Acts 13:26-41

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"26 Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and others who worship God, listen! The news about this salvation has been sent to us. 27 Those who live in Jerusalem and their leaders did not realize that Jesus was the Savior. They did not understand the words that the prophets wrote, which are read every Sabbath day. But they made them come true when they said Jesus was guilty. 28 They could not find any real reason for Jesus to be put to death, but they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29 When they had done to him all that the Scriptures had said, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him up from the dead! 31 After this, for many days, those who had gone with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem saw him. They are now his witnesses to the people. 32 We tell you the Good News about the promise God made to our ancestors. 33 God has made this promise come true for us, his children, by raising Jesus from the dead. We read about this also in Psalm 2: 'You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.' Psalm 2:7 34 God raised Jesus from the dead, and he will never go back to the grave and become dust. So God said: 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings that I promised to David.' Isaiah 55:3 35 But in another place God says: 'You will not let your Holy One rot.’ Psalm 16:10 36 David did God’s will during his lifetime. Then he died and was buried beside his ancestors, and his body did rot in the grave. 37 But the One God raised from the dead did not rot in the grave. 38-39 Brothers, understand what we are telling you: You can have forgiveness of your sins through Jesus. The law of Moses could not free you from your sins. But through Jesus everyone who believes is free from all sins. 40 Be careful! Don’t let what the prophets said happen to you: '41 Listen, you people who doubt! You can wonder, and then die. I will do something in your lifetime that you won’t believe even when you are told about it! Habakkuk 1:5'" ~ Acts 13:26-41

Today, we return to our study of Acts 13 where the Apostle Paul is in the middle of delivering his first ever recorded sermon in a synagogue in the city of Antioch of Pasidia. The reason Paul and Barnabas were at this place of worship was to share the gospel with anyone who would listen. Central to our evangelistic efforts must the Word of God. This is why Paul employed the Old Testament Scriptures as he did in order to help the people see that the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament teachings and prophecies. It was Oswald Chambers who once said, "Jesus Christ became Incarnate for one purpose, to make a way back to God that man might stand before Him as He was created to do, the friend and lover of God Himself."

In v.26-30 of today's passage we read, "26 Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and others who worship God, listen! The news about this salvation has been sent to us. 27 Those who live in Jerusalem and their leaders did not realize that Jesus was the Savior. They did not understand the words that the prophets wrote, which are read every Sabbath day. But they made them come true when they said Jesus was guilty. 28 They could not find any real reason for Jesus to be put to death, but they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29 When they had done to him all that the Scriptures had said, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him up from the dead!"

The Apostle Paul reminded his hearers in the synagogue that God sent His salvation to those who have the type of fear that causes them to worship Him. This same word was used when referring to Cornelius. He was a man "that feared God." Key to our worship of God is the fact that we are in awe of Him. The word "awe" actually means "apprehending danger." This is why in Hebrews 12 we read, "Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." The idea is that we should be filled with awe when we approach the Lord in worship is due to the fact that He is holy, majestic, and powerful.

Even though God delivered to the Jews the good news that their sin could once and for all be forgiven, they rejected it because they did not understand. They did not understand that they could not be perfect enough in obedience to God to earn His favor. They did not understand because they did not know God personally, they lacked a personal relationship with God. They were religious and they did all the right things but they were still dead to God. This is, of course, why God sent His Son, to die for our sin so that we could have a personal relationship with Him.

The Lord Jesus was not only a threat to the leadership of Israel, He was a threat to Pilate. Even though the religious leaders of Israel had no authority to put the Lord Jesus to death, they appealed to Pilate to do so. Despite Pilate not desiring to be a part of the matter, the rulers of Israel manipulated him to the point that he conceded to allow the execution of the Lord Jesus. God knew in advance what the religious leaders of Israel would do to His Son, this is why He told us in advance.

In v.31-37 of today's passage we read, "31 After this, for many days, those who had gone with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem saw him. They are now his witnesses to the people. 32 We tell you the Good News about the promise God made to our ancestors. 33 God has made this promise come true for us, his children, by raising Jesus from the dead. We read about this also in Psalm 2: 'You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.' Psalm 2:7 34 God raised Jesus from the dead, and he will never go back to the grave and become dust. So God said: 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings that I promised to David.' Isaiah 55:3 35 But in another place God says: 'You will not let your Holy One rot.’ Psalm 16:10 36 David did God’s will during his lifetime. Then he died and was buried beside his ancestors, and his body did rot in the grave. 37 But the One God raised from the dead did not rot in the grave."

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the most important event in all of human history. As Paul pointed out, the resurrection was attested to by the Old Testament scriptures and it is the crowning event in all of God’s redemptive history. The resurrection is the believer's guarantee of heaven. The message of the Bible is that death does not end man's existence, every human being who has ever lived will live forever, either in hell or in heaven. The death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is God's provision guaranteeing for us eternal life with Him. The resurrection is not just a feature of Christianity, it is the essential truth of Christianity. The whole point of the gospel is to be delivered from judgment into eternal blessing. The resurrection, then, is not the epilogue, it’s not some kind of a postscript on the end of our Lord’s life. It was the goal of His life, the reason He came in the first place. 

In v.38-41 of today's passage we read, "38-39 Brothers, understand what we are telling you: You can have forgiveness of your sins through Jesus. The law of Moses could not free you from your sins. But through Jesus everyone who believes is free from all sins. 40 Be careful! Don’t let what the prophets said happen to you: '41 Listen, you people who doubt! You can wonder, and then die. I will do something in your lifetime that you won’t believe even when you are told about it! Habakkuk 1:5'"

The Lord Jesus Christ didn’t come to this earth with political solutions as the religious leaders of Israel thought. He didn’t even come to give His followers ease and comfort. He came to provide forgiveness of sin to those who see their need for it. Here, the Apostle Paul told his hearers that everything referring to the Messiah in their Scriptures supports the idea that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly their Messiah. Paul went on to affirm the fact that there is victory and vindication through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since the Lord Jesus fulfilled the law through His perfect obedience to it, He qualifies as our Savior. 

The Apostle Paul ended his sermon with the words of Habakkuk concerning Israel’s mindset at the time of the Babylonian invasion to that of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord told Israel that the Babylonians would come upon Israel and prevail, but Habakkuk prophesied that they would never believe it. The Lord elsewhere in Scripture also prophesied of the coming of the Christ. But in His coming, it was known the same disbelieving attitude would prevail. Paul was warning his hearers not to let what happened to the people during Habakkuk's day happen to them as well. 

Due to disbelief calamity will come upon all who reject the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul reminded his hearers that the Lord had told them in advance about the arrival of their Messiah. Their problem is they saw no need for this kind a savior. But, the prophecies were so exacting that all they needed to do was pay attention and believe what they were told by God. But they expected something different than what the Lord Jesus came to give. They were unwilling to acknowledge their need for salvation and sadly many of them died in their sin and they will spend eternity in hell. No one has to end up in hell, it is a crying shame that any human will spend their eternity there. Since we could not pay God's penalty for our sin, the Lord Jesus came to pay it for us. Our affirming response of simple belief in that truth is what sends us to heaven rather than hell.

Acts 13:13-25

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13 Paul and those with him sailed from Paphos and came to Perga, in Pamphylia. There John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 They continued their trip from Perga and went to Antioch, a city in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were read, the leaders of the synagogue sent a message to Paul and Barnabas: “Brothers, if you have any message that will encourage the people, please speak.” 16 Paul stood up, raised his hand, and said, “You Israelites and you who worship God, please listen! 17 The God of the Israelites chose our ancestors. He made the people great during the time they lived in Egypt, and he brought them out of that country with great power. 18 And he was patient with them for forty years in the desert. 19 God destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave the land to his people. 20 All this happened in about four hundred fifty years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, so God gave them Saul son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin and was king for forty years. 22 After God took him away, God made David their king. God said about him: ‘I have found in David son of Jesse the kind of man I want. He will do all I want him to do.’ 23 So God has brought Jesus, one of David’s descendants, to Israel to be its Savior, as he promised. 24 Before Jesus came, John preached to all the people of Israel about a baptism of changed hearts and lives. 25 When he was finishing his work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the Christ. He is coming later, and I am not worthy to untie his sandals.’" ~ Acts 13:13-25

Today, we return to our study of Acts 13 where the Apostle Paul and Barnabas and John Mark are traveling on their first missionary journey. This trip to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth was an arduous trip taking a year and a half beginning in A.D. 47 and ended in A.D. 48. Like these men, once we entered into a personal relationship with the God of the Bible through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, we were granted an intense desire to see others pass from the darkness into His light. Now, we understand an eternity in hell as opposed to an eternity in heaven. This explains the unfolding events of Acts 13.

In v.13-15 of today's passage we read, "13 Paul and those with him sailed from Paphos and came to Perga, in Pamphylia. There John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 They continued their trip from Perga and went to Antioch, a city in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were read, the leaders of the synagogue sent a message to Paul and Barnabas: 'Brothers, if you have any message that will encourage the people, please speak.'"

Paul and those with him traveled to Pamphylia which was a province of Asia Minor with Cilicia in its east, Lycia in its west, Pisidia in its north, and the Mediterranean to its south. We know this area as Turkey today. For reasons which no one really knows, John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. It has been speculated that the change from Barnabas and Paul to Paul and Barnabas may give us a hint as to why John Mark left them when they arrived at Perga. John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas, and so he very well may have resented this change in leadership. There is some indication in the Scriptures that John Mark and Paul did not get along too well, at least at first. Later on the Apostle Paul wrote from prison in Rome and asked that John Mark be sent to him, as he was of great profit to him by then. But for now there was a certain friction between the two. As John Mark was the son of a wealthy widow, raised in luxury, some scholars feel that he was uncomfortable with the hardships that developed on this journey. Now that they were coming into the rugged mainland where paganism was rampant, where robbers and other dangers were at every corner, and they were facing increasing opposition from religious leaders, John Mark opted out. All of this caused division later on between Barnabas and Paul causing them to separate.

When Paul and Barnabas came to Antioch of Pisidia, which was part of the ancient Roman province of Galatia, they went into the synagogue. It was there that people were prepared best to hear the gospel, so Paul took advantage of this opportunity. According to the custom of the synagogue, the visitors Paul and Barnabas were invited to speak. In this his first recorded sermon, the Apostle Paul gave a history of how God prepared the Israelites to lead them to faith in the Lord Jesus as their Messiah. The Apostle Paul had been prepared for this moment for years given that he was a long time Pharisee. He, having been made alive to God on the Damascus Road, now could see how all of the Scriptures had one central theme, the Lord Jesus Christ. All truth points us to Him who is the very truth Himself.

In v.16-20 of today's passage we read, "16 Paul stood up, raised his hand, and said, 'You Israelites and you who worship God, please listen! 17 The God of the Israelites chose our ancestors. He made the people great during the time they lived in Egypt, and he brought them out of that country with great power. 18 And he was patient with them for forty years in the desert. 19 God destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan and gave the land to his people. 20 All this happened in about four hundred fifty years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.'"

The Apostle Paul immediately began his comments by acknowledging the God of Israel, and then he continued to point out that in the same way God had prepared Israel for the coming of their Messiah, He had prepared those who were present that day in that synagogue to believe. Being guided by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle revealed through Israel's history how God had led them through their history in order to be led to their Messiah. Our history can be traced accordingly. In fact, if my dad had not died when he did, I doubt I would be in the ministry today. As I look back on it, the circumstances aligned perfectly, especially since my mom had died when I was five years old.

Any Jew would have been intimately familiar with Paul's history lesson given that day. Paul carefully recounted their history which had been carefully recorded in their sacred writings. He artfully used their sacred writings to unfold for them their history potentially leading them to faith in the Lord Jesus as their Messiah. It was the God of Israel who led the people out of Egypt with His outstretched arm. He was the One who made this insignificant and small group of people to flourish into a great nation. He did so by providing for them leaders in their judges and their kings. The preservation of Israel is a huge apologetic for the existence of the God of the Bible. In fact, it was the nation of Israel who was scattered for almost two thousand years throughout the world until God used the Holocaust to bring them back into the land of Israel in 1948. In fact, 1948 is evidence that we serve a covenant-keeping God who does not renege on His promises, despite our behavior. It shows us His word is true, and the fulfillment of prophecy is a sign to us that His work is true. The return of the Jews to Israel was no work of any man, it was truly the work of the God of Israel.

In v.21-22 of today's passage we read, "21 Then the people asked for a king, so God gave them Saul son of Kish. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin and was king for forty years. 22 After God took him away, God made David their king. God said about him: 'I have found in David son of Jesse the kind of man I want. He will do all I want him to do.'"

At this point in his presentation, Paul pointed the spotlight on two important kings, Saul and David. These two kings pictured for Israel the wrestling match within the souls of all who struggle to walk with God. The key all along has been the investment of our hearts in a personal relationship with God. When the king's hearts were drawn away from the Lord, they failed to walk with God. Even though King Saul came from the smallest tribe of Israel, he had an overgrown-sized understanding of his importance. This gave birth to pride in Saul which eventually was his downfall. And, even though David was known to walk with the Lord, he mistakingly believed sin was a better master than the Lord. It just goes to prove that God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble. The difference between Saul and David in the end was repentance or the lack thereof.

In v.23-25 of today's passage we read, "23 So God has brought Jesus, one of David’s descendants, to Israel to be its Savior, as he promised. 24 Before Jesus came, John preached to all the people of Israel about a baptism of changed hearts and lives. 25 When he was finishing his work, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the Christ. He is coming later, and I am not worthy to untie his sandals." 

John the Baptist is the greatest among all the prophets according to the Lord Jesus. He was a man predicted by the Old Testament prophets as the fore runner to the Messiah. He had but one major purpose for his life: To call everyone’s attention to the One coming after him whose sandals he was not worthy to untie. John's humility was often mistaken by others as something other than. In the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar France, there is a painting of John the Baptist. On three panels above the altar, is a scene of the crucifixion. The Lord Jesus is pictured on His cross in the center panel, surrounded by various onlookers kneeling in worship. The most arresting figure in the painting is John the Baptist, who stands at the edge of a side panel with his arm outstretched and his finger pointing to the cross. That picture defines John’s role and sums up his ministry exactly. For that matter, it perfectly illustrates the calling of any follower of Jesus Christ. It is our joy to point others to the Lord Jesus and to His cross because it is to this we were called. 

Israel's history was so designed by God that those with a sincere heart for the truth will be carefully directed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. A sincere heart is seen in being real and honest. Sincerity of heart is about being genuine and true. By the truth we are trained to look to the Lord Jesus for our meaning and purpose. We are at our best when we are most dependent upon the Lord. It is His faithfulness seen through the fulfillment of His promises that arrests the attention of our hearts most to believe even more. And, most often we see His faithfulness through the darkest moments of our lives.

Acts 13:4-12

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4 Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went to the city of Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus. 5 When they came to Salamis, they preached the Good News of God in the synagogues. John Mark was with them to help. 6 They went across the whole island to Paphos where they met a magician named Bar-Jesus. He was a false prophet 7 who always stayed close to Sergius Paulus, the governor and a smart man. He asked Barnabas and Saul to come to him, because he wanted to hear the message of God. 8 But Elymas, the magician, was against them. (Elymas is the name for Bar-Jesus in the Greek language.) He tried to stop the governor from believing in Jesus. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You son of the devil! You are an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of evil tricks and lies, always trying to change the Lord’s truths into lies. 11 Now the Lord will touch you, and you will be blind. For a time you will not be able to see anything—not even the light from the sun.” Then everything became dark for Elymas, and he walked around, trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the governor saw this, he believed because he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. ~ Acts 13:4-12

Today, we return to our study of Acts 13 where Barnabas are traveling with Saul to do the ministry together in Cyprus. From Genesis to Revelation, God has always prepared His people to do His ministry. The ministry the Lord has given us all is to make Himself known and worshiped throughout the world. This ministry is substantiated in Habakkuk 2:14 which reads, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." God desires for everyone to know Him personally and intimately. He desires that this knowledge of Him would render for each of us worship of Him. He has designed it such that who we worship will define us and there is no better definer for us than the God of the Bible. In His grace, God uses us, His people, to accomplish such ministry. This is where we discover Barnabas and Saul in today's passage, going forth to do this ministry.

In v.4-7 of today's passage we read, "4 Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went to the city of Seleucia. From there they sailed to the island of Cyprus. 5 When they came to Salamis, they preached the Good News of God in the synagogues. John Mark was with them to help. 6 They went across the whole island to Paphos where they met a magician named Bar-Jesus. He was a false prophet 7 who always stayed close to Sergius Paulus, the governor and a smart man. He asked Barnabas and Saul to come to him, because he wanted to hear the message of God."

The Holy Spirit is mentioned four times in this chapter. The first in v.2 He is mentioned in connection with the calling of Barnabas and Saul. The second in v.4 He is mentioned when Barnabas and Saul were sent out. The third in v.9, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit. The final time the Holy Spirit will be mentioned in this chapter will be in v.52 where the Gentile disciples will be "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." The involvement of the Holy Spirit is crucial if we are to be effective at being used of the Lord in the furtherance of His kingdom in the hearts of people. "Walking in the Spirit" is what we do when the desires produced by the Holy Spirit of God become a reality in and through us. I think of my childhood when I think of walking in the Spirit. My dad would grab my hands and I would stand on my dad's feet. He would provide the inertia to walk. Such is the case for the believer who walks in the Spirit.

Having been sent out by the believers in Antioch, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia, the port city from which those who lived in Antioch would sail. From there they went to Cyprus which is a large island in the eastern Mediterranean. Barnabas and Saul and John Mark followed a track of synagogues. Here for the first real time we are witnessing a transition from the Jews to the Gentiles in the furtherance of the gospel. There will be great hostility by the Jews towards the notion that the Lord Jesus is their Messiah. On the contrary, there will be an increasing opening of arms towards the Lord Jesus by the Gentiles.

In the city of Paphos, Barnabas and Paul met Bar-Jesus a "magician" who was also a "false prophet." Bar-Jesus had the ear of the governor of that area and was connected to his court. The word translated "smart" signifies understanding derived from correlating facts. In this case, the Governor may have been intelligent, but he was also lacking discernment as is evident by the presence of Bar-Jesus. Somehow, this governor learned of Barnabas and Saul and he called them to come to him because he wanted to hear from them their message.

In v.8-10 of today's passage we read, "8 But Elymas, the magician, was against them. (Elymas is the name for Bar-Jesus in the Greek language.) He tried to stop the governor from believing in Jesus. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked straight at Elymas 10 and said, 'You son of the devil! You are an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of evil tricks and lies, always trying to change the Lord’s truths into lies.'"

Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas, did not believe in the gospel message. He was like a wall that refused to be moved. In fact, he tried to prevent Sergius Paulus the governor, from believing in the Lord Jesus. He did this because he could see that the influence of the Word of God would diminish his influence over the governor. Providing contrast with Elymas, in v.9 we discover the first time Saul was ever called Paul in the Scriptures. From this point on, it will be the only name he will be referenced. I find it quite instructive that the name "Paulos" means "Little" underscoring the very important concept of "less of me and more of Him." 

Having been filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul commenced to share the gospel with the governor. The filling of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the middle voice here. This means it is the Holy Spirit Himself who does the filling. This filling is an extra unction from the Holy Spirit to speak and to work on the behalf of God. This means we do not rely on ourselves to do ministry. It means when the time comes for the Lord to lead, we must trust Him to accomplish His work in the life of anyone we are working with at the moment. There have been many times in my ministry that I did not know what to say and once I ask God for the words to say they were there. Very often I have been given much more credit than I ever deserved for something the Lord accomplished.

It was at that point that Paul, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, addressed Bar-Jesus. The Apostle identified Bar-Jesus as "a son of the devil." He continued by identifying this sorcerer as being opposed to the truth and thus he was an intentional deceiver. Paul continued to point out that Bar-Jesus was full of fraudulent intentions. Ironically, Bar-Jesus means "Son of Salvation." 

In v.11-12 of today's passage we read, "'11 Now the Lord will touch you, and you will be blind. For a time you will not be able to see anything—not even the light from the sun.' Then everything became dark for Elymas, and he walked around, trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the governor saw this, he believed because he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."

The punishment determined for Bar-Jesus was ironically the same as that which came upon Paul when he was made completely blind for three days in Acts 9. Just as in the case of Paul, the punishment would not be permanent. The physical blindness that came upon Bar-Jesus was simply a reflection of his spiritual blindness. This stricken condition was intended to lead Bar-Jesus to faith in the Lord Jesus. Even though there is no evidence that Bar-Jesus believed in the Lord Jesus as his Savior, the Governor, Sergius Paulus, did. The blinding of Bar-Jesus provided verifiable proof to the governor that the power of God was to be found in the message of the gospel. It was Paul's proclamation of the gospel that caused the governor to believe. After all, it has always been that God's Word creates faith in each of us as we allow it. Our faith in the God of the Bible is a bi-product of God's faithfulness to us and to His promises given in His Word.

Acts 13:1-3

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1 In the church at Antioch there were these prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (also called Niger), Lucius (from the city of Cyrene), Manaen (who had grown up with Herod, the ruler), and Saul. 2 They were all worshiping the Lord and fasting for a certain time. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for which I have chosen them.” 3 So after they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out. ~ Acts 13:1-3

Today, we transition into Acts 13 which is another turning point in the book of Acts. This chapter marks the beginning of the third phase of the great commission that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples in Matthew 28. In Acts 1:8 He outlined how the ministry would unfold, beginning in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria, and then finally into the uttermost parts of the earth. In this chapter begins the last phase, the going into the uttermost parts of the earth. It is also the beginning of the apostleship of Paul. Some eleven or twelve years after his conversion, he began to fulfill the ministry to which he was called as an apostle of Jesus Christ. The most important thing about today's passage is the manner in which the Holy Spirit guides His people. 

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "In the church at Antioch there were these prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (also called Niger), Lucius (from the city of Cyrene), Manaen (who had grown up with Herod, the ruler), and Saul."

It was from the church at Antioch that Barnabas and Saul had been sent and it is where they had now returned. Luke here highlights two different spiritual gifts, prophecy and teaching. He also mentions the names of  five different men, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had grown up with Herod, the Tetrarch and finally Saul of Tarsus. The significance of this is each of these five men were all Jewish. In Romans 3:2 God told us: "Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God." We owe a lot to all of those Old Testament scholars and to those who God used to record the Old and New Testament. They painstakingly preserved God's Word for us. If we did not have God's Word, we would lack a definitive standard for absolute truth, moral guidance, and the specific knowledge of salvation.

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "They were all worshiping the Lord and fasting for a certain time. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for which I have chosen them.'"

Every significant work of man must be preceded by our worship of the Lord as indicated here. Real worship of God comes on the heels of being defined by Him. We discover God’s definition of things through His Word, the Bible. Living in concert with God’s definitions of how life should be lived is worship. It was Paul Tripp who once said, “Human beings by their very nature are worshipers. Worship is not something we do; it defines who we are. You cannot divide human beings into those who worship and those who don’t. Everybody worships; it’s just a matter of what, or whom, we serve.”

These men fasted because they understood the importance in hearing God’s voice. So, they even removed the distraction of eating. It was during this time of worship and fasting and prayer that “the Holy Spirit said to them, Set apart for me, Barnabas and Saul.” Barnabas and Saul had been counted among the prophets and teachers of Antioch, but now they are being called for a special ministry. We lack the ability to know God’s calling if we do not know His Word. And, if we do not know His Word, we will not be active in our worship of Him.

By the way, it is a common question for people to ask if fasting is required for believers. The answer is, “No.” Though it is referred to in Scripture, and even though the Lord Jesus speaks of it as something that was commonly done, His words were primarily to Israel, under the law. As such, those verses cannot be considered prescriptive for the church. Likewise, in Acts, fasting is mentioned, but Acts is a descriptive account of what was occurring. It prescribes nothing. On the other hand, in the epistles, from where we are to derive our doctrine on such matters, fasting is never explicitly directed. It is mentioned once in 1 Corinthians 7:5, but it is not a prescription. The other two times fasting is mentioned are in 2 Corinthians 6:5 and 11:27. Both are involuntary fasts. Paul was forced to fast because of a lack of food. Other than these three references, fasting is never addressed in the New Testament, and it is certainly not prescribed. 

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "So after they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out."

The Holy Spirit instructed Barnabas and Saul to be separated for the work that He had for them. This was met with a special time of both fasting and prayer. God, who is all-knowing has established prayer as the means by which we apprehend Him and He us. Through this relational practice we receive what God has promised. One can only wonder what blessings we are missing today both in our personal lives and in our churches because of our failure to earnestly pray. It was Elizabeth Elliot who once said, "Prayer lays hold of God's plan and becomes the link between his will and its accomplishment on earth. Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit's prayer."

Again, fasting, in particular, was a Jewish practice not practiced by the church in the New Testament. These words here are not prescriptive, meaning a directive given to the Church. It is obviously a good practice to pray before sending believers out on a mission but fasting is not prescriptive. "Laying on of hands" is a biblical action, however, there is no biblical mandate requiring the physical laying on of hands for a particular spiritual ministry. The Lord Jesus certainly laid His hands on many of those He healed, however, He also healed without laying His hands on people. It is a good practice for churches to pray for the success of the missionaries. Someone once said, "If our day is hemmed in with prayer, it is less likely to come unraveled."  So, we conclude that God's will be done. Success means that the will of the Lord is served, in whatever manner He directs.

Acts 12:19-25

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19 Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and ordered that they be killed. Later Herod moved from Judea and went to the city of Caesarea, where he stayed. 20 Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but the people of those cities all came in a group to him. After convincing Blastus, the king’s personal servant, to be on their side, they asked Herod for peace, because their country got its food from his country. 21 On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not a human!” 23 Because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to become sick, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 God’s message continued to spread and reach people. 25 After Barnabas and Saul finished their task in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark with them. ~ Acts 12:19-25

Today, we conclude our study of Acts 12. Having been imprisoned and then having been released from the prison by an angel, the Apostle Peter is now on the run. And, King Herod was actively looking for Peter. On the run from danger is a frightening experience. Adrenaline is the hormone that our adrenal glands make aiding us in stressful or dangerous situations. Adrenaline rush is the name for the quick release of adrenaline into our bloodstream. It is adrenaline that gets us through the most intense moments of our lives. We have all been there and I'm sure you can recall the rush of adrenaline that got you through your ordeal. This was the experience and the backdrop for the Apostle Peter in today's passage.

In v.19 of today's passage we read, "Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and ordered that they be killed. Later Herod moved from Judea and went to the city of Caesarea, where he stayed."

Here, Luke recorded the events as they occurred. Having been apprised of the situation, King Herod was so embarrassed and perplexed that he had the guards who guarded Peter while in that prison to be killed. These innocent soldiers died due to one man's stubborn unbelief. Herod would not bow his knee to the God of all creation and believe in the Gospel. As the soldiers recounted the story, the only explanation Herod accepted was that these men had betrayed his trust and had somehow schemed with Peter's friends to release him. So he ordered their deaths. Then he ordered a massive search for Peter but he was not found. Interestingly, Peter will not be mentioned again until Acts 15. 

Later, Herod traveled from Judea to Caesarea where he stayed. This trip was after he had reigned over all Judea for three years. He remained in Caesarea until his death which was not much later. God had obviously determined that Peter would go free and to be spared from the wrath of Herod who sadly died in his sin. Like many today, Herod believed the gospel was just too simple to believe. I love that it is so simple, otherwise I probably would not have come to faith in the Lord Jesus as my Savior. Instead of hiding the most important truths on the highest intellectual shelves, God makes them accessible to spiritual babies.

In v.20-22 of today's passage we read, "20 Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but the people of those cities all came in a group to him. After convincing Blastus, the king’s personal servant, to be on their side, they asked Herod for peace, because their country got its food from his country. 21 On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people. 22 They shouted, 'This is the voice of a god, not a human!'"

Tyre and Sidon were cities of Phoenicia, just north of Caesarea. Formerly very opulent, and distinguished for their merchandise, they were situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Herod was "very angry" at them because of the tariffs they were charging him for his movement of materials. So, both of these cities joined in diplomacy to quell the wrath of Herod by convincing Blastus, the king’s personal aide, to be their friend. Blastus was in a highly trusted position because of its intimate nature. Only the most faithful of servants or officers would be entrusted to serve in this capacity. 

The people of Tyre and Sidon convinced Blastus to seek peace for them with the King. Since Tyre and Sidon depended upon the people of Israel for their food, it would have been catastrophic had Herod continued to block their food supplies from getting to them. Hence, appealing to the king through seeking peace was by far the best option for them. Attempting to live at peace with Herod the folks from Tyre and Sidon appealed to the ego of Herod and called him a god when he spoke before the people. They flattered him into doing what they desired for their people. 

In v.23 of today's passage we read, "Because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to become sick, and he was eaten by worms and died."

When the angel struck Herod, God filled him with the worms of death. Josephus says they ate him for five days before he died. A severe pain began in Herod's stomach and when he was quite worn out by the pain of five days, in the 54th year of his life, Herod died. His life abruptly ended. Sadly, this was the result of a man who thought he could live without God. Herod Agrippa was done in while accepting divine honors from a crowd. The death of Herod Agrippa reveals just how blinded one can become, thinking we do not need God. We do well to side swipe the adulation of man. To accept any form of worship from others is quite dangerous. It is always the case that pride goes before our fall.

In v.24-25 of today's passage we read, "24 God’s message continued to spread and reach people. 25 After Barnabas and Saul finished their task in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark with them."

Herod was the one who put James to death. He was also set to put Peter to death. With Herod Agrippa's death, the word of God spread and it continued to spread. While the blood of James helped expand the spread of the Word of God to others, the death of Herod brought an end to the life of a man who continuously rejected the God of truth. At the beginning of today's blog I spoke of the importance of Adrenaline while dealing with dangerous and stressful situations. Adrenaline only deals with the here and now. What Herod didn't understand is that we need much more than adrenaline to make it beyond time as we know it. What we need is the Lord who told us if we believe in Him, He would come and live within us.

In Isaiah 40:8 we read, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." And, His Word is clear that man cannot endure without God in his life. Herod's life and death substantiates the truth found in Galatians 6:3 which reads, "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." We are all created by God. He holds the specs for each of us. Whatever we are, whatever capabilities we have, whatever traits we possess, all these came from God. As this is so, we should glorify God with who we are and not allow our minds to become puffed up like Herod. With such an attitude, catastrophe is the certain result.

God’s purposes can’t be frustrated. Thus, Paul and Barnabas returned from Jerusalem to Antioch when they had fulfilled their ministry. Along with them, they took with them John Mark. The persecution exacted on the early church spread the Word of God throughout the world through the church that was spread all over the world. In Psalm 2:2 we read, "The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord." To this misguided notion the Lord responds in v.4, "He who sits in the heavens shall laugh." It doesn’t make sense to fight against God. Therefore, I implore you to invite Him into your life right now and let Him call the shots for your eternity.

Acts 12:12-19

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12 When he considered this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people were gathered there, praying. 13 Peter knocked on the outside door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door. Instead, she ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!” 15 They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she kept on saying it was true, so they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.” 16 Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17 Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord led him out of the jail, and he said, “Tell James and the other believers what happened.” Then he left to go to another place. 18 The next day the soldiers were very upset and wondered what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and ordered that they be killed. ~ Acts 12:12-19

Today, we continue our study of Acts 12 where Herod has ordered the killing of the Apostle James, the brother of the Apostle John. Herod also arrested Peter and had him jailed with plans to kill him as well. But, an angel of the Lord came during the night and freed Peter from the clutches of the misguided king. It just goes to show that if the will of man does not parallel the will of God, especially when someone's life is at stake, God will have His way.

In v.12-15 of today's passage we read, "12 When he considered this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people were gathered there, praying. 13 Peter knocked on the outside door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door. Instead, she ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!' 15 They said to her, 'You are crazy!' But she kept on saying it was true, so they said, 'It must be Peter’s angel.'"

From a completely stunned posture Peter realized he was not having a dream so he departed from the outer walls of the jail and he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. In his first epistle, Peter referred to John Mark as his "son" because John Mark was probably led to the Lord by Peter.  Mary’s house was the place where the believers met with a certain regularity. 

Once arriving at the house of Mary, Peter knocked on the door of the gate. It was then that a servant-girl named Rhoda answered the knock. Even without seeing his face, she knew it was Peter after hearing his all familiar voice. Rhoda was so overjoyed she simply didn't open the gate. She was so excited, she forgot to let him in. She simply got caught up in the moment and rushed inside without attending to the door. 

Rhoda ran into the house and announced that Peter was outside. The reaction of the believers there at Mary's house was they thought Rhoda was literally a maniac. The word translated "crazy" here is also used twice in Acts 26 bringing with it the idea of insanity. Rhoda continued to confidently reaffirm that it was truly Peter at the door. Nobody believed Rhoda, even though they had prayed feverishly for Peter's release. They did not believe it when God answered their prayers. These believers who had witnessed the greatest miracle ever, the resurrection of the Messiah, were praying in faith for Peter's release. But, they really didn't think Peter would be released. With their heads they believed God would do it, but in their hearts they believed not. I am so glad that God answers fervent but faithless prayers. All the while, Peter kept knocking while those inside debated.

It was then that the believers there at Mary's house needlessly doubted and entertained the idea that instead of it being Peter, it could have been his guardian angel. This may be a claim based on what is said in Hebrews 1:14 which reads, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" Even though it was Peter at the door, these believers considered it might have been an angel. They also knew that in eternity angels will serve the redeemed.

In v.16 of today's passage we read, "Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed."

At this point, it was comical. Peter persisted with his knocking. Once the door opened and Peter was obviously exhausted standing there, the believers inside were astonished. The word translated "amazed" has previously appeared seven times already in the book of Acts. It is used one more time in 2 Corinthians 5:3 where Paul wrote, "For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you." "Beside ourselves" literally means, "to stand aside."  Rhoda wasn’t crazy, after all.

In v.17 of today's passage we read, "Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord led him out of the jail, and he said, 'Tell James and the other believers what happened.' Then he left to go to another place."

As the door opened Peter made a hand gesture trying to get those inside the house to be quiet. The believers inside Mary's house undoubtedly exploded with joy once they saw Peter standing there. After entering the house Peter explained how he was rescued by the angel. Then he told the believers to tell James and the other believers what had happened. This was James, the son of Alpheus, also known as the brother of the Lord. In Galatians 2:9, he is noted by Paul as one of the pillars of the church. He will preside over the council in Jerusalem in Acts 15. As with other clues in Acts, this shows us that this James had become the leader of the church at that time. This is why Peter specifically singled him out.

With the news conveyed, and certainly for the safety of those inside, Peter departed. With this unbelievable story, the spotlight turns away from Peter in the book of Acts. He will be mentioned by name in the next verse and then only once again, in Acts 15 during the council at Jerusalem. From this point on, Saul will become the focus of the Acts narrative until the end of the book.

In v.18-19 of today's passage we read, "The next day the soldiers were very upset and wondered what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and ordered that they be killed."

The narrative turns to events back at the prison. We do not known how long it was from the time that Peter left the jail until the day came. Imagine the chaos that came upon the soldiers when they realized Peter was no longer there. Allowing a prisoner to escape was punishable even up to death. The impossibility of an escape would have left those inside absolutely stunned at not finding Peter. And yet, he was not to be found. 

When Herod was told of the unfolding events, he personally went to the prison and looked it over. After his inspection, it was obvious that Peter was gone. It was at that moment that the lives of the guards were at stake. It would make no sense for them to simply let Peter go, even if he offered them large amounts of money. It was then that Herod ordered their death. It may seem unfair to someone that Peter escaped while these soldiers were executed. As the soldiers told their tale, the only explanation Herod would accept was that these men had betrayed him for who knows what, probably money in his mind. Interestingly, it was through money that the devil tried to trip up the Lord Jesus in the wilderness. Remember, the devil led the Lord Jesus up the mountain and offered Him "the kingdoms of this world." The word translated "kingdoms" is the word from which we get our English word "economies."

Acts 12:6-11

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6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Other soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. 7 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Hurry! Get up!” the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And Peter did. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.” 9 So Peter followed him out, but he did not know if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he might be seeing a vision. 10 They went past the first and second guards and came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened by itself for them, and they went through it. When they had walked down one street, the angel suddenly left him. 11 Then Peter realized what had happened. He thought, “Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from all the things the people thought would happen.” ~ Acts 12:6-11

Today, we continue our study of Acts 12 where the first century believers in Christ were struggling to adapt to the culture of God. We come to know God's culture through His Word, the Bible. The foundation for God's culture remains the same in every era. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, embodied in living human flesh, God's culture. In fact, the Apostle John begins his gospel with: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." What God started at the beginning of creation He continues in and through the Lord Jesus. By the awesome power of God’s Word, all creation sprang into existence. His Word began time and space as we know it. So closely linked was God with His Creative Word, that His Word is actually God the Son. Everything makes sense in reference to God's Word.

In v.6 of today's passage we read, "The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Other soldiers were guarding the door of the jail."

Peter had been kept in jail while his brothers and sisters in Christ prayed constantly for him. We do not know how long he was in jail, be it a day or more than a week, the time had arrived when Peter was to be put on trial. But this was a different night, for God had other plans for Peter. Nothing will ever happen to us apart from the plans that God has for us. This, of course, is impacted by whether we walk with Him or not. We have been known to give the evil one a foothold in our lives, inviting him to wreak havoc in our lives without even knowing it.

The fact that Peter slept reveals a lot about the growth of his faith in the Lord. One would think sleep would not have come easily at such a time like that for Peter, but he was fast asleep between the two soldiers. The impossibility of the miracle which was about to come about was highlighted by the fact that Peter was chained between two soldiers even. If Peter were able to free himself from one chain, there would still be a second to deal with. 

To add to this there were other soldiers guarding the door of the jail. Even if Peter were to free himself from his chains and then overcome two guards who were bound by their lives to not allow him to escape, there were still two more guards who would hear everything and be ready to overcome him in a moment. The utter impossibility of Peter gaining his freedom through natural means was perfectly evident by noting the description of his situation. This man who once asked the Lord Jesus if He cared since they were in a storm and He was sleeping found himself at ease while in prison. Peter had tested the faithfulness of God and he discovered the Lord is a sure bet for us all. This is why Peter slept like a baby that night. We do well to remember the next time we find ourselves in a trial like this. God is always preparing us for what is yet to come.

In v.7-9 of today's passage we read, "7 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Hurry! Get up!” the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And Peter did. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.” 9 So Peter followed him out, but he did not know if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he might be seeing a vision."

Just when it looked its bleakest an angel of the Lord came into Peter’s cell. When the angel appeared, the area lit up. It was then that the angel woke Peter up from his sleep with a strike of his hand. After the angel commanded Peter to get up, his chains fell off. Miraculously, the sound and the motion of the chains went undetected by the guards, as did the shining of the light and the stirring of Peter. 

Some suggest that there is a natural explanation for these events. It is highly unlikely that all four guards fell asleep. And, God has been known to intervene before with angels appearing and disappearing. God Himself died and was buried. But, He was seen by 500 at one time. Such accounts do not require faith because the evidence was there. Thomas said, "I will never believe He rose from the dead until I touch His nail prints." He said this after seeing the Lord Jesus heal how many people? And, after raising three people from the dead. Then the Lord appeared to Thomas and Thomas concluded after touching His nail prints, "My Lord and my God."

This story is unreal because there were guards right there, and yet they do not perceive what was happening. They were somehow not allowed to see reality in that supernatural moment. This type of blindness had happened before in 2 Kings 6 where the army of Aram was unable to see. The whole scene was so unreal that Peter wondered if he were having a vision. Obviously, it was hard for his mind to grasp such a thing. Such is the case when the Lord is welcomed to intervene in our lives. Such experiences only increase the authority with which we speak the truth to others.

In v.10-11 of today's passage we read, "10 They went past the first and second guards and came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened by itself for them, and they went through it. When they had walked down one street, the angel suddenly left him. 11 Then Peter realized what had happened. He thought, 'Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from all the things the people thought would happen.'"

Peter was led out from being chained between two soldiers, He was also led out right past two more guards after that. Amazingly, Peter went out past the prison gate without even being noticed. Luke’s description of the prison gate would have been something any one could have gone to look at and verify if Luke's words matched the actual state of things providing sure validation that what he wrote was reliable. 

Then, the gate opened to them by itself. As this gate would be locked and bolted, being the final obstacle intended to keep prisoners from escaping, this was nothing other than a divinely orchestrated miracle. Its opening was something that could not be attributed to mere chance. Not only would it have required the proper keys to open, but the timing of its opening by itself also is a validation of the miraculous nature of the event.

Acts 12:1-5

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1 During that same time King Herod began to mistreat some who belonged to the church. 2 He ordered James, the brother of John, to be killed by the sword. 3 Herod saw that some of the people liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter, too. (This happened during the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.) 4 After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in jail and handed him over to be guarded by sixteen soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people for trial after the Passover Feast. 5 So Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him. ~ Acts 12:1-5

Today, we transition into Acts 12. In today's chapter three events are listed. The first was the murder of the Apostle James. The second was the deliverance of the Apostle Peter from prison. The third was the death of Herod the king. I love it when God's will includes pleasantries. But, I have the hardest time with His will when it includes pain and suffering. We all struggle at learning to trust God. No one is immune to fear, worry and anxiety. In some cases, our fears come at us with crippling effects. We often forget the worthiness of the Lord when we are faced with our mountain sized fear. But, how do we learn of the Lord's faithfulness unless we go through the trials of life? 

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 During that same time King Herod began to mistreat some who belonged to the church. 2 He ordered James, the brother of John, to be killed by the sword."

It was the year A.D. 44, and Herod the king ordered that the Apostle James, the brother of John, be beheaded. This was not the Herod who ruled when the Lord Jesus was born. This was his brother, known as Herod Agrippa, the father of the Herod before whom Paul will later appear. The events of this chapter obviously indicate James was an important leader in the church, although his name has not been mentioned previously in the book of Acts. We know James and his brother John as the "sons of thunder."

James was the first of the apostles to die and his brother John was the last. James' head was chopped off with the sword. We are not told how John died. The tradition is that he was put into a cauldron of boiling oil. But whatever, it was doubtless a violent death he endured because that is what the Lord Jesus had predicted. Now, the church was evidently not too disturbed when James was taken captive. There was no mention of their holding a prayer meeting. Undoubtedly they think that God would release him from prison, as he had on a previous occasion. In Acts 5 we are told that all the apostles were imprisoned, but an angel came at night to open the doors and let them out. Understandably then, the church was not very perturbed. But imagine the stunning, shattering effect upon them when James was beheaded, and the sad news came to the waiting church that the first of the apostles had laid down his life as a martyr.  

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "Herod saw that some of the people liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter, too. (This happened during the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.)"

Since killing one had worked before, Herod was sure that it would work better a second time. So, up the ladder just one more step to the leader of the Way, namely Peter. Herod banked on the notion that if he gained the political advantage by killing one of them, he was sure that the advantage would be much greater if he could kill their leader. Herod had no love for justice or law, all he cared about was himself. This is how the enemy of our soul works. He doesn't try to get us to follow him directly. No, he gets us to follow him indirectly by getting us to follow ourselves.

Ironically, Herod's scheme was cooked up in his mind during the Feast of Unleavened Bread which was also known as the Passover. At that time, Jerusalem was full of pilgrims who had made their pilgrimage to the Holy City to worship God. Herod paused his plan because it was the Passover and it could have backfired on him with the people. Plus, he was fearful that his sadistic plan which he hoped would render him favor with the people might get lost in the business of the holiday. So, Herod decided to wait for the Passover to pass. This is why Herod arrested Peter.

Out of uncertainty and the help of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives comes the assurance that no matter what happens in our lives, it will work together for our good and God's glory. And, the more we experience this with God, the more we will be adjusted to any scenario that He sends or allows to come our way. Not everything that happens to us will be good, but God promises that it will work together for our good as we learn to give our hearts to Him. As a result, our calling will become increasingly evident to us. This will result in a more growing and intimate relationship with Him. 

God sometimes causes or allows the most tragic moments to come about in our lives in order to grant us a deeper walk with Him. This deeper walk is not only a gift to us, it is a gift to others because God has been known to use such to bring about His perfect plan for and through our lives. He does this not only for us but also others. He rarely blesses us with only us in mind. God has to sometimes allow what He hates in our lives in order that He might accomplish what He loves in our lives. And those who have trusted in Him, not only experience His blessings in the end, we also experience the blessing of helping others as they struggle with life's unwanted trials and frustrations.  

In v.4-5 of today's passage we read, "4 After Herod arrested Peter, he put him in jail and handed him over to be guarded by sixteen soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people for trial after the Passover Feast. 5 So Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him."

It was the religious leaders of Israel who personally asked Herod to seize Peter and do away with him as he had done with James. Sixteen soldiers were called to watch Peter while in jail but not all at the same time. If the shifts were divided into four, there would always be four soldiers monitoring Peter. It is readily apparent that Peter was considered a particularly important prisoner to be watched because he was known to escape from incarceration in the past.

Peter's incarceration prompted the believers to pray on his behalf. Prayer is the most important thing we do in a given day because it is a tangible reminder of our total dependence upon God. And, this is true not just in the crisis moments of life but in every aspect of our lives. Our refusal to pray is rooted in our pride. Our pride expresses itself in our belief that we can manage life on our own. The primary purpose of prayer is not to inform God of our needs for He already knows our needs. The primary purpose of prayer is that we pursue a personal and an intimate relationship with the Lord. 

Through our prayers we underscore the fact that we need God. We pray because we need God’s grace, strength, wisdom, sustenance, peace, joy, and provision among others. Prayer is an expression of humility. If we do not pray, we are not convinced that we need God. Our prayer life is like a conversation that we have on a daily basis with our earthly friends. Getting into the habit of talking with the Lord Jesus as we do our friends here on earth is an art. I close with the wonderful words of Mike Yaconelli who once said, "I want a lifetime of holy moments. Every day I want to be in dangerous proximity to Jesus. I long for a life that explodes with meaning and is filled with adventure, wonder, risk, and danger. I long for a faith that is gloriously treacherous. I want to be with Jesus, not knowing whether to cry or laugh."

Acts 11:25-30

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25 Then Barnabas went to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found Saul, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year Saul and Barnabas met with the church and taught many people there. In Antioch the followers were called Christians for the first time. 27 About that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and spoke with the help of the Holy Spirit. He said, "A very hard time is coming to the whole world. There will be no food to eat." (This happened when Claudius ruled.) 29 The followers all decided to help the believers who lived in Judea, as much as each one could. 30 They gathered the money and gave it to Barnabas and Saul, who brought it to the elders in Judea. ~ Acts 11:25-30

Today, we conclude our study of Acts 11. In this chapter the walls that existed for thousands of years began to crack. These walls were erected by the prejudice of people who had the very same blood as those whom they viewed as less than they. A hard heart is fertile ground for prejudice. It is through a hardened heart that we welcome separation from those whom we deem less than we are. This chapter has taught us that our faith in the Lord Jesus makes it unbiblical for us to treat anyone as less than we are. In fact, it is the teaching of Christ that tells us to go in the opposite direction. His way of love which is of the unconditional nature.

In v.25-26 of today's passage we read, "25 Then Barnabas went to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found Saul, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year Saul and Barnabas met with the church and taught many people there. In Antioch the followers were called Christians for the first time."

Today's events occurred ten years after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. Since Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, it was he whom the Lord used to train these new believers in the faith. So, Barnabas traveled to Tarsus to search earnestly for Saul. After Barnabas arrived in Tarsus, he told Saul of the work being done in Antioch. Soon thereafter Saul agreed to join Barnabas to do ministry in Antioch for an entire year. 

Paul was uniquely prepared to be the apostle to the Gentiles through a combination of his Roman citizenship, his upbringing in the Hellenistic city of Tarsus, his strict Pharisaic training under Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Everything that transpired in Paul's life had prepared him for this calling. You and I are no different. Everything happens in our lives for a very good reason, especially since the Lord Jesus has redeemed us unto His will. We do well not to run from our trials because in doing so we find ourselves running from the Lord.

It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians" which simply means followers of Christ. Although those who called them such were being derogatory, I find it interesting that in the New Testament, believers never refer to themselves as "Christians." Rather, they used such terms as brethren, disciples, and saints. This just underscores the idea about who defines us. We can be insulted all day long, but if we are only concerned about God's definition of us the victim's mentality will not trip us up.

Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus sought out those "who belonged to the Way," indicating that an early label for Christians was "the people of the Way." Of course the word "Way" refers us back to John 14:6 where the Lord Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me." Unlike all of the other "leaders" of "religions," the Lord Jesus did not say, "I will show you the way." No, He said, "I am the way." The Lord Jesus had to be the Way because we could never perform our way back to God. It was Mike Yaconelli who once aptly said, "It's not about perfection; it's about our intimacy with God, or our connection, our relationship with God. Once we get through that, once we realize that we can be imperfect, flawed, broken; those kinds of things are the ingredients of spirituality."

In v.27-28 of today's passage we read, "27 About that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and spoke with the help of the Holy Spirit. He said, 'A very hard time is coming to the whole world. There will be no food to eat.' (This happened when Claudius ruled.)"

These prophets were men who made the Old Testament understandable to the people. With their words, they drove out the darkness in their lives. Of course, it was the truth of God that did this work. Occasionally these prophets were also able to tell the people things that would happen in the future. On this occasion, a man named Agabus stood up and, by the Spirit, foretold of a soon coming famine throughout the world, especially severe in Judea. This came true just a few months later. Once the disciples heard of the soon coming famine, they believed the prophecy and began to prepare for it. 

There are prophets who foretell the future and there are those who forth tell the Word of God. The latter have been given the ability by God to explain the meaning of God's Word in a manner that enables others to understand it. Today, these are not called prophets in most Christian contexts. As for prophecies, there are still many prophecies in the Bible that are yet to be fulfilled. They have been recorded, they are from prophets whose words have been validated, and they will certainly come to pass. Since God has given us His Word there is no longer any need for prophecies which were primarily used to authenticate the Gospel message. 

In v.29-30 of today's passage we read, "29 The followers all decided to help the believers who lived in Judea, as much as each one could. 30 They gathered the money and gave it to Barnabas and Saul, who brought it to the elders in Judea."

One way we can tell a person has entered into a personal relationship with God is that he displays a heart for the needy. Those who were taught desired to help those who taught them. They did this according to their ability to do so. And, knowing that the famine would be especially hard for the believers in Judea, these believers in Antioch gave to the soon coming need. In Galatians 6:6 we read, "Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches." We should never give to some person or some project if we feel pressured to give. If we cannot give, then we shouldn't. We should never feel compelled by others to do what is not coming from a cheerful and willing heart that has been touched by God. It was John Piper who once said, "If we love God most, we will love people best."

This is the first time the word "elder" is used in the book of Acts in relation to a body of believers. It essentially means "a mature man having seasoned judgment." I was once approached by a man who complained that the people of the church would not acknowledge him as an elder. I asked him if he did the work of an elder. He said he did but the people would not include him in the mentioning of the other elders. I asked him, "Why did it matter as long as the work was being done?" Being an elder is not a position to fill but a work to be done. Those with the gift of being an elder will only be concerned that the work of shepherding is being accomplished.

Acts 11:18-24

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18 When the believers heard this, they stopped arguing. They praised God and said, “So God is allowing even other nations to turn to him and live.” 19 Many of the believers were scattered when they were persecuted after Stephen was killed. Some of them went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch telling the message to others, but only to Jews. 20 Some of these believers were people from Cyprus and Cyrene. When they came to Antioch, they spoke also to Greeks, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord was helping the believers, and a large group of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 The church in Jerusalem heard about all of this, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23-24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. When he reached Antioch and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad. He encouraged all the believers in Antioch always to obey the Lord with all their hearts, and many people became followers of the Lord. ~ Acts 11:18-24

Today, we return to our study of Acts 11 where the Gospel has been preached to the Gentiles and they have received it. One of the more important hermeneutical principles when studying the Bible is to keep in mind that the Church is not the same as Israel. Nor has it taken the place of Israel. The Church can only claim the promises given to it even though God has repeated to the Church a lot of the promises given to Israel. And, there are promises that the Lord gave only to Israel that the Church cannot claim. In fact, many of those promises have yet to come to fruition, but they will in time. All of this is to say that God is faithful and it is His faithfulness that created and sustains our faith in Him.

In v.18 of today's passage we read, "When the believers heard this, they stopped arguing. They praised God and said, 'So God is allowing even other nations to turn to him and live.'"

In the previous verses we learned the Gentiles had been given the same gift of the Holy Spirit as the Jews had, simply by believing. In response the legalistic Jews in the Church at Jerusalem became silent and they ceased to argue with Peter about the matter. They had previously accused Peter of doing wrong when he ate a meal in a Gentile's house. After the Word of the Lord did its job in these tightly wound believers in the Lord Jesus, they join in on the joy that these who were destined for Hell were now in the family of God.

God had granted even the Gentiles the desire to turn to Him and to repent. The word "repent" does not mean "to stop sinning." It means "to change one's mind." These Gentiles changed their mind about God. They believed in the Lord Jesus as the only One who can usher us into God's presence. It was Thomas Merton who once said, "But the man who is not afraid to admit everything that he sees to be wrong with himself, and yet recognizes that he may be the object of God's love precisely because of his shortcomings, can begin to be sincere. His sincerity is based on confidence, not in his own illusions about himself, but in the endless, unfailing mercy of God."

In v.19-21 of today's passage we read, "19 Many of the believers were scattered when they were persecuted after Stephen was killed. Some of them went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch telling the message to others, but only to Jews. 20 Some of these believers were people from Cyprus and Cyrene. When they came to Antioch, they spoke also to Greeks, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord was helping the believers, and a large group of people believed and turned to the Lord."

Now that the Lord reminded the believers that God had included the Gentiles in the family, the narrative takes on a new and significant direction. In fact, this impacts the direction and focus of Acts which will now turn toward the world beyond the borders of Israel. Going all the way back to the beginning of time God has always had a heart for all people groups. This is why the book of Acts is making this seemingly abrupt turn toward the Gospel being shared with the Gentiles. And, in order to help us process what God was doing, here God recounts what He had done in Acts 7-9.

Many of the believers had been persecuted so badly that they ran for their lives from Jerusalem. At that time the persecution was so intense, beginning with the death of Stephen back in Acts 7, the scattering took place. These Jewish Christians were not only scattered within the borders of Israel, they traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. These events of those days merely meant the spread of the Gospel. This great story of mankind’s redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ was too good to place a lid it. Persecution often forces us to rely on the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit rather than our natural resources. When stripped of institutional privilege or social acceptance, Christians are typically driven back to prayer, Scripture, and authentic community. With all of this said, it is always the Lord who builds His church and "no" I am not speaking of buildings.

In v.22-24 of today's passage we read, "22 The church in Jerusalem heard about all of this, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23-24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. When he reached Antioch and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad. He encouraged all the believers in Antioch always to obey the Lord with all their hearts, and many people became followers of the Lord."

We first were introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4 where we learned his given name was Joses but the disciples called him Barnabas which means "Son of Encouragement." Thus, he was well-suited for the task of encouraging the believers in Antioch. Barnabas was sent out to further instruct those who had accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. His goal was to ensure they were learning sound and proper doctrine. 

The gospel always places the grace of God in the spotlight. The grace of God is like a multi-faceted diamond, it goes forth expressing itself in a myriad of ways. God's grace shows up in our lives through the vein of forgiveness and acceptance. It also shows up by granting us God's very presence and His wisdom. And, His grace moves us forward in Christian maturity through the incredible freedom that the Lord Jesus purchased for us on the cross. In order to live the life the Lord Jesus died to give us we must have the grace of God operating full tilt. We can’t live without it, but we can’t purchase it and we surely can’t earn it. It only comes as a gift. If we are not good at receiving gifts we will struggle with grace. 

Our problem is our pride. This is why Barnabas was sent to these brand new believers in Antioch. In a fallen world, populated by selfish, lost, fearful, and rebellious people, God's grace is the one thing that everyone needs. And we can only give His grace to others when we have first been given it ourselves. God imparts His grace to those emptied enough to receive it. Getting over the hump of thinking there can be too much grace taught is crucial. Nothing changes us like God's grace, so why would we limit it? We limit it because we have yet to see that it is truly free. When we truly see that it is truly free, it will be then that we have truly encountered it.

God’s grace is the most powerful force in this world. It reaches us where we are and it has the power to transform us at the very core of who we are: in our hearts. This explains why the Church of Antioch became what it became. This particular church at Antioch played one of the most crucial roles in the book of Acts. It was there at Antioch that believers were first called Christians or christ-like. And, as we will see in just a couple chapters later, the believers at Antioch were the first to send out missionaries in the New Testament. This is what grace does to us, it softens our hearts to the point of doing everything necessary to see that men, women, boys and girls are rescued from the fires of Hell. It also sees that each one is trained in the culture of God.

Acts 11:1-17

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1 The apostles and the believers in Judea heard that some who were not Jewish had accepted God’s teaching too. 2 But when Peter came to Jerusalem, some people argued with him. 3 They said, "You went into the homes of people who are not circumcised and ate with them!" 4 So Peter explained the whole story to them. 5 He said, "I was in the city of Joppa, and while I was praying, I had a vision. I saw something that looked like a big sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners. It came very close to me. 6 I looked inside it and saw animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. 7 I heard a voice say to me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' 8 But I said, 'No, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is unholy or unclean.' 9 But the voice from heaven spoke again, 'God has made these things clean, so don’t call them unholy.' 10 This happened three times. Then the whole thing was taken back to heaven. 11 Right then three men who were sent to me from Caesarea came to the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them without doubting. These six believers here also went with me, and we entered the house of Cornelius. 13 He told us about the angel he saw standing in his house. The angel said to him, 'Send some men to Joppa and invite Simon Peter to come. 14 By the words he will say to you, you and all your family will be saved.' 15 When I began my speech, the Holy Spirit came on them just as he came on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the words of the Lord. He said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 Since God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I stop the work of God?" ~ Acts 11:1-17

Today, we transition into Acts 11 where we find Peter recounting what God had done for Cornelius and his family and friends in the previous chapter. In doing so, Peter silenced his prejudiced Jewish friends by reminding them of what God had done. Biblical faith always rests on what God has done. We go wrong when we put more emphasis on what we do rather than on what God has done or is doing. Many years ago a man hired an experienced guide to lead him on a hike into the Swiss Alps. After many hours of hiking they came to a high and remote mountain pass. The man was daunted when he saw that the path had almost been washed away. To the left was a sheer rock cliff, to his right a precipice that dropped nearly a thousand feet. Looking down, the man quickly got dizzy. He felt as if he were to fall. The fear jolted him. Just then his guide shouted, “Do not look down or you are a dead man. Keep your eyes on me, and where I put my feet. Walk in my steps.” The man did as he was instructed and soon he passed from danger to safety. 

When we take our eyes of the Lord, we find ourselves at the mercy of our fears. As Peter had learned before on the Sea of Galilee, when he cried out to the Lord, it was immediate that the Lord reached out His hand and took hold of him. The Lord is closer to us than we are ourselves. He has promised to always be with us. Due to this we do well to always defer to Him. He will always have our best at heart and we can always count on Him.

When Peter arrived in Jerusalem he gave a report to his legalistic friends about God's work in Caesarea among the Gentile believers there. To their dismay, the Jewish believers learned of how Gentile believers had received the gift of the Holy Spirit. No one knows what lies ahead for any of us. Sooner or later in our every day lives, we face conflicts of many kinds. For Peter here the conflict was with his more conservative brethren in the faith. We all come to dangerous passes like this where the way ahead seems to be washed away. In that moment we can panic or we can fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ while marking His steps before us. This is why Peter made this presentation to his Jewish brethren in Jerusalem as he did. He understood that if he followed the Lord, he would find that the Lord Jesus Himself would intercept any conflict which would come into his life and use it for his good and for the Lord's glory.

In v.1-4 of today's passage we read, "1 The apostles and the believers in Judea heard that some who were not Jewish had accepted God’s teaching too. 2 But when Peter came to Jerusalem, some people argued with him. 3 They said, 'You went into the homes of people who are not circumcised and ate with them!' 4 So Peter explained the whole story to them."

Cornelius and his family and friends had heard from Peter the Gospel which at its heart is the cross of the Messiah where He had atoned for all of mankind's sin. When Peter arrived in Jerusalem, the prejudice of his fellow Jewish Christians showed its face. Legalism aims to fix someone’s behavior without ever focusing on their heart. Legalism places emphasis on dependence of the self rather than the Savior. Legalism states that through our moral behaviors and our obedience to God’s Law we can achieve our salvation. Legalism leads to a primary emphasis on behavior modification and rarely focuses on heart transformation. Once unbiblical legalism creeps into a group of believers, arrogance and selfish pride will be obvious. And, those who do not follow their teaching are left beaten and battered by the roadside.

Having been confronted by the Lord Himself through the sheet vision, Peter was not surprised by the reaction of these legalistic Jews. He had been in their shoes. The problem with the legalistic Jews was that the Gentiles had not obeyed God like they had. These dogs had never performed before God to gain His acceptance. They had not been circumcised which was an object lesson that God gave to Abraham to remind him that He was unconditionally committed to him. It was then that Peter continued recounting the events as they had unfolded in Caesarea at Cornelius' house. The Lord had taught Peter so that he could teach the brethren about grace. 

In v.5-17 of today's passage we read, "5 He said, 'I was in the city of Joppa, and while I was praying, I had a vision. I saw something that looked like a big sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners. It came very close to me. 6 I looked inside it and saw animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds.' 7 I heard a voice say to me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' 8 But I said, 'No, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is unholy or unclean.' 9 But the voice from heaven spoke again, 'God has made these things clean, so don’t call them unholy.' 10 This happened three times. Then the whole thing was taken back to heaven. 11 Right then three men who were sent to me from Caesarea came to the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them without doubting. These six believers here also went with me, and we entered the house of Cornelius. 13 He told us about the angel he saw standing in his house. The angel said to him, 'Send some men to Joppa and invite Simon Peter to come. 14 By the words he will say to you, you and all your family will be saved.' 15 When I began my speech, the Holy Spirit came on them just as he came on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the words of the Lord. He said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 Since God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I stop the work of God?" 

The veracity of any story can be determined in its consistency as it is shared over and over again. So, Peter recounted for his legalistic friends in Jerusalem what God had done for the Gentile Centurion, Cornelius, his family and his friends. There had been six other guys who had come from Jerusalem who were present at Cornelius' house, as well. Had they not been there they would not have been able to corroborate Peter's story. Better yet, there had to be someone in the hearing of Peter as he recounted this story who remembered the words of the Lord Jesus in Acts 1 where He said to His disciples the Holy Spirit would come and baptize them. This, by the way, is how truth is verified. Truth is verified by the Scriptures, what God has said about a given subject, and, its consistency as it is told throughout the years. If a teaching does not correspond with what God has said on the subject in His Word, we must reject it.

I am discovering that the Scriptures reveal themselves to be the Word of God in the same way creation reveals itself to be the world of God. God’s glory shines out from the meaning of the words found in the Bible, and authenticates their divine origin the same way that God’s glory shines out from His creation and authenticates its divine origin. And, the main subject of the Bible is the Lord Jesus Himself. He is shrouded in the Old Testament but through careful searching, He is reveled to him who seeks. God confirms that the world is His by revealing His glory through it. In addition, the Lord Jesus is the Son of God by God revealing His glory through Him. And, the gospel is the gospel of God by revealing His glory through it, in the same way, the whole Bible authenticates itself by shining with the glory of the One who inspired it.