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Acts 28 - Kindness Changed a Nation

I have read the book of Acts numerous times, but for some reason it had never registered with me before just how many people were on the ship with Paul.

Acts 27:36-37 Then everyone was encouraged, and all 276 of us began eating—for that is the number we had aboard.

That was a lot of people; all of whom made it safely to shore after the shipwreck.

It was "customary" to rob anyone that was shipwrecked and possibly even enslave them. That is why the following verse was penned.

Acts 28:2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.

Their behavior was unexpected. Apparently though, this was something that extended from the top.

The governor of the island was Publius, or more accurately Publius' father. Since the elder was unable to rule due to illness, his son ruled in his stead.

The common response for a Roman official, upon finding a mass of convicts washed up on his shore, would have been to immediately throw all of them into holding cells. Instead, Publius courteously fed and housed over 276 people in his estate.

Acts 28:7 Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us courteously and fed us for three days.

Somewhere within these three days it was discovered by Paul that Publius' father was ill.

Acts 28:8 As it happened, Publius's father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

Immediately, people from all over the island brought their sick, to Paul, at Publius' estate, and all were healed.

Acts 28:9 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were cured.

It has already been shown that Publius' showed unusual kindness, as did the rest of the people. I would venture to say that his people probably liked him. Imagine how their esteem for him rose for hosting a man that was healing all of their diseases.

Acts 28:10 As a result we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people put on board all sorts of things we would need for the trip.

That honor that the people showed Paul and his companions extended to Publius and his household.

Now that God had their attention, for three months Paul taught the people about Christ.

The results were dramatic. Tradition says that Publius and his household became saved. In fact, he became the first bishop of Malta. As the highest official on the island, his religion became the official religion of the land. To this day 90% of Maltese residents identify themselves as Christians. Malta, an independent island nation, under Roman rule, became the first Christian country.

And the story still goes on.

Father, thank you for using the storms of life to take us to unexpected places, places you want us to go. May I look for the God opportunities, wherever they may be found. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Affect the right man, affect a nation. - Jan
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Acts 27 - Storms of Opposition

The enemy of our souls tried to silence Paul's preaching of the gospel by having him arrested and asking for a death sentence. However, as we who read our Bible know...

...God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28

Paul was on-mission. He was to preach the gospel to the highest authorities throughout the Roman empire. But how could that happen? The answer was, to be put on trial before them and as a result having an open forum in court to proclaim the message of Christ.

Acts 26:1-3 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak in your defense." So Paul, with a gesture of his hand, started his defense: "I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, for I know you are an expert on Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!

I believe it was somewhere around this point that Satan realized that he'd screwed up. The highest officials in the land were hearing the gospel clearly explained to them by an expert witness.

Being unable to stop him here, the enemy decides to keep him from his destination - Rome.

It jumped out at me just how much opposition there was in this chapter of Acts.

• Putting out to sea from there, we encountered headwinds that made it difficult to keep the ship on course...
• We had several days of rough sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared Cnidus.
• But the wind was against us, so we sailed down to the leeward side of Crete, past the cape of Salmone.
• We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
• But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (a "northeaster," they called it) caught the ship and blew it out to sea.
• The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard.
• The terrible storm raged unabated for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
• But the ship hit a shoal and ran aground. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.
• The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn't swim ashore and escape.

Acts 27:4, 7, 8, 14, 18, 20, 41, 42

Nearly the entire chapter is about storms of opposition to Paul's reaching the destination God had planned for him.

Yet in the midst of the storm God sent an angel to reassure Paul that he would succeed in his mission.

Acts 27:24 and he said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar!'

When we are on-mission we will experience opposition. But, we serve a Commander that has assured us the victory. It is our job to faithfully obey His directives and battle through. The following verse about battling through is much misunderstood. I think the Bible version below does a great job with the explanation.

Matthew 11:12 (Amplified) And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

We are called to be the "violent men" - Biastes in Greek. This word means that we are strong, forceful in our approach to opposition. In fact the word's Greek root is "Bios" which implies a way of life. We are to intensely fight for the precious prize.

Paul did battle through to Rome, and in his letter to the church at Philippi (written from prison) he gives us a brief glimpse of the prize from that battle.

Philippians 4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

In Caesar's own household there were Christians! His mission was a success. The Greek word for household is Oikia, meaning those who live in the house, possibly even family.

Storms of opposition come, but our Commander has called us to be "biastes" and battle through. If he directs, then he empowers us to produce his desired result - despite the storms.

Father, thank you for giving us the victory. All we need to do is go out in faith, following your orders. Please give us the desire and determination to do so. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"
Jan
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Acts 26 - Direct Revelation

During Paul's first trial, as he explains what the message of Jesus and salvation is about, Festus accuses him of being insane due to too much education, too much studying.

Acts 26:24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!"

However, if Festus had been paying attention he would have heard Paul say just how he came about the knowledge of Jesus. It was not because of studying.

Acts 26:16 Now stand up! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you.

Notice that in the last sentence. Jesus tells Paul that he will tell the world about this experience, and about other experiences with Jesus.

Paul was not taught about Jesus from one of the disciples, nor from any letters written by a disciple. Jesus himself taught Paul.

Galatians 1:12 For my message came by a direct revelation from Jesus Christ himself. No one else taught me.

In fact Paul spent three years in desert Arabian places being directly tutored by Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 1:16-18 Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. No, I went away into Arabia and later returned to the city of Damascus. It was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem for a visit with Peter and stayed there with him for fifteen days.

Only when Jesus was ready to unleash Paul on the world did he send him to Damascus where he'd started, and then on to Jerusalem.

Learning and knowledge is essential, but it is not sufficient. We need to experience Jesus' presence. We do not worship a dead God. He lives and desires intimate fellowship. He wants to speak with us, to have us learn from him.

1 John 2:27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true – it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ.

How do we know what is true, that it is from the Holy Spirit? That is where the knowledge part comes in. God will never contradict his word. Just like the noble Bereans, we need to know his word and filter any revealed knowledge through it.

Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Like the Bereans, we should search the scriptures daily. And, like Paul, we should seek to experience intimate fellowship with Jesus daily too.

Father, may I learn to listen for your voice. When I hear and know it is you, may I act on it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Are you listening? Jan
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Acts 25 - Captive Audience

Many years ago I thought up the idea of advertising in public restrooms. The idea was to hang advertisements in front of urinals and on stall doors. I was going to call my fledgling business, Captive Audience. Unfortunately I did not know how to proceed, and soon I began to see that others who knew how were quickly seizing the market. Oh well...

God similarly appointed the Apostle Paul to be the "stall" advertisement for Christianity to a captive audiences from Jerusalem all the way to Rome.

Acts 25:23 The next day everybody who was anybody in Caesarea found his way to the Great Hall, along with the top military brass. Agrippa and Bernice made a flourishing grand entrance and took their places. Festus then ordered Paul brought in.

Whenever there was a trial or a hearing, Paul had a captive audience of prominent persons, persons that would hear the gospel.

Lord, thank you for working in ways that human logic sometimes doesn't understand. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Where are you hanging? Jan
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Acts 24 - Sacrifice?

If there were sound effects with this you would hear synapses creaking and groaning in my brain. I thought that ritual sacrifice was ended with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. After all, he was the sacrifice, once and for all as scripture states.

Hebrews 9:25-27 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the earthly high priest who enters the Most Holy Place year after year to offer the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, he would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial death for us. And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him.

So what is Paul referring to in this verse?

Acts 24:17 After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.

What was Paul doing offering or attempting to offer sacrifices to God for?

In looking at the topic of Temple sacrifice in general I see that there are numerous types of sacrifices and offerings. Only a few of them dealt with covering or atonement for sin. However, they were all substitutionary, meaning that they were offered in place of another thing, oneself, or a loved one.

I find that the word sacrifices is translated as offerings in many bible versions. Perhaps Paul was merely presenting gifts for the furthering of the temple and support of the priests. But it certainly does cause one to wonder. Are there some Temple sacrifices that Jesus' sacrifice didn't obviate?

Lord, thank you that I don't need to offer animals to cover my sins. Thank you Jesus for what you did. In your name, Amen.

Give Him all. Jan
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Acts 23 - The Lord Appeared

As I read this chapter, I stopped on the following verse. For some reason I am drawn to it.

Acts 23:11 The Lord stood near Paul the next night and said to him, "Don't lose your courage! You've told the truth about me in Jerusalem. Now you must tell the truth about me in Rome."

I am intrigued by the idea of the Lord standing next to Paul. Can you imagine the scene? If you've had doubts, fears or discouragement, I suspect a personal visit from Jesus might alleviate that. Notice that Jesus tells Paul not to lose courage. In some translations it says be brave, or be encouraged.

If Paul had any fears that his life would end soon, they were immediately dispelled. Jesus just told him that he was going to Rome. The trip alone would take months.

If we are going to survive this journey of life without losing hope, we must hear from the Lord. The key to hearing is telling the truth about him wherever we are; and then quieting ourselves to listen. He is talking all of the time, through his Word, his people, his Spirit, and sometimes even physically. But we must be in a posture to listen.

Lord, may I listen for your voice, may I desire your presence. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Come Lord Jesus, Come.
Jan
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Acts 22 - Too Bright

Recently I've run across a concept I've never seen before. It is that of something being hidden in plain sight. We can actually focus on something so intently that we don't notice something blatant, right in front of us.

Below is a YouTube video demonstrating the concept. The speaker asks the audience to count the number of basketball passes. He demonstrates that men and women do perceive differently; they get different numbers. My wife and I tried it and got very different results.

My wife couldn't believe it the first time I showed it to her. Ok, it isn't about basketball passes. But I couldn't tell you the result until you saw it for yourself.

In today's reading I was drawn to the following verse.

Acts 22:11 I was blind because the light had been so bright. So the men who were with me led me into the city of Damascus.

Saul was blind because the light had been so bright.

Matthew 13:14 This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: 'You will hear my words, but you will not understand; you will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning.'

The truth of Christ was in plain view. Saul knew the scriptures and the prophecies. He was educated by one of the best teachers of the time, Gamaliel. Yet the light of Christ was so bright that Saul was blind to the truth.

It took being knocked on his butt and being literally blinded for him to truly see.

Father, thank you for intervening in Saul's life. You are awesome! In Jesus' name, Amen.

How bright is your light? Jan
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Acts 21 - Price of Fame

After many, many years, Paul returned to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. James greeted him and among other things said the following regarding Paul's presence.

Acts 21:22 Now what can be done? For they will certainly hear that you have come.

Who was James worried about? Jewish Christians!

Acts 21:21 Our Jewish Christians here at Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews living in the Gentile world to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They say that you teach people not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs.

And word did soon spread, starting the inexorable procession of events that would eventually lead to Paul's death.

Lord, may we be swift to hear, but slow to speak. In Jesus' name, Amen.

It'll cost you your life. Jan
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Acts 20 - Constant Example

I am an example. My children watch me, my coworkers watch me, the men at Wildmen watch me; there are people I don't even know watching me. The things I do, and don't do serve to demonstrate who I am and what I stand for.

The question is, "Am I doing it right? Am I an example that others should want to emulate?" Why do I have this fear of that happening?

The Apostle Paul was not hesitant to exhort others to be like him.

Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

I wonder if he struggled with things in his life, or was he somehow above it all?

Lord, may my life be an example. May I demonstrate to others how to live as a follower of your son. In Jesus' name, Amen.

You are an example, but of what? Jan
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Acts 19 - First Christian Church

Now, I know that a church is actually the body of believers. However, the word has also come to mean the place where those believers meet.

Up until this chapter in Acts, the Christians met either in the synagogue or in people's homes. But, something happens in this chapter that changes all of that.

Acts 19:8-9a Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some rejected his message and publicly spoke against the Way, so Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him.

Paul stopped preaching in the synagogue. He went elsewhere.

Acts 19:9b Then he began preaching daily at the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

Apparently Paul rented a lecture hall, or space in a school as some translations put it.

...moving from the Synagogue to the scholē tou Tyrannou. There has been a substantial amount of discussion as to what the scholē actually refers. The major theories regarding the hall of Tyrannus is that it was (1) a lecture hall named after its owner, (2) a lecture hall named after the person who lectured in it most frequently such as a local philosopher, (3) a school, and (4) a guildhall. Whatever the scholē actually was, Paul made some sort of arrangement to secure it as a consistent speaking venue.
http://www.novumtestamentum.com/acts/Ephesus/ephesus.html

The believers had a rented space for their church to meet, a place where the message could be heard unhindered.

Acts 19:10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the Lord's message.

The first church building was Tyrannus' Lecture Hall in Ephesus.

Lord, thank you for providing for a place for Paul to preach. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Peace, Jan
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Acts 18 - Whole Hog

Paul started out as a persecutor of the church. His goal was to wipe them off his planet. When he encountered Jesus personally on the road to Damascus, all that changed.

But that was not the only change. Good Jews had nothing to do with Gentiles if they could avoid it. They were unclean - like pigs.

Peter, prior to the angel of God telling him to call nobody unclean would not even consider entering a Gentile's house.

Acts 10:28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

Yet there he was, standing in the midst of Gentiles, telling them about Jesus. He had crossed a line in the proverbial sand.

I see Paul making such a step here in today's chapter.

Acts 18:5-6 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent his full time preaching and testifying to the Jews, telling them, "The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus." But when the Jews opposed him and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his robe and said, "Your blood be upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

Remember, this is Paul speaking. He doesn't do anything half way. No he went whole-hog. Look what he did immediately following this incident.

Acts 18:7 After that he stayed with Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue.

He actually went to live with a Gentile! This was a calculated move to demonstrate that indeed he was now actively seeking Gentile associations and converts.

We see no evidence that Paul lived anywhere else during his stay in Corinth.

Acts 18:11 Paul lived in Corinth for a year and a half and taught the word of God to them.

When Paul committed to something, he committed his all. I long for that type of courage and determination. What about you?

Lord, may I follow after your leading wherever it will take me. Please give me a desire to live courageously for you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Smokey BBQ please, Jan
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Acts 17 - More Noble

In reading this chapter I noticed a detail that is easy to miss.

Acts 17:10-12 (NLT) That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.

Acts 17:10-12 (NIV) As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Sometimes it is good to be familiar with other translations of scripture. The King James states the first two verses a bit differently

Acts 17:10-11 (KJV) And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

These events in Berea are taking place sometime around 50-55AD. The printing press won't show up for over a thousand more years. All copies of scripture (the Old Testament) were hand made, meticulously cared for, and reverently protected. So, note that the noble Bereans searched the scriptures.

Question, who had access to the scriptures?

It was the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees. It was the religious leaders.

I find it amazing that the same crowd that in nearly every other city violated their own sacred texts to lie, incite riot, and do harm to the Apostles, had a totally opposite reaction in Berea. I wonder why?

Lord, may I always pause to ask, "Is this of you?" May I continue to search the scriptures.

John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

But more importantly, may I always look to you for answers and life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be more noble. Jan
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Acts 16 - When in Philippi

When I read this chapter I couldn't help but notice the following verses.

Acts 16:13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we supposed that some people met for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had come together.

I've read somewhere that it was common for Jews to gather at a riverbank on the Sabbath for worship if there was not a synagogue in their vicinity. Apparently Philippi in Macedonia was just such a place. So naturally Paul went to the place of prayer - the riverbank.

Acts 16:14-15 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am faithful to the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we did.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote the following regarding this passage.

"The first outward evidence of the opened heart was obedience. As soon as Lydia had believed in Jesus, she was baptized. It is a sweet sign of a humble and broken heart, when the child of God is willing to obey a command which is not essential to his salvation, which is not forced upon him by a selfish fear of condemnation, but is a simple act of obedience and of communion with his Master."

Notice that after this event, still in Philippi, Paul and Silas were going somewhere.

Acts 16:16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.

They were going to the place of prayer. The gospel writers had no hesitation mentioning a church or a synagogue, so clearly this city's Jewish gathering place was something else - the riverbank.

Father, may we gather for worship wherever your people are. Also may we demonstrate outwardly what we claim has happened inwardly. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Shall we gather at the river? Jan
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Acts 15 - Gifts, Many Others

After delivering the good news that the Gentiles (me and probably you) didn't need to experience the weenie-whacker to be in good standing with God, the delegates from Jerusalem stayed in Antioch for a while.

Acts 15:32 Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke extensively to the Christians, encouraging and strengthening their faith.

These two men had the gift of prophecy, to be able to reveal the hidden things of God, to predict future events, to speak as directed by the Holy Spirit. They used their gifting to encourage and strengthen the believers in Antioch.

Just two verses later, after Judas and Silas left for Jerusalem, I see Paul and Barnabas walking in their gifting.

Acts 15:35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch to assist many others who were teaching and preaching the word of the Lord there.

Their gift was preaching and teaching. But what I found especially interesting was the use of the word many. It is the Greek word Polus, meaning a great number of people. We get our word populous from it.

From the context, it would seem that this gift of preaching and teaching was somewhat common. I wonder if that wouldn't hold true today if we would simply step out of our comfort zones and let the Lord use us as he sees fit?

Father, may I preach and teach your word whenever and wherever you deem fit. Please give me the humility to lay down my fear of what others might think, and be more concerned with what you ask of me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Where's your pulpit or podium? Jan
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Acts 14 - Hardships and Fasting

In the United States of America, where I live, we presently have very little persecution or hardships that Christians must endure. We think that being called a "Jesus Freak" is a hardship. Our brothers in other countries would politely disagree I'm sure.

In chapter thirteen of Acts, Paul is stoned and left for dead in the city of Lystra. Whether he was dead or not, he revives and continues on in the mission God has called him to. He travels to a few other places and then incredibly he returns to the city where he was stoned.

Acts 14:21-23 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Again I see that it is through fasting and prayer that God's will is revealed. For it was after doing this that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders.

However, the thing that jars me is the assertion that "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." I hope and pray that in my country we don't have to endure what other places of the world do.

Lord, please continue to give us your grace. May we be a shining beacon to the lost and dying. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Are you suffering? Jan
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Acts 13 - Fasting and Praying

I recently ended a twenty-four hour fast that had been called by my church. It had been some time since I'd fasted. But I believe that the Lord is asking me to do it more often. When I read the following verses, I kept coming back to them.

Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

What really stood out to me was that while they were doing the fasting and praying the Holy Spirit "said".

I wonder what that sounded like?

Lord, I want to hear your voice. Please forgive me for not investing the effort that you ask. Please be patient with me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Perhaps I should skip some meals. Jan
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Acts 12 - Oh, it's only you

Have you ever had the ego-deflating comment of, "Oh, its only you." when you are greeted at the door or call someone on the phone? It feels strange, sort of like you are not valued, perhaps even not wanted.

Peter had been locked in prison, death was pretty certain following his upcoming mock trial. Instead, an Angel of the Lord frees him in the middle of the night. He thinks about it for a moment and then goes to his friend's home where a group is gathered, praying for his release.

Acts 12:13-15 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!"

"You're out of your mind," they said. When she insisted, they decided, "It must be his angel."

Now imagine you are Peter. You go to your friend's house and the servant girls says, "Oh, it's you!", and essentially slams the door on you.

But it gets even better. The people say "It must be his angel." And keep doing what they've been doing.

Huh? Did they get Angels knocking at their front door in the middle of the night often? What were they thinking?

But, I'm sure that many times I've done worse. What an unbelieving sorry bunch of humans we are.

Lord, may I not be so dense. Please help me to discern your voice and your work. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Answer the door - joyfully. Jan
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Acts 11 - A Good Man

One of my personality quirks is that I don't like to be called "good" or a "good man". I know what crud runs through the subway of my mind. I do not consider myself worthy of that title. Internally I wince when someone says it of me. Usually I'll retort with, "There is none good but God".

Mark 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good - except God alone.

My bride get a bit annoyed with me when I do it. But it has been so ingrained in me, "There is none good..."

Today in reading about Barnabas I see this description of him.

Acts 11:24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And large numbers of people were brought to the Lord.

Para Digum shift alert! (Yes, I know it is spelled paradigm.) I thought none was good but God?

(Moment of silence while synapses fire uncontrollably about my brain.)

Could it be true? Am I a good man?

I will have to ponder this one some more.

Lord, please reveal your truth on this matter to me. I want to know, I need to know. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A blessed man for sure, perhaps a good one, Jan
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Acts 10 - Devout Soldier

In reading about the Centurion Cornelius, I noticed someone I'd not noticed before.

Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.

Cornelius called two servants and a devout soldier. The word devout does not imply devoted to Rome or even Cornelius. It implies that the man was devoted to God!

I think the next verse collaborates that interpretation of the word.

Acts 10:8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Notice that he told them everything. As a Commander of 100 soldiers, not to mention servants in his own household, Cornelius was accustomed to having his orders obeyed implicitly without question. Yet he confided in these three men and revealed to them his entire encounter with God's angel.

Another thing that struck me was that the Angel did not tell Cornelius to go to Peter. He easily could have. But instead, he told him to send some men to go get Peter.

Acts 10:5 The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

If Cornelius had gone to Peter, he most likely would have become a Christian, received the Holy Spirit, and been baptized. And it might have ended there. However, God had bigger plans.

Acts 10:24,27 The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends... Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.

There was a crowd of people in Caesarea that needed to hear and experience the message of Jesus,  not just one person.

According to church tradition, Cornelius went on to become the Bishop of the church at Caesarea. It started right there in his house by the sea. It was the first Gentile Christian church.

Father, thank you that Peter and Cornelius listened. It is because of them that I am saved. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Be a devout servant. Jan
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Interesting further reading about Cornelius

Acts 9 - Two Sides

"Just wait until your father gets home.", was not an idle threat in my family. Although an amazing loving man, my father was also the disciplinarian. If my brother or I misbehaved, he would take care of us. We would spend the remainder of the afternoon in fear of his anticipated return from work.

However, there were times that he would over do it, when the discipline he meted out was too harsh or severe. It was those times that my mother would come and provide mercy and comfort.

I have a friend who theorizes that it is from the Holy Spirit that we get feminine traits. His reasoning is that in the heavenly family, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we have two obvious males. So the third must be the source of the female traits.

I can find plenty of Bible passages that refer to the Holy Spirit as masculine, and demonstrate traits as such. But then there are passages like the following.

Acts 9:31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it grew in strength and numbers. The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

In it I see my parents, the lord of the house, from whom I feared discipline, and my comforting mother.

Hmm, perhaps my friend isn't that far off after all...

Lord, no matter where the traits that you possess come from, thank you for loving me. Thank you that you both discipline and comfort me. May I live my life in a manner not needing too much discipline. In Jesus' name, Amen.

I hear his car! Jan
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Acts 8 - Underwear for Christmas

Have you ever gotten a gift that you really didn't want, but in the end it proved to be indispensable? Sort of like underwear for Christmas I think.

In this chapter I see God giving his infant church a gift they did not want.

Acts 8:1b A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria.

The persecution was a gift. It didn't look like one, but the duh-ciples as a friend calls them, still did not understand that the message about Jesus was not just for the Jews. They were keeping it to themselves.

Acts 8:4-5 But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus. Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.

The gift was to push them out of the nest, only then could they fly and spread the message of Jesus.

Lord, thank you for spreading your message so that I could hear it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Fruit of the Loom please. Jan
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Acts 7 - Moses

In reading Stephen's account of Moses' life I was drawn to the following verse.

Acts 7:22 Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he became mighty in both speech and action.

What stood out to me was the last part, "He became might in both speech and action."

The significant thing about this is that Stephen is talking about events that happened prior to Moses becoming leader of the Hebrews.

So what was he mighty in? What did he do?

There is additional information about Moses and this period of his life in the writings of Flavius Josephus (Antiquities 2:10).

According to that account, the Ethiopians were raiding the Egyptians, and the Egyptians selected Moses to fight back.

Moses used a remarkable tactic in fighting the war, to take the Ethiopians by surprise. The Ethiopians were expecting Moses to attack by marching along the river, rather than by land, because the land between the two armies was so thick with snakes that it was impassable. Because it was so thick with snakes, the Ethiopians did not expect the Egyptians to march that route. But Moses decided to march that route to take them by surprise. In order to deal with the snakes, Moses hatched this plan: He had his men make boxes and put birds known as Ibis in them. He then brought the Ibis to the land with the snakes, and used them to repel the snakes. Without the snakes to worry about, his army was able to march across that route, take the Ethiopians by surprise, and defeat them.
http://creationwiki.org/Moses

Further proof of Moses' battle comes from the following source.

There is a life-size statue of Pharaoh Khaneferre deep in the land of Kush (Ethiopia) and dated to the time of Moses. It is difficult to explain what this stature is doing here unless the commander-in-chief [Moses] of the Egyptian forces had this statue erected to honor his stepfather.
http://www.northforest.org/BiblicalArchaeology/moses.html

There is much more out there about Moses, his two wives, him fathering an entire Ethiopian Dynasty, and extra-biblical historical accounts of some of the plagues. But, it is late, so I stop here.

Father, thank you for choosing this might man to bring your people out of Egypt. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Good night. Jan
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Acts 6 - Tremor

Again in today's reading I see something new that I'd never thought about before.

Acts 6:9 But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia.

This passage is being written about the events in Jerusalem. What I've just noticed is that there is more than one place for people to gather to discuss God in that city. I'd always assumed that the Temple was the only place for that type of activity. But here I see a "Synagogue of Freed Slaves".

I see further evidence of multiple synagogues in Jerusalem in the following passage.

Acts 24:11-12 You can quickly discover that it was no more than twelve days ago that I arrived in Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. I didn't argue with anyone in the Temple, nor did I incite a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.

From the previous reading in Acts I see that the believers gathered at Solomon's Colonnade in the Temple; it was their staging area. However, their message was not contained to that area, it continued to spread.

Acts 6:7 God's message was preached in ever-widening circles. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Like an earthquake, emanating from an epicenter, rolling across the surface, the message of the gospel spread. Whatever was in it's path was shaken.

Eventually that temblor reached the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, or Theodotus' synagogue as some scholars believe. It was located south of the temple complex, some distance away, so the message took a while to reach them. When it did, they were thoroughly shaken.

They wanted more to preserve their precious way of life rather than to experience true life. They chose to lie, to kill the message.

Acts 6:11 So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, "We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God."

What about me? What temblors have I chosen to suppress. Perhaps I need to let them knock me down - to my knees. How about you?

Father, may I not resist your influences of change in my life. Help me. I want to be conformed to your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The big one is coming. Jan
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Acts 5 - Reward for Obedience

When I wrote about the second chapter of Acts a few days ago, I provoked a few questions among my friends with my premise that the Holy Spirit is only given only after Baptism. However, I noted that there are exceptions.

Among them would be, when the person's heart has been truly transformed, but are merely lacking the opportunity to act upon being baptized.

Today I ran across the following verse that sheds some more light on this gift of the Holy Spirit's presence.

Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.

It isn't baptism that is the key, it is obedience. When we obey God, he rewards us. It is clear that God has commanded us to be baptized.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Throughout the New Testament baptism is the expected result of conversion, the universal expression of obedience and outward witness of the inward change.

Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

So, it would seem that if the believer is to receive the Holy Spirit, obedience is the key.

Father, may I obey you even during the times I don't want to. I truly want to be a child that brings you pleasure, not pain. In Jesus' name, Amen.

He is a gift wrapped in love. Jan
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Acts 4 - Free Will?

I noticed something today that I've read many times before. But today it drew my attention.

Acts 4:27-28 27 That is what has happened here in this city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. In fact, everything they did occurred according to your eternal will and plan.

That last sentence, the one about they did everything according to God's will and plan...

Didn't they have a choice?

One Greek word in the sentence is "poorizo", which we often translate as predestined. Another word used is "cheir", which connotes "determining and controlling the destinies of men".

There are many examples like this in scripture. Here's one I've written about in the past.

Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."

God created Pharaoh for the sole purpose of displaying His power when He wrenched the Hebrews out of Pharaoh's grasp. Hmm.

It certainly makes you wonder. How much free will is there - really?

But, praise God there are verses like the following to detour me away from my Calvinistic foray.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised - the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives.

It would seem that God's will is that salvation is available to all. However, we must choose.

Father, thank you that I have chosen your son as my Savior. Thank you for the opportunity. In Jesus' name, Amen.

His will. Jan
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Acts 3 - Beautiful Gate

In about 20 B.C. Herod the Great decided to rebuild the Jewish temple that had been reconstructed during the time of Nehemiah. He hired 10,000 skilled workers. Since only priests could work on the Temple itself, he also trained 1,000 priests in the art of masonry and stonework.

By the time Jesus came on the scene, construction had been going on for some time.

John 2:20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"

Although it was quite impressive and nearly finished after 46 years of work, various stages of building continued almost up to its destruction in 70 A.D.

In this spectacular piece of architecture, one gate in particular stood out. It was called, "the Beautiful gate."

The “gate called Beautiful” is believed to be the Nicanor Gate (mentioned in the Mishna), “which led from the Court of the Gentiles to the Women’s Court of the Temple”. Bruce states that “the name here given to it may be more readily understood if it is further identified with the gate of Corinthian bronze described by Josephus, of such exquisite workmanship that it ‘far exceeded in value those gates that were plated with silver and set in gold’”. http://www.healing2thenations.net/papers/acts3.htm

This particular gate, leading into the Court of Gentiles (where the merchants and money-changers hung out) and the Women's court, also was the closest one to the Temple treasury. Due to the trifecta of importance, it was the most popular gate, and therefore an excellent place to hang out and beg for spare change.

Acts 3:2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

By this point in Jewish history, the priests had become quite restrictive in who could enter the temple compound. Crippled people were looked on with disdain, "God was punishing them". So, although crippled people were allowed into the Gentile Court, they rarely entered due to the hostile attitude towards them.

Seeing the beggar at the gate, and being prompted by the Holy Spirit, Peter healed the crippled man through the authority of Jesus.

Acts 3:8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

It is entirely possible that this was the first time the man had ever crossed the Beautiful gate's threshold. Imagine his joy, amazement, his elation at not only being healed, but being allowed into God's presence!

What an awesome God we serve.

Lord, thank you for healing my crippled heart. Thank you for making it anew. May I joyfully enter into your presence letting everyone know what you've done. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Enter the gate! Jan
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Acts 2 - If Then Condition

Many years ago in high school I learned to write computer programs in BASIC. One of the most important things I learned was "if then". It is the way to test something and then perform an action based upon that test. An example would be, if the keyboard letter pressed was a 'y', then end the program.

I see an if-then condition in today's reading.

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

There are two if-then statements in the verse above. The first is, that if we have turned from our sins, then we are to be baptized. The second is that if we have been baptized, then we will receive the Holy Spirit.

These two if-thens are nested. In other words the second cannot happen unless the first has happened.

I'm not making this up. The Greek word for 'and' in the "and be baptized" section is the word 'kai'. It is a copulative and cumulative word translated as and, also, even, but. It indicates that the item joined happens after or as a result of the first. The word translated 'then' in the "Then you will receive" section is also the Greek word 'kai'.

I had never noticed before that this verse indirectly, due to the conditional if-then, is saying that unless you are baptized, you won't receive the Holy Spirit.

Obviously God makes exceptions based upon the heart. He clearly did so in the instance of the Centurion Cornelius and his family.

Acts 10:47 "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"

However, their first action as believers was to immediately be baptized.

Scripture makes it clear that once we believe we are to be baptized. If we don't when we have opportunity, we are in disobedience and the Holy Spirit will not partake in that.

Father, thank you that I've been baptized. Help me to point others toward your commands. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The greatest if-then happens once the Holy Spirit is living in you.

Acts 1:8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

What is your power source?
Jan
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Acts 1 -  Matthias?

After the death of Judas, the remaining apostles held an election of sorts to fill his spot. They narrowed it down to two candidates and then threw dice to determine the winner.

Acts 1:26 Then they cast lots, and in this way Matthias was chosen and became an apostle with the other eleven.

So who was this guy?

We know that he was with Jesus during his entire three-year earthly ministry. We know that he heard and witnessed nearly everything Jesus had done, both public and private. He was one of the seventy that hung around Jesus.

We also know that he was fully convinced that Jesus was the Messiah and that the message must continue. He was so convinced that he was willing to lay his life on the line. For to number yourself with the apostles was to oppose the Sanhedrin, which had just executed Jesus.

But that is where our Bible's record of him stops. So are there any other sources that talk about him?

In fact there are. Several early church fathers,  such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Eustebius, quote from or reference a Gospel of Matthias in their works. Although a surviving copy of the Gospel of Matthias has not been located yet.

According to church tradition, Matthias was born in Bethlehem, and received an education in the Old Testament by Simeon. When Christ began his public ministry Matthias instantly believed Jesus was the Messiah and from then on followed him.

After becoming the 13th apostle, Matthias traveled to Antioch, Tianum and Sinope. While in Sinope he was imprisoned and eventually released through a miracle worked by the apostle Andrew.

A Coptic writing, Acts of Andrew and Matthias, makes the claim that he preached the gospel in Ethiopia.

One of the early church fathers, Hipolytus of Rome, wrote that Matthias died of old age in Jerusalem. Although other accounts contradict that, with some having him crucified, stoned, or killed by cannibals.

It is claimed that he was a friend of Jesus' brother James, and played a part in the church at Jerusalem.

Again, church tradition states that after James' death, in 63 A.D., Matthias was brought before the Sanhedrin. During that trial he proved from Old Testament scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. This so enraged the Sanhedrin that they stoned Matthias and then cut his head off as an enemy of the state.

According to the Greek Orthodox church, Matthias is buried in the ruins of the Roman fortress at Gonio (Apsaros) in the modern Georgian region of Adjara.

The Catholics maintain that the apostle's remains are in the German town, Trier, at the Abbey of St. Matthias, and were brought there by Empress Helena.

One surviving quote attributed to the Gospel of Matthias is,

"We must combat our flesh, set no value upon it, and concede to it nothing that can flatter it, but rather increase the growth of our soul by faith and knowledge".

As we well know, traditions often have basis in truth. We may not know much about Matthias now, but be certain that as one who had been with Jesus, he too was on mission, changing the world. We now live our lives as followers of Christ, partly due to the efforts of this amazing man.

Lord, thank you for Matthias. I look forward to meeting him. In Jesus' name, Amen.

What are you changing? Jan
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