DISCIPLES OF JESUS MINISTRY

Act 4:1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

Act 4:2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Act 4:3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

Act 4:4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

     The first persecution of the church was about to start. It arose from the religious leaders. The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees rose up against the apostles

    The Sadducees resented the fact that the apostles were teaching people; they felt this was their job, and they were annoyed by the proclamation in Jesus of the resurrection from the dead. The resurrection would discredit them, so they wanted to discredit it. Here we see that the religious people didn’t have great problems with the lame man being healed; it was the resurrection of the dead they had problems with. Whereas today even in the church of Christ the reverse is true, there are so many Christians who will not accept that the miraculous is for today. Take note hear one miracle plus preaching of the gospel and 5,000 men were saved and that doesn’t necessarily include the women and children. The gospel and the miraculous are meant to go together. We should have expectancy for the miraculous. God hasn’t changed.

Addressing the Sanhedrin

Act 4:5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,

Act 4:6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Act 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"

Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:

Act 4:9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,

Act 4:10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Act 4:11 This is the "stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'

Act 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

     Peter and John has been held captive overnight to appear before the council the next day. Annas and Caiaphas are in the background here; these are the two men who condemned Jesus to die. Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin.

    Peter had denied Jesus in front of a servant girl just a few weeks earlier. Now, he boldly proclaims the Lord Jesus in front of the council and the High Priest. But now Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost which Jesus had said would empower them to witness. (Acts 1:8). Peter and John were supposed to be on trial, but Peter uses this as a  means  to openly talk about how they were guilty of crucifying the Messiah. V12. We cannot save ourselves and neither can anyone else, but Jesus can.

The Name of Jesus Forbidden

Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Act 4:14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Act 4:15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

Act 4:16 saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

Act 4:17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name."

Act 4:18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

Act 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

Act 4:21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.

Act 4:22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

The Sanhedrin were perplexed, those uneducated men were gathering the crowds. How could Peter and John do this? They assumed it was a rub off effect from the years they had spent in the company of Jesus, that made the apostles bold, but what they did not reckon with is the empowerment that Peter and John had since the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Those men were full of the Holy Spirit and because of this they could go forth boldly with confidence. Boldness in the face of persecution is a testimony to the power of God at work in our lives. Did their threats stop Peter and John? Not a bit of it, they knew that Jesus had given them a commission, they had a work to do, the good news had to go forth, they stated that they were going to boldly proclaim God's word. They must obey God rather than the council here. Imagine being in this situation, here was Peter and John boldly and fearlessly defying the Council and I’m sure the common man was not in the habit of defying them, but those men boldly proclaimed their Lord and because they had the support of the crowds the Sanhedrin could not touch them, for that would have been punishing them for good works, the man who they had healed was present, the grandness of the miracle is emphasised in the mention that the man was over forty years old and had been lame for a long time. The Sanhedrin set free and Peter and John and they went on their way to report the happenings to their friends, probably either the other ten apostles or the one hundred who had met together previously.

Act 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

Act 4:24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

NKJV

Notice how Peter and John sought out their fellow believers after being set free from the court of the Sanhedrin. It is so good to have fellowship with like minded people and I think here this was a fairly natural reaction after leaving the hostility of the Sanhedrin. They had been threatened by the highest authority of the nation, and commanded not to preach again in the name of Jesus. They had a choice whether they should obey them and be silent, or whether they should leave Jerusalem and preach elsewhere, could not but be an interesting subject of inquiry, and they very properly sought the counsel of their brethren, and looked to God for direction, an example which all should follow who are exposed to persecution, or who are seeking direction as to the path to take.

In verse 24 we see the saints cried to the Lord in prayer. They addressed God with a word meaning “Absolute Master,” a word seldom used in the NT They praised Him first as the Creator of all things and therefore vastly superior to the creatures who were now opposing His truth.

δεσπότης
despotēs
des-pot'-ace
an absolute ruler (“despot”): - Lord, master.

In verses 25-26 we see how the saints adopted the words of Psalm 2.

Act 4:25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'—NKJV

Act 4:26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.   KJV

Jesus is referred to as the anointed, (Ps. 2:2), says, "against his anointed" while this passage says, "and against his Christ." KJV. So, even without looking at Greek we can  see that "Christ" means "anointed" since these terms were used interchangeably.

                                                                                                                                  Matheson states “The idea is that their effort of opposition to the divine will proved to be a stroke of alliance with it. ... They met together in a council of war against Christ; unconsciously to themselves they signed a treaty for the promotion of Christ’s glory. ... Our God does not beat down the storms that rise against Him; He rides upon them; He works through them”

Psa 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed,

Actually, the Psalmist here  points forward to the coming of  the Kingdom  of God coming to invade earth, and kings and rulers seeking  to thwart that purpose.

Act 4:27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

Act 4:28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

Act 4:29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

Act 4:30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness

              The early Christians realized that things would come against the Kingdom so they applied the words to their own circumstances. The disciples asked the Lord to speak the Word through them. It was through performing miracles. The working of miracles is part of preaching the Word.
 
Now let’s look at verse 31 when the saints prayed, the place was shaken—a physical expression of the Holy Spirit being present. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, showing their obedience to the Lord, their walking in the Spirit, their giving of themselves fully and completely to their Lord. Then they continued to speak the word of God with boldness,  but with an ever increasing boldness for this was an answer to their prayer in verses 29 and 30. We will see in chapter 5 and following how this was the beginning of a new season where it was no longer just the one or two being healed but we see all were healed, it was also a time were the early church totally  surrendered themselves to Jesus Christ. 

Act 4:32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all. (Amplified Bible)

Act 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Act 4:34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

Act 4:35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Act 4:36 And Joses who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

Act 4:37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.  NKJV

In verse 32 what do we see? I want you all to look closely here. They are all of one heart and one soul and none claimed to be a superior Christian, none claimed they had more than their brother. Why is it that when today’s Christians experience the power of the Holy Spirit, so often pride gets in? And yes they fall flat, and instead of being on the mountain tops they land deep in the valleys. Pride often gets in the way.

4:32–35 When hearts are aflame with love for Christ, they are also kindled with love for one another. This love manifests itself in giving. Thus the early believers expressed the reality of their common life in Christ by practicing a community of goods. Instead of selfishly holding on to personal possessions, they looked upon their property as belonging to all the fellowship. Whenever there was a need, they would sell lands or houses and bring the proceeds to the apostles for distribution. It is important to see that they distributed whenever a need arose; it was not an arbitrary equal division at one particular time.

When lives that are utterly dedicated to the Lord we witness the power of God at work. In powerful preaching and demonstration of the Kingdom the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. It seems that when God finds people who are willing to turn their possessions over to Him, He gives their testimony a remarkable attractiveness and force.

4:36, 37 These verses are a link with chapter 5. The generosity of Barnabas is mentioned here in striking contrast to the hypocrisy of Ananias in chapter 5. As a Levite, Joses ... named Barnabas by the apostles would not ordinarily have owned land. The Lord was to be the portion of the Levites., We do not know how or why he obtained the land. But we do know that out of love he sold the land and laid the money at the apostles’ feet.

Now let’s ask ourselves some questions. Where is the Church of today in relation to the early church? Where do we as individuals stand in our walk with the Lord? We talk about being full of the Spirit, but really it should be for others to say or to notice, it is not for us to boast. What fruits of the Holy Spirit are in evidence in our lives? Do strangers meet us and know in a very short time we are different? If not, why not? The gifts of the Spirit are given for a reason. Signs and wonders should be in demonstration in our lives.

     FOR HIS SERVICE, FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, LET’S USE THOSE THINGS WISELY. MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE POWER OF PENTECOST GIVE US ALL, THAT WAKE UP CALL.

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Act 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

  This is the same man who later encountered Jesus on the Damascus Road and his life as radically and totally changed forever.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

Act 8:2 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.

Act 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

               The apostles were not scattered with the other believers. Very possibly Saul was under conviction while performing those actions against believers. God was just about to step in though and reveal Himself in the person of Jesus to Saul. This is surely a reminder to us that God can transform the lives of even the worst of sinners.

1Ti 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

1Ti 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

1Ti 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen

Philip in Samaria

Act 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

  The believers being scattered was necessary for the cause of the gospel. The believers took the gospel of Jesus everywhere and people were saved, healed and delivered.

Act 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.

Act 8:6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.

Act 8:7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.

Act 8:8 So there was great joy in that city.

             They preached and proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Philip proclaimed Christ in Samaria and signs wonders and miracles happened. The message of who Christ is and what He has done for us is central to the gospel message, it should never be about what we can do for Christ. When we truly move ourselves out of the picture, die to selves then we should start to see those things happening in our cities.   It was not just the message which Philip had to deliver that attracted the people but seeing miracles in the Name of Jesus. They recognised the force behind the man was God Himself, for Philip was a man driven and empowered by the Spirit of God.

               My prayer is to see this type of deliverance and joy throughout this city, throughout this nation, and indeed all the nations of the world. It can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Earlier in this chapter we saw that Philip preached the gospel with demonstration of the Kingdom and power.

Act 8:26  Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.

Act 8:27  So he arose and went.

Philip was faithful in all things, we see here he was immediately obedient to the voice of the angel of the Lord speaking to him telling him to go to the desert without having full revelation as to why he was going there prior to going

 And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,

Act 8:28  was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.

But the Lord knew exactly who Philip would meet hence he was encountered by the angel who  directed him towards the place where he would chat with the Ethiopian eunuch.

Act 8:29  Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

The Holy Spirit led Philip to overtake the chariot the Ethiopian eunuch was travelling in and when Philip heard him reading from Isaiah the Spirit directed Philip to ask him a question.

Act 8:30  So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

Philip asked the eunuch “Do you understand what you are reading?”

Act 8:31  And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

The eunuch was obviously seeking understanding and God knew his heart so he sent Philip into what we would describe today as a divinely orchestrated appointment.

Act 8:32  The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

            “ He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;

            And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,

            So He opened not His mouth.

Act 8:33  In His humiliation His justice was taken away,

            And who will declare His generation?

            For His life is taken from the earth.”

The passage above which the eunuch was reading is taken from Isaiah 53 7-8. This was a great situation for witnessing about Jesus. It is wonderful when the Holy Spirit leads us into situations like this, where His guidance is so obvious.

Sometimes though the Lord will lead us to speak to those who are not this receptive, because He loves them too. We may not always be led to people like this eunuch, but that does not mean that the Lord has not directed us to speak to them. We must seek the Spirit’s guidance in what we do, we should pray daily for Divine appointments.

Act 8:34  So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”

Act 8:35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

 So Philip had the chance to witness to the fact of how Jesus Christ, God’s only Son was the lamb who was slain. He then led the eunuch to a saving faith.

Act 8:36  Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

It is possible that Philip included instruction about water baptism in his preaching regarding the cross and Jesus, possibly after he led him to Christ.

Act 8:37  Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

Philip we see wanted the eunuch to be fully affirmative of his faith prior to being baptized.

And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

The eunuch had no hesitation in affirming this, infact, as I read I can feel the excitement bubbling up inside Philip according to Andrew Wommack’s commentary was translated about 20 miles. He just appeared suddenly in the city of Azotus and he continued to preach the gospel there as he passed through and in every other city  until he came to Caesarea.

this new convert, he was ready to commit the whole of his life to this Jesus- the one he had searched for, for so long.

Act 8:38  So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

    So Philip at the eunuch’s request and on confession of his faith baptized him in water.

Act 8:39  Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Philip was translated , he was caught up and moved elsewhere. Imagine the wow factor that the Ethiopian eunuch would have when this happened, not only him but those who accompanied him. When people see demonstration of the kingdom and power they cannot do anything else but believe.

Act 8:40  But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Philip was translated about 20 miles to Azotus and he went on preaching in all the cities  till he came to Caesarea.

Act 9:1  Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest

Act 9:2  and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

          We know that Saul had been present at the stoning of Stephen then in Acts 8.3 we learned that he was actively persecuting Christians. What we can see of Saul in those two verses here is zeal, but so wrongly directed. He was religious and zealous for what he thought was the  cause of God without knowing God in a personal manner. If he had known God he would have recognized  Jesus as the Christ. So he was still making murderous threats against Christians and was in fact now part of instigating action against them.  An encounter with Jesus Christ was about to change his life forever.

Act 9:3  As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

Act 9:4  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

       This strong powerful light, the glory of our God shone brightly from the heavens, so startling was this and so weighty was the presence of God that Saul fell to the ground. Now when I think of how Saul must have felt when the Lord asked him why he was persecuting Him, but he did not straight away know who was talking to him.

Act 9:5  "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.

Saul asked a question recognising that the one who spoke to him was Lord, was deity but he did not yet know that this was Jesus the Christ, but Jesus answered him and this one moment in time, this encounter with Jesus Christ was enough to turn his life totally around- Saul the persecuter would become the Apostle Paul.

Act 9:6  "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Act 9:7  The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

Act 9:8  Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

Act 9:9  For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

    Notice how immediately Saul’s life was being turned around instead of persecuting Jesus and his followers he was ready to obey what the Lord told him to do. Saul was blinded for three days, he had probably witnessed the light of the glory more powerfully than any man or woman had previously seen it. We know that the men with him saw something of the light, but did they see what Saul saw. I am not so sure because just as in Acts 22:9 we see they had no understanding of the voice, of what they heard I personally question whether they saw what Saul was perceiving of the light of the glory. The men who were with him took him into Damascus.  

  Saul did not eat and drink for 3 days, he was waiting on God for direction. As a religious man in the past he would know what it was to fast but now he has heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him, he will recognise that voice again, he has left behind religious piety, and hatred and found relationship and it was time to make up on lost time  and get to know this Jesus he had so falsely persecuted.

Act 9:10  In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.

      Notice that when God spoke to Ananias his immediate response was “Yes Lord.” He did not hesitate.

Act 9:11  The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

      The instructions the lord gave Ananias were detailed and specific.

Act 9:12  In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

    The Lord even explains the vision which Saul has had re Ananias laying hands on him for his site to be restored.  Now remember Saul was a baby Christian and yet he had clarity in his vision, How many of us have been Christians for years but seldom and maybe even never have experienced that kind of clarity in visions and dreams?

Act 9:13  "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.

Act 9:14  And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

      I used to think we should ask no questions of God as to why’s and wherefore’s, but that is hardly Biblical. We do find here though that Ananias may have asked the Lord a question but in having that answered He had faith to believe God at His word and act in obedience.

Act 9:15  But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.

Act 9:16  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

Act 9:17  Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

         Ananias acted on what the Lord told him instead of what he had heard from others. This is real faith, especially considering all he had previously heard of this man Saul was that he had persecuted, tortured and killed believers. Saul not only received his sight but when Ananias lay hands on Him he received the Holy Spirit- was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Notice also how straight away having heard and understood God's report regarding Saul, Ananias calls him "brother."

       In  Acts 22:12-16, we can see that Ananias also spoke to Saul about the call that God placed on his life, presumably from the information the Lord gave Ananias when He spoke to him in Acts 9:15.

Act 9:18  Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,

     A Holy Spirit encounter and the scales came right off Saul’s eyes not just in a physical sense did he receive his sight but in a spiritual sense, then he got up and was baptized.

Act 9:19  and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

    I imagine that Saul not only receive food to eat at this time but that Ananias played a part in explaining more to him of the things of God, explaining the Word, giving Saul spiritual food and he would be strengthened in body and spirit. Then Saul spent several days being disciple by the Damascan disciples and I am sure Ananias was still among them.

Act 9:20  At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

Immediately Saul preached in the synagogues, he just had to share the good news of Jesus Christ, that this is indeed the Son of God.  

Act 9:21  All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?"

   What a change. Here we have the man who came to persecute Christians now speaking to others about Jesus Christ.

Act 9:22  Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

  Yet Saul grew in strength with God’s help  and he totally baffled the Jews in Damascus because his testimony was powerful, his life was turned around, changed entirely and he was convincing others that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah!

Act 9:23  After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him,

Act 9:24  but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.

  So now we have the persecutor who has become the persecuted, the Jews planned to kill him.

Act 9:25  But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

God’s protection was over Saul and other believers helped him escape.

Act 9:26  When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

     Put yourself in the disciples shoes, they had heard so many stories, maybe even witnessed Saul persecuting  Christians, we cannot blame them for being unsure of him and questioning whether he was maybe only wanting to infiltrate them to do them harm in the long run.

Act 9:27  But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

     Barnabas though took him and explained something of his Damascus Road experience. They then accepted Saul amongst themselves by faith.

Act 9:28  So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

  Saul spoke freely and boldly in the name of the Lord in Jerusalem  where he had once persecuted the saints.

Act 9:29  He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

Grecians Jews refers to Jews whose first language was Greek, as opposed to the Jews who spoke Hebrew.

Act 9:30  When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Act 9:31  Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

  This was a time when God was building up and strengthening the church, encouraging them and they were learning more about how to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit, they lived in awe of the Lord, yes they found intimacy but they did not lose that sense of awe and reverence and respect, they increased in numbers as they walked in obedience.

Act 9:32  As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

Act 9:33  There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years.

Act 9:34  "Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up.

Act 9:35  All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

  Here we see a demonstration of the kingdom and power many came to Jesus when they witnessed how God had healed the paralysed man.

Act 9:36  In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor.

Act 9:37  About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.

Act 9:38  Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

Act 9:39  Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Act 9:40  Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

Why do you think the disciples didn't raise Dorcas from the dead? Why did they have to send for Peter? It wasn't because only apostles had the power to raise someone from the dead. Jesus said in John 14:12 that those who believed on Him would do the same works that He did, and that included raising people from the dead. He also said in Mr 9:23, "All things are possible to him that believeth." Peter himself had explained that the miracles which he performed were not because of who he was but because of faith in the name of Jesus. Peter was a man who walked in faith. There are many possible reasons why these disciples didn't see Dorcas raised from the dead without Peter's assistance. It is probable that they were hindered by unbelief, as Peter and the other apostles had been in Mt 17:20. Jesus had to help them when their unbelief had prevailed, and now that he had become strong, it was Peter's turn to help others.

We too should be seeing this outworking of the Kingdom and of faith, we are those who believe. Lord help our unbelief.

Act 9:41  He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.

  Imagine being amongst that group of believers who had seen their friend and sister in Christ lying lifeless, dead before their very eyes and here Peter presents Tabitha before them as very much alive, walking towards them.

Act 9:42  This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

   Once again this demonstration of the Kingdom and power had many come to a believing faith in Jesus Christ.

Act 9:43  Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

This Simon is only mentioned in Scripture in connection with Peter staying in his house (Ac 9:43; 10:6, 17, and 32). Tanners were considered unclean people by the Jews because they handled dead bodies. (Andrew Wommack’s Commentary)

Act 11:1  Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

Act 11:2  So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying,

Act 11:3  "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."

    There was a degree of contention here; surely God meant this salvation for the Jews only they thought.

Act 11:4  But Peter began and explained it to them in order:

Act 11:5  "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.

Act 11:6  Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.

Act 11:7  And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'

Act 11:8  But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

Act 11:9  But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, do not call common.'

Act 11:10  This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.

Act 11:11  And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.

Act 11:12  And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.

Act 11:13  And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter;

Act 11:14  he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'

Act 11:15  As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.

Act 11:16  And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

Act 11:17  If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"

Act 11:18  When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."

      What a tremendous moment in time, here we have Gentile believers receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and just in a similar fashion to that which the apostles had done in Acts 2. Until that moment Peter like the others had had closed prejudiced minds -  God was the God of the Jews.  God took Peter to Cornelius not because He needed Peter to do something to help him, but for Peter to watch God in action, and for what he witnessed to overcome the prejudice in Peter's heart, as well as the hearts of the other Jewish Christians. "The Holy Spirit fell upon them" (Acts 11:15) as Peter was only beginning to speak. Peter’s testimony was backed by the "six brothers" (Acts 11:12) - Jewish Christians - who had accompanied Peter "from Joppa" (Acts 10:23) to Cornelius' house. God spent days preparing with Peter, having him lodge with someone who works with unclean, dead animals, showing him visions, and talking to him. God let the six Jewish Christians at least witness the Holy Spirit falling upon Cornelius' household. But God turned the hearts of the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem so fast that they went from "contending" with Peter for dealing with Gentiles one moment to glorifying God for it the next. Prejudices deeply-ingrained over many centuries had been neutralized during a single conversation about the love of God being poured out on the lost.

Act 11:19  Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

Phonecia is roughly modern Lebanon. Cyprus is an island off the coast of Lebanon in the Mediterranean Sea

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Act 11:20  But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

    Antioch was a fairly common name for a city in the ancient world, which had over a dozen cities named Antioch. The Antioch referred to above was located north of Phoenicia on the Orontes River about 15 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. Antioch had a large Jewish population where the Jewish Christians, including those born in "Cyprus and Cyrene" (Acts 11:20), a city in North Africa, who had left Jerusalem could both resettle among and target fellow Jews, albeit those who grew up in the Greek world -"Hellenist" (Acts 11:20) - to evangelize. Antioch had by this time grown to be a particularly wicked city. It was third largest in the Roman world after only Rome itself and Alexandria in North Africa, this port had a population of half-million, including the Syrian (Roman) legion, and was known to be mired in temple prostitution and other pagan abominations related to various Roman, Greek and other idols. Christians were invading Satan's stronghold as Jesus had commanded, and as Christians should continue to do today.

Act 11:21  And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

Act 11:22  The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

      Antioch was about 300 miles north of Jerusalem.  Wonderful the effect of effectual evangelism , a great number believed.

Act 11:23  When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,

Act 11:24  for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Act 11:25  So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

Act 11:26  and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Why did the church in Jerusalem this time send Barnabas instead of Peter to check up on things?

Firstly, the cultural wall between Jews and gentiles had already been breached, so Barnabas wasn't being sent on a controversial mission that required apostolic leadership credibility.

Secondly, Barnabas was a Greek Jew from "Cyprus" (Acts 4:36) so he would interact easily with fellow Greek Jews, including the "men from Cyprus" (Acts 11:20) who were "preaching" (Acts 11:19).

 Thirdly, Barnabas, the "Son of Encouragement" (Acts 4:36) will have put his gifts to good use in having "encouraged them" (Acts 11:23)

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 Fourthly and most importantly, the leaders in Jerusalem knew Barnabas "was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith". (Acts 11:24)

      Saul told the apostles and Barnabas in Jerusalem "how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus"(Acts 9:27), he most likely included the Lord's declaration to Ananias, who baptized Saul that he was, "a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles" (Acts 9:15). It was time for the chosen vessel of the Lord to be put to full use, starting with a "whole year" (Acts 11:26) of teaching "a great many" (Acts 11:26) new Gentile believers in Antioch.

Act 11:27  Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Act 11:28  And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).

Act 11:29  So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

Act 11:30  And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

At this time, the persecution of the church was done mainly by the Jewish authorities against those within their reach in Judea, who most likely lost their fields, property and homes before being imprisoned. The Roman persecution of Christians didn't start until 66 AD, so the church in Antioch at this time had more resources to share with their suffering brothers and sisters in Christ in Judea.

So we can learn from this chapter not to be prejudiced, to go where God sends us to share the Gospel message, and to offer help, support and encouragement where and when we can. We also can see how we should be so thankful that the Gospel message was for us Gentiles too and for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit.   The disciples were prepared to give as they were able to, so many Christians today are worried about having money for a rainy day, I wonder what would happen if we just gave as God asks us to give. Our brothers and sisters are struggling with serious poverty in many places in this world. Imagine wondering where your next meal is going to come from, because there is absolutely no food there and you have 52 orphans in your care to feed too- some are crying with starvation- yet in the midst of it all you are still praising God – this has been the position on many occasions in Ugandan Street Kids Ministry the ministry I am involved with as a UK Co-ordinator, I feel so helpless at times, but try to help as able. But we have seen many blessings, God has blessed the Ministry with new improved Orphanage accommodation just in the nick of time. God moved in a miraculous way. We give thanks to God’s people who have given donations. An old lady visited 2 nights before they were going to be made homeless and they fed her food meant for some of the kids, they were running out of food too and after she had eaten they prayed for her and she prophesied release of God’s favour for provision over them- the following day they had the funds necessary to pay 3 months rent in advance for the new accommodation and moved in on the day they would have been made homeless.

Acts 12:1  About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.

The word "church" comes from the compound Greek word "EKKLESIA,"  the Greek word means "calling out" ("EK" - "out" and "KALEO" - "to 'call'") (Strong's Concordance). The word EKKLESIA, technically, could identify any assembly of people, like how it was used in Acts 19:39 to refer to a town assembly and in Acts 7:38 to refer to the assembly of Israelites who came out of Egypt. However, the word is typically used to distinguish those who, through faith in Christ, have been called out of the world into the kingdom of God.

The word "church" identifies the body of Christ as a whole (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18, and 24) and can also refer to a local part of the body of Christ (Romans 16:5; 1Corinthians 1:2; Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, and 18). Nowhere in Scripture does it refer to a building that the saints meet in. The church is not brick and mortar but born-again people. The only scriptural reason for different assemblies, or churches, is location.

Doctrinal differences were meant to be resolved (1Corinthians 1:10) and are not a justification for division in the universal church.

1Corinthians 1:10  I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

So you have to wonder how we arrived at the church of today with all the divisions ?

Acts 12:2  He killed James the brother of John with the sword,

This was James the son of Zebedee, one of the apostles that he killed.

Acts 12:3  and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

Acts 12:4  And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

      . Four soldiers were watching Peter on each shift, or a total of sixteen soldiers who guarded him throughout the four watches of the night a twelve hour period.

            It seems like heavy security for a preacher. Possibly Herod was aware of the disciples' previous miraculous escape from prison, and he wanted to make sure that no one rescued Peter and attributed it to God as a miracle. Just as when the priests sealed Jesus' tomb, Herod's precautions were useless against the power of God, and they served only to verify the miracle that God performed.

Acts 12:5  So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Acts 12:6  Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

Peter was well aware that Herod planned to kill him--as he had killed James the next morning. In the natural, this looked like the end for Peter. Yet Peter was not wringing his hands, pacing the floor, or even praying” Lord help me”. He was fast asleep. Peter had amazing faith in the Lord. Peter who had bitterly denied the Lord because he was afraid of persecution had changed so much since Pentecost, the past was behind him. The way this verse describes the soldiers guarding him it looks as if two of the soldiers were chained to him, one on each side, and two soldiers were outside the cell, guarding the door. Having the two soldiers chained to Peter was different from the way the apostles had been imprisoned before (Acts 5:23) and could mean they did nt want another escape.

Acts 12:7  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.

Acts 12:8  And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

Acts 12:9  And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

Acts 12:10  When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.

Acts 12:11  When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

Acts 12:12  When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

Acts 12:13  And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.

Acts 12:14  Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.

Acts 12:15  They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, "It is his angel!"

Acts 12:16  But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

Acts 12:17  But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.

Acts 12:25  And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

God is the God of the supernatural. Can you picture this situation, Peter was not only bound in chains but he was chained to two guards. Herod must have felt there was no way of escape for Peter. But God!  God sent His angel to set Peter free from all the chains and rescue him. The sentries and guards were unaware of anything happening, even Peter believed he was seeing a vision when all this took place. The glory of the Lord shone into the prison. The light shining in the prison didn't wake Peter up; the angel had to hit him in the side. Peter must have been in a deep sleep. There is no mention here that the chains were unlocked. Could it be that Peter's arms were made to pass through the metal chains, much as Jesus walked into a room when the doors were shut? (John 20:19). Outside the gates the angel disappeared and Peter realized this was no vision. I’m sure he would realize this was God’s intervention. They were all praying inside the house of John Mark’s mother Mary and they were probably bringing Peter before the throne room and most likely had asked for God’s intervention yet here we see the similarity to us today. When the servant girl Rhoda heard his voice at the gate she was overjoyed and went to tell the others, who then accused her of being out of her mind. After all it couldn’t be possible or could it?  Peter kept knocking and when they opened the door they were amazed that he was there. Their prayers had been answered but their faith had not quite been up there to believe that they would see Peter freed.

Acts 12:18  Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

Acts 12:19  And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

Acts 12:20  Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.

Acts 12:21  On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.

Acts 12:22  And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"

Acts 12:23  Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

       Herod thought of himself as a god and exalted himself .   He did not see that what had happened regarding Peter was the act of God causing him to be set free miraculously by God’s intervention, The prison sentries were put to death, blamed for their supposed negligence. He must have enjoyed the cries of the people saying that Herod had the voice of a god. Herod received a severe punishment, he would not give glory to God, he would not acknowledge God and yet after all this happening  I believe he would be convinced of the reality of God but no way would he acknowledge him, instead he wanted to steal God’s glory. The punishment here was more in keeping with punishments under the Old Covenant but Herod was an unbeliever who denied God so he was not under New Covenant promises.

Acts 12:24  But the word of God increased and multiplied.

God’s Word never fails, it went forth and it multiplied. The testimony of what God was doing in personal lives bore witness and it invoked a response.