Acts 9:32-35

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32 While Peter was traveling from place to place, he visited the Lord's followers who lived in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who for eight years had been sick in bed and could not move. 34 Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ has healed you! Get up and make up your bed.” At once he stood up. 35 Many people in the towns of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas and became followers of the Lord. ~ Acts 9:32-35

Today, we return to our study of Acts 9 the focus has turned from the conversion of the Apostle Paul to the church in Judea, Galilee and Samaria. In fact, in today's passage the focus turns to the Apostle Peter who was traveling to Lydda which is about 30 miles northeast of Jerusalem. Peter traveled there because he was the recipient of the heart of the Lord for the lost when he became a believer. Heaven, rejoices when a lost sinner recognizes his need for salvation and cries out to God for help. God, by nature, is in a league of His own because of His heart for His creation. His heart of love is what sets Him apart from all other manufactured gods of this world. He is, by nature, kind, gracious, loving and forgiving. And, He rejoices when one sinner is brought home.  

In v.32 of today's passage we read, "While Peter was traveling from place to place, he visited the Lord's followers who lived in the town of Lydda."

Peter and the apostles had been inculcated with the love of God and His truth. This is why they traveled throughout Israel risking their lives in a hostile world. They ran a huge risk because they had gained the Lord's heart for the eternal welfare of others. In our culture of moral relativism, the statement that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to God rubs a lot of people the wrong way because the statement itself seems narrow and dogmatic. And, in a way, it is. But it was the Lord Jesus who said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." His perfect life, death and resurrection underscores the veracity of the fact that He is the Only Savior. 

During this trip, Peter traveled down to Lydda which was situated on the road from Jerusalem to Caesarea Philippi. Lydda, today, hosts the airport for the area and it is situated just outside Tel Aviv. Lydda, also known as Lod was one of the cities conquered by the tribe of Ephraim in the Old Testament. In Lydda there were believers in the Lord Jesus. They arrived there having been thrust out of Jerusalem due to the impending persecution. I always find it amazing when I realize the Lord either caused or allowed something negative in my life only to discover it produced something good later. The Bible is full of examples of this: be it Joseph being sold by his brothers and being sent to Egypt or be it Paul's thorn in the flesh, God has been known to turn our setbacks into comebacks.

In v.33 of today's passage we read, "There he met a man named Aeneas, who for eight years had been sick in bed and could not move."

While in Lydda Peter met a man who had been paralyzed for eight years. This man's name was Aeneas and we know very little about him. When Peter arrived in Lydda, Aeneas may have been living in the streets. He may have been staying with a believer. Or, he may have been in a house where Peter stayed that night. He may not have been a believer at the time. Despite our lack of knowledge of him, it is certain that Aeneas had been told about the Lord Jesus already because, in the next verse, Peter called him by name, implying they had already met. Aeneas was lying paralyzed on a poor man's mattress for eight years. One wonders if he was ready to give up on life since he had it so bad for so long. 

In v.34 of today's passage we read, "Peter said to Aeneas, 'Jesus Christ has healed you! Get up and make up your bed.' At once he stood up."

Unlike the many faith healers in this world today, the Apostle Peter never said that he had the power to heal anyone. In fact, he said, "Jesus Christ has healed you." Peter was fully aware that the Lord Jesus had healed this man, thus he gave Him the credit. We should be leery of any human who tries to take credit for the miracles that God performs. The Lord performed this miracle in order to authenticate the message that the apostle was preaching. Faith or unbelief, for that matter, are not the result of proofs. We are mistaken when we say that if people saw more miracles of the Lord Jesus they would believe. The religious leaders of first century Israel saw most of the Lord's miracles, yet, they did not believe. Faith in the Lord Jesus is not an automatic result of witnessing His miracles. 

For eight years the paralysis in this man's body held him unable to move as he desired. In the spiritual realm this has happened to all of us. Every human being ever conceived after the Fall suffer from paralysis of the spirit. We were all born dead to God spiritually. The Lord Jesus Christ says to all sinners, "Rise and begin to truly live by entering into a personal relationship with me." This is why the Lord Jesus came in order to rescue us from more than paralysis of our spirit, He came to rescue us from being dead to God.

In v.35 of today's passage we read, "Many people in the towns of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas and became followers of the Lord."

Literarily, there is an article before the word "Sharon" in this verse. Literally, it reads "the Sharon" which was a large district or a region. The name Sharon is found only here in the New Testament, but it is mentioned seven times in the Old Testament. The healing of Aeneas impacted not just people in a couple small towns, his healing impacted people in a vast area. The people saw the man and the miracle, and they believed in the Lord Jesus as the Messiah. So, with a single healing in a small town, an entire district received the gospel and believed. With the change in Aeneas, the gospel message had been confirmed and the Lord added to the number of believers in that area. The eight years were all worth it once Aeneas discovered how God used him to draw so many to Himself. Aeneas was given a story about the goodness of God and his story bridged the vast divide for so many to the glory of God.

Acts 9:26-31

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26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a true follower. 27 Then Barnabas helped him by taking him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also said when Saul was in Damascus, he had spoken bravely in the name of Jesus. 28 Saul moved about freely with the followers in Jerusalem and told everyone about the Lord. 29 He was always arguing with the Jews who spoke Greek, and so they tried to kill him. 30 But the followers found out about this and took Saul to Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of Tarsus. 31 The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now had a time of peace and kept on worshiping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow. ~ Acts 9:26-31

Today, we return to Acts 9 where the Apostle Paul has become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Unlike Paul, most people do not experience a bright flash from the heavens along with a radical encounter with the Lord Jesus Himself. For most, our faith in the God of the Bible was formed in a moment in life when we realized we needed help and so we turned to God for that help. At that point we began to learn of His faithfulness through which our faith in Him grew. We do not grow in our understanding of God's great faithfulness without facing our fears head on. When we are found avoiding our fears, we are found avoiding God. In 1 John we learn that perfect love casts out all fears. Only God has perfect love. So, getting to know God and His love for us and walking daily with Him, enables us to be defined by something much greater than our fears. It is then that our fears serve us rather than we serving them.

In v.26 of today's passage we read, "When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a true follower."

Many would think that the change that came about in the Apostle Paul happened over night. It didn't. As is noted in Galatians 1, three years elapsed before Paul started preaching about the Lord Jesus. After he came to faith in the Lord Jesus as his Savior, he immediately went to Arabia where he spent three years. Then he returned to Damascus and preached the gospel as we have seen. Then he went to Jerusalem as we will see in today's passage.

In Galatians 1:15-18 we read, "15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days."

When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried over and over to be a part of the fellowship there but the fear of the believers there prevented it. Their fear had debilitated them. This is ironic since Paul was going everywhere to preach Christ to the lost, even at the greatest of peril. We are really good at allowing the Lord to come into our lives through the pleasant experiences of life. We are reluctant to welcome His blessings through the not so pleasant experiences of life. It is the Lord Jesus who is the best antidote to our fears. The Bible reminds us that "fear is the beginning of wisdom." This type of fear is "the fear of the Lord" which is the healthiest emotion because it brings us to the place of understanding the greatness of our God. The more we experience His faithfulness, the more we will see how we can depend upon Him. Depending on God brings wisdom. So, we are wise to expose ourselves to our fears because through them we see Him more clearly.

I find it quite instructive that the Lord addresses our fears in the Bible more than anything else. Of course, the answer is the fear of the Lord which includes the terror of being away from Him. We do not grow in our faith in the Lord until we address our fears head on. It was the Lord who forced Israel while in the desert to face their greatest fear by looking at the serpent on the pole. The Apostle Paul had been converted for three years and was a changed man, but the fear of the past wouldn’t allow the believers in Jerusalem to believe that he was a changed man. Rather, they probably thought it was a ploy to get them to let their guard down, and then they would all be rounded up and arrested. Their faith was wrongly in their ability to evade Paul.

In v.27 of today's passage we read, "Then Barnabas helped him by taking him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also said when Saul was in Damascus, he had spoken bravely in the name of Jesus."

The fear of the Apostles in Jerusalem opened the door of opportunity to Barnabas whose name means "son of encouragement." Barnabas was introduced to us in Acts 4 where the apostles gave him the name Barnabas. He had land in Cyprus which he sold and he gave the proceeds to the church. Through his generosity, Barnabas encouraged the church. He, as the son of encouragement, took Saul of Tarsus in and then he took him to the apostles. After telling the apostles about his conversion, the apostles changed their approach to Paul. Barnabas befriended Paul at just the right moment. In similar fashion to how Ananias did earlier in this chapter. Somebody once said, "A friend is one who comes in when the rest of the world goes out." 

In v.28-30 of today's passage we read, "28 Saul moved about freely with the followers in Jerusalem and told everyone about the Lord. 29 He was always arguing with the Jews who spoke Greek, and so they tried to kill him. 30 But the followers found out about this and took Saul to Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of Tarsus."

The word of Barnabas was sufficient to convince the Apostles that Paul was no longer a threat but rather a true brother in Christ and a defender of the faith. From this point onward Paul was accepted among all of the believers. Paul had become a defender of the name he once tried to destroy. Many of those in Jerusalem would surely have known him personally. His life as a Pharisee gave him great and detailed knowledge of the Scriptures. Paul used the many oratory skills the Lord had given him to talk with the unbelievers about the Lord Jesus. This man who once stood and guarded the garments of those who stoned Stephen became the greatest defender of the gospel. His was a story only given by God. The Jews were so threatened by Paul, the believers in Jerusalem saw it fit to send him away to safety in Tarsus.

In v.31 of today's passage we read, "The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now had a time of peace and kept on worshiping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow."

With Paul sent off to Tarsus, the narrative in Acts now focuses on the believers in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria who found great rest out of their worship of the Lord. It was at that point that the emperor of Rome, Caligula, set up idols in Jerusalem. This made the Jews so angry that they concentrated their efforts against Caligula and consequently left the Christians alone for a period of time. With the departure of Paul and the Jews' preoccupation with Caligula pushing his idols, the church experienced some much needed rest. 

As a result, the Church grew both spiritually and numerically. People always wonder how a church is built. Man does not build churches. Oh, he builds buildings but only God builds the church. He does so by building believers. He builds believers through spiritual edification. He does this through the study of His Word and Prayer. Then multiplication as God sees fit happens. Most people become a part of a body of believers because of the changed lives of those whom they know there. This is the only way God ever intended the church to grow. Rick Warren once aptly said, "There is no growth without change, no change without fear or loss and no loss without pain."

Acts 9:20-25

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20 Soon he went to the synagogues and started telling people that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 Everyone who heard Saul was amazed and said, “Isn't this the man who caused so much trouble for those people in Jerusalem who worship in the name of Jesus? Didn't he come here to arrest them and take them to the chief priests?” 22 Saul preached with such power that he completely confused the Jewish people in Damascus, as he tried to show them that Jesus is the Messiah. 23  Later some of them made plans to kill Saul, 24 but he found out about it. He learned that they were guarding the gates of the city day and night in order to kill him. 25 Then one night his followers let him down over the city wall in a large basket. ~ Acts 9:20-25

Today, we continue our study of Acts 9 where we learn of the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus who was later named the Apostle Paul. Acts 9 opens with Saul of Tarsus breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. He traveled 150-miles from Jerusalem to Damascus to round up and imprison any believers in the Lord Jesus that he could possibly find. But, as he traveled on the road to Damascus the Lord Jesus intercepted him. After being made blind for three days and being able to see after, Saul emerged as a different man. It was on that road to Damascus that Saul became a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saul was blinded so that he could come to the place where he could truly see. After Saul lost his eyesight the Lord sent a man named Ananias to him and Saul was given his eyesight back. But, this time he saw everything differently. 

In v.20-21 of today's passage we read, "20 Soon he went to the synagogues and started telling people that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 Everyone who heard Saul was amazed and said, 'Isn't this the man who caused so much trouble for those people in Jerusalem who worship in the name of Jesus? Didn't he come here to arrest them and take them to the chief priests?'"

After spending some time with the believers in Damascus, Saul set out on the road seeking to tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the unique things about becoming a believer in the Lord is that we often experience a sudden and dramatic break from our past. When this happened to me way back in 1981 my friends thought I had lost my mind. After his conversion, Saul preached the gospel everywhere he went. This man who was once convinced the Lord Jesus was not the Son of God was given a heck of a story so that he would be more believable. In fact, everyone who heard him was amazed at his change. When we come to the Lord, there will be changes in our lives but we must be careful to not base our acceptability before the Lord on the basis of any change He brings into our lives. No, it is only through the cross of the Lord Jesus are we made righteous in the eyes of God.

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "Saul preached with such power that he completely confused the Jewish people in Damascus, as he tried to show them that Jesus is the Messiah."

The word translated "power" is used to describe the effects of what Saul preached. It became more and more evident that he had a newfound ability to speak with authority which blew the minds of his hearers. Since Saul was a Pharisee, he was fully versed in the Old Testament Scriptures. But, he had wrongly viewed those Scriptures through the wrong lens. It wasn't until his eyes were opened spiritually and he entered into a personal relationship with God through His Son that Saul could see that all of the Bible has one central figure, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Saul spent hours “showing his hearers that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah.” This word translated "showing them" gives the sense of walking in one accord. Saul took the Scriptures and showed the people that it consistently spoke of the Lord Jesus. The idea behind this word brings with it the idea to compare and to examine as evidence, and to so prove it to be true. All of the Old Testament pictures given point us to the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether it was the sacrificial lambs of the Passover or if it the Tabernacle where the sacrifices were made, it all points us to the sinless One who came to remedy our sin problem. 

Another one of these Old Testament pictures is found in Psalm 22:6 which reads, "But I am merely a worm, far less than human ..." This Psalm begins with, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" This of course was the fourth of seven sayings of the Lord Jesus while He hung on the cross. The Psalmist wrote, "But I am merely a worm." The crimson worm is a bit different than any other worm because it’s actually an insect with a shell and six legs. God created the crimson worm to live in the land of Israel, and have a life cycle that points us to one event: the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. When a mother crimson worm is ready to lay her eggs, she finds her way up a specific type of oak tree. She makes the long and difficult ascent up the side of the tree, knowing that she will not come back down again. She goes there to give life to her children by laying down her own life. Once she reaches her spot and secures herself against the wood, her shell turns into a hard, crimson shelter. It’s under this covering where her eggs are hatched. For three days, she provides protection for her children. She also provides life for three days as her babies feed on her body until she dies. Once she is dead, she produces a crimson dye that stains the tree and the children underneath her. It is at that moment that the babies become crimson worms for the rest of their lives.

In v.23-25 of today's passage we read, "23  Later some of them made plans to kill Saul, 24 but he found out about it. He learned that they were guarding the gates of the city day and night in order to kill him. 25 Then one night his followers let him down over the city wall in a large basket."

Life in Christ is one of hope and faith in what lies ahead. During this life we will encounter much pain and suffering. We do not have testimonies without tests. In order for our faith in the Lord Jesus to grow we must encounter challenges to our faith in Him. Our lives are in the Lord's hands and the time for our departure from this earth will happen when the Lord has determined it to be so. Paul’s letters repeatedly speak of suffering by those who are in Christ. In 2 Timothy 3:12 we read, "... all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Our willingness to endure persecution is in direct proportion to how sure we are of the gospel message.

Acts 9:10-19

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10 A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, 12 and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so he could see again.” 13 Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. 14 Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.” 15 The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.” 17 Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18  Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. 19 Then he ate and felt much better. ~ Acts 9:10-19

Today, we return to our study of Acts 9 where the antagonistic Pharisee apprentice named Saul had been persecuting Christians throughout Judea, Samaria and on up into Damascus. Saul's hatred was fueled by the day the religious leaders of first century Israel stoned Stephen for preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. The more Saul breathed out threats of murder the more he was bent on doing the work of the devil without even knowing it. In fact, he was fully convinced he was doing the bidding of the God of the Bible.

In v.10-12 in today's passage we read, "10 A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, 'Lord, here I am.' 11 The Lord said to him, 'Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, 12 and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so he could see again.'"

Saul had been in Damascus without sight for three days and during that time he neither ate nor drank. It was then that the Lord Jesus appeared in a vision to a man who lived in Damascus. His name was Ananias which means "the LORD is gracious." The name Ananias appears about 30 times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament it is the name of the husband of Sapphira in Acts 5. The Lord chose Ananias for the specific purpose of being a reliable testimony to the Lord having chosen Saul for his apostolic ministry.

The Lord told Ananias to go to the house of a man named Judas who lived on Straight Street which is still in Damascus to this day. In addition, the Lord told Ananias that he would find Saul of Tarsus at Judas' house praying. He then told Ananias that He will give Saul a vision of him coming to help him to see. I find it interesting that the Bible mentions the word "pray" about 400 times throughout. Even though God already knows the future, prayer includes us in on what God will do in conjunction with history. This is why prayer is so important. It includes us on what God is doing in this world. It was Mother Teresa who once insightfully said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

In v.13-14 of today's passage we read, "13 Ananias replied, 'Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. 14 Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.'"

Ananias balked at the request of the Lord because deep down inside he believed he knew better than the Lord. In essence his problem was the clashing of his will with God's. This is a big part of the purpose of prayer that our will would be lost in the will of God. Ananias, thinking the Lord Jesus was not aware of what Saul had done to believers, balked at His request. In this, Ananias lacked in his theology. Once again we discover that everything in our lives comes back to our theology. When we lack trust in the Lord, we have a disconnect with proper theology. This disconnect is not with God, but with us. The sooner we understand that all of life is all about Him, the more to Him will we render control over our lives. It takes a decisive choice to yield control over our lives to the Lord, especially when we believe great danger is involved. 

In v.15-16 of today's passage we read, "15 The Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.'"

The Lord informed Ananias that He had big plans that involved Saul. Of course, Ananias had to exercise great faith because Saul had been persecuting Christians at every turn. Ananias' willingness to do as the Lord had commanded led to Saul, whose name will be changed to Paul. It was this same Paul who wrote in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." Long before the Apostle would agree to be a drink offering, he saw Ananias run the risk accordingly. We never know how our choices in this world will impact others for eternity. Had Ananias rebelled the story would not have unfolded as it did. Ananias' willingness to run the risk and go to Saul was a huge risk. This resulted in Saul seeing once again with his eyes but also to see with his heart.

In v.17-19 of today's passage we read, "17 Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, 'Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.' 18  Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. 19 Then he ate and felt much better."

Once Ananias arrived at Judas' house and he placed his hands on Saul, it was quite clear that the same Lord Jesus had carefully orchestrated the events for the both of them. Each man would be able to bear witness that the outcome was shown to them in advance and that it occurred just as it had been revealed to them. It was after Ananias had placed his hands on Saul that Saul received the Holy Spirit. It is significant that this happened without the apostles being present. Confirmed here is that Paul's commission would be considered one directly from the Lord Jesus as an apostle, and one bearing the charge that would follow. 

But before that would happen, the scales had to fall from Saul's eyes. Great men debate as to whether the scales were physical or metaphorical. The miracle was that Paul had been given his eye sight back along with a heart that could see God. With that Saul was baptized. He had already received the Holy Spirit  when Ananias prayed for him and he had been born again. But the Lord had commanded that an outward sign be demonstrated for those who wondered if this Saul had ceased to persecute the church. After his baptism Saul ate some food and was strengthened in his body. I find it quite instructive that it was in Damascus just outside of Israel’s borders that Saul came to faith in the Lord Jesus. So appropriate since he would be later called "the apostle to the Gentiles." 

Acts 9:1-9

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1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. ~ Acts 9:1-9

Today, we transition into Acts 9 where we witness a major turning point in the history of the church. It was the Lord Jesus who told us in advance that the gospel would move in three stages: First to Jerusalem, then to Judea and all Samaria, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. During the first and second periods of time the gospel was being systematically preached throughout Jerusalem and every village of Samaria and Judea, all the while the Lord was preparing a man through whom the gospel would move into the third stage. Today, we come to the conversion of the Apostle Paul who will be that man whom the Lord will use to take the gospel into the third stage.

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem."

When Saul witnessed Stephen being stoned to death back in Acts 7, it had an effect upon him. Saul seemed to go into overdrive with regard to persecuting Christians. It just goes to show that when we feed the flesh or the evil desires within us, the flesh will become stronger and more demanding. This explains how Saul got to the point of breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. Saul was so driven by his flesh that he went to the High Priest to ask for permission to hunt down those who were of "the Way." Very early on, these words "the Way" were used by others to describe Christians. It was in John 14:6 where the Lord Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Me." Perhaps this is why the world referred to believers as those in "the Way."

Saul set out to persecute Christians 160 miles away in Damascus. He was so dedicated to his teachers that he was willing to commit violence and murder. Later on in Acts 26 Saul, whom we know now as the Apostle Paul said, "I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem; I not only shut up many of the saints in prison by authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme; and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities." 

In v.3-5 of today's passage we read, "3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 5 And he said, 'Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'"

While on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, Saul was intercepted by the Lord Jesus. Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. The word translated "shone" is the same word used in the Greek language to describe the light that comes with a bolt of lightning. This light was so strong that Saul was knocked from his horse to the ground. The enormity of the moment never left Paul’s consciousness. This transformative event not only changed Saul, it changed the course of human history as we know it.

The phrase, "It is hard for you to kick against the goads," was a famous biblical metaphor. When the Lord Jesus spoke those words to Saul on the road to Damascus, He was pointing out that resisting God's will is a painful exercise that ultimately ends up hurting the rebel more than anyone else. A "goad" was a sharp stick farmers used to prod and steer oxen. If a stubborn ox kicked back against the sharp point in defiance, it would only drive the goad deeper into its own flesh. 

When the Lord Jesus asked Saul why he persecuted Him the Lord gave him his first glimpse into the great doctrine of Christians being in Christ. The word translated "compassion" in the New Testament comes from a word meaning "to suffer with." When the Lord Jesus took on a human body, He revealed a brand of compassion that no religion knows. This is why the cross is the central symbol of Christianity. The vertical and the horizontal bars meet and become inextricably linked. Suffering entered the world because of sin. The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to save us not by eliminating suffering but by transforming suffering, using it to grant us a vehicle to go deeper with Him and with others. This means our pain serves our ability to be honest and transparent resulting in a deeper level of intimacy with God and with others. 

In v.6-7 of today's passage we read, "6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' Then the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.' 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one."

Through this encounter the Lord Jesus privileged Saul with a fearful amazement of Himself. Saul experienced conversion that day which is a change from thinking that we can run our own lives to an acknowledgment that God is the only one who can do that. In fact, God is the only one with the right to tell us what to do. This was the first thing Paul experienced when he became a Christian. 

The next word translated astonished gives the idea of being perplexed or amazed. Saul was both terrified and he was unable to mentally grasp the enormity of the situation. The realization that he had fallen upon was that the One he had been pursuing and persecuting was not the followers of the Lord Jesus but the Lord God Himself. The word translated "speechless" is found only here in the Bible. It pictures a man who was mute. He couldn't say anything because the moment was too big for him. In addition, the men who accompanied Saul were silent from a state of complete astonishment. They saw the light but they could not see the Lord nor could they hear Him. 

In Acts 22:9 Paul wrote, "And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me."

To see and to hear the Lord Jesus is a privilege for anyone. The Lord purposefully revealed Himself only to Paul even though he had companions with him that day. The others were given enough information to know that something took place, but not enough to allow them to be converted. For those of us who are saved, this happened for us. Oh, we didn't see Him with our eyes nor did we hear Him with our ears. No, we experienced something much deeper, we saw Him and we heard Him with our hearts. 

The Lord Jesus had told the disciples earlier in John 20:29, "So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing." 

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank."

Saul had to be blinded in order to truly see. Religion had done a number on him. For three days he could only see in one direction, inward. Saul, later named Paul was a Christian-killer before he was a Christian leader. Like him, we all have assumptions about the Lord Jesus. We think we know Him. Even after getting to know Him for the 45 years, I have just begun to scratch the surface. It is the Lord Jesus who is known as the One who helps the blind to see. He blinded Saul in order to help him see what was most important. Thankfully, the Lord Jesus has been known to use the circumstances in our lives in order to stop us in our tracks and cause us to look more intently at Him. The Lord Jesus blinded Saul as an act of His grace. It was just what Saul needed to learn to listen to the Lord and to also to learn to hear Him for himself. 

Acts 8:34-40

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34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. ~ Acts 8:34-40

Today, we conclude our study of Acts 8 where Philip, one of the seven chosen to be a deacon in Acts 6 is witnessing to a man who was clearly prepared to hear the gospel. This man was a man of great responsibility. He was the Secretary of the Treasury of Ethiopia. This man had arrived upon a nice paying job, yet, he searched for more. This man had come to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. He was a man searching for truth. As he was returning to his home he read the book of the prophet Isaiah. It was then that Philip came running to his chariot asking him if he understood what he was reading.

In v.34 of today's passage we read, "So the eunuch answered Philip and said, 'I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?'"

As with the Ethiopian eunuch, within each of us is a deep desire to know what is real. This is why our greatest pursuit is God. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 we learn that God has placed eternity in our hearts. This eunuch whom we have been considering for the last couple blogs had it all, yet, he was empty. It was his emptiness that propelled his pursuit. And, our pursuit of God requires great patience as we learn to hear His voice in the busyness of our lives. It was J.I. Packer who said, “Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord.” 

When I was a kid there were some railroad tracks on the other side of about 200 yards of dense woods. When we would walk down those tracks on foot, it was a priority for us to know whether a train were coming or not. If a train were to come while we walked down those tracks, our lives would have been in the greatest of danger. So, to determine whether a train were coming we would put our ear to the track to identify the pinging noise that the train would announce miles in advance. We had to listen intently for those pings. We put our ear on the track and there could be no background noise. It had to be silent. We do well to learn from this true life story as we seek to hear God in our daily lives. Learning to listen to God is arduous work but it is oh so rewarding.

That day as the Ethiopian Eunuch rode back toward his home, he was readingIsaiah 53. Along came Philip prepared to identify the subject of Isaiah 53. When we seek God through His Word, which is the source and the foundation of all truth, we will discover the secrets to life. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we read, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Pursuit of the Lord through His Word means reading it and allowing it to transform and shape us. But, if this pursuit is not of God Himself, we will not only miss God but we will miss truth, as well. The Scriptures must be the lens through which we see everything else. Our pursuit of God must be greater than our pursuit of anything else.

In v.35 of today's passage we read, "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him."

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is not simply a collection of ethical principles, moral platitudes, or abstract life lessons. Imagine a single, unfolding, thrilling drama; a story of epic proportions that is more fascinating than your favorite fairy tale because it is true. That’s God’s Word. And, the main character in the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no part of the Bible that cannot be used to tell us about the Lord Jesus because it is all ultimately pointing us to Him. It has been accurately said that if the New Testament is Jesus Christ revealed, the Old Testament is Jesus Christ concealed.

In v.36-37 of today's passage we read, "36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' 37 Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'"

The eunuch then brought Philip's attention to something unexpected in the desert as he literally said, “Behold! Water!” Right in the barren desert there was water which made it possible for the new believer to immediate comply with the Lord’s command to be baptized. So, the eunuch immediately utilized the outward ritual of water baptism to demonstrate the inward change that had occurred in his heart. This is why the Lord Jesus commanded us to be baptized after we have believed in Him because if we are not quick to make such a declaration our faith isn't bolstered like it should be. Our faith is strengthened when we boldly declare Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

Many down through the centuries have failed to understand the structure, intent, and message of the book of Acts by placing too much of an emphasis on baptism. While studying the book of Acts, we do well to remember that it is a descriptive account of what occurred in the early church. In his response to the request of the eunuch, Philip made sure that he fully grasped the gospel that had been presented to him. In doing so, Philip let the eunuch know that an outward display of water baptism wasn’t a must to be saved. Oh, we should be baptized because the Lord commanded it. But, it is not a requirement for salvation. Just ask the thief on the cross to whom the Lord Jesus said, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise."

In v.38 of today's passage we read, "So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him."

After stopping the chariot, Philip and the eunuch got down out of the chariot and they went "into the water." To "baptize" means to submerge. The going down into the water and the coming up is like death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism symbolizes the reality of what the Lord Jesus has done for the saved believer. In baptism we identify with the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection. In the Scriptures water baptism always follows justifying faith in the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. To do anything else defeats the imagery of Christ. 

In v.39-40 of today's passage we read, "39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea."

After the baptism, the Ethiopian Eunuch went on his way overwhelmed with the joy that flooded his heart. His joy was the product of entering into a personal relationship with the living God. All of the answers for which his tortured soul had sought for so long had suddenly been provided in believing on the Lord Jesus. Philip, on the other hand, traveled to Azotus, on the coast road. There he began systematically to preach in the towns all the way up the coast to Caesarea. 

I experienced something much the same as this. After receiving the Lord Jesus as my Savior in 1981, my life changed so fast. Just 4 months after becoming a believer I witnessed a young girl trust the Lord Jesus in a bar in Brunswick, Georgia and then she immediately left the band she had been in for some time. And then, 1 1/2 years later, I found myself at Columbia Bible College and so much has happened in the last 42 years of ministry. This is what happens when we enter the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who brings into our lives an adventure that is worth living every day as we seek His leading moment by moment of everyday.

Acts 8:26-33

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26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” ~ Acts 8:26-33

Today, we return to our study of Acts 8. The book of Acts opens with an emphasis on three symbols which characterize the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The three symbols are the rushing wind, the tongues of fire and the gift of tongues. In today's passage the focus shifts from the conversion of Simon the Sorcerer to Philip. Like Stephen, Philip had been appointed as a deacon. He was also like Stephen in that he was quick to share the gospel with others. It was Carl H.F. Henry who said,“The gospel is only good news if it gets there fast enough.”

In v.26 of today's passage we read, "Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 'Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is desert."

Throughout the Bible the word "angel" means messenger. In both Acts 8:29 and Acts 8:39, the Holy Spirit is mentioned as communicating with or physically transporting Philip. It may be that the "messenger" of the Lord came to Philip in a dream or a vision. He very well may have come to him physically and directly. Since it is not explicitly mentioned, we only speculate. Regardless, Philip was given a direct communication from the Lord through a messenger.

Interestingly, the last time Philip was mentioned was in Acts 8:13. He may have received these instructions while he was still in Samaria. Due to his faithfulness in evangelizing, he was personally selected to fulfill the role he had in today's passage. It happened accordingly because he had responded to the previous revelation from God. This is the way it works with the Lord, the more truth we respond to the more truth we are given. If someone identifies their Christianity as boring they have themselves only to blame. This life God has called us to is an exciting adventure only if we are willing to entertain God.

The message from God to Philip began with: "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." God provided specific directions for a specific purpose. The conversation to come will fit a pattern that goes all the way back to the early Genesis narrative. The Lord is purposefully directing Philip to represent this pattern for the New Testament. Since there were several roads from Jerusalem to Gaza, Philip was given exact directions and instructions. The phrase, "This is desert" proves it. Of course, it is just like God to bring forth new life out of such a context. This story pictures the endearing nature of the gospel. We do well to remember the words of the late Tim Keller who once said, "The gospel says you are simultaneously more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe, yet more loved and accepted than you ever dared hope."

In v.27-30 of today's passage we read, "27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near and overtake this chariot.' 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?'"

The message from the Lord led Philip to a man who was "a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians." This eunuch was a man who had been set apart for the purpose of guarding the treasury of the Ethiopian Queen. He had come to Jerusalem to worship God. Worship of God prepares us best to receive the truth of God. After worshipping God at the temple and on his way back home, this eunuch was reading a passage out of Isaiah 53. It was in that moment the Holy Spirit told Philip to chase after the chariot. When Philip got close enough to the eunuchs chariot, he just so happened to be able to hear him reading the words of Isaiah 53.

This was a divine encounter that was prepared by the Holy Spirit. Philip was quick to obey God's call. Since the eunuch was reading Isaiah 53, it was evident that God had been wooing this man to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. I met a young lady in a bar in Brunswick Georgia back in 1982 who was much like this eunuch. She was like the eunuch in that God was wooing her. She was sick of the life she had been living and she had been watching Christian programming on TV. As I sat there in that bar with my friend, I struggled whether to share the gospel with her because she was beautiful. I wanted to be led by the Lord not by my lust. To make a long story short after she and her band had completed their gig in that bar she trusted the Lord Jesus as her Savior. It was electric and I was only four months old in the faith. She left the band and the last I checked she was walking with the Lord. The Lord is always wooing people to believe on His Son. We do well to quickly seize every opportunity we get to share the gospel with the lost.

In v.31-33 of today's passage we read, "31 And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: 'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.'"

After Philip asked the Ethiopian Eunuch if he understood what he was reading, the eunuch asked, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" The eunuch just so happened to be reading the most important chapter in the whole book of Isaiah about the cross of the Lord Jesus. After being invited to come up into his chariot the eunuch asked Philip to help him understand. As a result Philip described the substitutionary atonement of Christ as He was led as the silent sacrificial Lamb of God to the slaughter. This man could not have been better prepared to hear and believe the gospel. He had been to Jerusalem to worship and Philip was anxious to obey the Lord. And then, God led him to be reading Isaiah 53 when Philip happened to come along. One day, I want to be shocked at the numbers who trusted the Lord Jesus due to my faithfulness to His call on my life. My friend, how about you?

Acts 8:14-25

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14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” 24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” 25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. ~ Acts 8:14-25

Today, we return to our study of Acts 8 where we discover God sowing the blessing of the light of His kingdom. As always, God's work is always met with the counterfeit that the devil always brings forth. Despite the adversity, the early church grew like crazy. It was the late Mike Yaconelli who once said, "The power of the Church is not a parade of flawless people, but of a flawless Christ who embraces our flaws. The Church is not made up of whole people, rather of the broken people who find wholeness in a Christ who was broken for us."

In v.14-17 of today's passage we read, "14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."

Oddly, when the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people in Samaria had believed on the Lord Jesus, they sent Peter and John who came and prayed that they would receive the Holy Spirit. Many of the Samaritans believed on the Lord Jesus as their Savior. As a result, they experienced the joy of the Lord. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and this kind of joy can never be produced except by the indwelling Holy Spirit. They had been baptized in water as a testimony to that very regeneration which had occurred within their hearts.

Now, it is obvious these brand new believers had not received the Holy Spirit, even though they had experienced the effects of having believed on the Lord Jesus as their Savior. When Peter and John arrived in Samaria these brand new believers received the Holy Spirit. This is one of those unique moments in the book of Acts where things did not transpire as they normally do for those who believe on the Lord Jesus as their Savior. This happened in order to galvanize the apostles in the eyes of the people as God's representatives. Of course, with the death of each of these apostles things have changed. Today, when a person trusts in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, they are immediately indwelled with the Holy Spirit. Today, there is no need for an Apostle to be authenticated because we no longer have apostles.

In v.18-19 of today's passage we read, "18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, 'Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'"

Even though Simon had believed on the Lord Jesus, he was yet confused. He actually thought that God's power could be bought with money. So he inquired of the apostles about the power of God. It was then that Simon suggested that the apostles give him this power in exchange for his money. This revealed the immaturity of Simon's theology. I say this because who is expected to be perfect in their theology just after believing on the Lord Jesus? Clearly, Simon believed the gospel. This is what saves us. We are not saved as a result of not making stupid errors concerning life in Christ after being saved. If such were the case, not a person who has ever been saved would continue to be saved.

In v.20-23 of today's passage we read, "20 But Peter said to him, 'Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.'"

Peter, in response to Simon's request, rebuked him strongly and boy did he get it wrong. I believe Peter was a little over the top here with this brand new believer. I do find it refreshing that he responded as he did to Simon's offer of money. Many today limit the working of the Holy Spirit among us when they make ministry about money. In many cases believers are known to trust in money than God. 

It was then Peter reminded Simon that he had neither part nor portion in this matter. This "portion" of which Peter spoke belonged to the office to which it had been assigned, meaning that of the apostles. This is obvious because Philip, not being an apostle, had preached the gospel and the people had believed, but the Holy Spirit had not come upon them until the apostles had come and placed their hands on those who had believed. Further, this portion is not something that was required at all times, as has been seen earlier in Acts and as will be seen later in our study of the book of Acts. We must not build doctrine on historical narrative such as today's passage. We must derive our theology from the epistles for therein do we find proper theology. And, since we have no apostles among us today, the office of apostle no longer needs this type of approval.

In v.23 Luke used the word, "bitterness," which is one of the many negative traits that believers still wrestle with. Even though we have been born again, we still wrestle with sin. The Bible calls this "the flesh." And, it takes time for God to change us from the inside out, and He is not in a hurray to change us because the change isn't about what we think it is. It's really about us getting to know Him and trust Him more deeply. When this happens, we allow Him to define us. It is to be noted that throughout the New Testament there are saved believers who are highlighted for their worldliness in their choices and in their attitudes, but God does not call us to question their salvation. 

In v.24-25 of today's passage we read, "24 Then Simon answered and said, 'Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.' 25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."

I love the humility shown here by Simon the former Sorcerer. When he asked both Peter and John to pray for him, it revealed he had an understanding of the value and power of prayer. It also reveals that he understood that his sin was not consistent with God's definitions and therefore wrong. This further implies that he was looking for freedom from the sin that bound him. Then, Simon drew attention to the ultimate when he referenced that it is only the prayers of the Lord Jesus that matters. He asked Peter and John to speak on his behalf with the Lord Jesus. This reveals Simon was a changed man who had believed on the Lord Jesus. He just needed to be taught and patience was required of the apostles to do just that.

Quietly tucked away in our final verse today is that on their way back to Jerusalem Peter and John and Philip preached the gospel in the many villages in Samaria. The Jews absolutely hated the Samaritans because the Samaritans were half Jewish and half Gentile. In John 4, these apostles had learned a lesson from the Lord Jesus and His ministry to the Samaritan woman. Instead of traveling back to Jerusalem with cold hearts toward the Samaritans around them, the apostles demonstrated hearts toward the Samaritans by sharing the gospel with them. Oh, God had not sifted all of their prejudisms out of their souls just yet but their attitudes towards the Samaritans had been profoundly changed. They then saw the Samaritans through the compassionate eyes of the God of the Bible. 

Acts 8:9-13

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9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. ~ Acts 8:9-13

Today, we return to our study of Acts 8 where we have been witnessing the growth of the early church. It was the light driving out the darkness. The day was quite dark when Stephen was stoned to death, but it served to place the growth of the early church on hyperdrive. It is always through the most bleak of moments that we are afforded the opportunity of seeing for ourselves what is really real in this world. In fact, after Stephen was stoned many in the church at that time were scattered throughout the country due to the heightened threat from the religious leaders of Israel. Wherever these young believers went they shared the gospel with whomever they came into contact and as a result many were trusting in the Lord Jesus as their Savior for the first time. It took the scattering of the people in order for the message of the gospel to move out.

In v.9-11 of today's passage we read, "9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the great power of God.' 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time."

In our last study of the first eight verses of this chapter we learned of Philip who traveled to Samaria to preach the gospel and many believed in response. Philip, like all believers in Christ, was made by God to be light in this dark world. It brought great joy to the city when many were delivered from demon-possession and were healed of their maladies. It was in that context that along came a man named Simon who was quite the contrast to Philip. Simon was dark for he practiced sorcery. The word translated "sorcery" is only used this once in all of the Bible. This word was used by Luke to reveal that Simon practiced magic. By the sleight of hand, Simon "astonished the people of Samaria." As he performed his magic, the people were captivated by how things disappeared and then reappeared. Simon's tricks blew the minds of the people. His work was quite the contrast to the work of Philip. 

Wherever Simon went the people paid attention to him and were held captive by his magic tricks. In fact, the people believed Simon had a connection to God. And, when people believe a man has a connection to God, they will do what he says. This is true with palm readers, tarot card readers, mediators, and all those who supposedly have contact with the spiritual realm. All of this just underscores the utter importance of the Word of God which God has given us so that we can evaluate truth from error. God will never tell us to do something that contradicts His Word which is our litmus test.

In v.12-13 of today's passage we read, "12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done."

The spread of the gospel brought with it a clash of kingdoms, the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of the kingdom of God. He is the fulfillment of everything necessary to return man to the anticipated restoration of the perfection that was lost at the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Adam was like a king over the realm of the world. He lost his authority and through the cross and the resurrection the Lord Jesus Christ has regained it on our behalf. Kingdom living is explained in the epistles of the New Testament. When this kingdom was proclaimed by Philip, the people believed in the Lord Jesus and were baptized. 

Simon had spent his life duping people into believing that he had extraordinary powers. He knew that his sleight of hand magic was not what the people thought it was. When Simon saw and heard the truth and was fully aware of the difference between it and the counterfeit, he was all in with the Lord. Simon was amazed by the Lord Jesus and His kingdom. It was when the light of the Lord invaded Simon's soul that he turned from the darkness to the light. It was that he would say with CS Lewis, "I believe in Christ, like I believe in the sun – not because I can see it, but because by it I can see everything else."

Acts 8:1-8

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1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city. ~ Acts 8:1-8

Today, we transition into Acts 8 where one would think the death of Stephen whose name means "crown" would detour the advancement of the church. Humanly speaking this makes sense but since when have we served a God who is measured by the ways of fallen man? The book of Acts is the story of how all that took place, happened according to the program that the Lord Jesus had outlined in Acts 1:8 where He said His followers would receive power when the Holy Spirit had come upon them; and that they would be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him."

Since the religious leaders of Israel had found Stephen guilty of blasphemy, the persecution of all other believers in the Lord Jesus was ratcheted up. But we mustn't miss a very important point amid all of the chaos at that time in Jerusalem. It was through Stephen's prayer that the Lord gave us the Apostle Paul. Since Stephen prayed with his last breath for his enemies, God answered that prayer by saving Saul. Without Stephen's heart of forgiveness we would have not been given the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

Then there were the other believers in the Lord Jesus who were guilty by their association with Stephen. The religious leaders had been so cut to their core by the truth that Stephen delivered that day that they had no idea what to do with their guilt. The unforgiven know nothing of the freedom the soul experiences when it no longer has to live under the burden of trying to appease the judgment of God. Stephen died based upon the truth he spoke to the religious leaders of Israel. After they killed Stephen, the Jewish religious leaders felt they had to do something to the other believers there in Jerusalem in order to control them. They felt Stephen's words could not be allowed to motivate the other followers of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, the persecution immediately of the believers began swiftly.

Interestingly, the persecution brought into fruition the words of the Lord Jesus in Acts 1:8 which reads, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

As those first century believers were being treated so badly, the church grew exponentially. What may seem like a catastrophe may be just the opportunity needed to get things going in a new direction. This was certainly the case with the church in Jerusalem. The persecution of the church was the spark that lit the fire of the growth in numbers and in spirituality among the believers.

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, "3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. 4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word."

Saul chose to aid the religious leaders of Israel by dragging believers off to prison. With the persecution, the church grew dramatically because the followers of the Lord Jesus were authentically sharing the gospel with all who would listen everywhere they went. Their boldness was rooted in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, their persecution caused them to focus on what is really real. And, when we share with others what is really real we will be more authentic. With the boldness of Stephen, the early church was further emboldened. The world tells us in a thousand different ways that the bigger we become, the freer we will be. The richer, the more beautiful, and the more powerful we grow, the more security, liberty, and happiness we will experience. And yet, the gospel tells us just the opposite. The gospel always reminds us that the smaller we become, the freer we will be, the smaller we become the more impact God will deliver in and through us in this world.

In v.5-8 of today's passage we read, "5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city."

Philip, also mentioned in Acts 6:5 as one of the seven chosen as deacons shows up again in today's passage. He went down to Samaria, the area where the Lord Jesus met the woman at the well, and he preached the gospel with conviction. It is undeniable that once we enter into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, the joy of the Lord welled up in us to the point that we share with others the good news we have discovered. This is the case because the Lord Jesus is the ultimate game changer. He did more than hit a single to tie up the game in the ninth, He hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth, sealing our eternity for sure. 

Many believed on the Lord Jesus as a result of hearing Philip that day in Samaria. The people not only heard the message, they also saw the miracles that accompanied the message. This means there was an abrupt change when they saw the people delivered from their former state. There is no wonder they believed when they heard the gospel proclaimed. Their physical healing was a sign that the Lord Jesus had the power to forgive their sin. As a result the city was in a state of joy because of what had happened. 

It was Thomas Aquinas who once said, "Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures."  Once we have experienced the life the Lord Jesus died to give us and we discover that it is far superior than the best this world can offer, we will be excited about sharing the Gospel with others. Once we were born again, the fruit of the Spirit became present in our lives because we received the touch of the Eternal One. This is eternal life, to know the lover of our souls and the utter joy from knowing Him for ourselves.

As it says in Isaiah 61:10, "I will rejoice greatly in the Lord. My soul will exalt in my God, for He has clothed me with garments of salvation.  He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. I will rejoice greatly."

Acts 7:54-60

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54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. ~ Acts 7:54-60

Today, we conclude our study of Acts 7 where Stephen has just finished delivering his message to the religious leaders of first century Israel. It is the nature of the truth when met with the false to hurt, especially when it is underscored by someone in your own family. This is what happened that day when Stephen delivered his message to the religious leaders of Israel. Stephen's life and death remind us of another martyr: Jim Elliot. It was he who once said, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim and four others went to the Auca Indians in Equador. The Aucas had never heard the gospel so these men went down there to tell them about the salvation the Lord Jesus offers. Jim wrote his most famous quote before he was martyred on January 8, 1956. 

In v.54 of today's passage we read, "When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth."

Since Stephen had been so clear in his words to the religious leaders, they demonstrated they perfectly understood what he said. In their reaction they revealed they had been cut to the heart. The Greek word Luke used to describe them literally means "to be cut through." This is the second and last use of this word in the Bible. The religious leader were thrown into a state of rage after hearing the truth about their condition. Being reminded that they resisted the Holy Spirit and that they were the murderers of the Messiah, caused them to become completely enraged. 

The Greek word translated as "gnashed" is found only here in the Bible. When they gnashed their teeth they revealed their rage in a slightly different way. They were like wild animals clenching their teeth and snarling at Stephen. All of this happened because their hearts were not one ounce receptive to the truth. Sometimes we must present the truth this way. The religious leaders of first century Israel knew the history of Israel well. And, Stephen's words convicted them because they were true. When we did not allow the truth to do the work God desires, we find ourselves much like mad men. The religious leaders of Israel thought they were in an encounter with Stephen but they were in an encounter with God. 

In v.55-56 of today's passage we read, "55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!'"

Stephen is set in contrast to these supposed "leaders" who were like enraged animals snarling at him. Instead, it says of him, "being full of the Holy Spirit." The religious leaders did not have the Holy Spirit to guide them. Instead, they stood as the enemies of God due to their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In contrast, Stephen stood "gazing into heaven." He looked into heaven because there stood, at the right hand of God, the One who was defining Him. To stand at the right hand of God signifies the position of the Lord Jesus with all power and authority having been granted to Him. It was God's response to the obedience of the Lord Jesus on our behalf, the obedience that sent Him to die on the cross.

After the Lord Jesus died on the cross and then ascended into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. A priest always sat down when the sacrificial work was done. His work was finished. When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, the payment for our sin was made. But Stephen saw the Lord Jesus standing up. He stood up to welcome the first martyr in Christian history into Heaven. The Lord Jesus stood in the position of all authority and power. He arose from having been seated. He arose in order to confer the crown of life upon Stephen and to welcome him into his new home. Stephen owns the mark of honor as the first person who is known as the church’s first martyr.

In v.57-58 of today's passage we read, "57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul."

In response to Stephen's proclamation that he could see the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God, the religious leaders "cried out with a loud voice." Then, the entire group of religious leaders got up from their seats and came forward as a single tidal wave, rushing upon Stephen and seizing him. Then, they cast him out of the city. They did this because it was their practice to escort their offenders outside of the gates of the city to be stoned. They didn't simply pick up a few rocks and throw them at him. They pushed him over a 10-foot precipice, hoping he would be crushed upon landing. Since he survived the fall and was still alive, it was then that they hurled large stones down upon him until he was dead. 

Once Stephen was taken outside the city it was understood that the witnesses would lay down their clothes. This clothing was the long flowing outer garment that would inhibit the casting of stones. The witnesses were those who were to cast the stone first, wanting to ensure they got the maximum amount of effect out of their toss. So, they took off their outer garment. The laying down of the clothes was specifically noted to introduce the next person in the narrative. It is obvious they laid them down in order to cast, but it says they laid them down "at the feet of a young man named Saul." 

Stephen was in the Synagogue of the Freedman providing this apologetic and Saul of Tarsus happened to be going to that Synagogue in Jerusalem. This is the first time Saul, later called Paul, appears in the Bible. By guarding the clothes of these men, Saul was agreeing to the execution. Saul listened to Stephen's appeal and it made an impact on him. We couldn't have two more opposite men on this stage. The young man Stephen and the young man Saul of Tarsus. What divided them was the cross of the Lord Jesus. 

In v.59 of today's passage we read, "And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'"

By invoking the name of the Lord Jesus, as he is being stoned, Stephen explicitly acknowledged the Lord Jesus as the Messiah. Stephen acknowledged that the Lord Jesus is the glory of God and that He is at the position of all of the power and authority of God. Stephen then appealed to the Lord Jesus to do something that only God can do, to receive his spirit.

In v.60 of today's passage we read, "Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.'"

Five times in the Gospel according to Luke and in the book of Acts, kneeling while praying is accentuated. Such a position of humility goes back to the Old Testament where Solomon knelt down before the assembly when praying at the dedication of the temple and when Daniel was said to kneel three times a day when he prayed and gave thanks before his God. 

Then, Stephen "cried out with a loud voice." Like the Lord Jesus, Stephen prayed for his killers. This prayer was not for Stephen's benefit, it was for those stoning him. His prayer was for those who would have remembered Zechariah 13:1 which reads, "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." The prophet had already describes that day in Zechariah 12:10 which reads, "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."