The day with dianne Louise

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail was shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out in a loud voice, "Don't harm yourself because all f us are here.!" Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he escorted them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved- you and your household." Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. Acts 16:25-32 The Holy Spirit listens and acts when He sees a crowd of people listening. Here He works a ph...

When the slave girl's owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews and promoting customs that are not legal as Roman to adopt or practice."  Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrate stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. Receiving such an order he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:19-24 Setting someone free may not be your best day. We see here no opportunity for Paul and Silas to speak. An angry crowd lay into them just because they were angry. The mob is always ready and willing to join in an attack without knowing any details, just that someone is mad ...

Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction. She made large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. As she followed Paul and us she cried out, "These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are slaves of the Most High God." She did this for many days. But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out right away. Acts 16:16-18 At first it may have been hard to put a finger on what was troubling, but with time Paul became highly aggravated. This was the Holy Spirit within him showing him the girl had an evil spirit. Just because she was telling people the truth about them, did not make her clean. As it was the command for the spirit to leave was just the medicine she needed. Certain spirits are like that, seemingly nice sounding proclamations yet full of poison. Even Jesus said that there will be some who say to H...

Then setting sail for Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul. After she and her household were baptised, she urged us, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. Acts 16:11-15 The Lord had the team travel for miles across land and then sea to get to Philippi, firstly to save Lydia and her household and then evangelise. I wonder what was happening in Lydia's heart leading up to this moment, what was the focus of her p...

They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas. During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, "Cross over to Macedonia and help us! After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelise them. Acts 16:6-10 The Holy Spirit is vitally involved with where we go and what we need to do. He knows the hearts and minds of people. He alone knows the receptivity of people. By trusting Him we can save a lot of energy by not going to a people who are not ready to hear. Isn't it interesting that the writer, Luke, goes from third person to second person, he was now on team. He starts with: 'they' and ends with : 'we.' The team is...

Then Paul went to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him. Paul wanted Timothy to go with him, and he circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since the Jews all knew his father was a Greek. As they travelled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for them to observe ( that being: that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, from sexual immorality 15:20-29).so the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily. Acts 16:1-5 The message that Paul brought also brought peace in regard the compulsion to be circumcised, yet here Paul was circumcision Timothy. At first glance it seems odd, why did he do it? The scripture tells us that the Jews in the area knew Timothy's dad was a Greek but that...

After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we have preached the message of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and not gone on with them to the work. There was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus. Then Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers. He travelled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-47 Tow great men fought over who to take on a misssion. I guess when we fight it is because we want to defend our position which we hold dear. Barnabas, the ever forgiving and graceful man, wanted to give John Mark a second chance. Paul was not one to give second chances as readily. Their opinion came from two different places. Their ...

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisee's stood up and said, "it is necessary to circumcise them and command them to keep the law of Moses." Then the apostles and elders assembled to consider the matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood and said to them, "Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe we are saved through grace of the Lord Jesus in the same wa...

Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!" But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in some serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy. Acts 15:1,2 Not being able to call the elders must have been awkward. Here are men saying they represent the church, having come from Jerusalem. Yet they are teaching law to new converts. New converts are soft and pliable and eager to please their Lord. It was good that Paul and Barnabas were there to intervene. Circumcision was at the heart of what Jewish men represented. Circumcision was their way of showing they belonged to the Lord. The very thought that Gentile believers remained uncircumcised would horrify them, why, it was so right! When something so important to you in one life, before Chris...

Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. After they spoke the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a considerable time with the disciples. Acts 14:24-28 I find it interesting that Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, almost, but went to Attalia and there is no report of anything happening in this town. God has a timing and a method for His work. The new disciples could easily be given the task to evangelise in this place. Yet, the task given Paul and Barnabas was that of a hammering ram. They broke down walls, confronted religious leaders, shook the foundations. Through the breech flowed grace and now the seed of grace would germinate and flourish. By the time they ...

After they had evangelised that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, "Iis necessary to pass through many troubles on our way into the kingdom of God." When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Acts 14:21-23 Paul and Barnabas first evangelised, then encouraged the believers in knowing that they would experience troubles along the way, then established eldership. If the church was to remain it needed to be founded on truth and have strong leaders to keep the work going. Too many believers become disappointed when they experience troubles and therefore drop away. Being able to accept troubles is a necessary part of the walk of faith. Teaching new disciples to expect troubles was and still is important. When people invest and take risks they need to under...

In Lystra a man without strength in his feet, lame from birth, and who had never walked, sat and heard Paul speaking. After observing him closely and seeing that he had faith to be healed,  Paul said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet!" And he jumped up and started to walk around. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lyconian language, "The gods have come down in the form of men!" The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd shouting: "Men why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the same nature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from those worthless things to the living God."... Acts 14:8-11;14,15 Previously we saw Herod praised in such a way, and because he failed to give God the glory, died a horrible death. Here we see the opposite. Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra to proclaim Christ, not themselves. The ...

The same thing happened in Iconium; they entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers. So they stayed there for some time and spoke boldly in reliance on the Lord, who testified to the message of His grace by granting that signs and wonders be performed through them. But the people of the city were divided, some siding with each the Jews and some with the apostles. When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews, with emir rulers, to assault and stone them, they found out about it and fled to Lycaonian towns called Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding countryside. And there they kept evangelising. Acts 14:1-7 Signs and wonders help those with open hearts but do nothing for the hard hearted non-believers. Only the grace of God can soften the hard hearts. Paul and Barnabas were faithful in evangelising ev...

The Jews incited the prominent women, who worshipped God, and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district. But they shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:50, 51 I am impressed that the 'prominent women,' get a mention. I wonder what these women did? One commentary says the women were not Jewish but rather Gentile and married to the prominent men. Elsewhere in Acts we see such women mentioned who become believers. I wonder what the Jews said to incite the women to stand against Paul and Barnabas? Hateful people say lies as it is a part of the package they buy when they allow jealousy, hate, anger, resentment into their lives. The spirits of darkness do not know truth.   At times we are victims of such jealousy and hate just by being passionate about people and the kingdom of God. The apostles had applied a prin...

The following Sabath almost the whole town assembled to hear the message of the Lord but when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to oppose what Paul was saying by insulting him. Then Paul and Barnabas bodily said, "It was necessary that God's word was spoken to you first. But since you rejected it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorified the message of the Lord, and all who had been appointed eternal life believed. So the message of the Lord spread through the whole region. Acts 13:4-49 How common is jealousy, and how it robs us of all God has for us. We have seen jelousy lead to murder of the innocent. It is a powerful, nasty emotion and one that must be faced off and brought down. Why go to jail for jealousy?  How gra...

Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, John however, left them and went back to Jerusalem. They continued their journey from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people, can you speak. Then Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God listen! Acts 13:13-16 Barnabas is not mentioned here but he was here as verse 43 states: after the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul was the one who stood in the synagogue and spoke to the people, starting with the time of Israel's stay in Egypt right through to Jesus, unfolding scriptural references to Him. He was opening scripture to them and in the process opening hearts...

Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they came down to Seleucid, and from there sailed to Cyprus. Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed God's message in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God's message. But Elymas ( this is the meaning of his name) the sorcerer opposed them and tried to turn the procounsul away from the faith. Then Saul-also called Paul-filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at the sorcerer and said, "You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all fraud, enemy of righteousness! Won't you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord? Now, look! The Lord's hand is against you. You are going to be  blind, and you will not see the sun for a time." Suddenly a mist ...

In the church that was at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them to." Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off. Acts 13:1-3 The church is staring to take shape. We now have prophets and teachers, there is a ministry team fasting and praying and now God is preparing another ministry, the missionaries: Barnabas and Saul who will evangelise territory in Asia Minor after first going to Cyprus. Saul is still called Saul and is the last on the list of names. How things will change when the Holy Soirit takes charge. Barnabas is still leading but soon will be eclipsed by Saul as Saul steps into his element in Asia Minor. I don't think Barnabas minds, being a generous man. Have you ever th...

At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what could have happened to Peter. After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. The Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. Acts 12:18,19 Imagine losing your charge, especially when he was in chains and alone and there were four squads of your men doing the guarding. It would have been very embarrassing for the guards who knew they would forfeit their lives. But the biggest embarrassment was for Herod. He had great plans to strut his stuff in front of the Jews, yet his prize was gone. How could he be gone? Did he stop to think, to wonder? We can so organise things down to the last detail and see them fail, we can manipulate and control and see everything sift through our fingers. Unless God ordains something, we fail. Scriptures tells us: Unless God builds the house those who build it labour in vain. (Psalm 127:1) Plotting and planning can be of s...

About this time King Herod cruelly attacked some who belonged to the Church, and he killed James, John's brother, with the sword. When he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of unleavened bread. After the arrest he put him in prison and assigned four squads of soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church. On the night before Herod was to bring him out for execution, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, "Quick, get up!" Then the chains fell off his wrists. "Get dressed!" The Angel told him, "and put on your sandals." And he did so. "Wrap your cloak around you, "...

In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the time of Cladius. So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea. They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 1:27-30 The disciples in Antioch were in the Roman world but chose to give to the church in Judae. Perhaps they were giving back to those who gave them the gospel. Who knows? Or perhaps they were led by the Spirit to do this, as He alone knows how a drought will affect people in different area, or perhaps they sent it to head office to be distributed. On Sunday I was discussing the various needs around that we all give to, one of mine is Drought Angels, a group of women who organise drought relief to inland Australia as we are now in drought. This giving is abov...

Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except the Jews. But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellinists, proclaiming the good news about the Lod Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. Then the report about them was heard by the church that was at Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The discipl...

The apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had welcomed God's message also. When Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who stressed circumcision argued with him, saying, "You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them!" Acts 11:1-3 The Jews had had trouble, for centuries in remaining pure towards God, not intermarrying with nations around them. Finally they had managed it but it became a bondage, an attitude towards the nations who were non-Jews. Born again believing Jews were still caught in the prejudice that they had for the longest time. Yet God is not a God of prejudice, but inclusion in the New Testament. This must have been hard for the Jews to come to terms with. "God forever You have punished us for associating with the Gentile and now, in an instant, You have changed Your mind!" They must have thought God to have had a mental flip. The Christian church has had its own struggles down through the ages. God would pour out...

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded, "Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days, Acts 10:44-48 Peter had preached about ages us to all those gathered in Cornelius' house. While he was speaking the Holy Spirit, the ultimate barometer and gauge of our spiritual condition, decided to baptise the hearers in His Holy Spirit. These people had not known about the manifestation of tongues, but that is exactly what happened.  I love it when the Holy Spirit takes charge, He knows us bette...

The next day they were travelling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop about noon. Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something he went into a visionary state. He saw heaven open and an object  that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. In it were all four footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat!" "No, Lord!" Peter said, "For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!" Again,my second time, a voice said to him, "What God has made clean, you must not call common," This happened three times, and then the object was taken to heaven. While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house, stood at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon, who...

There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian regiment. He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, "Cornelius!" Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, "What is it Lord?" The Angel  said to him, "Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea." When the Angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. Acts 10:1-8 The Spirit of the Lord is constantly moving and going before those who love Him to br...

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity. In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, "Don't delay in coming with us," so Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while with them. Then Peter sent them out of the room. he knelt down, prayed, and turning towards the body said, "Tabitha, get up!" He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner. Acts 9:34-43 Peter had been there when Jesus ra...

As Peter was travelling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who live in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralysed and had been bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Chrsit heals you. Get up and make your bed, and immediately he got up. So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. Acts 9:32-35 Peter is on fire! The saints in Joppa are on fire! And soon too Aeneas will be on fire. The fact that there were 'saints' already in Lydda could be because some of he disciples went there after the persecution in Jerusalem or they could have been ministered to by Phillip. It is good to see Peter travelling form place to place. It would have been easy to set up camp in Jerusalem and not go anywhere else. Have you noticed how God heals spectacularly and opens hearts to the gospels. Healing is a door-opener. I want this. I am praying that the Lord will use me in this way. I have prayed for my mother many ti...

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that he had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He conversed and debated with the Hellesistic Jews, but they attempted to kill him. When the brothers found out, they took him down to Cesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers. Acts 9:26-31 I can understanding the disciples in Jerusalem not wanting to associate with Saul, they had seen, first hand, what Saul had been like and here he was proclaiming he ...

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some days. Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: 'He is the Son of God.'   But all who heard him became astounded and said, "isn't this the man who, in Jerusalem, was destroying those who called on the name and then came here for the purpose of takin gem as prisoners to the chief priests?" But Saul grew more capable and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this One is the Messiah. After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. So they were watching the gate day and night intendin. To kill him, but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall. Acts 9:20-25 Saul performed well: he won himself disciples and enemies wanting to kill him, hallmarks of a Christian leader, in those days. I can imagine how frightened the early church was with Saul, he was a bad dude before and now to...

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Here I am Lord!" He said. "Get up and go to the street called Straight," the Lord said to him, "to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go! For this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to the Gentiles, Kings, and the Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!" So Ananias left and entered the house, then he placed his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you o...

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogue in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he travelled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" "Who are You Lord?" He said. "I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting," He replied. "But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Acts 9:1-6 Saul did not heed Gamaliel's words. Considering Gamaliel's was his teacher, I wonder what went wrong. Gamaliel had warned the Sanhedrin to be careful not to persecute the believers because they might find themselves opposing God. Now, imagine God knocks you off your feet and you hear Him say the same thing, how would ...

An angel of the aloud spoke to Phillip: "Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candice, queen of the Ethopians, who was in charge of the entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud. The Spirit told Philip, "Go and join that chariot." When Philip ran to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" "How can I," he said, "unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to come and sit with him. Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this: 'He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so He does not open His mouth. In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will describe His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.' The e...

A man named Simon had previously practised sorcery in hat city and astounded the Samaratin people, while claiming to be somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, and they said, "This man is called the Great Power of God!" They were attentive to him because he had astounded them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip, as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptised. Then even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptised, he went around constantly with Philip and was astounded as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed. When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had welcomed God's message, they sent Peter and John to them. After they went down there, they prayed for them, so the Samaratins might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet come down on any of them, they had only been baptised in ...

So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the message of the good news. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowd paid attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the signs he was performing. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralysed were healed. So there was great joy in the city. Acts 8:4-8 He is a servant of food preaching the gospel. Philip was one of those chosen to be a deacon back in chapter 6, as was Stephen, who we have just seen preach to the Sanhedrin. Philip was performing the acts of an evangelist. I wonder if the city he went to was the city Jesus had ministered? The people were very open, it was as if the message Philip had went into fertile soil. Philip was dealing with old biases against the Samaratins. As we remember Jews despised Samaratins but here was a Jew ministering to the Samaritans. The good news was for all m...

On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judae and Samaria. Devout men buried Stoehen and mourned deeply over him. Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 8:1-5 I imagine that Saul was noticed, his standing in the Jewish community approved and was given the task of cleaning up the mess. He probably indicated that these crazy Christians needing sorting and he was the man to do it. The party was over. The joyful time of meeting regularly, sharing meals, studying the word and experiencing good fellowship had come to an end. Now secrecy and escape were paramount. How would the disciples manage? Where would they go, how would they finance such a plan. Fortunately Jesus had trained the disciples in not taking a purse and being received into a stranger's home. The apostles could educate and advise and sen...

Then they screamed at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They were stoning Stephen as he called out: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with their sins!" And saying this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60 We all know what it is like to become enrarged. Our hearts are so filled with emotion and anger against the person, or persons who are upsetting us, we want to strike back. This group of people felt justified in taking Stephens life, because he made them angry. Today we call this murder, and people, in most countries, go to jail for such behaviour. Murder is not necessarily physical, we can destroy another's reputation because we are angry about an injustice and want satisfaction. Before we destroy another's reputation...

"You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit; as your ancestors did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your father's not persecute? They even killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you now have become. You received he law under the direction of  angels and yet not kept it." When they heard these things, they were enraged in their hearts and gashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw God's glory, with Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" Acts 7:51-56 These people did not want to hear the truth. They were interested in maintaining their existence, keeping things as they were. Stephen was challenging their wicked hearts and they did not like it. They were so angry that they gnashed their ...

Stephen, full of grace and powere, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some from what is called the Freedmen's Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilcia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen. But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. Then they persuaded some men to say, "We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God! They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, dragged him off and took him to the Sanhedrin. They presented false witnesses who said, This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. For we heard him say Jesus the Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." All who were sitting in the  Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:8-15 Isn't it interesting that we can be so...

A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men be taken outside for a little while. Then he said to them, "Men of Israel, be careful about what you are going to do to these men.... And now I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if a plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may be found fighting against God." Acts 5:34;38,39 This is good advice. We see many so called 'moves of God,' in various places. If they are 'moves of God,' and they are genuine why be found opposing what God has ordained. Through the years, in more recent times, there have been moves of God and there have been various manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Some were quite bizarre. Yes some people fall for anything, but where the Spirit of God moves unusual things can happen. They are not always decent and in o...

Someone came and reported to them, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people." Then the commander went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, "Didn't we strictly order you not to teach in is name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man's blood on us!" But Peter and the apostles replied,"We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus up, who you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Saviour, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them....

Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belong to the party of the Saducees, were filled with jealousy. So they arrested the apostles and put them in the city jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, "Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life. In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach. Acts 5:17-21 These men had the same problem with Jesus and they crucified Him hoping to quash the movement. However, they did not count the Holy Spirit as a allay to the early church. If it was indeed mere men then, hey, what was the problem. However, the Holy Spirit was moving and apprehending mere men and women to speak about Jesus and act on His behalf. Signs and wonders were being performed. How do you deal with that? This was way outside what they could do, all they knew was law, but here, the Spirit of God was moving in a n...

Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they would all meet in Solomon's Colonade. None of the rest dared to join them, but people praised them highly. Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers-crowds of both men and women. As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. In addition, a large group came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5:12-16 This is awesome! This is what is coming again. Tonight I went to my connect group and Lo they are all wanting to talk about and study prayer, and pray. We had a great time and I heard the Lord say, "Out of your bellies will flow living water." Then I saw a huge flood up up out of us and cover our valley and crash against the...

Joseph, a Levite and a Cyproit by birth, the one of the apostles called Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement,sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife's knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostle's feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds from the field? Wasn't it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn't it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but God!" When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. The young men got up, wrapped his body and carried him out, and buried him. Acts 4:36- 5:6 Two men, two different hearts. Barnabas had an open heart, Ananias did no...

Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostle's feet. This was then distributed for each person's basic need. Acts 4:32-35 There are two different approaches to generosity: structured, planned and intentional giving or giving motivated by the Holy Spirit. The second bring such freedom, at times the first can be perfunctory and not bring a blessing. We can give out of fear, competition or shame. The holding nothing as personal was a freedom the Holy Spirit brought, it was for a season. I can then read about this time and decide that is for me and be mi...

After they were released they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and elders has said to them. "And now Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while you stretch forth Your hand for healings, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your Holy Servant Jesus". When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak God's message with boldness.acts 4:23;29-31 Opposition brings out a holy boldness in the disciples and a desire to connect with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's desire is for more boldness, signs and wonders, more souls in the kingdom of God. Another infilling with the Holy Spirit: there is grounds for wanting another infilling. I am seeking another infilling, I want more of the Holy Spirit. Amen! Last night I saw the biggest gathering at the Skate Park in town. I have been praying for these guys ...

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realised they were uneducated and untrained, they were amazed and recognised that they had been with Jesus. And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response. After they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, saying, "What should we do wih these men, for an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it! However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let's threaten them against speaking to anyone in is name again." So they called them in and ordered them not to teach or preach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." After threatening them again they released them. They...

The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem wih Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and all the members of the high priestly family. After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: "By what power or in what name have you. Done this?" Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders: if we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man- by what means he was healed- let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name Jesus Christ the Nazarene- whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead- by Him this man is standing here before you healthy. This Jesus is 'the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it." Acts 4:5-12 The very thing the leaders said would ...

Now as they were speaking t the people, the priests, the commander of the temple police, and the Saducees confronted them, because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead, using Jesus as the example. So they seized them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000. Acts 4:1-4 When do you admit you are wrong? Some need to be proven wrong, some are sensitive to the Holy Spirit and respond to His witness that they are wrong and some simply refuse to admit they are wrong, even in the face of overpowering truth to the contrary. The priests and Saducees were in the last category, or should I say, most were, You cannot resist the Holy Spirit without detriment. Yielding would have been so much better. There was one of their number who had to have a confrontation with the very One he opposed, I am taking about P...

Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon. And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked them for help. Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, "Look at us." So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. But Peter said, "I don't have silver and gold but what I have, I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!" Then taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them- walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognised that he was the one who used to sit and beg at...

So those who accepted His message were baptised, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held everything in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had s need. Every day they they devoted themselves to meeting in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and humble attitudes, praising God and having favour with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who being saved. Acts 2:41-47 As I read this I see a time of jubilation as the new church was being established. I notice not much work was being done. Perhaps the selling of possessions enabled them all the have a time where they came together in ...

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. Though He was delivered up according to God's determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for a him to be held by it." Acts 2:22-24 The very people who delivered Jesus up were hearing a message given under the unction of the Holy Spirit and we're coming under conviction. Peter goes on to give scriptural reference from Psalm 16:8-11 Peter identifies David as a prophet as David was not speaking always about himself but rather the One who was to come. In Psalm 110:1 David declares that God said: the Lord declared to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.' Peter goes on to say: "Therefore let all the house o...