:!7 17 IF THEREFORE GOD GAVE THEM THE SAME GIFT AS _HE GAVE_ US WHEN WE BELIEVED ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS I THAT I COULD WITHSTAND GOD? " 1. What was similar to Pentecost? 1. Cornelius was given the SAME GIFT - tongues - as the Apostles were given in Acts 2:1-47. 2. The second similarit... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE APOSTLES AND BRETHREN WHO WERE IN JUDEA HEARD THAT THE GENTILES HAD ALSO RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD. 1. The word spread rapidly. News got to Jerusalem that Gentiles were now being baptized. 2. The phrase "received the word" is used in Acts to indicate acceptance and obedience. See 2:41; 8:14... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN PETER CAME UP TO JERUSALEM, THOSE OF THE CIRCUMCISION CONTENDED WITH HIM, 1. When Peter got back to Jerusalem - they were ready for him. 2. Those of the circumcision - Jewish Christians 3. The word "contended" means " to separate one's self in a hostile spirit, to oppose, strive with dis... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, " YOU WENT IN TO UNCIRCUMCISED MEN AND ATE WITH THEM! " 1. It is interesting that they did not mention their baptism. "You ate with them." 2. They were more offended that Peter had fellowship with a Gentile.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PETER EXPLAINED _IT_ TO THEM IN ORDER FROM THE BEGINNING, SAYING: 5 " I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 WHEN I OBSERVED IT INTENTLY AND CONSIDERED, I SAW FOUR-... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE VOICE ANSWERED ME AGAIN FROM HEAVEN, ‘WHAT GOD HAS CLEANSED YOU MUST NOT CALL COMMON. ' 1. God is clear. If God calls it "CLEAN" don't put it in the "unclean" category. 2. When God cleanses someone, they are declared to be clean.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THIS WAS DONE THREE TIMES, AND ALL WERE DRAWN UP AGAIN INTO HEAVEN. 1. The fact that it was done three times is proof that this was not a mistake. 2. God repeated the vision three times to be sure the message was delivered.... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT VERY MOMENT, THREE MEN STOOD BEFORE THE HOUSE WHERE I WAS, HAVING BEEN SENT TO ME FROM CAESAREA. 1. The timing - Is it coincidence or providence? 2. How did these men manage to arrive - just at the moment the vision ended?... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE SPIRIT TOLD ME TO GO WITH THEM, DOUBTING NOTHING. MOREOVER THESE SIX BRETHREN ACCOMPANIED ME, AND WE ENTERED THE MAN ' S HOUSE. 1. Peter places the "blame" on the Holy Spirit. The Spirit told me to go with these men. 2. Then Peter takes a second precaution. He takes 6 men with him as witn... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TOLD US HOW HE HAD SEEN AN ANGEL STANDING IN HIS HOUSE, WHO SAID TO HIM, ‘SEND MEN TO JOPPA, AND CALL FOR SIMON WHOSE SURNAME IS PETER, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved. ' 1. Peter learned that an angel had also spoken to Cornelius and told him t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK, THE HOLY SPIRIT FELL UPON THEM, AS UPON US AT THE BEGINNING. 1. It is commonly taught that Cornelius received "Holy Spirit Baptism." The same baptism as the apostles received on Pentecost in Acts 2:1-47. 2. I reject this idea. 1. If Cornelius received Holy Spirit baptism... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I REMEMBERED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HOW HE SAID, ‘JOHN INDEED BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT YOU SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. ' 1. These events reminded Peter of Pentecost when he and the other apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. There were two similarities. 1. The "same gif... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS THEY BECAME SILENT; AND THEY GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, " THEN GOD HAS ALSO GRANTED TO THE GENTILES REPENTANCE TO LIFE. " 1. They became silent. What could you say? Any objection was not against Peter, but it would be an objection against God. 2. All they could do was wors... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THOSE WHO WERE SCATTERED AFTER THE PERSECUTION THAT AROSE OVER STEPHEN TRAVELED AS FAR AS PHOENICIA, CYPRUS, AND ANTIOCH, PREACHING THE WORD TO NO ONE BUT THE JEWS ONLY. 1. Many disciples were scattered during the persecution led by Saul. 2. Acts 8:4 tells us they went everywhere preaching the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SOME OF THEM WERE MEN FROM CYPRUS AND CYRENE, WHO, WHEN THEY HAD COME TO ANTIOCH, SPOKE TO THE HELLENISTS, PREACHING THE LORD JESUS. 1. Yes, they did convert some who were not Hebrew speaking Jews. There were those Jews who spoke Greek (Hellenists) and others who spoke their native language. 2... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS WITH THEM, AND A GREAT NUMBER BELIEVED AND TURNED TO THE LORD. 1. A great number: 1. Believed - more than just mental assent. Faith is more than just accepting some teaching or thought. It includes acting on that idea. 2. Turned to the Lord - They left the Jewish reli... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN NEWS OF THESE THINGS CAME TO THE EARS OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM, AND THEY SENT OUT BARNABAS TO GO AS FAR AS ANTIOCH. 1. The news of these converts spread to Jerusalem. 2. The brethren in Jerusalem decided to send Barnabas on a "missionary journey" as far as Antioch. Barnabas is the encourage... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE CAME AND HAD SEEN THE GRACE OF GOD, HE WAS GLAD, AND ENCOURAGED THEM ALL THAT WITH PURPOSE OF HEART THEY SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THE LORD. 1. Barnabas saw the grace of God. He saw many obey the gospel. He saw many dedicated New Testament Christians. 2. If was an exciting time. He was glad. He... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE WAS A GOOD MAN, FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND OF FAITH. AND A GREAT MANY PEOPLE WERE ADDED TO THE LORD. 1. Many more were added to the Lord - They were saved (Acts 2:47) and as they were being washed from their sins in the blood of Jesus, they were being added to the church. 2. Barnabas did m... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN BARNABAS DEPARTED FOR TARSUS TO SEEK SAUL. 1. Barnabas saw opportunity. He saw a work for Saul to do. 2. He headed for Tarsus where Saul was now living.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD FOUND HIM, HE BROUGHT HIM TO ANTIOCH. SO IT WAS THAT FOR A WHOLE YEAR THEY ASSEMBLED WITH THE CHURCH AND TAUGHT A GREAT MANY PEOPLE. AND THE DISCIPLES WERE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS IN ANTIOCH. 1. Saul was brought to Antioch to meet with the church there. To support a missionary there... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THESE DAYS PROPHETS CAME FROM JERUSALEM TO ANTIOCH. 1. While Saul was at Antioch, prophets came from Jerusalem. 2. They came with a message and warning.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ONE OF THEM, NAMED AGABUS, STOOD UP AND SHOWED BY THE SPIRIT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT FAMINE THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD, WHICH ALSO HAPPENED IN THE DAYS OF CLAUDIUS CAESAR. 1. God was sending out a warning to the Christians that a famine would happen. They had advance warning of this e... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DISCIPLES, EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF TO THE BRETHREN DWELLING IN JUDEA. 1. The church family extends beyond the borders of the city or town of a local congregation. 2. If brethren in Judea are hurting, we need to help them. The same is true with Malawi, Indi... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS THEY ALSO DID, AND SENT IT TO THE ELDERS BY THE HANDS OF BARNABAS AND SAUL. 1. All funds were sent to the elders of the Jerusalem church. 2. Barnabas and Saul were the "mailmen" who delivered the funds.... [ Continue Reading ]