Podcasts about apostles acts

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 21: 1-14 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Absolutely — let's build a complete definition of jealousy by pulling together the different angles from Scripture, psychology, and language:   Definition of Jealousy   1. General / Dictionary Sense   Jealousy is a feeling of resentment, bitterness, or insecurity that arises when we perceive a threat to something we value—such as a relationship, possession, status, or recognition.  It often involves fear of loss and resentment toward others who have what we desire.   2. Biblical Sense   The Bible uses jealousy in two distinct ways:   Sinful Human Jealousy (envy, rivalry):     * Wanting what someone else has.   * Resenting their success, blessings, or relationships.   * Leads to anger, strife, and destructive actions (James 3:16; Galatians 5:20).   Righteous Divine Jealousy (protective love):**      God's passionate commitment to His people and His own glory.    Not born out of insecurity, but out of covenant love and holiness (Exodus 34:14; 2 Corinthians 11:2).    Like a husband's rightful desire for his wife's faithfulness.   3. Psychological Understanding - or breaking it down in the brain   Jealousy is often a complex emotion made up of:     Fear (of being replaced, overlooked, or abandoned).   Anger/resentment (toward the one we feel threatened by).   Insecurity (about our own worth or position). Unlike envy (wanting what someone else has), jealousy often involves a triangular relationship: Me, the other person, and the rival/threat or appearance of what I lack.    4. Key Distinctions   Envy = “I want what you have.” Jealousy = “I'm afraid you'll take what I have” or “I resent you for threatening my place (i.e. I don't measure up to you).” God's Jealousy = “I will not allow you to give your love to idols because I love you and know what's best for you.”   Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Jealousy keeps us from doing both. Rejoice? But I don't have that! Mourn? No they deserve to suffer, because I have had to suffer.   But here is what is weird… when we rejoice over those who are succeeding, being blessed, hitting goals, achieving greatness… when we rejoice with them in that we are planting seeds of their success into our lives.  If we truly reap what we sow… then when we rejoice with others we in turn have just planted seeds-IN FAITH- for the day people will rejoice over our success.  So here is the power thought for the day. We don't just sow money, time talents… we sow emotions. If the emotions we choose to sow are positive we will reap the benefits of that… but if they are negative towards people… well, I bet you can figure it out.    ---   ✅ **Complete Definition (Combined):** **Jealousy** is an intense emotional response that can be either sinful or righteous. In its sinful form, it is a self-centered resentment or hostility toward others because of their advantages, relationships, or blessings, often leading to strife and destruction. In its righteous form—used of God—it is His holy, protective zeal for the exclusive devotion of His people and the honor of His name, rooted not in insecurity but in perfect love and covenant faithfulness.   That's a really thoughtful question. The Bible treats **jealousy** as dangerous and destructive, but the reason why depends on how the word is used in Scripture. Let's break it down:   ---   1. Jealousy as a Sin (Human Jealousy)**   Most often, the Bible speaks of jealousy in the sense of **envy, rivalry, or coveting what others have**. This is why it's seen as evil:   It leads to division and strife.**   *“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”* (James 3:16)   Jealousy doesn't just stay internal—it spills out into conflict and chaos.   It comes from pride and insecurity.**   Jealousy says, “What God gave me is not enough; I deserve what you have.” That challenges God's wisdom and provision.   It destroys relationships.**   Cain killed Abel out of jealousy (Genesis 4:3–8). Saul tried to kill David because “Saul was very angry … ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands'” (1 Samuel 18:7–9).   It is linked with the “works of the flesh.”**   Galatians 5:20–21 lists jealousy along with fits of anger, rivalries, and envy as things that keep people from inheriting the kingdom of God.   2. God's “Jealousy” (a Different Kind)**   At the same time, Scripture also describes God as *jealous* (Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24). But this isn't the same as sinful human jealousy.   * God's jealousy is about **protective love**. He won't share His people with idols because He knows only He can satisfy them. * It's like a loving husband's jealousy for his wife's faithfulness—not rooted in insecurity, but in covenant love.   3. **Why Human Jealousy Is So Evil**   So the Bible condemns human jealousy because:   * It **springs from self-centeredness** rather than love. * It **questions God's goodness** and fairness. * It **tears communities apart** instead of building them up. * It is the **opposite of love**, which “does not envy” (1 Corinthians 13:4).   In short: **God's jealousy protects love, but our jealousy destroys it.**       Perfect — here are some of the clearest **biblical stories where jealousy led to disaster**:   ---   ### **1. Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:3–8)**   * **What happened:** God accepted Abel's offering but not Cain's. Cain became jealous and murdered his brother. * **Lesson:** Jealousy escalated into anger, bitterness, and ultimately the first murder in human history.   ---   ### **2. Joseph and His Brothers (Genesis 37:3–28)**   * **What happened:** Jacob favored Joseph, giving him the “coat of many colors.” His brothers became jealous of his dreams and sold him into slavery. * **Lesson:** Jealousy within a family destroyed trust and nearly killed Joseph.   ---   ### **3. Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 16:1–35)**   * **What happened:** Korah and his followers were jealous of Moses and Aaron's leadership. They challenged God's choice and were swallowed up by the earth. * **Lesson:** Jealousy against God's appointed leaders is ultimately rebellion against God Himself.   ---   ### **4. Saul and David (1 Samuel 18:6–16; 19:8–10)**   * **What happened:** After David killed Goliath, people praised him more than King Saul. Saul grew jealous and tried multiple times to kill David. * **Lesson:** Jealousy blinded Saul to David's loyalty and destroyed his kingship.   ---   ### **5. The Religious Leaders and Jesus (Mark 15:10; Matthew 27:18)**   * **What happened:** Pilate recognized that the religious leaders handed Jesus over to be crucified **out of envy/jealousy.** * **Lesson:** Jealousy of Jesus' influence and authority led to the ultimate injustice—His crucifixion.   ---   ### **6. The Pharisees and the Apostles (Acts 5:17; 13:45)**   * **What happened:** The high priest and Sadducees were jealous of the apostles' popularity and miracles, so they persecuted them. Later, the Jews in Antioch opposed Paul out of jealousy when Gentiles responded to the gospel. * **Lesson:** Jealousy can oppose the very work of God.   ---  

All our hope is in Jesus. We trust him for salvation, follow him as Lord, and live in union with him. Jesus is the cornerstone, and his chosen apostles laid the foundation of truth on which the household of God is built. Today, from Acts 1, we see what Jesus did to prepare his apostles before he ascended into heaven. We come to faith in Jesus and enter the kingdom of God through their witness of him. Grace Community Church exists to build spiritually healthy people for ministry in the world. One of the ways that we pursue this mission is by gathering each Sunday for corporate worship, prayer, and biblical teaching. The corporate nature of this gathering is both edifying to the believer and a witness of God's grace to the world. Sermon speaker is Scott Patty unless otherwise noted.

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 20: 1-37 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 19: 21-41 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 19: 11-20 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 18:24 -19: 10 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 18 : 1-23 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 17 : 16-34 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 17 : 1-15 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 16 : 13-40 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 15 : 36 - 16 :1 2 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 15: 1 - 35 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 14: 19 - 28 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 14: 1 - 18 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Apostles are in trouble again for spreading the message about the death and resurrection of Yeshua of Nazareth, and they almost get the death sentence, but a wise man stand up for them in their time of trouble. Listen to learn how we should be honored to be persecuted for faith in the Messiah.

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 13: 13-52 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

The Acts Of The Apostles: Acts 13:1-12 - April 27th 2025 by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

Acts 12:20-25

Acts 12:1-19

The Sanhedrin assembles to put Yeshua's Apostles on trial… but when they go to get them from a jail cell, they are nowhere to be found.

Terry gives a detailed description of the apostolic office and why it matters for us today

Acts 3:1-26 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. […] The post “And many wonders and signs were being done through the Apostles.” (Acts 3:1-26) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.

Friends of the Rosary, Today, January 12, the Church celebrates the solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. As we read in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 10:34-38), “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” John baptized people with water, but Christ Jesus baptized them with the Holy Spirit and fire. When Jesus was baptized and praying (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22), "heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him bodily like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." The all-light Son of God, the source of all grace, sought and received John's baptism of repentance to purify and make holy the water by touching it. Since then, the words heard from the Heavens can be applied to any person baptized. The sacrament of Baptism places in our souls the mark of being the privileged children of God. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You! Come, Holy Spirit, come! To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • ⁠⁠Enjoy this video and enhance your faith in our newly released Holy Rosary University iOS app. • ⁠January 12, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Read Online“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:19–20These words of our Lord came to fruition in the life of Saint Stephen, the Church's first martyr. Saint Stephen was martyred within a couple of years after Jesus' ascension into Heaven. He was one of seven deacons who the Apostles appointed to assist them in their work of caring for the poor as the Church began to grow.Stephen was a man of deep faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. After he was appointed deacon, he began to preach with boldness. Among his listeners were members of the synagogue of Hellenistic Jews. Stephen debated them vigorously and proved himself to be full of wisdom and power, performing many signs and wonders in their midst. But this only led his listeners to become outraged to the point of seeking his death. As a result, they made false claims that Stephen was preaching against the Temple and the Law of Moses.In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 7:2–53), Stephen responded by giving a long and detailed speech by which he explained the full truth of Jesus in light of the Old Testament. Stephen concluded by saying, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors.” This infuriated his listeners in the synagogue even more. After this, something truly miraculous happened. Stephen had a vision. He looked up to Heaven and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” He saw his Lord, standing at the right hand of the Father. And it was his proclamation of this vision that finally drove the infuriated crowd to drag him out of the synagogue and city and to stone him to death. Stephen's story, however, ended in a beautiful and inspired way. As the crowd was stoning him, he spoke two powerful statements. First, he said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And then he prayed in a loud voice,  “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”As mentioned above, the words our Lord speaks in the Gospel today came to fruition in the life of Saint Stephen. First of all, we see that Jesus' prediction that some of His followers would be handed over to deaths by their own kinsmen came true in the life of Saint Stephen. But Jesus also promised that when this would happen, “You will be given at that moment what you are to say.” And it will be the Spirit of the Father “speaking through you.” And that's exactly what happened with Saint Stephen. First, he was given a glorious vision of Heaven. Second, he was inspired to fully surrender his spirit over to Jesus. And third, he was inspired to pray for his persecutors and forgive them. These words and actions did not come from Stephen alone. They were the fulfillment of Jesus' promise that when one is persecuted for the sake of the Gospel, the Father will be especially present and give powerful inspiration at the moment of need. Reflect, today, upon the profound truth that God never abandons us. In fact, when we suffer the most or endure persecution, rejection or any form of mistreatment, God is especially present. Look at your own life and consider those moments that you find most challenging. Pray to Saint Stephen and ask him to pray for you so that you will be open to the inspired words and actions of our Lord when you need them the most. Most glorious Saint Stephen, please pray for me. Pray for me especially when I experience the heaviest crosses in my life. Pray that I, like you, will be open to God's inspiration and grace at those times I need it the most. St. Stephen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Martyrdom of Saint Stephen by flickr

Welcome back to the podcast, today we're talking about fasting as we continue our study in Acts chapter 13.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Today is a turning point in our study of Acts (We'll cover ch 13)Reminds me of “Clue”:Col Mustard in the library with the candlestick, orProf Plum in the kitchen with the revolverHere's a summary of Acts:Ch 1-12: Peter in Jerusalem with the HSCh 13-28: Paul in Gentile territories with the HSRemember: Acts of the Apostles = Acts of the HSToday we'll see a spiritual discipline that opens us to be used by HSFastingHave you ever done it?In the Bible, fasting is a discipline where believers intentionally set aside their most basic needs to realign their hearts with God's will.Food, water (mainly what we're talking about today)TV, entertainmentSocial mediaQ. Five Reasons Christians Should FastBased on an examination of Acts 13So open your Bibles with me…Fasting is a timeless spiritual discipline.We see it all over the Bible: followers of God sometimes fast.Moses - He fasted for 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai when receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28).David - He fasted when he was grieving for the illness of his child (2 Samuel 12:16).Elijah - He fasted for 40 days while fleeing from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:8).Esther - She called for a fast among the Jews before approaching King Xerxes (Esther 4:16).Daniel - He fasted and sought God for understanding and guidance (Daniel 9:3; Daniel 10:3).Anna - The prophetess who served in the temple, fasted regularly (Luke 2:37).Jesus - He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:1-2).And we also see it here in Acts 13…Acts 13:1-2 (NLT) 1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting…“As these men were fasting…”No need for explanationIt seemed normative for the early churchMatthew 6:16 And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.“When,” not “If”Q. Have you ever fasted? Reason #1: Fasting is a timeless spiritual discipline.See also: Breakthrough Disciplines (Series) But Christians should not fast pointlessly, just because it's “what we do.” It's about more than that…Fasting helps us to hear the Holy...

Welcome back to the podcast, today we're talking about fasting as we continue our study in Acts chapter 13.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Today is a turning point in our study of Acts (We'll cover ch 13)Reminds me of “Clue”:Col Mustard in the library with the candlestick, orProf Plum in the kitchen with the revolverHere's a summary of Acts:Ch 1-12: Peter in Jerusalem with the HSCh 13-28: Paul in Gentile territories with the HSRemember: Acts of the Apostles = Acts of the HSToday we'll see a spiritual discipline that opens us to be used by HSFastingHave you ever done it?In the Bible, fasting is a discipline where believers intentionally set aside their most basic needs to realign their hearts with God's will.Food, water (mainly what we're talking about today)TV, entertainmentSocial mediaQ. Five Reasons Christians Should FastBased on an examination of Acts 13So open your Bibles with me…Fasting is a timeless spiritual discipline.We see it all over the Bible: followers of God sometimes fast.Moses - He fasted for 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai when receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28).David - He fasted when he was grieving for the illness of his child (2 Samuel 12:16).Elijah - He fasted for 40 days while fleeing from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:8).Esther - She called for a fast among the Jews before approaching King Xerxes (Esther 4:16).Daniel - He fasted and sought God for understanding and guidance (Daniel 9:3; Daniel 10:3).Anna - The prophetess who served in the temple, fasted regularly (Luke 2:37).Jesus - He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:1-2).And we also see it here in Acts 13…Acts 13:1-2 (NLT) 1 Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting…“As these men were fasting…”No need for explanationIt seemed normative for the early churchMatthew 6:16 And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get.“When,” not “If”Q. Have you ever fasted? Reason #1: Fasting is a timeless spiritual discipline.See also: Breakthrough Disciplines (Series) But Christians should not fast pointlessly, just because it's “what we do.” It's about more than that…Fasting helps us to hear the Holy...

Recorded October 23, 2024

Recorded October 13, 2024 Morning

In modern times, the church has dismissed the importance of keeping the Sabbath, viewing it as an abrogated part of the Mosaic Law. Yet this flies in the face of the entire witness of Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, we find an unbroken theme for man to set aside one day in seven to rest from his labors and worship God. This began following Creation Week with God Himself, who rested on the seventh day and sanctified the day for this purpose (Gen. 2:2-3), and it is reaffirmed in the Bible's final book by the Apostle John who recognized the “Lord's Day” as special (Rev. 1:10). In this podcast, Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Tim Stephens, walk through the Bible, identifying (11) eleven scriptural reasons to keep the Sabbath, which was moved from the last to the first day of the week to honor Christ's resurrection. Among the reasons they give: not only was it established at Creation (Gen. 2:2-3), but it was honored by God's people prior to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 16:22-23); championed by the prophets (Isa. 58); celebrated by Jesus (Mark 2:27); and affirmed by the Apostles (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). Their charge to Christians—rather than focusing on negative prohibitions, make the Sabbath a day of delight by basking in the pleasures of the Lord.

This week's portion is called: Nasso (Take up). TORAH PORTION Numbers 7:42–89. HAFTARAH Judges 13:2–25; APOSTLES Acts 21:17–26. Think about: How does the Haftarah connect to this week's Torah Portion, and how do the Apostles connect to this week's Torah Portion? Daily Bread for Kids is a daily Bible reading podcast where we read through the Torah and the Gospels in one year! Helping young Bible-readers to study God's Word, while also discovering its Jewish context! THE KIDS' JOURNAL is available from ⁠⁠https://arielmedia.shop⁠⁠ BUSY MOMS who want to follow the Daily Bread readings on podcast for adults, can go to https://dailybreadmoms.com The Bible translation we are reading from is the Tree of Life Version (TLV) available from the Tree of Life Bible Society. INSTAGRAM: @dailybreadkids @arielmediabooks @dailybreadmoms Tags: #DailyBreadMoms #DailyBreadJournal #BibleJournaling #Messianic #BiblePodcast #BiblicalFeasts #Journal #biblereadingplan #Messiah #JewishRoots #Yeshua #GodIsInControl #OneYearBible #MomLife #MotherCulture #FaithFilledMama #BiblicalWomanhood #Proverbs31woman

Christ United Sermon Series - Sanctuary May 19 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 17:16-21 ~ Rev. Brian Hasty Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong May 19 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 17:16-21 ~ Rev. Rob Couch Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - Sanctuary May 19 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 17:16-21 ~ Rev. Brian Hasty Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong May 19 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 17:16-21 ~ Rev. Rob Couch Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - Sanctuary May 12 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 16:23-32 ~ Rev. Rob Couch Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong May 12 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 16:23-32 ~ Rev. Brian Hasty Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong May 12 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 16:23-32 ~ Rev. Brian Hasty Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - Sanctuary May 12 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 16:23-32 ~ Rev. Rob Couch Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - Sanctuary May 5 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 13:1-5  ~ Rev. Brian Hasty Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong May 5 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 13:1-5 ~ Rev. Rob Couch Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - Sanctuary May 5 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 13:1-5  ~ Rev. Brian Hasty Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong May 5 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 13:1-5 ~ Rev. Rob Couch Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - Sanctuary Apr. 28 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 10:34-39, 44-48 ~ Rev. Shaun Kaulfers Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong Apr. 28 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 10:34-39, 44-48 ~ Rev. Brian Hasty Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong Apr. 28 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 10:34-39, 44-48 ~ Rev. Brian Hasty Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - NewSong Apr. 21 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 9:-19 ~ Rev. Tony Gatter Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

Christ United Sermon Series - Sanctuary Apr. 21 - Acts of the Apostles Acts 9:1-9 ~ Rev. Rob Couch Christ United Methodist Church Mobile, Alabama 

All of these are numbered among the Seventy, and all are mentioned in the Epistles of St Paul.   Herodion was a kinsmen of St Paul: 'Salute Herodion my kinsman' (Romans 16:11). After many sufferings for the Gospel, he worked with the Apostle Peter in Rome, and was beheaded with him.   Agabus was granted a spirit of prophecy: two of his prophecies are important in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 11:28, 21:11).   Rufus was Bishop of Thebes. 'Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord' (Romans 16:13).   Asyncritus (Romans 16:14) was Bishop of Hyrcania in Asia.   Phlegon, (Romans 16:14) was Bishop of Marathon in Thrace.   Hermas (Romans 16:14) was a bishop in Dalmatia.

“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:19–20These words of our Lord came to fruition in the life of Saint Stephen, the Church's first martyr. Saint Stephen was martyred within a couple of years after Jesus' ascension into Heaven. He was one of seven deacons who the Apostles appointed to assist them in their work of caring for the poor as the Church began to grow.Stephen was a man of deep faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. After he was appointed deacon, he began to preach with boldness. Among his listeners were members of the synagogue of Hellenistic Jews. Stephen debated them vigorously and proved himself to be full of wisdom and power, performing many signs and wonders in their midst. But this only led his listeners to become outraged to the point of seeking his death. As a result, they made false claims that Stephen was preaching against the Temple and the Law of Moses.In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 7:2–53), Stephen responded by giving a long and detailed speech by which he explained the full truth of Jesus in light of the Old Testament. Stephen concluded by saying, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors.” This infuriated his listeners in the synagogue even more. After this, something truly miraculous happened. Stephen had a vision. He looked up to Heaven and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” He saw his Lord, standing at the right hand of the Father. And it was his proclamation of this vision that finally drove the infuriated crowd to drag him out of the synagogue and city and to stone him to death. Stephen's story, however, ended in a beautiful and inspired way. As the crowd was stoning him, he spoke two powerful statements. First, he said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And then he prayed in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”As mentioned above, the words our Lord speaks in the Gospel today came to fruition in the life of Saint Stephen. First of all, we see that Jesus' prediction that some of His followers would be handed over to deaths by their own kinsmen came true in the life of Saint Stephen. But Jesus also promised that when this would happen, “You will be given at that moment what you are to say.” And it will be the Spirit of the Father “speaking through you.” And that's exactly what happened with Saint Stephen. First, he was given a glorious vision of Heaven. Second, he was inspired to fully surrender his spirit over to Jesus. And third, he was inspired to pray for his persecutors and forgive them. These words and actions did not come from Stephen alone. They were the fulfillment of Jesus' promise that when one is persecuted for the sake of the Gospel, the Father will be especially present and give powerful inspiration at the moment of need. Reflect, today, upon the profound truth that God never abandons us. In fact, when we suffer the most or endure persecution, rejection or any form of mistreatment, God is especially present. Look at your own life and consider those moments that you find most challenging. Pray to Saint Stephen and ask him to pray for you so that you will be open to the inspired words and actions of our Lord when you need them the most. Most glorious Saint Stephen, please pray for me. Pray for me especially when I experience the heaviest crosses in my life. Pray that I, like you, will be open to God's inspiration and grace at those times I need it the most. St. Stephen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2023 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.