Acts 1-12

Understand the Context (Acts 1:1-26)  

There remains many views of the relationship between the Gospel according to Doctor Luke and the Acts of the Apostles by Doctor Luke. One important fact we know is that both writings were considered canonical from the beginning of the Canon. That fact completely settles any issue of their joint and independent value to Christendom. The Gospel of Luke contributes greatly to our understanding of the life of Jesus Christ while the Acts is a primary contributor to the history of the Christian Church, its early struggles and the chronology of its many parts. Following the lives of the Apostles Peter and then Paul, Acts shows us how the church was constructed and why.

The Introduction mentions the study of the Acts may have been sponsored by a man named Theophilus (Acts 1:1). He then lays out the purposes of his two volumes. He says the first (the Gospel) told of all the things Jesus said and did until He was taken up to Heaven. He documents that Jesus walked alive among His Apostles for 40 days after His resurrection from the dead. During that time, He taught them to prove He was alive and to inform them of the Kingdom of God (vss, 2-3). He reminded them of the words spoken by John the Baptizer saying that he baptized by water but there was One coming who would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit (vss. 1:4-5 & 2:1-4). Verses 4-11 are in our focal passage for this study and will be addressed below.

After the Ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven, the eleven Apostles returned to Jerusalem and the Upper Room (vs. 12). Mary, the mother of Jesus and His brothers were also there. Peter called to order a meeting of 120 people and quoted Psalms 69:25 as being fulfilled regarding the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. Even the 30 pieces of silver Judas was paid for the betrayal was used to buy a cemetery as in David’s Psalm. The remaining piece of business from Psalm 69 was to take the abandoned estate of the betrayer and assign it to another. Verses 1:23-26 are also parts of our focal passages, so the rest of the information on those verses and some conclusions regarding the selection process. 

Equipped to Go (Acts 1:4-8)  

In verses 4-8, three major issues are laid to rest. First was the fulfillment of John the Baptizer’s prophecy that while he came baptizing with water, there was One coming after him who would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:11 & Luke 3:16). Jesus told the Apostles to return to Jerusalem and wait for that Baptism to take place (Acts 1:4-5). The timing of that Baptism in the Spirit would be on the Day of Pentecost (50 days after the Passover). Recall that Jesus would walk with the Apostles for 40 days after that Passover, so their wait after Jesus Ascended until the Baptism in the Spirit would only be about 10 days. 

Second, when they came together and heard Jesus’ teachings, theay asked Him about when the Kingdom of Israel would be restored (vs. 6). His response was not the most satisfying, but captured the idea of upon what they should be focused. He told them it was not for them to know the times and seasons associated with those things. Verse 7 says only the Father knows those answers.

But third, Jesus tells them that when the Holy Spirit comes, they will have abundant power to be witnesses for Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and even the most remote areas of the world (vs. 8). The first part of the Commission is that we are to be “witnesses.” A witness is merely someone who is sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about something they have seen or experienced. We are to tell what happened to us as Jesus Christ became a bigger, more meaningful part of our lives.  No need to use big words like justification, sanctification and glorification; there are professional Christian theologians who have trouble explaining those words. Rather, in common words reporting that event and what it meant to you.

The second part of the Commission tells us where we are to be witnesses. It begins where you are when you have the first opportunity to talk about it. That might be in your family, among friends or even with that person who helped you have that experience. The Apostles were in Jerusalem, so they started telling what happened to them when God first communicated with them. The next place mentioned is in Judea.  That is the area surrounding that first place. If it was your family, the next place might be to your closest friends. Jesus then mentions Samaria.  That is even farther away, and the people there had a mutual disrespect for all Jewish people (the first people who believed Jesus was the Messiah). Telling your story in Samaria was like talking with people who had very little trust in you or what you might say. It is like going to places where people might not know or even care for you. Samaritans were called half-breads by the Jews in in Jesus’ day. They were Jews who married Gentiles. 

And third is to go to the most remote areas of your world. Look for people who God puts in your everyday life. There is not necessarily a reason you met them, but they say something that lets you know it is time to talk about your experience again. Gods set it up, so all you have to do is listen for those people He makes ready to hear your story. Look for opportunities to show you are open to talking with them and let God work out the details.

Gone but Returning (Acts 1:9-11)

Luke now reports on his research into how Jesus finished His work on earth and returned to His Father (Acts 1:9-11). Lukes says that after Jesus finished talking about telling our story to others, He was listed up from the earth even while they were looking at Him. Witnesses said He was taken out of their sight on a cloud until they could no longer see Him. He was taken out of their sight (vs. 1:9). As the people were staring into the sky, astonished at what they were seeing, there were two men wearing white clothes standing there with them. 

The men asked them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?” I think most of them would have said they were watching their dearest and closest friend leave them for a second time. When He first lived with them, they thought He was going to be with them forever, yet He was taken prisoner by the religious leaders and murdered by the Romans. Then He came back by rising from death to live again. Now, it has only been 40 days and He is leaving us again. So, that is why we are staring into the sky.  

The two men began to explain by sharing a single sentence. They said, “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have seen Him go into heaven” (vs. 10). This was not the first time Jesus was said to be coming back for us. In John’s Gospel, Jesus said, “1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3, NASB). So, if Jesus returns exactly the way He left, he will come back on a cloud to the Mount of Olives which is a “Sabbath Day’s journey from Jerusalem (about 2,000 cubits or 6 tenths of a mile). That was how far a Jew was permitted to walk on a Sabbath Day (Ex 16:29 & Num 35:5). Paul and John repeat that promise and add some specifics in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57-, and Revelation 4:1. 

Understand the Context (Acts 2:1-40)

Pentecost is the second Jewish Feast Day described in the Scripture. It is also known as the Feast of the Weeks or the Feast of First Fruits. In all the references to this Feast, it has an agricultural definition. The Feast of the First Fruits or Weeks was measured seven weeks after the Feast of the Passover. It is the celebration of the first fruits of the harvest and was 49 days after Passover. Pentecost is a reference of the next day which would be 50 days after Passover but was still the same Feast Day. The word “penta” references “five” or “fifty.” For example, the Pentagon in Washington DC is the headquarter of the United States Military and is a building having five sides. 

When the Holy Spirit (sometimes called the Holy Ghost) filled these disciples on the Day of Pentecost, they began to speak and understand languages they had never been taught. The distinction between what happened here, and the Doctrine of Pentecostalism is that these people spoke and heard in distinguishable languishes of all the nations attending. More on this miracle below in the Focal Verses., 

Peter rose to his feet and began to preach when he heard some say the disciples must have drunk too much wine. He said that was not the case at all, but this was a visual and audial fulfillment of prophecies given by Joel 2:28-29 and King David in Psalms 16:8-11. Joel said these kinds of gifts would be given in the end times. King David said that the Lord (Messiah) would not decay in the place of the dead, but rather, be alive in the presence of God.

The result of Peter’s first sermon spoken as a Spirit-filled preacher was that the words he spoke pieced their hearts and caused them to ask him what they should do after hearing such powerful words. Peter told them they must allow God to motivate them in a new direction (repent) and be baptized (submit to the Jewish cleansing custom of Mikvah) celebrating their new lives in Jesus Christ. That day over 3,000 people gave their hearts to Jesus Christ, giving all they had for the common benefit of the Christian Community. 

Noticed (Acts 2:5-8)

Acts 2:5-8 tells us the details of what happened on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ or ten days after He walked with the disciples for 40 days after His Resurrection. First, Luke tells us that the miracle took place in Jerusalem. He says that devout men from every nation under Heaven were living there.  Verse 6 tells us that when they heard the loud sound and powerful wind mentioned in verse 2, the crowd gathered around and were sorely confused by what they heard and saw. Each one of the crowds of people from all over the earth heard the disciples speaking in his own, native language. Luke emphasizes his words by restating in verses 7 and 8 that while the people speaking were all Galileans, each of them (the people from all over the earth) heard them speaking in the language to which they were born. This repetition is necessary because Luke is trying to show this miracle could have God’s demonstration of either of two Spiritual Gifts. It could have been the gift of the disciples speaking in languages they were never taught (speaking in tongues), or it could have been the Spiritual Gift of the members of the crowds hearing their words in their natural languages (interpretation of tongues). Verse 4 emphasizes the “speaking of other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” while verses 6 and 8 seems to emphasize the crowd members “hearing them speak in his own language.” Either way, the spiritual gift God decided to demonstrate through the power of His Holy Spirit is listed among the 315 specifically included in the chart from the Bible shown below.

But first, let us look at a misuse of Spiritual gifts that has become common in some circles. To some, the Day of Pentecost has become known as the beginning of the doctrine of Pentecostalism or the celebration of spiritual gifts, most notably, the gift of tongues. Tongues has become defined as speaking is some sort of unlearned, gibberish which is said to indicate one’s being full of the Holy Spirit. Albeit, the Lord Jesus specifically told His apostles not to pray in vain repetitions like the heathen do (in their temple worship). The reading of Scripture here, verses 2:1-13, is quite a distance from that interpretation.  In these verses, the disciple received the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages heard and validated by those of the crowds.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

This chart shows the 315 Gifts of the Holy Spirit ( Inside the Church, Felsburg, Fig. 15, p. 126 ). The content of the chart is taken from the pages of the King James Version of the Bible. Other versions of the Bible may have different words, but the application is identical. The five Spiritual Gifts at the top of the Figure were taken from Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus (Eph 4:11). A person may have any one or more of these five, basic Spiritual Gifts. Apostles today would best be described as Missionaries and the Prophets would be better recognized as “forth-tellers” rather than “fore-teller” of biblical times. Forth-tellers are today’s Preachers and some Pastors. 

The list of Practices or Ministries are those functions people with the five Spiritual Gifts do. In other words, you may find a Pastor Teaching or Exhorting or Ruling. The list of various Practices or Ministries was taken from Paul’s letter to the Church at Rome, Chapter 12, verses 6-8. These are ministries the Spiritually Gifted people might be doing or offices they hold to facilitate same.

The list of Manifestations shows how the Spiritually Gifted person, doing the Ministry they perform might look as they do what they do (1 Cor 12:8-10). In other words, a person like your teacher, who has the Spiritual Gift of Teaching and the Ministry of Teaching the Joy Class, may well be found delivering a Word of Knowledge nearly every week, or more often. Wisdom is Knowledge applied, so that teacher might be a Teacher who is Teaching and delivering a Word of Wisdom. On many past occasions, that teacher has been a Teacher who was Teaching and Interpreting Tongues by explaining what a certain English word means in the Hebrew or Greek language. Or he might even speak the word in a sentence which would be Speaking in Divers Kinds of Tongues (foreign language). 

Any person who is given one or more of the five basic Spiritual Gifts can have a Practice or Ministry from the list of seven presented, while appearing to do any of the nine Manifestations shown. That would yield 5 x 7 x 9 or 315 gifts announced above. My purpose in providing this analysis of Spiritual Gifts is to show practical applications of many of the gifts and that focusing one’s entire Christian experience on one or two of the gifts is severely limiting what God has gifted, enabled and empowered us to do through the power of the Holy Spirit He placed inside us. 

Noticed (Acts 2:9-13)

In Acts 2:9-11, Luke presents the names of the many nations and/or associated languages which were represented during the performance of this miracle. Recall in the earlier verses, Luke said they were people and languages from across the entire earth. This is a list showing the truth of his statement. While there are just 16 different nations or parts of nations mentioned here, it is likely that this list is more notional than complete, and therefore, may have had more tongues represented than just these. 

Further, reading through the list makes it obvious languages spoken through the Holy Spirit may have traversed at least 3 continents and dissimilar cultures and linguistic types, making the communication more difficult. Is there any task too difficult for God? 

Verse 11 reemphasizes the scale of difficulty of this effort in communications by stating again that all the countries and continents heard the message from Jerusalem in their own tongues. There were no translators used in this process. The participants added that they continued in amazement at the great perplexity of this task. Many recognized that there was something going on in this experience that transcended basic reasoning. They were asking among themselves, “What does this means?” (vs. 12). Yet, even in the midst of such a monumental undertaking, there were the nay sayers among the unbelieving few.  They were witnessing the same phenomenal demonstration as the day’s wisest people were asking how it could be, yet they mocked the experience and made statements like, “They are full of sweet wine” suggesting that the participants may be more intoxicated than having a supernatural experience. The exceptional value of having such nay sayers present and verbal is that it makes the mystery of the event even more mysterious. And when the astonishing task being witnessed is repeatedly claimed to be impossible, its successful occurrence makes it all the more impressive. So, the question returns, “How can all of the people and language groups present at that meeting hear the words of the message in their own tongues?  

Engaged (Acts 2:14-16) 

It would be a mistake to view Peter as a spectator of some sort when we consider the events of this day. Recall that Jesus promised the coming of the “Other Comforter” to all believers, not just the ones from all around the world. So, Peter is feeling his own version of being filled with the Holy Spirit just as some of those who had come from around the world but lived in that place. Pater is hearing all of what is happening. So, Peter has heard enough. Now it is time for Peter to take his stand, and as he stands, he must know that he has become the de facto speaker for the eleven . So, he begins, “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words” (vs. 14b). So, now this group of thousands of confused and questioning people from all over the earth have turned to look at Peter. Would he complete his effort of interrupting the crowd, or would he fade into obscurity of failed self-esteem because he denied Jesus three times? 

Peter continues, “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day” (vs. 15). “No, but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel” (vs. 16). The prophet in Joel 2:28-29 said, “28 It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” Peter is announcing the fulfillment of this prophecy in the hearing of all those thousands gathered in Jerusalem that day. He was stating in the open that the spirit of God falling upon mankind was happening at this meeting. These men you see here calling on God and seeming to be a little unstable is because they have a new driver inside them. They have “been to the well” and they have been drinking of the living water that swells up from inside and keeps getting stronger and more powerful. This is that living water Jesus promised the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:14). He told her if she would drink of that water she would no longer be thirsty. Rather, she would have a source of living water that never runs dry. Peter knew of the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy because he’s been drinking at the well. He is full of God’s Spirit – God within! 

Understand the Context (Acts 2:41-47)

It is tremendously important to have the authoritative writings of the Holy Scriptures to give us a known place for recalibration every so often. Acts 2 is that place. It documents that the church did not come into being by the will of man but by the will of God in order to clearly document His purposes, the promises of the coming Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Inside of this calling, there are continuities and discontinuities highlighted for examples of what to do and what not to do as parts of the church. Returning from a week at the Annual Meeting of Churches in the Sothern Baptist Convention provides ample illustrations for how God’s idea for His church has to be reminded and refreshed regularly. It is so easy for humankind to allow human goals and objectives get ahead of God’s goals and objectives. When that happens, humans become frustrated and confused about what God’s goal and objectives are and how much higher they are from our own. So, let us look at some of the originating ideas to start our study.

As we compare the Old Testament beginnings to New Testament beginnings, we must remember that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). In the beginning, God spoke the earth and all its creatures into existence. John 1:1-4 says, “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men” and endorses the beginnings God made and establishes the same beginnings by the same Creator in the New Testament. But we drifted away from God’s truth at every opportunity. We constructed false gods for false worship at every opportunity. God sent men to reestablish our focus. They were Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon and countless others. Each had messages of repentance, reconciliation and rededication back to the original “Articles of Incorporation” or more simply, The Word of God. Last week, we saw that Jesus Christ kept His promise to send us “another Comforter.” Here, we see some of the results of His coming as Peter speaks his first sermon under the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:41-47).

Disciplined (Acts 2:41-42)

When Peter stood to deliver that first Holy-Ghost-anointed sermon, he corrected their mistake in believing those speaking in dozens of languages they never learned were “intoxicated by sweet wine” (Acts 2:15). He corrected that false belief, pointed them to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and properly identified them as the murderers of Christ who God sent to deliver that promised Comforter. Three thousand of those attending heard the words of the anointed Peter and asked simply, “What must we do?” (vs. 37). Peter told them they must repent and be baptized. In the words of Paul, “9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Rom 10:9-10). So, these believed and were baptized that same day. They became the first members of that church in Jerusalem where James, the half-brother of Jesus, would soon become Pastor and later (62 AD) be martyred (Acts 15:13, 19). 

Equally as important to knowing about the first Christian church is knowing what set of disciplines held them together. Verse 42 tells us they continually devoted themselves to the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship with one another, to breaking bread and to prayer. They were dedicated to the teachings of the apostles because the apostles walked with Jesus and heard His teachings firsthand.  In these early days of the church, there were no New Testaments to study, so the Word was carried by word of mouth. We understand that the first Gospel was Mark’s between 65 and 75 AD. It seems obvious that it had to be before 70 AD because Mark 13:1-2 refers to Titus’ destruction of the Temple as Jesus’ prophecy.  The dedicated themselves to fellowship for the same reasons we congregate at church; they wanted to be with fellow believers to learn and celebrate their lives in Christ the way only Christians can celebrate. Breaking bread refers to eating meals together. Many of the early disciples lost employment, family and friends. They ate together because that was where the bread was. Lastly, they were devoted to prayer. When day-to-day survival seemed out of human hands; talking to God in prayer becomes dear to our hearts.

Unified (Acts 2:43-45)  

The people of the church were continually being filled with spirits of awe because of the signs and wonders being performed by the apostles. Imagine a time when Bible study of the miraculous works of the Holy Spirit was unnecessary because reports and actual sightings of those works could be seen every day. Recall that Jesus trained the apostles as He sent the 12 out and later sent the 70, two by two (Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-15). The reports they brought back spoke of miracles by each of them. In the early church, the apostles were still with them and could be followed. Disciples and prospective disciples could watch the signs and wonders and inquire as to their meanings. Current members could share with prospects who had just seen miracles.

Verses 44 and 45 speak of a few results of life in the early church. Believers in that day “were together and had all things in common” (vs. 44). The church was the place where the believers came together. In addition to being in awe of the apostles’ signs and wonders, they went beyond just being there, they brought what they owned for sharing with others and to meet whatever needs they had. Further, verse 45 goes the next step by saying that property and possessions some owned were sold to buy those things that were needed by others. The Scripture says they were sharing what they had with everyone else in the group as they made their needs known. 

This may have also led to a time of testimony sharing where people came talking about the signs and wonders of the apostles and joining in fellowship meals with friends and family invited them to join these outpourings of love would be drawn to learning more about these people who give everything they had to help the others in the group. As they would see this kind of open sharing, they would want to know more about why these people were so generous and kind. That would result in a member sharing their story of what Jesus did in their lives and how they have seen the same blessings for themselves. As the visitors would hear these stories, they might say they wanted to become a part of a group that cared so much about each other. Members would talk of the love of Jesus Christ being shown here and visitors might want to join.

Understand the Context (Acts 3:1-4:4)

Recall last week we noticed that the Scripture said the new church at Jerusalem were worshiping both in the Temple and in the house churches; that message comes up again as we start this week’s study. The most obvious difference in their new worship was that the Christians were no longer offering sacrifices for forgiveness of their sins. The Christians knew that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ paid the price for their sins once and forever (Luke 5:20, 23; 6:37; 7:47, 48; Heb 8:12 & 10:17). So, there was no longer a requirement for any additional sacrifices at the Temple. However, many of the post-Pentecost Christians still went to the Temple and congregated at Solomon’s Colonnade (or porch). It extended from the Temple about 800 feet from a series of about 162 columns, some of which were 100 feet tall. It made for a great gathering place for a larger number of Christians which was not available from the House Churches. Of course, they taught Jesus as the Torah’s answer for all their needs.

It was at one of the entrances to the Colonnade (the Beautiful Gate) that Peter and John saw the lame man laid there to beg for money. The Apostles used the name of Jesus Christ when they asked God for healing or any other miracle. The beggar asked alms and Peter responded, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The man’s useless limbs healed as they watched, and he got up and walked. 

The miracle grabbed so much attention that 5,000 more people were added to the church, and the Inner Circle of Apostles (Peter, James and John) declared the Messianic Age had now begun, just as promised throughout the Old Testament. They continued that hope, life and restoration were available through Jesus Christ alone. As they were teaching, the priests, Captain of the Temple and sadducees found them. The were angry because they were teaching of Jesus’ resurrection while the sadducees rejected resurrection in any case. Hearing, many believed.

Recognize (Acts 3:12-16)

It took no time at all before the people heard of the healing of the man lame from birth and came running with great speed to Solomon’s Porch to see for themselves. When they saw that the healing was true, they looked toward Peter in great amazement expecting some kind of explanation as to what happened. After all, it is one thing to help a person over a temporary illness, but this man had been lame from birth. What was left of his legs and feet were just slabs of useless meat worth no more than ugly decorations for what should have been there. Not only was there no muscle tone in those grotesque pieces of flesh, there was not even a muscle to hold the tone. So, Peter asked the people why they were amazed and staring at them (him and John) as if they did this healing? He said it was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the God of their fathers that glorified His servant Jesus who did this miraculous thing (vs. 13a).  

Peter continued, it was “the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him” (vs. 13b). Peter was reminding them that even when the Roman Governor found no fault in Him, they insisted he release Barabbas to them rather than the Holy and Righteous One – the same One who did this great deed you now see here (vss. 14-15a). But even after you murdered the Prince of Life, God raised Him up out of the grave which is a fact that each of us witnessed (vs. 15b). So, Peter was determined to do two things with this monologue: first, he wanted to make everyone gathered in amazement of this healed man born lame to know that it was their religious leaders who insisted on the death of God’s Messiah and Christ, even after the Roman Governor wanted Him freed, and second, that this same Jesus they put in the grave was the One they saw walking, talking, teaching, eating, drinking, laughing and crying with them for 40 days after He was raised by the God of Glory from that grave.

Last, Peter wanted all gathered to know that it was on the basis of their faith in that resurrected One, that same Jesus, that in His Holy name this lame man, whom you see and have known, was fully and completely healed of his distress (vs. 16). In the presence of all gathered, Jesus healed.

Repent (Acts 3:17-21)  

Some may have thought that Peter was too harsh, but the truth is that the only way a person can repent and be forgiven for sin is to hear and acknowledge that sin. The Jewish leaders were the ones shouting from the courtyard, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” When Pilate came to them saying that neither he nor Herod found any fault in this Man, they were the ones who insisted Pilate crucify Him anyway (Luke 23:13-15). To repent, they had to accept guilt for what they did. Now, Peter is willing to offer them a little grace. He is willing to let them, and their rulers claim they were ignorant of what they did (vs. 17). After all Jesus did say, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Peter reminded them that God announced long ago by the mouths of many prophets that his Christ would suffer, and by these things done to Jesus, those prophecies have been fulfilled (vs. 18, Isa 53, Psa 22). 

So, Peter can now start his request for their response. Verse 19 starts with, “Therefore” followed by “repent and return.” Because of the case Peter has laid out, because of the truth of what they have done, it is time for them to recognize they must turn in a different direction; that is what repent means. When you come to recognize the direction you have chosen is not working, it is time to pick a different direction. Another way to say it is to change one’s mind. Sometimes we pursue a certain path because of what we once knew, but we have learned new information. And look what Peter says the result will be. “Your sins will be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you” (vss. 19-20). 

In verse 21, Peter briefly describes the prophesies for us in the future. Throughout the Bible, we can see that when God has to discipline His people, he always includes a way of restoral; a way to change our minds and come back to Him. Revelation documents such a restoral at the end of the church age. Those who have already repented and turned to Christ will be taken out of the earth and severe judgements will fall on all the rest (Rev 4:1, 1 Thes 4:14-18, 1 Cor 15:51ff).

Understand the Context (Acts 4:8-21)

Two studies ago, we introduced a meeting Peter and John had with a beggar who was lame from birth as they entered Solomon’s Colonnade through the Gate called Beautiful. Peter confessed to him that neither he nor John had any money, but what they did have, they would share with the lame man. Peter commanded him to rise up and walk (Acts 3:1-10). In the previous study, we examined the reactions of the mostly Jewish crowd gathered in amazement over the healing of a man born lame. Verse 4:4 tells us that the number of men who believed because of Peter’s second sermon came to be about 5,000 men. Some interpreters say the 5,000 may have included the 3,000 new believers from Peter’s first sermon in Acts 2. I see no evidence for making the number smaller especially in light of Acts 6 where the apostles needed to appoint seven deacons to care for so many new believers.  Notice that Verse 4:1 specifically identifies the sadducees as the Jewish leaders who accompanied the Temple Guard to arrest Peter and John. Sadducees were the sect of leaders who rejected resurrection and Peter’s first sermon emphasized the fact of Jesus’ resurrection and that he and several of the others with him were eyewitnesses to its truth.

So, Peter and John spent that night in the prison. They served their time giving Jesus the glory for allowing them to suffer for Him. But in the morning, Peter being under the full influence of the Holy Spirit delivered his second sermon as presented below. He credited the power source to Jesus as He promised to deliver the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8. So, the power for working miracles comes from the power of the promised Holy Spirit Who delivers the 315 spiritual gifts, ministries and manifestations described in last week’s study with its included illustration. Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit comes to every believer as the down payment (earnest) for their inheritance, that is, the Spirit is active in us at the point of our belief in Christ (Eph 1:14). While we have the fullness of the Holy Spirit in us, the power we have in applying Him depends on our belief or faith. The chart from last week provides the details of how the Spirit is shown.

Truth Delivered (Acts 4:8-12)

Verse 8 begins Peter’s sermon stating that he was speaking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God within him. Acts 5:15-16 reports that people were lining up their sick all along the streets in Jerusalem, hoping that even Peter’s shadow might fall on them, because all the sick were being healed. Sometimes people hear about people operating in the fullness of the Holy Spirit and think it means that a person might have more of the Holy Spirit than others. The comment is not intended to reveal how much of the Holy Spirit a person has, but rather, the amount of the person the Holy Spirit has. At this point in Peter’s life, he had absolutely no lack of faith whatsoever, so the people believed that just being touched by his shadow would get healing. It was how much of Peter the Holy Spirit had rather than how much of the Spirit he had.

Here, Peter is asking if the reason he was facing trial was because of the benefit he brought upon the lame man in making him well. Peter wanted to set the record straight that it was by the name of Jesus the Nazarene, the One they crucified and God raised from the dead, that the lame man stood before them fully healed (vss. 9-10). Peter repeats this theme throughout his ministry for any miracle of which he might have had a part.  It would be a good practice for all of us to recall it is never a minister who heals a person, it is the power of God who heals or exorcises or raises. 

Verses 11 and 12 are references from the Old Testament that are even stronger today than when they were first spoken. Verse 11 quotes Psalms 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16. The cornerstone of a building is that stone upon which the foundation of the entire building rests. Peter correctly applies that terminology to Jesus. Truly, Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith and without Him, there is no faith at all. The whole of the Christian religion is based on Jesus Christ.

Verse 12 is a near kin verse. Here Luke makes it very clear that there is no salvation available in any name except the name of Jesus Christ. Likewise, the Old Testament prophet says, “But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior” (Hosea 13:4).  

Silence Demanded (Acts 4:13-18)  

Now, the Jewish religious leaders noticed a paradox: Peter and John are a pair of uneducated fishermen who have had no special religious training at all (vs. 13). But the raw confidence they had far exceeded any of men much their senior in education and training; how can this be? Then these leaders remembered that these men had been with Jesus, and they were amazed. Somehow, the powers that Jesus had seem to have been transferred to these men. They already recognized the great multiplication of the faith Jesus started was multiplying faster in His death than in His life. Watching their faith, power and confidence and the man lame from birth standing among them fully healed, the Jewish leaders thought it best to make this proceeding as quiet as possible. There was nothing they could say or do in response to reduce the obvious evidence standing fully healed within a few feet from them (vs. 14). 

So, they ordered their prisoners out of the room and conferred with one another (vss. 15-16). The issue was simple. The fact of the healed man standing in their midst was a testimony making it abundantly obvious that something of great note took place in their presence that day. Further, there was such a crowd on Solomon’s Porch that day, all of whom saw the miracle take place, and who witnessed the physical presence of the miracle immediately in front of them, that is simply could not be denied. 

They decided that the best they could possibly hope for was that they could order Peter and John that they were not to speak of this thing ever again. Of course, we would not have to look far back in history to see what happens when a leader tells witnesses of an astonishing event not to speak of it. The demand for silence acted as a catalyst to spread the word even more quickly. Nevertheless, the Jewish religious leaders assumed that their command would be so much more respected than that of a mere itinerate preacher, they would give the command anyway. They instructed Peter and John not to speak or teach anything having to do with the name of Jesus and released them in their own recognizance. How would the apostle respond? 

Understand the Context (Acts 4:36-5:11)  

The saga of the healing of the man born lame continues with this transition between Acts Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. At our first encounter with the man, Peter and John were crossing the Court of the Gentiles between Solomon’s Colonnade and the eastern wall of the Temple at the Gate called Beautiful. Peter and John were coming from the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send another Comforter to the world for all disciples of Jesus. That was done in Chapter 2 and Peter preached his first sermon seeing 3,000 people believe and confess Jesus Christ. In Chapter 3, Peter and John were entering the Temple at the Beautiful Gate where a man lame from birth was placed to beg alms. Peter responded that neither he nor John had any money, but they would offer him what they had. Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The man’s useless limbs strengthened as people watched and he stood up and walked.

After healing, the lame man was clinging to Peter and John near Solomon’s Colonnade (Porch) across the Court of the Gentile from the Beautiful Gate to the Temple. Peter preached his second sermon and another 5,000 people were added to the church. The Priests and Sadducees came out to investigate the disturbance. When Peter mentioned that the Jesus these leaders crucified was raised from the dead.  The Sadducees wanted to hear no claims that resurrection could be true. They arrested Peter and John and threatened them not to ever speak of this Jesus again. Peter told them they were free to judge whether they should honor God or honor them. To Peter the choice was clear, so the Jewish leaders threatened them even more, but let them go free.

Now, we see the impact of this healing on believers. As their numbers continued to grow so rapidly, and the miracles continued to flow, the believers were all coming together using whatever money one would have to support all the others.  What they owned; they owned together. They loved and supported one another through the trials and persecutions of their foes. It was this tight unity that kept the church together and growing during those early months.

Exhibit A: Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37)

So, the last two verses of Acts 4 and the first eleven verses of Acts 5 provide pieces of evidence for how the new believers were living in the first few months after being filled with the Spirit of God – the Holy Spirit. The first piece of evidence offered was that of Acts 4:36-37.  It finishes Chapter 4 with information on the disciple we have long known as Barnabas. We see here that his name meant “Son of Encouragement” (vs. 36). His introduction lets us know that Barnabas was not his birth name; it was Joseph.  The new name was given him by the apostles and is how we know him. The evidence is overwhelming in Acts 13-15 that the apostles sent Barnabas everywhere a steadying hand of encouragement and strength was required. He introduced Paul to the fearful believers around Damascus who remembered him as Saul of Tarsus. He continued to work with Paul for years on his missionary trips across Israel, Asia Minor and Greece. 

Here we learn that Barnabas was born Joseph of the tribe of Levi from the island of Cyprus, just south of Asia Minor. Recall that the Levites were selected by God in the Wilderness for the responsibility of moving and maintaining the Tabernacle of the Congregation and, when the Temple was constructed by Solomon, they became the keepers of the Temple in Jerusalem and its associated sacrificial system. 

In verse 37, we learn that Barnabas was setting the example for many other new Christians to give what they had in order to care for the thousands who were deciding to follow Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The Scripture says that he had a plot of land that he sold and brought the money to be laid at the feet of the apostles for distribution to support the others. So, as many others were trying to understand what to do and how to act as new Christians, Barnabas was setting the example. Just as he would be used to introduce the newly born-again Saul of Tarsus (now Paul the Apostle) in Acts 9, he was used by God to help new believers see how the wealthier among them could serve the others more needy than they. As we will see in the next sections, his example was challenged shortly after it was established, but blessed by the Lord.

Exhibit B: Ananias (Acts 5:1-6)  

In Acts 5:1-11, we meet a married couple who became followers of Christ in those early days of the church right after the great Day of Pentecost when the promised Holy Spirit was given to believers. Verse 5:1 starts out with the word “but,” so we see this sentence as a contrast to what happened in verses 4:36-37. Like Barnabas, Ananias and his wife, Sapphira sold a piece of land they had. But unlike Barnabas, they held back some of the proceeds of the land but apparently made the transaction appear as though they did the same as Barnabas (vs. 2). 

Peter, through the power of the Spirit, knew that the money Ananias laid down at the feet of the apostles was not the amount Ananias received for the sale. Peter begins his charge against Ananias very strongly, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?” (vs. 3). The Greek word Peter used to describe what Ananias did was pseúdomai (pronounced psyoo'-dom-ahee). The word means that Ananias “uttered an untruth or attempted to deceive by falsehood." Ananias laid the money at the feet of the apostles falsely attesting that, like Barnabas, the money was the full amount received, knowing full well that it was not. Peter goes on to explain to Ananias that the sin was not related to how much he gave or how much he kept. That was Ananias’ decision to make. Peter said Ananias had full control of the land before the sale and the money after the sale. The sin was that Ananias laid the money at the feet of the apostles in an attempt to fraudulently make it appear as though it was the full price. Peter precisely stated the sin as “You have not lied to men but to God” (vs. 4b). 

As Ananias heard these words, he died, and fear came upon all those gathered and those who heard the story later. Note that Peter did not exact the penalty for the fraud, but God did. Peter stated the charge, Ananias heard the words, and he died as a result. Verse 6 concludes the episode by saying the young men covered the body of Ananias, carried him outside and buried him.  The Bible appropriately notes that great fear came over all who heard this story. 

Understand the Context (Acts 5:17-42)

The early responses to Jesus’ church-growth commission for believers has been miraculous (Acts 1:8). We recall that Peter’s first sermon under the power of the Holy Spirit resulted in 3,000 new believers being added to the church (2:41). His second sermon at Solomon’s Colonnade near the Temple netted 5,000 more (4:4). Seventy-three percent of the churches in the largest protestant denomination have less than 100 in attendance for Sunday worship services, and only three percent have over 500 participants. So, gathering 8,000 for worship would exponentially dwarf those attendance figures. There was also great contrast between the fear caused by the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira and the colossal growth reported otherwise (5:13-14). Another favorable result from the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira was that the marginally interested prospects simply would not chance attending a service. Therefore, those attending would be committed Christian prospects looking for sound worship experiences. 

The Jewish leaders were becoming more and more jealous of such numbers. They started arresting more Christians and went beyond just the leadership like Peter and John. Nevertheless, Jewish leaders were disappointed to see the jail cells empty by the time they could visit. And making matters worse for the Jewish leaders, those who were reported to be arrested and in jail were found teaching and preaching in the Temple or local synagogues. The power of the Holy Spirit was not only providing the words for the sermons but also the highly effective delivery of those words to stroke the heartstrings of believers and nonbelievers alike. Further, those punished for preaching and teaching the Word gloried in the honor to suffer for their Savior. Add to that the numerous miracles performed by believers as empowered by the Holy Spirit were causing more new believers to join ranks with the Christian even as the punishments included death penalties and/or severe torture. We will see in future studies that the more severe the efforts to stop the expansion of the church, the faster believers would spread to new locations. 

Angry Response (Acts 5:29-33)

In our earlier study of Chapter 4, we saw the priests and sadducees expressing their anger at new believers led to Christ by Peter and John by arresting them, threatening them and having them flogged. Nevertheless, when directed to be obedient to the Jewish leaders, the perpetrators would state simply, “Whether it is better to follow God or you, you be the judge.” Then they would carry on with what they were doing. Here, we see the pattern repeated as verse 29 asks that question even again as Christians stated, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the One whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him” (vss. 29-32). 

So, the response the Christians are giving to the Jewish leaders is not what they wanted, not what they expected and not what they felt demonstrated the proper decorum to such high representatives of whom should have been their leadership. In brief, the response was one of rejection. They all but stated that these leaders were no longer deserving of their respect or homage. The Messiah had come, and was murdered by these low-life curs, but God had raised Him from the dead and placed Him at His right hand where He could never be touched by them again. He was safe and so was anyone who joined Him in obedience. (You could almost hear the Christians repeating the words of a modern-day hero saying, “Go ahead, make my day!”)

The Christians knew full well that dying in obedience to the Lord would allow them to be immediately in His presence. Would that be punishment?? They had witnessed the power of God firsthand; there is no fear walking in that kind of power. Alternatively, the Jewish religious leaders continued the age-old threats, hoping to intimidate these people “who had been to the well that would never run dry.” What a mismatch of power. All the religious leaders had to fight with was to send the Christians to exactly where they wanted to be, at Christ’s side!

Wise Counsel (Acts 5:34-39)

But the Pharisee and noted teacher, Gamaliel recalled recent history regarding these “flash-in-the-pan-renegades.” He knew of two of them that had come and gone just as he thought Jesus and His followers would. So, he stood up at the meeting and asked to have the Christians put outside the room for a moment (vs. 34). He addressed those gathered by saying the leaders should be careful in dealing with these men. He reminded them that “some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men joined with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing” (vs. 36). 

He continued that there was another man, Judas of Galilee, who rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him, but he too perished and all those who followed him were scattered just like the earlier case (vs. 37).

So, he finishes, in this present case, he recommends they stay away from these men and release them. He states that if this movement is just another rebellion devised by men, it will pass away because Jesus, their Leader is dead, just like the other two cases (vs. 38). If, however, he wisely continues, if this is truly a work of God, there is no way that you or anyone else will be able to stop it. The biggest error you could possibly make is to be seen of the rank and file as taking personal action against God (vs. 39).

Now, Gamaliel’s words were proposed to the counsel (likely the Sanhedrin) in experience and in wisdom not shown by any of the other leaders we have seen. He was saying that before the Counsel starts making martyrs out of these rebels, it might be a better idea to give them space to see whether this Jesus movement catches on or simply dissipates like his two earlier examples. The rest of his statement was equally wise; that is, if this movement is truly of God, it will not be possible to stop it, or the Jewish leaders will be seen as doing battel with God. It would not be more than 25 years before Rome would get the answer to Gamaliel’s proposition. As regular people were blessed with the power of the Holy Spirit, there was no weapon to take them down.

Understand the Context (Acts 6:1-7:60)

It is predictable that when a group grows rapidly, some of the original group will feel slighted. Growth accommodation is a standard but difficult requirement. In the supernaturally growing Church of Jerusalem, they added 8,000 men or approximately 30,000 new people to their roles in just a few weeks. While their leaders continued to be threatened with death for simply naming one’s belief in Jesus as the Christ, the group had grown beyond that which the current management structure could handle. If the apostles were going to continue their focus on the spiritual growth of the members, someone else was needed to minister to their physical needs. Our focal passage (Acts 6:1-15) deals with that problem, specifically, and introduces the seven men who would go far beyond waiting tables to experiencing death for preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Verses 8-15 deal with Stephen’s early ministry as one of that seven, and the false charges brought against him. His message detailed the history of Judaism all the way back to the Abrahamic Covenant, and it caused his face to shine as he spoke (6:15).

Acts 7:1-53 details all the scriptural support for his historic message as he described the journey of Judaism from Abraham and Moses until the present day. He addressed the Jewish leaders gathered around him as “stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart whose ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your father did” (7:51). He continued by saying their fathers persecuted the prophets by actually killing those who previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers they had now become. He said these people had received the law as ordained by angels, yet did not keep it.

Verses 54-60 finish the chapter with the details of how Stephen faced the historic death as the first seven original Deacons selected to serve the Church at Jerusalem. “He gazed into Heaven and saw the Son of Man, standing at the right hand of God” (vs. 56). As they stoned him to death, Saul of Tarsus held the robes of the executioners. He would later become Apostle Paul. 

Opportunity Knocks (Acts 6:1-4)

In this day of picayune disagreements about using the KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV©, new-comer ESV or many others, we probably should not be surprised that there were disagreements in the first century church as well. Some studied the Scriptures using the Greek interpretation while others used the original Hebrew. It set believers against each other. Add to that the issue that there were apparent disparities in the distribution of resources needed for survival, and we have real division in God’s people. Here we see a complaint registered by those who studied in Greek (Hellenistic Jews) against those who studied in Hebrew (native Hebrews) that their widows were being overlooked or neglected in the daily servings (distribution) of food (vs. 1). Verse 2 shows the wisdom of the apostles who have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Notice, they did not take a position on whether it was better to study Scriptures in Greek or Hebrew nor whether there were disparities in the food distribution process. Rather, they recognized that getting involved in those discussions would take time away from studying and delivering God’s Word to the people. They did say, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables” (vs. 2). 

Instead, the apostles tasked the brethren to select from the thousands of their numbers, seven men with good reputations, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, who they could place in charge of these two tasks. The first mentioned was the study of the Scripture in different versions. The most basic solution for that problem is to acknowledge that a every person has the right to make a choice of what reference sources they wished to use. However, when meeting for joint study, one version should be selected to minimize confusion (1 Cor 14:33). 

The addition of more people to manage and execute the distribution of food was a possible answer for the problem of providing daily food to the masses in equal amounts. The apostles certainly could not provide quality discipleship training to 30,000 people and feed them at the same time. So, the apostles determined to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word (vs. 4).  

Influence Expands (Acts 6:5-7)

Note that the words in verse 5 which the brethren were responding to positively, were words spoken and accepted as the words of the Twelve; that is, all Twelve Apostles. As an aside, the Twelve was now made up of the original Twelve chosen by Jesus, the Christ; minus Judas, the betrayer; plus Matthias, as selected by the Apostles in Acts 1:15-36. So, the entire congregation of believers approved of the recommendation voiced by the Twelve and appointed seven men meeting the qualifications stated. They are mentioned as Stephen, Phillip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. Matthew Henry and several other commentaries have no hesitation in saying these were appointed as “Deacons,” and as such, the office of Deacon was established and remains as was the Office Pastor, also referred to as Elder, Bishop or Presbyter. The records of the meetings of the Synods documents the meetings as the only authoritative meetings of the whole church as represented by the meetings of the Bishops of all the Christian Churches everywhere.  

The lines between these two biblical offices began to blur almost immediately as Stephen and Phillip were used by God, not to “serve the tables” (Greek: diakonein trapezais), as advertised, but to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephen is the focus of this study while Phillip’s work is documented beginning in Acts 8:4. These two Deacons were used of God to do the work of the Apostles even as they were ordained as Deacons in the Church at Jerusalem.  

Verse 6 establishes the practice of ordination by “laying on of hands.” The proven candidate for the Office of Pastor or Deacon would kneel or sit on a chair on the platform or floor while the previously ordained would place his hands on the head of the candidate, pray for his walk with God and success in the ministry, and bless him through God as he goes his way. 

Verse 7 shows the primary evidence of doing God’s will in the Church, “The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”  God blesses as His will is done. 

Opposition Surfaces (Acts 6:8-10)

Verse 8 tells us that Stephen was selected as one of those first seven deacons, and that he was full of grace and power of the Holy Spirit. As he brought his Gospel message and was supernaturally supported by great signs and wonders among the people, men of a radical group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen appeared on the scene and began arguing with his theology (vs. 9). The Scripture documents that these people were comprised of those from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia.  The origin of the name “Freedmen” come from their history of being Greek-speaking Jews who were slaves in the Roman world and freed. They were more zealous Jews than those of Jerusalem. The problem they faced was that Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and simply impossible to defeat in wisdom and Spirit (vs. 10).  

Recall that the apostles and others numbering about 120 members (Acts 1:15) have the relatively new experience of operating or ministering under the power of the Holy Spirit of God. When I introduced the gifts available and demonstrated from the Holy Spirit, I presented a chart showing 315 possible combinations of the Spiritual Gifts (Eph 4:11), the offices or ministries of the Spirit (Rom 12:6-8), and the manifestations or views shown by the Spirit (1 Cor 12:8-10). Recall also we discussed the power of that Spirit inside us even as we battle Satan knowing that “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). What these Synagogue of Freedmen members were experiencing was a power never before demonstrated in their world. No matter how great their wisdom, knowledge, experience or worldly power might be, they could not succeed in warfare, face-to-face against God, the Creator of the Universe. 

How great was this power? Well, Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). Jesus walked on water, raised the dead, healed the sick, healed leprosy at His touch, gave sight to those born blind, gave power to walk and dance to those born lame, gave voice to those who could not speak and much more. That power is in us! 

Understand the Context (Acts 8:1-40)

Acts Chapter 6 is not just a response to the singular complaint about distribution of food for the Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jews.  The solution the apostles offered was to establish another ordained office in the Christian church. These men would be called Deacons as time went by, probably because serving was Greek diakonéō. The practice of praying over them and laying on hands became part of the standard ordination ceremony. Ordination means setting aside (recognizing God’s gifting) for some specific role, like preacher, pastor or deacon. The seven men set aside here were for serving tables yet, the first two listed were notable Gospel preachers, not waiting tables, but preaching the Gospel. Stephen was martyred for preaching the longest sermon in the Bible and Phillip was specifically called out by the Holy Spirit to evangelize the Treasurer of Ethiopia. These works seem better suited for the role the apostles claimed than serving tables.  Nevertheless, we are all called to be evangelists (Acts 1:8). The work of Phillip, the second Deacon listed, transitioned us from preaching in Jerusalem to preaching in the uttermost parts of the earth (Africa). 

When Stephen’s sermon devastated Jewish leadership, he was arrested and sentence to death by stoning. Those stoning him laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul (Acts 7:85). Saul of Tarsus would find himself laying on his back talking with Jesus Christ in Acts 9:4. He would be renamed the Apostle Paul and become a major contributor to the New Testament and the most significant force in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He would destroy Pharisee Gamaliel’s suggestion that Christianity would pass away after its Leader’s death. Rather, the same church that exploded in numbers after just two of Peter’s Spirit-filled sermons would continue its exponential growth from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. When Paul was reborn and switched his attention from destroying the church to growing it, there would be no limit to its growth potential. Christianity was here to stay!

Intersection (Acts 8:26-29)

Early in Chapter 8, we learned that Saul of Tarsus was making havoc of the church in Jerusalem as he entered every house to arrest men and women believers. The result was that Christians were being scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Phillip was preaching Christ in Samaria when an angel of the Lord told him to get up and go south to the desert road going down from Jerusalem toward Gaza (vs. 26). So, Phillip departed for Jerusalem planning to leave there for Gaza to be available for whatever God wanted him to do. Notice that Phillip had already left the persecutions of Saul of Tarsus in Jerusalem and was preaching the Gospel in Samaria. God seems to have a practice of select people for special assignments who are already busy in obediently doing His work (1:8). The angel did not tell Phillip specifically whom he was to meet nor where that person would be. Nevertheless, Phillip got up and departed for Jerusalem. 

Somewhere on that desert road descending from Jerusalem to Gaza, Phillip saw an Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot. This man was a court official of Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia, and was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship (vs. 27). Verse 28 adds that when Phillip saw the Ethiopian, he was sitting in his chariot and reading the Book of Isaiah, the prophet. Now, the Spirit confirms that Phillip was in the right place because it tells him to “Go up and join this chariot” (vs. 29). 

This process is not unusual for how the Lord works. As a person carries out his routine work that God has placed him in, God will interrupt and provide new assignments. Here, Phillip was already busy carrying out the Acts 1:8 Great Commission by which Jesus charged all of us. As Phillip was serving (preaching the Gospel), God communicated with him that there was another important task He needed for Phillip to do. Phillip was already demonstrating his obedience, willingness and availability for doing God’s work, so God added another important task for him to do. While Phillip was still unaware of the specific tasking God had for him, he knew that God told him to go to Jerusalem, and he knew God wanted him to get in the eunuch’s chariot. 

Illumination (Acts 8:30-35)

Verse 30 tells us that Phillip ran up to the chariot, heard the eunuch reading and asked him if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch demonstrated his wisdom by admitting, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” (vs. 31). The eunuch then asked Phillip to come up and sit with him. 

The eunuch showed Phillip where he was studying in the Book of Isaiah. The passage came from Isaiah 53:7-8, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken” (vss. 32-33). This passage of Scripture from Isaiah is a part of the “Suffering Servant” prophecy as documented by Isaiah. He is telling the reader how God’s promised Messiah will voluntarily endure all these suffering for believers so that their sins would be completely paid for and no further sacrifice would be needed.

Verse 34 tells us the question the eunuch had was, “Was the prophet speaking of himself or of some other person?”  So, Phillip started at this place in the Scriptures and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ (that same “Suffering Servant”) with the eunuch. Of course, it was too early in history for Phillip to have a New Testament from which to share, but he had the memory of what Jesus said and did during His lifetime among us. He probably told the eunuch about how the suffering would lead the Messiah to the cross. There He would be numbered with the transgressors (Isa 53:12). That is, He died among thieves. And as He died, He would say the word, “tetelestia” which is the Greek word for the debt has been paid in full for the past sins, current sins and all sins for the future and forever more. It was how Paul could write, “There is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). Through the sacrifices of the “Suffering Servant,” the Messiah would give His life as the full payment for all sin, forever.    

Understand the Context (Acts 9:1-31)  

The first we heard of this man, Saul of Tarsus, was at the stoning of Stephen, one of the seven men in the newly created office of the Deacons (Acts 7:58). Early in Chapter 8, we can see the contrast between the behavior of Saul of Tarsus and the members of the Christian church. Doctor Luke tells us, “Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison” (8:1-3). But, look at the results of that persecution: the Christians were being scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. That was exactly what Jesus commanded of the believers, but they were staying in Jerusalem and not moving the church forward. Here, Jesus is encouraging the fulfillment of His Great Commission (1:8) by causing the Gospel to spread outside Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria. We need only move forward a couple chapters to see how He will cause the Gospel to be preached in “Galilee and the uttermost parts of the earth.” Recall in Acts 8, we saw Phillip, the second of the named Deacons minister to the Ethiopian Eunuch which effectively spread the Gospel into Africa. The Christian movement was expanding quickly.

Notice also the changed minds caused by the indwelling Holy Spirit even under the most severe circumstances. Verse 7:60 finds Stephen praying for the Lord to forgive those stoning him as died. In Chapter 9, we will see the raw rage of Saul had for killing Christians turn to life-risking love as he experienced his own face-to-face meeting with the risen Jesus. He had requested permission of the High Priest to extend his jurisdiction over Jews turning to Christ beyond the borders of Israel into Syria.  However, his hunger for Christian blood ended abruptly after that meeting on the road to Damascus.  

Saul Confronted (Acts 9:3-4)

Verses 1-2 pull no punches regarding the severity of Saul’s attacks on the Christian church. The statement says, “Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” The letters from the High Priest effectively provided Saul authority to persecute Christians outside Israel and into Syria; that is, they turned Saul’s hate into an international persecution. Verse 3 sees Saul acting on that new authority by traveling to Damascus to show his papers in the synagogues there. Instead, he is met by a “light from heaven” that flashes all around him. While the verses do not mention a horse, most depictions of this event show him falling from the back of a large white horse. 

Whether he fell to the ground from a mighty horse or he was simply knocked off his feet by the power of the flashing light, he certainly found himself on his back.  He was looking up when he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ It is clear Saul experienced significant shock at this light, but hearing these words spoken from within that light caught his attention in a very significant way.  

It would be hard to determine if seeing the blinding light or finding oneself flat on one’s back would have been the bigger surprise, but hearing a voice with a certain message from the light would have to rank high. The light and the fall were nonspecific, but the voice spoke to Saul in Saul’s name, further it mentioned his name twice. Then it mentioned a specific charge of which Saul knew he was guilty. Saul was persecuting at least one group of people when he heard the voice, so he knew the voice knew the truth. How the voice knew what Sauk was doing or even to whom the voice might belong were mysteries yet to be solved. The immediate problem for Saul was to determine how to respond. 

Jesus Identified (Acts 9:5-9)

Verse 5 targets the solving of at least the first issue; that is, to whom does the voice belong. Just as the voice specifically identified Saul; Saul’s response specifically identified the voice as one who was superior. The Greek word kýriosis generally used when one is addressing one deserving great respect like God, Master or Lord. Saul did not know yet, but he anticipated a supernatural and/or divine source for the voice. Jesus removed all doubt when He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (vs. 5). But Jesus had more of a message for Saul than just self-identification. He continued, ”but get up and enter the city [Damascus], and it will be told to you what you must do” (vs. 6; author’s brackets). Verse 7 tells us that the men who were with Saul stood there speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.  

So, Saul got up to his feet but now discovered another issue. That is, his eyes were wide open, but he was now blind (vs. 8). So now, Saul needs his new friends to lead him by the hand to the city of Damascus where Jesus told him he must go to get instructions. Verse 9 documents parts of Saul’s responses to the trauma in which he now finds himself: “And he was three days without sight, and he neither ate nor drank.”  

This was no small event for Saul to process. He started out in the glory of getting papers to make his work of finding and arresting people who were denying the only faith he had. He was arresting more Christians and bring them to justice in Jerusalen than any other person in Judaism’s leadership. But, as he approached Damascus, he found himself flat on his back in a conversation with a man he believed to be dead.  Now, he is blind and is finding it impossible to understand or explain what has happened to him. It has now been three days since the event, and he still finds himself unable to eat or drink. Jesus, the man he supposed to be dead, promised him he would learn what his tasking was. Being knocked off his horse by some unseen force and struck blind after talking to a man who was supposed to be dead was traumatic at a minimum. Saul was probably thinking three days is not a harsh delay for all he has seen and done. 

Understand the Context (Acts 9:32-43)

In the miraculous conversion of Saul of Tarsus in last week’s study, recall that Saul was humbled, blind and confused (Acts 9:8). But Jesus contacted Ananias in Damascus in a vision and told him to minister to Saul (vs. 11). When the Lord told Ananias to whom he was to provide ministry, Ananias assured Jesus that he had heard too many bad things about this man to minister to him (vss. 13-14). But we all know from personal experiences, when Jesus asks us to serve Him, we might offer excuses, but none will be accepted. Jesus told Ananias that Saul was a chosen man who would be His instrument for reaching Gentiles, kings and the sons of Israel (vs. 15). So, Ananias “got the picture” and went to Saul, called him his brother to show his oneness with him, laid hands on him to heal his physical and spiritual blindness, and mentored him to understand his filling with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (vss. 16-17). As Ananias saw the mighty works of Saul, he would have no doubt of God’s hand on him. 

Saul described himself as a Pharisee and a son of a Pharisee (Acts 23:6), so he started teaching the truth of Jesus Christ in Damascus with even more vigor than he once tried to destroy anyone who confessed His name. The confusion was deafening; all those who heard him teach of Jesus would look at one another wondering how the most severe persecutor of anyone confessing Christ was now the mightiest evangelist of all. But the great encourager, Barnabas, would be involved and explain the truth of Saul’s conversion to all who asked. 

Of course, the word got around to the authorities, and Saul would need help escaping. It was not only the Gentile authorities outside the church and Jewish authorities and the chief priests, but the Greek-speaking Jews inside the church who were trying to see him dead as well (vs. 29). So, the church took him away to Caesarea and from there back to Tarsus. The impact on the church was astonishing.  Whether in Judea, Samaria or Galilee, all enjoyed the peace that passed all understanding. Their respect for the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit drove big increases. 

Make Your Bed (Acts 9:32-35)

Verse 32 opens by revealing the path of ministry Peter was taking as the anti-Christian persecution continued to grow in Jerusalem. He traveled west of Jerusalem, going through Emmaus and Lydda on the way to Joppa on the Mediterranean coast. Lydda was the town mentioned in verse 32 as Peter’s first stop on this trip. Lydda was about halfway between Emmaus and Joppa. The mention of Sharon in verse 35 refers to the fertile plains somewhat north of Peter’s westerly travel. He planned to minister to the saints along that path including those plains bordering with Samaria. Verse 33 describes a particular man to whom Peter was ministering in Lydda. He was a paralyzed man named Aeneas and had been confined to his bed for eight years.  

The short conversation in verse 34 centers on Peter’s talk with Aeneas. Peter seems to open this conversation somewhat abruptly and states that Jesus Christ routinely heals this disease so, he should get up and make his bed. Unlike the two previous times we saw Peters preach and thousands were born again, this time, it seems that Peter simply observes the need and sets about telling the man that Jesus actively heals this need. It seems more advisory in nature than a command for the sickness to be gone. Verse 34 finishes with the paralyzed man immediately getting up just as Peter instructed him.  

The way Luke describes this event is constructed to eliminate any of the superficial statements or actions in healing people. Specifically, Peter did not anoint the man with oil, pray over him nor ask for the power of the Lord to intercede in the event. This does not prohibit any of these things, but it does eliminate the specific requirement or necessity for them. We can easily see how this healing helps us better understand the entire focus is on the faith that Jesus does these things in the absence of any process, prescription or person. Jesus, through the power of the indwelling Spirit, does these things and certainly not any process that brings attention to the minister delivering God’s power. When looking at the list of Spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:9, healing is listed as “gifts of healing.” So, a person does not have the healing gift; rather the person has healing gifts.  

Do Not Delay (Acts 9:36-38)

Now we see Luke describing a situation in Joppa near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and Judea’s border with Samaria. There is a woman living there named Tabitha, whose name was Dorcas in Greek. This person had a tremendous record of “deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did” (vs. 36). In other words, this was a woman who was well know and very visible in this community. This description of Tabitha is provided for the sake of evidence or witness rather than any hint of one’s works adding to or subtracting from their need or value to God or the community. Tabitha was a person many people knew. Whatever she did or endured, the entire community would know. Verse 37 informs us that Tabitha fell sick and died. As was the practice in those days, her body was cleansed and placed in an upper room pending family plans for internment or cremation. The point is that her death was seen as normal and permanent. Nothing extraordinary here.

But, since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to implore him to come to them in Joppa and not to delay in doing so. The effort was to have Peter serve as God’s instrument to potentially bring Tabitha back from the dead to continue her impressive support for the Lord.  

The interesting part of this reaching out to Peter with great haste is somewhat strange considering what Jesus had shown them while He walked among them. Namely, when Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was sick unto death (John 11:3-5), Jesus stopped several times on the way to Bethany of Judea. By the time Jesus arrived, it had been four days since he had passed. In fact, Mary and Martha were weeping and telling Jesus they knew if He had been there, their brother would not have died. Nevertheless, Jesus headed for Lazarus’ tomb and asked the others to take the stone away. Mary and Martha protested saying that their brother had been dead for four days and would certainly be in decay. Jesus went to the tomb and called Lazarus forth even after he had been dead for four days. Therefore, the “great haste” was unnecessary. 

Understand the Context (Acts 10:1-11:18)

After Peter raised Tabitha, and the news spread throughout the entire region of Joppa, many people believed in Jesus. The nineth chapter finishes by saying that Peter stayed in Joppa many days with a tanner named Simon (9:43). Chapter 10 begins by introducing a Roman Centurion named Cornelius as a devout and God-fearing man currently living in Caesarea would return to Rome after military service. Be sure to catch what Jesus is doing: Two weeks ago, we studied how an Ethiopian Eunuch received Christ as Savior and was returning to Africa. Last week, we saw Saul of Tarsus, another Roman citizen called by Jesus Christ. The persecuted church in Jerusalem was being forced to move from Jerusalem to cities all across Northern Judea (Lydda, Sharon and Joppa) bordering with Samaria. God is accomplishing exactly what He tasked the church to do in Acts 1:8 when He said, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (KJV).   

An angel visited Cornelius in Caesarea and told him to get Peter from Joppa. He immediately dispatched two of his soldiers to get Peter (10:7). While traveling the next day, Peter had a vision of God dropping down a sheet with all kinds of animals, forbidden and clean, alike. The voice told Peter to kill them and eat (vs. 13). Peter refused three times and God repeated the vision. Peter entered Cornelius’ home which was a violation of Moses’ Law for a Jew. Peter and Cornelius shared the visions they had experienced with each other. Cornelius fell to his knees, but Peter directed him to stand and said he was just a man as himself. Cornelius had a great group of other Gentiles in his home and Peter preached Christ to all of them. The Holy Spirit fell upon them as they believed. Peter asked who might forbid that these be baptized as we were? This was the first time Gentiles received the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant as God told Abraham he would all the families of the earth (Gen 12:3). 

Offered to All (Acts 10:34-36)

As seen above, Acts Chapter 10 documents a major turning point in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in that, up to this time, the church was mainly comprised of Jewish proselytes to the Christian faith. That does not change the truth of the Abrahamic Covenant which clearly documents God’s intent that Abraham would be the source of blessings for all nations, and peoples and tongues of the earth (Gen 12:3, 15:1-21). They would be a people whose faith was accounted unto them for righteousness before God (Gen 15:6). They would own all the land between the Nile and the Euphrates Rivers (Gen 15:18). In Acts 10, Luke documents Peter’s certain revelation that God is not partial to any person, but rather, He welcomes any person from any nation who acknowledges Jesus Christ for who He is and does that which is right. Finishing the transitional though, if the church was mainly comprised of Jewish proselytes up to this time, the fulfilled inclusion of the Abrahamic Covenant would include all people from every nation, tongue and race, thereby adding all believing Gentiles to the believing Jews. That is whom makes up God’s Christian Church and Acts 10 introduces it. The capital “C” in Church here is meant to designate the membership of the Church is all believers, whether Jew or Gentile (Eph 2:11-16, KJV). Paul also said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Rom 1:16, KJV). 

So, from the first Book of the Bible through now, “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)” is the same word for today (Acts 10:36). Just a quick word of context here. Recall that God gave Peter a vision of a sheet coming down from the Heaven containing both clean and unclean animals and commanded him to kill and eat (Acts 10:13). Peter immediately rejected the consumption of any unclean beast, saying he had never eaten such and would not. God had to show him the demonstration three times before he caught on to what God was saying. In absolute terms for Peter to understand, He said, “What God hath cleaned, that call not thou common” (KJV). The direct application for Peter was that if God calls believing Gentiles clean, they are clean INDEED!

Through Faith (Acts 10:37-39a)

Luke documents Peter’s words explaining what he saw at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. When Jesus was about 30 years old, He came out of Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist (Matt 3:13-17 & Mark 1:9-11). At first, John said he should be baptized by Him rather than Jesus being baptized him. But, Jesus insisted, and He was baptized by John. When Jesus came out of the water, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove landed on Him and a voice from Heaven declared, “This is My beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” Here are two places in the Gospels, plus the one in Acts 10:37-39 referencing the event, where we can see the full Trinity in one place at one time. The Son of God is seen coming up out of the water, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove is seen landing on the Son, and God the Father speaks from Heaven declaring His pleasure at Jesus’ yielding to this baptism.  

In verse 37, Peter recounts that the people would certainly remember all the things that took place beginning at Galilee and throughout all of Judea. John had begun announcing a baptism of repentance to celebrate the turning from personal sin. Baptism modeled after the standard Jewish practice called Mikvah. While that was usually associated with cleansing after healing from sicknesses to regain access to the Temple, John’s baptism was used to signify a new or fresh beginning. John explained that he baptized with water but One coming after Him would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:11 & Luke 3:16). At Jesus’ baptism, He was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and went about doing miracles, healing people who were oppressed by the devil. It was obvious that God was impowering Jesus (vs. 38). In verse 39a, Peter reminds all that they had all seen the great things He had done throughout the entire land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where the religious Jews arrest Him.

The power He had seemed supernatural, but Jesus was able to use it in even the most routine situations. John the Baptist was saying that this Jesus was so much superior to him that he was not even worthy of tying His shoes.  

Through Faith (Acts 10:39b-43)

Now Peter enters the parts of his sermon which will get the Jewish leaders angry with him and among themselves. First, Peter charges the religious leaders with crucifying Christ. While we know that they had no authority for crucifying Christ, they were the influencing element which caused Pilate to order the crucifixion even though he knew Jesus was innocent. Recall that Pilate tried three times to release Jesus: twice before having Him flogged and once afterward. Nevertheless, verse 39 correctly states that the religious leaders crucified Christ. But verse 40 follows saying. “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible” (10:40). This has two problems for the Jewish religious leaders. First, If Jesus was risen from the dead, He is alive and His followers will never disband as the noted Pharisee once suggested. Second, if Jesus was resurrected, that mean roughly half of the leaders’ theology was proven in error because the Sadducees taught there was no resurrection from the dead. So, Peter successfully angered all the religious leaders in general, and then doubly angered the Sadducees by proving their theology on resurrection was wrong. Not bad for a professional fisherman.

In verse 41, Peter tempers his statement regarding God granted Jesus’ visibility and was seen by all. Peter said instead that Jesus was seen by all those God chose to see Him during the 40 days He walked among them. Paul later provides a more detailed list as, “3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also” (1 Cor 15:3-8). So, Jesus was seen by nearly 600 people after He resurrected. Peter also states that He gave us the Great Commission at that time (Acts 1:8). The interesting statement Peter made was that all the prophets bore witness that through His name, believers were forgiven of sins. That statement is basically the entire New Testament in a nutshell!  

Understand the Context (Acts 11:19-12:25)

Who can forget that awesome experience of reading about the two visions from the Lord that set up Peter’s preaching at Cornelius’ house shortly after raising Tabitha from the dead? Cornelius had the vision from an angel of God to get Peter from Joppa, so he sent two servants and a devout soldier to escort him back to his home in Caesarea (Acts 10:1-8). The next day, Peter had a vision of a sheet coming down from the sky containing both clean and unclean animals, crawling things and birds (vss. 9-12). Peter heard a voice directing him to kill and eat of all the animals. He rejected that direction saying, “By no means, Lord, for I had never eaten anything unholy” (vs. 10). But the voice came to Peter saying that what God has cleansed, can no longer be called unholy (vs. 15). As Peter meditated on what the vision might mean, the Spirit told him there were three men coming for him and he was to go with them without misgivings because God sent them (vss. 18-20). The men told Peter that Cornelius was divinely directed to have Peter come to his home and deliver a message for him. Peter delivered a message of Jesus Christ at Cornelius’ home, and many Gentiles received that message and were filled with the Holy Spirit just as displayed on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
 

Of course, the first concern of the Christian leaders in Jerusalem was Peter’s illegal relationships with the Gentiles. Peter testified of the visions received by Cornelius and himself, and how God provided repentance and forgiveness to a large number Gentiles, just like He did with Jews on the Pentecost (11:18, 24). So, the leaders sent Barnabas to Antioch to investigate Peter’s claims. As a brief sidenote, it was at Antioch where the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians. 

In addition to Barnabas’ investigation of Peter’s relationship with the Gentiles in Antioch and claims of Gentile conversions to Christianity, a mass famine, focused in Jerusalem, but involving all Judea was breaking out. Further, James, the brother of John, was beheaded by Herod, and it appeared that Peter might well be the next victim. 

Led to Freedom (Acts 12:6-10) 

James, the brother of John, was beheaded as a part of Herod Agrippa I’s personal crackdown on the Christian movement in about 44 AD. When Herod saw that the Jewish leadership was pleased with that execution, he also took Peter and put him in prison with an assigned set of four quaternion of soldiers (16) to guard him. Verse 6 says that it was the same night that Herod was going bring Peter forward for charging and execution, Peter was asleep in his cell between two soldiers. He was bound by two chains and there were guards at the front door were watching over the prison. An angel of the Lord appeared in the prison cell and his light lit up the entire area (vs. 7a). The angel struck Peter on the side to wake him up and told him to get up quickly. The chains around Peter fell off as the angel spoke (vs. 7b). The angel continued to lead Peter to gird himself and put on his sandals (vs. 8). He added that Peter should put his cloak around him and follow him.  

Verse 9 shows that Peter was continuing to follow the angel all the way out of the prison but did not know if it was real or some kind of vision. But when the angel led him past the first and second guard, and they came and up to an iron gate that was the final barrier to escape into the city it became clear to Peter it was no vision (vs. 10a). When the gate opened by itself and they walked out, Peter was certain that God was allowing him to escape. The angel was leading Peter down the street away from the prison when he disappeared.  

Herod Agrippa I died that same year with major Christian revivals going on in the northern parts of Judea and far into Samaria (History says he died from stomach worms). The Roman Emperor Claudius (ruled 41-54 AD) decided to make the ruler of Judea a Procurator which meant he reported directly to Rome and no longer a satellite of Syria. Herod Agrippa II was made king of Judea and the last of the Herodian family to reign. This is the Herod who was a part of Paul’s trials in Caesarea (Acts 25). It was the Herodian influence over Jerusalem’s Sanhedrin that attempted to have Festus release Paul to the Jews who would execute him for bringing Gentiles into the Temple at Jerusalem. Festus refused and Paul would be executed in Rome (64 68 AD).

Knocking at the Door (Acts 12:11-14)

It was not until verse 11 that it is said that Peter came to himself, that is, he finally realized that his escape from prison was orchestrated by God rather than a simple vision that would pass, and he would find himself still chained to Agrippa’s soldiers in Jerusalem. He acknowledges, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting” (Acts 12:11). When Peter finally realized the Lord led his escape, he went to Mary’s house, who was the mother of John Mark, the writer of the Second Gospel of Christ in our Bibles. (John Mark was also the first “streaker” described in the Bible (Mark 14:51-52)). There were many people gathered to pray for Peter in that house.

Verses 13-14 tell us that when Peter knocked at door, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the knock. However, when she saw that Peter was the one knocking at the door, she was so overjoyed that she left him at the gate without granting him access and ran to the place where all were praying so she could announce his arrival. But, she left Peter standing at the locked gate awaiting access. 

It was one of those moments that happens, but the embarrassment makes it too difficult to repeat. Here we have a room, maybe an entire house of people praying for the release of a treasured friend and leader. The subject of the prayers has been arrested and may even face death. Through the miraculous mercies of the Master, he is released from prison and wants only to rejoin his faithful friends who have gathered to pray for the very thing which has happened. He makes his way to the house where the gathering has taken place. He anticipates the joyful, happy, maybe even ecstatic welcome of his dear friends. He holds back the personal enthusiasm and excitement of hammering at the door so forcefully that some might be stricken with fear. So, he controls the level of the knock to express joy and excitement but not the overwhelming glee he feels. After a few seconds that feel like hours, the housekeeper responds to the knock by opening that little door the eye can see through but is too small for anything else. He can see her eyes and the excitement of knowing who it is. The little door shuts, but nothing else happens at the door. What???