IN PRIOR POSTS I HAVE CAREFULLY GUIDED YOU THROUGH THE HIGH POINTS OR SYNOPTIC VIEW OF THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST AS SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF THE APOSTLES. YOU ALSO KNOW OF HIS DEATH AND HIS RESURRECTION.
WE NOW BEGIN TO EXPLORE THE TEACHINGS AND THE EARLY EXPANSION OF CHRISTIANITY BY HIS DISCIPLES IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
THIS BOOK IS THE SECOND OF A TWO PART TEXT WRITTEN BY LUKE (THE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST) TO A FRIEND NAMED THEOPHILUS. THE FIRST BOOK WAS ACTUALLY THE BOOK OF SAINT LUKE.
THERE ARE TWO PARTS IN ACTS — THE FIRST BEING THE RECORD OF THE MAJOR MISSIONARY ACTS OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES UNDER THE DIRECTIVE OF PETER AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
THE SECOND PART OF ACTS RECORDS SOME OF THE TRAVELS AND MISSIONARY WORKS OF PAUL.
WE WILL SEE IN THIS THE IMPORTANT OPENING OF MISSIONARY WORK TO DIVERSE PEOPLES OF OTHER NATIONS OTHER THAN THE JEWS.
ACTS CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS:
AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST HE MINISTERED TO HIS APOSTLES FOR FORTY DAYS.
HE TOLD THEM TO WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF GOD, THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE POWER AFTER THE HOLY GHOST CAME UPON THEM. AND THAT THEY WOULD BE WITNESSES FOR CHRIST IN JERUSALEM, ALL OF JUDAEA (WESTERN PALESTINE OR ISRAEL), SAMARIA (THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF PALESTINE, WEST OF JORDAN), AND TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.
WHEN CHRIST HAD TOLD THEM THESE THINGS, AS THEY WATCHED, HE WAS TAKEN UP IN A CLOUD OUT OF THEIR SIGHT.
(COMMENTARY: CHRIST WILL NOT RETURN TO EARTH AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 2000 YEARS (AFTER THE YEAR 2000 A.D.), AT THE END OF THE 6000 YEAR HISTORY OF THINKING, REASONING MAN WHICH BEGAN WITH ADAM.
YES, CHRIST COULD RETURN ANYTIME IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS BASED ON MY LIFETIME OF READING AND WATCHING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
UNDERSTAND WE DO NOT HAVE YEARS TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH SIDE OF THE FENCE OF HISTORY WE WILL STAND ON. WE ALL HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN SAINTS ON EARTH OCCURS. THIS RAPTURE WILL AFFORD YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT BE HERE FOR THE 7-YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD WHICH WILL DIRECTLY FOLLOW!)
THE APOSTLES RETURN TO JERUSALEM (PETER, JAMES, JOHN, ANDREW, PHILIP, THOMAS, BARTHOLOMEW, MATTHEW, JAMES, SIMON AND JUDAS (BROTHER OF JAMES) AND BEGAN TO PRAY AND REFLECT ON THE PAST AND THE FUTURE.
AT THAT TIME PETER WAS THE HEAD OF ABOUT 120 DISCIPLES. THEY VOTED THAT MATTHIAS (AFTER MUCH PRAYER) SHOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF JUDAS WHO HAD BETRAYED CHRIST AND HUNG HIMSELF.
ACTS CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS:
WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST CAME (FIFTY DAYS AFTER PASSOVER, THE FEAST OF PENTECOST WAS KEPT BY THE JEWS), THE DISCIPLES GATHERED TOGETHER.
DURING THOSE 50 DAYS, THE CORN WAS GATHERED IN. IT IS CALLED THE FEAST OF THE HARVEST.
SUDDENLY, THERE CAME A SOUND FROM HEAVEN OF A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, AND IT FILLED THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE.
THE GIFT OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES CAME UPON EACH OF THEM, AND THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST. THEY BEGAN TO SPEAK IN OTHER LANGUAGES AS THE SPIRIT DIRECTED.
THERE WERE FOREIGNERS (JEWISH) IN JERUSALEM FROM EVERY NATION OF EARTH, WHICH MARVELED AT HOW THE DISCIPLES COULD SPEAK IN THEIR LANGUAGE.
OTHERS HOWEVER, MOCKED THEM SAYING THEY WERE DRUNK.
PETER STOOD UP AND TOLD THE MULTITUDE THEY WERE NOT DRUNK
THIS GIFT WAS THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN OF BY THE PROPHET JOEL:
“AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAYS GOD, I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH: AND YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS. AND ON MY SERVANTS AND ON MY HANDMAIDENS I WILL POUR OUT IN THOSE DAYS OF MY SPIRIT; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.”
PETER WENT ON TO PREACH TO THE JEWS ABOUT CHRIST, HOW THE JEWS KILLED HIM, AND HOW THE APOSTLES WERE WITNESSES OF HIS RESURRECTION.
THESE FOREIGN JEWISH MEN WERE PRICKED IN THEIR HEARTS WITH REMORSE.
THEY WIND UP ASKING THE APOSTLES, “WHAT SHALL WE DO?”
PETER SAID TO THEM, “REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.”
THEN THEY WERE BAPTIZED, AND THAT DAY 3000 SOULS WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH.
(COMMENTARY: YES, THIS IS HOW THE APOSTLES GOT STARTED, 3000 SOULS WITH ONE DISCOURSE ON ONE DAY. THIS IS HOW THE ENDURING REVOLUTION OF CHRIST BEGAN IN OUR MODERN WORLD.
THIS EARLY EXAMPLE AND CONVERSION VICTORY IS A FAR CRY FROM MANY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF TODAY SINCE MANY ARE ASHAMED OF SIGNS OR WONDERS, OR UNABLE TO PRODUCE THEM.)
THESE PEOPLE HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON. THEY SOLD THEIR POSSESSIONS AND GOODS, AND GAVE TO ALL MEN, AS EVERY MAN HAD NEED.
(COMMENTARY: HERE IN 2017 THERE IS A DEARTH OF CONSECRATION AMONG MODERN BELIEVERS AND IT REALLY CONCERNS ME.
HOW MANY IN THE CONGREGATIONS OF TODAY WOULD SELL ALL THEIR POSSESSIONS AND GIVE TO THE POOR?
HOW MANY WOULD EVEN SELL THEIR EXCESS (THEIR BOATS, THIRD CARS, JET SKIS, OR JEWELRY) TO GIVE TO THE POOR IN THE CONGREGATIONS?
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS IN ACTS 2:44: THEY “HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON.”
NO THIS IS NOT COMMUNISM, WHICH IS A FAILED SECULAR INSTITUTION. IN CHRISTIANITY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNALISM FROM THE STANDPOINT OF TRUE THEO-DEMOCRACY WITH CHRIST AS THE CENTERPIECE.
THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEMS OF OUR MODERN SOCIETY. HOWEVER, ONLY JESUS COULD SET THIS SYSTEM UP AS MAN CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO PERFORM THIS.
THIS IS WHY I AM NOT EXCITED ABOUT MODERN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES; THIS IS WHY I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ORGANIZE YOUR OWN HOME CHURCHES OR WORSHIP FROM HOME!
ACTS CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS:
PETER AND JOHN HEAL A MAN LAME FROM BIRTH.
PETER PREACHES REPENTANCE TO THE JEWS BY TALKING ABOUT HOW THE JEWISH PEOPLE KILLED CHRIST.
HE IDENTIFIES JESUS AS THE PROPHET MOSES SPOKE OF:
“FOR MOSES TRULY SAID TO (YOUR) FATHERS, A PROPHET SHALL THE LORD YOUR GOD RAISE UP TO YOU OF YOUR BRETHREN (BLOOD LINE), LIKE ME; HIM SHALL YOU HEAR IN ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER HE SHALL SAY TO YOU.
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT EVERY SOUL, WHICH WILL NOT HEAR THE PROPHET, SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE.”
ACTS CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS:
THE PRIEST AND THE SADDUCEES ARE ANGERED BY HOW THE APOSTLES PREACH JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION.
PETER AND JOHN ARE ARRESTED. (NEVERTHELESS, 5000 MEN BELIEVED THE PREACHING OF PETER.)
ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, THEY ARE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE ELDERS, SCRIBES AND HIGH PRIESTS.
PETER FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST REMINDED THEM OF HOW THEY KILLED CHRIST AND THAT THERE IS NO “SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.”
THIS COUNCIL COMMANDED THE APOSTLES NOT TO SPEAK AT ALL NOR TEACH IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.
THE APOSTLES TOLD THEM “WE CANNOT SPEAK BUT THE THINGS WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.”
THE COUNCIL LET THEM GO FINDING NO WAY TO PUNISH THEM.
THE APOSTLES RETURNED TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE TO REPORT WHAT THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS HAD SAID.
THEY ALL PRAISED GOD AND THE HOLY GHOST CAME UPON THEM.
“AND THE MULTITUDE OF THEM THAT BELIEVED WERE OF ONE HEART AND OF ONE SOUL: NEITHER SAID ANY OF THEM THAT (ANY) OF THE THINGS WHICH HE POSSESSED WAS HIS OWN, BUT THEY HAD ALL THINGS COMMON . . . NEITHER WAS THERE ANY AMONG THEM THAT LACKED, FOR AS MANY AS WERE POSSESSORS OF LANDS OR HOUSES SOLD THEM, AND BROUGHT THE PRICES OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SOLD, AND LAID THEM DOWN AT THE APOSTLES’ FEET: AND DISTRIBUTION WAS MADE TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HE HAD NEED.”
ACTS CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS:
A CERTAIN MAN AND WOMAN, (OBVIOUSLY A PART OF THE APOSTLES’ CONGREGATION IN CHRIST) ANANIAS AND HIS WIFE SAPPHIRA, SOLD A POSSESSION BUT KEPT BACK FOR THEMSELVES PART OF THE PRICE.
THEY GAVE A CERTAIN PART TO THE APOSTLES.
PETER SAID TO ANANIAS, “WHY HAS SATAN FILLED YOUR HEART TO LIE TO THE HOLY GHOST, AND KEEP BACK PART OF THE PRICE OF THE LAND? YOU HAVE NOT LIED TO MEN, BUT TO GOD.”
ANANIAS HEARING THESE WORDS FELL OVER AND DIED. THREE HOURS LATER SAPPHIRA CAME TO PETER AND HE ASKED HER THE SAME QUESTIONS AND SHE FELL OVER DEAD.
GREAT FEAR CAME UP ON THE CHURCH THAT HEARD THESE THINGS.
AND BY THE HANDS OF THE APOSTLES WERE MANY SIGNS AND WONDERS WROUGHT AMONG THE PEOPLE. AND THE CHURCH GREW.
THE HIGH PRIEST AND THE SADDUCEES ARREST PETER AND JOHN (AGAIN) AND PUT THEM IN PRISON.
THAT NIGHT AN ANGEL OF THE LORD OPENED THE DOORS AND TOLD THEM TO GO AND TEACH IN THE TEMPLE.
THE HIGH PRIESTS WERE PUZZLED AT HOW THEY ESCAPED THE PRISON.
THEY WENT TO THE TEMPLE AND PEACEFULLY BROUGHT THE APOSTLES BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THE HIGH PRIEST ASKS THEM, “DID WE NOT COMMAND YOU THAT YOU SHOULD NOT TEACH IN THE NAME OF CHRIST? AND BEHOLD YOU HAVE FILLED JERUSALEM WITH YOUR DOCTRINE, AND INTEND TO BRING THIS MAN’S BLOOD UPON US.”
PETER AND THE OTHER APOSTLES SAID, “WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN.”
THE APOSTLES REMINDED THE COUNCIL HOW THEY KILLED CHRIST, HOW GOD EXALTED HIM TO BE THE SAVIOUR, AND HOW THEY WITNESSED THE ENTIRE MATTER.
THE COUNCIL WAS “CUT TO THE HEART” BY THEIR WORDS AND TOOK COUNSEL TO KILL THE APOSTLES.
BUT GAMALIEL, A PHARISEE LAWYER, SPOKE UP FOR THE APOSTLES SAYING —
“LET THESE MEN ALONE.
FOR IF THIS COUNSEL OR WORK BE OF MEN, IT WILL COME TO NOTHING.
BUT IF IT BE OF GOD, YOU CANNOT OVERTHROW IT; LEST HAPPILY YOU BE FOUND EVEN TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD.”
AND THE COUNCIL AGREED WITH HIM. THEY BEAT THE APOSTLES, COMMANDED (ONCE AGAIN) THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SPEAK IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AND LET THEM GO. THE APOSTLES LEFT THE COUNCIL, REJOICING THAT THEY WERE WORTHY TO SUFFER SHAME FOR HIS NAME.
AND DAILY IN THE TEMPLE, AND IN EVERY HOUSE, THEY DID NOT STOP TEACHING JESUS CHRIST.
ACTS CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS:
THE TWELVE APOSTLES COUNCIL WITH ALL THE DISCIPLES TO SELECT SEVEN HONEST MEN TO MINISTER TO THE POOR WIDOWS.
STEPHEN, PHILIP, PROCHORUS, NICANOR, TIMON, PARMENAS AND NICHOLAS ARE CHOSEN. THE APOSTLES LAID HANDS ON THEM TO BLESS THEM IN THEIR WORK.
STEPHEN FULL OF FAITH AND POWER DID GREAT WONDERS AND MIRACLES AMONG THE PEOPLE.
THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE LIBERTINES, CYRENIANS AND ALEXANDRIANS DISPUTED WITH STEPHEN.THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RESIST THE WISDOM AND SPIRIT BY WHICH HE SPOKE.
THEY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE AND THE ELDERS AND SCRIBES TO BRING STEPHEN TO COUNCIL. THEY SET UP FALSE WITNESSES AGAINST HIM. BUT ALL THOSE IN THE COUNCIL SAW STEPHEN’S FACE BECOMES LIKE AN ANGEL’S (TRANSFIGURED).
ACTS CHAPTER 7 SYNOPSIS:
BEFORE THE COUNCIL, STEPHEN RECOUNTS THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL AND TALKS ABOUT HOW MOSES WAS AN EARLY MODEL OF CHRIST.
HE TESTIFIES OF THE APOSTASY OF ISRAEL.
STEPHEN LOOKED UP INTO HEAVEN AND SAW THE GLORY OF GOD AND JESUS STANDING ON THE RIGHT HAND (SIDE) OF GOD.
THE COUNCIL CAST HIM OUT OF THE CITY AND STONED HIM WHILE HE SAID, “LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT.”
HE KNELT DOWN AND CRIED, “LORD, LAY NOT THIS SIN TO THEIR CHARGE.”
AND HE DIED.
THUS WE HAVE THE STORY OF STEPHEN, THE FIRST OF MANY MARTYRS FOR CHRIST.
ACTS CHAPTER 8 SYNOPSIS:
A MAN NAMED SAUL ORGANIZED A GREAT PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM. HE WENT HOUSE TO HOUSE ARRESTING MEN AND WOMEN AND SENT THEM TO PRISON. HE EFFECTIVELY SCATTERED THE APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES SO THAT THEY WENT EVERYWHERE IN JUDAEA PREACHING THE WORD.
PHILIP (A DISCIPLES) HAS A GREAT MISSIONARY VICTORY IN SAMARIA WITH MANY NEW CONVERTS.
PETER AND JOHN GO TO ASSIST PHILIP.
AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SENDS PHILIP DOWN TO GAZA. ON THE WAY HE MEETS AN ETHIOPIAN TREASURER SITTING IN A CHARIOT READING THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. THE HOLY SPIRIT TELLS PHILIP TO TALK TO HIM.
PHILIP GOES NEAR AND HEARS THE MAN READING ISAIAH ALOUD. HE ASKS THE MAN, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU READ?”
THE MAN SAID, “HOW CAN I EXCEPT SOME MAN SHOULD GUIDE ME?” SO PHILIP TEACHES THE MAN ON THE WAY ABOUT ISAIAH’S PROPHECIES OF CHRIST.HE BAPTIZES THE MAN AFTER HIS CONFESSION OF BELIEF.
PHILIP WENT ON TO AZOTUS PREACHING IN ALL THE CITIES ON THE WAY TO CAESAREA. THE ETHIOPIAN WENT ON HIS WAY REJOICING.
(COMMENTARY: HERE WE HAVE THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF AN AFRICAN CONVERT.)
ACTS CHAPTER 9 SYNOPSIS:
SAUL WAS THREATENING AND SLAUGHTERING THE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD. HE WENT TO THE HIGH PRIEST DESIRING TO GET A LETTER FROM HIM SO HE COULD TRAVEL TO THE DAMASCUS SYNAGOGUES AND CAPTURE ANY MORE OF THE BELIEVERS ON THE WAY, TO BRING THEM BOUND UP BACK TO JERUSALEM.
ON HIS JOURNEY TO DAMASCUS SUDDENLY THERE SHINED A LIGHT ROUND ABOUT HIM FROM HEAVEN.
HE FELL TO THE EARTH AND HEARD A VOICE SAYING,
“SAUL, SAUL, WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?”
AND HE SAID, “WHO ARE YOU LORD?”
AND THE LORD SAID,
“I AM JESUS WHOM YOU PERSECUTE: IT IS HARD FOR YOU TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.”
SAUL TREMBLING SAID, “LORD, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ME TO DO?”
THE LORD REPLIED, “ARISE, GO INTO THE CITY, AND IT SHALL BE TOLD TO YOU WHAT YOU MUST DO.”
AND THE MEN WHICH TRAVELED WITH HIM STOOD SPEECHLESS, HEARING A VOICE, BUT SEEING NO MAN.
SAUL STOOD UP AND WAS BLIND, BUT THEY LED HIM BY THE HAND, AND BROUGHT HIM INTO DAMASCUS. HE WAS 3 DAYS WITHOUT SIGHT, AND HAD NEITHER FOOD NOR DRINK.
NOW THERE WAS CERTAIN DISCIPLE AT DAMASCUS NAMED ANANIAS, AND TO HIM THE LORD SPOKE IN A VISION SAYING, “ANANIAS.”
AND HE SAID, “BEHOLD, I AM HERE LORD.”
THE LORD SAID TO HIM,
“ARISE AND GO TO THE STREET CALLED STRAIGHT, AND INQUIRE AT THE HOUSE OF JUDAS FOR SAUL OF TARSUS: FOR HE IS PRAYING. HE HAS SEEN YOU ANANIAS COMING IN, PUTTING YOUR HAND ON HIM, TO RESTORE HIS SIGHT.”
AND ANANIAS AFRAID SAID, “LORD I HAVE HEARD WHAT THIS EVIL MAN HAS DONE TO THE SAINTS AT JERUSALEM. AND HERE HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO BIND ALL THAT CALL ON YOUR NAME.”
BUT THE LORD SAID,
“GO YOUR WAY: FOR HE IS A CHOSEN VESSEL TO ME, TO BEAR MY NAME BEFORE THE GENTILES, AND KINGS, AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. FOR I WILL SHOW HIM HOW GREAT THINGS HE MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAME’S SAKE.”
ANANIAS PUT HIS HANDS ON SAUL AND SAID, “BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.” IMMEDIATELY SCALES FELL FROM HIS EYES AND HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT. HE AROSE AND WAS BAPTIZED.
SAUL WAS WITH THE DISCIPLES FOR DAYS IN DAMASCUS. AND RIGHT AWAY HE BEGAN PREACHING CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUES. ALL THAT HEARD HIM WERE AMAZED AND SAID, “ISN’T THIS HE THAT DESTROYED THOSE THAT CALL ON CHRIST IN JERUSALEM, AND HE HAS COME HERE FOR THAT INTENT, THAT HE MIGHT ARREST MANY.”BUT SAUL CONFOUNDED THE JEWS IN DAMASCUS, PROVING THE CHRIST.
AFTER MANY DAYS, THE JEWS TOOK COUNSEL TO KILL HIM.BUT SAUL KNEW THEY LAY WAIT FOR HIM, SO THE DISCIPLES HELPED HIM ESCAPE.
SAUL WENT TO JERUSALEM, HE WANTED TO JOIN THE DISCIPLES BUT THEY WERE AFRAID OF HIM.
BUT BARNABAS PRESENTED HIM BEFORE THE APOSTLES AND TOLD HIS STORY TO THEM. THE APOSTLES UNDERSTAND AND SEND SAUL TO TARSUS TO PREACH.
PETER GOES TO LYDDA AND HEALS A MAN OF PALSY. HE HEALS A FEMALE DISCIPLE AT JOPPA (NAMED DORCAS) OF DEATH. THUS MANY IN JOPPA COME TO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.
ACTS CHAPTER 10 SYNOPSIS:
AN ANGEL MINISTERS TO CORNELIUS (AN ITALIAN CENTURION AND RIGHTEOUS MAN). THE ANGEL TELLS CORNELIUS TO SEND MEN TO JOPPA FOR PETER.
IN CAESAREA, PETER AND CORNELIUS MEET.
PETER REMINDS THE MAN, “YOU KNOW IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A JEW TO KEEP COMPANY WITH ONE OF ANOTHER NATION; BUT GOD HAS SHOWED ME IN A VISION I SHOULD NOT CALL ANY MAN COMMON OR UNCLEAN.”
(COMMENTARY: GOD WAS LETTING PETER KNOW IN A MEASURED FASHION THAT THE GOSPEL WAS ABOUT TO GO TO THE GENTILES!)
PETER BEGINS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES IN CAESAREA (A SEACOAST TOWN ON THE MAIN ROAD FROM JOPPA TO EGYPT WHICH WAS FILLED WITH ROMANS).
THE HOLY GHOST FALLS UPON THE GENTILES AS THEY RECEIVE THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
ACTS CHAPTER 11 SYNOPSIS:
THE APOSTLES IN JUDAEA HEAR THAT THE GENTILES HAVE RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD.
WHEN PETER CAME BACK TO JERUSALEM THE JEWS BEGAN TO ARGUE WITH HIM. THEY SAID, “YOU WENT AND ATE WITH THE UNCIRCUMCISED.”
PETER TOLD THEN THE WHOLE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING.
WHEN THEY HEARD HIS STORY THEY GLORIFIED GOD AND SAID, “THEN GOD HAS GRANTED REPENTANCE TO THE GENTILES ALSO.”
NOW THE DISCIPLES (UNNAMED) WHO WERE SCATTERED AFTER THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN, CAME TO ANTIOCH TO THE GREEKS AND BEGAN PREACHING TO THEM.
A GREAT NUMBER OF THEM BELIEVE AND TURN TO THE LORD.
BARNABAS GOES TO TARSUS TO SEEK PAUL (FORMERLY KNOWN AS SAUL OF TARSUS.). TOGETHER THEY GO TO ANTIOCH. FOR A FULL YEAR THEY TEACH THE PEOPLE IN ASSEMBLY.
AND THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED “CHRISTIANS” FIRST IN ANTIOCH.
(HERE THE FIRST REFERENCE TO THE TITLE “CHRISTIAN” IN THE BIBLE. THEY USUALLY REFERRED TO ONE ANOTHER AS “SAINTS.)
AND IN THOSE DAYS CAME PROPHETS FROM JERUSALEM TO ANTIOCH. THE PROPHET AGABUS WARNED THE PEOPLE OF A FAMINE COMING (WHICH CAME TO PASS IN THE DAYS OF CLAUDIUS CAESAR).
THE DISCIPLES PREPARED THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH.
ACTS CHAPTER 12 SYNOPSIS:
HEROD BEGINS TO OPPRESS THE CHURCH. HE KILLS JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JOHN THE APOSTLE.
HEROD WANTED TO KILL PETER ALSO. PETER WAS PUT INTO PRISON WITH THE INTENT TO KILL HIM.
AFTER EASTER (PASSOVER). THE PEOPLE PRAY WITHOUT CEASING FOR PETER. AN ANGEL RESCUES PETER FROM PRISON. HE HIDES OUT AT THE HOUSE OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF JOHN.
HEROD SEARCHED FOR PETER BUT COULD NOT FIND HIM.
UPON A SET DAY, HEROD, IN HIS ROYAL APPAREL, SAT UPON HIS THRONE AND MADE A SPEECH. AND THE PEOPLE GAVE A SHOUT SAYING, “IT IS THE VOICE OF A GOD, AND NOT OF A MAN.”
AND IMMEDIATELY THE ANGEL OF GOD SMOTE HEROD, AND HE DIED.
THE WORD OF GOD GREW AND MULTIPLIED.
ACTS CHAPTER 13 SYNOPSIS:
THE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS OFFICIALLY CALL SAUL AND BARNABAS TO SERVE AS MISSIONARIES THROUGH FASTING, PRAYER AND THE LAYING ON OF HANDS. THEY SET SAIL FOR CYPRUS.
WHEN THEY GET TO THE ISLE OF PAPHOS THEY RUN INTO CONFLICT WITH A SORCERER NAMED BAR-JESUS (TELLING NAME DON’T YOU THINK?)
THEN SAUL (WHO IS ALSO CALLED PAUL) FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST SAID TO THE SORCERER, “O FULL OF ALL SUBTILITY AND ALL MISCHIEF, YOUR CHILD OF THE DEVIL, YOU ENEMY OF ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, WILL YOU NOT CEASE TO PERVERT THE RIGHT WAYS OF THE LORD? AND NOW BEHOLD, THE HAND OF THE LORD IS UPON YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE BLIND FOR A SEASON.” AND IMMEDIATELY BAR-JESUS WAS BLIND.
PAUL AND HIS COMPANY LEAVE PAPHOS FOR PERGA AND THEN ANTIOCH.
PAUL PREACHES ON THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL FROM THE BONDAGE OF EGYPT TO CHRIST. HE TELLS THE PEOPLE —
“ÁND BY HIM (CHRIST) ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, FROM WHICH YOU COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED IN THE LAW OF MOSES.”
(COMMENTARY: WHAT PAUL SAYS HERE IS THAT THE LAW OF MOSES WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE SALVATION OF MAN TO BE COMPLETE. THE LAW WAS ONLY A FORERUNNER TO THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST.)
THE JEWS WERE ANGRY WITH PAUL FOR THE CAUSE OF ENVY.
PAUL AND BARNABAS TELL THEM,
“IT WAS NECESSARY THAT THE WORD OF GOD SHOULD FIRST HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO YOU: BUT SEEING (HOW) YOU PUT IT FROM YOU, AND JUDGE YOURSELVES UNWORTHY OF EVERLASTING LIFE, WE TURN TO THE GENTILES. FOR THE LORD HAS COMMANDED US, SAYING, I HAVE SET YOU TO BE A LIGHT OF THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BE FOR SALVATION TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”
WHEN THE GENTILES HEARD THIS THEY WERE GLAD AND GLORIFIED GOD. AND THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS PUBLISHED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REGION.
THE JEWS STIRRED UP THE CHIEF MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CITY AND HAD PAUL AND BARNABAS EXPELLED OUT OF THEIR COASTS. BUT THE APOSTLES SHOOK OFF THE DUST OF THEIR FEET AS A TESTIMONY AGAINST THEM AND LEFT FOR ICONIUM.
NEXT . . . THE TRAVELS AND TEACHINGS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL