Acts 8:26-35 Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:
“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.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
The prophet Isaiah said, “Oh, how beautiful are the feet of the one carrying the gospel.” So Philip, one of the seven called by the apostles to serve, continued his evangelistic journey. Sent by an angel, he left the city and traveled down a road south of Jerusalem where he encountered a man reading Isaiah. Approaching the man, he was offered a seat in the chariot and the evangelism began.
One of my prayers in the morning is that God would send someone across my path that I can help. I have encountered people in department stores, restaurants and doctors offices, all who allowed me to pray for them. But, these were all believers It has been years since I led someone to Jesus.
We are told in Matt 28 to go and make disciples—it is a clarion call to all Christ followers to share the gospel. When I preached, my benediction each week was, “Take the name of Jesus with you and share Him with all you meet.” But how often do we do that?
In our monthly life group, our leader announced that God is moving him to help transform our group into one that will actively seek out people who are lost, bringing them into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. And my answer is, “Here am I, Lord.”
May we exhibit the love of Jesus in all we do, and may we be empowered to reach out to those in pain or in darkness, and may the Holy Spirit shine the light of truth in all of our lives.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Give Us a Pure Heart
Acts 8:9-25 9 Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. 10 All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! 21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” 24 Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”
25 Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.
In reading Acts, we are told of so many inspiring events—multitudes of people repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus, and others selling possessions to share with the Church. But there are others, like Simon, who seemed sincere until his motives were revealed.
It appears Simon missed the limelight generated by his magic and thought he had found a way to recapture the crowd’s attention. How tragic. Within his reach he had the opportunity to to accept Jesus, but he chose the superficial things of this world.
May we stay grounded in the Word, remaining faithful until the end.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MARTYR
Acts 6:8-14 (NIV) 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia —who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
Acts 7:54 – 8:1 (NIV) 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
1 And Saul approved of their killing him.
And so it began. Stephen, one of the seven named to be deacons, began preaching under the power of the Holy Spirit, and it was more than the religious authorities could accept. Stephen had delivered a comprehensive account of the history of the Israelites, yet the Sanhedrin lied about him to justify their actions.
Has anyone ever lied about you? How did you react? I must admit that, unlike Stephen, I did not always model Christ. I am reminded of the hymn “In Christ alone,”
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
And then there was Saul. The man who would become the preacher to the Gentiles was present and approved of the stoning of Stephen. In the midst of the stoning, the heavens opened and Stephen saw Jesus, standing beside God’s throne. And, just as Jesus had done, Stephen asked God to forgive his murderers.
May we stay in the shadow of the Savior as we navigate this life, remaining bold in our faith and unafraid of the consequences.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Joy Unspeakable
Acts 5:12-16 (NIV) 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
What an exciting time in the life of the church. The supernatural move of God in the lives of these new believers was wonderful and inspiring. To possess enough faith to expect healing from Peter’s shadow, and then to actually receive it, is something we can scarcely comprehend. Yet, Luke tells us all of the sick were healed.
This extraordinary period in the church served to validate the movement of the Holy Spirit and pointed the people to God. There was an expectation that God would meet the needs of all who came, and He did. Lives were changed and the Church continued to grow.
Let me ask you something. When you enter your church, do you do so with the expectation that you will experience an encounter with God? Are you actively taking part in praise? You don’t like the music? Then use that time to pray. Praise God and offer your whole self to Him. Don’t ask Him for anything except to use you. When the preaching begins, remain fully engaged. Look up the scripture in your Bible. Take notes. Commit to God that your mind will not wander, but you will connect with Him on a deeply personal level. Understand the importance of corporate worship and the gathering of like-minded people who all seek to be in God’s presence.
May we begin to experience the excitement and growth of the early church, and may we never say, “I didn’t get anything out of church today.” Instead, let us enter His courts with praise and leave with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
No Honor without Sacrifice
Acts 5:1-11 (NIV) 1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
When I read of the account of Ananias and Sapphira, I am reminded of the scripture from Numbers 32 that says, “be sure your sin will find you out.” Why was it a sin for this couple to keep some of the money from the sale of their own land? Their sin was not a financial issue, but a heart issue. It was not a need issue, but a greed issue. Ananias and Sapphira did not just lie to Peter, they lied to God. During a time when the Church was so vulnerable this couple attempted to take honor for their contribution that was not deserved.
God’s punishment of this couple was swift and leaves us wondering why. Why were they not given a less severe penalty? Why were they not given a chance to repent? It is so easy for us to forget the omniscience of God, isn’t it? Perhaps He saw that such a deceitful act could permeate the young church, damaging both its momentum and its reputation.
May we be more concerned with being honest before God than receiving honor from men.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 