Author: Jim Cantelon

Key Verse: Acts 16:30 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

There aren’t many places in Acts where Luke includes himself in the narrative, but here’s one occasion when he does. “Once when we were going to the place of prayer,” he recounts, “we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling” (v.16). He goes on to say the this girl, “followed Paul and the rest of us shouting, ‘These men are servants of the most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved!'” Strange isn’t it? An evil spirit making such a clear proclamation of the apostles’ purpose — but then, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. The gospels include many accounts of evils spirits testifying loudly to the deity and purpose of Jesus. They live in the spirit realm — they know exactly who Jesus is, and, as James tells us, they “tremble” (James 2:19).

The girl kept at it for “many days” until Paul had had enough. “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” He commanded the spirit (v.18) and the spirit obeyed, and the girl’s owners became very angry: their source of income had fled. So they stirred up the people and the authorities, with the result that Paul and Silas were thrown into jail.

As Paul and Silas sat on the floor of an inner cell, their feet fastened in stocks and their backs torn by a flogging, they prayed “and sang hymns to God: (v.25). Suddenly a violent earthquake shook the prison and all the prisoners’ chains came loose even as the prison doors flew open. The jailor, prepared to commit suicide, heard Paul’s voice over the uproar, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” (v.28). And trembling, the jailor rushed in and uttered that universal cry, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

The spirit-possessed girl had broadcast the message to the whole city that Paul and his friends had come to show the way of salvation. It would appear the jailor had heard the broadcast. Now he asked the question and Paul gave the answer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household” (v.31). The jailor believed, and he and his family were baptized that very night.

Key Verse: Acts 14:15 “…We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these vain things to the living God…”

Perhaps you’ve noticed that people whom God has gifted with a genuine ministry of “signs and wonders” are generally pretty self-effacing about it. They keep saying things like, “I didn’t do this, God did…” or, “this is God’s doing, I’m just an instrument in His hand…” You might think it’s wonderful to have such gifts. Think again.

It’s a burden to be gifted in this way. Why? Because someone who genuinely knows the Lord and recognizes the source of his or her “power” is someone who finds the adulation and “groupie-ism” of miracle-seekers to be a great liability and offense. Offense? Yes, because miracle-workers are not looking for miracle-seekers. They’re looking for God-seekers, and have no wish to be cast as deities themselves.

Paul and Barnabas had an encounter with adding fans in Lystra. The crows was so impressed with Paul’s healing of the man born crippled that they cried, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” (14:11). They said Barnabas was Zeus and Paul, Hermes (maybe they gave Barnabas the greater stature because he was the quieter of the two). And they “brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because…the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them” (v.13). Paul and Barnabas were distraught, so much so that they tore their clothes in grief and protest. “Why are you doing this?” they cried. “We too are only men, human like you. Then they went on to explain their mission.

“We are bringing you good news,” they said, “telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them” (v.15 NIV). “We’re not gods, we’re messengers. Servants. That’s all we are!” Don’t focus on the messenger but on the message: the “good news” that Jesus has come to give us life.

Key Verse: Acts 13:32,33a “And we declare to you glad tidings — the promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.”

Paul made three missionary journeys. In this chapter we see him travelling from Antioch to Derbe and back, by way of Seleucia, Cyprus, Attalia, Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.

The Antioch church had a remarkable group of people prophesying and teaching. Men like Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen (a one-time friend of the Tetrarch, Herod), and Saul. During a prayer time, the Holy Spirit instructed them to ordain Barnabas and Saul to an apostolic (missionary) ministry. so they laid their hands on them in prayer and “sent them off” (13:3).

Saul (“who was also called Paul” v.9) and Barnabas usually went first to the synagogue in the towns and cities they visited. There Paul would “proclaim the word of God” and reason with his fellow-Jews to demonstrate that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (I think our best insight into Paul’s “reasonings” might be gained from reading Romans 9,10,11). In this chapter, Paul speaks at synagogues in Salami, and later on, in Pisidian Antioch.

When you read Paul’s sermon to the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch, you see his remarkable ability with the messianic passages in the Old Testament. He speaks to his own people out of their scriptures about their Messiah. And there’s no question, as Paul sees it, this Jesus whom he had so adamantly opposed is the fulfillment of the promise God had made to “our Fathers” (v.32). Not only that, but Jesus has the power to do what the Law of Moses cannot do (v.39) — that is “justify” or satisfy the justice of God which demands death for sin. Paul presents Jesus with such conviction and enthusiasm that, not surprisingly, he polarizes his hearers, indeed whole cities. Pisidian Antioch is in an uproar. And as Paul sees their opposition, he openly declares his intention to take the gospel to the Gentiles (v.46)

Key Verse: Acts 12:15 “You’re out of your mind’, they told her.” (NIV)

Imagine that your local church suddenly came under intense persecution. The laws of the land had changed.
Whereas once it had been legal to worship God, now suddenly, anyone caught worshipping God was thrown into prison. The obvious target for the authorities was pastors. Yesterday they imprisoned your pastor. So they church board called an all-night prayer meeting. Because it was dangerous to use the church building, they asked if it might be held at your house. You agreed. Tonight your house is full of scared, concerned, praying brothers and sisters.

The prayers are very intense. Person after person calls on God for deliverance for your imprisoned pastor. “Shake the prisons, Lord! Send your angels, Lord! Deliver us all from evil, Lord!” Between prayers, people testify, prophesy, and encourage one another. “The Lord wills this for good, even though Satan has meant it for evil,” one says. “God’s word can never be bound”, says another. “Our paster will be freed,” someone else says. And, as you quietly begin to sing, “O God our help in ages past”, there’s a knock at the door. Everyone freezes. Have we been too loud? Are the authorities at the door?

You go to the door and cautiously look through the peephole. It can’t be! It’s the pastor? No! But yes! it is! It’s the pastor at the door! Without opening the door you run back to the frightened group in the family room. “It’s the pastor!” you cry, “The pastor is at the door!” They look at you blankly, “You’re crazy”, someone says. “Sure, we were praying for his release, but no one really expected it”, your spouse admits honestly. “It must be his ghost”, one of the more superstitious members whispers.

There’s a knock again. This time you open the door and to everyone’s astonishment, in the pastor walks, free and in the flesh. God has answered your prayer.

Or has He? Sometimes when we pray expectantly we get “no” for an answer. Other times when we pray unexpectantly we get “yes” for an answer. And then there’s always that unsatisfactory answer, “wait”. How can we get God to always say “yes”?

We can’t. Regardless of those who think they’ve got God cased — with the irresistible prayer ritual or the most appealing praise formula–God will not be cornered into fulfilling our agenda. He has an agenda too. And being the all-knowing, all-powerful, Sovereign that He is, His will ultimately is done.

Peter was freed from prison by an angel. Rhoda wasn’t crazy. And once again, God answered prayer.

Key Verse: Acts 10:34b, 35 “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. but in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

The first major social controversy in the early church concerned the equal distribution of assistance to both Greek and Hebrew-speaking widows (ch.6). The first major leadership controversy dealt with the acceptance of Saul of Tarsus as a fellow preacher. The first major theological controversy was, perhaps, the first crisis of magnitude.

The issue, simply stated, related to the preaching of a Jewish gospel, by Jewish preachers, of a Jewish Messiah, to Gentiles. What was the point? Weren’t the unwashed Gentiles beyond the reach of Grace?

Complicating the issue was a long tradition of separation. The Hebrews were steeped in cleanliness laws (just read Leviticus!) and keenly tuned to the clean/unclean division in the world. Some, of course, were more “kosher” than others, but it went without saying that a Jew never ate with a Gentile. Preaching to Gentiles would entail fellowship and communion–sharing the table. To them this was repugnant!

That’s why the Lord had to drop that  sheet of unclean animals into Peter’s vision (10:9-23). There was no way Peter ever would have gone to Cornelius’ house otherwise. The Jerusalem Council’s view of the parameters of the gospel message had to be stretched, and who better to be the spark than Peter himself. After this event, even Saul of Tarsus looked a bit better–part of the suspicion surrounding him had been his untoward openness to preaching to Gentiles.

Nevertheless, Peter had a lot of explaining to do (see ch.11), but in the end, the apostles accepted the revealed message: God accepts people from every nation. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Key Verse: Acts 9:27 “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles…”

I remember, as a schoolboy in Saskatchewan, learning to sing, “Home on the Range”:

“Home, home on the range.
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.”

Have you heard any “discouraging words” lately? Sometimes those words come non-verbally from the circumstances you face. Sometimes they’re the well-meaning but unnecessary comments from a friend. Other times they are self-accusing views from the depths of your own pool of poor self-esteem. But whatever their source, discouraging words are never welcome. We’d all rather choose to hear encouraging words.

In the barrage of insults, anger, and open hostility facing the early church, there was great need for an encouraging word now and then. Enter a Cypriot named Joseph, the personification of encouragement In fact, the apostles called him “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Encouragement” 4:36). He was an outstanding player in the early drama of the Christian church.

He not only helped get the fledgling church on its feet financially (4:37), but he was an encouragement in several other ways. The most valuable thing he did, however, was champion the cause of that volatile and “dangerous” convert, Saul of Tarsus.

Just after his Damascus-road experience, Saul went to Jerusalem to join the disciples. Predictably, they wanted nothing to do with him. After all, he was “public enemy number one” as far as the church was concerned. There was understandable suspicion about the sincerity of his alleged conversion. Barnabas, however, believed in Saul. He put his own good reputation on the line and vouched for him before the Jerusalem leadership. He had a discerning spirit and a willingness to act on what his heart told him about raw material A few years later, by now a companion of “the apostle Paul”, he did the same for young, untried man called “John Mark” (even if it meant separating from Paul’s missionary travels — 15:36-39).

Think of it. If it hadn’t been for Barnabas, we wouldn’t have the Gospel of Mark, nor the writings of St. Paul. It’s amazing what an encouraging word can do!

Key Verse: Acts 6:2b, 4 “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables…but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word!”

It never seems to fail. Get a bunch of people organized into some sort of group and, before you know it, you’ve got dispute and division. The early church was just a few months (perhaps even weeks) old when the Greek-speaking Jewish believers (Hellenists) became upset because they thought they were being discriminated against. They complained that the Hebrew-speaking widows were getting all the attention in the daily administration of social assistance. “It’s not fair” I can hear them cry, “We want justice!” Maybe they even threatened to start a new church, “for Greek speakers only”. Whatever the case may have been, the apostles had to resolve the issue. Heretofore they’d had no mechanism for such a resolution, so they made a decision.

They decided to choose seven men to take the administrative responsibilities of the newly developing church. The apostles did so in order that their prayer and preaching focus might not be eroded. They would pray and preach while the administrators served. In this way the dispute would be settled and the potential for future division would be diminished.

Miracles, wonders, preaching, and teaching had to be supported with a dynamic, administrative infrastructure. Dynamic, not only in terms of flexibility and adaptability, but also in terms of the administrators themselves.

Stephen is a case in point. Luke tells us he was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (6:5a). He was a powerful preacher as well as an able administrator (a rare combination!) and, as we see in chapter 7, he became the church’s first martyr.

If you’re nominated to your church’s board of deacons, don’t see it as a minor role. You’ll be a peacemaker, and administrator, perhaps even a preacher. Hopefully never a martyr!

Key Verse: Acts 5:20 “Go, stand in the temple courts’, he said, ‘and tell the people the full message of this life!'” (NIV)

If you haven’t said it yourself, you’re probably heard it said, “I’d just love to see one miracle! One would be enough. Then I’d be convinced; then I’d be sure…” Well, suppose we not only saw one miracle, but several, scores even — and what’s more, we were the miracle workers! What a wonder just to see them, do them, and to see the work they were accomplishing in the lives of afflicted human beings. We’d have such a sense of ministry, blessing and, yes, such a sense of significance.

But there would be a danger; too. The danger of distraction. Am I suggesting that miracles might deter the miracle worker from something of higher priority? Yes, I am. Before you get defensive, look at chapter five again. First, look at verses 12-16.

The apostles were doing a great job. As the Holy Spirit enabled them, they were performing “many miraculous signs and wonders among the people” (v.12a). In fact, just the impact of Peter’s shadow was enough to see the sick healed. Evil spirits were being defeated, and “more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number” (v.14). But then they were thrown in jail again –just in time for another miracle.

This time it was an angelic jailbreak. Look at verses 17-21a. What a vindication! I can just hear Peter saying something like “Praise God! He wants us back in Solomon’s Colonnade performing more miracles!”

“No, that’s not exactly what we had in mind,” says the angel, “what we want you to do is, ‘tell the people the full message of this new life'” (v.20) Miracles, as great as they are, are only part of the story. The  apostles got the point, “they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people” (v.21). Miracles were not to be the focus. Teaching Jesus was to be the focus; free from distraction.

Key Verse: Acts 4:20 “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (NIV)

The trouble started the afternoon Peter and John went up to the temple to pray. Until now they had enjoyed “the favour of all the people” (2:47). But then a crippled beggar called out to them for money. They were broke — but they did give him something. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”, they commanded him to get those crippled legs in motion and walk. And he did…to the amazement of the whole city! Now the polarization began.

The people, of course, were astonished to see this well-known beggar walking. There he was! Walking and holding on to Peter and John. As they gathered around, Peter and John began to preach. Their sermon was very up-front and candid. Peter accused the people of disowning “the Holy and Righteous one” and handing Him over to Pilate to be killed. He graciously gave them an out by saying they had “acted in ignorance”, but then went on to say that God had used the crucifixion events to fulfil prophecy. He then called them to repentance. Even as he spoke of the power of the resurrection, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees” seized Peter and John, and threw them into jail. Once again the city was divided by the message and work of Jesus, but five thousand more believers were added to the church.

The next day, Peter and John were questioned by the High Priest, his family, and other high officials. The question was, “By what power or what name did you do this?” (4:7). Peter replied, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you completely healed” (4:10). The officials, angry as they were, could say nothing — for the healed beggar was standing right there for everyone to see. so they threatened Peter and John and let them go. Who can argue with eyewitnesses? Especially when you’re one yourself!