Stephen is stoned and in Acts 8:1 “on that day (there was) a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem”. But this persecution didn’t stop the gospel, in fact, it caused it to spread as in Acts 8:4 “Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word”. Philip, not the apostle, but Stephens colleague, is received in Samaria and then in Acts 8:26 an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go”. Philip finds one man seeking to understand the scriptures. This Ethiopian Eunuch is a key convert headed back to his nation. The power of the gospel has now been seen in Stephen and Philip and others who had been scattered, not just in the apostles and not just in Jerusalem.

Heaven is My Throne

Acts 7:48-53

I See the Heavens Opened

Acts 7:54-60 

Proclaiming the Good News of the Word

Acts 8:1-8
At the murder of Stephen, the believers in Jerusalem were scattered. The natural reaction to what is called in Acts 8:1 “on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem”, is that everyone would run in fear. And there may have been fear, but read the account carefully, it says the apostles stayed in Jerusalem in Acts 8:1 and “they were all scattered” but now look at

Acts 8:4 “Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word”.

It doesn’t say they were running for their lives, it says they “went about proclaiming the good news of the word”. Then we find the account of Philip in

Acts 8:5 “And Philip came down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them”.

And it seems this is “not the apostle of that name … It was the deacon of that name, who comes next after Stephen in the catalogue of the seven, probably as being the next most prominent. The persecution may have been directed especially against Stephen’s colleagues [MEYER]”¹

This Man is the Power of God

Acts 8:9-17

Your Heart is Not Right Before God

Acts 8:18-25 

Get Up and Go

Acts 8:26-31
This is not the description of one that is running from persecution or is in fear for his life, instead we find that in

Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Get up and go toward the south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.)

Then, as Philip came close in

Acts 8:29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Approach and join this chariot.”

and Philip finds a man with questions in

Acts 8:31 And he (the Eunuch) said, “So how could I (understand), unless someone will guide me?”

Philip is there, led by the Holy Spirit, in direct response to the heart cry of this man for understanding. The Eunuch wanted someone to guide him.

This account is also important because “the Ethiopian is ‘a very strong representative of foreignness within a Jewish context. He comes from the edge of the known world, of the black race, is a castrated male, and probably a Gentile.’ The prohibition against admitting eunuchs into the assembly of the Lord (Dt. 23:1) makes it unlikely that he was a Jewish proselyte in the full sense. However, he was certainly devout and God-fearing, having journeyed to Jerusalem to worship the God of Israel … (and) forms part of the gradual progress of the church towards the Gentiles’²

Travel by chariot is different than travel today. Horses, the usual draft animal would need to rest regularly and on a journey as the Ethiopian Eunuch was making, they might travel thirty miles in a day. This might be at a speed of three to five miles an hour. Walking speed for a man is about three miles per hour so Philip meeting this man at the right time on the road is in itself miraculous. 

What Prevents Me From Being Baptized?

Acts 8:32-40
Philip gives us an example of an evangelist at work. Philip doesn’t use a canned presentation, although these can be helpful for us as we learn the key points of the gospel. Instead, Philip begins with the scripture the Eunuch is reading. Philip begins in Acts 8:35 by answering the question the Eunuch asks in

Acts 8:34 And the eunuch answered and said to Philip, “I ask you, about whom does the prophet say this—about himself or about someone else?”

We also find that Peter is not pushing the Eunuch to be baptized, instead, Philip is presenting the scripture to him and allowing the Eunuch to ask for baptism as the understanding of its importance dawns on him. Then, as the Eunuch is baptized, Philip leaves the scene and is no longer the focus of the Eunuch’s attention as it says in

Acts 8:39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer, for he went on his way rejoicing.

Now the Eunuch is rejoicing in the Lord.

Study Verses

• Acts 8:1-8 Proclaiming the Good News of the Word
• Acts 8:26-31 Get Up and Go
• Acts 8:32-40 What Prevents Me From Being Baptized?

Today’s Reading

• Acts 7:48-60
• Acts 8:1-40

References

• 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 181). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
• 2. Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles (p. 291-292). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

The early church was growing in Acts 6:1 “the disciples were increasing in number” but with that growth came problems. There were issues with individual believers, as we read with Ananias and his wife, there was external opposition as when they in Acts 5:17 “laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison”, and there were contentions between cultural groups in Acts 6:1 “the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebraic Jews”. So, the Apostles took action, there were others, and they confirmed men in Acts 6:3 “of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom”. Stephen, one of these men, was accused and gives us the perfect example for dealing with accusation. There is no defensiveness, no emotional reaction that would be the natural response. Instead, Stephen calls to his accusers in Acts 7:2 “Men—brothers and fathers—listen: The God of Glory appeared to our father Abraham” and reminds then of the great work God has done among them.

The Word of God Kept Spreading

Acts 6:1-7 

Full of Grace and Power

Acts 6:8-15
This is a time when, in Acts 6:1 “the disciples were increasing in number” but there were also signs of opposition.

• Ananias and his wife had held back proceeds from the sale of a property and lied about it in Acts 5:9.
• The High Priest and Sadducees in Acts 5:17 “laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison”.
• In Acts 6:1 “a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food”

So, men were selected in Acts 6:3 “of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom” for administration of the “daily distribution of food” in Acts 6:1.

This seems to have been a routine task of little spiritual importance and if you have ever worked in food distribution, maybe even laborious. Yet, we read of Stephen that he was in Acts 6:8 “full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people”. And now, there is another point of opposition in

Acts 6:9 “But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and disputed with Stephen”.

but they lost the argument in

Acts 6:10 “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking”.

So, they in Acts 6:11-14 “secretly instigated … incited the people … seized him (Stephen) … put forward false witnesses”.

But with all of their false accusations, as Stephen stood before them to be judged, they in Acts 6:15 “saw his face was like the face of an angel”. This expression does indicate that Stephen had been spending time in the presence of God “In view of the implied comparison with Moses in vv. 8 and 10 (full of grace, wisdom, and power), it is possible that there is a link here with Moses’ shining face in Exodus 34:29–35”.¹ 

Listen, The God of Glory Appeared

Acts 7:1-10
Stephen, standing before the Sanhedrin, begins to defend himself against the false accusations brought against him. He doesn’t though, react emotionally as we might. He doesn’t lash out you you men are lairs, that is not the truth, … Stephen doesn’t fall into the trap of becoming defensive. Instead, look at the first words out of his mouth in

Acts 7:2 So he said, “Men—brothers and fathers—listen: …”

With the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, Stephen avoids any adversarial relationship and instead calls out to them “Men” (friends), “brothers” (my family who I love), “fathers” (my elders who I respect). And then Stephen goes back to their common heritage where he says to them in

Acts 7:2 “listen: The God of Glory appeared to our father Abraham”.

Stephen’s defense is their shared history as part of God’s divine plan. And in God’s plan, Abraham was promised a land, but God delivered them into Egypt where they found favor.

The People Increased and Multiplied in Egypt

Acts 7:11-19

Who Appointed You a Ruler and a Judge?

Acts 7:20-29

God Will Raise Up For You a Prophet

Acts 7:30-38 

The Tabernacle of Testimony Belonged to Our Fathers

Acts 7:39-47
As Stephen continues through their shared history as the house of Israel, he reminds them that there was a time of rejection when in

Acts 7:39 “our fathers were not willing to become obedient, but rejected him and turned back in their hearts to Egypt”.

This was a time when in

Acts 7:42 “God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven”

Then, Stephen reminds them of the great miracle that God did for them bringing them into their own land. That God had given them, in

Acts 7:44–45 “The tabernacle of the testimony belonged to our fathers in the wilderness, just as the one who spoke to Moses directed him … 45 and which, after receiving it in turn, our fathers brought in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out from the presence of our fathers, until the days of David”.

Study Verses

• Acts 6:8-15 Full of Grace and Power
• Act 7:1-10 Listen, The God of Glory Appeared
• Acts 7:39-47 The Tabernacle of Testimony Belonged to Our Fathers

Today’s Reading

• Acts 6:1-15
• Acts 7:1-47

References

• 1. Peterson, D. G. (2009). The Acts of the Apostles (p. 243). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

The early Church in Jerusalem is described as having in Acts 4:32 “one heart and one soul”. Then, it goes on to say in Acts 4:33 “And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all”. But the Church didn’t start here, they became this. As love grew, as one purpose grew, as faith grew, the power to give testimony grew because Jesus said in John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another”. Then, some among them were tempted by Satan, and held back. Then, opposition, jealousy, tried to stop them and in Acts 5:40 “commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus”. But in Acts 5:42 “Every day, both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that the Christ was Jesus” and this is the example for us to follow.

Extend Your Hand to Heal

Acts 4:23-31 

Great Grace was on Them All

Acts 4:32-37
This is really an amazing statement in

Acts 4:32 “the group of those who believed were one heart and one soul”.

If we simply read this “one heart and one soul” phrase, we might think of a married couple. And it is true that in

Matthew 19:4–5 “the one who created them from the beginning made them male and female 5 and said, ‘On account of this a man will leave his father and his mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’”

Then in Matthew, Jesus goes on to talk about divorce. God made us to be one flesh, but in the fall, in this age of sin, we are seldom of one mind. In fact, under the curse, we can only have what Prepare-Enrich calls a “Conflicted marriage” in

Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said, “ … to your husband shall be your desire. And he shall rule over you.”

But we don’t live under the curse of sin and death anymore. We can, in Christ, have a “Harmonious” or even a “Vitalized marriage”. But here, I am only talking about the challenge of getting the relationship between two people right. It is much more challenging to get a whole group of people with “one heart and one soul”.

This didn’t happen immediately, it began with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4 that Jesus had said would give them “power” in Acts 1:8. Often, “The Spirit of God is often portrayed in Scripture in terms of “breath”, “life” or “wind”, indicating his role in sustaining and bringing life to God’s creation”¹. It is this same “Holy Spirit (that) equips and empowers believers so that the reign and reality of God is revealed through them in the world”¹.

This “one heart and one soul”, this “great power” and “great grace” described in

Acts 4:33 “And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all”.

didn’t come on them until they began in

Acts 2:46 “And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart”

Their singleness of purpose increased as they “they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles” (see Acts 2:42). The grace on them increased as they exercised love for each other. The power to “give testimony” increased when the community around them saw the love they had one for another. And this was what Jesus had told them in

John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another—just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”

For What Reason Has Satan Filled Your Heart

Acts 5:1-11
In the midst of this “great grace” where in

Acts 4:32 “the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all things were theirs in common”.

Something happened as one couple held back for themselves in

Acts 5:1–2 “Now a certain man … with his wife … sold a piece of property, 2 and he kept back for himself some of the proceeds … And he brought a certain part and placed it at the feet of the apostles”

Immediately, Peter has a word of knowledge and recognizes Satan at work in

Acts 5:3–4 But Peter said, “Ananias, for what reason has Satan filled your heart, that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself some of the proceeds of the piece of land? 4 When it remained to you, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people, but to God!”

It wasn’t that this couple was under any pressure to sell their land. And it wasn’t that, if they sold it, they were required to give all. It was that they said they were, in Acts 5:8 “paid this much for the piece of land” when they were actually paid more and they held back telling the full amount. Peter recognizes this for what it is, a scheme of Satan, but it is this couple that suffers the consequences.

Many Signs and Wonders Were Being Performed

Acts 5:12=16

Proclaim to the People All the Words of This Life

Acts 5:17-26

You Have Filled Jerusalem With Your Teaching!

Acts 5:27-33 

If This Matter is From God …

Acts 5:34-42
It is important to understand the context here, in Acts 5:12-16 “many signs and wonders … even more believers in the Lord were being added … people of the towns around Jerusalem also came … bringing the sick and those tormented … who were all being healed”. And all of this was happening at the hand of these Galileans. These men did not have the education, they had not earned the position, they were not under the authority of the high priest, yet people were following after them. So, in

Acts 5:17–18 “Now the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison”.

Now, we find the wisdom of the world in the middle of the Sanhedrin as Gamaliel speaks out. He is described in

Acts 5:34 But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

So, we know that Gamaliel is one of the Sanhedrin, he is “respected” and he has a position of some authority within the group because he “gave orders”. His wisdom is in

Acts 5:38–39 “keep away from these men, and leave them alone, because if this plan or this matter is from people, it will be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you even be found fighting against God.”

His advice is “wait and see” and sadly, we are often stuck, waiting for others to see if the power of God will be manifest. And though it says “they were persuaded by him” in Acts 5:39, and even though they heard “lest you be found fighting against God”, they still, in

Acts 5:40 “summoned the apostles, beat them, commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them”.

In this atmosphere of unbelief, it is not likely they will see anything. This is as it was with Jesus in his own home town in

Matthew 13:57–58 “And they were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not perform many miracles in that place because of their unbelief”.

And just as Jesus went on in

Luke 4:43 ‘But he said to them, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent for this purpose.”’

so also the apostles went on

Acts 5:42 “Every day, both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that the Christ was Jesus”.

Study Verses

• Acts 4:32-37 Great Grace was on Them All
• Acts 5:1-11 For What Reason Has Satan Filled Your Heart
• Acts 5:34-42 If This Matter is From God …

Today’s Reading

• Acts 4:23-37
• Acts 5:1-42

References

• 1. Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

The Holy Spirit had been released on the day of Pentecost and in one day their were three thousand more followers of Jesus Christ. As they began their new life in Christ, they focused on four simple things: teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and prayer. As they did, they were, in Acts 2:47 “having favor with all the people”. And the power of the Lord was there not only to heal, but more and more people were being healed. Faith was rising in the people of Jerusalem so much so, that in Acts 5:12 “Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles”. Jesus gave us the pattern in Matthew 4:23 “he went around … teaching … proclaiming the good news of the kingdom (preaching) and healing”. And we can follow this pattern today, healing follows the declaration of God’s word. 

Having Favor With All the People

Acts 2:42-47
There had been one hundred and twenty in the upper room praying until the day of Pentecost. Then, in

Acts 2:41 “on that day about three thousand souls were added”

It was a whole new environment for them, not only because of the numbers, but because they now also had the baptism in the Holy Spirit. They needed to find their new way so they “were devoting themselves” in four ways:

• the teaching of the apostles
• fellowship – meeting
• breaking bread – meals together
• prayers

as we find in

Acts 2:42 “And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers”

and in

Acts 2:46 “And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart”

As they did this, great things happened among them as miracles occurred in

Acts 2:43 “And fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were being performed by the apostles”

And they shared everything together in

Acts 2:44 “all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common”

And there was great impact on the community around them in

Acts 2:47 “having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved”

At The Hour of Prayer

Acts 3:1-10 

His Name Has Made This Man Strong

Acts 3:11-18
The people recognized this man who had spent his life, in Luke 3:10 “asking alms”. It was only by these gifts that the in-firmed were able to live. But now, this man is standing and in Luke 3:11 “holding fast to Peter and John, (and) all the people ran together … utterly astonished”.

It is likely that this man had been there when Jesus was teaching in the temple (see Luke 21:37-38). So why wasn’t he healed then? Certainly Jesus had the power to heal as he demonstrated in many places (see Matthew 12:15). But there were als o times when even Jesus couldn’t cause people to be healed (see Matthew 13:55).

Now, Peter answers the crowd with his new found boldness saying in Acts 3:12 “Men and Israelites, why are you astonished at this? Or why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or godliness we have made him walk?” Peter is careful not to draw any attention to himself or John and turns the attention to God. Saying God has done this great work, but first he hits them again squarely with their responsibility for the death of Jesus in

Acts 3:13–15 “The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over … you denied the Holy and Righteous One … you killed the originator of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses!

Then, we get the answer, the reason this man is healed now, in

Acts 3:16 “And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all”.

Jesus had said to them in

Matthew 17:20 “And he said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” “

and this was not the only time he had said that what they believe mattered, in

Matthew 21:22 “And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.”

Faith was rising in the people of Jerusalem so much so, that in

Acts 5:12 “Now many signs and wonders were being performed among the people through the hands of the apostles”

and faith continued to rise so that in

Acts 5:15 “they even carried out the sick into the streets and put them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow would fall on some of them”

The power of God had not changed. The anointing, or gifts in Peter had not changed, what the people believed was possible had changed.

Peter puts the emphasis on the name of Jesus. But why on his name? Jesus had told his disciples in

John 16:23 “on that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you”

Every Soul Who Does Not Listen …

Acts 3:19-26
This great miracle, healing a man crippled for forty years, was certainly a blessing, and gave him a whole new life to live. And this is one of the main reasons Jesus came (see Acts 10:38). Bu Peter didn’t stop with the miracle. The miracle was only a sign, a way to get their attention. The real message is what he now gives in Luke 3:19 “repent and turn back, so that your sins may be blotted out”.

Then, “Peter quotes from Deut 18:15, where Moses establishes the nature of the prophetic office: The prophet is the one through whom Yahweh speaks to His people with authority and effectiveness”.¹ But Jesus is not just a prophet, he is the only way to salvation, to right standing with God. Peter also quotes “Leviticus 23:29 … at the same time, there was an expectation that the Messiah would be a second Moses”.²

Acts 3:22–23 “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You will listen to him in everything that he says to you. 23 And it will be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet will be destroyed utterly from the people.’ “

There is though, a finality, a “destroyed utterly” judgement that comes on “every soul that does not listen”.

And While They Were Speaking

Acts 4:1-4

By What Name Did You Do This?

Acts 4:5-14

We Are Not Able to Deny It

Acts 4:15-22

Study Verses

• Acts 2:42-47 Having Favor With All the People
• Acts 3:11-18 His Name Has Made This Man Strong
• Acts 3:19-26 Every Soul Who Does Not Listen …

Today’s Reading

• Acts 2:42-47
• Acts 3:1-26
• Acts 4:1-22

References

• 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 3:22). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
• 2. Marshall, I. H. (1980). Acts: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 5, p. 101). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.