Acts

The book of Acts picks up right after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The first chapter shares that the author (Luke of the Gospel of Luke) is continuing his account to someone named Theophilus. Theophilus mean’s “friend of God” or “loved by God” and may or may not refer to a specific person. (Learn more here about Theophilus.)

Luke notes that Jesus appeared regularly to the apostles after his resurrection for 40 days. He confirmed to them multiple ways that He really was risen from the dead. He also told them not to leave Jerusalem until the Father sent them the gift of the Holy Spirit as He had promised. He promised the they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 

The apostles were still thinking politically, though, and kept asking Jesus when He would free Israel from Roman control and restore the kingdom (with Jesus as its ruler). Jesus responded that only the Father has the authority to set those dates and times. Instead, Jesus points the apostles to what their purpose would be: to be His witnesses to the world.  

The apostles were with Jesus at the Mount of Olives. Jesus was then taken up into Heaven. After He was taken up, two angels appeared to the apostles who were continuing to look up the sky trying to still see Jesus. The angels asked them why they were still looking up in the sky for Jesus and that He had been taken to heaven. They told them Jesus would someday return in the same way that He had left. The apostles then returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.  

The apostles met regularly together and were united in prayer. When about 120 of them were together, Peter address the group and talked about the prophecy that had been fulfilled with Judas. He also noted that prophecy said that Judas should be replaced.  Peter said that it should be someone that had been with them for the whole time from Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan until His ascension into heaven.  So, the group nominated Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.  Then they prayed that God would show them which one would become an apostle along with the other eleven, replacing Judas.  Then they cast lots and Matthias was selected.  

Principles: God may not deliver you from the bad circumstances that you are enduring but instead bring you through as His witness. The politics of the situation is not something God will change or correct. God will use any situation He sees fit to accomplish His purpose.   Vote your conscience (doing so as best as you can according to the principles of the Bible).  However, it may not go your way.

The day of Pentecost is a holiday is a Jewish holy day celebrating the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. It is 50 days after Passover, which was being celebrated when Jesus was put to death. As a result, there were people in Jerusalem celebrating the holy days (holidays) that would not normally be.  

On Pentecost, all the believers were together. All of a sudden, there was a sound that filled the place they were in like a roaring wind. Then flames of fire, or what looked like that, appeared and settled on them. Then everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and started to speak in other tongues.  

Many of the people that were in Jerusalem for Pentecost heard the loud noise (the roaring wind) and came running to the believers to see what was going on with them. They heard the believers speaking tongues that they recognized from their part of the world. Some people scoffed saying the believers were drunk. 

But then Peter stood up and called out to everyone. He told them that the believers were not drunk as some were saying as it was only about nine in the morning. Peter began sharing with those listening that what they were all seeing and hearing was prophesied in Joel. Peter then shared that Messiah had come, was crucified by them, and raised from the dead. He pointed to King David and how he prophesied about Jesus as well. 

Peter’s words convicted them and they asked what they should do. Peter told them that they needed to repent of their sins, turn to God, and be baptized in Jesus Christ to be forgiven of their sins.   About 3000 people were saved that day.  

After that, the believers devoted themselves to what the apostles were teaching, to fellowshipping with each other, sharing meals, and prayer.  There was a sense of awe about what was happening.  The apostles performed miracles regularly.  The believers congregated together regularly and shared resources to cover the needs of people.  They worshipped at the temple daily.  People were added to the faith daily by the Lord.      

Principles: Law is fulfilled in the Spirit. Community is foundational to faith. The Holy Spirit is given to us to be with us forever and constantly.  The Holy Spirit has transformational power for the individual (see Peter).

Just as noted in the previous chapter where the believers went to the temple to worship and pray, Peter and John were going to the Temple one afternoon to for a three o’clock prayer service. As they were going in, a man who was lame from birth was being carried in to beg for money as that was the only way to support himself. The lame man saw Peter and John and asked them for some money. 

Peter and John looked at him intently, even telling the man to look at them. The man, expecting to get some money, looked at Peter and John. Peter said, “I don’t have money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.” Peter took the man by the right hand and helped him to stand up.  As Peter did this, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.  The man jumped up and started to walk.  he began walking, leaping, and praising God for the healing. 

All the people around realized this was the man that they had seen begging at the Temple entrance for years.  They were amazed and rushed over. 

Peter then saw the opportunity and addressed the crowd.  He asked them why this was so surprising and why they were looking at Peter and John as if they had made this happen.  He then told them that it was through Jesus that they killed that the man was healed.  He also said that he knew it was through ignorance that they had Jesus crucified and that it was prophesied that Jesus would suffer.  Peter then reviewed how the prophets had talked about Jesus.      

Principles: God puts opportunities in front of us and bad things in the world to be used for His glory.  

This chapter picks up right after the lame man has been healed in the Temple. Peter is telling the crowd about Jesus. Then the Temple guard and Jewish leaders show up to end the disruption. They were upset that Peter was preaching Jesus whom they had just over a month ago put to death. The Jewish leaders, of course, refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. So, they arrested Peter and John and put them in jail overnight since it was evening by the time they took them. However, another large group of people heard Peter’s message and believed bringing the number of believers up to around 5,000, not counting women and children.

The next day, the Jewish leaders questioned Peter and John. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and were able to witness before the Jewish leaders that the man that was healed, standing in their midst, was healed through the power of Jesus of Nazareth that they had crucified. Peter pulled out scripture that they recognized supporting Jesus as Messiah. 

The members of the council that were questioning Peter and John sent them out of the room to discuss. They clearly recognized that Peter and John were not educated but had special boldness because they had been with Jesus. They could not deny that the man was healed. So, the Jewish leaders called them back into the room and threatened them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” The council threatened them further but then let them go because they couldn’t think how they could punish them without starting a riot. 

Peter and John returned to the believers and prayed for boldness to teach the message of Jesus. After they prayed, the place they were meeting shook and the Holy Spirit filled them. 

In the days that followed, the believers were united and shared their resources.  Some sold possessions to take care of the needs of the other believers.       

Principles:  People can tell when you’ve spent time with Jesus.  The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say in front of important people.  

The chapter starts out with a story that continues from the last chapter where people were selling their belongings and sharing with the other believers. In this case, a husband and wife sold a piece of property, brought part of the proceeds from the sale to the apostles, and told them it was the whole amount that they received. They lied to the apostles and ultimately to the Holy Spirit about the amount they gave (part or whole). Because they attempted to lie about it for personal glory, they died. This caused great fear amongst the believers and those that heard about it. 

The apostles continued to heal people to the point that people brought the sick and possessed to them and all were healed. The believers continued to meet in the temple and the apostles preached there. 

The Jewish leaders were angry and jealous at them doing that and arrested the apostles. They put them in jail over night. However, an angel came and released them from the jail in the night and told them to go back to preach in the temple. When the Jewish leaders went to take the apostles out of jail and deal with them, they found their jail cell locked with the guards still in place but without them in the jail cell. The Jewish leaders could not understand what had happened but then they heard that the apostles were back in the temple preaching. The captain of the temple guards went and re-arrested the apostles without making a scene to avoid the wrath of the people. The Jewish leaders questioned the apostles saying, “didn’t we tell you not to preach in Jesus’ name?” Peter and the apostles responded, “we must obey God rather than human authority.” Peter reminded them that Jesus was the Messiah that they had put to death and that God had raised from the dead and put at His right hand as Prince and Savior. 

The Jewish leaders were furious at what the apostles said and decided to have them killed as well. However, one of the Pharisees named Gamaliel had the apostles removed from the room and spoke to the rest of the Jewish leaders.  He reminded them that other movements had come and gone.  He noted that if the movement was of man, it would fade but if it was of God, then they would find themselves fighting God.  This calmed the Jewish leaders down.  They had the apostles flogged and ordered that the apostles not preach in Jesus’ name and let them go. 

The apostles rejoiced that God cou9nted them worthy to suffer in the name of Jesus.  Then they continued preaching Jesus in the temple and from house to house.  

Principles: Thou shalt not lie.  God might allow you to suffer for His name.  God’s authority is more important that human authority.  

The growth of the body of believers (disciples in the Greek) caused some discontent as some of the subgroups felt there was discrimination against them in the daily food distribution. The twelve apostles called a meeting to deal with the bigger issue of managing the food program for those that were living communally. They noted that they should not be managing that but instead spending time in prayer and teaching. As a result, they selected seven well-respected believers from the group to manage the food program. Once selected, these men took over the management of food distribution but they, too, were filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. 

One of those selected, Stephen, performed great miracles and was a wise speaker and debater. One day, he was challenged by Jews in the area who could not compete with the wisdom he shared.  Since the Jews could not beat him, they convinced others to lie about him, saying he had blasphemed Moses and God.  They arrested Stephen and brought him before the Jewish leaders (high council).  The witnesses kept telling their lies. 

However, as the witnesses were lying, everyone on the high council began staring at Stephen because his face had begun glowing brightly.      

Principles: You can’t do everything. Play to your strengths and gifts that God has given you. Just because you are gifted in administrative roles does not mean you’re not anointed.  You will be challenged and lied about in doing God’s work.

This chapter continues from the previous one with Stephen before the Jewish leaders who have asked him if the accusations are true.  Instead of answering, Stephen gives them a history lesson telling them of the coming of the Messiah despite the rebellion of the Israelites and their rejection of God’s messengers.  Stephen wraps up his history lesson pointing out that they have been rebellious and they too rejected the Messiah, who was Jesus, by putting Him to death.  

The Jewish leaders were infuriated by what Stephen said and the accusations he made against them. 

Stephen began intently looking towards heaven and saw the heavens open up with Jesus standing near God the Father’s right hand in a place of honor.  He told everyone what he was seeing.  

They rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and stoned him.  Stephen asked God not to hold them accountable for the sin of stoning him.  

Also, the man named Saul, was with the Jewish leaders and held everyone’s coats and garments while they were stoning Stephen.  (Saul will later change his name to Paul and becomes a major minister in Christianity.)

Principles:  We have all rejected God throughout our history.  God’s grace has carried us through despite our rejection and sin.  

This chapter continues from the last one where Stephen was killed and Saul had been watching. A persecution of the believers at large began with Saul spearheading a lot of the persecution. It caused many of the believers (aside from the apostles) to go to other cities instead of staying in Jerusalem. In the process of people dispersing, they shared the good news with people in the places that they went.  

Philip went to Samaria and preached and performed many miracles. Many were saved and baptized. Peter and John went to Samaria and they prayed that the Holy Spirit would be given to the new believers as they had only been saved but did not have the infilling of the Holy Spirit. One of the Samaritans (Simon) who had been a magician and a person of notoriety saw that Peter and John were praying for others to have the Holy Spirit, he offered to pay Peter and John for this power (so he would regain the influence that he had with his magic before Philip arrived).  Peter rebuked him for his jealousy and wickedness.  

Philip was then told by God to follow a specific road.  As he was doing so, the treasurer of Ethiopia was traveling in a carriage along the same road after visiting Jerusalem to worship.  He was reading Isaiah out loud.  The Holy Spirit directed him to walk alongside the treasurer.  Philip asked him if he understood the passage (Isaiah 53:7 – 8).  The treasurer asked how he could if there wasn’t someone to teach him.  He invited Philip up into the carriage to explain the passage.  The passage was about the coming Messiah and Philip told him the message of Jesus coming and His death and resurrection.  They came to some water and the Ethiopian asked to be baptized.  Philip baptized him and then disappeared, taken by God instantly in a town North of where they were (Azotus).  Philip continued to preach in the towns he went through.   

Principles: Even when bad things happen, God uses them to expand His kingdom. Sometimes when seemingly bad things happen, it is an opportunity for God’s power to be at work.  Philip got a real Star Trek transporter experience.

In this chapter, Saul’s vendetta against the believers has him seeking approval from the Jewish leaders to go to Damascus and imprison believers, dragging them back in chains to Jerusalem. He gets the approval and heads to Damascus.  

On the way to Damascus, though, Saul is confronted by Jesus as a bright light and voice from heaven. A Voice asks Saul why he is persecuting Him. Paul asks who He is. Jesus identifies Himself and tells him to go into the city where he would be told what to do next. However, when Saul gets up, he realized he was blind and had to be led to the city. He stayed there three days blinded without eating or drinking.  

While he was there waiting, the God spoke to another believer in Damascus named Ananias. He told Ananias to go and pray for Saul. Ananias noted his reservations about Saul since he knew that Saul was greatly persecuting Christians. God assured him that Saul was chosen to take God’s message to the Gentiles and kings. Ananias went and prayed for Saul and when he did, scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. Saul got up and was baptized and ate.  

After this, Saul stayed in Damascus with the believers for several days and began preaching in the synagogues saying that Jesus was the Son of God. People were surprised given what they had heard about Saul. As Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, some of the Jews plotted to kill him. This was found out and the believers smuggled Paul out of the city and sent him to Jerusalem.  

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, the believers there were afraid that it was a trick and didn’t want to meet with him. However, Barnabas brought Saul to the rest of the believers, telling them how he had preached so strongly to people in Damascus and how God had talked to Saul. So, they accepted Saul and he began preaching in Jerusalem until he received death threats there too. They then sent Saul to Tarsus, his hometown. 

Then there was peace in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria and the believers grew in numbers and strength.  

Peter traveled around preaching and healing people. In the town of Lydda, Peter met a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed. Peter told him that he was healed and to get up and walk. Aeneas did that and the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw what happened and turned to the Lord.  

In Joppa, Peter was asked to come and pray for a believer named Tabitha that had died. Tabitha was known for her kindness to others and helping the poor. When Peter arrived where she was laid, he asked everyone to leave the room. Peter prayed for her and then told her to get up. She opened her eyes immediately and sat up. News of Tabitha being raised from the dead spread and Peter stayed a long time in Joppa living with Simon the tanner.  

Principles:  God is not bound to use the people or resources we expect Him to use.  

In this chapter, God makes it clear that He wants to have a relationship with Gentiles as well as Jews. 

A Roman Centurion name Cornelius was a devout follower of God. God sent an angel to tell Cornelius to send for Peter so that Peter could share the gospel message with Cornelius. Cornelius sends several trusted servants and a soldier who reports to him.  

Peter, who had been with Joppa at Simon the Tanner’s house, is shown a vision that tells him that he should not call unclean what God has made clean. Because of the vision he has, Peter is willing to go with the men Cornelius sent even though they are Gentiles.  

When Peter, the men Cornelius sent, and others that came with Peter arrived back at Cornelius’ home, Cornelius had assembled friends and family to hear what Peter had to share.  Peter shared that God had showed him that Peter shouldn’t think of anyone as impure or unclean. Then he shared the story of the Messiah come and that Jesus was the Savior.  As he was sharing, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius’ friends and family and they began speaking in tongues and praising God.  Peter called for everyone to be baptized.  

Principles: God works all sides of the equation to accomplish His purpose.  God is the judge of the state of someone’s heart.  

Peter returns from Cornelius’ home to Jerusalem and the Jewish believers criticized him for being in the home of and eating with a gentile. However, Peter explained the vision he had seen and what had happened and then everyone rejoiced and praised God that the gentiles too were allowed to repent and follow Jesus.  

The believers that had scattered when Stephen was martyred continued to share the gospel wherever they went.  In Antioch, there were a large number of gentiles that came to follow Jesus as the result of those that were ministering.  Barnabas was sent from the believers in Jerusalem when they heard what was happening.  Barnabas encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.  Barnabas went to Tarsus to get Saul and bring him back to Antioch where they both ministered there for a full year.  During their time there, prophets came from Jerusalem and prophesied that a famine was coming to the entire Roman empire.  The believers in Antioch sent relief in the hands of Barnabas and Saul to the Judean believers.    

Principles:  God loves the whole world and wants everyone to be saved,  Jew and gentile alike.  Be careful what you criticize because it might be a move of God.   

In this chapter, we see King Herod Agrippa begin to persecute believers. He had James killed with a sword and when he saw that this pleased the Jewish leaders, he imprisoned Peter, intending to put him on trial at Passover. Peter was locked in prison, chained to two guards. The believers prayed very hard for Peter’s release.

The night before his trial, Peter was asleep between the guards. An angel appeared and awakened Peter, releasing him from the chains and telling him to get dressed. The angel walked Peter out of the prison right past other guards and through locked doors out into the streets before the angel disappeared. Peter had thought that it was a vision the whole time. It wasn’t until he was outside the prison that he realized that it actually happened.  

Peter then went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. He knocked at the door and when the young girl that answered the door heard Peter’s voice, she was so excited that it was Peter that she ran to tell everyone else without letting Peter into the house. Everyone told her she was out of her mind for saying Peter was at the door but Peter continued to knock at the door and that it must be his angel (in other words that he was dead). They went to the door and found that it was actually Peter and he told them what happened. Peter told them to tell James (the brother of Jesus, eventual author of the book of James) and the other brothers what happened and he went on to someplace else.  

Meanwhile, back at the prison, there was a “great commotion” when Peter was missing in the morning. The guards had not really seen anything that happened with Peter and the angel. In the end, the guards were sentenced to death for Peter’s escape. 

Herod, having enough of the situation, left Judea for Caesarea.  

Herod had been angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So, the people of Tyre and Sidon sent a group to him to make peace with him since they were dependent upon him for supplies. The delegates were able to gain the favor of Herod’s personal assistant and were able to get an audience with Herod. On the day of the meeting, dressed in his royal robes, Herod made a speech to them. In response, the people from Tyre and Sidon applauded him saying, “it is the voice of a god, not a man!” Because Herod accepted the people’s praise instead of giving glory to God, he was struck with sickness. He was consumed with worms and died.  

The word of God continued to spread.  

Saul and Barnabas, having finished their visit to Jerusalem, went back to Antioch taking John Mark with them.  

Principles: Despite serving God fully (and perhaps because we are serving God), we will have trials, persecution, and tragedy (see John 16:33).  When you pray, don’t be surprised when God grants your prayers.  Give glory to God alone.    

With Barnabas and Saul back in Antioch, they were praying and fasting one day with a group of believers. The Holy Spirit told them to dedicate Barnabas and Saul for a specific work. So the group laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.  

Barnabas and Saul went on what is known as Paul’s missionary journey. (It was at this time that Saul began going by the name Paul.) They started out with John Mark along with them as an assistant. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia, sailed to the island of Cyprus, and went to the town of Salamis. They preached in the Jewish synagogues there.

Then they traveled from town to town on the island finally reaching Paphos. In Paphos they met a false prophet named Bar-Jesus who had connected himself to the governor. The governor, Sergius Paulus, wanted to hear the message Barnabas and Paul were preaching. However, Bar-Jesus tried to keep the governor from listening to Paul and Barnabas and believing in Jesus (which would lessen the false prophet’s influence on the governor). Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, called out Bar-Jesus telling him that he was the son of the devil and full of lies. He told him that God was punishing him for his fraud and perversion of the truth by striking him temporarily blind. When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer in Jesus because he was so astonished by the events and teaching about Jesus. 

Next, Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark went to Perga by ship. John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem (which causes friction between him and Paul). Paul and Barnabas continued on to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath, they went to the synagogue and preached. Paul gives a historical review for the Jews of Jesus’ place in their history and shares that He is the promised savior. Those that heard (both Jews and Gentiles) begged Paul and Barnabas to come back the next week and speak again. 

The next week, they came back to preach and almost the entire city came to hear them speak. However, some of the Jews became jealous of the crowds that were drawn by the message and began to slander Paul and argue against his points. To this, Paul and Barnabas noted that it was important to offer the message first to the Jews. However, since they had rejected it, they would preach to the Gentiles. (This made the Gentiles very happy that they would be eligible for this message of salvation.) The Jews stirred up influential women and leaders in the city to incite a mob against Paul and Barnabas to run them out of the city.  Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet as a sign of rejection of those in the city and went on to Iconium.  The believers were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit (despite this happening).

Principles:  God offered the promise to the Jews but didn’t limit it to them.  Rely on the Holy Spirit for direction and to speak the pointed truth.  The historical setting plays a role in Jesus’ story.   

Paul and Barnabas move on to Iconium and again preached in the Jewish synagogue. Again, many Jews and Greeks believed. But then some Jews rejected the message of God and turned against Paul and Barnabas working to incite others against them. Despite this, Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time until a mob meant to kill them. They fled to Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding area in Lycaonia.  

While they were preaching in Lystra, there was a lame man (since birth) who sat listening to Paul. Paul realized that the man had faith to be healed so he told him to stand up. Then the man jumped up and started walking. When the crowd saw this, they shouted in their own language that Paul and Barnabas must be gods. They decided that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes. The priest of the local Greek temple went to prepare bulls and wreaths for sacrifice. When Paul and Barnabas realized what was going on, they rushed into the midst of the crowd tearing open their clothing assuring the people that they were just men bringing the Good News of God to them. Even with their efforts, Paul and Barnabas barely stopped them from performing sacrifices. Again, like in other towns, Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and stirred up the people against Paul and Barnabas. The people there stoned Paul and dragged him out of town thinking he was dead. However, as believers gathered around Paul, Paul got up and went back into town. The next day they left for Derbe.  

After preaching in Derbe and making disciples there, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia where they strengthened the believers and encouraged them to continue their faith in God in each of those places. They reminded them that they would suffer hardships because of their faith in God. Through prayer and fasting, Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each of the areas. 

Then Paul and Barnabas headed back to Antioch of Syria, through Pisidia and Pamphylia. When they reached Antioch, they assembled the believers and reported what had happened on their trip.  

Principles:  Despite having a clear directive from God and preaching the true message of the Gospel, you will suffer hardships and people will come against you.  God’s plan will be accomplished.  

Paul and Barnabas are back in Antioch and some men from Judea come and start telling the believers there that they have to be circumcised in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas argue the point with them strongly. No resolution comes of it and Paul and Barnabas decide to go back to Jerusalem to the disciples to discuss the issue. They travel back with local believers, stopping along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit other believers there. 

Upon arrival in Jerusalem, they are welcomed by the whole church, apostles, and elders. Paul and Barnabas reported everything that God had been doing. However, some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisees stood and insisted that Gentiles must be circumcised and follow the laws of Moses, bringing to point the very thing Paul and Barnabas had traveled to Jerusalem to discuss.  So the apostles and elders met to discuss the issue. Peter reminded everyone that God had used him with Cornelius and how those Gentiles received the Holy Spirit just as they had without circumcision and Jewish law. He asked everyone why they would burden the Gentiles with the law when they, the Jews, could not uphold it themselves, given the evidence that God had displayed in their communities. Paul and Barnabas also shared the signs and wonders that God had done for the Gentiles. James also pointed to prophecy in the scriptures (Amos 9:11-12) noting that the conversion of the Gentiles was predicted. James recommended that they shouldn’t make it hard for Gentiles by imposing the law but encourage them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, sexual immorality, eating meat from strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 

The apostles and elders then sent Paul and Barnabas along with leaders from the church in Jerusalem back to Antioch with a letter noting the results of the conversation. The letter was read at a meeting for the believers there. There was great joy from the message. Two of the leaders from Jerusalem, Judas and Silas, were prophets and spoke to the believers there encouraging them in their faith.  

The leaders from Jerusalem stayed in Antioch for a while but then most returned to Jerusalem. Some texts have a verse noting that Silas stayed in Antioch.  

After some time in Antioch, Paul told Barnabas that they should go back and visit all the cities that they have previously preached. Barnabas agreed but wanted to take John Mark.  Paul strenuously objected to bringing John Mark because he had deserted them previously.  The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas was so strong that they separated their trips with Barnabas taking John Mark and Paul taking Silas.  

Principles:  Disagreements take place between believers.  Examine evidence and scripture to resolve the disagreements.  Focus on what God is doing rather than tradition.

This chapter starts the coverage of what is known as Paul’s second missionary trip. On the trip, he had Silas and was also joined by Timothy (see books of Timothy in the New Testament), and Luke (writer of the Gospel of Luke and Acts). The group first went through Derbe and Lystra. They attempted to go through Asia but the Holy Spirit prevented them from doing so. Instead, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia calling to him to come and help them. From that the team knew they were being called to Macedonia.  

The sailed from Troas to the island of Samothrace and then on to Neapolis. Then they went on to Philippi, a major city in Macedonia and Roman colony.  

They went to riverbanks outside the city on the sabbath hoping to find people meeting to pray. They found several women gathered there. They found one woman named Lydia who was a merchant from Thyatira who sold expensive purple cloth She worshipped God. Paul and the team shared the message of Jesus and Lydia believed and was baptized along with her household. She then invited them to stay with her. 

As the team was ministering in the area one day, a demon-possessed slave girl who was a fortune teller began following them yelling “these men are servants of the Most High God and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” This happened for many days. Finally, Paul was tired of her doing that and cast the demon out of her. She was instantly released. When her owners realized that they could no longer make money from her, they came after Paul and Silas. They dragged Paul and Silas to the authorities and formed a mob against them. Paul and Silas were beaten publicly and thrown into jail. 

Around midnight when they were in jail, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns. All of a sudden there was an earthquake and the doors of the cells in the jail and all of their chains were opened.  The jailer, who had been asleep, thought the prisoners had escaped and was preparing to commit suicide to prevent the punishment he would receive for their escape.  However, Paul called out and stopped him saying everyone was still there.  The jailer ran to Paul, falling down trembling before him, and asked what he had to do to be saved.  Paul told him to believe in the Lord Jesus.  The jailer cared for Paul and Silas’ wounds and then he and his entire household, in the middle of the night, were baptized.  The jailer brought Paul and Silas to his house and fed them. 

The next morning, city officials sent the police to the jailer to tell him to set Paul and Silas free.  However, Paul said that they, Roman citizens (who had the rights of Roman citizens) were beaten publicly without trial and they were now trying to quietly have them leave without acknowledging their rights.  Paul insisted that the city officials come themselves and release them.  When the city officials heard that they were Roman citizens, they were alarmed and did come and apologize, asking them to leave the city.  Paul and Silas returned to Lydia’s home and encouraged the believers there.  Then they left town.    

Principles: Listen when God doesn’t want you to do something. Listen when God is calling you to something. Remember your rights in God. Submit your priorities to God. Macedonia was the gateway to Europe for the gospel message.

Paul and Silas continue their travels. In this chapter they start out in Amphipolis, Apollonia, and Thessalonica. They start in the Jewish synagogues. Often there are those that hear and believe. However, there are often Jewish leaders who are jealous of their influence and stir up trouble. This happened, notably, in Thessalonica where they brought a mob to drag Paul and Silas out into the streets. Since they couldn’t find him, they took the person they were staying with Jason. 

The believers in Thessalonica sent Paul and Silas to Berea where the Jews and prominent Greek men and women were more accepting of the message. . .until Jews from Thessalonica heard and came to disrupt. 

When the trouble in Berea arose because of the Jews from Thessalonica, the believers from Brea sent Paul to Athens while Silas and Timothy remained behind. While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him, he again went to the Jewish synagogue to reason with Jews and God-fearing people. He was troubled by all of the idols in the city.  He debated with philosophers there as well (Epicureans and Stoics). They asked him to come speak to the high council about these “new ideas” he was sharing.  Paul used the many idols, one in particular, as an introduction to his message to them. There was an idol to the “unknown God.”  Paul said that this was the God of everything who had sent His son Jesus to save the world.  When Paul said that Jesus had risen from the dead, many laughed in mockery but several believed.   

Principles: Social justice warriors are not new. God often works in the structures that are there but also reaches out to those not in a structure./

This chapter is an important chapter as it marks Paul’s decision to stop focusing as much on the Jews and God’s confirmation of his going to the Gentiles.  

The chapter starts off with Paul leaving Athens for Corinth.  In Corinth, he meets a Jew named Aquila and Priscilla, a husband and wife from Rome.  Paul lived and worked with them as they were also tentmakers like Paul. 

Each Sabbath Paul would preach in the synagogue working to convince other Jews and Greeks with the message of Salvation.  When Silas and Timothy joined him from being in Macedonia, Paul spent all of his time preaching.  However, when the Jews began to oppose and insult him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and told them they were on their own and he was innocent of their blood.  From then on, he said, he would preach to the Gentiles. 

Paul went and lived next door to the synagogue with its leader who was a believer.  While he was staying there, God spoke to Paul in a vision encouraging him to continue to speak out and not be afraid.  God confirmed that He was with Paul and that no harm would come to him.  So, Paul stayed for another year and half teaching the Word of God. 

When a new governor came to power, a group of Jews rose up against Paul and brought him before the governor to be judged.  They accused Paul of convincing people of worshipping God in ways contrary to the law.  However, as Paul was getting ready to defend himself, the governor shut them down saying this squabble didn’t concern him as it was part of their religious law and just words. The governor threw them out.

Paul stayed in Corinth for a while after that but then left for Cenchrea.  He shaved his head, a Jewish custom marking the end of a vow, and then set sail for Syria, taking Aquila and Priscilla with him.  They stopped in Ephesus (see the book of Ephesians) and Paul went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews.  They asked him to stay longer but declined saying he would try to come back later, God willing. 

Next Paul went to Caesarea. Then he went on to Jerusalem to visit the believers there.  Then he went back through Antioch, Galatia, and Phrygia, strengthening the believers there.

While in Ephesus, a Jew named Apollos, was preaching the message of Christ powerfully.  He had come from Alexandria.  Aquila and Priscilla heard him speak and learned that he only knew about John’s baptism and not the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Aquila and Priscilla shared with him the updated information.  Apollos had been thinking of going on to Achaia and the believers in Ephesus encouraged him to do so even writing to the believers there to accept him.  He went and was a great benefit to the believers there.  He refuted the Jews with powerful debate sharing through the Scriptures the message of Jesus.  

Principles: Sometimes God calls you away from the familiar to reach others. God will bring you through what He calls you to do. God has other people in His plan besides you.  

This chapter covers the start of what is known as Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul goes to Ephesus where he introduces followers of God that knew only of John (the Baptist’s) message. Paul introduced them to Jesus and baptism in the Holy Spirit.  

Paul then spends the next three months preaching in the synagogue. When the Jews there became stubborn to the message, he left with the believers and began to preach daily at another location. It was during this time that God used Paul to perform miracles. When cloths that had touched Paul’s skin then touched a person that was sick or demon-possessed, they were healed or cleansed from the demon.  

About the same time others were going around casting out evil spirits. One group were seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest at the time. They would say in an incantation, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out.” Unfortunately for them, one time a demon-possessed man responded: Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you. The demon-possessed man then beat them up so bad that they left naked and beaten. 

Due to stories like these, there was great reverence for Jesus throughout the city with many repenting of their evil practices. Many had been involved in sorcery and brought their books of spells to be burned. The books numbered in the millions of dollars in value. 

Paul was led to again go over to Macedonia, Achaia, and Jerusalem. Then he wanted to go on to Rome. He sent Timothy and Erastus ahead of him to Macedonia while he stayed in Asia a bit longer.

Before he left, there were certain tradesmen who made a living creating statues of gods that had their livelihood impacted as a result of people’s repentance and conversion to Jesus. As a result, one of them named Demetrius called the other silversmiths together to defend not only their profession but the gods of which they made idols. The primary one that they made them for was Artemis, the patron god of the Ephesians.  The tradesmen whipped up a crowd in protest and they dragged Gaius and Aristarchus (Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia) to the amphitheater.  Paul wanted to go in and address the crowd but the other believers and city officials kept him from risking his life.  The crowd pushed Alexander forward to address them but realized he was a Jew and protested all the louder.  Then the mayor of Ephesus got up and talked sense into the crowd (as many didn’t even know why they were there).  He noted that no laws had been broken and if they had, the courts were in session.  He told them that they were in danger of having to answer to the Romans for rioting and they would have no answer for that if questioned.  So the crowd was dismissed and disbursed.

Principles: God will work as He chooses. The power of God comes through personal relationship not third party incantation.  Crowd mentality does not have logic or reason.

This chapter begins referencing the riots of the previous chapter and noting that Paul was leaving for Macedonia. He called the believers and said goodbye. Then he traveled through towns encouraging the believers in each of them on his way to Macedonia and then went down to Greece where he stayed three months. He was going to sail back to Syria but learned of a plot by some Jews to kill him. So, he went through Macedonia. Paul had a number of individuals traveling with him that he sent on ahead. He planned to meet up with them again in Troas.  

When in Troas, Paul was meeting and teaching the local believers. It was his final visit to Troas and he let them know that. He preached long into the night and because of it, one young man, who was sitting on a windowsill, fell asleep and fell to his death from three stories up. Paul went down immediately, bent over him and took the boy in his arms and said, “don’t worry, he’s alive.” Then they all went back up, ate together, and Paul continued to talk until morning when he left Troas. The boy went home and was unharmed from the fall. 

Paul was trying to get to Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost. He and the group sailed on past Ephesus as a result but asked the elders of the believers from Ephesus to come and meet him. When they arrived, he defended the work that he has done with them saying that he had unashamedly shared the message of Christ with them and at his own expense. He let them know that none of them would see him again because he knew jail and suffering were ahead of him from what the Holy Spirit had told him. He encouraged them to guard themselves and the other believers.  He entrusted them with the message of the gospel.  Then the believers prayed with Paul and cried with him and said goodbye.  Then they escorted him to the ship on which he was sailing.   

Principles: God may have plans that involve pain and suffering for you.  Ministry is not about gaining riches for yourself or your family.  Recognize the limits of people you are ministering to (so they don’t fall out of a three-story window as an example). 

In this chapter, Paul continues to and finally arrives in Jerusalem. Along the way, several people tell him that he will be suffering and persecuted once he reaches Jerusalem. They try to convince him not to go to save him from the persecution. Paul is not dissuaded. He arrives in Jerusalem and tells the believers and their leaders what God has done through his ministry to the Gentiles. The leadership in Jerusalem tell Paul that to avoid controversy, he should show that he follows the Jewish laws, he should go to the temple and take a vow.  Unfortunately, while doing as they requested, Paul is noticed by some of the Jews that caused trouble in Asia.  They grab Paul and start a riot accusing him of disobeying Jewish laws and brining Gentiles into the temple.  The Roman soldiers hear of the riot and go in to the middle of it to take Paul into custody.  They think Paul is an Egyptian rebellion leader but he tells them he’s not and gives them some background of himself.  He then asks to speak to the crowd.  The Roman soldier permits him to speak.  Paul motions for the crowd to be quiet and begins to speak to them in Aramaic.    

Principles:  Stick to what you know God told you to do even when well-meaning people try to convince you otherwise.  Other people can’t hear God for you.  Let God manage your reputation.  

This chapter picks up right where the last chapter left off with Paul starting to speak. The crowd that had been in a frenzy became very quiet when they heard Paul speak in their own language. Paul told his story of growing up a Jew and being very zealous for the Jewish faith and persecuting the Christian believers. He shared that the Jewish leaders had given him leaders allowing him to bring Christians from Damascus to Jerusalem in chains to be tried. He then told him of his conversion on the way to Damascus.  He told them how he was blind for several days until Ananias came and prayed for him and told him to follow God. He told him how God told him to leave because of persecution from the Jews and that he was to go minister to the Gentiles instead of the Jews.  

As soon as Paul said, “Gentiles,” the people started rioting again. The Roman guard brought Paul inside and ordered that he be bound and whipped so Paul would admit to what he had done. When they were getting ready to whip him, Paul asked the Roman officer if it was legal to whip a Roman soldier without a trial. That frightened the soldier considerably. The Roman commander asked Paul if he really was a Roman solder saying that he, the commander, was a citizen too but that it cost him dearly. Paul said that he was born a citizen (a higher status than a purchased citizenship). The Romans who were about to “interrogate” Paul quickly left.  

The next day, the Roman commander ordered the Jewish leaders to meet to find out what all the trouble with Paul was.

Principles:  Understand your audience and understand your rights.  

Paul is brought before the high council and the chapter starts out with him speaking to them. At his first words, Ananias, the high priest, has someone slap Paul across the face. Paul reacts saying that God would slap him because he was a corrupt hypocrite. Then those near Paul challenged him because they said he had insulted the high priest. Paul then apologized because he didn’t realize that Ananias was the high priest and that scripture says (Exodus 22:28) that you should not speak evil of your rulers. 

Paul realized that the group before him was a split of Pharisees and Sadducees.  Taking advantage of that, Paul declared that he was a Pharisee and was being persecuted because of his hope in the resurrection.  This immediately divided the group with the Pharisees standing up for him.  The council became violent and the Roman commander ordered his soldiers to go in and bring Paul out for his safety taking him back to the Roman fortress. 

That night, the Lord appeared to Paul telling him to be encouraged and that he would be a witness and preach the good news in Rome. 

After the situation with the Jewish high council, 40 Jews got together to form a plot to kill Paul.  They took and oath not to eat or drink until they killed Paul.  They convinced the high council to request another meeting with Paul from the Roman soldiers.  Fortunately, Paul’s nephew learned of the plot.  He came and told Paul who directed him to the Roman commander.  When the Roman commander learned of it, he sent Paul to Caesarea to Governor Felix along with 470 soldiers to protect Paul on the way at nine along with the letter to the Governor.  In the letter, the commander explained that Paul was being accused of something in the Jewish religious law that did not warrant prison or death because he was a Roman citizen.  (The commander skirted the issue in the letter that he nearly had him flogged unlawfully.)   

When Governor Felix read the letter, he noted that he would hear the case himself and ordered Paul kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.   

Principles: Recognize your surroundings to be wise in your response.  God will use the circumstances you’re in to accomplish His purposes.  

This chapter picks up where the last ended.  The Jewish leaders and a lawyer, Tertullus, come before Felix accusing Paul of things that did not happen and accusing him of being part of a cult that causes problems.  Felix, the governor, then asks Paul to give his account.  Paul defends himself by saying he hadn’t done any of the things that they accused him of and that they had no proof.  Felix decides to await the arrival of the garrison commander, Lysias, to decide the case.  He ordered Paul back into prison but with freedom to have people come visit and care for his needs.  

Several days later, Felix came back with his wife, who was Jewish, and requested to have Paul come and speak to them.  Paul shared about faith in Jesus and about righteousness and self-control.  This frightened Felix because he was not living that way.  He sent him away for a more “convenient time.”  However, Felix brought him back multiple times to speak, in part hoping to get a bribe from Paul.  

This went on for two years until Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus.  However, to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.  

Principles:  God will give you the words to say when He brings you in front of important people.  God uses circumstances for His purpose.

This chapter marks the beginning of Porcius Festus rule. Felix had left him Paul’s case (and left Paul in prison) as a favor to the Jews. Right after taking office, Festus goes to Jerusalem and the Jewish leaders press him with accusations against Paul and to bring him there to Jerusalem (planning to kill him on the way). To his credit, Festus does not agree to bring Paul there instead telling them that they can make their accusations in Caesarea. 

When Festus was back in Caesarea and the Jewish leaders had arrived, they brought Paul in and the Jewish leaders accused him of “serious accusations” against him. Paul denied all of them. Festus asked if Paul was willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there. Paul said, no, because they were in the proper Roman court and he was innocent. He noted that he was willing to die if he was guilty but he was not. Paul then appealed to Caesar. This meant that Caesar would need to decide the case. Festus discussed it with his advisors and then said he would send him to Caesar to hear the case.    

Before he sent him, King Agrippa arrived with his sister Bernice to pay their respects to Festus in his new role. Festus shared with him the situation with Paul, noting that he had appealed to Caesar but had no real charge. Agrippa wanted to hear Paul himself. So the next day, Festus had Paul brought in before Agrippa and explained his (Festus’) dilemma (Paul had appealed to Caesar but had no real charge against him). Festus hoped that Agrippa could give him something to write to Caesar in light of Paul’s appeal.  

Principles: Be wise in negotiations and procedures or you will be manipulated.  

Paul is speaking to an audience of King Agrippa, his sister Bernice, and Porcius Festus, defending himself against the Jewish leaders. He gestures with his hand in a formal speaking style.  He walks them through his background, his experience on the road to Damascus, and connects them to the fact that he is still carrying out the hope of his early faith in the resurrection. He notes that it is fortunate that he appears before Agrippa because he understands the issues of the Jewish culture. Festus, on hearing his story again, calls him out saying he’s crazy. But Paul says that he’s not insane and that Agrippa knows about these things. He begins to ask Agrippa if he believes the (Jewish) prophets when Agrippa cuts him off asking if Paul thought he would convert so quickly. Paul responds that his hope would be that all people listening would become like him, except for the chains.  

At that point, the audience with Agrippa and Festus is over. They agreed that he had not done anything worthy of death and would be free to go if he had not appealed to Caesar.  

Principles:  Use the tools of decorum to accomplish the purpose before you.  God will give you the words to say in front of important people.  God wants all people to come to know Him.

This chapter shares the story of Paul’s journey to Rome aboard ships in the custody of Julius, a Roman officer and captain of the Imperial Regiment. They started aboard one ship but then changed to another Egyptian ship.  That started out well but then Paul warned them that they should not proceed because they would lose everything due to weather. They didn’t listen to him.  Then a storm hit.  The storm raged and caused them to give up trying to fight it and just drift with the wind.  Paul called them together and told them of the angel that had visited him telling him that he would stand trial before Caesar but that the ship and its cargo would be lost.  In the middle of the night after Paul told them this, the sailors sensed land was near.  They took measurements and found that they were getting close to land and didn’t want to be crushed against rocks.  So they threw out the anchors in an attempt to slow down and waited for daylight.  Some of the sailors tried to abandon ship and take the lifeboat.  Paul told the commanding officer that they would die if the sailors left.  So, the commanding officer cut the lifeboats loose.  Then Paul had everyone eat some food as they had not eaten much in the last two weeks.  As daylight dawned, the crew saw a small bay that they tried to reach.  It got too shallow and the boat began to break up.  Some of the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners but the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul so he didn’t allow for that.  He ordered everyone who could swim to make for land.  Those that couldn’t used planks and debris to float to shore.   

Principles:  God’s purpose will not be stopped.  God will give you favor to accomplish His purpose.  

Continuing from the last chapter, Paul and the other people on the ship wash up on the island of Malta. The people of Malta greeting them by building them a fire to warm them up. Paul was gathering more wood for the fire and a poisonous snake bit him. Paul shook it off into the fire. The people thought he must be a murderer because he had survived the shipwreck but then got bitten by the snake. However, when nothing happened to him they then switched their thoughts to his being a god. 

Near where they came ashore was the home of the chief official of the island whose father was sick. Paul laid hands on him and prayed for his healing and he was healed. After this happened, people from around the island began bringing their sick to Paul and they were healed. As a result, they were showered with favor and honors.  They stayed on the island three months.

They then traveled through another ship that had wintered on Malta to reach Rome, encountering other believers on the way in the various ports in which they stopped.  When they arrived in Rome, Paul was allowed to have his own private lodging under guard.  

After arriving in Rome, Paul reached out to the Jewish leaders in Rome and told them why he was there.  They had not heard anything about him but wanted to learn more.  So, Paul invited them to come and hear about Jesus the Messiah.  Some were persuaded that Jesus was the Messiah. Some were not, causing Paul to quote Isaiah 6:9-10 to them.  He let them know that the Gentiles had been offered the same opportunity and had accepted it.  

Paul stayed at his own expense for the next two years in Rome.  He regularly shared the message of Christ with those who came and no one tried to stop him.  

Principles: Bad things happen to good people. However, God’s purpose will not be stopped. God uses inopportunity to accomplish His purpose and plan.