Good day and into day 78 we go, and like Tina Turner use to sing, we are going to continue to keep trucking along. God is good and greatly to be praised. Let us begin in Acts chapter 7
They begin by questioning Stephen as they did Jesus. Stephen let the spirit of the Lord speak as commanded by Jesus and he probably did not fear because Jesus warned him that they will bring you before councils for my names sake. And they asked Stephen is it true that he spoke against Moses.
Stephen then began to break the whole story of Jesus beginning in Abraham and walked them right up to their current day. He said important things in between here that we'll point out. He spoke of how the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him to leave his family and move to Canaan, then He gave Abraham the covenant of the circumcision to do on the 8th day, Isaac and Jacob came along, the the twelve patriarchs, and they went into Egypt. They were evil treated 400 years then the Lord prepared to deliver the children of Israel.
34I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
Reading this chapter with Stephen breaking everything down, gives us a clean history of all we've been reading starting at Abraham.
37This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
This is the same Moses who told the children of Israel, when they were too scared to face God at the mountain and made a request that we all live with today that God not speak with us directly, but through Moses (Moses had to die at some point so another prophet the Lord said He will raise). This prophet everyone better listen to. Moses proclaimed this while the church was in the wilderness? The church? Yes. The church did not begin on the day of Pentecost; the church has been active since the wilderness. When the Lord came down and proclaimed His commandments, and Israel entered into a covenant, the church began.
However, the children of Israel turned to paganism, made a calf, and from that God made them to worship the host of heaven. That is particularly why many Christians worship on the first day of the week, in Roman ideology it is known as the day of the Sun, Sunday. That is a host of heaven. Muslims come and make a pilgrimage in Mecca to a stone (that is suppose to represent something for Allah), and the Jewish people have this star, which is not only a host of heaven, but a idol worship as well. They accredit the star to David, but we read through David's stories and know there was never a mention of stars for David. The star came from this:
43Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
A pagan god Moloch, and the star was for Remphan, and for this God carried the children out into slavery into Babylon where they are still till this day.
51Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Stephen started calling the pharisees names, stiff necked, resisters of the Holy Spirit, just like their fathers who killed the prophets who came in the name of the Lord.
This made the pharisees terribly upset and they stopped listening and charged at him, after he told of a vision he had.
56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
They through him out of the city, stoned him, and you'll never guess who consented his death? The future apostle to the Gentiles, Saul. Saul was his Hebrew and original name, named after the first flesh and blood king of Israel, king Saul. The Gentiles called him Paul. Even unto death, Stephen asked the Lord not to lay this sin to their charge, as Jesus said Father forgive them because they really do not know what they are doing. I tell people this all the time; not to hold grudges even when the person purposes lies or does evil against you. If they really knew the consequences and had understanding of the lake of fire; they truly would not do the evil against you or anyone else that they do. So you are to forgive as Jesus said because they really don't understand.
1And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Saul was a very zealous pharisee and created much havoc to the church, throwing many men and women into jail for the name of Jesus. In places today like the Americas and much of Europe, they have a freedom of religion. However, if you went into Iran and began a Christian crusade, you'd find great opposition.
So many of the Jews of Jerusalem began to leave Jerusalem and go to other surrounding nations to avoid the persecution they received from their very own brothers. They saw what Jesus doctrine left Him; dead on a cross, but at His own will. So the true doctrine of Jesus is not accepted in the mainstream.
Phillip, a disciple, went to Samaria and preached the gospel and many believed and were baptized. A man named Simon was amazed at the gospel and the healing that Phillip had the power to do through God and he was also baptized. He was a witchcraft and really only wanted the praise of men. When Peter and John came and put hands on the people for them to receive the holy spirit, Simon wanted that power and offered money.
18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Peter's response to Simon goes to anyone who believes that they can buy their way into the kingdom of God or buy the use of the power of God. 20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
God owns everything, so to offer money for knowledge is foolish. Just ask and you will receive in the name of Jesus.
Phillip Meets the Ethiopian Jew
26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
This man was returning from a commanded feast of the Lord and he was reading the book of Isaiah, chapter 53 possibly and Phillip joined him and asked him if he is understanding all that he is reading? The man replied, "how can I unless someone teaches me?" It is great when one is humble; then they are able to receive help. But if he'd replied; yeah man I can read brother!" This would have cause Phillip to leave him alone.
After Phillip taught Jesus to the Ethiopian, they saw water, and he baptized himself immediately in the name of Jesus. I called the man a Jew because the directive the apostles and disciples received from Jesus was to go not in the way of the Gentiles; but rather to the lost house of the tribes of Israel. So they were teaching only Israelites for a long while. So the man was a citizen of Ethiopia; but was a physical child of Jacob. As we have today, many Jews who are citizens of the country they were scattered into, but they are still children of Israel.
1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Saul went and received permission from the high priest to go into other jurisdictions to arrest people who were following Jesus. He genuinely believed he was doing the right thing by God. It is comparable to Muslims today flying planes into buildings and doing suicide bombing, they believe they are doing a good service to God. So did Saul, he believed genuinely that he was doing the right thing. This is probably why the Lord had mercy on him.
Paul Blinded and Laid Down
Paul was suddenly blinded with a bright light from heaven, so bright that it literally laid him down on the earth. Then he heard a voice call his name. It was Jesus that asked him, "why are you persecuting me, it is hard for you to kick against the pricks." Paul humbled himself immediately and asked the Lord what he should do (v3-7). The average person would have be scared and upset because they know they were guilty. Paul did not think he was doing any wrong, he believed he was straightening out wrong. The men around Saul, saw him laid on the ground, they heard a voice but didn't see any man nor the bright light.
9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
A man named Ananias was sent to give Saul back his sight and instructions. He was worried at first to do it because he'd heard of what Saul was doing to the saints; but the Lord let him know that Saul was a chosen vessel to carry out the work of the Lord and show him how he must suffer great things for the Lord's name sake (v12-16).
Sometimes it takes the Lord going hard at us to get our attention. We may not be blinded but we may lose our jobs, our car, spouse, kids, or we may get to the top, with houses, cars, popularity, money, and simply not be fulfilled and finally resort to our God. Saul was converted and baptized and began preaching. 20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Now the Jews of Jerusalem sought out to kill him as he was doing to the saints. The truth turned him from the hunter to the hunted. When Paul returned to Jerusalem the disciples were not convinced that he was converted so no one would work with him. Then Barnabas came and took Saul under his wings and they travel together and taught. Peter and the disciples did great miracles in raising the dead, healing, and the church finally received rest once Paul left for Tarsus to teach. That is how reckless he was to the church.
1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
This is a Italian Gentile who the Lord is preparing to become part of the the household of Israel under the new covenant. An angel appears to him and sends him to send for Peter to be told what he needs to do. Why didn't the angel tell him? The Lord has certain rules of conduct, or a decorum if you will, that He established with the children of Israel. They are His priest so the word of God will go to them first, then they will spread it to the rest of the world.
Examples of this were in Egypt, when Pharaoh had a dream and none of his men could interpret the dream, Joseph the Israelite was brought in and did interpret the dream. Nebuchadnezzar, when he had a dream that need interpretation, they sent for the captive Jew, Daniel also from the priest nation of the Lord. When Israel was thriving, all nations came up to hear the wisdom of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord. Also when Jesus was born and Herod was looking for him, he did not go ask the Romans, he went to the chief priest of the Levites for the answers. It is the way the Lord operates, the Father gives it to the Son, the Son to the holy angels, and the angels give it to a child of Israel before it is manifested throughout the world.
Even if a Gentile is able to read it for himself out of the bible; every book in the bible was written by a child of Israel. So Cornelius was sent to the head of the church among men, Peter to be inducted into the church. Now Peter was not going to give this Gentile as much as a crumb of knowledge without the Lord fully preparing him and the Lord did that; because Peter remembered, "go not in the way of the Gentile."
So Peter has a vision that is to help him prepare to teach Cornelius.
13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Right here our dietary law is snapped in half. We can officially eat the pig, the catfish, the shrimp, if you like rodents, eagles, and any other thing common or unclean, go right ahead and eat it because the Lord has dropped His dietary requirements. It wasn't easy for Peter to accept either because he strictly kept the dietary laws. The Lord had to do it three times before Peter accepted it; and he still pondered on why the Lord would all of the sudden okay the eating of unclean animals?
19While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
Peter listened to them and they told him why they were there and Peter rose up to go see Cornelius the next day. Peter wisely took some disciples with him for witnesses that he would later need. Cornelius filled his house with his people that wanted to see and hear the word of God. Gentiles had not been able to witness Jesus but they heard about what He did and they heard about the Church growing; and quite naturally some wanted in. We have Gentiles today who sincerely want to help the Jews and the lost children of Israel.
25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Peter seeing what everyone was there for and putting together what the vision was all about told them and made me put away my ham sandwich.
28And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
He said it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company (in spiritual communing) with any other nation; however, God has shown him not to call any other man common or unclean. The Jews view other nations as uncleaned, uncircumcised, and common. And the Lord had to show Peter that He is the God of all people, and the Jews are not just some wonderful people He chose to save; the Lord wants to save all, He has chosen the Israelites to bring all back to Him.
Therefore, no one is common or unclean. This was not speaking of food or animals, it was speaking of men. So the dietary law is still in full affect. Please put down your catfish!
34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Everyone should know this by the way the Lord has beaten up on Israel for transgressing His commandments. He did not have respect for them just because they are Abraham's seed. All must still keep the laws of God.
As Peter was teaching them of Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on them as it happened to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
There we have the first Gentiles brought into the church under the new covenant.
1And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Peter had to come back to the Jews and explain why he went and spoke to the Gentiles concerning the Word of God.
12And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
Peter needed the witnesses because they were surely going to stone him for doing what he did because they considered it breaking the commandment of Jesus. The Jews seem like they want any reason to stone someone.
18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
When Peter finished his rehash of what took place they were at ease and happy that God had granted the Gentiles repentance to eternal life. They could have taken an easier path in knowing this by simply reading the books of the bible where it in Isaiah. This news of the Gentiles coming in took time to catch hold to the children of Israel.
19Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
They were still teaching the Jews only!
25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
This is very late in the game and Paul still is a smaller figure in the church and they were growing so much they were called Christians.
1Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
Herod began to persecute some of the church. He killed James the son of Zebedee, the brother of John. Remember these brothers asked to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus said they have to drink from the cup He drank and be baptized with His baptism; and they said they will do it. Jesus told them they would indeed do it. And here we see James being killed for the name of the Lord. This pleased the pharisees so Herod proceeded to take on Peter.
Peter was sent to prison; but an angel miraculously delivered him out. Herod killed the guards for allowing him to escape. Later on the Lord repayed the evil Herod had done by having him killed in an ugly way.
23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and were officially ordained as apostles and set for their work, which they were set apart to do. That is to be the apostles to the Gentiles. Paul must have wrote more or talked more with clearness to the Gentile because his writings are the ones we know of today; but Barnabas was with him for much of the time they taught together. They had John with them, and I will presume that they went in groups of twos or threes so that one preached and the other read the law. One preached while the other was the reader.
14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Years and years after Jesus death, Paul the apostle to the Gentile continued to keep the Sabbath day as the the 7th day of the week and did as Jesus custom was in Luke chapter four, Paul read the law and the prophets, Paul read the scriptures. At this point they are the New Testament book, so it is not written yet, but all they needed to share the gospel is in the Old Testament.
Paul was asked to speak and he spoke, giving the run down on the history of the children of Israel and how it has everything to do with Jesus Christ (v16-41). Paul's teachings were well received, not only by the Jews but by the Gentiles sitting outside the temple as they listened.
42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
The Gentiles were keeping the Sabbath day. We know because they had to do what the Jews were doing. But if by any reason we believe they were not keeping the Sabbath, when they asked Paul to return and teach them, they did not say, tomorrow (as in Sunday), they said the next Sabbath. It is beyond the bible that Sunday became accepted as a day of rest, which has no credibility with the Word of God. We've read how serious the Lord has been concerning the Sabbath day these 78 days. He stoned a mad for picking up sticks, He told Israel it is a sign between He and them, He said He is the Lord of the Sabbath, and would have left the children of Israel in the land if they would have only kept the Sabbath day of all the commandments (Ezekiel 20).
They couldn't do it; and with all this, I do not believe that Jesus would establish this day and change it subtly without informing the apostles clearly. I think this is good reasoning we can think about as we read.
43Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
The local ministers and Jews persuaded them to continue in the grace of God, but the next Sabbath the whole city came out. This made the Jews and local ministers became jealous and spoke against God by speaking against Paul.
This is when Paul realized what his job was:
46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
The Jews expelled Paul and Barnabas out of their coast but not before getting many Gentiles to believe and glorify the Lord.
Acts chapter 14
10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
The Works of God were thought to be the from the gods of the Elements.
They called Barnabas and Paul planets because they were healing people. Paul was the chief speaker so they gave him the greater planet.
22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
It takes much tribulation of this world to enter into the kingdom of God.
1And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
The Circumcision Disputed
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. A section of the pharisees who had believe on Jesus still taught it necessary for all who want to be saved must be circumcised according to as Moses wrote.
Peter, however, thought that the Lord sent him to open the door to the Gentiles and gave them the Holy Spirit as He did for them and made no difference. They received the Holy Spirit without needing to be circumcised, so Peter thought it not pertinent to have them circumcised (v7-11).
Notice, Peter didn't receive this by the Holy Spirit, but by his own reasoning. Moses did not consult the Lord on the divorce issue; but selected the lessor of two evils, and Joshua did not consult the Lord before the Gibeonites deceived him and entered a league with the children of Israel. Peter and the apostles could have made a similar error; because we read in Genesis that all must needs be circumcised as Abraham to enter the covenant; and in Ezekiel, we read how no uncircumcised person in flesh or heart will enter the Lord house.
So circumcision is necessary, however, perhaps Peter meant that teaching the Gentiles should continue regardless of them being circumcised or not.
29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. This is what they all agreed to have put on the Gentiles. However, ask yourself this; does it make sense for One God to have laws, statues, and commandments for one group of people to keep; but another group can avoid keeping the same laws, statues, and commandments?
This chapter ends with Paul and Barnabas departing because Paul didn't want John to continue with them and Barnabas did so they departed from each other.
1Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Here we have Timotheus, a Gentile with a Greek father and a Jew for a mother, wanted to teach with Paul and we see Paul took him to be circumcised before he could join them. If Paul said it did not matter for the circumcision; why then did he have Timotheus circumcised?
Paul did some travelling in then came to Macedonia where he met a young lady who was a psychic and she brought much money to some men by her psychic predictions. Paul summoned the evil spirit out of her and the men of course were upset and brought Paul before the council of their city.
They accused Paul:
21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
They had Paul and his men beaten and put in jail. However, the Lord afflicts and He delivers.
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
We do remember to the guards who Peter escaped from. So these guards were going to kill himself. But Paul and his men did not even escape. They stayed put and waited on word from the Holy Spirit. The guard believed and was baptized by Paul.
So the council of the town allowed Paul and his company to leave in peace. This finishes our reading for today. The count down will continue tomorrow.
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57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
They through him out of the city, stoned him, and you'll never guess who consented his death? The future apostle to the Gentiles, Saul. Saul was his Hebrew and original name, named after the first flesh and blood king of Israel, king Saul. The Gentiles called him Paul. Even unto death, Stephen asked the Lord not to lay this sin to their charge, as Jesus said Father forgive them because they really do not know what they are doing. I tell people this all the time; not to hold grudges even when the person purposes lies or does evil against you. If they really knew the consequences and had understanding of the lake of fire; they truly would not do the evil against you or anyone else that they do. So you are to forgive as Jesus said because they really don't understand.
Acts 8
2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Saul was a very zealous pharisee and created much havoc to the church, throwing many men and women into jail for the name of Jesus. In places today like the Americas and much of Europe, they have a freedom of religion. However, if you went into Iran and began a Christian crusade, you'd find great opposition.
So many of the Jews of Jerusalem began to leave Jerusalem and go to other surrounding nations to avoid the persecution they received from their very own brothers. They saw what Jesus doctrine left Him; dead on a cross, but at His own will. So the true doctrine of Jesus is not accepted in the mainstream.
Phillip, a disciple, went to Samaria and preached the gospel and many believed and were baptized. A man named Simon was amazed at the gospel and the healing that Phillip had the power to do through God and he was also baptized. He was a witchcraft and really only wanted the praise of men. When Peter and John came and put hands on the people for them to receive the holy spirit, Simon wanted that power and offered money.
18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Peter's response to Simon goes to anyone who believes that they can buy their way into the kingdom of God or buy the use of the power of God. 20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
God owns everything, so to offer money for knowledge is foolish. Just ask and you will receive in the name of Jesus.
Phillip Meets the Ethiopian Jew
26And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
This man was returning from a commanded feast of the Lord and he was reading the book of Isaiah, chapter 53 possibly and Phillip joined him and asked him if he is understanding all that he is reading? The man replied, "how can I unless someone teaches me?" It is great when one is humble; then they are able to receive help. But if he'd replied; yeah man I can read brother!" This would have cause Phillip to leave him alone.
After Phillip taught Jesus to the Ethiopian, they saw water, and he baptized himself immediately in the name of Jesus. I called the man a Jew because the directive the apostles and disciples received from Jesus was to go not in the way of the Gentiles; but rather to the lost house of the tribes of Israel. So they were teaching only Israelites for a long while. So the man was a citizen of Ethiopia; but was a physical child of Jacob. As we have today, many Jews who are citizens of the country they were scattered into, but they are still children of Israel.
Acts chapter 9
2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Saul went and received permission from the high priest to go into other jurisdictions to arrest people who were following Jesus. He genuinely believed he was doing the right thing by God. It is comparable to Muslims today flying planes into buildings and doing suicide bombing, they believe they are doing a good service to God. So did Saul, he believed genuinely that he was doing the right thing. This is probably why the Lord had mercy on him.
Paul Blinded and Laid Down
Paul was suddenly blinded with a bright light from heaven, so bright that it literally laid him down on the earth. Then he heard a voice call his name. It was Jesus that asked him, "why are you persecuting me, it is hard for you to kick against the pricks." Paul humbled himself immediately and asked the Lord what he should do (v3-7). The average person would have be scared and upset because they know they were guilty. Paul did not think he was doing any wrong, he believed he was straightening out wrong. The men around Saul, saw him laid on the ground, they heard a voice but didn't see any man nor the bright light.
9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
A man named Ananias was sent to give Saul back his sight and instructions. He was worried at first to do it because he'd heard of what Saul was doing to the saints; but the Lord let him know that Saul was a chosen vessel to carry out the work of the Lord and show him how he must suffer great things for the Lord's name sake (v12-16).
Sometimes it takes the Lord going hard at us to get our attention. We may not be blinded but we may lose our jobs, our car, spouse, kids, or we may get to the top, with houses, cars, popularity, money, and simply not be fulfilled and finally resort to our God. Saul was converted and baptized and began preaching. 20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Now the Jews of Jerusalem sought out to kill him as he was doing to the saints. The truth turned him from the hunter to the hunted. When Paul returned to Jerusalem the disciples were not convinced that he was converted so no one would work with him. Then Barnabas came and took Saul under his wings and they travel together and taught. Peter and the disciples did great miracles in raising the dead, healing, and the church finally received rest once Paul left for Tarsus to teach. That is how reckless he was to the church.
Acts 10
2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
This is a Italian Gentile who the Lord is preparing to become part of the the household of Israel under the new covenant. An angel appears to him and sends him to send for Peter to be told what he needs to do. Why didn't the angel tell him? The Lord has certain rules of conduct, or a decorum if you will, that He established with the children of Israel. They are His priest so the word of God will go to them first, then they will spread it to the rest of the world.
Examples of this were in Egypt, when Pharaoh had a dream and none of his men could interpret the dream, Joseph the Israelite was brought in and did interpret the dream. Nebuchadnezzar, when he had a dream that need interpretation, they sent for the captive Jew, Daniel also from the priest nation of the Lord. When Israel was thriving, all nations came up to hear the wisdom of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord. Also when Jesus was born and Herod was looking for him, he did not go ask the Romans, he went to the chief priest of the Levites for the answers. It is the way the Lord operates, the Father gives it to the Son, the Son to the holy angels, and the angels give it to a child of Israel before it is manifested throughout the world.
Even if a Gentile is able to read it for himself out of the bible; every book in the bible was written by a child of Israel. So Cornelius was sent to the head of the church among men, Peter to be inducted into the church. Now Peter was not going to give this Gentile as much as a crumb of knowledge without the Lord fully preparing him and the Lord did that; because Peter remembered, "go not in the way of the Gentile."
So Peter has a vision that is to help him prepare to teach Cornelius.
13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Right here our dietary law is snapped in half. We can officially eat the pig, the catfish, the shrimp, if you like rodents, eagles, and any other thing common or unclean, go right ahead and eat it because the Lord has dropped His dietary requirements. It wasn't easy for Peter to accept either because he strictly kept the dietary laws. The Lord had to do it three times before Peter accepted it; and he still pondered on why the Lord would all of the sudden okay the eating of unclean animals?
19While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
Peter listened to them and they told him why they were there and Peter rose up to go see Cornelius the next day. Peter wisely took some disciples with him for witnesses that he would later need. Cornelius filled his house with his people that wanted to see and hear the word of God. Gentiles had not been able to witness Jesus but they heard about what He did and they heard about the Church growing; and quite naturally some wanted in. We have Gentiles today who sincerely want to help the Jews and the lost children of Israel.
25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Peter seeing what everyone was there for and putting together what the vision was all about told them and made me put away my ham sandwich.
28And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
He said it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company (in spiritual communing) with any other nation; however, God has shown him not to call any other man common or unclean. The Jews view other nations as uncleaned, uncircumcised, and common. And the Lord had to show Peter that He is the God of all people, and the Jews are not just some wonderful people He chose to save; the Lord wants to save all, He has chosen the Israelites to bring all back to Him.
Therefore, no one is common or unclean. This was not speaking of food or animals, it was speaking of men. So the dietary law is still in full affect. Please put down your catfish!
34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Everyone should know this by the way the Lord has beaten up on Israel for transgressing His commandments. He did not have respect for them just because they are Abraham's seed. All must still keep the laws of God.
As Peter was teaching them of Jesus, the Holy Spirit fell on them as it happened to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
There we have the first Gentiles brought into the church under the new covenant.
Acts 11
2And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Peter had to come back to the Jews and explain why he went and spoke to the Gentiles concerning the Word of God.
12And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
Peter needed the witnesses because they were surely going to stone him for doing what he did because they considered it breaking the commandment of Jesus. The Jews seem like they want any reason to stone someone.
18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
When Peter finished his rehash of what took place they were at ease and happy that God had granted the Gentiles repentance to eternal life. They could have taken an easier path in knowing this by simply reading the books of the bible where it in Isaiah. This news of the Gentiles coming in took time to catch hold to the children of Israel.
19Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
They were still teaching the Jews only!
25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
This is very late in the game and Paul still is a smaller figure in the church and they were growing so much they were called Christians.
Acts 12
2And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
Herod began to persecute some of the church. He killed James the son of Zebedee, the brother of John. Remember these brothers asked to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus said they have to drink from the cup He drank and be baptized with His baptism; and they said they will do it. Jesus told them they would indeed do it. And here we see James being killed for the name of the Lord. This pleased the pharisees so Herod proceeded to take on Peter.
Peter was sent to prison; but an angel miraculously delivered him out. Herod killed the guards for allowing him to escape. Later on the Lord repayed the evil Herod had done by having him killed in an ugly way.
23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Acts 13
3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and were officially ordained as apostles and set for their work, which they were set apart to do. That is to be the apostles to the Gentiles. Paul must have wrote more or talked more with clearness to the Gentile because his writings are the ones we know of today; but Barnabas was with him for much of the time they taught together. They had John with them, and I will presume that they went in groups of twos or threes so that one preached and the other read the law. One preached while the other was the reader.
14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Years and years after Jesus death, Paul the apostle to the Gentile continued to keep the Sabbath day as the the 7th day of the week and did as Jesus custom was in Luke chapter four, Paul read the law and the prophets, Paul read the scriptures. At this point they are the New Testament book, so it is not written yet, but all they needed to share the gospel is in the Old Testament.
Paul was asked to speak and he spoke, giving the run down on the history of the children of Israel and how it has everything to do with Jesus Christ (v16-41). Paul's teachings were well received, not only by the Jews but by the Gentiles sitting outside the temple as they listened.
42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
The Gentiles were keeping the Sabbath day. We know because they had to do what the Jews were doing. But if by any reason we believe they were not keeping the Sabbath, when they asked Paul to return and teach them, they did not say, tomorrow (as in Sunday), they said the next Sabbath. It is beyond the bible that Sunday became accepted as a day of rest, which has no credibility with the Word of God. We've read how serious the Lord has been concerning the Sabbath day these 78 days. He stoned a mad for picking up sticks, He told Israel it is a sign between He and them, He said He is the Lord of the Sabbath, and would have left the children of Israel in the land if they would have only kept the Sabbath day of all the commandments (Ezekiel 20).
They couldn't do it; and with all this, I do not believe that Jesus would establish this day and change it subtly without informing the apostles clearly. I think this is good reasoning we can think about as we read.
43Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
The local ministers and Jews persuaded them to continue in the grace of God, but the next Sabbath the whole city came out. This made the Jews and local ministers became jealous and spoke against God by speaking against Paul.
This is when Paul realized what his job was:
46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
The Jews expelled Paul and Barnabas out of their coast but not before getting many Gentiles to believe and glorify the Lord.
Acts chapter 14
10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
11And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
The Works of God were thought to be the from the gods of the Elements.
They called Barnabas and Paul planets because they were healing people. Paul was the chief speaker so they gave him the greater planet.
22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
It takes much tribulation of this world to enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 15
The Circumcision Disputed
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. A section of the pharisees who had believe on Jesus still taught it necessary for all who want to be saved must be circumcised according to as Moses wrote.
Peter, however, thought that the Lord sent him to open the door to the Gentiles and gave them the Holy Spirit as He did for them and made no difference. They received the Holy Spirit without needing to be circumcised, so Peter thought it not pertinent to have them circumcised (v7-11).
Notice, Peter didn't receive this by the Holy Spirit, but by his own reasoning. Moses did not consult the Lord on the divorce issue; but selected the lessor of two evils, and Joshua did not consult the Lord before the Gibeonites deceived him and entered a league with the children of Israel. Peter and the apostles could have made a similar error; because we read in Genesis that all must needs be circumcised as Abraham to enter the covenant; and in Ezekiel, we read how no uncircumcised person in flesh or heart will enter the Lord house.
So circumcision is necessary, however, perhaps Peter meant that teaching the Gentiles should continue regardless of them being circumcised or not.
29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. This is what they all agreed to have put on the Gentiles. However, ask yourself this; does it make sense for One God to have laws, statues, and commandments for one group of people to keep; but another group can avoid keeping the same laws, statues, and commandments?
This chapter ends with Paul and Barnabas departing because Paul didn't want John to continue with them and Barnabas did so they departed from each other.
Acts 16
2Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
Here we have Timotheus, a Gentile with a Greek father and a Jew for a mother, wanted to teach with Paul and we see Paul took him to be circumcised before he could join them. If Paul said it did not matter for the circumcision; why then did he have Timotheus circumcised?
Paul did some travelling in then came to Macedonia where he met a young lady who was a psychic and she brought much money to some men by her psychic predictions. Paul summoned the evil spirit out of her and the men of course were upset and brought Paul before the council of their city.
They accused Paul:
21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
They had Paul and his men beaten and put in jail. However, the Lord afflicts and He delivers.
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
We do remember to the guards who Peter escaped from. So these guards were going to kill himself. But Paul and his men did not even escape. They stayed put and waited on word from the Holy Spirit. The guard believed and was baptized by Paul.
So the council of the town allowed Paul and his company to leave in peace. This finishes our reading for today. The count down will continue tomorrow.
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Peace & Grace
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