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Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 12

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Acts of the Holy Spirit

The weather last week was muggy. Some people say this is an omen for the much-needed El Niño, a weather phenom that often brings rain to California. We need the rain. A lot of moisture bloomed up from Baja. It tends to even out temperatures, but also visibility. Looking across Estero Bay, everything was a grey haze, not a lot of contrast. Almost like a bad landscape shot from a Kodak Instamatic, for those of you who remember them, small film cameras from the 50’s with sub-optimal optics for those who do not.

instamatic

What was missing was contrast. I knew the Morro Rock was there, but it didn’t look much different than the blue Pacific surrounding it. Hills, sky, water, everything looked the same. Unsatisfying because it lacked definition.

contrast
Same view, only the time of day and contrast are different

This page of the Church’s early adventure, on the other hand, is vivid in its contrast. But you do have to give it the efforts it deserves. Contrasts in two men.

 

First  Peter, the faith he demonstrated, the gates he walked through, the people he associated with. Second, two kings, Herod & Jesus, the  people they associated with, the powers under there control, the clothes they wore, and the consequences of the words they spoke. So take off the lens cover, clean the lens, and load a can of Kodachrome as we snap our way through chapter 12.

The Contrast of Peter 1.0 & Peter 2.0

Acts 12:1 – Which Herod are we speaking of?

Herod the Great was one of the great builders of antiquity. A small, man, he was an Edomite, an Idumean, descendents of Esau. Herod fell in love with a true Jewish princess, Mariamni (sp?) a Maccabean descendent. This Herod killed at least 15 of his sons. The joke in Rome was it was safer to be Herod’s king, than Herod’s son.

This is Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the great. He was put into power by Caligua. Late, Paul was put before trial in front of this man’s son, Herod Agrippa II.

So now this Herod persecutes the Christians, a way to get the Jews to like him.

Acts 12:2 – It is said that he hacked in in half, lengthwise.

Acts 12:3 – OK, if you liked that, I’ll go get the biggies.

Acts 12:4 – A quaternion was a group of four soldiers.  usually two were used for a really bad guy. To have 4 quaternions, 16 soldiers to guard one prisoner begs the question, why so many? We can only speculate, but remember that his grandfather Herod the Great, was fond of John the Baptist. Could it be that there was a part of him who knew better. More importantly, do we ignore that part of our being (our conscience) when it comes to hearing God’s voice?

Acts 12:5 – What would have happened if they would have prayed for James? God has chosen to work through prayer. It is also to prepare us for the unending ages ahead to communicate with God.

Acts 12:6 – Once again, peter is sleeping like at Gethsemane. But this time he is sleeping because he is at peace with the Lord.Yes, you can demonstrate faith by sleeping, as Peter did here sawing logs before the day of his scheduled death. But Peter also heard Jesus prophesy about his demise in John 21:18

Acts 12:7 – Ever notice angels always seem to be in a hurry.

Acts 12:9 – He though he was in a dream.

Acts 12:11 – See Peter figure it out. What if Peter rolled over and went back to sleep. No, he acted anyway, out of faith. We also hear these exhortations and prophecies, and not act on a a notion God puts in our heart. If we step out and move forward, we may find it was just a vision, or onions the night before, or it may be being nudged by the HS.  Pro:14:4 promises a clean manger, but no results. It takes getting up and moving forward, even though it’s a bit messy at times.

Acts 12:12 – Perhaps the same Upper Room used at Pentecost and the Last Supper.

Oh the world is drowning, the world is evil, so many have fallen away, sniffles the church. They had homothymadon, passion in the same direction. The early church had power, we do not. Could it be our perfunctory prayer, begging the faithful to a prayer service, to which few show up? WAKE UP!

Acts 12:13 – Rhoda – means Rose.

Acts 12:15 – These early sensitive to and used to angelic presence, that they did not bother to get up. Paul says that is to be done.

Acts 12:16 -Don’t stand there mouth agape when your prayer is “miraculously” answered. Pastor Chuck Smith relates such a story where the rent is due, and he is between jobs, without two nickels to rub together. He prays and prays, and finally, a a letter comes in the mail, an advance for pastoral work he was to do, totaling exactly howo much he needed for the rent.

Chuck joyfully walks around the house laughing, smiling, and praising God. Then Chuck relates that God said to him, in that still small voice, “Why didn’t you praise and thank Me before the money arrived?”

Acts 12:17 – What a great story! Ha Ha. How so much like me. But note that the prayer was effective all the same. Many times we are not sure how things will turn out, but all it takes is just enough faith to pray.

Acts 12:19 – Obviously, the man is upset. So to relax form this obvious trauma, he went to the luxury resort town of Caesarea.

The Contrast of Christ & Agrippa

Acts 12:20 – {349}We don’t know why he was upset with the locals. They bribed or somehow got an appointment with Blastus.

Acts 12:21 – This is an amphitheater right on the beach. Josephus tells us that these robes were made of pure silver threads, giving a very shiny appearance out in the sun. It was a spectacular garment.

Acts 12:22 – The crowd is sucking up to Herod for the bread. This guy is on an huge ego trip. Jon Courson says flattery is like bubble gum, it’s OK to chew a little, but don’t swallow it.

Acts 12:23 – We don’t know if it was immediate, or perhaps struck by intestinal parasites, doubled over, and died five days later. Dead either way.

This shows absolutely the necessity of giving God glory. When we glorify God, we grow from the inside out. When we glorify ourselves, we rot from the inside out.

 

 

 

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 11

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Acts of the Holy Spirit

I worked with a supervisor who was very by the book. Every T crossed, every I dotted. Fortunately, I did not report to him, I think I may have done something drastic if I had.

But I remember receiving the occasional email from him.  Like any up and coming member of management, he had a sage, carefully crafted  and hopefully profound (to HIS boss) signature like “Yes we can,” “If you fall seven ties, get up eight,” or as we fantasized with this guy, “The beatings will stop when morale improves.”

His email signature was mundane, engineer-like: “If it’s not documented, it’s not done.” You engineers and other societal outcasts (JK) are nodding in silent agreement. But it never struck me until several years later how true that statement is.

The act of making another major change to the relationship between God and people through the Gospel was and is forever profound. But now, to add salvation to the Gentiles, this blew a LOT of Jewish fuses. The act was to reverberate throughout the rest of the Book of Acts, and it needed to be told (documented) by a teller who was just as flabbergasted.

So what change does God want to make with you that you’re resisting? And will you (and I) be willing to hear that voice, often a friend or trusted one, that’s calling for it?

Acts 11:1-2 –  Through  the grapevine, the news spread fast. They were shocked and stunned, resentful that Peter went to the Gentiles. Change is seldom easy, especially for the pious Jewish believer, who throughout her life, has obeyed the laws and testimonies of the Mosaic Law. So when word of this event with Peter is made known, the natural inclination is to “take issue.”

Acts 11:4 – A parchment or scroll was generally not larger than 35 feet. Books tended to be concise for this reason. So why would the HS inspire Luke to repeat this story? Because it is very important.

Acts 11:10 – Isa 61:10

Acts 11:12 – Peter was wise in bringing six men to be witnesses.

Acts 11:17 – Who indeed,

Acts 11:19 – It took the blood of the martyr to propagate the Gospel. These new Christians are still preaching primarily to Jews, though.

Acts 11:20 – Antioch was the 3rd largest city in Rome with a population of about a half million people, and a center of commerce.   In the mythology the city was dedicated to Daphne, the Goddess of seduction, being seduced by Apollo. It was became the center of the Christian faith after Jerusalem Christians were persecuted. See Acts 6:5, 13:1, 14, chapters 14 & 15, and Galatians 2:11 and 2 Tim 3:11.

Acts 11:23 – Note the effect of the grace of God.

It is the heart that God looks at.

Acts 11:25 –  anazeteo – to seek high and low energetically, used only by Luke here and when Jesus was left back at Jerusalem. (Luke 2:44)

Acts 11:26 – Note the pattern: In v 20 was preaching,  v 23 exhorting v26 teaching by Paul; a perfect troika, all necessary.

Christians – “little Jesus” – what a wonderful epithet.

Acts 11:28 – By meeting in koinonia and being in the Spirit, these Christians didn’t just ooh and ahh from the works shown, non they went on to the practical ministry implied by it. We see Agabus later in the book Acts 21:10 prophesying over Paul’s belt as to Paul’s future.  He here prophesies that a famine from 46 to 48 AD would occur. This gave the saints the opportunity, like Joseph, to prepare for it, and to exercise giving to the saints in Jerusalem, who would be in terrible poverty owing to their being disavowed by the Jewish community for their faith.

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 10

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Acts of the Holy Spirit

Ten years previous Jesus said to preach the Gospel to every creature. Until now, they had not spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. They had ministered to the Jews of the surrounding areas.

The Lord will entrust Peter to open the door. His first convert, Cornelius, Corn Dawg to my kids when they first heard the story from me. Corn Dawg’s life up to his encounter with Peter could be described thus:

Influence

The influence of Judaism on the life of Cornelius was the desire of God that the Jews be a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6), a teacher of the immature, a corrector of the foolish, and a light to those who are in darkness (Romans 2:17-20). A proselyte, he was open to hear and accept the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob over Jupiter, Juno, and Mars.

Introduction

Peter, a devout Jewish man, had been inculcated in Mosaic Law, avoided Gentiles, and never, EVER had bacon and eggs for breakfast. So when the call came to kill the pig and eat pork chops, his predictable response, pure Peter,  “By no means Lord!” is comical. (Who but Peter would say such a contradictory thing as “No, Lord?” Oh, you have? Tsk. OK, so have I…)

Imbuing

Peter concludes preaching the Gospel, those gathered believe, and the Holy Spirit indwells them (and all believers), and falls on these new believers the same way He came to the Jewish believers back in chapter 2, thus authenticating to the Jewish Christians that the church is for all, Gentile and Jew.

Inertia

The Holy Spirit makes it very clear that He desires all nations to become Christians (OT & NT refs here) and the church in this and other sections of the book beginning in the next chapter. Peter uses this example to exhort the Jewish Christians as equals, and also serves to re-iterate that the Law has been done away with as far the ceremonial cleanliness laws are concerned.

Notes

Acts 10:1 – A legion was 6000, a cohort 600, and groups of a hundred led by centurions, the master sergeants of the day, brave, sound, and strong. The centurions speak but the word and my servant shall be healed. … Truly this was the son of God…

Acts 10:2 – The HS notes his faith of God, fear of God, yet he was not saved; despite his almsgiving and prayer. He did not know Jesus. If all covenants or all paths lead to God, you would have to omit this chapter from the Bible.  And he was not converted to Judaism, but to Christianity.

But all those who truly seek God will find Him. God will do whatever it takes, including sending an angel to minister to him.

His whole familiy also feared God, a testament to his leadership.

Acts 10:6 – A tanner could be spotted a mile away from the stench.

Note: the angel didn’t share the Gospel with Cornelius, that privilege was left to a man.

Acts 10:11 – The house in Joppa right at the Mediterannean. Sheet can also be translated sail.

Acts 10:14 – Who else but Peter could admonish God?! “Not so” and “Lord” don’t belong together.

Acts 10:15 – {328} Words to live by. God has cleansed us, too. He chose you before the foundation of the World. John 13:18  Also 2Co 5:21, Heb4:16

Acts 10:16 – For emphasis

Acts 10:21 – Note that the HS is working on both ends. If someone says “The Lord told me to tell you” something, you will know because of this principle.

Acts 10:23 – Good show Peter, the barriers are starting to come down with these Gentiles. Having a Gentile in a Jew’s home was considered defiling.

Peter wasn’t 100% sure about this, so he took a few of the boys with him.

Acts 10:25 – They still do that in Rome to this day; lining up 45-50 minutes to kiss  his feet. The big big toe on the right foot is missing because of this.

St Pedter

Acts 10:27 – Home Bible study time

Acts 10:28 – Peter is beginning to get the picture

Acts 10:31 – This refutes the notion that God hears the prayers of unbelievers.

Acts 10:33 – A good congregation produces a good preacher.

Acts 10:34 – God is no respecter of persons

Acts 10:39 – Hanged on a tree – The Jews executed by stoning, the Romans (Gentiles) kill on a tree; the inference is that all men are guilty, leaving no room for antisemitism.

Acts 10:44 – Peter is again interrupted by God, the HS. First by the Father, (Mat 17:2-9, Mar 9:2-10, Luk 9:29-36) by Jesus, (Mat 17:24-25 )

Note that the Spirit moved as Peter spoke the Word. He did not expect it. Col 3 the Word of God dwell in you richly…, Eph 5 Be not drunk with wine…

Acts 10:46 – This is the Biblical and proper use of tongues. It is a message of praise to God. Unknown tongues, that is.

Acts 10:47 – Note the water Baptism after the Baptism of the HS.

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 9

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Acts of the Holy Spirit

Acts 9:1 -Saul was trained by Gamaliel, the teacher of teachers. Paul was also a member of the Sanhedrin. He also had a towering intellect. Yet he was too refined to stone Stephen.

Perhaps in his insecurity, after seeing the angelic countenance of Stephen, he became vehement and radical. Perhaps because of all the mental energy he had spent on the Christians.

Paul was so impressed by his encounter with Stephen he used part of the argument in Acts 17:24-34, especially v30. The word of God does not return void.

Breathing threats – lit breathing in threats, muttering. This is one mad dude.

Acts 9:4 – Jesus takes personally those who get down on His church. Ahem!

Acts 9:5 – Goads passage missing in most manuscripts. Only shown in KJV family texts.

Acts 9:6 – This is what it is all about. What is salvation worth to me? This is the only possible reaction if we realize the price Jesus paid for us.

God always gives usa one step at a time.

Acts 9:9 – Like a photographic film, Saul has an image and voice of Christ for three days.

Acts 9:11 – That road, Straight,  is still there in Damascus, the oldest city in the world.

Straight Street, Damascus Syria
Straight Street, Damascus Syria

Acts 9:13 – Lord, You sure You have the right guy? The big gulp.

Note how a man called Annanias is to go to the house of Judas, two infamous names in the Bible. And also Saul!… And so Damasacus. Perhaps God is redeeming names.

Acts 9:15 – Note the order of Paul’s ministry: first Gentiles, kings, and Jews.

Acts 9:17 – Ananias shows true Christian brotherhood and Agape love. Note that Paul has not received the HS at this time.

Acts 9:20 – Rom 9:3

Acts 9:21 – They were amazed but not persuaded. Paul leaves for three years to Arabia.  Gal 1:17

This is a “perfect” ministry for Saul, but that is NOT what God had in mind for him. (v15)

Acts 9:25 – 2Co 11:32-33. This is what it took to let Saul realize that his ministry was for the Gentiles, so that Saul could not take credit for God’s work.

Acts 22:17

Acts 9:27 – Barnabas means son of consolation, which, as usual, is apt.

Acts 9:29 – Saul is getting closer, talking to Grecian Jews.

Acts 9:30 – Then the Apostles send him to his true ministry, the Gentiles.

Acts 9:31 – And here at last Saul focuses in on his ministry. After ten years.

Sometimes the best thing to do is to get out of the way.

Acts 9:32 – By contrast, Peter HAD a ministry to the Jews.

Acts 9:34 – Here is a key to usability. In addition to be on the move, not stagnant (pv), these people glorify Jesus.  I AM the Lord. That is My name.  And I will not share my glory with another…

God is not ,though, on an ego trip. Because inevitably those who seek His glory will disappoint others.

Acts 9:36 – Dorcas, – gazelle.

Acts 9:38 – Quick, send for Peter, we need the practical ministry of Dorcas.

Acts 9:39 – Summary of ministry illustrated by these verses (13-43):

1) Available  – Acts 9:40

2) Prayerful – Tabitha, arise – Talitha  kum; virtually the same words Jesus used with the young girl in Mark 5:41

Acts 9:42 – 3) fruitful – many people were touched by the miracle

So when you are called to Sunday school, you never know wheter you might teach a future Billy Graham.

Acts 9:43 – 4) Flexible – Peter sticks around. The mishna said that the wife of a tanner could divorce him, as being a tanner. God

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 8 The Persecuted Church

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The Acts of the Holy Spirit Empowering the Church

It is now six years since the church started, and God allows persecution in order to , among other things, to spread the church. Chapter eight sees the persecution of the church led by Saul, Phillip in Samaria encountering Simon, a charlatan, and his subsequent encounter with an Ethiopian court official, and his genuine conversion.

And so persecution goes on to this day. Persecution.org estimates there are around 200 million Christians suffer some form of persecution for their faith. That day may not be long in coming for us. So while we are able, we must  be “Phillips”, used and usable of the Holy Spirit, to share the Good News.

Antsal, wife of one of the 21 men killed in Libya shares how she found peace.

Acts 8:2 – Does this mean we should make lamentation? Devout men means God fearers, not necessarily even Christians. These men did not understand about the fate of those who died in Christ until Paul explained this in 1Th 4:13-18.

Either way, may God give us more stout hearted men like these!

Acts 8:3 – Havoc – lit. describes the wounding of a wild boar. The boar loses all sense of sanity. Paul moves beyond consent to a frenzy of Satanic activity.

Acts 8:4 – They scattered, but look, they also preached the Word.

Acts 8:5-39 shows two back to back seeming conversions.  How can we be sure?

Re Simon, unsaved:

  1. Wrong view of self (v9-10). He projected himself with great pride, even to his conversion. i.e. his conversion too was proud and pompous
  2. Wrong view of supernatural power (v18-19). This is the practice of simony, trying to buy one’s way into power. He did not want power to change his character, but to further his ambitions. A true conversion is done in humility. “Make me a servant.
  3. A wrong view of the Spirit (v18-21). That purchase may be attempted by money, or through the flesh,
  4. Wrong view of sin. (v24) The conversion doesn’t take, he doesn’t want the sin rooted out, but to avoid the consequences. Simon  believed in signs and wonders and not God, to his own ends. His attitude was, what will it do for me.

Contrast this with the Ethiopian’s conversion:

  1. It was a sovereign work of the HS (v26) – note the HS working took Phillip out of a revival in Samaria to one guy out in the desert. The eunuch was cultured enough to be able to read Hebrew though he himself was a Gentile. The HS draws us, not vice versa Rom 3:10-12
  2. The searching heart of a sinner. We respond to the HS after HE seeks us out.,
  3. Scriptural basis for salvation (v35) – As opposed to being drawn by signs and wonders as was Simon. Rom 10:17
  4. The sincere expression of a servant(v37)  – The Eunuch’s response was ass a faithful response, not for his personal gain.

Persecution.org

Acts 8:6 – Here is Phillip, another table server-deacon we saw in Acts 6:5. If we are faithful in the little things, God will give you bigger and bigger responsibilities. And now Phillip followed Jesus example by going into the area were Jews would avoid John 4:4-42

Hearing miracles – the word of wisdom spoken as Jesus did to the woman at the well.

Acts 8:7 – 2Ki 17:7-41  This chapter of 2 Kings outlines the origin of the Samaritans. After reviewing this chapter, one can see the Pharisees calling the kettle black! (Being hypocrites)

Demons fled as Phillip was preaching and ministering. Demons are still alive and well in the 20th century. We offer psychological excuses for the present day work of demons and evil.

Acts 8:8 – Mat 2:10, Luke 2:10 The power of sin is broken. The joy of Christianity.

Acts 8:17 – Perhaps Phillip wasn’t gifted in the laying on of hands, reemphasizing the importance of the Body. Peter and John were empowered in this area, so they lay on hands. 1Co 1:14

And don’t get hung up on Baptism. It’s necessary, but it happens in various ways, (Acts 10)

Acts 8:18 – Simon does not appear to be possesed demonically, but wants to purchase a magic trick, as magicians do to this day.

Acts 8:20 – This absolutely refutes the buying of popeships during the Middle Ages. And Protestants are no better, as when the pastor is deeded the pastor, and the congregation buys back the church, or when an a person buys an “elder” position.

Acts 8:24 – HE didn’t ask for his heart to change, but to avoid the consequences of his sin.

Acts 8:25 – Tradition says that Simon went insane and buried himself alive, but not before starting the heresy of Gnosticism

Acts 8:26 – Revival is happening. People are being saved, and now the HS sends Phillip elsewhere. Note that the HS didn’t say why to go. Why go to a rock and sand filled desert? Go do step 1, and then you’ll get step 2.

Acts 8:27 – This was perhaps the second most important man in Ethiopia. He desired to know God, hence the trip to J-lem, but came back empty, as shown here.

God will do whatever it takes to tell a hungry person about Jesus. God will reach them. No one will be able to say they sought God and did not find Him.

Acts 8:30 – Wow! He ran! Enthusiasm is En-Theos, full of God.

Acts 8:32 – Isa 53:8f

Acts 8:35 – He spoke of Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. He also hopped right into Isaiah, connoting his knowledge of Scripture.

Acts 8:37 – Earlier, Simon believed with his head, and here the eunuch believes in his heart.

This is verse not in the NIV or RSV (See nivmiss.inx)

Acts 8:38 – Note immersion baptism here and elsewhere.

Acts 8:40 – He stayed there and raised 4 daughters who became prophetesses. A beautiful place on the beach. Phillip started waiting on tables, became a deacon, then an evangelist, then raised a family.

Bible Studies

Acts 7 – No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

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When we last saw him, our man Stephen, having been set up by the Synagogue of the Freedmen, is hauled up before the Sanhedrin. This is their their third testimony of Jesus by the Church.

The outcome is considered horrible by most standards. We (mostly)  don’t grow up saying we want to be stoned to death as our life’s ambition. Certainly the non-Christian would want to avoid such a terrible end, save perchance to rescue a loved one or something like that.  Even the Christian (author included) would want to duck and run rather than stand up for our faith.

But God gives us the special grace in times like this. Operating under the power of the Holy Spirit, Stephen is given, wisdom, courage, and deep love to deliver God’s words of everlasting life.  God is willing to allow martyrs in His church for His own good reasons. Some of those reasons can be multiplication; the church often grows rapidly under a time of persecution.  Another is the realization that although the martyr will suffer, his reward is great in Heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)

Don’t be complacent. Don’t be afraid. Do be close to Jesus. Do take courage.

Notes

Acts 7:1 – What things? He was accused of preaching Jesus such that it would lead to the destruction of the Temple and the dissolving of the Law. (Acts 6:13) They like many people today believed that spirituality revolved around a place and a procedure. (a church building and liturgy and works righteousness). So now he begins to dispense with the place argument

Acts 7:2 – Here is one of the classic powerful presentations of the Gospel found in the Bible (and fv):

When and where did God appear to the father of the Jews first? In a foreign (Babylon, a bad place) land.

So now he begins to dispense with the place argument Acts 7:2-19

Acts 7:3 – Follow me, says God Mat 4:19 through John 21:22

Acts 7:4 – Abraham stopped in Haran, tsk tsk, (he wasn’t supposed to…)Gen 11:31,32

Whenever we stop and park, we miss out, as we are on a pilgrimage.

Acts 7:6 – Stephen is starting to unglue their religiosity in the idea of a place, rather than a person, Jesus.

Acts 7:8 – Abraham had no inheritance in the land, rather, he was told to put the blade to the flesh. He did all this without a Temple or the Law.

Acts 7:9 – God was with Joseph in Egypt, again away from Jesrusalem and the nonexistent Temple. Joseph is a picture of Jesus in many ways. Eph 4.

Stephen is pointing out the parallel between Joseph and Jesus. At some point, the elders must have realized what Stephen was doing.

Acts 7:13 – The brothers, going down to Egypt, did not realize

Acts 7:17 – The Jews grew and multiplied from 75 to over 2 million. All this fruitful outside of the land of Egypt.

Acts 7:20 – Having shown that the place is not the issue, Stephen now goes on to destroy the myth of clinging to procedures. V Acts7:20-39

Acts 7:21 – Moses is nourished by an Egyptian. Where did they get the idea of putting Moses on a little boat (Ark)? Perhaps from a hypothetical oral tradition from the story of the flood.

Acts 7:22 – Moses, raised at the palace of Pharaoh, by the best scholars of the premier power of the time. See also Exo 15:26

Papyrus  Ebers and Edwin Smith Papyrus describe are medical documents of the time. Some purported cures:

Cure for Burns:

Create a mixture of milk of a woman who has borne a male child, gum, and, ram’s hair. While administering this mixture say: Thy son Horus is burnt in the desert. Is there any water there? There is no water. I have water in my mouth and a Nile between my thighs. I have come to extinguish the fire.

Note: There is not a single medical error in the Bible.

Cure for Lesions of the Skin:

After the scab has fallen off put on it: Scribe’s excrement. Mix in fresh milk and apply as a poultice.

Cure for Cataracts:

Mix brain-of-tortoise with honey. Place on the eye and say: There is a shouting in the southern sky in darkness, There is an uproar in the northern sky, The Hall of Pillars falls into the waters. The crew of the sun god bent their oars so that the heads at his side fall into the water, Who leads hither what he finds? I lead forth what I find. I lead forth your heads. I lift up your necks. I fasten what has been cut from you in its place. I lead you forth to drive away the god of Fevers and all possible deadly arts.

Source:http://www.mysteries-in-stone.co.uk/medicine.htm

Acts 7:26 – Note the ministry of Moses left the palace and served his brothers He:

  1. Seeks to bring liberation (v24)
  2. Seeks to bring reconciliation among his people

This is another parallel of Jesus

Acts 7:27 – And Moses is rejected by his people. Another parallel.

Note that Stephen is destroying their prideful boast that they are followers of Moses.

Acts 7:29 – So, rejected by his people, he goes to the Gentiles and takes a Gentile bride.

Acts 7:34 – This is a great devotional. God would say that to us who are in oppression to some Pharaoh. And although it took 400 years to do so, it required that much time to prepare Canaan for their arrival. God gave the people of that land that 400 years to repent.

Acts 7:35 – Stephen is twisting the knife. They sought to reject Moses. It was only in his second coming that he was accepted. And don’t think this was lost on Stephen’s audience.

Acts 7:36 – The church and Israel have many parallels, and this is one of them. The Red Sea represents Baptism. And they gathered around the table and ate manna.

Acts 7:37 – Now even Moses foretells Jesus coming op cit (Acts 3:22) by Peter and John miracle references to this verse.

Acts 7:39 – Rejected: Moses and Jesus (7:27)

Acts 7:41 – Hey boys, you were so proud of Moses, you rejected him again, and made idols, gratitude to God, not.

Acts 7:42 – host of heaven – astrology

Acts 7:43 – Moloch was the god of prosperity and success. Parents would offer their children and burn them alive. Things have NOT changed.

“You want idols”, says God, “Then I will send you to the Idol City.”

Acts 7:49 – Isa 66:1

You are gonna build Me a little house? God never asked for a Temple. These Jews did not like what they were hearing.

Acts 7:50 – Isa 66:2

Acts 7:51 – The issue is not feling the Temple, but resisting the HS.

Acts 7:55 – In the beginning, he said “the God of glory…”. He now ends his message by seeing the Glory of God. The same blessing is ours also. It is a joy indeed to share your faith with others.

Acts 7:56 – This is the only time Jesus is spoken of as standing at the right hand of God, interceding for us. And to welcome Stephen in glory.

Acts 7:57 – First they gnash their teeth, and now they stop their ears. When the elders looked down, they had this ugly reaction, as opposed to Stephen, who looked up to heaven, and had an angel’s countenance. Don’t look down on people.

Bible Studies

Acts 6 Building From Within

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The church is exploding . In Acts 2 God added daily. In Acts 6 God multiplied (KJV & NKJV). Now growing pains are setting in. The Apostles could have easily been sucked into this need. But they wisely concluded that they should have others fill it. And because they kept their focus sharpened (v2), and priorities clear, this is the result.

In Chapters 4-5 the church subtracted Ananias and Sapphira. It’s never easy, usually painful, personally. But the good news is that God will explode the work.

During this multiplying, there is a tendency to feel neglected, and this causes murmuring Three things were happening in the early church:

  1. Discriminating – Felt by the Hellenists (Greeks) by the Hebrews. Do we do this? You bet! We do  this almost every Sunday. Former (?) sinners, bikers, “losers”, and those we don’t like.
  2. Professionalizing – If you are aware of a problem, you are probably being called to be the solution. This is the sign of a healthy church.
  3. Prioritizing – Keeping the eye on the prize (Rom 12)

Jesus and the mustard seed comparison is rather puzzling as mustard plant is a smallish bush (Mat 13:31-33, Mar 4:31-32, Luke 13:18). The implication is that the church would start out right, but would grow large and distended, and birds would lodge in it; the birds a symbol of evil. And truly that has come to pass. Acts pleads for simplicity (Act 2:42).

Stay focused on the Word of God as our best source for “Church Growth.” Romans  12 says we are His body. Look at, to, and on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. As with Him:

1) His body was conceived by a miracle, birthed supernaturally. Perhaps He moves in a new virgin territory. And we give God the glory when it happens.

2) All His members functioned – Every member is to function.

3) His body was physically coordinated. How? The body responds to the impulses from the head and responds. Eph 4:15-16 says He is the head, we are the body, the HS the nervous system.

4) Upon birth, the body was attacked. Herod threatened Him immediately. And so us.

5) He grew in wisdom and stature and found favor in God and man. Luk 2:40

6) He was attacked again

7) He cannot be destroyed. Story of Jesus going through the center of the crowd.

8) In His body baptized in water and in spirit. His knowledge of the Word confounded the teachers at age 12. He was receptive to baptism. Mat 3:13-17, Mar 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-23

 

9) Jesus was all these offices (Ephesians 5)

  • Apostolic – Governing – sent by God
  • Prophetic – Guiding ministry
  • Evangelical – Gathering
  • Pastoring – Guarding
  • Teaching – Grounding in Scripture and doctrine

 

10) Flowing in the Gifts in Romans 12 and Manifestations in 1Co 12

 

11) Being broken – recall Jesus on the road to Emmaus. When they broke bread, they recognized Him. So too we must be broken to receive the life of Christ. See v2

 

Acts 6:1

People who are productive have proper priorities. Why give ourselves to the Lord for service?: Rom 12:1-2

 

1)Present your body to the Lord wholly acceptable to God

2) Where we are going to spend eternity.

3) What it does for me presently, it brings us happiness.

 

Acts 6:2-4

Exodus 18:17 shows the original distribution of responsibilities by Moses’ father -in-law, Jethro. God’s intention is to delegate the work. Spiritual gifts are the tool God gives to do the work of the church. In Exodus, God used Jethro to communicate this to Moses. Here the Holy Spirit. Often God will communicate to us through other people. One way to know: It makes sense, it may sting a little, and our and others spirit will be settled in the matter. (v5)

The ones chosen are good, Godly,  and gifted. The leaders concentrate on the most important tasks of leadership:

  1. Prayer – Communication with and on behalf of the people
  2. Ministry of the Word – Correctly hearing back from God and communicating to the people.

Acts 6:5

Stephen was a powerful Bible expositor. Paul says the deaconate would be given great boldness in ministry. Phillip was the father of 4 prophetesses. Prochorus, secretary, bishop of NIcodea(?).

 

Some believe that Nicolas veered off the track into heresy and founded the Nicolaitains. Meaning shepherds of the laity, heavy oppressors of the flock instead of helpers of their joy. Not overbearing oppressors. Not dominion. Rev 2:6,15

A Table of Possible  Gifts of the Early Church

Name Meaning  Spiritual Gift
Stephen Crowned Prophesying
Phillip Fond of horses or lover of horses Serving
Prochorus Before the dance or leader of the chorus Teaching
Nicanor Victorious or conqueror Encouraging
Timon Valuable or honorable Giving
Parmenas Constant, faithful or abiding Mercy
Nicolas Victorious over the people,  Victor of the people Leading / Administering

Acts 6:6

Note the order: pray first and then lay on hands. Is that what Paul says when he says not to lay hands on too quickly? Laying on of hands goes back to the consecration in Numbers 8:10. This is identifying with those dedicated for service, a linkage between the parties.

Acts 6:7

Spreading the Word of God – Very very important. Acts 12:24 & 19:20 and here show the crucial link between spreading the Word of God, and the building of the Church. It simply cannot nor should be attempted without God’s Word, the Gospel.

The priests would have to come to that conclusion, given the things they saw; the veil rent in half. And that was no ordinary veil. It was 10 inches thick 60’x30′, it took a hundred priests to manipulate it. Mat 27:51, Mar 15:38, Luk 23:45

Acts 6:8

A dynamic deacon indeed!

 

Acts 6:11

These men resorted to deception, as they were outgunned by him by the HS.

 

Acts 6:13

They are in to churches Jeremiah 7:4 and rituals, and not the one behind them. Churches, cathedrals and rituals can draw us away from real fellowship

 

Acts 6:14

They are STILL misrepresenting Jesus statement of John 2:19 destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days..

 

Acts 6:15

His face glowed like an angel, being near to God. Exodus 34:35. The Israelites had the very same reaction to Moses as they did with stephen. Paul adds the reasoning for this, in the reading of the Old Covenant, the veil over their heart remains until they turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away, the liberty of the New Covenant shines. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 explains the dynamics of this and the next chapter of Acts.

Some of the notes in this chapter are taken from sermons by Jon Courson at Searchlight from my earliest days as a Christian.

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 5 Holiness Over Hypocrisy

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Disappointment: It’s a life sapper. It turns our expectations upside down and let’s sorrow leak into our expectations of life. It sniffs of injustice meted out unfairly in our direction. It beaks our heart.

Solomon had a thing or two to say of disappointment. He said

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12

In finance, disappointment means a shrinking portfolio. Or a shrinking checking balance. What to do, what to do? The wise investor diversifies. A loss in one investment does not spill over to others.

How about spiritually? Not so much. To Moses and the chillun’ of Israel God said:

“Thou Shalt not have other gods before Me.”   Exodus 20:3

And He means it. Ananias & Sapphira were caught up in the heady displays they saw, and the acclaim that no doubt came to them of the generosity of people of the primitive church in Jerusalem. But instead of the whole hearted devotion to God  displayed by Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira wanted it both ways; to put on a show of benevolence, and hedge their personal futures.

This is another example God set when He a began new thing:

  • First Nadab & Abihu’s strange fire (Lev 10:1-2)
  • Aachen’s theft in Joshua, when God said to devote to him the spoil of Jericho, and Uzzah when he touched the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:3-8)
  • Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 4:36-5:5)

See also Donald Grey Barnhouse,  Men Whom God Struck Dead.

Acts 5:1 Ananias – God is gracious & Sapphira – A sapphire . Beautiful names.Hypocrisy kills:

  1. Kills our witness. It’s no excuse, but it’s true. Don’t knock the hospital because of sickness.
  2. Kills our joy. We become sour and analytical, as we must now become accusing and finger pointing to avoid having to look at ourselves.
  3. Kills our peace. We are unstable and upset.
Acts 5:3 This is a proof text of the personality of the HS.James Mc Donald has said misery is caused by people trying to look rather than trying to be.Note how Peter picked up on the scam.
 Acts 5:5 The principle of precedence says in essence, that God makes a strong point the first time so that it doesn’t need to be emphasized later. Jos 7. God wants us to know the seriousness of sin, and the dread evil and harmfulness of it. Now the point is made, sin is bad.So now we are in a new entity, the church. This lie is being exposed in the same way Aachen was achin’.
 Acts 5:7 How could she not know her own husband was killed, caught in a lie. The whole town knew! (v5)Satan is that last one to tell us about our own sin. So as we learn this, we need to listen to others, as they may correct us.
 Acts 5:10 Why is it the young men found them?
Acts 5:13 Would YOU join this church, in light of what just happened?
 Acts 5:14 The Church  was no longer just for the curious. And although uncomfortable, the faith of the church was magnified. There is great fear and awe in the people of the church.
Acts 5:16 Power is happening, healing is flowing. Understand there is no power in Peter’s shadow, but in the faith of the people healed in God. It was a trigger, a point of release.
 Acts 5:20 words of this life – refers not just to the afterlife, have life and that more abundantly Joh 10:10
Acts 5:21 Early in the morning –  Get going on our spiritual life. Early in the day. Just as in the secular realm, the spiritually wealthy get what they want. Pro 10:5, 18:9
 Acts 5:24 KJV= where unto this would grow.
 Acts 5:28 “Don’t teach in the name of Jesus” say these threatened men. And oh, that we would be accused of this! Mat 27:25
Acts 5:29 The authority over us are ministers appointed by God (Rom 13). If they act contrary to God, we are to submit not to them, but to God. This is true of all non Godly authority. Exo 1:17-20, Jos 2:1-6, Dan 1:8-16There are two qualifications here:

  1. By authority. That is, by Scripture
  2. With humility, without hostility. They did not resist violently, no bitterness, or emotionalism.
 Acts 5:34 One of the few men to be called, Rabbin, called the beauty of the Law. He walked in great integrity in order to keep it. He was also a teacher of  Paul (Saul). In his notes, was a criticism of Paul saying it was impossible to find enough reading material for him. Paul’s sentence structure and intellectual prowess were awesome.
Acts 5:36 Both Theudas and Judas claimed to be Messiah. Theudas to spiritual illumination, Judas, a political Messiah. How to spot a FP:1) One who claims to be supernatural or special in some way.2) Watch for those who draw people away to themselves instead of Jesus.
 Acts 5:39 Wise words.
 Acts 5:42 Yeah! Churchill said a fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.

Memory Verse:

Acts 5:42 –  And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Intercession, Spiritual Warfare

National Day of Prayer

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National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer.

  • Arcane.
  • Old fashioned.
  • Really?
  • Doesn’t mean a thing.
  • Waste of time.
  • Don’t bother me.
  • Do you know what kind of day I’ve had?
  • Kook

That’s what the man with the knife says at a gunfight. Use the power.

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 4 Truth and Power

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We saw earlier in Chapter 2 the “acts” the early church was engaged in, in Acts 2:42 it says (paraphrasing) they continuously devoted themselves to the apostle’s doctrine, to fellowship, breaking bread, and to prayer.

Here, we can see for characteristics the early church exhibited:

  • Boldness – To Preach under duress
  • Urgency – Not waiting for someone else
  • Obedience – To God
  • Courage – Knowing whom to fear.

 

Acts 4:1 In the gospels, the primary opponents of Jesus was the Pharisees, fundamentalists, traditionalists. In fact, many Pharisees are converted, (Saul for instance).The Sadducees vigorously opposed the resurrection, they had their own concept of truth. In could care less, very liberal, love peace, be nice and so on.
Acts 4:2 Why are these groups upset about the Resurrection of the dead? 

A) The Sadducees didn’t believe in it.  (Mat 22:23).  The Sadducees appear to be skeptics, using the pretense of religiosity as a device to dominate and aggregate political power.

 

B) The Apostles usurped the priestly function of being teachers, as were the Sadducees. Like the Sadducees, their power was in their teaching magisterium, not unlike Roman Catholicism, and gnostic cults that gain power by persuading people to follow them because of their revelations.
Acts 4:3 Recall this began around 3 in the afternoon. They had probably been there some time
Acts 4:4-6 They heard the Word, right on! Mat 16:18 shows us the need to allow Jesus to build His church.Annas was deposed by Rome in 25AD although president of the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas was his son-in-law, although it is quite possible the body considered Annas the real high priest.  It’s a bit odd, as Numbers 3:10 called the position to be for life.
Acts 4:7 Consider the ones asking the question, the same ones two months previous who questioned Jesus.
Acts 4:8 And now, the old weak Peter is about to read these same guys the Riot Act. So instead of being by the enemies fire in intimidation, he is lit by the fire of the HS.And when we are on fire, we will inevitably find ourselves under fire, (Eph 6:10 ff)
Acts 4:9 Look at Peter, wow, what a change!
Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22. – We are called living stones, and we are being quarried here in the quarry, being perfectly carved together. This is a basic tenet of life, and there is going to be chafing and hurting, etc. as we are sanctified. This is our preparation.And now Peter nails it to the wall as the rejected cornerstone, Jesus, Dan 2:34-35, 45
Acts 4:13 Right on! What a parallel to today, with our apostate seminaries. But the key is being with Jesus. And just been, but are with Jesus.Moses spent time with God. Woe Moe, your face is aglow! But look at Moses. The way to put down the Law is to spend time with Jesus, then we have the authority to lay down the Law. We must be glowing.And time spent with Jesus, in prayer and in the Word, gives us the confidence borne of the Holy Spirit. Don’t leave home without it.
Acts 4:14-18 A wonderful apologetic argument. And the man healed stood with Peter and John. The only true test of friendship is staying there in the breach when the chips are down. And we can evaluate our friendship with Jesus when the same circumstances happen. We are the lame man, will we stand by the Lord as this lame man did?But as we see,. this argument  had no documented effect on these leaders. Miracles do not make converts, they bring one to a decision.
Acts 4:19 Here is the exception. In most other things,  we are to obey our God-appointed rulers. Here, since they oppose God’s orders Mat 28:20-21, they ought to be and were in fact, opposed.
Acts 4:20-24 Would to God that I could not stop talking about Him.  How is this?
Acts 4:25-29 Psalm 2:1-2
Acts 4:34-37 Lev 27:16

Memory Verse:

Acts 4:12“ – And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”