Burunche’s Blog

He (Paul) stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days 20 and went at once to the synagogue to tell everyone there the Good News about Jesus—that he is indeed the Son of God!

21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who persecuted Jesus’ followers so bitterly in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And we understand that he came here to arrest them all and take them in chains to the chief priests.”

22 Paul became more and more fervent in his preaching, and the Damascus Jews couldn’t withstand his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Christ.

23 After a while the Jewish leaders determined to kill him. 24 But Paul was told about their plans, that they were watching the gates of the city day and night prepared to murder him. 25 So during the night some of his converts let him down in a basket through an opening in the city wall!

Never let it be said that Paul is a shrinking violet! No sooner has Paul regained his vision than he immediately goes to the synagogues in Damascus, testifying about Jesus and presenting irrefutable arguments that Jesus is the Messiah and that he has already lived, died, and has been resurrected. This is NOT the message the Jews in Damascus have been anticipating. What’s worse, many Jews are now believing in Jesus because of Paul’s compelling testimonies. Jewish religious leaders are incensed; if this guy isn’t going to help them, then he needs to be eliminated. Getting wind of these threats, some of Paul’s new converts load him into a large basket and let him down from a window on the city wall at night. Paul was anticipating a triumphal entry into Damascus, but now he’s blindly entered the city with others leading him and leaving ignominiously as a fugitive. Paul’s entry into new life as a Christian has become a trial by fire.

26 Upon arrival in Jerusalem he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They thought he was faking! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Paul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus, what the Lord had said to him, and all about his powerful preaching in the name of Jesus. 28 Then they accepted him, and after that he was constantly with the believers 29 and preached boldly in the name of the Lord. But then some Greek-speaking Jews with whom he had argued plotted to murder him. 30 However, when the other believers heard about his danger, they took him to Caesarea and then sent him to his home in Tarsus.

Once Paul reaches Jerusalem, the apostles have no idea what to do with this new colleague. There’s no doubt that Paul is brilliant, able to dissect the most challenging points of Scripture. In later generations, discussions similar to Paul’s will be referred to as apologetics. But Paul’s confrontational tactics infuriate Jewish intellectuals, particularly some Greeks who find Paul quoting Greek philosophers to support the position of Jesus as Messiah. Are these Greeks the same group that caused problems for Stephen? Possible. Remember, as Greek believers, these people must struggle for recognition by the Hebrews. Reporting Paul to the Sanhedrin might gain these people more recognition within Judaism. Concerned about Paul’s safety as well as their own, the fledgling church in Jerusalem sends Paul to Herod’s magnificent port of Caesarea, where he takes a ship back to his home city of Tarsus.

31 Meanwhile, the church had peace throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria, and grew in strength and numbers. The believers learned how to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Once more, we read simple verses that bear in-depth consideration. Frankly, the early church is not yet prepared to defend itself from all the problems a fiery evangelist like Paul can cause. The church needs peace and time to grow in strength and numbers and to learn how to walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Church leaders must work out requirements for spiritual leadership, communication, and emergency preparedness. Paul also needs time to develop his life of faith.

During the Last Supper, Jesus warns his disciples that they will be persecuted. John 15:19 The world would love you if you belonged to it; but you don’t—for I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave isn’t greater than his master!’ So since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you! 21 The people of the world will persecute you because you belong to me, for they don’t know God who sent me.

Jesus knows that he will endure suffering and eventual death. But for Jesus’ followers, they need time to develop prayer lives, to learn how to relate to the Holy Spirit, and to walk in the fear of the Lord. These people require time to develop lives of faith so that when persecution come, they would be able to endure and triumph. But what about Paul? How did his faith develop?

https://www.gotquestions.org/Paul-in-Arabia.html

Paul was in Arabia (including Damascus and the surrounding desert) for at least three years immediately after his conversion. Some speculate that Paul spent this time in relative seclusion, perhaps living as a desert hermit and sorting out the implications of his new faith. However, the biblical record emphasizes that he immediately began preaching in the synagogues. Acts 9:22 does not present the picture of a man who is just “figuring it out”: “Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.” When he left Damascus, with its significant Jewish population, it is reasonable to assume that he did the very thing that Jesus had called him to do—preach the gospel to the Gentiles. This does not eliminate the possibility that he spent solitary time in study of the Scriptures, prayer, and contemplation as he probably did throughout his life. Even in prison near the end of his death, he asks Timothy to bring “my scrolls, especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:13). However, the point in Galatians 1 is that Paul already had a vigorous apostolic ministry before meeting with the apostles in Jerusalem, and from Acts 9 this ministry started immediately. For three years he spread the gospel in Damascus and in the surrounding countryside (see the helpful discussion in The Epistle to the Galatians: The New International Greek Text Commentary by F. F. Bruce, Eerdmans, 1982, p. 97).

Although Acts seems to imply that Paul went straight from Damascus to Jerusalem, it’s more likely that he spent three years in what is now Syria, praying and learning about Jesus. Only after this period, did Paul go to Jerusalem.

What can we learn from Paul’s three years in “Arabia” and the experiences of the early Christians? Developing a vibrant faith takes time; spiritual maturity is not something achieved in an instant. How can we develop our faith? I return to the prayer of our late friend, who always prayed, “Lord, help me to love You more each day than I did the day before.” When we trust God to lead us into His Truth and we study His Word, we can trust that God will do exactly that.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to learn how to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Help us to love You more each day than we did the day before. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 9:1 But Paul, threatening with every breath and eager to destroy every Christian, went to the High Priest in Jerusalem. 2 He requested a letter addressed to synagogues in Damascus, requiring their cooperation in the persecution of any believers he found there, both men and women, so that he could bring them in chains to Jerusalem.

3 As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, suddenly a brilliant light from heaven spotted down upon him! 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Paul! Paul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who is speaking, sir?” Paul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city and await my further instructions.”

7 The men with Paul stood speechless with surprise, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8-9 As Paul picked himself up off the ground, he found that he was blind. He had to be led into Damascus and was there three days, blind, going without food and water all that time.

Well, it finally happened. Saul of Tarsus, a.k.a. Paul, that fiery Pharisee of the Pharisees, is on his way to Damascus, hoping to seize Christians there and drag them back to Jerusalem in chains. Such an action should prove conclusively that Paul is truly a guardian of the faith…or is he? Even though Paul didn’t throw stones at Stephen, he watched the cloaks of the men who did the stoning. But while Paul was standing there sneering at Stephen, he also heard Stephen testifying that Stephen was seeing the heavens open and witnessing Jesus sitting at the right hand of God. The memory of that testimony has rankled Paul’s equanimity ever since. Imagine! This man claims to have seen God Almighty as he is dying? How? Surely that statement must be the result of a rock striking Stephen’s head…or did he REALLY see God?

Shrugging off the growing conviction that Stephen really did see God and Jesus, Paul collects letters of reference to the synagogues in Damascus and sets off, determined to wipe out the expanding cell of Jesus believers there. Paul is arguing with himself for the hundredth time and is nearly at Damascus when suddenly a piercing bright light shines around him, blinding him. Stunned, Paul falls to the ground and a voice from heaven cries out, “Paul! Paul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who is speaking, sir?” Paul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city and await my further instructions.”

The men with Paul hear a voice; however, they don’t witness the bright light. Meanwhile, Paul has been blinded by the light and must be led into Damascus. Paul’s companions lead him to a house owned by a man named Judas, where Paul spends the next three days praying and fasting. And now God is preparing the next act in this play.

10 Now there was in Damascus a believer named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord!” he replied.

11 And the Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street and find the house of a man named Judas and ask there for Paul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now, for 12 I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him so that he can see again!”

13 “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I have heard about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! 14 And we hear that he has arrest warrants with him from the chief priests, authorizing him to arrest every believer in Damascus!”

15 But the Lord said, “Go and do what I say. For Paul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the nations and before kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”

Ananias has had visions before, but this one is both thrilling and shocking. Christians in Damascus are well aware of Paul and his plans and have even been discussing what they should do when he arrives. Now suddenly, God is ordering Ananias to go to Paul, exposing himself as a Jesus follower, and risking his life and the lives of his family and friends and their families. Ananias is terrified, for such exposure might mean persecution and death; however, amazingly, Ananias obeys God without questioning or arguing.

Reading this story, it’s easy to gloss over the enormity of Ananias’ simple act of obedience. The risks involved are monumental. And even if Paul is receptive, what about the men who have accompanied him? Paul isn’t the only zealot in Jerusalem, and his companions might be just as dangerous. Throughout the history of Christianity, there have been countless believers whose obedience has led to untold blessings for millions of people. Charles G. Finney was an atheist lawyer in Adams, New York, when a group of young people decided to pray earnestly for his conversion. Finney became one of the foremost revivalist preachers of the mid-nineteenth century and a man of inspiring faith. It was a Sunday School teacher concerned for one of the young men in his class who led Dwight L. Moody to the Lord in the back of the shoe store where Moody was working. Moody became one of the greatest evangelists of the nineteenth century. David Wilkerson left a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania to go to the slums of New York City to evangelize gang members.

17 So Ananias went over and found Paul and laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Paul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit and get your sight back.”

18 Instantly (it was as though scales fell from his eyes) Paul could see and was immediately baptized. 19 Then he ate and was strengthened.

It’s tough to know who is more shocked at the results of Ananias’ prayer, Paul or Ananias. Ananias has come and he has obediently laid hands on Paul; however, he has no idea what God is about to do. Can God heal Paul without the physical manifestation of scales falling from his eyes? Of course. But God is just as concerned for Ananias as he is for Paul, and God knows that Ananias needs to be able to witness some physical manifestation to bolster his faith. Ananias is going to take the tale of Paul’s healing back to all the other believers in Damascus, and they will be strengthened and encouraged by his witness. God is very economical and He always gets the maximum amount of benefit out of any of His actions.

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends on those gathered in the Upper Room, giving them a true mountaintop experience. But now Paul has his own unique mountaintop experience, one that cannot be argued away. Through the years, there have been many arguments regarding Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” that many regard as some kind of eye problems. Is it possible that Paul’s eyes incur some injury from that heavenly light on the road to Damascus? Certainly, such an injury would cause Paul to remember his encounter with Jesus for the rest of his life.  

Many people have demanded that God give them a dramatic Damascus Road experience so that they can believe in God. But Paul was sincerely searching for God and trying to serve Him; he simply was doing it all wrong. The men with Paul heard Jesus’ voice but did not see anything. Perhaps God has been sending experiences, but people are looking in the wrong direction. Remember Elizabeth Barrett Browning: “Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God. And only those who see take off their shoes; the rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”

Paul’s experience is unique; but remember that God loves you just as much as He does Paul. Sometimes  we fail to recognize mountaintop experiences because they’re not dramatic. The Holy Spirit can come in all kinds of ways, and many times He comes quietly and simply. May God give us receptive hearts so that we will be open to His presence whenever and however He chooses to manifest Himself.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, give us open hearts to receive Your goodness and Your mercy and Your love. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 8:26 But as for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go over to the road that runs from Jerusalem through the Gaza Desert, arriving around noon.” 27 So he did, and who should be coming down the road but the Treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was now returning in his chariot, reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the chariot.”

30 Philip ran over and heard what he was reading and asked, “Do you understand it?”

31 “Of course not!” the man replied. “How can I when there is no one to instruct me?” And he begged Philip to come up into the chariot and sit with him.

32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading from was this:

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before the shearers, so he opened not his mouth; 33 in his humiliation, justice was denied him; and who can express the wickedness of the people of his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Was Isaiah talking about himself or someone else?”

35 So Philip began with this same Scripture and then used many others to tell him about Jesus.

36 As they rode along, they came to a small body of water, and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! Why can’t I be baptized?”

37 “You can,” Philip answered, “if you believe with all your heart.”

And the eunuch replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

38 He stopped the chariot, and they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch never saw him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Meanwhile, Philip found himself at Azotus! He preached the Good News there and in every city along the way, as he traveled to Caesarea.

In the beginning, there were seven men chosen to oversee the feeding of widows of various ethnic groups. Stephen served as administrator, while others filled various positions. Philip was one of those selected for this task. While Stephen was a gifted orator, Philip was one of those guys who had never met a stranger. Philip’s mother used to say that Philip could talk the legs off a donkey. Philip would simply smile, shrug his shoulders, and find someone else with whom he could chat. Philip has just been in Samaria telling Samaritans about Jesus and marveling at the results the Holy Spirit has brought. But never in Philip’s wildest dreams has he imagined how God is about to use him.As one of Stephen’s colleagues in the Christian program for feeding widows, Philip has fled Jerusalem after Stephen’s death and has been preaching in Samaria. Now God gives Philip a weird order. “Go over to the road that runs from Jerusalem through the Gaza Desert, arriving around noon.” The first miracle is that Philip hears God; the second is that Philip obeys implicitly, arriving precisely when God commands. God’s timing is perfect and Philip soon finds himself witnessing to the Treasurer of Ethiopia, one of the key officers under Candace, Queen of Ethiopia. And now for the third miracle: the Ethiopian is reading from the Book of Isaiah, the Scripture that contains more prophesies about the Messiah than any other Old Testament book. Philip sidles up and introduces himself.

The Ethiopian is entranced by the description of the suffering Messiah and begins asking Philip piercing questions. Thrilled, Philip immediately begins telling about Jesus, quoting many other Scripture passages describing Jesus. The fourth miracle comes when the Ethiopian asks to be baptized. How does this man know about baptism? Has Philip told about Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist or the teachings of Jesus about baptism? We don’t know; perhaps the Holy Spirit speaks to his heart. And there is a pool of water available. Those of us living in temperate climates might pass over that small statement; however, this is a DESERT place and water of any kind is very scarce, let alone a pool large enough to accommodate a baptism. Philip conducts the baptism, thrilling the Ethiopian official. Then as the two men are coming up out of the water, God picks Philip and transports him to Azotus on the coast. The Ethiopian official goes on his way rejoicing while Philip, equally joyful, preaches his way up the coast from Azotos to Caesarea.

Stephen and Philip-two men who both answer the call to serve; yet, their fates are quite different. Stephen dies swiftly, his death forcing believers to leave Jerusalem, scattering throughout the known world. Philip lives for many more years, eventually being martyred in Phrygia, now part of modern Turkey, by being crucified upside down in a death similar to that of Peter’s. What makes the difference for the two men?

God is the One who calls and equips. God knows that Stephen will speak convincingly to his murderers, witnessing to them even as he is dying. Whether or not Saul/Paul realizes it, God uses Stephen’s death to convince him when the time comes. Only in eternity will we know how many others came to faith in Christ as Stephen lay dying.

Evidently, Philip has a winsome personality, the kind of fellow who can speak to people, gain their trust, and then explain Scripture with a heart of burning love. Not only has Philip closely studied Jesus’ life and teachings, but he also has a deep breadth of knowledge of the Scripture. Some people are born to teach the Bible while others only gain that ability after years of study. But nobody can be an effective Bible teacher unless he or she passionately loves God and His Word.

Writing to Timothy, Paul advises, “And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus—who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom— 2 to preach the Word of God urgently at all times, whenever you get the chance, in season and out, when it is convenient and when it is not. Correct and rebuke your people when they need it, encourage them to do right, and all the time be feeding them patiently with God’s Word.

3 For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. 4 They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas.

5 Stand steady, and don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Bring others to Christ. Leave nothing undone that you ought to do.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Stephen’s career as a believer was cut short by an early martyrdom. Philip traveled extensively, preaching wherever he went and eventually dying for his faith. The question for us is this: Do we love God? Do we love His Word? If we will only ask, God will give us a love for Him. The more we love God, the more we will love His Word as well. One blessed friend who is now with Jesus used to pray, “Lord help me to love You more each day than I did the day before.” Let that be our prayer.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, our hearts are heavy and cold. Please send Your Holy Spirit to light the fire of love for You in our hearts. Let that fire burn forever. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 8:1 Paul was in complete agreement with the killing of Stephen.

And a great wave of persecution of the believers began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled into Judea and Samaria. 2 (But some godly Jews came and with great sorrow buried Stephen.) 3 Paul was like a wild man, going everywhere to devastate the believers, even entering private homes and dragging out men and women alike and jailing them.

4 But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus! 

When Jesus was giving his final address to his disciples, he told them, “But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about me with great effect, to the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection.” Until now, the believers have managed to huddle in Jerusalem. True, their numbers are growing; however, nobody seems ready to leave the city. But when persecution strikes, these people have no choice but to go everywhere and preach the Good News as they go.

5 Philip, for instance, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about Christ. 6 Crowds listened intently to what he had to say because of the miracles he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed, 8 so there was much joy in that city!

Samaria! Ah, Samaria! When the Assyrians decimated the Northern Kingdom, they moved in all kinds of people from other lands to farm the land. These people brought their own religions with them; however, they suffered attacks from lions until they sent for Jewish teachers who taught them the Law of Moses. But the religion of the Samaritans remained a syncretistic one, combining Jewish traditions with idolatry. For the Jews, the Samaritans were dangerous half-breeds. And when the Jews refused to allow the Samaritans to have any hand in rebuilding Jerusalem, the Samaritans reciprocated. For centuries, there was enmity between Jews and Samaritans. Now here’s Philip, one of the other heads of the feeding program in Jerusalem, preaching to Samaritans, doing miracles, casting our demons, and healing all comers. Samaria has never seen anything like this before!

9-11 A man named Simon had formerly been a sorcerer there for many years; he was a very influential, proud man because of the amazing things he could do—in fact, the Samaritan people often spoke of him as the Messiah. 12 But now they believed Philip’s message that Jesus was the Messiah, and his words concerning the Kingdom of God; and many men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized and began following Philip wherever he went, and was amazed by the miracles he did.

Now word reaches Jerusalem of revival in Samaria, and Peter and John rush to help Philip. As soon as they arrive, they begin praying for people to receive the Holy Spirit. People’s lives are being transformed and joy is bathing their faces.

14 When the apostles back in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent down Peter and John. 15 As soon as they arrived, they began praying for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for as yet he had not come upon any of them. For they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw this—that the Holy Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands upon people’s heads—he offered money to buy this power.

19 “Let me have this power too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”

20 But Peter replied, “Your money perish with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Turn from this great wickedness and pray. Perhaps God will yet forgive your evil thoughts— 23 for I can see that there is jealousy and sin in your heart.”

24 “Pray for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things won’t happen to me.”

25 After testifying and preaching in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, stopping at several Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News to them too.

Simon the magician was enjoying a local reputation as the Messiah until Philip came preaching about Jesus. Swiftly, Simon realized that all his machinations were useless and that Jesus was the true Messiah; however, there was the matter of people receiving the Holy Spirit. If Simon were to give up his pseudo miracles and his demonic involvement, perhaps he could still make profit from praying for people to receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter and John realize Simon’s true motives and confront him. Simon repents; while we hear nothing further, we hope that repentance remains for the rest of Simon’s life. And now Peter and John preach their way back to Jerusalem, going from one Samaritan village to the next.

The Book of Acts focuses a lot on Peter and John; however, don’t overlook Philip. Philip is the one who first went to Samaria, overcoming his strong prejudices, and who began preaching in the Samaritan villages and doing miracles. Peter and John came to help and to strengthen the work, but Jesus remained the focus. Ministry is always a team effort, not a solitary one.

Sometimes God calls us to witness when we don’t want to. During my general surgery residency, we had a patient with chronic abdominal pain whose diagnosis had defied every test and every kind of treatment we could offer. I had discharged this patient and was back in my apartment across the street from the hospital when I got a call that the patient was there and still in pain. I absolutely did not want to dress in my scrubs and go over there; however, God insisted that I go. I was so resistant that I told the Lord that if He didn’t give me the words, I would be sitting there with my teeth in my mouth with nothing to say. (I know, not a model of obedience.) Trudging back to the hospital, I began speaking with this lady. Before I knew it, I was giving this lady part of my testimony about how Jesus had changed my life. Then I prayed for this lady, and suddenly the pain went away entirely. Ten minutes later, the lady’s friends picked her up, and she left for her home two hours away. I firmly believe that lady received Jesus and was healed that day.

Why tell this story? When we give God even a sliver of obedience, He can use it. My attitude was terrible, but I went and God did the rest. Never be afraid to step out, for God can handle your lousy attitudes.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be obedient, even when you send us to people whom we don’t like. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Act 7:1 Then the High Priest asked him, “Are these accusations true?”

2 This was Stephen’s lengthy reply: “The glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Iraq before he moved to Syria, 3 and told him to leave his native land, to say good-bye to his relatives and to start out for a country that God would direct him to. 4 So he left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran, in Syria, until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land of Israel, 5 but gave him no property of his own, not one little tract of land.

“However, God promised that eventually the whole country would belong to him and his descendants—though as yet he had no children! 6 But God also told him that these descendants of his would leave the land and live in a foreign country and there become slaves for 400 years. 7 ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God told him, ‘and afterwards my people will return to this land of Israel and worship me here.’

8 “God also gave Abraham the ceremony of circumcision at that time, as evidence of the covenant between God and the people of Abraham. And so Isaac, Abraham’s son, was circumcised when he was eight days old. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob was the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Jewish nation. 9 These men were very jealous of Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him, 10 and delivered him out of all of his anguish, and gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all Egypt, as well as putting him in charge of all the affairs of the palace…

39 “But our fathers rejected Moses and wanted to return to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, ‘Make idols for us, so that we will have gods to lead us back; for we don’t know what has become of this Moses, who brought us out of Egypt.’ 41 So they made a calf idol and sacrificed to it, and rejoiced in this thing they had made.

42 “Then God turned away from them and gave them up, and let them serve the sun, moon, and stars as their gods! In the book of Amos’ prophecies the Lord God asks, ‘Was it to me you were sacrificing during those forty years in the desert, Israel? 43 No, your real interest was in your heathen gods—Sakkuth, and the star god Kaiway, and in all the images you made. So I will send you into captivity far away beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our ancestors carried along with them a portable Temple, or Tabernacle, through the wilderness. In it they kept the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them. This building was constructed in exact accordance with the plan shown to Moses by the Angel. 45 Years later, when Joshua led the battles against the Gentile nations, this Tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory, and used until the time of King David.

46 “God blessed David greatly, and David asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who actually built it. 48-49 However, God doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. ‘The heaven is my throne,’ says the Lord through his prophets, ‘and earth is my footstool. What kind of home could you build?’ asks the Lord. ‘Would I stay in it? 50 Didn’t I make both heaven and earth?’

The Synagogue of the Freedmen has provided false witnesses; however, they can’t agree and their testimony is faltering. Finally, the High Priest questions Stephen. Stephen responds with a lengthy discourse, summarizing the spiritual history of the Jewish people from Abraham onwards. Unfortunately, Stephen describes the entire history, warts and all, including the exile to Babylon because the Israelites refused to worship God and pursued idols instead. The religious leaders love to pontificate about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to speak knowingly about Moses and his Law. But now Stephen is describing things best left hidden.

51 “You stiff-necked heathen! Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? But your fathers did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 Yes, and you deliberately destroyed God’s laws, though you received them from the hands of angels.”

Here Stephen is referring to the prophet Isaiah as well as other prophets who were stoned, sawed in two, or beaten to death. Those who spoke the most about the coming Messiah also suffered the most. The religious leaders are horrified, for they have been grandly referring to these prophets for years as if they were intimate friends. Now Stephen is unmasking the hypocrisy, and these men refuse to stand for it.

54 The Jewish leaders were stung to fury by Stephen’s accusation and ground their teeth in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and Jesus the Messiah standing beside God, at his right hand!”

57 Then they mobbed him, putting their hands over their ears, and drowning out his voice with their shouts, 58 and dragged him out of the city to stone him. The official witnesses—the executioners—took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Paul.

59 And as the murderous stones came hurtling at him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And he fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” and with that, he died.

As Stephen is finishing, he receives a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God. As soon as Stephen describes that vision, the mob attacks, with the religious leaders stopping their ears while others drag Stephen out of the city to stone him so they won’t desecrate the city. The exact site of the stoning is unknown; however, it took place outside one of the city gates.

This account makes for gruesome reading, and it’s the first time that Saul of Tarsus is mentioned. Saul doesn’t throw any stones; however, he watches the cloaks of those doing the stoning. Perhaps Saul is trying to distance himself from the violence, feeling himself superior. It really doesn’t matter, for Saul is witnessing a true account of Jesus as Messiah at the right hand of God. That vision is going to haunt Saul.

Sometimes we feel that having enjoyed a mountaintop experience, we are entitled to lives of ease and peace. Spoiler alert: there is no such thing as entitlement in the Kingdom of God, apart from the fact that all of us are sinners and therefore entitled to eternal damnation. Only because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ do we receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Mountaintop experiences are given so that we will have the strength and courage to go on when we descend into the valleys. It’s easy to forget the lessons of the mountaintop once we are struggling with myriads of problems. How can we maintain focus?

We must remember that if God has called us, then God will guide us and God will protect us until we have completed His work. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was fond of saying that “Man is immortal until his work is done.” But we must keep looking to God, not looking inside ourselves. God is the One who calls and who empowers, so God is the One who must direct. May we keep our eyes on God at all times!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You at all times, even when things become scary and difficult. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 6:1 But with the believers multiplying rapidly, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke only Greek complained that their widows were being discriminated against, that they were not being given as much food in the daily distribution as the widows who spoke Hebrew. 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers.

“We should spend our time preaching, not administering a feeding program,” they said. 3 “Now look around among yourselves, dear brothers, and select seven men, wise and full of the Holy Spirit, who are well thought of by everyone; and we will put them in charge of this business. 4 Then we can spend our time in prayer, preaching, and teaching.”

5 This sounded reasonable to the whole assembly, and they elected the following: Stephen (a man unusually full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolaus of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had become a Christian).

6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them and laid their hands on them in blessing.

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. Once large amounts of resources were coming into the church to be distributed, somebody was going to complain that their ethnic group was being slighted. And that might have truly been the case, for the original disciples were Hebrews, and many of them might not have spoken Greek. The Greek widows might have been shy to come forward for assistance, or they might have assumed that things would happen automatically; meanwhile, the disciples were having to make things up as they went along.

The disciples wisely realized that they must re-examine their calling. Trying to preach and teach as well as administering a feeding program was more than anyone could handle by themselves, no matter how energetic or skillful they were. Humbly, the disciples did not simply sit down and arbitrarily pick people; instead, they solicited advice from seasoned believers as to whom to select for this program. The men thus selected became church leaders and evangelists in their own right. Looking at the names of those selected to administer the feeding program, we see that both Jews and Greeks were included. Some of those men might also have been well enough educated to speak Latin, a distinct help when interacting with the Roman government. The ability to speak fluent Latin would definitely impress a Roman governor resentful at being stuck with this obstinate group of Hebrews.

7 God’s message was preached in ever-widening circles, and the number of disciples increased vastly in Jerusalem; and many of the Jewish priests were converted too.

8 Stephen, the man so full of faith and the Holy Spirit’s power, did spectacular miracles among the people.

9 But one day some of the men from the Jewish cult of “The Freedmen” started an argument with him, and they were soon joined by Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria in Egypt, and the Turkish provinces of Cilicia, and Asia Minor. 10 But none of them was able to stand against Stephen’s wisdom and spirit.

What was the Jewish cult of the “Freedmen?” Jerusalem had one temple, the place of sacrifice, but many synagogues. The Synagogue of the Freedmen had Jews from North Africa (Cyrene and Alexandria are in Libya and Egypt, respectively) and modern-day Turkey (“Cilicia and Asia”) who once had been slaves or prisoners of Rome, and who had settled in Jerusalem after being freed. The Synagogue of the Freedmen had these freed Jews and their children. https://www.bibleversestudy.com/acts/acts6-synagogue-of-the-freedmen.htm

Why would these former slaves pick a grievance with Stephen? While these people are Jewish believers, in Jerusalem they are ethnic outsiders, perpetually scorned by Jewish religious leaders. And they began life as slaves. In many cultures, a history of former slavery is sufficient to limit a family’s social standing for generations. When we first came to our little village 33 years ago, we were told of families descended from slaves. These people were now two or three generations away from slavery; yet, there were those who remembered and perpetuated the stories. Opposing Stephen might have been a ploy to gain recognition and legitimacy with the head Jewish religious leaders at the main temple. After all, everybody knew that these Jesus believers were unpopular with the Jewish religious big men. For all we know, someone might even have slipped leaders from the Freedmen’s Synagogue some money, encouraging them to argue with Stephen.

11 So they brought in some men to lie about him, claiming they had heard Stephen curse Moses, and even God. 12 This accusation roused the crowds to fury against Stephen, and the Jewish leaders arrested him and brought him before the Council. 13 The lying witnesses testified again that Stephen was constantly speaking against the Temple and against the laws of Moses.

14 They declared, “We have heard him say that this fellow Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and throw out all of Moses’ laws.” 15 At this point everyone in the Council chamber saw Stephen’s face become as radiant as an angel’s!

Some things never change, and false accusations continue to abound. Sometimes lies have long legs Now the same accusations Jesus faced are now surfacing again.. What’s so ridiculous is that if Stephen is a fervent Jesus follower, he would certainly know that Jesus told his disciples, “17 Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them and to make them all come true. 18 With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book will continue until its purpose is achieved. 19 And so if anyone breaks the least commandment and teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But those who teach God’s laws and obey them shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19) Encouraging people to ignore the Law of Moses would be anathema to Stephen.

Jesus never threatened to destroy the temple but was rather prophesying his death and resurrection. But when people passionately desire to believe lies, they will refuse to acknowledge truth. Jesus did prophesy that eventually the temple would be destroyed, but he was prophesying about the Roman destruction of Jerusalem that took place in 70 A.D., not claiming that he himself would do anything to the temple. But the religious leaders are not interested in truth but in maintaining power.

The Torah specifically denounces anyone bearing false witness. Deuteronomy 19:15-21 tells us, 15 “Never convict anyone on the testimony of one witness. There must be at least two, and three is even better. 16 If anyone gives false witness, claiming he has seen someone do wrong when he hasn’t, 17 both men shall be brought before the priests and judges on duty before the Lord at the time. 18 They must be closely questioned, and if the witness is lying, 19 his penalty shall be the punishment he thought the other man would get. In this way you will purge out evil from among you. 20 Then those who hear about it will be afraid to tell lies on the witness stand. 21 You shall not show pity to a false witness. Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot; this is your rule in such cases.”

How ironic! Here are the very men who claim to uphold the Mosaic Law deliberately soliciting false testimony, knowing full well that they are endangering the lives of their own false witnesses. While claiming to fulfill every tiny bit of the Law, these men are committing sacrilege.

Why is Stephen being persecuted in the first place? As Stephen is distributing foodstuffs, he is telling people about Jesus, encouraging people, and praying for people. That trifold ministry is extremely powerful, for those being served realize that Stephen is truly acting as a channel of God’s love. The same people who have received encouragement from Stephen will now be able to share with others and encourage them, spreading the ministry in places and among people whom Stephen will never reach. Those opposing Stephen may have all kinds of good reasons that they have used to convince themselves, but they are actually fighting God.

We are never told of Stephen’s reaction when he is selected. Evidently, Stephen simply agrees and begins joyfully doing the work. Stephen does not protest to the disciples that he too should be on the main preaching and teaching team. Stephen does not complain about hardships, long hours, the difficulties of settling arguments among the widows. Stephen simply accepts the assignment and carries it out to perfection.

In missionary circles, there’s a lot of talk about various people groups. One set of friends used to minister to taxi drivers in Hong Kong, who generally lived in their cabs when they weren’t picking passengers. Another friend ministered to factory workers in Taiwan, visiting them in their dormitories. In December 2003, we lived in a slum in Accra while a young friend was having heart surgery at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. We were taking tro-tro’s, the small buses most people depend on to commute throughout Accra. We developed a simple “Cough drop evangelism,” giving out cough drops to the tro-tro drivers and telling them a little about Jesus. My husband has a prayer ministry here in Ghana. Having served in the U.S. Navy, my husband wears his Veteran’s cap in public. This allows him to approach uniformed personnel of all kinds-police, fire service, prisons, immigrations, customs-and pray for them. Not once has anybody refused prayer; in fact, those who have seen him previously request prayer again. For Stephen and those working with him, those Greek widows constituted a unique people group, one reached by kindness and generosity.

Look around you. Perhaps there are lonely people who would be encouraged if you repeatedly made some small gesture. And remember God uses mountaintop experiences to fit us for service.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be sensitive to the needs of those around us so that we might be Your hands and feet to serve them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 5:24 When the police captain and the chief priests heard this, they were frantic, wondering what would happen next and where all this would end! 25 Then someone arrived with the news that the men they had jailed were out in the Temple, preaching to the people!

There’s a good reason for the police captain to be frantic, for guards whose prisoners escape are usually put to death. If the police captain can’t locate his prisoners, he will die along with many of his fellow officers. But God has no interest in this man dying. Soon, someone runs to the police captain, “Captain! Captain! Your prisoners are preaching in the temple!”

26-27 The police captain went with his officers and arrested them (without violence, for they were afraid the people would kill them if they roughed up the disciples) and brought them in before the Council.

28 “Didn’t we tell you never again to preach about this Jesus?” the High Priest demanded. “And instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring the blame for this man’s death on us!”

29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our ancestors brought Jesus back to life again after you had killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31 Then, with mighty power, God exalted him to be a Prince and Savior, so that the people of Israel would have an opportunity for repentance, and for their sins to be forgiven. 32 And we are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to all who obey him.”

Well, if the religious leaders think their threats carry any weight, they’re quite wrong. Peter proceeds to give another fiery sermon right there during the hearing. Who knows how many of these religious leaders are quietly considering becoming Christians? But the Council members are fed up and want to eliminate these irritating radicals, until a respected teacher named Gamaliel speaks up. (Gamaliel means “God is my reward.”)

33 At this, the Council was furious and decided to kill them. 34 But one of their members, a Pharisee named Gamaliel (an expert on religious law and very popular with the people), stood up and requested that the apostles be sent outside the Council chamber while he talked.

35 Then he addressed his colleagues as follows:

“Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! 36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About four hundred others joined him, but he was killed, and his followers were harmlessly dispersed.

37 “After him, at the time of the taxation, there was Judas of Galilee. He drew away some people as disciples, but he also died, and his followers scattered.

38 “And so my advice is, leave these men alone. If what they teach and do is merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them, lest you find yourselves fighting even against God.”

Why does God allow Gamaliel’s advice to be quoted? Not only is Gamaliel a brilliant scholar, but he also is a man who loves God deeply. And in addition, Gamaliel also is the mentor for a young firebrand named Saul of Tarsus. We know Saul by the name he takes after Jesus confronts him, Paul. Even though Saul persecutes Christians, there’s never any evidence that Gamaliel has encouraged him to do so. Perhaps Gamaliel already is quietly following Jesus.

40 The Council accepted his advice, called in the apostles, had them beaten, and then told them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and finally let them go. 41 They left the Council chamber rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for his name. 42 And every day, in the Temple and in their home Bible classes, they continued to teach and preach that Jesus is the Messiah.

We read this and wonder about the disciples. Rejoicing after being beaten? Are you kidding? But the disciples know that God has given them the messages they have been preaching, and their consciences are clean before God. There’s a story about John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church. Wesley faced enormous opposition when he began, and many people attacked him whenever possible. One day a man was standing in a field behind a hedge as Wesley was passing. Wesley was musing to himself, worried that he might be losing his focus because nobody had attacked him for a week. The man said, “There’s that man Wesley! I’ll take care of him!” and tossed a rock at Wesley. Wesley immediately reacted, “Praise God! I’m still going in the right direction!”

When we have mountaintop experiences, we expect to enjoy some euphoria and divine protection, not to be attacked. But God has enemies everywhere, and if we are truly following Him, we must be willing to endure suffering. Remember that in Northern Nigeria, Southern Sudan, and other places, Christians are dying as their churches are attacked by Islamic terrorists. May God help us to remain faithful, no matter how much opposition we face.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain faithful, even in the face of opposition. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 5:12 Meanwhile, the apostles were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Hall, and they did many remarkable miracles among the people. 13 The other believers didn’t dare join them, though, but all had the highest regard for them. 14 And more and more believers were added to the Lord, crowds both of men and women. 15 Sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow would fall across some of them as he went by! 16 And crowds came in from the Jerusalem suburbs, bringing their sick folk and those possessed by demons; and every one of them was healed.

Oh dear! Now the Jewish religious leaders are really in a fix! It was bad enough when Peter and John acted as channels for the Holy Spirit to heal a cripple, but now things are escalating. The apostles are doing remarkable miracles right there in the temple, and people are getting healed and delivered even if Peter’s shadow simply falls across them. The first time it happened, Peter was completely gob smacked, for this was the last thing he anticipated. But when Peter realized what was happening, he began walking among the crowds so that his shadow would touch as many people as possible. This phenomenon has two advantages: lots of people are getting delivered and healed, and Peter is encouraged to be out with people as much as possible rather than hiding with some of the other believers. The longer Peter is witnessing in public, the more other believers are willing to do so.

After the first few times Peter’s shadow fell on someone, leading to their healing, the other disciples quietly questioned him. But Peter had no explanation, for he wasn’t doing anything special or different. Peter was simply praying and praising God and God was the One doing everything. Why was Peter favored in this fashion? Despite all the previous warnings from religious leaders, Peter was brave enough to circulate among the crowds while many others remained in the shadows. But the religious leaders can’t possibly allow Peter to continue in this fashion.

Acts 5:17 The High Priest and his relatives and friends among the Sadducees reacted with violent jealousy 18 and arrested the apostles, and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go over to the Temple and preach about this Life!”

21 They arrived at the Temple about daybreak and immediately began preaching! Later that morning the High Priest and his courtiers arrived at the Temple, and, convening the Jewish Council and the entire Senate, they sent for the apostles to be brought for trial. 22 But when the police arrived at the jail, the men weren’t there, so they returned to the Council and reported, 23 “The jail doors were locked, and the guards were standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”

AAAAND this would be an “OOPS!” While the religious leaders are stroking their beards and congratulating themselves on having jailed these pesty apostles, God smiles and sends an angel who releases them and orders them to return to the temple to preach.

  We read this story and wonder why God delivers the disciples when so many believers since then have died for their faith. We must continue to remember that God’s ways are higher than ours as Isaiah tells God knows the hearts of the religious leaders, and there might be many who want to believe in Jesus but who fear ostracism from their fellows. Who knows how many of these leaders quietly begin believing in Jesus, leading others to a saving faith?

There’s a lot you can say about Peter. Peter is impetuous, given to hyperbole, and sometimes heavy-handed. But of all the disciples, Peter is the one who walks through the streets of Jerusalem, allowing his shadow to fall on sufferers and leaving healing and deliverance in his wake. Other disciples, emboldened by Peter’s example, will also eventually do the same thing, glorifying God in the process.

What can we learn from Peter? There’s a time to remain in your room, praying and spending time listening to the Lord. But at some point, you must leave the safety of that room and meet people in all their imperfections, their sin, and their needs. As Peter walked through Jerusalem, he had no idea of the illnesses or the number of demons tormenting those around him; however, God knew everything and God guided Peter. If we will step out, God will guide us. We might never know how much God is doing, or we will only learn years later.

Forty years ago, my husband was working at an ambulance company in Memphis, Tennessee. One of the other EMT’s was a young woman struggling with drugs and alcohol abuse. She had narrowly escaped death when a boyfriend involved in witchcraft refused to murder her. We did what we could to encourage her and pray for her, but then we left for the mission field in 1988. Two years later, we were back in Memphis at a Christian concert. Suddenly, my husband heard a voice near him saying, “Bob? Bob Young? I got saved!!!” The speaker was our friend. She told us that she had felt as if she was underneath an enormous pile of garbage with only a pinpoint of light penetrating the darkness. When Bob would come, the light would get brighter, and when I would join him, the light shone brighter still. Eventually, our friend entered a Teen Challenge program. The night she got saved, she was praying by herself, and her prayer was, “God, whatever my friends have, I want it!” Our friend’s life changed forever that night, for she committed her life to Jesus and made a total-and permanent-change.

We were thrilled and shocked at our friend’s testimony, for we didn’t feel that we had done anything particularly unusual. We prayed for our friend, but we didn’t try to lecture her. But God took our availability and did something magnificent with it.

Our hospital chaplain tells a similar story. After passing through the hospital, praying for all the patients one morning, our chaplain was chatting with one of the relatives. “Pastor, I got healed when you prayed for my sister!” the lady exclaimed. Evidently, this lady was sick but was struggling to care for her sister who was even sicker. As our chaplain prayed one morning, this lady felt everything in her body coming back into alignment, and suddenly she knew that she was healed.

Once more, we realize that God is not as interested in our talent or our abilities as He is in our availability. When we allow God to use us, He will do miracles. So, get out of your comfort zone! Ask God to send you to people who need Him and then see what He will do.

PRAYER; Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be willing to go where You send us and do what You want us to do. In the mighty and precious name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 4: 36 For instance, there was Joseph (the one the apostles nicknamed “Barnabas, the encourager.” He was of the tribe of Levi, from the island of Cyprus). 37 He was one of those who sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles for distribution to those in need.

His actual name was Joseph, but most Christians know him as Barnabas, Son of Encouragement. He was a Jew from the priestly tribe of Levi, raised on the island of Cyprus. And evidently, he was well to do, for he owned a field that he could sell to donate money for the needy believers. And there were many needy people. The Pharisees and Sadducees might make a great show of their donations, even blowing trumpets announcing their generosity; however, that money went into the temple coffers, to which the poor and needy had no access. It was a sweet deal for wealthy worshipers to get religious credit while not having to get involved with actual sufferers who might wear rags and smell of sweat-and other odors-from the jobs they were doing to survive.

Acts 5:1 But there was a man named Ananias (with his wife Sapphira) who sold some property 2 and brought only part of the money, claiming it was the full price. (His wife had agreed to this deception.)

Did this couple actually believe in Jesus? Who knows? Perhaps Peter’s sermons on the Day of Pentecost had swayed them. Perhaps they knew they could never become socially prominent in traditional Jewish religious society while this new group offered all kinds of opportunities for someone smart. Here was a way of assuring reputations as charitable people. On the other hand, did they REALLY have to donate the full price of the property?

Why did this couple sell the property in the first place? Perhaps Ananias and Sapphira were Jewish believers who had watched the religious leaders get acclaim falsely for years. When this Jew from Cyprus, of all places, gained recognition and praise for his generosity, Ananias and Sapphira realized that they too might achieve positions of church leadership if they could just impress the disciples sufficiently. This group of Jesus believers was new; however, they were growing exponentially, offering lots of potential for advancement for anybody canny enough to manipulate their naïve leaders.

When you return to the story of the Garden of Eden, you realize that Satan’s question to Eve was couched in similar terms. “Did God REALLY say….” Spoiler alert! If you begin asking yourself questions that start with “Did God REALLY ___, you’re already on a slippery slope sliding into Hell.

Why were other believers willing to donate everything, sharing resources with all those around them? They were trusting that God was going to provide for them. In Matthew 6:24-34, Jesus reassures his disciples.

24 “You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around.

25 “So my counsel is: Don’t worry about things—food, drink, and clothes. For you already have life and a body—and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. 26 Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat—they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food—for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. 27 Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothes? Look at the field lilies! They don’t worry about theirs. 29 Yet King Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as beautifully as they. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?

31-32 “So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, 33 and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.

34 “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.

Somehow, Ananias and Sapphira never got that message. They wanted something to fall back on in case this Jesus thing didn’t pan out. That misbelief proved to be a fatal mistake, revealing the couple as religious fakes.

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, Satan has filled your heart. When you claimed this was the full price, you were lying to the Holy Spirit. 4 The property was yours to sell or not, as you wished. And after selling it, it was yours to decide how much to give. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us, but to God.”

5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor, dead! Everyone was terrified, 6 and the younger men covered him with a sheet and took him out and buried him.

When Ananias fell to the floor, dead, Peter was just as shocked as everybody else. Peter probably hoped that Ananias would repent and confess the perjury, but God knew Ananias’ heart better than Peter did and God knew Ananias had no intention of repenting whatsoever. Believers buried Ananias swiftly and then asked Peter, “But what about his wife?”

“Wait for the wife,” Peter counseled. “Perhaps she is true-hearted and does not know what her husband has done.”

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Did you people sell your land for such and such a price?”

“Yes,” she replied, “we did.”

9 And Peter said, “How could you and your husband even think of doing a thing like this—conspiring together to test the Spirit of God’s ability to know what is going on? Just outside that door are the young men who buried your husband, and they will carry you out too.”

10 Instantly she fell to the floor, dead, and the young men came in and, seeing that she was dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Terror gripped the entire church and all others who heard what had happened.

If you think Ananias and Sapphira were the only ones envying Barnabas and plotting similar schemes, think again. By now, the fledgling church had more than 5,000 believers. It’s quite possible that others were closely watching Ananias and Sapphira to see if they could fool the disciples; if they got away with the deception, others would copy them. The famous nineteenth century evangelist C.H. Spurgeon was fond of saying, “Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began.” Peter doesn’t realize it, but this matter has brought the church to a crisis point: Will the church allow manipulation and lies? God conclusively settles the matter by striking both Ananias and Sapphira dead. At this point, anyone else entertaining similar schemes should change their hearts and minds quickly!

If you have been a church member for very long, you might read this story and think, “Okay, God. But why aren’t you continuing to strike lying people dead as you did this couple?” One thing we forget is that God is infinitely gracious while we are not. We long to see evil-doers punished, preferably as swiftly as possible. God, on the other hand, gives people lots of opportunities to repent as long as the potential exists. Evidently, God knew that this couple had NO intention whatsoever of repenting, hence, their fate became a graphic lesson to others.

What’s the bottom line on the story of Ananias and Sapphira? Don’t try to fool God; He knows you better than you know yourself. May we continue to turn to God, trusting that He will guide us in the distribution of our resources.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain true-hearted, no matter what temptations present themselves. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 4:32 All the believers were of one heart and mind, and no one felt that what he owned was his own; everyone was sharing. 33 And the apostles preached powerful sermons about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and there was warm fellowship among all the believers, 34-35 and no poverty—for all who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.

36 For instance, there was Joseph (the one the apostles nicknamed “Barnabas, the encourager.” He was of the tribe of Levi, from the island of Cyprus). 37 He was one of those who sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles for distribution to those in need.

Sometimes, the simplest statements are also the most profound. For anybody who has ever been part of a group, the first statement is a shocker- All the believers were of one heart and mind, and no one felt that what he owned was his own; everyone was sharing. Where more than two or three are gathered together, generally there are at least two factions. Churches have been known to split over fights about the color of the hymnals or the new carpet for the sanctuary. There’s even an apocryphal story about a church somewhere in the American South where they literally split the church building right down the middle and moved half of it down the road. American writer Garrison Keillor describes the Holiness congregation in which he was raised as being so small that the families could meet in someone’s living room with space to spare. But under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the early church members were agreeing with one another and sharing whatever resources they had. There was even “warm fellowship.”

Never underestimate the value of warm fellowship. The reasons don’t matter; however, I was so wounded by some life experiences that by the time I reached one church, I could scarcely stand to be hugged. Hugging me was no more rewarding than hugging a fence post; yet, one precious lady made it her duty to hug me warmly every Sunday. Eventually I thawed out to the point where I could hug back, shocking my friend in the process. The Holy Spirit was moving mightily in that church, and eight different couples went into ministry in a few years under the influence of the Spirit. Prayer times were also kept until the end of the service so that if people needed to stay for several hours to pray, they had liberty to do so, as long as they would lock up the church afterwards.

Believers were of one heart and one mind; they were sharing; and they were preaching powerful messages. Relieved of the worry of going hungry or naked, these believers could focus on proclaiming the Gospel. And there were those like Barnabas “Son of Encouragement” with wealth enough to share generously.

My husband and I have been in missions since 1987, and we have noticed an interesting phenomenon. Although we have had a few wealthy supporters during the years, the majority of our support has come from individuals on limited incomes or churches with smaller memberships. Mother Teresa noticed the same thing during her work with the poor in Calcutta. When Teresa brought one poor family some rice, the wife immediately divided the rice in half, keeping half for her family and sharing the other half with her neighbors. Does this mean all poor people are generous? No. But those who have endured poverty understand it and are more willing to help. I once heard a radio interview with a billionaire from Hong Kong who spoke in glowing terms of the charitable acts he intended to do….just as soon as he gathered sufficient money. This man had more wealth than he could spend in a thousand lifetimes; yet, he was unwilling to share and was finding excuses. When the interviewer inquired as to how much more money this man might need before embarking on charity, there was no answer.

There is a simple law in the Kingdom of God: the measure you give out is the measure you will receive. Luke 6:38 tells us, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” The Holy Spirit taught early church members this lesson, at least most of them. Tomorrow we will consider a couple who refused to listen to the Spirit.

How do we handle money? We try not to let money stick to our fingers. Surrounded by poor people in need of medical help and even feeding while in hospital, we do what we can to lift part of the burden. We feel that as long as we continue to be channels of God’s love and grace, God will continue to pour out blessings. Is this always easy? Are you kidding? Through the generosity of donors, we have helped with several projects around the hospital as well as training a number of staff. Sometimes things get scary. Sometimes we must balance out compensating a blood donor or settling a hospital debt rather than spending money on ourselves. We have two patients with long-term health issues whose monthly appointments we support. Many times, we must look heavenward and say, “Okay, Lord, please send funds.”

We can testify that God has always met our needs. Notice I am saying “needs,” not “wants.” We might want something that is not strictly necessary. Although sometimes God does give unexpected personal blessings, many times, the biggest blessing of all is seeing people get well and go home.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help us to see the needs of those around us, their spiritual needs as well as physical, and be of one heart and one mind while we share with them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.