God for who He is. Today, people have no time for Gid and show it in multiple ways - God's responses is the same - see who I AM!

 

Acts 11:19-12:24, Exodus 1-2 The worst of times are the best of times when God is at work

From the start at Antioch, the message about the Lord Jesus was taken to Greeks and the Lord's hand was with them. As a result, there were a great number turning to the Lord. This clear comment is linked with the comment that He was adding great numbers to those who believed.

The stages of the church there were:

Believers going to Antioch

Believers proclaiming the gospel in Antioch

Antiochians believing in great numbers

Barnabas saw that the Lord's hand was on Antioch & saw the potential of Saul, so took him there to make the most of the opportunity. We ought to look for opportunities to encourage & develop young Christians also.

The Antiochian church sees it as natural to help the church in Judea - we ought also to look for opportunity to develop partnerships with those who are needy.

Herod's life abruptly ends because he did not praise God. He had no place for God in his life, which ultimately led to his downfall. We ought to look for ways we can be praising God in our lives. Cf 1Cor 10:31

Prayer was the church's weapon for Peter - it was earnest (& presumably persistent), despite apparent human obstacles, it led to a Divine answer. Cf 2 Cor 1:8-11

 

Exodus 1-2

The Israelites are clearly groaning about their circumstances, but Moses' parents are living in faith. They trust in God despite the situation seeng hopeless.

Moses was prepared for his work with royal privilege, parental upbringing and leadership opportunities. God knows best and has a perfect plan. Cf Acts 7:20-29

 

Acts 9:43-11:18 God's gospel goes to the Gentiles

Joppa was Jewish - it was close to where the gospel action had been taking place. Caesarea was outside of these boundaries. Peter has no thought of taking the gospel to the Gentiles at this stage, because it would be out of God's boundaries as he saw them. God was about to change this.

For Peter to be changed required divine intervention - of God saying "go". We ought to be thankful for Peter's obedience.

Both Peter & Cornelius learned new things about God. For Peter, it was that God is for the Gentiles. They are not unclean. For Cornelius, it is the working of God in everyday life (at this stage). Both had to lose prejudice to be receptive to God.

Peter had to learn God does not show favouritism, but accepts people from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. For the work to develop, Peter had to learn this.

Peter uses the fact of the Jews killing Jesus to awaken their conscience. Here, Peter talks of this & links it to them, but says they were witnesses of all that had happened and that God would judge all people. He had tailored his address to be more specifically appropriate to Gentiles.

Salvation came to Cornelius' household - he had been devout & God-fearing before. He now received salvation and the Holy Spirit.

Peter emphasises the work of the Spirit in telling him about Cornelius, but also in coming on him and his family.

When the Gentiles heard Peter's message, they were saved - the Holy Spirit came on them. When the circumcision party heard this, they rejoiced and Peter had seen God's work and wanted to be part of it.

The temptation for us is to put up barriers that stop people coming to Jesus - God tears them down. All are invited & must come.

 

Acts 9:1-42 God at work!

Christ's power, majesty & glory - when it 'shone' on Saul, he could do nothing, but bow down.  It was immediately clear who was speaking & interacting with Saul.  Jesus is above all, powerful, majestic and glorious.

Christ's compassion, love & grace - however, despite Saul doing his worst, Jesus does his 'best' & shows compassion, love & grace beyond what would or could be expected and offers the forgiveness of sins to all, including Saul.

Ananias' task was to be obedient to God and "go".  Even though he wasn't God's chosen instrument, he was a part of the puzzle that would lead to Saul being used by God.  Ananias went & was obedient to Jesus' call, even if it would bring him no personal reward.

Saul demonstrated his sincerity of conversion by preaching that Jesus is the Son of God right from the start.  Even amongst persecution, he continued.

The church had spread even further - God's promise of 1:8 was coming to fruition.  Key to this was being "Strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit" and "Living in fear of the Lord."

In both Damascus (v22-25) & Jerusalem (v26-30), Saul had new enemies and new friends.  He faced opposition, persecution and the threat of death but also experienced the warmth of Christian hospitality and care.

The evidence of revival at this time was people believing in the Lord, changed lives and also persecution and opposition.  Jesus as Saviour, Teacher, Healer & Friend was at work. We ought to pray for similar movements of God.

Dorcas is presented as a delightful woman - she was always doing good, helping the poor.  When she died, the widows were mourning.  We are called as Christians to do good, helping the poor and live lives that count.

Peter raised Dorcas back to life in the name of Jesus.  He realised only God could raise her, so he turned to God in prayer & asked that God would restore her.

Peter was believing Jesus' promise of "greater things" in John 14:12.  He believed them and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit at work in Him and through Him.  The question is "Do I?"

Acts 7:44-8:40 Persecution, opposition and growth

7:44-53  Stephen clearly teaches that the Tabernacle was divinely instituted - made according to God's direction, however, he also states that God does not live in houses made by men.  Rather, heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool, and He asks of us where will let Him have His resting place?

He then accuses them of being stiff-necked with uncircumcised hearts and ears - resisting the Holy Spirit and being with their fathers in persecuting the prophets with what they have done with Jesus.

The positive truth outlined in these verses is that God wants a living, vital relationship with us, which we must not resist.

Stephen was like Jesus in that he spoke the truth, was rejected by those who should have known better and pulled out of town and suffered, whilst all the while remaining 'silent', other than to ask God to receive his spirit and not hold the sin against them (which both have remarkable similarities to Jesus' prayers).  Stephen's behaviour was simply reflecting His Lord, whom He loved and followed.

As a result of Stephen's witness, great persecution for others broke out, the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, but they were able to preach the word wherever they went.  As a result of the scattering, the church had grown in ways unimaginable.

Philip travelled to Samaria and saw crowds come to him for healing and exorcisms.  There was great joy in the city as a result.  One of the people who had believed and was baptised was Simon the Sorcerer, who followed Philip everywhere.  Philip's behaviour was one of someone following Jesus, experiencing the highs and lows of people's responses to him.  When God's power was made manifest, some responded rightly, while others had wrong perceptions and actions.

Simon was intellectually convinced of the truth and power of the gospel, but his heart was unchanged.  This became clear when he thought he could buy his way to do the works of God.  We should seek God's Spirit to work in us, but not think we can buy this or manipulate it in any way.

The Ethiopian Eunuch had shown interest in finding out more about God - he'd gone to Jerusalem to worship and was reading Isaiah on his way home.  However, he needed someone to be able to explain what he was reading so that it made sense to him.

Philip had been sensitive, intuitive, willing, pro-active and provocative in his involvement in the eunuch's life.  He asked questions, which opened up the conversation so he could tell him fully the good news of Jesus.

Acts 5:17-7:43 Suffering for Christlikeness

5:19 The angel leads them in time of persecution - He takes them and tells them to speak boldly the full message of this new life.
5:20, 32 The Holy Spirit gives them the boldness to obey God.  He has been given to them as believers.
5:34-40  Gamaliel is used by God to enable the disciples to continue witnessing to all that God has done.

God brings all these people/aspects together to fulfill His purposes of the gospel going out boldly.  (cf Rom 8:28)

The four different reactions of the religious opposition:

v17 - High priest & all his associates - filled with jealousy
v24 - The captain of the temple guard & chief priests were puzzled
v26 - The captain & his officers were fearful of the people
v33 - They were furious & wanted to put them to death

The apostles dealt with the right complaint some had in 6:1 by seeing their priorities and delegating others to focus on the physical needs of them, whilst the apostles were able to focus on the priority of the ministry of the word of God and prayer.

We cannot do everything, but really need to focus on the real priorities of the ministry of the word of God and prayer.  Can we seek other godly people who will be able to assist us so that we can keep the main thing the main thing?

Stephen's life & ministry 6:5-15

a) The outstanding features of his life (v5,8) - a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, a man full of God's grace and power.

b) The nature of the persecution against him (v11-13)  - was deceitful, secretive and unjust.  Many false accusations were made about him.

c) The charges laid against him (v13,14) - false witnesses (in the same way that Jesus had suffered), false accusations

The indispensible qualifications for and possible consequences of faithful witness for Christ are Christ-likeness.  This may result in our suffering in the same way as He did, but ultimately, it will bring Him glory.

Both Joseph and Moses lived in Royal palaces, but were called to serve the everyday person.  Their treatment from their own people led to persecution and pain, but ultimately, the results that they received brought God's ultimate glory.  Both foreshadow the work of Jesus, as He left His Royal throne to serve amongst His people and bring them redemption and salvation, ultimately for God's glory.

Israel were spiritually blind (7:25 & 7:35-43 to the work God was calling Moses to and also to the prophet who would follow Moses (Jesus)).  The fathers refused to obey him and rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.  Their blindness was in thought, will and desire, before ultimately affecting their actions.  Their penalty was that God turned away and gave them over to the worship they desired.  God still deals with people like this (cf Romans 1:24) - when people choose to turn their backs on God, God accepts their choice and turns away and gives them over to what their desires want.

Acts 3-5:16 "People who had been with Jesus"

3:1-11  The crippled beggar's physical cure is a picture of the spiritual truths of salvation.

a) His need - He was absolutely helpless and could do nothing to help himself.

b) The necessity of faith - He had to believe that God could change his situation, even if humanly speaking the evidence suggested otherwise.  He had to be "sure of what he hoped for & certain of what he did not see". (Heb 11:1)

c) The importance of personal witness - Once his life had been changed, it was vital that he personally and publicly told it to others.  

d) The assurance of salvation - Once had had been healed, he needed to believe the change had been made and then live in that certainty.

e) The miracle of salvation itself - Humans had been unable to heal him.  Only God could do this.  Thus, his healing was a miracle.  

As Peter & John were the links between God and the man that day, each day, we need to be the links between God and needy men and women whose situation is helpless and hopeless, and bring them the spiritual miracle that only Jesus can bring.

Peter's address to the Jews is clear and direct.  He minces no words, repeatedly directing his comments to them in the words "You".  Peter charges them with handing Jesus over to be killed, disowned Him before Pilate, asked for Barabbas, and killed Jesus.  

Peter then promises to them that if they repent and turn to God, their sins would be wiped out, times of refreshing would come from the Lord and He would send the Christ.  This promise is available for us, even though we were not 'directly' the ones who killed Jesus - we did by our sins and transgressions.   

4:1-22

Peter and John's arrest came about because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  Their release came about when they could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.  Peter and John appealed before the sight of God, saying "Look through His eyes!"  We ought never to be afraid of humans, but rather live our lives in the perspective of God - we live in His sight.

4:23-31 

The disciples' prayer:

Their reason v24-28- God's Sovereignty, in creation, His speaking by the Spirit through David prophesying that the kings and rulers would take their stand against the Lord and against Jesus, the fact that Herod and Pilate had conspired against Jesus.  

Their request v29-30- In light of the threats, they prayed for great boldness in speaking God's word, to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders.

Their result v31- God came upon them by His Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God boldly.

4:32-37  Essentials of fellowship:

Unity of heart and mind

No 'possessiveness'

Sharing of everything you have

Testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in great power

Much grace being on them

No needy people being among you

A wholeheartedly giving spirit

Ananias & Sapphira's sin was so grave because they were deceitful in their attitudes and actions.  Divine judgment was necessary to ensure their deceit was dealt with - it produced great fear (of God) throughout the church.  We deal with an awesome and fearful God.  

We need to have the generous attitude of Barnabas that clings to nothing too tightly, but freely gives of all we have for God's sake.  If we have the Ananias and Sapphira attitude, we deprive ourselves and other, and more importantly, reflect our view of God - He cannot be trusted with our treasures, nor can we trust Him for our provision.  

Acts 2 Evidence of God at work

3 Signs given in connection w/ the coming of the Spirit:

* A sound like a violent wind 

* What seemed to be tongues of fire

* The apostles beginning to speak in other tongues, recognisable as people's own languages.

They were clear symbols of God's promise that the Spirit's coming would lead to power, utterance & universal testimony.  The Spirit was given to help fulfill the promise that the apostles would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, all of Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

The reaction of the disciples, crowd and mockers to the Holy Spirit varied.  The disciples joined in with His work and as result continued moving forward in God's work, buoyed by the presence of His Spirit.  The crowd were amazed and perplexed.  The mockers however simply made fun of them and made wrong accusations.  The question of what my response would have been revolves around how willing I am to listen and respond to the voice and work of God, or whether I operate on my own agenda?

3 OT passages quoted in Peter's sermon (v14-36) & gospel facts he supports with them:

Joel 2:28-32 - God's Spirit would be poured out.  It will lead to all generations responding, God will show signs and wonders, and everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.

Psalm 16:8-11 - Jesus will not be abandoned to the grave, but instead will be raised.  

Psalm 110:1 - Jesus is sat at the right hand of the Father, until such a time as His enemies become His footstool.  

The OT has a vital place in today's church.  We cannot do without it - the OT and NT are unseparably interwoven.  

In his preaching, Peter shows a boldness - he stands up and raises his voice.  He is unashamed to call Jesus His Lord, to associate himself with Him.  The cross and the resurrection were at the centre of the change in Peter's life.

The two-fold offer made in v38 is to repent and be baptised for the forgiveness of their sins & they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for them and their children and for all who are far off.  It is for those whom God will call.  

The features marking the lives of the new believers and early church was their devotion to the apostle's teaching, to fellowship (with each other), breaking of bread and prayer.  They had everything in common, were willing give to anyone who had need (selling their possessions and goods to help) and continued to meet.  They did all this gladly, sincerely, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.  People being saved were being added to their number daily.  

Psalms 11&12, Acts 1 The Sovereign plans of God at work

Psalm 11

Rather than completely despairing and giving up because of the hopelessness of the situation, David remembers that God is Sovereign.  He is in control and will bring about justice in due course.  He remembers that God is righteous and loves justice.

Psalm 12

The word of man & the Word of God contrasted:

The word of man is full of lies, full of flattery and deception.  It boasts and thinks it will triumph through its own tongue.

The Word of God responds to the groaning of the needy and the (presumably) faint voice of the weak.  It is flawless and is like silver refined 7x in the clay furnace.

Acts 1

Jesus told the apostles about the kingdom of God.  They were told not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for God's promised gift, the Holy Spirit.  He reminded them they were not to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority, but they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

We have received God's Holy Spirit and so are to be His witnesses with His Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth.

v1-11
We are told:
A) The Authority of God the Father - is supreme.  He has His own authority and will decide for Himself what is right and when.
B) The agency of God the Holy Spirit - will bring power to God's witnesses as they witness to Him to the ends of the earth.
C) The activity of Jesus, the Son of God - on earth at this time came to an end physically during this incident.  He ascended from earth to heaven, but will come back in the same way His disciples saw Him leave into heaven.

As a believer, I must be certain of these three facts about the Persons of the Trinity.  God is supreme, I need His Spirit's power in taking His message worldwide and one day, Jesus will return in the same way He left.  They shape who I am and all that I believe, which inevitably must affect my behaviour.

During the waiting period before the Holy Spirit came upon them, they gathered together and prayed.  They also realised that there needed to be a replacement in the apostles for Judas who had departed them, and so they chose one.

For the disciples, there must have been a sense that something significant was now about to happen.  Jesus had promised it - He had suggested this was going to be a significant time in their ministry, particularly as they were going to receive God's power, which they had seen powerfully displayed in the resurrection.  So, they took time to spend with God praying about it and thus preparing for it.  The choice of a new leader was about the leadership and also strategy for the coming activities - it was realising that to go forward the right people needed to be in place, commissioned by God.

Judas was someone who had experienced Jesus close at hand & seen who He was.  Yet, still he betrayed Him.  Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5) yet had now changed and were there with the apostles praying.  They had come to see who Jesus was and had believed in Him.  Judas is a real warning of the dangers of being close to Jesus and still rejecting Him.  Jesus' brothers (and Peter) are an encouragement that no matter what people's responses to Jesus may be now, there is always hope that they may turn and change, turning and learning to follow Jesus.

Psalm 6-10 The goodness of God & the wickedness of humans

Psalm 6

v1-7 David feels like he is under the oppression of God.  He confesses his need for God's mercy, his own weakness & his need for healing.  He expresses his tiredness, sadness and grief.  However, he expects God to respond because of who He is.
v8-10  Because David is sure God has heard him, his whole tone has changed.  He speaks of the assurance he has that God will hear and answer.

Psalm 7

v1-11  David appeals to God on the basis of God's justice.  He argues that if he is guilty, God should let the oppressors victorious over him.  God is just and David believes he has integrity and is innocent, particularly in contrast to those who are wicked.
v12-16 He knows that God will respond to the wicked and bring his judgment, but he also knows that those are wicked will also get caught by their own devices.
v17 David's prayer ends in thanks to God because of who He is - righteous.  It ends in praise because God is Sovereign and in control.

Psalm 8

David worships and is full of wonder because of God's majesty over all the earth and His creation and rule of and over all the earth.  We are under God, His heavenly beings, but crowned with a glory and honour.  God cares for us and we are a part of His mind and purpose.

Psalms 9-10

Truths about God:

He does wonders
His Name is Most High
He upholds rights & causes
He is on His throne
He judges righteously
He rebukes nations and destroys the wicked
He blots out their name for ever and ever
He reigns for ever
His throne is established for judgment
He will judge the world in righteousness
He governs the peoples with justice
He is Lord
He is a refuge for the oppressed
He is a stronghold in times of trouble
He has never forsaken those who seek Him
He is enthroned in Zion
He will be proclaimed among the nations
He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted
He has mercy
He brings salvation
He is known by His justice
He has opponents
He seems to stand far off and forget
But, He does actually see trouble & grief
He is the helper and defender of the fatherless and oppressed
He is King forever and ever
He hears the desire of the afflicted


In Psalm 9, David praises God for all He has done in bringing victory over his enemies.  David wants God to see what has happened to Him and to be remembered and shown mercy.  Psalm 10 sums up his feeling that the wicked get to go ahead and do what they want without any accountability, but it also reminds himself that God is King for ever and ever and they are not getting away with 'murder' without God seeing.  God sees, knows and will remember and judge.

Psalms 1-5 A greater joy

Psalm 1

The righteous:  are blessed, don't walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, sit in the seat of mockers, but delight in the law of the Lord and on it, meditates day and night.  He's like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither and whatever he does prospers.  The Lord watches over the way of the righteous.

The wicked: are not like that!  They are like chaff blown away by the wind, they won't stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  Their way will perish.

The righteous make a choice to live that way, whereas the wicked are blown along with whatever catches them.  Am I making the daily choice to be with the righteous in my life?

Psalm 2

The Lord's anointed has been appointed to be the Father's Son, to have the ends of the earth as His possession and bring about His judgment, or for those who take refuge in Him, safety.  The believer's use of this Psalm in Acts clearly shows that the Psalmist was talking of Jesus as being God's Anointed One.  And so, the question asked of us is how will you respond to the Lord's Anointed One?  Will we "Kiss the Son" or turn our back on Him?  And will our kiss be that of one who loves Him, or one who will betray Him?

Psalm 3

David has woken to many foes, many people rising up against him, many doubting that God will deliver him.  cf 2 Sam 16:5-8  David however reacts by recognising who God is - He is the shield around him, He bestows glory on him and lifts up his head, he answers from his holy hill.  And so, because of that, he can lie down and sleep at night, he knows he will wake again, because God sustains him.  He won't fear the tens of thousands who oppose him on every side, because he knows God will rise up and deliver him.  

The question for me is whether I trust in God in the same way?  Do I place all my confidence in God alone, or do I retain some of my own?  In Christ alone, my hope is found.  

Psalm 4

Don't turn David's glory into shame, don't love delusions and seek false gods.  Instead, know that God has set apart the godly for Himself and will hear when we call on Him.  David's peace and assurance come from knowing that God is with Him and for Him, no matter what others may suggest or try to persuade him.  

Psalm 5

GOD:

Listens to our words, our sighing.  He listens to our cry for help.  He takes no pleasure in evil.  He cannot dwell with the wicked.  The arrogant cannot stand in your presence.  He hates all those who do wrong.  He destroys those who tell lies and abhors those who are bloodthirsty and deceitful.  He is righteous.  Everyone who takes refuge in Him will be protected and surrounded with His favour as a shield.

David at prayer:

David prays before, during and after his time of trouble.  Here he is praying in the morning, laying his requests before God in expectation.  He sighs as he prays, wondering how God will respond, waiting for God to protect him and look after him in the midst of evil.  Our prayers likewise need to be those that look to God to take full care of us in the midst of evildoers who seek to bring down the Lord's people.

Luke 24:1-53 The turning point - from despair to great joy

The women had been with Jesus, on the way to and at the cross, they followed Joseph to the tomb when Jesus' body was laid there - they knew He had died and where He had been laid.  When they arrived at the tomb, they must have been perplexed and bewildered.  It took two angels to remind them of Jesus' words that He would be crucified, buried, raised.  In the midst of all the emotion, somehow they had forgotten Jesus' promises.  Surely, the tendency is for us to do the same - in the busyness of life with all its emotions, we have the propensity to forget Jesus' words and promises to us.

The story of Jesus' life, death, burial and resurrection is everything to me.  Without each aspect of His story, my own story would be one without hope.  I would be left 'in sin', without hope, without the joy of all that He brings.  In short, His resurrection is of vital importance.

Would I be foolish & slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken?  Do I see Jesus in Moses and all the Prophets.  Jesus' use of the OT and later on remind us that ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful and profitable.  If Jesus Himself opened the Scriptures and taught them, surely we should be doing the same.  We have no justification for doing otherwise.

Before Jesus is revealed to the two disciples, they remain the dark and somewhat clueless about Jesus.  However, once He has revealed Himself to them, they talk of Him openly and freely, finding their friends and sharing the news of Jesus.  Do I do the same?  Do I remember it is God alone who opens our eyes so we can see Jesus?

Seeing Jesus for themselves changed their whole perspective.  Knowing He was not dead & buried, but was indeed risen changed everything for them.  I must ensure the same is true for me!

"Witnesses of these things" sums up what we are to be - witnesses to all Jesus is, was and did, all that happened - His life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and coming are all part of what we are supposed to be.  We are to do all this "clothed with power from on high" - the Holy Spirit with us, helping us and aiding us.

Luke 23:13-56 Promises in the face of death

Pilate wanted to please everyone - ultimately, he was about popularity, not justice.  He surrendered Jesus to their will as a result.

Jesus responding to the women mourning and wailing for Him must have stood out - He was not seeking sympathy, but rather was concerned about the future - He knew things would only get worse.  This surely must have stood out to the bystanders listening and watching Him.

Those watching Jesus sneered at Him - mocking, and despising Him.  Jesus remained silent.  Those crucified with Him had 2 different reactions - one despising and the other turning to Him and surrendering to Him and His mercy.  Jesus responded accordingly to the one who turned to Him.

The criminal who turned to Jesus clearly saw Jesus as He was - innocent and unjustly condemned.  He knew He was coming into His Kingdom and thus asked to be remembered.  Jesus promised and assured Him that He would.

Jesus' death was both physically, spiritually and nationally/globally significant.  This was a major event that had major consequences.  They remind us of whom Jesus REALLY is.

In the face of apparent failing and disappointment, the women and Joseph continued to respond trusting in who He said He was.  Their faith would later be vindicated.  The question is 'do I have similar faith' even when circumstances are at their lowest ebb?  Only if I trust fully in who Jesus is will I.

Luke 21:25-22:30 Stand up! Your redemption is drawing near.

Christians are to different to the rest of the world - when the signs of the end of the age start, we are to stand up & lift up our heads, because our redemption is drawing near.  We are to be careful, not becoming weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness or the anxieties of life, but rather to be watching out, alert & praying.  Our relationship to Jesus is what makes the difference.

Our lives are to be different to the world's - we are waiting for Jesus' return.  Everything is to be geared around this.  We are to live in our relationship with the Son of Man, so that when He appears, we are able to stand before Him.

22:1-6
The parties involved were:
Chief Priests & teachers of the law
The People, also described as the crowd
The Twelve, including Judas in particular.
The officers of the temple guard
Jesus

Some were with Jesus, going with Him, living with Him, following Him, unaware of what was about to happen.
Then there were those who were opposed to Jesus, plotting what would happen - drawing Judas into their crowd.
In the midst of them all were the people/the crowd, who were intrigued by Jesus - who enjoyed and appreciated Him, but had not yet made their minds up on Him.

22:7-13  It is vitally significant Jesus' death took place at Passover - the image of sacrifice loomed large.  1 Cor 5:7 reminds us that Christ was our Passover Lamb - making sacrifice for us.  He was the Lamb of God come to take away the sin of the world.

22:14-23  Jesus points out the necessity of His going to the cross, as it has been decreed.  He is going to pour out His life to be given for others, it is part of His new covenant in His blood.  All this is to bring in His Kingdom.

22:24-30  Jesus takes the world's standards of who is the greatest and turns them upside down.  He says the greatest is actually the servant, that lording it over others is not the way we are to be as believers, but rather, we are to be servants, not those who exercise authority.   Jesus Himself lived this out in practice on a day to day basis.  He practised what He preached.

Luke 22:31-23:12 Darkness reigns

22:31-34  Peter's confidence is empty, compared with Jesus who knows what WILL happen.  We must remember, we never have the full picture - only God knows fully.

Jesus did not shrink from the cross - the agony of what He would face was immense.  He knew this & so asked God if it was what He wills to take it from Him, but He knew that He wanted to do His Father's will.  Ultimately, Jesus chose to go to the cross, by being obedient to His Father's will.

This passage is a reminder of the frailty and folly of Jesus' disciples.  Even when Jesus was explicit with them, they didn't have the staying power to obey Him.  They showed the humanness of humanity when faced with the 'God-ness' of Deity.

Jesus' disciples were afraid - His enemies were opposed to Him.  However, He had previously prayed about it, submitted to God's will, and then prepared Himself for it.

Peter's response to those who accused him of being with Jesus showed his strength of personality.  His weakness was his willingness to deny Jesus so readily and quickly.  Jesus knew he would be used again and used mightily - this situation was to be the turning point for Peter.  His mouth got ahead of him and spoke faster than he was willing to keep to.  He should have taken Jesus at His word, listened and obeyed and prepared for what God was going to bring before him.

Jesus' attitude to those who opposed Him was humble, gentle, gracious, patient, disarming, but also remained in control through God's mercy not giving them what they deserved at that very moment.  1 Peter 2:19-23 sum up Jesus' attitudes well.