Acts 21:1…

Paul is now on his way back to Jerusalem, desiring to arrive there in time for the Feast of Pentecost.

There doesn’t seem to be any doubt in his mind what he will face when he arrives – yet still he goes.

Seemingly at every stop along the way in his journey, he is warned not to.

At least he has traveling companions to keep him company. It is Dr. Luke who records the warnings Paul received for us.

First at Tyre, after searching diligently for disciples there, Paul was warned by those who loved him, “through the Spirit,” not to go to Jerusalem.

Passing through Ptolemais, they arrived at Caesarea, where the warnings about his plan to go up the Jerusalem became more severe. They stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, whom Luke notes for us had, “four virgin daughters who prophesied.”

This is the same Philip we met earlier who led the Ethiopian eunuch to the Lord in the desert, after leading a revival in Samaria, in Acts 8. Philip was one of the seven men appointed as deacons in the first-days church, along with Stephen. Both of these deacons moved on from waiting tables and serving the Herodian widows to greatness.

I’m certain Paul was aware of Philip’s greatness in the Lord, as Paul, (then Saul,) had sought to stamp out the very revival Philip had been part of instigating and spreading.

After leading the Ethiopian eunuch to the Lord, we had read Philip traveled up the west coast of Israel preaching the Gospel and then settled at Caesarea, a seaport on the west coast which was the seat of the Roman government in Israel. Caesarea would figure prominently in Paul’s life over the coming years, as he would languish in prison awaiting the various trials by the Roman governors seeking to establish what Paul was guilty of as a result of the riot that would break out at the Temple in Jerusalem when Paul did indeed arrive there.

His imprisonment at Caesarea was the fulfillment of the counsel and prophecy shared with Paul along his way up to Jerusalem, most notably and most recently at Philip’s home, as Agabus had visibly demonstrated by taking Paul’s belt and prophesying to him that he would be bound just as this belt bound his own hands and feet.

Despite their very best attempts to warn Paul, even now graphically depicting his imprisonment, still Paul continued on to Jerusalem…where all these warnings would come true.  

Pastor Bill

Acts 20:1…

The completion of Paul’s third missionary journey has many fascinating elements.

Paul wanted to re-visit the churches he had planted once more before returning to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost.

I think it is interesting Paul remained true to his devotion to God in the forms of his Jewish upbringing which truly demonstrated his devotion to God.

While Paul had not been at the birth of The Church on the Day of Pentecost, perhaps 20-30 years earlier at Jerusalem, when the Holy Spirit baptized the 120 believers in the upper room waiting for the promise of The Father which Jesus had taught them about - Paul knew about that day - and so this feast became significant in Paul’s life – as it should be in ours. It is not primarily a feast of the Jews any longer, it is the birthday of The Church.

Paul ventured back to Macedonia and visited the churches he planted there before heading back to Jerusalem via the west coast of Asia Minor. (Modern day Turkey.)

Paul was delivering farewell messages to the churches he planted at this time, somehow realizing they would see his face no more.

At Troas, Paul delivered a blockbuster.

Meeting in a third-story room on the evening of the first day of the week, Paul spoke for hours in a room lit with oil lamps. We can only begin to imagine Paul’s enthusiasm to deliver the Word to these hungry people one last time. He had much to say, understanding the importance of all he had to say.

There was a young man named Eutychus who was listening to Paul speak, who was seated in a windowsill. He was doing his best to track with all Paul was saying. At some point he lost his battle to stay awake, and he fell out of the window, and down the three stories to the ground, and was, “taken up dead.”

Oh no! Would Paul’s final message at Troas be marked by the death of this young man?

Paul, traumatized by this, rushed down to Eutychus, along with probably everyone else in the room, shocked by what just happened. Paul immediately laid on him and embraced him, in a manner reminiscent of Elisha doing the same thing with the Shunammite widow’s son in 2 Kings 4:33-37.

Paul, I’m sure overwhelmed with joy, announced to the crowd Eutychus had been resurrected from the dead.

He then went back upstairs and continued speaking until morning. I’m fairly certain they listened in rapt attention to all he had to say now!

Pastor Bill

Acts 19:8…

Paul ventured into the synagogue at Ephesus to persuade the Jews attending there of the things of the kingdom of God.

For three months, every Sabbath day they permitted Paul to give instruction.

He was, after all, a brilliant lawyer, and former member of the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. As a guest speaker, Paul likely would have been welcomed into the synagogue there by his credentials, at least initially.

Once again, Paul would have been seeking to bring a ‘completed’ Biblical understanding to those Jews who may be willing to listen. He would open their own scriptures to them, so they could see it with their own eyes and hear it with their own ears. In three months’ worth of Sabbath days, Paul would have been afforded plenty of time to bring his Gospel message to the Jews there.

But gradually Paul’s welcome wore out. When they even began to speak evil of the gospel message Paul was putting together for them from their own scripture, Paul realized he had done all he could, and all he was called to do for them – and he left.

He didn’t go far. At Ephesus, a man named Tyrannus had a school. It was typical in those days to have school sessions in the morning and then break for the afternoon because of the heat of the day. It seems most likely Paul arranged with Tyrannus to use the afternoons as a time to teach the Biblical gospel revealed by the Word of God to anyone would listen.

This would have been a tremendous number of hours of instruction, for both Jews and Greeks. Paul continued each day for two years. Given the brilliance and gifting of the apostle Paul, for him to spend so much time there teaching how the Old Testament fully revealed Jesus to be the long-promised Messiah would have been a wonderfully fulfilling time of instruction. The Ephesians who attended would have been among the best-instructed people on the planet pertaining to Jesus Christ.

As if to affirm the gospel of Jesus Christ Paul was teaching, God caused healing miracles to follow after his teaching.

Since Paul taught in the afternoons, he continued tent-making with Aquila and Priscilla in the mornings. Leaving the workshop to head for school, people began to gather his handkerchiefs and aprons and carry them to the sick in order to touch them with cloths Paul had worn.

Amazingly, anyone touched by those cloths were cleansed of their sicknesses and of their evil spirits.

Pastor Bill

Acts 19:1…

Now beginning his third missionary journey, Paul returns to the region of Galatia to revisit the churches Jesus had planted there on his previous two missionary journeys – and then headed west to the coastline of Asia, (modern day Turkey,) to the city of Ephesus.

When Paul arrived there, he would have reunited with Aquila and Priscilla.

Passing through Ephesus near the end of his second missionary journey, having sailed there with Aquila and Priscilla, Paul had left his new friends there as he headed to Jerusalem to keep the upcoming feast. (Luke does not mention which feast this was.)

Paul had returned to his sending church at Antioch, Syria briefly, before returning to Galatia and then again to Ephesus.

Arriving there he encountered disciples who apparently had sat under Apollos’ teaching, prior to Apollos being informed about the fullness of the Gospel in Jesus Christ by Aquila and Priscilla.

Apollos had graciously received the private further instruction from Aquila and Priscilla and then passionately presented the full Gospel message of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to the synagogue at Ephesus before departing for Corinth to teach the church Paul had established there.

But when Paul arrived, he first encountered disciples in whom he discovered a lack. We do not know exactly how it was Paul could tell the Holy Spirit was lacking in their lives – but the Word informs us Paul recognized it immediately. He queried them about whether they had received the Holy Spirit when they were baptized?

Upon hearing they had only heard of the baptism of John which Apollos had initially been teaching, Paul immediately informed them the baptism of John was meant to be an introduction to the Lord Jesus Christ, and they believed Paul and were baptized again – representing their new life in Christ Jesus.

But there was more. Following their profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and being baptized in Jesus’ name, Paul laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

This is one of the clearest and most easily understood passages revealing the baptism of the Holy Spirit to be an event subsequent to the believer’s salvation, just as Jesus said it would be in Acts 1:4-8.

Pastor Bill

Acts 18:1…

Departing Athens after his presentation of the Gospel to erudite intellectuals at the invitation of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers at Mars Hill, Paul headed to Corinth.

Again, since we know all Paul’s travels are directed by the Holy Spirit, we know Paul sensed the prompting to move on, even though there seemed to be sort of an open invitation from the Areopagus to hear more from Paul. Paul knew he had said enough at that appearance.

Unlike Athens, Corinth was no center of genteel thought.

Corinth was a major city, a crossroads of merchant shipping, located on the isthmus separating mainland Greece from the Peloponnesus. To save sailing distance smaller sailing vessels would offload their cargo and drag the ships over a stone path created to allow the ships to continue sailing on the other end. Larger ships would also offload their cargo, but the cargo would be loaded on another ship at the other end of the 3.9-mile isthmus to continue to its destination.

Corinth was therefore a city constantly filled with mariners visiting while the cargo from their vessels traversed the isthmus – and served as a center of brothels, bars, and other sources of entertainment for visiting sailors with time on their hands.

Corinth was a wicked city, along the lines of Las Vegas, or San Francisco. The Isthmian Games were held there, the year before and the year after the Olympic Games. (This was a Panhellenic series of athletic and musical competitions widely attended.)

Paul met Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth. They had recently been expelled from Rome. Emperor Claudius had his fill of the upset in the city of Rome caused by Jews disputing with newborn Christians there about Jesus being the Christ, so he expelled all the Jews from Rome.

Like Paul, their vocation was making tents, and so they became fast friends.

We learn a lot about Corinth in this chapter, and we also learn a lot about Paul and his ministry. This was his longest-lasting ministry assignment, covering 18 months. This was uniquely a city we are informed Jesus told Paul – that He had “many people in this city.” Paul remained there long enough to find all of those he could..

Pastor Bill

Acts 17:10…

Having been chased from Thessalonica due to the envy of the Jews who objected to seeing so many of their fellow Jews and devout Greeks hearing the Gospel and being saved due to Paul reasoning with them in the synagogue over the course of three Sabbaths, Paul and Silas headed to Berea, probably in fear of being beaten again – their stripes barely healed from the beating they received at Philippi.

Berea was 45 miles from Thessalonica.

The initial reception they received in the synagogue at Thessalonica prior to being chased away by the Jews who became envious of their fellow Jews who listened to and heeded Paul’s reasoning from their Bible only encouraged Paul to repeat the process at Berea.

At Berea they found a most receptive audience. (An audience which has become a model for the Church in our day.) We are not to simply believe what someone tells us what the Bible says, we are to search the scriptures to see if what the teacher says is true. This was the method of the Bereans, and they are commended for it by the Holy Spirit.

The Bereans are referred to as being, “more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica,” for this very reason. They searched the scriptures – in this case the Old Testament - to see if the Gospel Paul shared with them from the scriptures about Jesus being the Messiah was in fact, true. Paul encouraged the scrutiny of his message, and we should as well. We never stand on what any man or angel says. We stand on the Word of God.

And of course it was true. And many of them believed.

But when the envious Jews at Thessalonica heard that Paul was now preaching the Word of God in the synagogue at Berea, they traveled the 45 miles to Berea to seek to quash Paul’s message of the Gospel of grace by stirring up the crowds against them in Berea as well.

The believers once again sent Paul away immediately to spare his life, having perceived the threat. Paul was placed on a ship headed for Athens. (Silas and Timothy remained at Berea, possibly because the boat Paul sailed on had no room for them - or perhaps to continue to teach the believers at Berea.)

While Paul waited for Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens, his spirit was stirred up against all the idolatry he found there, and he could not resist speaking out against all he saw.

Since the Athenians prided themselves on hearing every new philosophy which comes down the pike, Paul was afforded the opportunity to present the Gospel at Mars Hill, the place where all the intellectuals gathered to hear what invited guest-speakers had to say.

This is fascinating, because now we see how Paul presented the Gospel to a totally pagan audience.  

Pastor Bill

Acts 17:1…

Paul and Silas and Timothy next head to Thessalonica, a distance of about 100 miles.

The change of pronouns, (“they,” rather than “we,”) in the first verse indicates Dr. Luke had remained at Philippi, to join them later, when they arrived at Corinth. (Apparently it was left to Luke to help the church planted at Philippi to grow and thrive.)

Most scholars believe Paul’s team had been at Philippi about three months before departing. Perhaps this was the amount of time it took Paul and Silas’ to recover from the stripes they had received to be healed enough for them to travel.  

A vital church had been established at Philippi, which became critically important to the continuation of Paul’s mission by routinely providing him needed funding. (Paul’s later letter to the church at Philippi makes this very clear. There remained great love toward the church at Philippi from Paul, and from the church at Philippi to Paul.)

The adventure continued at Thessalonica, following the usual pattern of going to the Jews first.

Following initial success in teaching the Jews and Gentile God-fearers at Thessalonica over the course of three Sabbaths, the Jews who disbelieved became envious of the crowds Paul was drawing, gathered a mob to attack the home of Jason, where it was known Paul, Silas, and Timothy were lodging.

Paul’s team wasn’t there, so they dragged Jason before the rulers of the city, claiming, “these men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”

It is one of the great statements in the Book of Acts for all to consider, thinking of the impact our lives may be having upon our world.

 Have we in any way, shape, or form turned our world upside down?

Another question is like it: Whose power is required in order to accomplish this?

Pastor Bill

Acts 16:11…

Having been directed supernaturally through a vision in the night, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and now Luke, headed west toward Europe.

The first order of business was to travel over land to Troas and then arrange passage by ship across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia. (Modern day Greece.)

Passing by Neapolis they arrived at Philippi.

Philippi was the largest city in that region and was a Roman colony. This means it was meant to be a model of Rome, filled with Roman citizens and protected by the Roman army and retired members from the Roman army. The idea was that in these outposts, referred to as ‘colonies’ of Rome, it would be a little taste of Rome away from Rome. Everything which took place there would resemble Rome as much as possible, to give the world an idea of what Rome was like.

There was no synagogue at Philippi – which means there were fewer than ten Jewish men living there. (To have a synagogue it was required to have at least ten Jewish men in membership.)

Since there was no synagogue in which to gather, it was Jewish custom to gather by a nearby river, as a river would represent ‘living water.’ In this case it would have been the Gangites River, which flowed near Philippi.

Following their usual pattern of seeking the Jews first, finding no synagogue, and being aware of the custom of the Jews meeting by a local river, Paul and the team headed to the river on the Sabbath day to preach the Word to the handful Jews they anticipated would be gathered there.

There they met a businesswoman named Lydia, a seller of purple, which would have been a very lucrative business in those days. (Purple was the color of royalty, worn by only the wealthiest of Roman citizens, including the emperor and the members of the Roman government. No one else could afford anything dyed purple. It was THE outward sign of wealth and power.)

Lydia, a God-fearing Gentile from Thyatira who worshiped the Jewish God, listened intently to Paul’s presentation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and she and her entire household were saved and water-baptized in the river.

These were the first western Europeans to be saved, and they became the basis of a new church which loved Paul and supported his ministry the remainder of his life.

Pastor Bill

Acts 16:1…

We have just seen the separation of Paul and Barnabas.

As difficult as it may be to observe the contention which arose over Barnabas’ insistence about bringing Mark along with them and Paul’s refusal to do so – even to the point of parting company – one thing we can say for certain is this brought about two mission teams where there had been one.

Barnabas did arrange for Mark to join him, and they headed off to Cypress, Barnabas’ home country. We never hear of Barnabas again, but we do hear of Mark, as both the author the Gospel of Mark, and as eventually, (we assume under Barnabas’ mentorship,) useful to Paul once again.

Paul headed back to the region of Galatia with Silas - also known as Silvanus - first to re-visit the churches Paul and Barnabas had planted, and then to go on to seek to establish others. (Silas would remain at Paul’s side for the remainder of his life in ministry and would prove very valuable and faithful to Christ in all their time together.)

In their first mission trip, Paul and Barnabas had enlisted Barnabas’ young nephew John Mark to travel with them. (Most likely as a needed assistant to make arrangements along the way – whatever they may need substance-wise to support their efforts, be it food or lodging or anything else that may be necessary.)

But John Mark had quit and left to return home, which proved upsetting to Paul. It seems it hindered them the remainder of their trip.

As they left on this second missionary journey, they brought no sort of ‘logistics’ person along with them.

But it didn’t take long to find one.

Here, at the beginning of their second journey, as they arrived back at Derbe and Lystra, they found a young man who had become a believer in Christ from Paul’s preaching the Gospel of Jesus on the first mission trip to Derbe and Lystra. We remember this was the very location Paul was stoned and left for dead. The young man’s name was Timothy. He immediately joined their ministry team - we assume – taking up the role Mark had previously performed.  

Here is the beginning of a life-long relationship between Paul and Timothy, whom Paul would later refer to as his, “son in the faith,” meaning Timothy had become a believer under Paul’s preaching. And just as Paul had apparently been mentored by Barnabas to Spiritual maturity, he - now separated from Barnabas - mentored Timothy.

This is a classic example of how important mentorship is in the Body of Christ, and how those who are mentored, once brought to Spiritual maturity, go on to mentor others.

Pastor Bill

Acts 15:36…

What took place between Barnabas and Paul is somewhat of a mystery.

Barnabas had been such an important figure in Paul’s life, perhaps even being somewhat of a mentor.

We remember Barnabas’ name even signified his character and his nature. His name was Joses, but he had been given the name ‘Barnabas’ which literally meant, ‘Son of Encouragement.’

It was Barnabas who had first introduced (then) Saul of Tarsus to the church at Jerusalem and had personally vouched for the fact Jesus had saved Saul. It was Barnabas who remembered what kind of teacher and intellect Saul was so many years later, who traveled all the way to Tarsus to ask Saul to join the teaching ministry at the rapidly expanding, newly founded church at Antioch.

This was no small thing. When Barnabas sought out Saul at Tarsus about ten years had passed since Barnabas had last seen Saul. Barnabas was the kind of man who was a bridge-builder among men of faith.

It was consistent with Barnabas’ character to therefore desire to bring along Barnabas’ nephew John Mark once more as Paul and Barnabas planned to venture out on their second missionary journey. They planned to re-visit the churches they had planted on their first missionary to see how they were doing. Paul wanted them to all know they had not been forgotten.

Barnabas and Paul had different opinions about John Mark. Paul remembered how once they reached the mainland again from Cypress and were about to press inland – perhaps because, (as some suggest,) Paul had contracted Malaria in the swampy lowlands – and they needed to get quickly to the highland region of modern-day Turkey to help Paul heal from the symptoms he was experiencing - that John Mark departed.  

We do not know and are not told why John Mark departed to go back home, but we do know from what we learn here his departure was upsetting to Paul – and that Paul was not willing to give him a second chance since he quit on them the first time around. This was true to Paul’s intense nature and character that served him well in ministry.

Also true to Barnabas’ character and nature was his desire to give John Mark a second chance. (After all, had he not done the same thing for Paul?)

Neither man was willing to compromise. Barnabas would seek to restore a quitter. Paul could not abide one.

There does also come a time in a mentor-mentee relationship when the mentee emerges as the actual leader as Paul had in his relationship with Barnabas. Perhaps Barnabas sensed that as well. The Bible sort of indicates this as well, as early on they were referred to as ‘Barnabas and Paul,’ but Paul had emerged as the chief speaker along the way in their first missionary journey, and they were now referred to as, ‘Paul and Barnabas.’

We have no idea if this played a part in their contention over John Mark, but we do know they separated over the issue. They could not and would not continue as ministry partners after this.

Perhaps they were both right, and neither man deserves criticism.

From this point on we follow Paul’s ministry only. But in later years we read John Mark was restored in valuable fellowship with Paul. We also know John Mark eventually became the author of the Gospel of Mark.

Pastor Bill

Acts 15:22…

Let’s put this in writing.

Better than the word of mouth, the written word carries lasting authority.

The Holy Spirit knows this, and so He inspired them to write a letter to the Church at Antioch explaining exactly ALL the Church at Jerusalem desired for the Gentile believers throughout the region of Galatia.

It wasn’t much. Minimalist. You can readily see they were led by the Holy Spirit to trust the Holy Spirit with the rest. Even with the Gentiles. Especially with the Gentiles.

Could the Gentiles be trusted to continue to be submitted to Jesus Christ even though they have zero background in the Law of Moses, and have no mark on the flesh to prove their allegiance?

And just because they did not compel them to keep the Law of Moses as a prerequisite for being baptized into the Christian faith does not mean it is of no benefit to the Gentile believers to learn of and to know the Law of Moses.

The inherent value of the Jewish Law is implied in the sensitivity the letter from the Church at Jerusalem to the Gentiles in the Church at Antioch are to have toward Jewish believers in the arena of food preparation, since sharing a meal is such an important basis of Christian fellowship. The command to sexual purity is presented because it is universal for all who would follow Christ.

But other than that – they trusted the Holy Spirit with the rest.

When we think of how joyful the Church at Antioch was to receive this grace-filled letter from the Church at Jerusalem we have the answer of whether this determination was truly directed by the Holy Spirit – since the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of unity.

And for a newly formed Church of Jesus Christ, now so spread across the map – and spreading rapidly further – unity was incredibly important.

This letter from the Church at Jerusalem, (in reality the Holy Spirit,) provided a foundation of unity and peace among believers from which the teaching of God’s Word – including the Law of Moses – could proceed.

Pastor Bill

Acts 15:1…

When you’ve entered God’s kingdom through the gateway of grace, you must be very protective of the concept.

There will always be those who come along and attempt to add something to it.

Usually, they will be those who thought the approach to God came by the keeping of sacraments and by good works. And so, for years they have been attempting good works and the keeping of sacraments because they genuinely DO desire God’s favor.

It is a mistaken apprehension of God’s desire, but they have so much invested in their efforts it is very difficult to conceive of someone who has not done any good works or kept any of God’s sacraments coming along and receiving God’s favor the same as you.

This describes many of those Jews who came to Christ in the earliest days of the Church. Prior to Jesus appearing on the scene, ritual practices and good works were the rule for how to have favor with God, which they believed the Jewish people uniquely had. No Gentiles were allowed into God’s favor unless they were first converted into Judaism. This would have included circumcision.

The most pronounced in this lack of understanding of the gift of grace provided to the Church founded by Jesus most often seemed to be those who had placed their faith in Jesus after being raised in the Jewish sect of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were known to be stern rule-keepers and prided themselves on keeping the commands in Law of Moses. All 613 of them.

Of course Jesus came along and addressed how flawed this reasoning was when He spiritualized the Law in His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. For those who had never committed murder – Jesus taught murder begins in the heart, and you are guilty before God when your heart even conceives of it. Jesus taught adultery begins in the heart, and you are guilty before God when your heart lusts for it.

The truth is no one has ever kept the whole Law but Jesus. The Bible says to be guilty of the breaking even one of the Laws means you are guilty of breaking the whole Law.

In other words, the Pharisees who came to Christ needed God’s grace as much as the heathen Gentiles did. When spiritual pride is added to the equation – perhaps even more.

Pastor Bill

Acts 14:1…

The mission field is where those who are called will experience the highest of heights and the lowest of lows.

Of Jesus it is written that He had the oil of gladness more than any man, (Hebrews 1:9,) and also that He was a man of sorrows. (Isaiah 53:3)

That gamut of emotions well describes what those sent to share God’s Word may expect to experience.

Paul and Barnabas certainly did, and it began from the very first days of their ministry back on the mainland of modern-day Turkey – having sailed there from Cypress.

At Antioch of Pisidia this pattern of joyful receptivity followed by intense rejection began.

Having received the Word with such gladness they asked them to preach the same message the following Sabbath. Most of the whole city turned out to hear the message.  Because of the popular reception of their Gospel presentation, the Jews became envious of their popularity and had them driven out of town.

Undismayed by this rejection, Paul and Barnabas headed to Iconium where once again the reception was overwhelming. There was great joy because the Gospel message they shared was accompanied by great signs and wonders. They stayed there a long time because of this – but the joy they were initially received with faded – and this time both Jews and Gentiles alike planned to have them stoned.

Paul and Barnabas heard of this and fled for their lives to Lystra, where Paul observed a lame man he sensed had the faith to be healed – and he was! Having seen this, the people gathered and proclaimed them to be gods. Barnabas, they called ‘Zeus’, and Paul they called ‘Hermes,’ because he the was the chief speaker. Even the priest of the Temple of Zeus at Lystra came desiring to sacrifice to them because of the great miracle God worked through Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas would simply not allow this to be, declaring themselves to be, “mere men, having the same nature as you.” Still, they were exalted as great men, nonetheless.

But again it didn’t take long for their popularity to turn to abject rejection. The Jews at Iconium had been so incensed by Paul and Barnabas they traveled to Lystra and convinced all those who had been desiring to treat Paul and Barnabas as gods to stone them instead.

And this time they did. Paul was stoned by the people and left for dead. For many people this may have been the end of the story of their willingness to continue – but not Paul.

Pastor Bill

Acts 13:4…

The thing we must understand about Biblical Christianity – as opposed the vague misunderstandings about Christianity represented by the majority of churches meeting today is Christianity is supernatural in every way.

You cannot be Christian without understanding everything you are has a supernatural basis.

Even the material realm has this basis. Stop and think for a moment. How can two material cells coming together cause life to begin?

The question people seem to wrestle with is how long that life, once begun, will last? Is life a mere chemical reaction of billions of cells interacting with each other in a purely physical sense - or is ‘life’ evidenced by the soul alive within man.

Logically, if life is the chemical reaction of a bunch of cells - and purely material - how can anyone be held responsible for anything they do? It was the chemicals that made them do whatever they did. How could. judge and jury seek justice if behavior is just chemical reactions taking place in the brain?

And that’s the whole point of materialism, isn’t it? Ultimately, to escape judgment.

But then, materialists go contrary to the logic of their own belief system and judge people all the time.

The Book of Acts, (among many things it teaches anyone paying attention,) is that Christianity is supernatural in every way. It was never intended to be anything other than supernatural.

Paul recognized this immediately through his conversion on the Damascus Road. His faith in God was no longer some vague, legalistic, distant thing. It was immediate, and it was overwhelming. He was riding along, (or walking,) the road to Damascus when a bright light from heaven suddenly shone around him. Inexplicable. Incredible. There was NO natural explanation. He found himself suddenly prone on the ground, being queried by Jesus Himself. What? How could this be?

Now on Cypress, in the very act of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the proconsul, (an intelligent man named Sergius Paulus,) Paul and Barnabas find themselves opposed by a sorcerer named Elymas.  

Paul, perhaps thinking back to how it was Jesus had arrested himself on the Damascus Road, called for the same exact treatment for Elymas. “Be blinded!” (For a time.)

And he was.

The only way for Paul to resort to the supernatural was to completely believe in the supernatural. How about you?

Pastor Bill

Acts 13:1…

The church at Antioch becomes the church chosen by Jesus to be the primary sending church we see in the remainder of the Book of Acts.

We had read previously how this church had grown rapidly as unnamed believers who had come from Cyprus and Cyrene shared the news of the Gospel with Gentiles, while those who had fled Jerusalem shared with the Jews there.

This was the first church where we can presume both Jewish and Gentile believers came together to worship.

Barnabas had been sent from Jerusalem to see all that was taking place there. In his estimation, what this rapidly growing church needed was the gifting Saul of Tarsus, whom Barnabas had been so impressed by.

Barnabas still remembered Saul from their interactions about 14 years earlier.

He found Saul at Tarsus, and Saul agreed to come and serve and teach God’s Word to the fledgling church at Antioch. The church multiplied under the teaching ministry of Saul and Barnabas, eventually sending them to Jerusalem to deliver an offering for the church there.

Returning to Antioch, they continued ministering to the Lord, along with the other associated leaders in the church.

It was in these times of ministering to the Lord that the Lord singled out Saul and Barnabas to leave the church to go out on what we now refer to as ‘missionary journeys.’

They began by heading to the island of Cypress from which we remember some had come to teach the Gentiles at Antioch, which became the beginning of this marvelous church. We also remember Barnabas was from Cyress, so he would have had a familiarity with that territory, and probably a great affinity as well.

(We are also informed John Mark accompanied them on this first missionary journey, probably as an assistant to their ministry.)

Pastor Bill

Acts 12:1…

Now the first apostle is killed.

James, the brother of the apostle John, is put to death by Herod.

The reason is unspoken, but we know it is ultimately because of Satan’s opposition to the Church, in his attempt to kill it off at its beginning.

Herod, who was a Hasmonean Jew, was the grandson of Herod the Great. It was because of the Herod family being influenced by Greek culture that this sect of Jews became known of as ‘Herodians.’  

When Herod put James to death, he gauged the reaction of the Jews. We’re not sure what motivated Herod to have James killed, but he saw the Jews were pleased. Seeking to win further favor, he then had Peter arrested and planned to kill Peter also following Passover.

We find Peter now in a Roman prison, chained between two guards, with two additional guards keeping watch just outside the prison door.  Four squads of four Roman soldiers each had been assigned to rotate watches over Peter. This was how seriously they took Peter’s threat to Roman and Jewish rule as a leader in the Church.

You would think Peter would be greatly anxious about this, but instead we find him sleeping, seemingly unconcerned about being put to death the next morning. This is incredible, but then we remember Peter had seen first-hand ‘death’ had no real effect for a believer in Jesus Christ. His confidence should encourage us.

God had a different plan for Peter’s life. Peter would not be put to death at this time. (That would come later.)

An angel went right into the prison where Peter was and woke him up. Peter thought he was dreaming. While that may have been a pleasant dream, what was really taking place was much better.

Somehow, miraculously, the angel came in without waking anyone except Peter and removed the shackles from his wrists and conducted him out of the prison. The angel then departed.

Exhilarated, Peter fled in the night to John Mark’s mother’s home, where the believers were gathered in constant prayer for Peter’s life to be spared.

They had no idea how this may happen, and they had even less faith to believe it when their prayers were answered!

Pastor Bill

Acts 11:1…

In case you were wondering if Gentiles being saved was controversial in the first-days Church, Acts 11 answers that question.

It was VERY controversial.

Even for the apostle Peter. You might think with Peter’s stature and reputation among the followers of Jesus in those earliest days, his report of what took place at Cornelius’ house in Caesarea would be well-received.

But it wasn’t.

In fact, Peter faced a rebuke from believers of a Jewish background when they heard what had happened with Cornelius and his family and friends. It was not a gentle rebuke either. The Bible says they, “contended with him.” The Greek word employed means they opposed him.

In other words, Peter’s actions had stirred up a hornet’s nest among the Jewish believers in Judea.

They did not approve of the Gentiles being saved.

It was understandable to Peter they would think this way because a few days prior to all he witnessed at Cornelius’ house he thought the same way. He had also not been easily convinced the Gentiles would be saved as they had been saved, and only what he saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears fully convinced him.

So Peter had some explaining to do. Fortunately for Peter, he had taken 6 Jewish believers along with him on the journey from Joppa to Caesarea. (We don’t know if this was for his own security, or if Peter had already sensed what may happen at Cornelius’ house, and he thought it wise to have whatever happened witnessed by other Jewish believers.)

We remember Peter would have never gone with those men sent by Cornelius if the Holy Spirit had not explicitly told him to do so. And then upon entering Cornelius’ house, crowded by Cornelius’ family and friends, Peter made sure they knew he was violating Jewish custom to even set foot in the home of a Gentile.

This was an occasion when tightly-held and strongly-felt prejudices of the Jews toward Gentiles - and especially Roman soldiers - were forced to be overcome by Jesus’ instruction. Peter and those he had taken with him were astonished by all they saw Jesus do in the lives of all the Gentiles at Cornelius’ house that day.

But now Peter was called on the carpet for his actions and compelled to explain why he did what he did – because the potential ramifications were staggering to those Jewish believers listening intently to his defense.

Pastor Bill

Father’s Day 2026…Acts 10:1…

The necessity of knowing your Father is paramount.

It is the most important relationship any person can ever be part of.

Consider this man Cornelius. What do we know about him? He is a centurion, stationed at Caesarea.

As a centurion he would have had charge over 100 men, in a regiment sent by Rome to keep the peace in the nation of Israel. It was a turbulent nation, fraught with rebelliousness, and a constant thorn in the side of Rome, manifested in their contempt for the Roman soldiers stationed there.

As a result, the great majority of Roman soldiers regarded Israel as the worst possible place to serve, and they hated the Jews as much or more than the Jews hated them.

Cornelius was different. Not only did Cornelius not hate the Jewish culture he seemed to revel in it. His devotion to the Jews manifest itself in several ways, chief among them his giving of his own material wealth generously to those Jews who were in need. And rather than worshiping the multiplicity of the gods of pantheon worshiped by most Romans, Cornelius had come to understand and become devoted to the God of Israel.

This, in itself, made him stand out among all the Roman soldiers quartered with him at Caesarea. He was a man of great influence, and he had brought his entire household with him to his outpost, which likely meant he had his family with him, including his children. This also says much about Cornelius – as a father. If it was possible to have his family with him, he would.

This is what people could see in Cornelius. He was a good man, unusual in their estimation of any Roman soldier. It was a time when most would have regarded the only good Roman to be a dead Roman.

More than the things people saw in Cornelius, we learn what God saw in Cornelius. God saw a man, admittedly a ‘good’ man, a man of devotion who still lacked what was necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven.

And God saw a man among the entire Gentile population of the world he could employ to begin to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the west, and eventually to Europe.

It is very telling how through the events God divinely arranged, Cornelius was intent on bringing all his family, friends, and relatives into the same exposure to the God of Israel he himself had experienced.

He had no idea what the result would be, but God knew.

Cornelius knew Who the Father was, and The Father knew who Cornelius was. But until the Holy Spirit was poured out upon this assembly gathered with Cornelius, Cornelius did not KNOW the Father.

Pastor Bill

Acts 9:20…

What have you done since you were saved?

The example of Saul of Tarsus is extraordinary – but then, his life had always been extraordinary.

We think, “Oh, I could never be like Saul of Tarsus.” That’s most likely true. But what path have you been on since you saved?

We recognize the individuality involved in every born-again life. Saul had a huge role to play in the Body of Christ. It was demonstrably unlike the calling Jesus placed on any other life.

But where would Saul have been without Ananias?

It turns out this simple man named Ananias also played one the most critical roles in Church history. Had Ananias done nothing, Church history may have been entirely different.

It would certainly have been a missed opportunity for Ananias.

It was Ananias who set Saul on the path to one of the most important lives in human history. Where would the world be today without Paul the Apostle, and his missionary journeys, and his extensive writings comprising much of the New Testament scripture, and defining the correct and essential doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ?

I could never replicate the life of the Apostle Paul. I don’t think very many could. It is more likely no one could. But each of us who are born again are capable of doing what Ananias did. Understanding it is quite often what might be considered the lesser things we do in the Body of Christ turn out to be the greatest thing of all. This was the case in Ananias being obedient to Jesus and going to meet with Saul to baptize Saul with the Holy Spirit and with water.

Saul immediately began to preach Jesus is Messiah in the synagogues of Damascus. It was Ananias who set Saul free to do that.

It is difficult to imagine Saul being a lone ranger Christian, (even with all his gifting and intellectual fortitude, and his newfound depth of understanding for the absolute necessity of God’s grace being received in every life.)

Saul, like us, needed the backing of the local church at Damascus to support his ministry outreach. Especially at the beginning. It was this little-known man named Ananias who provided that. And we never hear from Ananias again. Was what he did of utmost importance, even to us today? You bet it was!

Pastor Bill

Acts 9:1…

Now we come to one of the most radical scenes of salvation in the entire Bible.

We have come to know the reputation of Saul of Tarsus. He was enraged by the emerging Church of Jesus Christ, because he hated Jesus, and denied Jesus was the Christ, and so he would imprison and put to death anyone who professed Jesus was the Christ.

It wasn’t enough to Saul of Tarsus to drag the first-days Christians from their homes in Jerusalem and imprison them, forcing them to blaspheme Jesus at the point of the sword, (as Paul later testified of himself,) he also sought letters from the high priest to pursue the Christians who had fled Jerusalem because of his persecution, even as far as Damascus.

It was on the road to Damascus that Saul of Tarsus was himself arrested.

By Jesus Christ.

Saul was suddenly surrounded by a bright light shining down from heaven, which caused him to fall to the ground. (We don’t know if he was on a horse or not, but it certainly seems likely he was.)

Now Saul who had such authority to seek to put Jesus and all thoughts of Jesus being the Christ to death, finds himself in submission to the voice of Jesus.

Jesus begins to interrogate Saul. Saul had almost certainly been present in the Sanhedrin when the Sanhedrin interrogated Jesus – and now the roles were reversed. Who had the power now?

It is amazing we as human beings think we have the ability to control anything – let alone the lives of other people. Those who usurp the role of God in people’s lives shall not be made to stand.

We can only imagine how stunned Saul must have been as Jesus began to interrogate him.

The question Jesus asks Saul is fascinating: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

How Saul responds is equally fascinating. Saul, (from the ground,) responds: “Who are you, Lord?”

Saul already understands he is not the one in power any longer. Out of either fear or reverence, he calls Jesus, “Lord.” That is the title only Jesus deserves, and under Jesus’ power Saul now recognizes this is so.

Jesus is indeed Lord of Lords and King of Kings, which Saul had previously vehemently denied. But Whom from this point on in his life Saul would just as vehemently proclaim Jesus to be.

Pastor Bill

Acts 8:26…

Philip, one of the initial seven deacons chosen to help with the daily distribution to the Hellenist widows, had followed those of the church fleeing the persecution of Saul of Tarsus down to the region of Samaria.

He boldly preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ there.

A revival broke out among the Samaritans, who - as the Jews - were looking for Messiah.

They recognized Jesus as Messiah through Philip’s Gospel preaching.

There was such a great response among the Samaritans the apostles remaining at Jerusalem heard about it.

They responded by sending Peter and John to lend apostolic authority to all the Lord was accomplishing there.

Then something unusual happened.

An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip telling him to leave this amazing revival taking place among the Samaritans and head south along the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is desert territory.

At this point you have to wonder what was going through Philip’s mind? He was in the middle of being greatly used of the Lord in this revival which had broken out in Samaria – and in the very midst of this wonderful harvest of souls, the Lord was calling him to go to desert territory in Gaza – where nobody was?

This makes no logical sense. One thing we can know for certain: this was NOT Philip’s idea.

The great question here is would Philip be obedient to God’s instruction – even though he had no idea why he was being told to go to Gaza? There was no further information provided Philip but to leave right away and head south. This would be a journey of about 70 miles on foot.

The great example provided for us here is Philip did leave. Immediately. No questions asked. And this is life in ministry, serving God. It is a step of faith, understanding if God is telling you to “Go,” He has a reason for you to go, even if He chooses not to share that reason with you.

Is this perhaps because God knows IF you knew the reason why He is calling you to go – you would carefully consider it – and perhaps choose not to go, since you may perceive it is not in your best interest to follow God’s instruction, in this case…

Had Philip known he was being sent to rescue the soul of a single Ethiopian, (in comparison to this marvelous and exciting revival in Samaria,) would it have made sense to him to go?

Does it make sense to you?

Pastor Bill

Acts 7:1…

Stephen has frustrated the intellectual theologians at the Synagogue of the Freedmen to such an extent they have induced false witnesses against Stephen with the intent of bringing a charge of blasphemy against God.

They were no longer content to engage him in dialogue or theological arguments because Stephen was proving them wrong in embarrassing fashion, and they saw themselves as protectors of the Jewish faith just as the Sanhedrin had with Jesus.

And just as the Sanhedrin had put Jesus to death on charges of blasphemy against God, the Synagogue of the Freedmen, (possibly/probably including Saul of Tarsus,) would seek the same result. Failing to win the argument with Stephen, they conducted him to the Council.

(Lest we forget, the reason they heard from Stephen in the first place was because he performed signs and wonders among the people.)

Now before the Council, the high priest opened the hearing by seeking to know if the things they had heard about Stephen were true.

Stephen continued in the same line of reasoning he had employed with the Synagogue of the Freedmen. (If anything, he turned it up a notch.)

Whereas Jesus, before the Sanhedrin said nothing in his own defense, Stephen had much to say, but not in his own defense. Stephen laid out a troubling history of the nation of Israel, from its inception with Abraham all the way through the entirety of the Old Testament, proving over and over again Israel had rejected the redeemer God had sent them, and then in each case, had come to understand the one they had rejected was in fact, the only redeemer who could save them.

Over and over again they rejected the prophets God had provided to convict them of their sin before God, and they chose rather to continue in their sins and idolatry rather than repenting.

Some prophets they jailed, and some they killed.

Now they will do exactly the same thing to Stephen, and he doesn’t back down to preserve his life. In fact, he turns up the heat, hoping they may listen to the brutal truth about themselves.  


Pastor Bill

Acts 6:1…

By now the church was multiplying rapidly. It must have been amazing to be there in those days.

But because of the sheer size, it was no longer possible for the twelve apostles to manage everything going on while at the same time preparing messages and spending the time in prayer needed to teach and to bring the needs of the fledgling church before God.

The problems faced in church plants, especially those with no real examples to follow, can be many.

Imagine the problems faced in the very first Church plant, with absolutely no model to follow after – because they WERE the model.

Of course disputes would arise. They would need God’s guidance to settle the issues because every church is comprised of people who have a fallen nature. All at once, they were all learning to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit at the same time. Leaders as well as followers were learning to hear God’s voice - and all of them desiring to reflect God’s will.

One of the great problems they faced was the admixture of people groups that had not necessarily gotten along so well prior to coming to faith in Jesus. On one hand you had the Jewish Judeans and Galileans who were of Hebrew culture and background, and on the other hand you had those who were Jewish but had a Greek background – called ‘Hellenists.’

There was sort of a ‘natural’ divide to be overcome, and it was challenging to do away with the perceived differences and prejudices whether real or imagined.

The very first dispute we see arising in the first Church was about money. Interesting. This would have been a huge issue had not a solution which seemed to satisfy all parties been arrived at swiftly. While the Holy Spirit is not directly mentioned, it does appear as if the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the gift of a word of wisdom which brought about a solution to the issue.

It seems - due to the time spent by the apostles in prayer and study - it was perceived they were not meeting the needs of the Hellenist widows in their number. This broke along natural lines, as the unspoken implication is they WERE meeting the financial needs of the Hebrew widows.

The decision they arrived at was two-fold: The apostles would NOT spend less time in study and prayer to serve the Hellenist widows. Instead, they would allow the people to recommend Godly men of character to accomplish that good and necessary work. These men would be the first ‘deacons’ in the Church, identified as those who would serve the physical needs of the Body, while the apostles would continue to serve the spiritual needs of the Body.

And all agreed with the grace and worthiness of this decision – and so we can know the Holy Spirit guided their thoughts in arriving at this solution – and it continues to be the model for our church to this day.

Pastor Bill

Acts 5:12…

After confronting rather than overlooking the hypocrisy evidenced by Ananias and Sapphira - in dealing with the purity of the fledgling Church – we now see the power of God continue to flow in His Church.

We remember the prayer of the apostles and disciples following their being threatened not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ – and then being released because the healing they had performed on the man lame since birth was regarded by all to be miraculous. Their prayer was two-fold: for God to continue to work signs and wonders to draw the multitudes, and then for them to have the boldness to preach the Gospel to all those gathered to see the signs and wonders.

God answered their prayer.

Of course they were faithful to preach, and multitudes were added to their numbers. Even those too afraid to publicly risk excommunication from Judaism respected them. There was too much happening to deny the reality of Jesus’ power working with them and then speaking through them.

But hadn’t they just been warned by the Sanhedrin to never speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ ever again?

So they were arrested again, and once again they were placed in prison overnight – anticipating an appearance before the Sanhedrin the next day. But God intervened, sending an angel to release them from prison and instructing them to go right back where they had stood in the Temple, and to continue teaching the people in the name of Jesus Christ. And so they did.

The next morning, when the Sanhedrin sent the guard to release the prisoners for their appearance before them – lo, and behold the prisoners were not in their cell, even though the cell remained locked and the guard remained present. Whoa! What was this!? Where could they be?

They were right back where the angel told them to be. Preaching the Gospel in the Temple!
 
And once again the disciples were arrested, and once again they were hauled before the Sanhedrin where they confronted the assembled panel of judges over their complicity in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, (which they thought and hoped they had escaped all notice of.)

When you are party to putting the Lord Jesus Christ to death, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, the notice of the crime and the punishment for it remains with you eternally – unless you repent. No amount of bravado or earthly power can overcome that guilt of unbelief which remains.

Pastor Bill