Podcasts about god acts

Trust the Slow Work of GodActs 15:36-41Teacher: Matt PiersonDate: August 23, 2026What should we do when the unthinkable happens, and a relationship we thought was rock solid and indestructible explodes into a thousand pieces? What do repentance and forgiveness look like when we can't even agree to disagree? What hope is there for healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation? Join Pastor Matt as we look at Acts 15:36-41 and consider the broken relationship of Paul and Barnabas, and how God continued to work through them, despite their differences.Support the showTo find more resources like these, follow us:Website: https://thevillagechapel.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVTzDbaiXVUAm_mUBDCTJAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tvcnashville/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvcnashvilleX: https://twitter.com/tvcnashvilleTo support the ongoing mission of The Village Chapel go to https://thevillagechapel.com/give/. If you are a regular giver, thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity!

In this broadcast of For Zion's Sake, Shelley and June Volk discuss the profound theme of living "for His sake." Building on Jesus' teaching in John 15:13 on laying down one's life, they explore how God consistently acts throughout Scripture—from the Exodus to the prayers of Daniel—to uphold and glorify His own name. The Volks remind believers that carrying God's name is both a privilege and a high calling, urging listeners to live in a way that reflects His character, brings honor to Messiah, and intercedes faithfully for others. Key Takeaways Living for Jesus First: Laying down one's life for others is only possible when believers live primary for Jesus, letting His grace and life flow through them. God Acts for His Name's Sake: Scriptural accounts in Daniel and Ezekiel show that God's mercy, forgiveness, and deliverance are grounded in His desire to uphold His own holy character. Bearing the Stamp of God: Believers are identified with God's name; daily choices, speech, and conduct either bring glory or reproach to Him. Persistent Intercession: Followers of Christ are encouraged to pray faithfully for family, friends, and adversaries, asking God to reveal His righteousness and salvation. Bible Passages Referenced John 15:13 – Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends. 1 Samuel 12:19–22 – The Lord's commitment to His people for His great name's sake. Psalm 103:10–11 – God's immense lovingkindness and mercy toward those who fear Him. Daniel 9:16–19 – Daniel's prayer appealing to God's compassion and the honor of His name. Ezekiel 20:7–9 – God delivering His people out of Egypt so His name would not be profaned. Support the show: https://shellyandjunevolk.com/product/partner-with-us-psalm-127-fund/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Acts 11:26 we read that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. "Disciple" is the most used word in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus. It is used 261 times. The word "Christian" is used only 3 times in the New Testament. Brothers and sisters, believers, followers are also used but "disciples" is Jesus' favorite word to describe His followers.   Matthew 29:19-20 - the Great Commission - Jesus says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."   The other 2 uses of Christian: Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.   The New Testament word appears to be invented by the opposition, a derisive term patterned after the names of Roman political parties; Example those following Herod = Herodians, or followers of Pompe = Pompeians.   Christian = Christ followers. Or "Christ-ers."   Followers of Jesus accepted and reveled in the name.  In the writings of non-Christian people we see them embracing that term. "And the tribe of the Christians so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared." - Josephus, Antiquities, Book 18 (ca. 93A.D.)    Another example from an adamant unbeliever: "Consequently, to get rid of the reports, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilat…" Tacitus, The Annals, Book 15 (ca.118 A.D.)   Christian is all about the Messiah, the Christ of God, the Lord Jesus our Savior and the world's Savior.  It's also about our mission to bring others to Christ where there is healing, forgiveness, and hope of eternal life.     We are called to bear His Name with joy, confidence and power!!     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos     Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

God's Gospel Goes Global   After Peter told the story of his vision and going to Joppa to the home of Cornelius, we read in Acts 11:18 that "… the believers in Jerusalem had no further objections and praised God saying, 'So even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.'" And now the barriers that had existed between the Jewish world and the non-Jewish world are down in a single moment. The believers in Jerusalem that had grown up as devout Jewish people had their eyes opened to understand the new age that God promised had arrived. AND God's Gospel Goes Global!!!   Then + Now  GOD's Plan - His plan and intent have always been to win the entire world to Himself. God's plan is coming to fruition. Romans 10:12-13 we see that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile because the Lord saves all who call on Him.   In verse 19 and 20 we read that those scattered by the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom are spreading into Cyprus, Phoenicia and Antioch sharing the gospel message to Jews and Greeks. Peter's ministry to Cornelius opened the flood gates!!  Verse 21 tells us that the Lord was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.   We see the gospel exploding in Antioch, a place with many from multiple backgrounds and cultures, a wealthy city and an incredibly immoral city and this is where the Gospel explodes!!  Unbelievers discover what they are living for has no lasting value, leaving them empty.  Does this sound like the world today?  It is there that God desires to bring the Good News that changes people lives, transforming them from the inside out, that brings an eternal destiny, and great joy and He does that through His people then and NOW!   God's People - God uses His people to do mighty things. He desires to use us to touch our families, neighbors, and even our enemies with His word and his love. In verse 22 the news of the spread of the Gospel got back to the church in Jerusalem, so they send Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas was from Cypress and was known as an encourager and once he saw what the grace of God was doing there, he encouraged the new believers to persevere in their faith with all their hearts, just as we need to do TODAY!   God's Grace - God's breaks into our lives because He is good, not because of anything we have done, but because He is gracious. It is all based on what Jesus did at the cross. We all need to encounter that grace and know that God cares for us. His grace is powerful and changes lives, families, marriages, communities and the world both then and NOW!.   God's Leaders - Through Barnabas a great number of people are brought to the Lord. And Barnabas goes to Tarsus to bring Saul to Antioch. God assembles a great group of leaders, an amazing team uniquely qualified to carry out God's plan. In verse 26 we read that great numbers of people in Antioch were taught for an entire year by this leadership team, equipping God's people to know God, His Word, His guidance, His direction, and His Holy Spirit. These leaders were specially needed in a corrupt age, in a corrupt city, because if God's people are not equipped they will fall prey to the enemy. Today we see God continuing to raise up leaders to do His work, in His strength and with His guidance and Holy Spirit.    God's Teaching - we need to be instructed in the Truth.  It is a matter of connecting what the Bible says to the life of a believer.  Orthodoxy - right opinion - Beliefs - essential to be grounded in God's truth - the message of Christ's forgiveness. Orthopraxy - right practice - Conduct - knowing how to live our lives in a fallen world.  It's not just head knowledge, it is about heartfelt, Spirit-guided living - conduct that becomes a follower of Jesus.   Titus 2:11-14 - the grace of God offers salvation to ALL people and teaches us to live self-controlled, godly lives as we await Christ's return.    God's Mercy - In verses 28-30 we read that Agabus, a prophet, predicts a famine, so the disciples decide to support the believers living in Judea. In the mercy of God they reached out to those in the midst of famine, then. Today, God's mercy shows in us as we walk by faith and follow the Holy Spirit's leading.   … and God's Gospel continues to Go Global!   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 11-12.    Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

A @Christadelphians Video: # YouTube Summary/Description**[Actual, provable Bible Truth]** In a world that celebrates what Scripture clearly defines as sin, we must stand firm on God's Word. This thought-provoking and insightful presentation tackles the difficult subject of LGBTQ+ issues from a thoroughly biblical perspective, examining what the Old and New Testaments actually say about homosexuality, identity, and God's design for humanity.Join us for this outstanding expositional study as we blow the trumpet and sound the warning that our community desperately needs to hear. Drawing from the Law, the Prophets, and the Apostles, we present a clear, compassionate, and uncompromising look at what God thinks about these matters—not what the world thinks, not what we think, but what the Father has revealed in His Word.This wonderful presentation offers hope through the powerful truth that **such were some of you**—but you were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Change is possible. Overcomers are made through faith.##

Using the Bible and Roman sources, Pastor teaches us about Centurions.   In Sunday's message we met the Centurion, Cornelius. (See teaching here https://youtu.be/yjK_CB20Fk0) Acts 10:1-2 Cornelius was a centurion in the Italian Regiment.    What we know about Centurions Backbone of the Roman Army Tested and dependable leaders Commanded 80-100 soldiers - 6 Centurions to a Cohort (600) and 10 Cohorts to a Legion (6000) Mentioned more that 20 times in the New Testament - Luke 7:1-10, Matthew 8:5-13, Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47, Acts 10:1-7, Acts 21:32, Acts 22:25-29, Acts 23:17, Acts 23:23, Acts 24:23, Acts 27:1ff Viewed in very positive terms in the New Testament -    Pastor speculates that these centurions shared their stories with each other and that knowing the stories influenced their actions toward believers   Pastor closes with the proclamation of the centurion at the foot of Jesus' cross who said as Jesus died, "Surely he was the Son of God!"     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

https://cdn.enduringword.com/audio/devotional/Devotional08032026.mp3 The post The Work That Pleases God – Acts 6:2, 4 – August 3, 2026 appeared first on Enduring Word.

Although it's common today to think of Jesus as God, he's the human mediator between God and mankind (1 Tim 2:5). God never feels the pull of sin. Like eating liver and onions, sin holds no temptation for God (Jam 1:13). Jesus, however, faced temptations to sin throughout his life, but he overcame each one (Heb 4:15). Scripture reveals that although Jesus had a miraculous conception (Luke 1:35), he was genuine human being. He was born in the usual manner (Luke 2:7), grew up and became strong (Luke 2:40), and increased in wisdom over time (Luke 2:52). Peter recognized that Jesus was a man attested by God (Acts 2:22-23). Paul saw him as the man who righted Adam's wrongs (Rom 5:12-21). Even when Jesus returns as judge, he will still be a man appointed by God (Acts 17:31). To be human is to be in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27) and to have dominion over creation (Psalm 8:3-8). Jesus, though initially lower than the angels, has received glory and honor as the ultimate man who served God faithfully (Heb 2:5-18). The secret to Jesus's success of living righteously was his dependence on the Father (John 4:34; 5:19, 30; 7:16, 28; 8:26, 28-29; 10:25, 37; 12:49-50; 14:10, 24, 31; 15:10, 15; 17:4, 7-8). The greatest demonstration of his humble obedience was when he faced Satan's temptations in the wilderness (Mat 4:1-11). Jesus is the perfect man, our ultimate example in whose steps we can follow (1 Pet 2:18-25).The post The Gospel 4: Jesus, the Perfect Man first appeared on Living Hope.

Day 1 of our story Today's story takes place in Caesarea - Acts 10:1-8. Cornelius, a Roman soldier, a Centurion, lives there. (Pastor shares pictures of this city, still visible today!) Cornelius was one who worshiped the God of Israel but was not a full convert. He and his family were devout and God-fearing.  Then he receives a vision of an angel. The angel tells him to bring a man from Joppa named Simon known as Peter. We see Cornelius respond immediately to what the angel told him to do.    Day 2  Story moves location to Joppa where Cornelius' servant and one of his soldiers are headed - Acts 10:9-23a. Meanwhile, Peter goes up on the roof of the house he is at and goes into a trance and sees the heavens open and a sheet with all kinds of 4-footed animals, reptiles and birds. (Unclean animals according to the Torah) Then a voice tells him to eat them, but Peter says, I've never eaten anything impure or unclean.  I've obeyed the Torah!  The response from heaven, three times was, "Do not call anything pure that God has made clean." And the sheet was taken back into heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men Cornelius sent found him. The Spirit tells Peter to go downstairs to the men that were sent.  They tell Peter about the vision Cornelius had seen and Peter invites them in.   Day 3 Now our story goes on the road- Act 10:23b.  Peter and some witness head, with Cornelius' servant and soldier, to Caesarea.   Day 4 They arrive in Caesarea - Acts 10:24-48. (Pastor shares more pics of the area) Cornelius has a crowd of people gathered at his home to hear Peter when he arrives. Peter knows he's on God's mission: "You are aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me I should not call anyone impure or unclean." Cornelius retells his vision and says now they are in the presence of God to hear everything Peter has to tell them. Peter responds that he now realizes how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation those who know the Good News of Jesus Christ, Lord of ALL. He recounts the Gospel story of Jesus, He tells of the Savior's Good News and all that believe in Him receive forgiveness of sins through His name. Then suddenly the Holy Spirit fell on all of them, including the Gentiles. They were baptized in Jesus' name and ask Peter to say for a few more days.   What do we learn from this story?   Then + Now God's Agenda - God sets the agenda for His people, for individuals and for human history. God is fulfilling the New Covenant - That the day would come when the NATIONS would come to God. These are new covenant times! God Shows No Partiality - it is easy to be in our own groups and only see people like us and avoid people who don't fit our mold. But Jesus died for ALL. We are called to reach the world - therefore no partiality - God wants them all. Jesus is LORD - He is the New Covenant. Will we acknowledge His Lordship? He is the judge of the living and the dead. He is the Messiah, the Savior of the Nations, the Anointed Son of God who gave His life for all, rose, ascended and is coming back. Spirit Guided Life - God is not in a box, He sets the agenda, not us. Everything needs to be the way He deems it!   Pastor closes with the questions: Are you listening to God's Agenda for your life? Do Jesus and the Scriptures inform your daily living and actions? Do you sense and heed the Holy Spirit's promptings?   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 10 - 11.    Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Have you ever wondered why life sometimes gets harder when you're trying to obey God? You decide to read your Bible, and suddenly everything goes wrong. You commit to serving Christ, and unexpected opposition appears. Is that just coincidence... or is there something deeper going on?In Acts 16, Paul wasn't looking for a fight with the devil. He was simply on his way to a prayer meeting. Yet within hours he confronted a demon, was beaten by an angry mob, thrown into prison, and chained in the darkness. But what looked like Satan's triumph was actually one more of God's victories..Today in Acts 16:16-40 we'll discover what this passage teaches us about spiritual warfare, persecution, and how to rejoice in the face of unfair treatment.Acts 16:16-40 Bible study guide with companion discussion questions on our website: https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/acts/acts-16-16-40/Study and Obey's Bible study guides on Amazon -https://amzn.to/48SgPEN(As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)Study and Obey Free Weekly Podcast on Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/study-and-obey/id1571266150Our website of 1000+ practical and free Bible studies - https://studyandobey.comSupport this ministry -https://studyandobey.com/support/25+ Bible study guides for individual or group study on many different books of the Bible - https://studyandobey.com/shop/Sign up for a weekly Bible study to your inbox. 20+ studies to choose from - https://studyandobey.com/weekly-bible-study/Support the show

We dig into Acts 9:15-16: "But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."   This isn't about Saul being punished for who he used to be, but rather there is a cost to following Christ, but we see Saul understanding it is worth every penny of the cost. We see persecution taking place right after his conversion.   As Saul went from synagogue to synagogue preaching of Jesus, people didn't trust him and wanted to kill him because they felt he was guilty of blasphemy against  God by claiming Jesus to be God's son. They saw him as a religious traitor.    Acts 9:23-30 ⁃ Conspiracy to kill him in Damascus ⁃ Shunned in Jerusalem ⁃ Befriended by Barnabas ⁃ Received by the Apostles ⁃ Conspiracy to kill him by the Hellenistic Jews ⁃ Returned to hometown of Tarsus   In 2 Corinthians 11:23b-27 we read of his imprisonments, exposure to death, beatings, stonings, whippings, shipwrecks, and being in constant danger, facing daily his concern for the body of believers.    This news of Saul's persecution causes us to: 1. Admire him for his courage in sharing the Good News of Jesus.   2. Recognize that he was saved from hell by direct intervention of Jesus. Jesus' intervention resulted in Saul knowing everything he has is a gift from God.  We too have sinned and are saved by Jesus resulting in the free gift of salvation - and so we live for Him. We may suffer like Saul/Paul - under the enemy's attack. But our courage is found in God and in Saul's encouraging last written words. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award on that day!"   God is good, and He brings His people through each and every day, including the darkest ones.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Read with us: Acts 9:32-35 Check out our website: https://faithcommunityma.com/

Today's class is about how God Himself moves things, moves people, moves history, moves events to accomplish everything He desires, to fulfill His plan of winning the world into the knowledge of Living God and today we will see an amazing part of that plan coming to fruition.   Today's story is truly a story of how God ACTS - how He acts in the heart of Saul, a persecutor of followers of Jesus, working to imprison believers.   As Saul was walking on the way to Damascus suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him and he fell to the ground as he heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" His response, "Who are you, Lord?"   This is an important question! The response he hears is, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Note "I am", this is significant because these are the very words God calls Himself - the "I Am."  These words show that  Then and Now: Jesus is alive! And thus there is hope, a future and life transforming power! Theophany - a visible manifestation of a deity  burning bush at Sinai Israel at Mount Sinai - voice of God from heaven and the mount on fire transfiguration of Jesus And now Saul encounters God Jesus is who He said He is! Jesus gives sight to the blind. Saul is left blind following the encounter with The Light (Jesus). The others with him, led him to the city and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. However, while he was physically blind his heart was opened and could "see" who Jesus is. When we don' know Jesus - we are blind, but He gives sight to the blind when we come to know Him.     As we continue reading: A disciple name Ananias. through a vision from the Lord, was told to go to see Saul because God tells him that He has given Saul a vision of a man named Ananias who will restore his sight. That Saul will be expecting him. However, Ananias knows who Saul is and is hesitant to go. But the Lord says, "Go! This man (Saul) is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."   Knowing Jesus changes everything!  Ananias goes to Saul and says, "Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit!" This is a personal Pentecost for Saul.  Then scales fell from Saul's eyes and he is able to see and was baptized.  Saul's heart was changed when he met Jesus. Our lives, too, are changed by Jesus. Knowing Jesus changes our hearts, our lives and our eternal destiny. Knowing Jesus brings new purpose to life! Now this man that was sent to Damascus to arrest Jesus followers, is now in the synagogues preaching that Jesus is the Son of God! People were astonished to see the change in Saul. Saul continued preaching growing more and more powerful, baffling the Jews by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. Saul went from being a persecutor of Jesus Followers to sharing the Good News of Jesus and gaining more Jesus Followers for God's Kingdom. Saul was sold out to Christ and nothing but sharing Jesus' story was important to him.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 9-10 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

We delve into Acts 8:9-12 about a man named Simon who boasted that he was someone great and so people paid attention to him thinking he had the power of God because he amazed people with his sorcery.   However....   When people believed what Philip was saying as he proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, people were baptized.   THEN…   Acts 8:13 tells us that Simon himself believed and was baptized.  He followed Philip everywhere astonished by the miracles he saw.   But then the arrival of Peter and John…   Acts 8:14-17 - Peter and John show up to support and bless what Philip is doing and proclaiming.  As Peter and John laid hands on the new believers the Holy Spirit came on them because the Spirit is for ALL people.    That message that it was for all also had an impact on Simon…   We read in Acts 8:18-19 that when Simon saw the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered John and Peter money asking them to give him the ability to have people receive the Holy Spirit from his hands.    Simon was a sorcerer - magician - it is obvious Simon is still walking in his old ways. We see the danger of greed.     And then we read…   Acts 8:20-21 that Peter tells Simon, "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God."   The message of Jesus is not about how can I get rich. It is about how can I share the riches of God with others.   The gospel message is not about what's in it for me. It's about what God has done for me and what He desires to do for others.   The Call to repentance…   Acts 8:22-23 Peter continues by saying, "Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that He may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."     But then…   Simon doesn't articulate repentance, instead he asks Peter to pray to the Lord for him so that nothing Peter has said would happen to him.   In closing…   Simon does not show up in the New Testament scripture again. But Simon does shows up in many stories written by early Christians in the 2nd 3rd and 4th centuries. 2 early dependable christian authors:  Justin Martyr Samaritan believer Irenaeus  Are two who share more about Simon.    Twenty Centuries Later…   Simony - is the buying or selling of a church office or ecclesiastical privileges.    Another way money was used was in the buying of indulgences. (Paying for forgiveness) But it is ONLY the blood of Jesus that saves us. Redemption cannot be purchased, it is something God paid for in full and it is a gift offered to each one of us.   The question..   If you have not yet received this most precious gift of forgiveness and life forever through faith in Jesus, the question is… will you? He's waiting with open arms! And it's ALL FREE!     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos     Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Acts 8 begins with the day of Stephen's death:    Then  +   Now - What we learn All things - work together for good (God used the persecution for His purpose in spreading the Gospel) We read in Acts 8:1 that starting that day (of Stephen's death) a massive persecution broke out against the believers in Jerusalem and especially against those like Stephen, Greek speakers, who were not native to Jerusalem. And the believers (except the apostles) fled throughout Judea and Samaria and still they talked about Jesus everywhere they went. Gospel Peace - that the message of Jesus changes people and brings divine peace between us and God. Philip and the Samaritans Acts 8:5-8. Philip proclaimed the Messiah in Samaria and when people heard him and saw the signs he performed, that paid close attention to what he said as he proclaimed the risen Savior to them. Spirit Guided - As followers of Jesus we cannot believe in Him without the Holy Spirit. And we are called to listen to the Holy Spirit, go where the Holy Spirit leads, and to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Philip and the Ethiopian Acts 8:26-27a. Philip is told by the Holy Spirit to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. He simply obeys God. So from Samaria he heads to that road. Prophetic Word has power.  When we share with others, Jesus story,  that story has power! To change people, to change lives! Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch along the road. Acts 27a - 34.  This man worked for the Queen of the Ethiopians. The man was reading the Book of Isaiah while riding in his carriage on the way back to Ethiopia. Then the Holy Spirit told Philip to go to the carriage and stay near it.  He could hear the Ethiopian reading Isaiah.  Philip asks if the man understood what he was reading and is invited into the carriage to explain the verses. The verses were, verses 32-35: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."  These are verses all about Jesus' trial, crucifixion and death. And the man pleads with Philip to tell him who is being talked about. And Philip tells him all about Jesus the Messiah. Christ's witnesses - we are to be God's witnesses to the world as we fallow Him using the gifts He has given us.   Philip baptizes the Ethiopian Acts 8:36 -  40 we read that they came to some water and the Ethiopian says that nothing is standing in the way of him being baptized, because after hearing of Jesus, his life was changed. They stop the carriage and he is baptized. As they came up out of the water the Spirit suddenly took Philip away while the Ethiopian continued rejoicing in Jesus. Verse 40 tells us that Philip continued to preach the gospel in all the town along the way to Caesarea.    FLASHBACK to Acts 1:8 Jesus says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." We see Jesus' words being fulfilled in Philip's story.   We to can be part of that story! Our testimonies can have a ripple effect in spreading the Good News of Jesus.    Set aside excuses and recommit to the Lord Jesus and the Father. Listen to the Holy Spirit and allow God to do amazing things with our lives for His kingdom. Using us is just what He desires to do in winning the world to Himself!   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 8-9 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Acts | Trusted God | Acts 7In today's sermon, pastor Abie Kulynych discusses the life os Stephen's life and God's purposes in difficult circumstances that followers of Jesus Christ are sometimes called to face.

God's invitation for blessing is always open. The Problem of IdolatryForgetfulness (Matthew 12:38)Commitment (Luke 9:57-62)Hiding from God (Acts 4:36-5:6)Preacher: Evan WestburgFIND US ONLINE

We dig deeper into a few specific aspects of Stephen's execution.   Acts 7:57 When Stephen completed his speech the leaders and people covered their ears and rushed at him dragging him out of the city to stone him.   Why stone him? Because they thought he was guilty of blasphemy (but he was not) and the Torah in Numbers 15:35 we read that the guilty were to be stoned outside the city. Keep in mind, though, that Stephen was not guilty of blasphemy.    Acts 7:58 We read that the witnesses involved in the stoning, laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.    What do we know about the witnesses? We read in Acts 6:13 that they were FALSE witnesses. We know that they also stripped off their coats. But according to Jewish tradition, the guilty were stripped so that the punishment would be more brutal. However, here we read the witnesses took off clothing. (Unbeknownst to them admitting guilt)    Saul, who we know today as the Apostle Paul, had not yet experienced his conversion, he had not yet met Jesus on the road to Damascus. At this point he is young, probably late teens to early 20's.    Acts 7:60 Tells us that Stephen fell on his knees and cried out to the Lord not to hold this sin against them. Then he died.   Again Jewish tradition sheds light on this. The tradition was that the guilty were to confess their own sins. But instead, here we see Stephen (the innocent one) confessing the sins of the guilty. He was confessing the sins of the ones who were his persecutors.   The enemy attacks the innocent and applauds the guilty but Stephen walked faithfully with Jesus and even in death showed the mercy of Christ in his final words.   Pastor wonders how impactful that prayer of Stephen was as he was being stoned…. Was that prayer part of the reason that the young man named Saul would ultimately become the Apostle Paul?     God moves in mysterious ways!     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos         Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

The Bible is not ancient words. It has so much to say to us today. It is for every generation but especially needed in this generation.   Then Accusations False witnesses came forward accusing Stephen of blasphemous words against the Torah and the Temple (Acts 6:11, 13) These are charges that would lead to capital punishment. Acts 7:1 the high priest asks Stephen if these charges are true. Stephen begins his response very graciously "brothers and fathers…" and at that moment Stephen goes from Defendant to Prosecutor. Stephen's Response (part 1) - Torah A trip through Israel's history… Abraham (Acts 7:2b-3)  Stephen begins his speech with "The GOD OF GLORY appeared to our father Abraham…" and shares the story of Abraham. We will see he ends His story with the words Glory and God as well! Joseph (Acts 7:9-10)  Joseph was hated by his brothers, but ultimately used by God to save his brothers and families. Those God uses are often persecuted. Moses (Acts 7:25-40a)  Moses was used by God to save the people, but the people did not recognize he was sent to rescue them. Using the history of Israel Stephen continues to demonstrate how often God's people have rejected the very ones God has raised up. Steven talks about Moses receiving "LIVING WORDS" to pass onto the people. Jesus is the Living Word - we see this in John 1:1, John 1:14. Stephen is communicating that Messiah has come and He is the Living Word all without mentioning Jesus name.   Stephen's Response (part 2) - Temple The history of Israel's idolatry… Tabernacle (Acts 7:44-47) God gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle of the covenant law to have with them in the wilderness. God gave the people the design of the tabernacle and that He would dwell in their midst but the people chose to worship idols instead and that resulted in exile. David ushered in a period of revival and Solomon built the Temple but ultimately ended up worshiping false deities. Temple (Acts 7:48 - 53) Stephen shows how the temple has become an object of worship rather than God: Worship of things rather than the Creator. Stephen calls these important leaders a stiff-necked people and accuses them of being just like their own ancestors. He tells them they resist the Holy Spirit and asks them, "Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?" And he goes on to accuse them of killing the Righteous One.   Now Ignore the Scriptures -  Then - they took the parts of Scripture they liked and ignored the parts they didn't.  Now - this same thing continues today. Followed self-made gods  Then - followed the gods and ideas of others rather than the Scriptures Now - today we buy into the lies of the culture - Christians are often ignorant of what the Bible has to say. Buildings over Mission Then - they idolized their temple Now - many see the Christian faith as having a nice social network when instead our mission is to lead the world to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Miss Jesus the Messiah Then - this testimony of Stephen was for calling the people back to God Now - God today seeks to call us back to the knowledge of Jesus the Messiah.  Resist the Holy Spirit Then - many resisted the Holy Spirit Now - today many resist the Holy Spirit. God calls us to despair of doing things in our own power and to humbly receive what He offers in Jesus our Savior. He desires we listen to Him and follow Him as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the prophets, Stephen and the Apostles followed Him.   God yearns for us to know Him Jesus loves us desperately and in Him is hope, forgiveness, power to live a new life and life forever.   Acts 7:54-60.  There are only 2 ways to respond to this message: 1 - to be angry  2 - to be repentant   How did the Sanhedrin respond to Stephen's message? They were angry, but Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looks up to heaven and sees the GLORY OF GOD and concludes his testimony with, "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man (Jesus) standing at the right hand of God." Then they take Stephen out to stone him and his final words are: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them."    This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 7-8 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Min. Keisha Jones Recorded on 7/12/2026

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Eleven and Verse Seventeen

Amid the fiercest opposition and persecution, God's word—and its fruit: more and more Christians—progresses unimpeded. CMC, will we live like we believe that the word of God can't be conquered?

We dig into Acts 6:9, where we read the opposition against the disciples arose, and members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen - Jews of Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia began to argue with Stephen.     The "freedmen" had formerly been slaves but were now freed and had also become Roman citizens. They were frustrated that Stephen was proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus and in verse 10 we read that they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave Stephen as he spoke. Then they hatched a conspiracy against Stephen.    Ultimately Stephen is stoned (chapter 7) and In Acts 8:1 we read that Saul approved of their killing Stephen. The question is:  How did Saul get involved with the people of the Synagogue of the Freedman Why was he there when they orchestrated the attack on Stephen Why was he given the job of taking care of the coats as the others stoned Stephen   Going back to Acts 6:9 we see the province of Cilicia (southeastern Turkey) listed as one of the places that the Hellenistic Jews came from. We read in Acts 22:3-4 that Saul was brought up in the city of Tarsus in the province of Cilicia. Cilicia is where he grew up and he may have even been a member of the Synagogue of the Freedmen.    After Saul's conversion - after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus - About 20 years after Stephen's stoning, we read in Acts 9:29 that Saul moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. Saul talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.    So is it possible that Saul went back to the Synagogue of the Freedmen to the very place he may have been one of those questioning Stephen. Did Saul go back to this very synagogue to preach to the Hellenistic Jews, many who may have been friends and relatives.   Saul's heart had been changed in his conversion and he knew the power of the risen Lord Jesus. As a result he went back to meet with the very people who had killed Stephen and who now were ready to kill him. Saul knew that without Christ they were lost and so he put his life on the line. He would continue to that in the years that follow.   What an example for each of us, what a powerful testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams       Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

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Today's class looks at Opposition both then and now: Internal + External Opposition  Complaints + Lies   Internal Opposition - Acts 6:1-7 Acts 6:1 tells us "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food."    The backgrounds and cultures and languages of these two groups of Jews was different. Hellenistic Jews spoke Greek, Hebraic Jews spoke Hebrew and some of the Greek speaking jews' widows were not receiving the daily distribution of food and thus there is dissension.   Acts 6:2-6 The Twelve gathered all the disciples together to come up with a solution. They chose 7 men (all Hellenistic) who were filled with the Spirit and wisdom to be responsible for this issue, that was the 12 could continue to be devoted to prayer and preaching of the word. Stephen, and 6 others were chosen. The Twelve blessed them to carry out the work.   Acts 6:7 we read that the word of God spread and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly and that a  large numbers of priests also became devote followers of Jesus.   Complaints Then + Now:  Don't ignore complaints Don't get defensive Do address the issues Do act wisely   External Opposition - Acts 6:8-15 Acts 6:8 tells us that Stephen was a man full of God's grace and power and he performed great wonders and signs among the people. We see it is not just the disciples performing wonders and signs.  We do not know what those wonders were, but we know they were "great."     Stephen becomes popular and with the popularity comes persecution. Acts 6:9 we read the opposition arose, and members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen - Jews of Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia began to argue with Stephen.  The "freedmen" had formerly been slaves but were now freed and also Roman citizens. In verse 10 we read that they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave Stephen as he spoke.    Verse 11 tells us what they then did - they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen and to say they heard him speak blasphemously against Moses and God."  It was not true, it was a lie. Acts 6:12 tells how they seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. The tension is growing and anger is ratcheting up.    Acts 6: 13-14 continues with the false witnesses against Stephen and their lies and in verse 15 we read that as they all looked at him in the trial with the Sanhedrin they saw that Stephen's face was like the face of an Angel.     Lies Then + Now: Don't be surprised when it happens Don't yield to the enemy Do trust the Lord Jesus even in the face of lies Do rely on the Holy Spirit   Next we will study the rest of Stephen's story.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 6-7 (read and reflect on these two chapters together) also read John 8:44 to see where lies originate.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

This morning, as we continued looking at Ekklessia, we asked the question "Have we lost our wonder?"

In today's lesson, the apostle Paul tells us how we can know Jesus as God.  Many people know about God, and they may know a little about Jesus, but they do not know Jesus as God. Others, know a great deal about man-made gods, but they do not know the Creator, the true and living God, nor do they know Jesus as God.   They do not know the gospel message of the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  They do not know that Jesus Christ has provided them with the very thing they need most of all, a perfect, completed salvation, which is given only by the grace of God.   They do not know that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah, whom the whole creation is groaning for, waiting for, and looking for.  This is what today's lesson is about.  Bringing the gospel message to a world that does not know Jesus as God.   Paul's sermon takes place in Athens, which was the university city of the world.  Art, literature, philosophy, religion, mathematics, science, and democracy were all the stuff that Athens was made of.  When you think of the liberal theology and philosophy that exists in our universities today, this is what the entire city of Athens was like.  It was a place where the absolute truths of God's Word had been replaced with the absolute chaos of man's basest desires being met at his own whim.  For all its knowledge, Greek civilization was spiritually bankrupt.   God's Word tells us that Jesus came to reveal to men the true God, and Paul had come to Athens to proclaim Him.  Paul wanted to tell them about Jesus as God.  Paul knew Him as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, as the rock of ages, the Shepherd of Israel, and the fountain of living water.  He knew Him to be the incarnate Word, God manifest in flesh, Jesus Christ the Lord.   Click on the link below to hear a message on how you can know Jesus as God. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.

But if it's from God… Acts 5 by William Klock There was a package slip from Canada Post below the mail slot when I got here last Friday.  I was kind of annoyed, because not only did I have no idea where the package was from, for some reason I had to go all the way over to the post office in Comox to pick it up.  And when they handed it to me I was perplexed.  The sender was just some distribution company.  The box was large and heavy.  A mystery.  And when I got it home and opened it up, it was still a mystery.  A boxed set of about fifteen books from a ministry called Be United in Christ.  Nice looking hardcovers.  The set looks expensive.  A few of them were reprints of books by Jonathan Edwards, Jeremiah Burroughs, and Charles Spurgeon, but frustratingly none of the others say a word about their authors and I couldn't find much online about the ministry itself or who's behind it.  The books are a generous gift.  But do I just put them out for you all to take home and read?  Edwards, Burroughs, Spurgeon are okay.  Puritans, not Anglicans, but still part of the same general theological tradition—for the most part.  But are they there just to get me to trust the other anonymous books?  I don't know.  This is the shepherd's dilemma.  I don't have time to read them or really even to meaningfully skim them.  The problem would be solved if I knew something about who sent them. And I think that illustrates well what St. Luke is getting at in our text today.  We'll be looking at Acts 5.  [Page 1084 in the pew Bibles.]  And at first Acts 5 might seem like a series stories or events that are related only because they happened in the order Luke presents them, but are kind of otherwise “random”.  But the more I thought about the Chapter, the more a common theme started to take shape.  So far, Luke has shown us the birth of the church through the preaching of Peter and the work of the Spirit.  And then he's shown us the church taking shape, not just as some new religion—which I think is how we're often (wrongly!) prone to seeing it—but as the fulfilment of God's promises to Israel.  Luke shows us the church as the new temple.  God has returned to his people as he promised, but not to the bricks-and-mortar temple on the mountaintop above Jerusalem. Instead, he's come to indwell the people whom Jesus has purified with his blood.  This is a human temple meant to one day fill the whole earth and with it God's presence.  And Luke has shown us the church not just as a family, but as the family that Israel was always supposed to be, but failed to be; the family in which God is fulfilling his promises through Jesus and the Spirit; the family in which his kingdom, his new creation, his renewed humanity is being born.  It's a community meant to take up the vocation of Jesus and to be prophets, priests and kings, proclaiming the good news about the lordship of Jesus to Jerusalem and Judah—and eventually to the whole world. But as we've seen, it's not just the proclamation.  It's not just the preaching.  That's absolutely necessary.  But it's the lived community—the “family-ness”—of the church that backs up the message and says that this is the real deal.  Because Israel had been talking the talk for a thousand years.  But Israel ended up in exile in Babylon because she failed over and over to walk the walk.  You can't preach light while living in darkness.  You can't claim to be God's people while you worship idols.  You can't proclaim new creation while living like the old.  That's why, at the end of Chapter 4, which we saw last week, Luke talked for a second time about the way the church in Jerusalem became a family and took care of those in need.  They were actively living out the bounty and generosity of God and his new creation.  As the new Israel, they were a little land of milk and honey.  And Luke held up Jospeh the Levite as particularly exemplary, because he unselfishly sold some land and brought the proceeds to the apostles to help their ministry. It wasn't a requirement for church membership.  It sounds like Joseph was wealthy and so he used his wealth to build up the church and it was his way of living out new creation.  And it was obviously unique—not something everyone did—because they nicknamed him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement”.  And that leads straight into Acts 5 and the story of Ananias and Sapphira.  This couple wanted the same sort of attention Barnabas was getting.  Luke writes, “There was, however, a man named Ananias with his wife, Sapphira.  He sold some property and, with his wife's knowledge, kept back part of the price.  He brought the rest and laid it at the apostle's feet.  ‘Ananias!' said Peter.  ‘Why did the Satan fill your heart to make you tell a lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land?  While it was still yours, it belonged to you, didn't it?  And, when you sold it, it was still in your power.  Why did you get such an idea in your heart?  It isn't men that you've lied to; it's God!'  When Ananias heard these words he fell down and died.  Everyone who heard about it was scared out of their wits.  The young men got up, took him away, wrapped up his body and buried him.  After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  Peter spoke to her.  ‘Tell me,' he said, ‘did you sell the land for this much?'  ‘Yes,” she replied, ‘that was the price.'  ‘So why,' Peter answered, ‘did you agree together to put the Holy Spirit to the test?  Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out too!'  At once she fell down at his feet and died.  The young men were just coming in and they found her dead, so they took her out and buried her beside her husband.  Great fear came upon the whole gathering and on all who heard about these things.” Great fear!  No kidding.  Now, growing up—and for years afterward—I thought this was a story about “tithing”.  In Sunday school we would sing a song about how Ananias and Sapphira got together to conspire a plot to cheat the church and get ahead.  They knew God's power but did not fear it, tried to cheat the Holy Spirit.  Peter prophesied it and they both dropped dead. Uh!  (That “Uh!” was the good part—one of the few times you could be rowdy in church.) And the chorus of the song went on to sing about how God loves a cheerful giver, give him all you've got.  It had me terrified as a kid.  I didn't have any income, but I knew that someday when I did, I'd better give God his due or I might drop dead.  No one ever talked about the part where they lied about what they were giving.  And no one ever paid attention to the context of the story. It is a terrifying story.  Even the people in the church who saw it and heard about, Luke writes, were pretty terrified.  But the way we usually hear about Ananias and Sapphira, I think, gets us worried about the wrong thing.  Because, Brothers and Sisters, this is isn't a story about tithing; it's a story about the need for holiness.  It's a story that reminds us that if we're going to be God's temple, if we're going to be the place where he dwells in the person of his Spirit, if we're going to be the place where the world meets God, we need to take holiness seriously. The first thing that ought to tip us off here is the way these first chapters of Acts are all centred on the temple.  More specifically, they're focused on how the church has become the new temple and how it—particularly through Peter and John spending their days in the old temple—how the church is confronting and challenging the old: the old temple, the old Israel, and the priests and elders associated with both.  The second thing that ought to tip us off is the nature of the story.  It's not a common thing, even in the Bible, for God to just suddenly strike someone dead.  But the few times we do see that happen, what's it associated with?  Think Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, playing around with the holy things of God and offering “strange fire” on the altar.  Zap.  Dead.  Instantly.  And poor Uzzah when David's men were rescuing the ark of the covenant from the Philistines.  They didn't carry it the way God had told them to.  Instead, they put it on a cart.  And the cart started to tip and Uzzah—well meaning, but horribly wrong—reached out to steady it.  And zap!  Uzzah was struck dead on the spot.  I can think of a few other slightly less dramatic.  There was Achan who, in the ruins of Jericho, stole some of the treasure that belonged to the Lord.  His sin had consequences for the whole community of Israel in their next battle, but maybe most importantly, it was the Lord who revealed the guilty to Joshua.  And Achan and his family died.  Or King Uzziah who arrogantly entered the temple to burn incense and was immediately struck with leprosy. The point is this, Brothers and Sisters, if you're going to walk with God, holiness is not an option.  The wages of sin is death.  For the vast majority of us, living and then dying is just so normal that sometimes we need a reminder that life is God's gift, that sin separates us from God, and that we die because of that separation.  Sometimes the reminders are instantaneous, dramatic, and terrifying.  Other times they play out over generations.  Like Israel herself: generation after generation of faithlessness and idolatry that eventually led, for the northern kingdom, to annihilation—national death—and for the southern kingdom exile.  St. Paul warns the Corinthians that some of them are sick and dying because they've abused the Lord's Supper.  In John's revelation, Jesus warns the churches that if they aren't faithful, if they fail to properly represent him and his kingdom, he will take away their lampstands.  They will, as churches, die.  God requires holiness of his people and holiness is serious business.  The church is God's means of making the good news of Jesus known.  The church is God's means of making his new creation visible and real in the world.  And if we undermine the credibility of the gospel through unholiness—well, God is patient—most of the time—but if we refuse to repent, he will make us witnesses to his power and sovereignty through his discipline rather than his blessing. Ananias and Sapphira lied because they wanted a reputation they hadn't earned.  How do we misrepresent the gospel and the kingdom and Jesus?  In what way do we or does the church compromise our witness?  What idols have we set up alongside the cross?  What things do we do that bring public shame on Jesus and the Spirit?  What compromises our holiness?  And do our compromises and our idolatries and our hypocrisies run so deep or are they so common that maybe we no longer even see them.  But people out there do.  And God does.  Brothers and Sisters, that's what the story of Ananias and Sapphira is about. But Acts 5 is more than a terrifying warning to holiness.  It's also an exhortation.  Look at verse 12: “Many signs and wonders were performed by the apostles amongst the people.  They were all together in Solomon's Porch, while none of the others dared join them, though the people spoke highly of them.  But more people, a crowd both of men and women, believed in the Lord and were added to their number.  They used to bring the sick into the streets and place them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on them as he went by.  Crowds gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing people who were sick or infested with unclean spirits.  All of them were cured.” God struck down the people who were compromising the church's gospel witness, but he blessed the ministry of Peter.  As Luke notes, after the confrontation with the Jewish authorities, no one dared to join him, but when Peter went out with boldness to proclaim the good news, God made him a walking pocket of new creation.  It makes me think of the dead temporarily raised on Good Friday, as if the shockwave of life was so powerful it had an almost undiscriminating effect as it went out from the cross.  The same sort of thing happens with Peter. I think when we read this, our modern democratic mindset has us wondering why we don't see this happening today.  Why doesn't this happen when my shadow falls on people when I'm walking around.  And again, I have to come back to the biblical witness itself.  The point of miracles is that they don't happen every day.  And when they do happen, even in the Bible, they cluster around those times and places where God is doing something new.  They clustered around Jesus and now we see them clustering around the apostles, validating them in the same way they validated Jesus.  And they're happening right at the gate of the temple—God's not so subtle way to announce that, yes, he's come back to dwell with his people just as he promised, but he's not dwelling in the holy of holies in the bricks-and-mortal temple; he's come to dwell in this people purified and made even holier than the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus.  Think of it like a rocket launch.  There's a blast of almost uncomprehensible power that launches a rocket off the ground and into orbit.  Once it's up there, it just needs a little nudge from time to time to keep it there.  This was God's way of launching the gospel. Now, verse 17: “Then the high priest got up and all who were with him, namely the group called the Sadducees.  They were filled with zeal [think “righteous indignation”] and seized the apostles and put them in the public jail.  But an angel of the Lord came in the night, opened the prison doors, and brought them out.  ‘Go and take your stand in the temple,' he said, ‘and speak all the words of this life to the people.'  When they heard this, they went in at early morning and began to teach.  When the high priest arrived with his entourage, they called the official assembly and all the elders of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have the apostles brought in.  But when the attendants went they didn't find them in the prison.  So they came and reported back.  ‘We found the jail shut up with maximum security,' they said, ‘and the guards were standing in front of the doors.  But when we opened up we found no one inside.'  When they heard these words, the commander of the temple police and the chief priests were at a loss about them, with no idea what had happened.  But then someone came with a message for them.  ‘Look!' he said.  ‘The men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.'  Then the commander went with his attendants and brought them.  They didn't use force, though, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.” Luke has a sense of humour.  So does God.  The high priest is full of zeal.  This idea of “zeal” characterised what the Jews of those days thought of as faithfulness.  Their heroes were men like Phinehas, who speared a law-breaking idolater to the ground; like Judas Maccabbeus, who led a revolt against the pagan Geek rulers of Israel.  They were zealous for God and for his law and they burned with anger at anyone who compromised it.  And that's how they felt about the apostles.  Peter and John, just like Jesus, were challenging the temple.  The temple leaders wanted them dead, but they also feared the people.  Everyone else could see new creation and the power of God—life—bursting into the world, but all these guys could see was a threat to the status quo.  And so they throw the apostles into jail.  And God sends an angel to set them free and not just that, but to send them straight back to the temple, to the place where they were arrested.  And there's an urgency to the angel's words.  “Go back the temple.  Take your stand.  Speak the words of this life to the people.” The miracles were wonderful.  The miracles said that God was doing something, that new creation life was breaking in.  That there was something about the apostles.  But Brothers and Sisters, miracles without preaching lead to superstition.  Good works without preaching leave people applauding the people doing the good works.  It's our proclamation, our preaching, our announcement of the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen and lord, that makes sense of the miracles and the good works.  It's the preaching that points people to Jesus—not just in a generic sense to “God”, but specifically to Jesus.  It's the preaching that makes clear that in the Messiah, God has provided a sacrifice that purifies us from the stain of sin to make us fit to be his temple, filled with his own Spirit, to bring his grace and his mercy and his love and his holiness and his new creation to the world.  It's our life as God's working model of new creation that attracts people, but it's our preaching that calls them specifically to Jesus in repentance and faith. This whole chapter is a reminder that preaching alone without holiness and without living out new creation is not enough, but that it's also not enough to live out that new creation, to be a heaven on earth people, even to work miracles.  It has to be accompanied by the proclamation of the good news about Jesus.  Otherwise we're like the mystery box of books.  Who's this from?  Should I trust it?  So the angel sends them back to preach.  And there they are preaching in the temple just as the priests assemble to hold court.  And they send for the accused and no one can find them, until someone runs in and shouts: “They're back preaching right under your noses!” “So,” Luke goes on in verse 27, “they brough them and stood them in the assembly.  The high priest questioned them.  ‘We gave you strict orders, didn't we?' he demanded.  ‘We told you not to teach in this name, but look what you're doing.  You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you're trying to bring this man's blood on us.'  ‘We must obey God, not men!' responded Peter and the apostles.  ‘The God of our fathers raised Jesus after you had laid violent hands on him and hanged him on a tree.  God exalted him to his right hand as leader and saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, which God gave to those who obey him.'  When they heard this, they were infuriated and wanted to kill them.  But then a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel stood up in the assembly.  He was a law-teacher, highly respected by all the people.  He ordered the men to be put outside for a short while.  ‘Men of Israel,' he said to the gathering, ‘be careful what you do to these men.  Before these times Theudas rose up, claiming to be someone special and about four hundred men went off to join him.  But he was killed and all the people who trusted him were dispersed.  The movement came to nothing.  After that Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew a crowd after himself.  But he was killed and all those who trusted him were scattered.  So my advice to you now is this.  Leave off from these men; let them be.  You see, if this plan or work is merely human in origin, it will come to ruin.  But if it's from God—well, you won't be able to stop them.  You might even be found to be fighting against God.'  They were persuaded by him and called the apostles back in.  They beat them and told them not to speak in the name of Jesus.  Then they let them go.  They, however, went out from the presence of the assembly celebrating, because they had been reckoned worthy to suffer disgrace for the name.  And all day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah.” The assembly has the apostles beaten, but they know the scriptures.  They've seen how Jesus suffered and died as part of his ministry to fulfil those scriptures.  So Peter and John and the others take this opposition as confirmation.  And Luke goes into these details here, because this is going to be a pattern throughout the book of Acts.  Suffering for the name of Jesus is a privilege.  But he also highlights the importance of the church's integrity to its—to our—witness.  Again, we are God's temple.  He's returned as he promised, not to the stone building that once sat over Jerusalem, but by filling us—the people purified and made holy by the blood of Jesus.  The beauty of a human temple is that it can grow and grow and grow until it fills the earth with God's presence, with his wisdom, with his gospel life.  But it's also important that the temple remain pure.  Jesus has purified it.  The Holy Spirit has sanctified it.  But we're still human.  We're not perfect—not yet.  Brothers and Sisters, this is why, as Paul puts it, we need to put on the Messiah.  To put off the old, corrupt, sinful and selfish way of being human and put on Jesus and the new life of the gospel, the new life of the Spirit.  To be the holy people Jesus and the Spirit have made us.  To walk in integrity: in our personal affairs, in our relationships, in our marriages, in our business, in our politics, in our finances, in our life together as the church, as the temple.  We really do need to be the new humanity and God's new creation.  We need to be—so much as Jesus and the Spirit make it possible—to be God's future right here in the present.  And we need to take our stand and proclaim the name of Jesus so that when people notice our holiness and our integrity, they'll also know that it's not just us, but that it's all about this Jesus who died and rose again—for us, for them, for the sake of all creation—to forgive, to purify, to heal, and to set to rights.  I can't say exactly what it's supposed to look like.  Acts was unique.  The rocket ship was launching.  Now it's in orbit.  Our shadows are highly unlikely to heal anyone, and yet Peter's shadow and Peter's preaching really do represent the ministry of the faithful church to bring healing to the world, to wipe away tears, to announce what Jesus has done and what Jesus is doing and what Jesus will, finally, one day finish as we bring hope to the world.  Do it with integrity, Brothers and Sisters.  And do it in holiness. Let us pray: O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not our hold on things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Welcome to ONE* Church Online! We are so excited you are here with us today for part 10 of our new series "Acts" with our Lead Pastor Jamie Hollister!

In Acts 9:1–11, we witness the dramatic conversion of Saul, a man breathing threats against the church, when the risen Jesus confronts him on the road to Damascus. Matthew talks through how God's overpowering grace interrupts rebellion, exposes spiritual blindness, and reveals the glory of Christ. Saul's story shows that conversion is not self-improvement, but a divine collision that turns enemies into followers and messengers. It also reminds us of our union with Christ - what is done to His people is done to Him. This is not just Saul's story; it is an invitation to surrender, repent, and be transformed by the same grace today.

Pastor focuses in on Gamaliel's Speech found in Acts 5:34-39.   We know about Gamliel from the Bible, the writings of Josephus and rabbinical writings: Grandson of the Jewish teacher Hillel Especially influential ca 25-50 A.D. President of the Sanhedrin A devout and respected Pharisee Teacher of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 22:3)   In comparing Josephus' writings with the Bible we find an issue with Acts 5:36-37 "Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered."   The Controversy is the dating of the two men as this is what we know about them from Josephus:  Theudas - revolt at the time of the Roman procurator, Cuspius Faus (44-46 A.D.)  Judas the Galilean - rebellion in 6 A.D.    According to the Acts verses written by Luke, he quotes Gamaliel as saying that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came AFTER Theudas' revolt, but what we know about these two men  from Josephus, shows us that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came BEFORE Theudas' revolt.   The Alternatives we can consider: Josephus was correct, Luke was wrong Luke was correct, Josephus was wrong Both Luke and Josephus were correct.   Pastor leans toward "Both Luke and Josephus being correct."    In Josephus' writings we read of Judas the Galilean as having led a band of people in revolt in 6 A.D.    In Josephus' writings we also read that after the death of King Herod the Great (about 4 B.C.) many revolted. Josephus does not name them.but clearly these rebellions were BEFORE Judas' revolt. Consider this: Is it possible that one of those individuals was named Theudas? Then the writings of Josephus and the Bible align.   Additionally, Luke gives this insight, he tells us that Gamaliel said the following, "Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered."  Note that Gamaliel said ALL Judas' followers were scattered." But history shows us that Gamaliel saw Judas' rebellion as having come to nothing. However, about 25-30 years after Gamaliel spoke these words, those followers of Judas the Galilean not only were around, but had grown in number and ultimately triggered the revolt against Rome in 66 A.D.    What we see is an accurate account by Luke of what took place on the day the Apostles were flogged for speaking the name of Jesus and rejoiced for being worthy to suffer for His name.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams       Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

In Chapter 5 we see three types of individuals. Hypocrites Disciples Religionists   Scene 1 - (Acts 5:1-11)  Hypocrites - ("an actor" appearances matter most)   Then:  Ananias and Sapphira sold property to give to the group and made it look like they gave it all to the apostles'. But without letting the group know Ananias and Sapphira held back a portion of the sale for themselves. (This wasn't wrong - but what was wrong was making everyone thing they had given it all) Somehow Peter knew Ananias and his wife had lied about giving it all to the group and Peter tells Ananias that he has lied not just to the group but to the Holy Spirit, which is the same as lying to God. And then suddenly Ananias dies.   Three hours later…   Peter asks Sapphira if she and Ananias had given all precedes to the group and she says yes and she dies too. Great fear seized the whole "church" (the people of God) when they heard about Ananias and Sapphira.    Now: God is saying we are to take Him seriously. Not that we are perfect, but that we walk with Him. We see the danger of hypocrisy from this story. God is asking us to be genuine in our faith, to be humble before Him, to focus on Him and not in how we appear to others.    Scene 2 - (Acts 5:12-16) Disciples - (followers of Jesus - following Jesus matters most)   Then: The apostles performed many signs and wonders and the believers met together in Solomon's Colonnade. More and more men and women believed and were added to their numbers. People brought the sick into the streets for healing.   Now: We see there is power in the name of Jesus, there is power in the Jesus movement and power in the Holy Spirit. We are to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, to be committed to the Lord Jesus.   Scene 3 - (Acts 5:17-42) Religionists - what matters most is power and position regardless of what God says.   Then: We see the Sadducees are filled with jealousy and arrested the apostles. Then during the night an angel of the Lord opens the doors of the jail and tells the apostles to go and stand in the temple courts and tell the people all about new life in Christ. They go to the temple courts and began to teach the people and that set in motion a series of events: People reported that the apostles had escaped The captain of the temple guard and his officers did not use force to re-arrest the apostles as they didn't want to anger the crowds. All 12 apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin to be questioned.  The Sanhedrin had told them earlier they could not teach in the name of Jesus Peter and others respond that they must obey God rather than human beings and that God raised Jesus from the dead - who they had killed by putting Him on a cross. They told that God's plan was repentance and forgiveness of sin. They tell how they were witnesses just as the Holy Spirit is, and that the Spirit was given by God to those who obey Him.  Then when the Sanhedrin hear all this they want to put the apostles to death. But Gamaliel (Pharisee who was respected by the people) speaks up - giving an impassioned address encouraging the Sanhedrin not to act precipitously, giving previous examples of rebels and outcomes. Gamaliel's speech persuades the Sanhedrin.  Instead of being killed the apostles were flogged (this is a brutal beating) and were told to no longer speak in Jesus' name. Yet they left the beatings rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering for the Name of Jesus. They continued day after day to preach in the temple courts and homes and never stopped proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.   Now:   This tells us the importance of following Jesus. Pastor gives a personal testimony of great opposition that he experienced and how he and others were told to stop talking about the Holy Spirit. He concludes with sharing that the group resigned their positions, and were more concerned about obeying God than obeying people. The result was Awake Us Now and God's blessing is reaching more people than ever thought possible from around the world. He share how he and the ministry continue to rejoice as we see the incredible power of the risen Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit and the amazing love of the Father. Pastor ends with stating God's desire Is that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth in Christ Jesus.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 5-6 (read and reflect on these two chapters together     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ApwakeUsNow/streams   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Ten and Verse Forty One

In Acts 17:22–31, Paul teaches that our greatest spiritual problem is not a lack of spirituality but misplaced devotion, and that true life is found by turning our attention to the God who has made Himself known through Jesus Christ.

Join us as Pastor Tyler preaches through Acts 2:47! How and why do we praise God? In Acts 2:47, we see the motivations for praising God as a Spirit-Filled Church.

Pastor Dodge gives us the 5th "P" from his list of "p's from last Sunday's message.  If you would like to look at that message, "God ACTS! Chapter 4" go here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now (scroll to that title). This message was a study of Acts 4:1-22. In this class we look at Acts 4:23-31.   Here's the list he shared surrounding chapter 4: Prophecy Power Proclamation Passion And the 5th one? Prayer  The believers gather together for prayer. As they pray they include a part of David's prophetic prayer that he had written a thousand years earlier. Acts 4:25-26  "You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.'" (The italicized words in the prayer are quoted from David's writings in Psalm 2:1-2) Pastor points out the words "anointed one" are one word in the original Greek text - Χριστός - it's the word "Christos" meaning "the anointed one" as we see it translated here in the NIV. It also means "Messiah." The word used for "his anointed" in the original Hebrew text for Psalm 2:1-2 is - מָשִׁיחַ - it is the word "Meshiach" meaning "anointed" as we see it translated in Psalm 2 in the NIV. It also means "Messiah." As we continue to read the next verses we see that what David had foretold in Psalm 2, we see happening/fulfilled in this story in Acts. In the next verses (29-30) we read the rest of their prayer: "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."   Again we see "the Name" which Pastor explored on Sunday's message, "God ACTS! Chapter 4" here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now (scroll to that title) The group of believers did not retreat in terror, they asked the Lord for the ability to proclaim Jesus' name with boldness and request the Lord does healings, signs and wonders. They redouble their commitment to God. The result? Their prayer is answered! Acts 4:31 concludes: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." They are refilled with the Holy Spirit!  And they share, preach, teach and speak of God boldly! Their prayer is a summation of all the points Peter and John had spoken and the actions they displayed before the Sanhedrin. Now in this prayer by the believers, Peter and John's words and actions are agreed upon, prayed upon and acted upon by these believers in Jerusalem.  Their prayer is for proclaiming the prophetic Scriptures and Good News of Jesus' death and resurrection, and for welcoming the power of the Holy Spirit to make them bold to share. We see their passion in their life-time commitments to follow Him no matter the cost, no matter what, until He returns.     And that's where we need to be as well. May we act and pray as they did!      Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams   Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

This semon was captured at Mosaic Nac on 1/11/2026 Subscribe for more messages from Mosaic NAC and join the journey of walking confidently with God. Stay connected:

Garrett Kell, Pastor of Del Ray Baptist Church

The story in chapter 3 continues in chapter 4.    Pastor reminds us of the story from last week and the miraculous healing of the lame man. After the healing the people, the healed man and Peter and John, they all gathered in Solomon's Colonnade - an area inside the Temple walls.   Chapter 4 As Peter and John were talking to the multitude teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus' name the resurrection of the dead, the priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees come and they are greatly disturbed by what Peter and John are preaching. So they seize Peter and John and put them in jail until the next day. Yet many who had heard their message believed and the number of believers grows. The message of Jesus is spreading quickly.   Prophecy  Then: using the prophetic scripture they tell people the gospel message quoting Genesis and Isaiah showing them that Jesus was the fulfillment of the scriptures. God's prophecies of a Savior were fulfilled in their lifetimes. In Luke 12:11-12 Jesus' prophetic word to His disciples were not to worry when brought to authorities because the Holy Spirit would teach them what to say. In verses 5-9 we see Peter and John brought before authorities and "then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit" just as Jesus had predicted. Now:  Today in our lifetimes we've not only seen these same prophecies fulfilled in the scriptures by Jesus, but also we see those things spoken by Jesus coming to fulfillment.  And like Peter we too are filled with the Spirit as Jesus prophesied would happen. Power Then: Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and accomplished God's divine purposes through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now: We too are filled with the Holy Spirit and are to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit's power. We are to allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our lives because that is how we accomplish divine purposes through the Holy Spirit's power. Proclamation Then: Peter proclaims to the authorities and the people that it is by the name of Jesus Christ, whom they crucified (but God raised from the dead), that the man was healed. He tells them that they have rejected the Cornerstone (Jesus). Peter ends with, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 Peter shares the gospel message. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice who saves us. Peter proclaims the Name of Jesus and the gospel message: Death, Deity and Resurrection. Pastor does a dive into "the Name" used in the chapters 2-4 of Acts. There is power in the name of Jesus and no name above the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11) Now: We are to proclaim the gospel today.  Have we received the proclamation in our own lives? Because everyone who calls on Jesus' name will be saved.  Is that proclamation guiding and controlling and directing our attitude and speech? Is it how we deal with others?  Jesus' name is a powerful name that brings healing and forgiveness and gives certain and sure hope for all eternity. We are called to respond to the proclamation - the gospel message. The gospel message always demands a response.    The Dilemma Acts 4:13-18 - what could the authorities do with Peter and John? They decide to warn them not to speak to anyone any further in "the Name."    Passion Then: in Acts 4:19 Peter and John reply "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you or to Him… As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (They were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life on earth) Peter and John have given everything for the Lord Jesus. Now: We too are called to do the same, to yield and surrender our lives to Him. To be filled daily with the Holy Spirit and live a life of service, joy and peace even in opposition.   In the end the authorities could not decide how to punish them so they let them go, because the people were praising God for the miraculous healing of the man who had been lame for 40 years.    There's more to this chapter! There's a 5th "P" to go along with the four P's Pastor shares today. If you are wondering what the 5th "P"is check out our Bible Class Dig Deeper playlist for the title: "Together in Prayer"  https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 3-4 (read and reflect on these two chapters together)     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

By David Hall

Pastor digs deeper into the question "where was the temple gate that was called the 'Beautiful Gate' located?"   In Acts 3:1-2 we see that there was a lame man begging for alms at the Beautiful Gate. Pastor opens with stating that we are not sure exactly where it was located, but that there are several theories on its location.   Several locations have been proposed:   One of the earliest proposed locations is that it may have been the Eastern Gate or the Sushan Gate. However, surviving literature says this gate was not used by the people to go in and out of the Temple Complex, but was used for the religious practices like taking sacrifices out. Without the coming and going of people the lame man would not have been begging there. Another proposal is the Nicanor Gate made of bronze. It was one of the gates in a secondary wall that surrounded the Sanctuary area within the Temple Complex, but there is a good deal of evidence that it was not a practice to allow the lame into the inner court area.  The third proposal has been suggested by many as the gate the lame man would have used.  It is a gate located at the southern end of the Complex and known as the Double Gate,  the main gate through which the people would have entered the Temple Complex. Pastor Dodge references a book by archeologist and architect, Leen Ritmeyer, entitled "The Quest: Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem." Ritmeyer suggests that the Double Gate is where the lame man would have been. Pastor shares recent archeological work exposing the massive pilgrim route from the Pool of Saloam up to the Double Gate entrance of the Temple Complex. Some of the "Southern Steps" leading up to the Double Gate from Jesus' day and before, can still be seen today.    While we do not know exactly where the lame man was that day, what we do know is that he was changed. In the hours after the lame man's miraculous healing remarkable things followed and that's what we will look at in our exploration of Acts chapter 4 of our study "God ACTS! Then and Now." ( https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now )     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams       Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Text:  Genesis 37   Favoritism Leads to Jealous Resentment (Gen. 37:1-11) Jacob's favoritism paved the way for sibling rivalry. Joseph's dream caused division among his brothers.   Resentment Leads to Hateful Betrayal (Gen. 37:12-36) Joseph's brothers plot to betray him by selling him into slavery. Joseph's brothers deceive their father by telling him that Joseph was killed. Jacob is crushed with inconsolable grief over the loss of his son.   TRACING GOD'S HAND OF PROVIDENCE The story of Joseph points us to God's providence over all circumstances (Gen. 39:2-3, 21, 23: "The Lord was with Joseph)" The story of Joseph proves that God is at work for His glory and our good (Gen. 50:20: "God meant it for good"). The story of Joseph points us to Jesus, who suffered and died under the predetermined, redemptive plan of God (Acts 2:22-24)   Main Idea: God is sovereignly at work through our sinful actions and family conflict to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

Acts Chapter 3: The Setting - Acts 3:1-5. The chapter takes place in the late afternoon at 3 pm, the time of the evening sacrifice. Peter and John are headed to the temple for prayer and worship and on the way they see a lame man who has been lame since birth collecting alms at the Beautiful gate. He asks Peter and John for money and Peter and John respond. What we learn from this setting is that prayer and worship were important. We also see their attentiveness to the hurting as an example for ourselves.   The Miracle - Acts 3:6-11. Peter responds to the lame man, "silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Peter takes the lame man's hand and helps him up. Right away the man's feet and ankles became strong and he jumps to his feet and walks. He goes with them into the Temple courts jumping and praising God. People see the lame man walking and are filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. They all begin to gather at Solomon's Colonnade. The word that's translated "jumping" is the very word in the book of Isaiah about what will happen when the Savior comes. See Isaiah 35:6.    What do we learn from the miracle? We see humility before God from Peter and John and they took no credit for the healing. They also spoke healing in the name of Jesus. Additionally, we see the power of Jesus' name. Jesus' name has the power to restore the broken and bitter, to break the chains of bondage, to transform minds and hearts. Jesus' name is powerful then and now.   The Message - Act 3:12-26. Peter tells the crowd it was not by their own power or godliness that made the man walk but that it was Jesus. He tells them how they had disowned Jesus, plotted to murder Him and then crucified Him. Peter goes on to tell of Jesus' resurrection and how they were witnesses. Peter also tells of Jesus' authority.  Peter goes on to tell them that he understands that they acted against Jesus in ignorance and that it is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through the prophets - in saying that the Messiah would suffer. Then Peter calls them to repent and turn to God so that their sins would be forgiven.  He calls them to turn to Jesus and prepare for the Second Coming, and calls them to a life-defining moment because God desires a change of heart.   What do we learn from Peter's message? We learn again of John and Peter's humility before God - taking no credit for the healing. They proclaimed Jesus to the crowd and the importance of knowing why He came and what He did for each one of us. Peter shares what the Scriptures tell us and how they point to Jesus as the fulfillment. Lastly, we see the call to repentance. Repentance is not a one time event, we are called to live a repentant life and to daily turn our hearts over to God.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 3 (if you want to read ahead, read chapter 4 as well)     Join the conversation around this teaching. Download our Awake Us Now APP, then join the conversation.   Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Ten and Verse Twenty Two

Acts 12:22-24 New Living Translation   22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It's the voice of a god, not of a man!” 23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died. 24 Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.

The book of Acts has so much to say not only about our past but also about today and how followers of Jesus are called to live.  This book also speaks to those who don't yet know Jesus as Savior, those on the fence, seekers, doubters and those questioning or interested.   Chapter 2 Acts 2:1-2 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a soundalike the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." This chapter starts out with the Jewish Festival of Shavuot or Pentecost. And the disciples and others gathered in a house. There would have been 10's of thousands of people gathered in the streets of Jerusalem and at the Temple for this festival.    Acts 2:3-4 "They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (languages) as the Spirit enabled them."  Rushing wind! Tongues of fire!    Acts 2:5ff The group has moved into the streets and Jews from every nation who had come to Jerusalem for the festival, heard the sound of the wind and gathered in bewilderment because each one heard their own language being spoken by those with the tongues of fire. The crowds were amazed to hear the disciples with the tongues of fire declaring the wonders of God in their own languages.    In verse 13 we hear the disciples being made fun of as they speak in tongues. Some people saying they are drunk. But in the following verses Peter speaks to the crowd.    Then   and   Now   Holy Spirit is Predicted by Joel (Acts 16-21) Then: Peter speaks the prophetic words from God given to Joel "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." Peter ends with "and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." They were witnessing what was predicted/prophesied hundreds of years earlier. This book (often referred to as The Acts of the Holy Spirit) shows us the remarkable ways God was moving. Now: Pentecost ushered in a new era in human history. In our day God's spirit is still moving. The gospel of Jesus is spreading around the world like never before. It is everywhere. God continues to move and pour out His spirit and change people's lives. The Risen Christ is Proven by God (Acts 2:22-24) Then: Jesus' miracles and teachings were seen and witnessed. Jesus was crucified on a cross but God raised Him from the dead.  They had living proof. Now: No human life has ever made so powerful an impact than did the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It has changed the world. And we have the recorded history of those who did witness Jesus works, death and resurrection. Messiah was Predicted by David (Acts 2:25-31) Then: Peter quotes David who believed that there was One who would come and not see decay and would be One who would save.  Peter continues by saying this One David talked about was none other than Jesus Christ. Now: God continues to be at work today and the things that Jesus spoke of that would come and those things He predicted are being fulfilled today. Jesus Ascended and was Exalted by God (Acts 2:32-35) Then: Peter tells them how God raised Jesus from the grave and has poured out the Holy Spirit and that they were witnesses to that. Peter tells them that Jesus is Lord! He is worthy of worship! Now: this is true for us today. Jesus is risen! He continues to pour out His Holy Spirit! Jesus is Lord! He is worthy of worship! Accountability because You crucified Him (Acts 2:36-37) Then: Peter gets personal, telling them that "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." And "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" The message of Jesus demands a response.  We are collectively guilty of crucifying Jesus. We all have sinned. Now: The message of Jesus still demands a response. It is our sin that put Jesus on the cross. And still today, when people hear and internalize the message of Jesus Christ it changes them. Forgiveness brings New Life in Christ (Acts 2:38-41) Then: Peter called them to repentance and baptism Now: have you heeded the call to come to faith in Jesus. This is still the desire of God, that we come to Him through faith in Jesus, that we repent, are baptized and give our lives to Him.   Pastor closes with a look at the recently discovered Pool of Siloam and its archeological impact on what the Bible says.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 2 (if you want to read ahead, read chapter 3 as well)     Join the conversation around this teaching. Download our Awake Us Now APP, then join the conversation.   Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com 

We hope you enjoy today's Scripture reading and devotional aimed at motivating you to apply God's word while strengthening your heart and nurturing your soul. Today's Bible reading is Psalm 135. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. Browse other resources from Starr Meade. ESV Bible narration read by Kristyn Getty. Follow us on social media to stay up to date: Instagram Facebook Twitter