All posts by Luella Campbell

ACTS THE SEQUEL…PETER IN TROUBLE – 21

Bible Study, ,

“The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peter…the spokesman…the leader…the one who set the record straight on the day of Pentecost…when the Holy Spirit had come…was in trouble with his Jewish counterparts! Not only had he had a part in the new believers in Samaria being filled with the Holy Spirit…

“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…but now, also, a whole Gentile household had believed…and Peter was there when it had happened. He had preached the gospel to them…in their house! Peter, a Jew, actually hob-nobbing with Gentiles, eating with them! What was he thinking?

Once again, Peter was the forerunner in this world-changing event. The Holy Spirit had come, as Jesus had promised, but not exclusively to the Jews. The good news of Jesus was for the whole world…and also the baptism of the Holy Spirit since He, the Spirit, was Jesus’ ”other self”. He had come to make real in every believer what Jesus did on earth. 

So, Peter told his story. At first, he had been a puzzled participant…trying to decipher the clues, like a runner in an obstacle race. He had baulked at the idea of setting aside Jewish protocol…going into a Gentile home…they did not mix with Gentiles!

However, as the story unfolded, it was clear to his colleagues that Peter was following divine directions. The vision on the  rooftop…the three men from Caesarea…the request from Cornelius the centurion…all the details began to fall into place. Peter obeyed the Spirit’s instruction and…the rest, as they say, is history. 

The Holy Spirit Himself provided the final piece in the puzzle…He came, in power and confirmation, to seal God’s prophetic word through Isaiah. 

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations… “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬, ‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“He says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This was Peter’s next learning curve…and he would be Jesus’ instrument for this momentous event…to open the door, officially,  for the first Gentile believers after Pentecost, to enter the kingdom of God.  

Peter’s story ended with his grand conclusion… 

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 

Finally convinced and satisfied with Peter’s story, the church in Jerusalem opened their hearts to the new chapter in God’s glorious plan for the whole world. 

“When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And so, the church moved on…marching on with unerring steps, into the very portals of hell…the Roman empire under the ruthless hostility of Nero!

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE LAST DOOR OPENS – 20

Bible Study, ,

The church now had two influential leaders…Peter and Saul who became the illustrious Paul of the New Testament. 

Peter’s role was to lead and teach the Jewish believers. He was centred in Jerusalem and, despite fierce persecution, stayed under the radar until he was finally unable to escape attention. It happened like this. 

Peter was visiting the seaside town of Joppa. In the meanwhile, Jesus was at work in Caesarea, preparing to open the door to the Gentile world with the gospel of grace. He chose a Roman centurion as His port of entry and Peter, the fastidious Jew, to turn the key in the lock. . 

Bringing the two parties together through a series of visions recorded in Acts 10, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on a household of brand-new Gentile believers, the Holy Spirit finally convinced Peter that the message of Jesus was for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. 

“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right…All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬-‭35‬, ‭43‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fulfilled! Jesus’ commandment…uttered to bewildered disciples…before Pentecost…now a reality…through the Holy Spirit! 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV

Through the leadership and ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus had fulfilled His own word. The phenomena at the Holy Spirit’s advent at Pentecost had been repeated in Samaria on new Samaritan believers and now, on a Gentile and Roman household. 

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭44‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Every instrument was in place…Peter to the Jewish world…Paul to the Gentiles…and the believers scattered everywhere…and the whole wicked world, under the delusion of Satan and his hordes, ranged against them! The scene was set, the lines drawn, for an epic battle that would continue until the end of time. 

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…MORE TROUBLE – 19

Bible Study, ,

…”So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him…”

It seems that Saul just could not stay out of trouble. His zeal for the Jesus he once hated drove him seek to his target, the Hellenistic Jews. He took his calling seriously. Perhaps, like Moses, who killed an Egyptian to rescue his people…like Saul himself, who attacked believers to destroy the church,  he thought that he could win them to Jesus, one by one, through clever argument! Wrong!

Who were the Hellenistic Jews?

“Hellenistic Jews in the Bible were Greek-speaking Jews from the Diaspora (regions outside Judea) who adopted Greek culture, language, and customs while maintaining their Jewish identity. Primarily appearing in Acts, they were distinct from traditional Aramaic-speaking “Hebrew” Jews, often leading to cultural tensions over daily life and community management.”

The Seven Deacons: In response to the complaints, the apostles appointed seven leaders to oversee this duty, all of whom had Greek names (e.g., Stephen, Philip), suggesting they were Hellenists.

Conflicts and Influence: Hellenistic Jews, like Stephen, engaged in debate with traditional Jerusalem residents. The Apostle Paul is considered a Hellenist by background.

Geography:They often originated from cities like Alexandria and Antioch, representing the broader Greco-Roman world. 

Hellenists vs. Hebrews

  • Hellenists: Spoke Greek, favored Greek customs, often from the Diaspora.
  • Hebrews: Spoke Aramaic/Hebrew, strictly adhered to Judean traditions. 

“They were crucial to the early church’s spread beyond Palestine, as their ability to speak Greek enabled them to preach to both Diaspora Jews and Gentiles.” (Source: Google AI)

Once again, so it seems, Saul’s insistence on debating with the opposition not only got him into trouble…it also dragged his fellow believers into the fight with him. Was he taking his calling so seriously that he was inviting persecution rather than listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit?

Saul was on a learning curve. 

“When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The believers in the Jerusalem church, like those in Damascus, acted swiftly. Perhaps they were right after all. This Saul was a hot potato in their fellowship. He needed time to cool so that he would learn wisdom with his zeal.

So, they sent him home…to sit at Jesus’ feet…to gain wisdom from the Word…to reshape his understanding of the new life he was catapulted into on the Damascus road. 

Jesus had His man…now set apart…isolated from outside interference…in His Bible school…to learn of Him who would be Saul’s source and goal for the rest of his earthly life. 

Was this the interval of which Saul/Paul testified?

“I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ….But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭12‬, ‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul wrote to the Galatian church in the defence of his apostolic authority, of an interval in his life recorded nowhere else in Scripture. When this happened, how it happened, we do not know. However, Jesus took him aside, tamed and moulded His chosen vessel, and honed him into the greatest and most influential of all the apostles, and a worthy replacement for Judas, the traitor. 

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…RIGHT ABOUT TURN – 18

Bible Study, ,

…”Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This Saul was incorrigible! All the energy he poured into hating believers and hounding them even to death, he now concentrated on preaching that Jesus was the Son of God….confessing Him as Lord. No wonder the people in Damascus were nonplussed. What had happened to this man?   

The Word of God, now alive in Saul, could not be silenced. His message in Damascus was electric in its effects. People in the Jewish synagogues were confused by his message. Why was he preaching the very Jesus he had so violently opposed?

Saul’s zeal began to be a problem for him and his fellow believers in Damascus. His fiery preaching was raising the eyebrows…of the wrong people…the opposition…the same fanatical Jews he had once represented. These angry Jews said he had to be silenced! The boot was now on the other foot. 

To save themselves, and Saul, and to evade his would-be killers, the believers shipped Saul out of Damascus…in the middle of the night…down the city wall…in a basket! Saul’s enthusiasm had cooked his goose! 

Poor Saul! Back in Jerusalem, he was also suspect. 

“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Was he planning to infiltrate the church…to spy on them…to attack them? He wanted to be part of the fellowship but they didn’t trust him…

…except for one man, his only true friend…Barnabas. Jesus had His ally…the one who recognised genuine faith… 

Enter Barnabas! Who was Barnabas?

Barnabas was a big-hearted, magnanimous, generous, caring man. He recognised something in Saul that the other believers in Jerusalem refused to believe…a genuine faith in Jesus that had transformed Saul’s life. Saul was not pretending. His faith was real, authentic, his testimony riveting. Barnabas was willing to give Saul the benefit of the doubt.  

Barnabas not only proved to be right and a real friend but he also became a colleague and fellow-sufferer with Paul on his first preaching journey through Asia Minor. 

The plot, in this international drama, was thickening. Jesus was lining up the players who would participate in His building programme…to gather the living stones that would form His church on earth, as He said He would.  

To be continued

ACTS THE SEQUEL…ENTER SAUL – 17

Bible Study, ,

Samaria had now become the arena of new life. Jesus was building His church out of living stones…believers of every tribe and nation who were forming a new “race”…a “people” born of God…

…but…Stephen? His death caused an earthquake of hatred from the opposition, causing a tsunami of persecution that sent the believers fleeing in all directions. 

“…Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭

Now the persecution had a champion…a man with a cause. Not only did this young Pharisee…,Saul, fanatical in his religious fervour to do God’s work, to protect God’s law at all cost…approve of the “elimination” of Stephen, but he also set about systematically stamping out this fire…

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is what religion does!  So determined to stamp out opposition…to be right at all costs…to defend a god that was unable to defend himself…that killing those who stubbornly refuse to comply serves a “righteous” cause. We see this pattern in religious fervour worldwide. 

This young Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, blind to the truth of the Scriptures he had studied from his youth, could not stomach the intrusion of a village artisan called Jesus of Nazareth, into his theological framework, especially as this man was being worshipped as God. This, to him, was blasphemy of the highest order. To crown it all, Jesus’ followers insisted that He was alive!

Saul took it upon himself, with the approval of his religious overlords, to stamp out these defectors from the faith he followed with such fervour. Like the Moses he revered, who thought killing Egyptians was the way to freedom, he took to destroying these people of “the Way”, one by one. 

Saul’s challenge was that the movement had spread far beyond the borders of Israel. Damascus, capital of the neighbouring Syria, was full of believers. Well! If that was so, he would go after them.  

Jesus also had an agenda. Let Saul get close to his goal, far from his own protective shield…his supporters in this enterprise…and He had him! Bang! Right in the middle of his anticipated achievement, Saul met his worst enemy…his nemesis…this Jesus Himself, the one who was supposed to be dead…His body lying in a tomb outside Jerusalem. 

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ NIV

“I am Jesus…” Saul was shocked…so shocked that he fell off his horse…onto the ground…on his face before Jesus…the same Jesus he was determined to destroy! Shocked…humiliated…devastated! So devastated that every intention that drove him to Damascus evaporated. Gone! His entire life…all his training…all his ambitions…all his theology…all his past, his future plans, his entire life…imploded in an instant! Like Isaiah of old, Saul was “undone”.  

Who? Who was this whose light was so bright that Saul was blinded…permanently shut up into darkness with scales so impenetrable that they needed miraculous, divine intervention to remove. 

Saul’s finally humble, honest question received a simple but mind-blowing reply… “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting!” What? Alive? Saul’s mission…to stamp out the ones who believed this myth! “But I am going after the defectors…the people who are believing in this Jesus.” 

“No, Saul, you are persecuting me. You see, Saul, these people are me, my body of which I am the head. You cannot touch any of them without touching me.” Saul learned his second brand-new lesson about this “Way”. First, Jesus was alive. Second, He was not alone. He had a body of people joined inseparably to Him. “Touch them and you have me to reckon with…Saul.”

“Lord!” That is all Saul needed to say…to confess with his mouth…to change sides forever. 

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In that instant, he  had met the criteria for salvation, for the radical, supernatural rescue from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son. Jesus was alive…and He was indisputably Lord. 

In the years to come, Saul, later Paul, would hammer out, in his own experience, the truths of this “body of the faith” Jesus was entrusting to him. Through his written communications with churches and individuals, he would pass on to every succeeding generation what he was learning in these early days. As much as Paul’s writings were “theology”, they were also autobiography, prefaced by his repeated affirmation…”I have learned…” 

So, the newly converted Saul, now redirected by an encounter with the living Jesus he would never forget, went on to Damascus a changed man. Blind, weak, humbled and broken, he entered the city…to be found by the man whom Jesus had already detailed to “find” him. 

“In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 

Suspicious and afraid, Ananias protested… but Jesus reassured him…

“But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 

Armed with a commission for Saul from the mouth of Jesus Himself, Ananias obeyed.  Imagine his mission…to inform this brand-new believer, this once-murderous persecutor of Ananias’ fellow-believers, that his, Saul’s, calling was to stand before kings with the very message that would condemn him. “Jesus, not Caesar, is Lord!” 

Saul would have to learn, through the very suffering Ananias predicted for him, that suffering was grace, not punishment. He would learn that God’s grace, channeling strength for his weakness, would be the greatest victory of his life. He would learn, through everything he was called to suffer, that nothing in heaven, earth, or under the earth, could ever separate him from God’s love demonstrated in Jesus’ obedience, even to death.  

So, Ananias obeyed…and Saul’s eyes were healed…and Saul saw, for the first time, his real purpose in life, to go to the world, to preach the good news to all nations, and to suffer for the name he had once hated. 

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be continued