Acts serves as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. In fact, when Acts begins, Jesus is still on earth. He reminds the disciples that a helper is promised, that the Holy Spirit will come and give them greater power. Once this happens, the book of Acts is filled with great stories--jail breaks, death threats, church growth, discipleship, and the growth and spreading of the Light that cannot be extinguished.
One of the first major events in the book of Acts is Pentecost. Most people think that Pentecost is a New Testament idea. True, the event in which tongues of fire, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the speaking in tongues/languages did occur in the New Testament. But The Jews were gathered in Jerusalem for an Old Testament celebration which occurred 50 days after the Passover, the festival of First Fruits. Most people came for Passover and stayed, because it was not possible to get home and return to Jerusalem in 50 days’ time. The “harvest” the Holy Spirit made on the day of Pentecost is the First Fruits of the new believers who are to come.
Peter and John healed a lame man the name of Jesus, preaching that Jesus was the Messiah crucified and resurrected. Logically, the Pharisees had them arrested (the first time). Peter lets the Sanhedrin know that “there is no other name under heaven by which we MUST be saved.” Oh boy.
The priests, who saw these uneducated upstarts as a threat to their authority, forbade them to preach in Jesus’ name. Peter, of course, refused to obey. Around this time we also meet Barnabas, who will be more important later.
Then we meet the ill-fated Ananias and Saphira, who said that they were giving all the money from the sale of their property to the church, but in reality they held some back. Was the sin in the holding back? No, the sin was in the lie. So both of them, having separate opportunities to tell the truth, fall down dead. Lesson? Easy--DON’T LIE TO GOD!!
Peter is put in jail--again--and is set free by an angel. Peter and John are put on trial again for continuing to preach Christ crucified and raised again as Savior. The Pharisees and Saducees are so mad they want to kill the apostles. A wise man named Gamaliel intercedes in the crowd and tells the Pharisees: “Leave these men alone. If their message is from men, they cannot force it. But if it is from God, you cannot stop it.”
Helpers are chosen to assist in the work of the quickly growing church. One of them--a young man named Stephen--is not allowed to help very long. Like Peter, Stephen is accused of blasphemy when he equates Jesus with God. Stephen then gives a long address which sets up a pattern. He tells the story of the people of Israel, beginning with Abraham, and tells how God has related to the people, promising a Messiah all the while. He ends by telling how all these promises are fulfilled in Christ. The Pharisees and Saducees cannot take this, so Stephen is stoned to death. All who throw stones lay their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul (who will be important later...)
The Gospel spreads like wildfire throughout Samaria, with many conversions. Philip, one of the original 12 apostles, meets an Ethiopian on the road to Gaza. The Ethiopian asks Philip to explain the scripture that he is reading--and from there, Philip leads him to Christ.
Saul (remember him?) was on his way to Damascus to beat up some more of these Christ-followers when he is blinded by a light from heaven. Jesus asks, “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” After three days in the darkness, Saul is healed and, as a changed man, now preaches Christ. The priests in Damascus want to kill him, but he escapes over the wall in a basket and comes to Jerusalem. More people are healed, and a woman named Tabitha/Dorcas is even brought back to life.
Meanwhile, Peter has a vision of a sheet, in which all food is declared clean and fit to eat and also all people are declared clean and fit to hear the gospel. A Roman centurion comes to the door asking for Peter, asking for the word of God. Salvation is extended to the Gentiles.
Saul and Barnabus (remember him? from earlier?) team up and go to Antioch, where believers are first called Christians.
There’s a lot of action in these chapters. It is called the book of Acts, after all... Many great things are happening.
And God’s just getting started.
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