Acts 11:19-30: Antioch

Genesis 42-43, Psalm 19, Matthew 8:14-22, Acts 11:19-30  Acts 11:19-30: The church at Antioch was a remarkable church. It was the place where the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians.” And where Paul and Barnabas were first set aside for their trailblazing missionary work. What made the Christians at Antioch so remarkable, and what can we learn…

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Acts 11:1-18: When They Heard This

Genesis 41, Psalm 18:25-50, Matthew 8:1-13, Acts 11:1-18 Acts 11:1-18: Peter now finds himself in a tricky situation. What he has done comes to the attention of the other apostles and believers throughout Judea. As far as they can tell, Peter has broken a key tenet of God’s law. How could he do such a thing? There must…

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Acts 10:24-48: God Does Not Show Favoritism

Genesis 39-40, Psalm 18:1-24, Matthew 7:15-29, Acts 10:24-48 Acts 10:24-48: The story continues. Peter goes to Caesarea and is met there by Cornelius and the crowd that has gathered to hear from Peter. When he discovers that there was a companion vision to his that Cornelius experienced, Peter concludes that: “I now realize how true it is that…

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Acts 10:1-23: Divine Appointments

Genesis 37-38, Psalm 17, Matthew 7:1-14, Acts 10:1-23 Acts 10:1-23: Divine appointments. We sometimes blithely say that such-and-such happened by chance. But the Christian disciple knows that, in reality, there is no such thing. Luck is a non-existent quality. We are ruled by divine providence. And by such divine providence we can sometimes discern remarkable openings, opportunities, “circumstances”…

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Acts 9:20-43: Encouraged

Genesis 36, Psalm 16, Matthew 6:25-34, Acts 9:20-43 Acts 9:20-43: There is now a brief interlude of two descriptions of amazing activity and astonishing miracles on the part of Paul and Peter. In verses 20-31, we read about Paul’s first forays into gospel work. He witnesses. He is opposed. He is persecuted. He escapes. He witnesses some more.…

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Acts 9:1-19: 5 Lessons from Saul’s Conversion

Genesis 34-35, Psalm 15, Matthew 6:16-24, Acts 9:1-19 Acts 9:1-19: The conversion of Saul/Paul is one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible. Also, one of the most famous. Also, one of the most misunderstood. What is its meaning, and how does that apply to our lives? First of all, Paul himself tells us what we are…

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Acts 8:26-40: 5 Lessons from Philip

Genesis 32-33, Psalm 14, Matthew 6:1-15, Acts 8:26-40 Acts 8:26-40: A great story of witness and personal evangelism. What can we learn from it? These five things: Desert roads can be fruitful fields for the gospel. Perhaps you feel like you are wandering down a desert road. You cannot see much fertility of opportunity around you. Keep your…

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Acts 8:1-25: Preach Wisely

Genesis 31, Psalm 13, Matthew 5:33-46, Acts 8:1-25 Acts 8:1-25: Persecution is not something we ever wish to occur. But it is something that God uses to advance his kingdom. The watchword of the early church about its persecution was the famous: “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Tertullian meant that those who…

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Acts 7:39-60: Stephen’s Death

Genesis 29-30, Psalm 12, Matthew 5:21-32, Acts 7:39-60 Acts 7:39-60: Stephen’s sermon continues. As he preaches, he is drawing the conclusion—like a screw turning ever tighter—that his hearers are guilty of turning their back on the Christ. In the end they can take no more. When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed…

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Acts 7:1-38: Stephen

Genesis 27-28, Psalm 11, Matthew 5:13-20, Acts 7:1-38 Acts 7:1-38: This is a long reading—and yet it finishes really in the middle of Stephen’s sermon, so by this reading alone, it’s hard to get a grasp of what he is saying. Tomorrow we’ll look at the second half of the sermon and make more comments about the overall…

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