Monthly Archives: April 2026

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE CHURCH SPREADS – 22

Bible Study, ,

“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

They just could not keep quiet! Everywhere the scattered disciples went, they spoke about Jesus….Phoenicia, the island of Cyprus, Cyrene…Jesus was the subject of their conversation…but only to Jews. They had obviously not yet heard about Cornelius and his household.  

Some of the converts in Cyprus and Cyrene, Hellenistic Jews, didn’t care about Jewish scruples. They took the message to Antioch and told the Greeks about Jesus. Soon Antioch became the hub of non-Jewish believers. In fact, so great was their influence that it was in Antioch that the people of “the Way” were nicknamed “Christians”, people who resembled Jesus.  In Antioch, there was another explosion of new life…the church there grew apace until… 

Jerusalem got to hear about it and reacted. “What’s going on in Antioch? We’d better fine out.” So, they sent good old Barnabas to find out. 

Of course, Barnabas was delighted with the new development and threw his weight behind the church. In fact, he hurried off to Tarsus to fetch Saul. Why should Saul sit around twiddling his thumbs when there was work to be done? In any case, Saul had had quite enough time to cool his hot-headed zeal, to sort out his theological issues, and gain an understanding of how Jesus and the Hebrew Scriptures perfectly dove-tailed.  With Saul’s knowledge, understanding and experience, he would be an asset in this new development in the Gentile branch of the church. 

Little did Barnabas know that the Holy Spirit was positioning him and Saul/Paul for a partnership that would take them deep into hostile territory…into the Gentile world of paganism, hatred, violence, and persecution that almost cost Paul his life.

Barnabas had made the right decision. 

“…When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For a whole year, the soon-to-become comrades-in-arms cemented the believers in Antioch in their faith. The outcome was a  maturing church that became the centre of the missionary outreach into Asia Minor and eventually into Europe and the known world. 

“During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When famine, predicted by Agabus, a Christian prophet, hit the Roman empire, the church in Antioch detailed Barnabas and Saul to take help to the church in  Jerusalem.  

“The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…As we progress through this account of the partnership between the Holy Spirit and the body of Christ, despite serious opposition and cruel acts of violence against them, the church grew.  It spread from Jerusalem into Judea, Samaria and, eventually, into the Greek and Roman world. 

The Holy Spirit, the administrator of this grace, choreographed every movement, every step of growth and progress, drawing people together from far and wide, cementing relationships, and opening new doors of opportunity. Not even their 

hardships and suffering were wasted. Every dark and light thread of this marvellous tapestry was being woven together to reveal a picture of the infinite love, power, and wisdom of God. He was at work, creating something that would transform the world and set the body of Christ on a course to be the salt that preserves a decaying society and the light that shows the way back to the Father. 

The story of Acts, a partnership between God, the Holy Spirit from heaven…and the church, the image ofJesus, the Son of God, on earth…is only a fragment of a much bigger story. It will never end until the whole earth has heard…and Jesus returns to write the final chapter. 

To be continued 

ACTS THE SEQUEL…PETER IN TROUBLE – 21

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“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

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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

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…”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