Philip takes the gospel to Samaria.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 8:4-8
With the killing of Stephen, a persecution broke out throughout Jerusalem. Most of the Christians fled from the city. Wherever they went, they shared the good news of Jesus Christ.
Philip went to Samaria. Remember Philip from chapter 6. He was one of the seven that was chosen to take care of the problem with the feeding of the widows. Like Stephen, we see him now as a powerful preacher and worker of miracles.
There is an interesting contrast between the ministry of Stephen and of Philip. Stephen preached in Jerusalem which was the center of the Jewish religion. Philip initially after the persecution went to Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jews despised each other. After Solomon was King, Israel split into the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel. The northern kingdom is synonymous with Samaria. The Samaritans made their center of worship at Shechum near Mount Gerizim. Israel was conquered by Assyria and a mixing of the surrounding cultures occurred. The Jews from Judah considered the Samaritans to be half-breeds and religious heretics.
After the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile, they rebuilt the temple (Ezra and Nehemiah). Some Samarians offered to help but were turned away. Samaritans were prohibited from entering the temple area. So, the Samaritans built their own temple at Mount Gerizim. Around 150 BC, the Jews attacked and destroyed the Samaritan temple. The Samaritans retaliated by sneaking into the Jewish temple in the middle of the night and leaving dead bodies in the temple thereby desecrating it. So the Samaritans and the Jews pretty much hated each others guts.
Luke tells us that Philip went to a city in Samaria. He was probably referring to the city of Nablus (Neapolis) which was formerly Shechum. There, he healed people and cast out demons. The people of Samaria listened to him and many believed. To people who have been told that they are outside of God’s love and grace, the gospel is indeed good news.
As we share the gospel with people we need to remember that it really is good news. The gospel is about reconciliation with God.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday Acts 8:1-3
Saul persecutes the church.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 8:1-3
Stephen was killed by the angry mod which was led by the Sanhedrin. We say that they left their coats with Saul while they killed Stephen. That was the introduction to Saul.
Now in chapter 8, the focus shifts to Saul who we later know as Paul. What do we know about him? We know from the rest of the New Testament that Saul was from Tarsus which was in modern day Turkey. So, Saul would have been a Hellenistic Jew. We know he was from the tribe of Benjamin and that he was a Pharisee. He was a student of Gamliel who we saw earlier in Acts. He was very zealous about the Law. Saul approved of stoning Stephen.
With the murder of Stephen, there began a persecution against the followers of Christ. Everybody who followed Christ was now considered a traitor to Judaism. Christians were arrested and put in prison. Saul took up the cause of destroying the church.
Because of the persecution, the Christians fled from Jerusalem. A few, most notably the apostles, stayed in Jerusalem. Some went to other areas of Judea outside of Jerusalem, but some went to Samaria.
How could God allow this persecution? Remember the mission of the church. Jesus said that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. God did not cause the persecution, but he can even use the evil actions of people to advance His plan. The persecution is taking the gospel to Judea and Samaria.
When we find ourselves in unpleasant circumstances, we often blame God. Or we ask why did God allow this? What we should do is ask God what He would have us do in light of our circumstances. The answer is always: get closer to God and get serious about the mission.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 8:1-3
Stephen was killed by the angry mod which was led by the Sanhedrin. We say that they left their coats with Saul while they killed Stephen. That was the introduction to Saul.
Now in chapter 8, the focus shifts to Saul who we later know as Paul. What do we know about him? We know from the rest of the New Testament that Saul was from Tarsus which was in modern day Turkey. So, Saul would have been a Hellenistic Jew. We know he was from the tribe of Benjamin and that he was a Pharisee. He was a student of Gamliel who we saw earlier in Acts. He was very zealous about the Law. Saul approved of stoning Stephen.
With the murder of Stephen, there began a persecution against the followers of Christ. Everybody who followed Christ was now considered a traitor to Judaism. Christians were arrested and put in prison. Saul took up the cause of destroying the church.
Because of the persecution, the Christians fled from Jerusalem. A few, most notably the apostles, stayed in Jerusalem. Some went to other areas of Judea outside of Jerusalem, but some went to Samaria.
How could God allow this persecution? Remember the mission of the church. Jesus said that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. God did not cause the persecution, but he can even use the evil actions of people to advance His plan. The persecution is taking the gospel to Judea and Samaria.
When we find ourselves in unpleasant circumstances, we often blame God. Or we ask why did God allow this? What we should do is ask God what He would have us do in light of our circumstances. The answer is always: get closer to God and get serious about the mission.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Thursday Acts 7:54-60
Stephen is murdered by the mob.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:54-60
Stephen had been accused of blasphemy. They said that he spoke against Moses and the Law. They said that he claimed that the temple would be destroyed. The high priest asked him if the charges were true and he gave them a history of Israel. He highlighted the pattern of disobedience to God throughout time. He also criticized their faith in the temple as a place rather than having faith in God Himself.
He finished with a strong accusation against the Sanhedrin. He said that they were stiff-necked people who were following the pattern of persecuting the prophets sent by God. He said that they had the Law of Moses but did not really follow it. He said that they had not only rejected the Messiah from God, but had murdered Him.
Their response to his accusation was furor and gnashing of teeth. They were high enraged. But Stephen showed no fear. They were ready to kill him but he was unafraid. How could he face this situation without fear? Luke tells us. Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. God revealed Himself to Stephen.
Faith is the opposite of fear. Stephen could face the circumstances without fear because of his faith in God. The people could abuse him. They could torture him and kill him. But he knew that God was in charge. God strengthened his faith when he needed it most. Stephen was given a glimpse of heaven.
So Stephen announced to the Sanhedrin that he could see Jesus in heaven next to the glory of God. This was the equivalent of throwing gasoline on a fire. From their perspective, Stephen was committing blasphemy right there in front of them. They covered their ears and yelled at the top of their voices to drown out the blasphemy. They rushed him to stop the blasphemy.
The Law of Moses called for the community to stone to death a blasphemer. Witnesses and a trial were required. Here, they were in the midst of a trial and they were all witnesses. They were so enraged at Stephen that they dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death.
Even in the middle of his mob execution, Stephen is still following the leadership of the Holy Spirit. His last words were like the last words of Jesus at his execution. “Receive my spirit, and do not hold this against them.”
What can we learn from this incident? Focusing of Stephen, we see that there will be opposition to God’s plan. If we are following Christ, there will be those who will take offense and attack us. We must keep a heavenly perspective. We could lose our reputations, our jobs, our finances, our families, our health, and even our lives. But if we value the things of God more than the things of the world, then obedience to God is a net gain.
Focusing on the Sanhedrin, we see the danger of valuing tradition and culture over God. Those who get caught up in this problem don’t recognize it. The people of the Sanhedrin thought that they were protecting the honor of God and following His instructions. They so thought that they were right that they killed Stephen for telling them that they were wrong. We are all subject to this danger. We get used to a style and routine of how we follow God. We like the routine, but God is not bound by our routines. He often uses something new and different to reach more people. Our initial reaction can be to stop this new thing. But if God is really using something new and different, then we find ourselves in opposition to God. We have to stay close to God. It is all about transformation. We have to be transformed so that God’s values become our values and His priorities become our priorities. Keep up the spiritual disciplines.
Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with tradition. But when tradition replaces God, it becomes an idol. God had some pretty strong language about following idols.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:54-60
Stephen had been accused of blasphemy. They said that he spoke against Moses and the Law. They said that he claimed that the temple would be destroyed. The high priest asked him if the charges were true and he gave them a history of Israel. He highlighted the pattern of disobedience to God throughout time. He also criticized their faith in the temple as a place rather than having faith in God Himself.
He finished with a strong accusation against the Sanhedrin. He said that they were stiff-necked people who were following the pattern of persecuting the prophets sent by God. He said that they had the Law of Moses but did not really follow it. He said that they had not only rejected the Messiah from God, but had murdered Him.
Their response to his accusation was furor and gnashing of teeth. They were high enraged. But Stephen showed no fear. They were ready to kill him but he was unafraid. How could he face this situation without fear? Luke tells us. Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. God revealed Himself to Stephen.
Faith is the opposite of fear. Stephen could face the circumstances without fear because of his faith in God. The people could abuse him. They could torture him and kill him. But he knew that God was in charge. God strengthened his faith when he needed it most. Stephen was given a glimpse of heaven.
So Stephen announced to the Sanhedrin that he could see Jesus in heaven next to the glory of God. This was the equivalent of throwing gasoline on a fire. From their perspective, Stephen was committing blasphemy right there in front of them. They covered their ears and yelled at the top of their voices to drown out the blasphemy. They rushed him to stop the blasphemy.
The Law of Moses called for the community to stone to death a blasphemer. Witnesses and a trial were required. Here, they were in the midst of a trial and they were all witnesses. They were so enraged at Stephen that they dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death.
Even in the middle of his mob execution, Stephen is still following the leadership of the Holy Spirit. His last words were like the last words of Jesus at his execution. “Receive my spirit, and do not hold this against them.”
What can we learn from this incident? Focusing of Stephen, we see that there will be opposition to God’s plan. If we are following Christ, there will be those who will take offense and attack us. We must keep a heavenly perspective. We could lose our reputations, our jobs, our finances, our families, our health, and even our lives. But if we value the things of God more than the things of the world, then obedience to God is a net gain.
Focusing on the Sanhedrin, we see the danger of valuing tradition and culture over God. Those who get caught up in this problem don’t recognize it. The people of the Sanhedrin thought that they were protecting the honor of God and following His instructions. They so thought that they were right that they killed Stephen for telling them that they were wrong. We are all subject to this danger. We get used to a style and routine of how we follow God. We like the routine, but God is not bound by our routines. He often uses something new and different to reach more people. Our initial reaction can be to stop this new thing. But if God is really using something new and different, then we find ourselves in opposition to God. We have to stay close to God. It is all about transformation. We have to be transformed so that God’s values become our values and His priorities become our priorities. Keep up the spiritual disciplines.
Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with tradition. But when tradition replaces God, it becomes an idol. God had some pretty strong language about following idols.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday Acts 7:51-53
Stephen accuses the Sanhedrin of faithlessness.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:51-53
Stephen let’s them have it. He has been showing the parallels of many events in the history of Israel to the current events regarding Jesus. Now, he blasts them.
At the incident of the golden calf in Exodus 32, when God told Moses that He was going to destroy the people, He called them “stiff-necked.” Stephen is comparing the Sanhedrin (the religious rulers) to the idol-worshiping people who infuriated God.
Stephen said that they had uncircumcised hearts and ears. He was basically saying that at the heart-level, they were not really the people of God. They did not listen to God anymore than a pagan.
He said that the history of Israel has been to reject those sent by God and that they are continuing in that pattern. They rejected the prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ and they rejected Christ Himself.
They may have received the Law, but they were certainly not living by it.
Go Stephen Go!
He blasts them with both barrels. He pokes them in the eyes. He gives them a spiritual wedgie.
Of course, we have the same problem. I have used the term “functional atheist” before. We refer to people who may have gone to school, but lack basic reading and writing skills as “functionally illiterate.” They are not really illiterate in that they do not have the ability to read or write, but their skills are so bad that they really function in life as if they were illiterate. A functional atheist may have some level of faith in Christ, but there is no evidence of faith in their daily lives. They may not really be an atheist, but they act like one.
Does my life reflect my faith? Do I live like I say I believe? Is my faith in God or in me? Am I any better than the Sanhedrin?
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:51-53
Stephen let’s them have it. He has been showing the parallels of many events in the history of Israel to the current events regarding Jesus. Now, he blasts them.
At the incident of the golden calf in Exodus 32, when God told Moses that He was going to destroy the people, He called them “stiff-necked.” Stephen is comparing the Sanhedrin (the religious rulers) to the idol-worshiping people who infuriated God.
Stephen said that they had uncircumcised hearts and ears. He was basically saying that at the heart-level, they were not really the people of God. They did not listen to God anymore than a pagan.
He said that the history of Israel has been to reject those sent by God and that they are continuing in that pattern. They rejected the prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ and they rejected Christ Himself.
They may have received the Law, but they were certainly not living by it.
Go Stephen Go!
He blasts them with both barrels. He pokes them in the eyes. He gives them a spiritual wedgie.
Of course, we have the same problem. I have used the term “functional atheist” before. We refer to people who may have gone to school, but lack basic reading and writing skills as “functionally illiterate.” They are not really illiterate in that they do not have the ability to read or write, but their skills are so bad that they really function in life as if they were illiterate. A functional atheist may have some level of faith in Christ, but there is no evidence of faith in their daily lives. They may not really be an atheist, but they act like one.
Does my life reflect my faith? Do I live like I say I believe? Is my faith in God or in me? Am I any better than the Sanhedrin?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday Acts 7:44-50
Stephen recounts the history of the temple.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:44-50
Stephen really starts poking the religious leaders in the eye here. He quickly reviews the history of the temple. God gave Moses the instructions for building the tabernacle. It was the portable shelter for the ark of the covenant. It was the place were Moses went in to meet with God. Solomon built the permanent temple with God’s permission.
Stephen is not criticizing the temple or the worship associated with the temple. He is criticizing the attitude adopted by the people. The Jews did not teach that God lived in the temple, but people had seemed to adopt that idea. This is what Stephen is denouncing. God does not live in houses build by people. From His vantage point, the earth is like His footstool.
This idea is nothing new, the people had the same attitude about the ark of the covenant. They believed that it was endowed with power from God. When the war with the Philistines was not going well, they brought the ark out to the front lines and to their embarrassment, it was captured by the Philistines.
The same problem exists today. How many times have you heard a church building referred to as the “house of God?” How many times have you heard parents tell their children not to run in God’s house? We often adopt the attitude that we are going to church to meet God. Two problems there. One – it reduces God to being in a location. Two – we don’t go to church, we are the church.
Our faith is not in religion, it is in God. Our faith is not centered on a building, it is centered on a person – Christ.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:44-50
Stephen really starts poking the religious leaders in the eye here. He quickly reviews the history of the temple. God gave Moses the instructions for building the tabernacle. It was the portable shelter for the ark of the covenant. It was the place were Moses went in to meet with God. Solomon built the permanent temple with God’s permission.
Stephen is not criticizing the temple or the worship associated with the temple. He is criticizing the attitude adopted by the people. The Jews did not teach that God lived in the temple, but people had seemed to adopt that idea. This is what Stephen is denouncing. God does not live in houses build by people. From His vantage point, the earth is like His footstool.
This idea is nothing new, the people had the same attitude about the ark of the covenant. They believed that it was endowed with power from God. When the war with the Philistines was not going well, they brought the ark out to the front lines and to their embarrassment, it was captured by the Philistines.
The same problem exists today. How many times have you heard a church building referred to as the “house of God?” How many times have you heard parents tell their children not to run in God’s house? We often adopt the attitude that we are going to church to meet God. Two problems there. One – it reduces God to being in a location. Two – we don’t go to church, we are the church.
Our faith is not in religion, it is in God. Our faith is not centered on a building, it is centered on a person – Christ.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Monday Acts 7:37-43
Stephen reminds them of Israel’s rejection of God.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:37-43
The Jews revered Moses. He was the man that God had sent to deliver them from slavery and lead them into the Promised Land. He received the Law from God on Mount Sinai. But even Moses pointed to another that would come later.
Stephen recounts well-know history. The pattern that the Israelites followed was often nothing to be celebrated. They were the people of God, but they had often rejected God throughout their history. While Moses was up on the mountain receiving the Law, the people made idols to worship. This turning to idols occurred often in their history. As you read through the Old Testament, you see again and again the people rejecting faithfulness to God and turning to idols.
Stephen is making a big dig at the Sanhedrin with his talk about idols that were made by men. He specifically mentions the golden calf incident at Mount Sinai. But, he also quotes Amos 1000 years later chastising the people for turning to idols. In every case, people placed their faith in things that they had made rather than God Himself. That was the problem in Stephen’s day. The people trusted the temple rather than God.
God is often patient with His people, but there comes a point when He says, “No more!” He was ready to wipe out the people over the golden calf, but relented. When they refused to enter the promised land, He put them in timeout in the wilderness for forty years so that the faithless generation could did in the desert. In the quote that Stephen uses from Amos, God is explaining that the Babylonian captivity resulted from their faith in idols rather than Him.
We are just as bad. We trust ourselves, our money, our abilities, our intelligence, our church, our plans, our programs, …. – but we don’t trust God. We should not be surprised when God puts us in timeout with respect to His plan – as individuals, as Sunday School classes, as churches, as a nation, …
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:37-43
The Jews revered Moses. He was the man that God had sent to deliver them from slavery and lead them into the Promised Land. He received the Law from God on Mount Sinai. But even Moses pointed to another that would come later.
Stephen recounts well-know history. The pattern that the Israelites followed was often nothing to be celebrated. They were the people of God, but they had often rejected God throughout their history. While Moses was up on the mountain receiving the Law, the people made idols to worship. This turning to idols occurred often in their history. As you read through the Old Testament, you see again and again the people rejecting faithfulness to God and turning to idols.
Stephen is making a big dig at the Sanhedrin with his talk about idols that were made by men. He specifically mentions the golden calf incident at Mount Sinai. But, he also quotes Amos 1000 years later chastising the people for turning to idols. In every case, people placed their faith in things that they had made rather than God Himself. That was the problem in Stephen’s day. The people trusted the temple rather than God.
God is often patient with His people, but there comes a point when He says, “No more!” He was ready to wipe out the people over the golden calf, but relented. When they refused to enter the promised land, He put them in timeout in the wilderness for forty years so that the faithless generation could did in the desert. In the quote that Stephen uses from Amos, God is explaining that the Babylonian captivity resulted from their faith in idols rather than Him.
We are just as bad. We trust ourselves, our money, our abilities, our intelligence, our church, our plans, our programs, …. – but we don’t trust God. We should not be surprised when God puts us in timeout with respect to His plan – as individuals, as Sunday School classes, as churches, as a nation, …
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sunday Acts 7:17-36
Stephen explains the life of Moses.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:17-36
Stephen continues his history of Israel. This is not new information to the people that he is talking to. They know all of the history of Israel. Stephen is using the familiar stories that they all know by heart to paint the picture of the Christ.
He started with Abraham and then continued with Joseph. Now he moves on to Moses. Stephen highlights certain aspects of Moses’ life to show the parallels with Jesus. Moses is a type for Jesus. They both were sent by God to deliver God’s people from bondage. Moses was sent to rescue the people from physical slavery and lead them into the promised land. Jesus came to deliver people from spiritual bondage and lead them into the Kingdom of God.
Like Jesus, Moses had a supernatural element to his infancy. Pharaoh had decreed that all of the male Hebrew babies would be killed. Moses’ parents hid him for three months then his sister put him in a basket in the Nile river where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. She assigned Moses’ mother to nurse Moses until he was old enough to come live at her house. Like Jesus, Moses was rejected when he tried to bring reconciliation. Moses was not fully accepted as God’s representative until his second appearance. This points to the second coming of Jesus.
Stephen is also making the point that God is not concerned with geography. God led Moses in Egypt and even in Midian. God appeared in physical form through the burning bush in Midian.
God has a plan. The center of His plan is reconciliation through Jesus. Stephen is making the case for Christ. We need to see our lives in light of God’s plan. We are here as followers of Christ to point others to Christ.
Click here for an online Bible. Acts 7:17-36
Stephen continues his history of Israel. This is not new information to the people that he is talking to. They know all of the history of Israel. Stephen is using the familiar stories that they all know by heart to paint the picture of the Christ.
He started with Abraham and then continued with Joseph. Now he moves on to Moses. Stephen highlights certain aspects of Moses’ life to show the parallels with Jesus. Moses is a type for Jesus. They both were sent by God to deliver God’s people from bondage. Moses was sent to rescue the people from physical slavery and lead them into the promised land. Jesus came to deliver people from spiritual bondage and lead them into the Kingdom of God.
Like Jesus, Moses had a supernatural element to his infancy. Pharaoh had decreed that all of the male Hebrew babies would be killed. Moses’ parents hid him for three months then his sister put him in a basket in the Nile river where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. She assigned Moses’ mother to nurse Moses until he was old enough to come live at her house. Like Jesus, Moses was rejected when he tried to bring reconciliation. Moses was not fully accepted as God’s representative until his second appearance. This points to the second coming of Jesus.
Stephen is also making the point that God is not concerned with geography. God led Moses in Egypt and even in Midian. God appeared in physical form through the burning bush in Midian.
God has a plan. The center of His plan is reconciliation through Jesus. Stephen is making the case for Christ. We need to see our lives in light of God’s plan. We are here as followers of Christ to point others to Christ.
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