Women of Firm Faith

Verses 1-5, “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.”   Paul was not contradicting the decree established by the Jerusalem council, but rather was delivering the decree to the cities as he traveled through them. Circumsizing Timothy was not for his salvation. He was in a unique situation of actually being a Jew by blood through his mother, and it was known throughout the area who his father w...

Verse 1, “And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.' ”   Jewish believers came to the church at Antioch in order to persuade the Gentile believers that they must be circumcised in order to be saved, bringing them under the law of Moses.  We know that you cannot add any work to earn salvation, because it is a free gift of God.  Galatians 2:16, “...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”  These Judaizers traveled to spread their false doctrine, not keeping their thoughts to themselves, and attempted to put up barriers for the gentiles to the way of the Lord.  Salvation, however, is an issue that you just cannot compr...

Verse 1, “Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.”   After being "expelled" from Antioch, Paul and Barnabas move onto the next city and head to the synagogue to continue preaching the gospel.  The same gospel was preached to the Jews and the gentiles, and a great multitude of both were saved.  Some think that we need to adapt our presentation of the gospel to make it more relevant to the listener, but the truth is the truth, no matter who the audience is.  Remember that when you share the truth, it will divide...so expect some resistance. It divided this entire city.  Verses 2-4, “But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be...

Verses 1-3, “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”  It is interesting that Manaen is said to have been raised with Herod the Tetrarch, the son of the Herod who killed all the babies after Jesus' birth, and the very one who had John the Baptist beheaded.  Matthew 14:3-4, “For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.  Because John had said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her.' ”  This is evidence that your situation does not have to define you.  You have two people ...

Verses 1-4, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during  the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.”  King Herod was a descendant of the same Herod that killed the babies under two years of age, around the time that Jesus was born.   Matthew 2:16, “Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.”  When people die, they leave more to their children t...

Verses 1-3, “Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, 'You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!' ”   When you choose to do the will of God over the will of man, you may come under the criticism of man. People often judge a situation by their own understanding, and thereby put God in a box.  For Peter to have eaten with the gentiles showed a kind of fellowship that Jews were not supposed to have with gentiles, and he'll end up defending the ministry that God had given him.  Peter told them about the vision he had been given three times from God, and how the Spirit told him to go with the men who appeared after the vision, to Ceasarea to the house of Cornelius.  Peter continued to tell them how God had given the gentiles the Holy Spirit.   Verses 15-18, “ 'And as I began to ...

Verses 1-2, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”  Cornelius was a leader in the Roman army who feared God, but did not become Jewish by following Jewish laws, including circumcision. He obviously led his family in a relationship with God, and had works to back up his faith.  Cornelius demonstrated his faith through his financial giving and his prayer life...two areas that seem to be difficult even for the modern day Christian. Because he was seeking God, Cornelius was given a vision of an angel telling him to send for Peter in Joppa. However, it would be unlikely for Peter to go to these people, because they were considered to be unclean by the Jews; but God would work on Peter's heart as part of His sovereign plan. Verses 9-16, “The next day, as they ...

Verses 1-2, “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” This is the same Saul that would enter houses and drag men and women off to prison, who now wants to bind up disciples and bring them to Jerusalem from away to stop the spreading of Jesus. The enemy does not want the truth to be spread; therefore, those who do so will suffer persecution. If your desire is to represent Jesus by living in a godly manner, you can and should expect persecution also. If you rarely or have never experienced persecution for your beliefs, it is likely that you are not representing Jesus accurately. Therefore, you will not receive reward in heaven.  Luke 6:22‭-‬23, “Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, a...

Verse 1, “Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”  This persecution of the early church may have seemed like a bad thing, but God used their scattering to spread the gospel.  Verse 4, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”   God's sovereignty is so amazing to see.  Even when things look really bad, He can use them the situation good.  In Genesis 50:19-20, Joseph tells his brothers who sold him into slavery, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it  is this day, to save many people alive.”  Jesus death certainly did not look like a good thing, but victory was won in the process.  There's no need to question God's plan. He has got it all under ...

In the last chapter, we saw the false accusations against Stephen; but remember that we are not wrestling against people. It is a spiritual battle.   Acts 6:13-14, “They also set up false witnesses who said, 'This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.' ”   When given the opportunity to speak, Stephen doesn't use it to defend himself against their accusations, fighting as a man in human strength.  He uses it as an opportunity to preach the truth. He walks through the history of the patriarchs beginning with Abraham...all the way to Moses.  Stephen reminds them that this Moses that they are trying so hard to defend was rejected by their fathers, as were all the prophets that God sent them. Verses 37-41, “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your...

Verses 1, “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.”  As the early church began to grow, divisions and strife between one another appeared. The Hebrews and the Hellenists, both Jews, were disputing over how to care for the widows. Satan loves to use people in the body of Christ to cause divisions knowing that a divided kingdom cannot stand. The Lord hates this.  Proverbs 6:12-19, “A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth; He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands tha...

Verses 1-6, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.' Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.”  It is likely that Ananias and Sapphira were looking for recognition from men by their generous giving, and their hearts were exposed as being in the wrong place.  Matthew 6 gives us guidelines for how we should serv...

Verses 1-4, “Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”  It is really no surprise that Peter and John would experience persecution for preaching the truth of Jesus.  The religious leaders hated them because they were exposing their evil deeds.  John 15:18-21, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master....

Verses 1-6, “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”   The lame man was used to his condition, having been this way from birth, and probably would've been happy just to receive money from Peter and John.  The hope or expectation of a physical healing may have not even crossed his mind, but Jesus is concerned with our spiritual healing over and above our physical condi...

The Day of Pentecost (meaning literally  fifty) was a feast to celebrate the firstfruits of the harvest, 50 days, or seven 7-week periods after Passover.  Jesus was seen for forty days before He ascended, so this event occurred 10 days later.  Leviticus 23:15-17, “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the Lord.”   Israel also received the law on the Day of Pentecost, and will now receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, representing two covenants God has with man.  Verses 1-4, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all wi...