Tag Archive | Acts

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 346

Dec12

   Day 346—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the ACTS of the Apostles, and the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 346 – Acts 20 – 23 (Paul seeing to details & farewells on the way to Jerusalem, warnings, riots & arrests, testimony, escape to Caesarea)

Acts 20.

After those riots in Ephesus, Paul went to Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea) Then, he headed down to Greece (Corinth), where he spent 3 months (and wrote the letter to the Romans). He planned to check in at Syria (Ephesus) on the way to Jerusalem, but he heard of a plot to kill him, so he sailed back to Macedonia instead. 

From Philippi, he sailed to Troas and spent seven days. Remember, Paul had earlier been in Troas, where “a door was opened for me in the Lord to preach the gospel,” but he had been so concerned about the Corinthian church that he left. (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)  Now, it seems he took that opportunity to preach in Troas for many hours! 

On Sunday, he was preached until midnight and had no plans to stop.  But, in the room, it was hot and stuffy with many people and lamps, and the listeners were getting tired. A young man, Eutychus, sitting on the window sill to get some cool air, fell asleep and plunged down three stories to his death. Paul said not to worry and raised him from the dead by the power of the Lord Jesus.  After a bite to eat, they all returned upstairs, their minds alert, and listened to Paul until the sunrise. 

Then, having preached the Gospel in Troas (finally), Paul and company caught a ship for Assos, then to Mytilene, and the next day to Chios, then Samos and Miletus (near Ephesus). He didn’t want to go into that great city, so he sent a message to the elders of Ephesus to meet him on the beach. They had a great time of exhortation, fellowship, and weeping, for they all knew he would not return to them. Paul told them he was ready to die for the Lord!  Then he knelt and prayed with them all. 

Acts 21.

From there, Paul and company sailed to Cos, Rhodes, and Patara and headed toward Phoenicia, past Cyprus to Tyre. Paul spent another seven days there encouraging believers. They also warned him of trouble in Jerusalem. Before boarding another ship, Paul knelt in the sand with them, prayed, and wished them a final farewell.

Paul next arrived at Ptolemais (Acco) to greet the believers. The next day, he sailed to Caesarea where Peter had first introduced the Gospel to the Gentiles at the Centurion, Cornelius’s home. Paul stayed with Philip there. (Remember him and his evangelism from Acts 6:5-6 and 8:4-40) Philip’s four daughters, plus Agabus, a Judean prophet, all said he would be arrested in Jerusalem. 

Paul told them, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!”

Finally, Paul and company went up to Jerusalem, along with some disciples from Caesarea. The brothers there gladly received Paul and his collected offering and listened to him relating, one by one, all the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.  And they all glorified God.

Then, they warned Paul of a conspiracy by the religious Jews to kill him. Those men believed that Paul was preaching to the JEWS that they – and not only the Gentiles – did not have to observe the Jewish traditions. The brothers offered a solution for Paul. Join a group of four men to fulfill a vow in the temple. His enemies would see he was observant. 

But it backfired, and a riot broke out. Paul was being beaten almost to death when a Roman Tribune rescued/arrested him and brought him to the barracks. The Tribune thought Paul was the infamous Egyptian who was causing trouble in Jerusalem. But when he discovered Paul was a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, he let him speak again before the crowd.

As he began in Hebrew, there was a great hush….

Acts 22.

Paul began telling his testimony, starting when he was a staunch Pharisee, trained under the great Gamaliel in the strict manner of the law of Moses. He’d been zealous, persecuting, arresting, and seeing to the death people of the “Way.” Then, one day, on the road to Damascus, he saw a vision of Jesus. After being led, blind, into Damascus, he was visited by Ananias, who said God had appointed Paul to be a “witness to everyone.” After his sight returned and he was baptized, God spoke to Paul, “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”

At this, the crowd screamed, “AWAY WITH HIM! He should not be allowed to live!” 

The Tribune took Paul inside to be interviewed “by torture,” but after learning he was a Roman Citizen (Eeek!!!), he released him.  But, wanting to know more about Paul, he commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet. He then brought Paul down to be formally accused by them.

Acts 23.

Paul looked intently at the council (the Sanhedrin, before whom Jesus had also faced condemnation) and spoke. He said his life before God had been lived in good conscience. But (also like with Jesus), he was struck in the face.

UNLIKE Jesus, Paul fired back at the man, “God is going to strike YOU, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law, you order me to be stuck??”   (Remember, Paul had been trained by the best lawyer on ALL the points of the law.)

Whoa! they said. “Would you revile God’s high priest??”

Paul immediately apologized and “practiced what he had preached” in Romans 13, where he wrote to give respect where respect was due to those in authority over you. “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people’.”

Then Paul realized that the Sanhedrin was made up of both Pharisees (like he was) and Sadducees (who did NOT believe in the resurrection from the dead).  “Brothers, it is concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial………..”  

Immediately, a great dissension arose in the “hallowed halls” of the Council.  The louder Pharisees proclaimed, “WE FIND NOTHING WRONG IN THIS MAN!”  Violence ensued, so the Tribune had to intervene and take him away. 

That night, God came to Paul in a vision. “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in ROME.”

Forty Jews plotted the next day and vowed a hunger strike if, in the next 40 days, they did not KILL Paul.  The plot was made known to the Tribune via a boy (Paul’s nephew), and immediately, that very night, he whisked Paul off to Caesarea with an armed guard of 400 Roman soldiers and horsemen.  He sent a message with Paul to Governor Felix, describing all that had happened so far and emphasizing that Paul was a ROMAN CITIZEN.

At Caesarea, after discovering what province Paul was from (Cilicia), Governor Felix said he would give him a hearing as soon as his accusers arrived.

TO BE CONTINUED tomorrow….. 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 327

Nov23

    Day 327—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 327 – Acts 15 – 16 (Jerusalem Council, Letters, Paul/Barnabas argue, Silas & Timothy, Macedonia, Lydia, Prison)

Acts 15.

Some Pharisees believers caused trouble by going to Antioch and teaching the new Gentile converts that they needed to be circumcised according to Mosaic custom as a part of salvation. Paul and Barnabas object and head to Jerusalem to have a conference with the elders.

Both sides present their cases. Peter eventually stands up and recounts his experience with the Roman Centurion and his household. “God bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Why are we now putting God to the test by placing the yoke of the law on them? We are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”  Paul and Barnabas relate the signs and wonders done among the Gentiles in their ministry, too.

Then, James, the leader of the Council, quotes Zechariah 8:20-23 about salvation being a ‘light to the Gentiles.’  All agree that the Gentiles should have no greater burden required of them except that which would disrupt unity.  Letters would be sent to the churches that they should 1) abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, 2) abstain from sexual immorality, and 3) abstain from eating things strangled and from blood.  (These things all were a part of their former pagan worship.) 

All agreed. Judas Barsabbas and Silas were sent with a letter to the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.  The letter was well received. Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word. Judas and Silas also encouraged and strengthened the brethren with many words.

Then Paul decided to “return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the Word and see how they are.”  Barnabas thought it a great idea and wanted to take John Mark with them again. (They were cousins.)  Paul strongly objected, and there was a sharp disagreement between them.

God used this to organize TWO missionary teams. Barnabas took John Mark and left for Cyprus.  Paul chose Silas and went by land through Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches.

Acts 16.

When Paul and Silas came to Lystra and Derbe, they met a young disciple named Timothy. The young man was half Jew (mother) and half Gentile (father). His believing mother and grandmother had taught him the scriptures thoroughly, and all had been saved during Paul’s first journey there.  The lad had not been circumcised, probably because of his Gentile father.  And Paul did an unusual thing, especially thinking of the recent Council in Jerusalem. After inviting Timothy to join his team and travel with him, he circumcised him.  Say what??  Why?

Everybody in the synagogue (where he and his mom and grandma attended) knew about his Greek father and that he hadn’t taken the step to join the Jewish community.  And since Paul’s permanent personal rule was to go to the town’s synagogue (the Jews) FIRST with the message of salvation, he saw that an uncircumcised Jewish lad might be a problem with unity.  It doesn’t seem that Timothy objected at all. 

So the 3-man team went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. Paul attempted to lead them into Asia but was prevented by the Holy Spirit.  When they arrived at Troas (a port city) Paul had a vision of a man across the Sea in Macedonia calling to him for help.  He decided that it was in Macedonia that God was calling them to preach the gospel.  At this point, Dr. Luke (the book’s narrator) joined the team. (Nope, we don’t know the details.)

They set sail and docked at Samothrace and Neapolis before finally disembarking at Philippi, a leading city in the area AND a Roman colony.  On the Sabbath, they went outside the gate to the riverside where they’d heard there was a place of prayer.  They sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. One, named Lydia, a wealthy woman who sold valuable purple material was a worshiper of God. The Lord “opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul said.”  She became a believer and was baptized, as well as her household.  She invited the missionary team to come and stay at her house. 

One time, as they were going to that place of prayer, they were met by a demon-possessed girl slave. Her owners made much money by her fortune-telling.  She followed the mission team and kept crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”  Now, those words were true (demons have to speak truth in the presence of the Holy Spirit). Paul did not want their witness.  Besides, the crowds probably thought she was talking about the Greek/Roman god Zeus. 

“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! Paul demanded.

The demon had to come out, but the girl’s owners were VERY DISPLEASED.  There went their income.  They grabbed Paul and Silas, dragged them before the magistrates, and accused them of disturbing the peace. The crowd started attacking them, too (mob rule).  The magistrates ripped off their clothes and beat Paul and Silas, then threw them into prison with stocks on their feet.  Whoa!

But…. Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns while the other prisoners listened.  Suddenly an earthquake happened. Their stocks fell off, the prison doors opened, and all the prisoners’ bonds were unfastened.  When the jailer came in, he was terrified that they all had escaped and was about to take his own life.  But Paul stopped him, saying that they all were still there. He then went on to preach the Gospel. (The jailor had said, “What must I do to be saved?”)  Paul told him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and he’d be saved.

The man and his whole house believed. The jailor took Paul and Silas, washed their wounds, and fed them. Paul then baptized them all. 

The next day, the magistrates sent police to let Paul and Silas go. BUT Paul refused to go secretly. He claimed his Roman citizenship which terrified the leaders.  To whip and imprison a Roman citizen without a trial was a deadly error.  So, they, at Paul’s request, came personally to them and apologized. They politely asked them to leave the city. 

When they left prison, Paul and Silas (and the others) visited Lydia, saw the other believers, and encouraged them. THEN they left Philippi. 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 323

Nov19

    Day 323—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 323 – Acts 9 – 10 (Saul persecutes, Saul saved & commissioned, Peter heals Aeneas & Dorcus, Peter & Cornelius/gentiles)

Acts 9.

Saul, an extreme Pharisee and keeper of every letter of the Law, is out to punish or kill anyone whom he believes is NOT keeping it. The new growing group of believers in Christ seems to be the biggest threat, so he wildly runs to and fro, jailing them and killing them, with the total agreement of the religious leaders.  Believers flee Jerusalem for safety and to fulfill Jesus’ command to take the Good News to the surrounding areas and the world.

With papers of authority to the synagogues to arrest any he found of “The Way,” Saul charges towards Damascus. But on the way, Jesus stops him with a blinding vision and a direct word. Jesus identifies with His followers when He asks Saul, “Why are you persecuting Me?” Saul, having been thrown to the ground and now blind, asks who the voice is. Jesus identifies Himself and tells Saul to go into the city and wait.

He obeys and spends three blind days praying (and perhaps receiving clarity about the Scriptures he sought to protect and how they related to Jesus as the Messiah, much like the two on the road to Emmaus).  Then, a believer named Ananias fearfully obeys God, comes to Saul, and touches his eyes. Saul’s blindness leaves and the Holy Spirit enters his soul.  He is immediately baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah.

Full of the Holy Spirit and the corrected teaching of the Law concerning Jesus, Saul immediately starts proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues in Damascus, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God.”  At first the people could not believe he was the same man whose threats they feared. But Saul increased in wisdom concerning the Scriptures, proving that Jesus was the Christ, and they embraced him.

Now, of course, it is Saul whose life is in danger from the Jews. And the believers smuggle him out of the city at night in a basket let down over the wall.

(NOTE:  This may be when Saul spent three years in Arabia, studying and receiving direct revelation from God about Jesus in the Scriptures, preparing him to go to the Gentiles with the Good News. See Galatians 1:11-17)

Next, Saul goes to Jerusalem and attempts to join the disciples, but they are still fear him. Barnabas – that “son of encouragement” – takes Saul under his wing and vouches for him. So Saul boldly preaches the Good News and disputes with the very Hellenists in the synagogue he’d belonged to. But they seek to kill him, as they had done to Stephen, so the brothers send him back to his hometown of Tarsus in Cilicia, where he ministers for years.   And the church multiplies.

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Meanwhile, Peter is ministering along the coast at Lydda. He preaches to the believers there and heals a man who’d been crippled for eight years, causing many more to turn to the Lord.

Next, he goes north to Joppa and learns that a saintly woman, Tabitha (Dorcas is her Greek name), who did many good works of charity, has died. He goes to there and sees all the sewing she’s done for the poor. He goes into the house, kneels down, and speaks to her body, “Tabitha, arise,” and she is raised to life.  Many more believe in the Lord.

Next, Peter goes to Simon, the tanner, and stays in Joppa with him.

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Acts 10.

In Caesarea, about 30 miles north of Joppa, there is a Roman Centurion named Cornelius.  He is a devout man who fears God, with all his household.  He continually prays to God and is generous with giving alms. One day, he receives a vision of an angel (who terrifies him). The angel says his prayers and alms have been noticed by God.  The angel directs Cornelius to Joppa to escort Simon Peter back to his house. The next day, he sends a couple servants and a soldier to Joppa.

Meanwhile, back in Joppa, it’s noon, and Peter is hungry. While he’s waiting for lunch, God shows him a vision, repeated three times. (Peter is good with threes, it seems!)  A colossal sheet is let down – from Heaven – containing all kinds of “unclean” animals, like reptiles, raptors, camels, hogs, and rabbits.  Peter is told to kill and eat them.

“NO WAY!” says the ex-fisherman. “I have NEVER eaten anything common or unclean.”

THREE TIMES this happens. (Sigh)

Peter is left perplexed as to what the vision might mean. But he doesn’t have to wait long, for the men (Gentiles and “unclean”) that Cornelius sent have arrived at his door.  While he might hesitate to let these men into the house, Peter gets another word from God.  “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

Peter goes beyond listening to these men. He invites them in as his guests to eat and stay the night!

The next morning, Peter – and a few brothers as witnesses – goes with them on the journey back to Caesarea.

At Caesarea, after a little hesitation, Peter and the brothers go into this Gentile home, which is now crowded with people eager to hear what he says.  The story of the vision is told (and maybe Peter’s visions as well).  And so, Peter opens his mouth and preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is Lord over all, now going to  “people of every nation who believe.”

At the end of his sermon about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and the offer of forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ name to all who believe…. OH MY!  The Holy Spirit falls on this room full of Gentiles, and they speak with other tongues and praise God – just like Peter and the others at Pentecost!

“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” declares Peter, amazed.  He commands them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then he stays there some days (teaching them the scriptures concerning Jesus).

NOTE:  The door to “the uttermost part of the world” has been opened. Peter has used his “keys of the kingdom” to unlock it.  He must do a little explaining to the group in Jerusalem, but then God has His powerful ambassador, Saul/Paul, poised to step through that door with the message to the then-known world. Jesus Saves!

All praise and glory to Jesus and to God Supreme!

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 321 & 322

Nov18

    Day 321 & 322—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

NOTE: Sunday and Monday readings are posted together on Mondays.

Day 321 – Acts 4 – 6 (Persecution begins, boldness, Ananias/Sapphira, Deacons, Stephen)

Acts 4.

As Peter was preaching, the religious leaders became greatly annoyed, especially the Sadducees, because he was proclaiming that Jesus was resurrected. The more liberal sect of the Jews, the Sadducees, did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Despite many people believing the good news and being saved, Peter and John were arrested.

The next day, these liberal religious leaders interrogated them. “By what power or name did you heal that beggar?”  This question only served to get the Spirit-filled Peter to preach again.

“Let it be known to ALL of you, and to 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 is standing well.  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by YOU, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The interrogators were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, having perceived that they were uneducated, common men.  And seeing the familiar beggar standing there well, they had “nothing to say.”  They set the men aside in another room and conferred among themselves.  “What shall we do with these men? What they have done is a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.”

Bringing the apostles back they commanded them to no longer speak or teach AT ALL in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answered, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

The religious leaders threatened them but had to let them go. There was no way to punish them because the people were all praising God for what had happened.

Back where the believers met, there was joy. They praised the Sovereign Lord for His work and His prophesy. And they prayed, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak Your word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy servant, Jesus.”  And while they prayed, the place was shaken, and the Holy Spirit filled all who were there.

The believers (5000+) were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him were his own but shared freely.  As they shared their testimony to the resurrection of Jesus, great grace was upon them.

One man, Barnabas (son of encouragement) who was a Levite from Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money to the apostles to distribute among them.

Acts 5.

A couple — Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.  They kept back a portion for themselves and brought the rest to the apostles, SAYING it was the entire amount.  Peter, by the discernment of the Holy Spirit, called Ananias out. “Satan has filled your heart to LIE to the Holy Spirit. Was not the land YOURS?  Were not the proceeds from the sale YOURS?  It was not wrong to keep back some for yourselves, but it WAS SIN to say otherwise.  You have not lied to men but to God.”  And Ananias fell down dead.

Three hours later, when Sapphira came in with the same story, she followed her husband in death. “And great fear came upon the whole church and all who heard of these things.”

Many signs and wonders were done regularly among the people by the hands of the apostles. And more than ever, the LORD added multitudes of men and women to the church.  Many brought their sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits to the apostles, and they were healed.

But the high priest rose up, along with the party of the Sadducees. They were filled with jealousy and arrested the apostles, and put them in the public prison.  But during the night and angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out. He said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” And, at daybreak, they entered the temple and began to teach.

The high priest and all his “men” were perplexed.  How did the apostles get out of prison and go to the Temple???   A bit fearful now, the captain and the officers brought the apostles back to the religious leaders, but with courtesy, not with force, because they were afraid of the people.

“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, and yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (Don’t they remember calling this curse on themselves before Pilate? Matthew 27:25)

But Peter answered, “We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers raised Jesus —whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree –God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  We are witnesses to these things.”

This enraged the Sadducees, and they wanted to KILL the apostles, but… a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, said, “Take care what you are about to do with these men. Keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. YOU might even be found opposing God!”

They took Gamaliel’s advice and let them go, once again charging them not to speak in the name of Jesus.  The apostles left the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus.  And they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 6.

Now (sigh) a complaint arose from the Hellenist Jews who were saved that their widows were not getting the help that the Hebrew widows were. Peter and the others did not want to take time away from prayer and teaching to deal with this. So seven godly men, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, were chosen to head up this duty. Two of them were men of faith, Stephen and Philip (and five others).

The number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, AND a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Praise God!)

Stephen was also a great preacher. He got into some trouble with the men of a local synagogue. It contained men from Cilicia and Asia, and could have included the fiery Pharisee named Saul.  These men were not able to withstand the wisdom and Spirit with which Stephen was speaking, and secretly instigated others to say he blasphemed against Moses (the law) and God. They stirred up the people and the elders and scribes, and brought him before the council.

They set up false witnesses against Stephen, much like they had done to Jesus. They “said” they heard him saying that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the temple and change the customs of Moses.

Whoa boy! Not again.

But…. gazing at Stephen, all who sat in the council saw that his face (glowed) like the face of an angel.”

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Day 322 – Acts 7 – 8 (Stephen’s sermon, Saul, Samaria, Ethiopian converted)

Acts 7.

In the Sanhedrin Council meeting, Stephen – unlike Jesus – is allowed to speak his mind.  He begins, then relates the entire history of the Jewish faith.  There is a point he is heading towards, and when he makes it, the Council explodes into manic violence.

Stephen begins his speech with God appearing to Abraham (then Abram) and calling him out of Ur to a place of promise, a land that God would show him.  Abraham, in faith, follows the LORD’s words. The promise continued through Isaac and Jacob, who became the father of the twelve patriarchs. 

Stephen’s next point is about Joseph, who was sold to Egypt as a slave but became Israel’s savior. Jacob and the rest of the family (70 in all) moved to Egypt under Joseph’s leadership to escape the great famine. There they stayed for 400+ years until God raised up Moses as their deliverer. 

At first Israel did not believe Moses or want to follow him, but through a series of miracle judgments on Egypt, Moses led a million people out of slavery.  In the wilderness, God established His law with Israel, and they built a holy meeting place for Him. Later, King Solomon built the holy Temple.

It’s almost like the Council has been lured into a catatonic state. They listen in silence, until…..

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom YOU have now betrayed and murdered, YOU who received the law as delivered by angels and DID NOT KEEP IT!”

WHOA!!  This enraged the religious leaders and they “ground their teeth at Stephen.”

But HE, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and SAW the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

He told them what he saw, and they screamed, held their ears, and rushed at him.  They hauled him outside the city and STONED STEPHEN TO DEATH. As they were stoning him, Stephen cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

And Stephen died. He was Christianity’s first martyr. 

And the young man from that synagogue of Cilicia stood watching. He guarded the robes of those who were hurling stones at Stephen.  An evil smirk was on his face.  He approved of the killing. His name was Saul.

Acts 8.

On that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria (just as Jesus had said).  The apostles remained in Jerusalem, but those scattered went preaching the Word of Salvation.

Saul “ravaged the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”

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In Samaria, Philip proclaimed Christ. The crowds paid attention and saw the signs he performed in Christ’s name.  Unclean spirits were driven out, and the paralyzed or lame were healed.  Joy filled the city. 

But a sorcerer named Simon was jealous when the people he’d formerly bewitched believed Philip’s words and turned to Jesus. Both men and women were baptized. EVEN Simon was (or seemed to be) converted and was baptized.

The apostles in Jerusalem heard of the Samarian revival and sent Peter and John to check it out.  These two apostles prayed that the people might receive the Holy Spirit. They laid hands on them, and they received the Spirit.  When Simon, the ex-magician, saw this, he offered the apostles money to have the same “laying-on-hands” power. But Peter rebuked him. “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord to be forgiven. 

We don’t know if Simon repented and prayed.

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Next, the Lord sent Philip south to a desert place on a portion of the road that heads to Gaza.  He obeyed and met an Ethiopian eunuch riding in a chariot. (He was an official of the Queen of the Ethiopians.)  It seems like the man had been in Jerusalem for the Feasts.  He was reading a portion of the book of Isaiah and didn’t understand it.  Perhaps he even asked God for someone to explain it to him.

And here comes Philip trotting alongside the chariot. Philip saw that he was reading Isaiah and asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading.  The eunuch invited Philip up into the chariot and as they went along, Philip explained Jesus in the Isaiah passage and beyond.  Soon, the eunuch believed and asked to be baptized in the nearby stream.  They halted, jumped out, and Philip baptized the man. 

Then…. the Spirit of God whisked Philip away to Azotus, where he preached the gospel to all the towns before coming to Caesarea. 

(We assume the eunuch went on his way, rejoicing, and, like the other converts leaving Jerusalem, preached the gospel in the courts of Candace in Ethiopia.)