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

Acts 4:32…

In that day to profess Jesus as your Savior and Lord was serious business. It cost you everything.

It bears a much more serious connotation than it does in our day.

To be converted to Christ may cost us some family upset, and perhaps even some mocking about your new-found faith by your friends who cannot fathom what has happened to you. We may find ourselves searching for a Bible-teaching church rather than the dead denominational environment we used to attend.

We may be considered, “no fun anymore.”

But that’s about the extent of it for most of us. (Unless perhaps we’re converted out of the Muslim faith. Then we may face some of the consequences they faced in the first days’ Church…

…When professing Jesus IS The Christ would cost you everything.

You could not do that and remain in any way, shape, or form a member of polite society.

You would be excommunicated from Judaism, shunned by your family, no longer able to work, and no longer able to buy and sell.

In not many days, the people at Jerusalem would be hunted down, imprisoned and even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ being resurrected from the dead.

In the meantime - before THAT degree of persecution began - they all had to live with a very severe degree of ostracization from all the rights and privileges of Judaism.

For those new to the faith, who lived in poverty – as many of the followers of Jesus did – this was a huge problem for their lives. Led by the Holy Spirit, out of concern for those who had been likewise saved by Jesus but could no longer provide for themselves – those fellow believers of means in their midst began to provide for those who could not provide for themselves by selling off their lands, or by directly providing for the poor from their savings. The funds were given to the leadership of the newfound Church and distributed to those who had need.

This was not ‘communism’ as some try to say – but ‘commonism.’ Communism says: “What’s yours is mine.” Commonism says: “What’s mine is yours.” (And even this means of extreme generosity only lasted until the money ran out.)

Pastor Bill

Acts 4:17…

Can the Gospel be silenced?

This has always been – and will always be – the attempt of Satan and his demonic forces.

Those who represent the prohibition of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in any way, shape, or form represent the spirit of antichrist.

Since only good can come from the presentation of the Gospel, anyone who would prohibit its spread is advancing evil.

The Holy Spirit will always help those who are representing Jesus to recognize the forces of evil in preventing them from speaking.

The Holy Spirit in Peter and John has helped them to realize the attempt of the powerful Sanhedrin to shut them up is just that – an attempt. Even though the Sanhedrin has all the power over practicing Jews in the nation of Israel at that time, their rule has ended in the lives of those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation – as Peter and John have.

Power is only granted to those who have won the hearts of the people. The Sanhedrin has done everything possible to negate their influence over the people by forgetting the very basis of what power can accomplish – if wielded in the proper way. Power is meant to be employed on behalf of the people, to serve their needs, and never to dominate them.

For over 100 years, the Sanhedrin, once established as a force for good, has backslid into the rot of corruption - and its present form of existence only furthers the purpose of Satan. Jesus said they have chosen not to enter heaven, and they have made those they proselyte into their form of Judaism, “twice as much a son of hell as themselves.” (Matt 23:15)

Now, is the Holy Spirit in Peter and John likely to cause them to follow Satan’s command to shut up about Jesus?

Not on their lives.

Pastor Bill

Resurrection Day…

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have [d]fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

On that Sunday morning, the ladies seemingly had no idea what they were about to find as they went to the tomb where Jesus’ dead bo had been placed. Their only thought was if they could somehow move the massive stone away from the doorway of the tomb, they would further anoint Jesus’ dead body as was their custom. They wanted to demonstrate their great love and respect for Jesus, even though His death had left them confused and seemingly alone in the world.

We can only imagine their surprise in finding the stone rolled away, the soldiers fled, and two angels asking why they sought the living among the dead?!

This would all be inexplicable to them. How could this be? How could Jesus - whom they KNEW to be dead - possibly be alive?

This is the question each of us must answer for ourselves every time we are likewise confronted by the empty tomb Jesus had been placed in upon His death.

It cannot be explained away. There is only one answer: Jesus, though dead, was raised to life on the third day following His death – just as He had said He would be.

It was difficult for any of Jesus’ followers to literally believe what He had told them. (Even though He Himself had raised the son of the widow at Nain from the dead and then followed that amazing miracle by raising Jairus’ daughter, and then His friend Lazarus from the dead.)

Resurrection was plainly NOT on their minds as they approached the tomb.

Maybe it wasn’t on yours either. It is so far out of the realm of what is possible in human experience most people still try to explain it away. But it cannot be.

HE IS RISEN! And we who believe shall be as well!

Pastor Bill

Palm Sunday…

It was an extraordinary day.

Israel had been waiting for their promised Messiah for 14 generations, (since David.)

That’s a long time to become settled in your ways. Lethargic. Brittle. Unyielding.

This was especially true of those who were the so-called leaders of the Jews. It had been hundreds of years since they had born any Spiritual fruit. Legalism had become the dominant theme of how they chose to represent God. The Law of Moses was held over the people like the blade of a guillotine.

Much as in our day, there was a class of ruling ‘elites’ who determined what was right for the people to do. And just as in our day, since the ruling ‘elites,’ since they wielded all the power, became totally corrupt because there was no one to stop them. Once corruption begins, and once corruption is at the very center of the seat of power, it is very difficult for anyone to change the course of that corrupting influence.

Jesus was the only One capable of overturning the religious system that had been imposed upon the Jewish people since the Hasmonean dynasty 150 years earlier. The roots of dead legalism had been planted even earlier than that, when the Jews returned to Jerusalem from 70 years of exile in Babylon.

It had been during that very period when Judah was exiled to Babylon for their idolatry and their refusal to keep the seventh year Sabbath of the land when God spoke through the angel Gabriel to Daniel the prophet about THIS day – when Messiah would not only enter Jerusalem, but allow Himself to be recognized AS the Messiah, and to be worshiped as the King of the Jews.

Zechariah prophesied Messiah would enter on the colt of a donkey, in humility. A sign of peace.

Of course this would upset the ruling class. It was meant to.

Even if they could have silenced the people on THIS day in human history, (which they couldn’t,) the rocks would have cried out. Praise for Jesus was perfected in the mouths of the babes, and not the rulers.

After 2000 years since Jesus entered Jerusalem, not much has changed. The Church Jesus gave birth to has once again become either stiff and unyielding in its power, or wildly unbiblical in its practice. Only a remnant remains.

A faithful remnant that longs for His return.  

Pastor Bill

Acts 4:5…

Imagine being arrested for performing a miracle. For doing good…

Then having to spend the night in prison, awaiting your fate before the same Sanhedrin that sentenced Jesus to death – and then followed through with the Roman governor to make sure Jesus was crucified.

There is plenty of reason to be nervous about what will take place as a result of bringing attention to yourselves and raising the ire of the governing body of the Jews. There is plenty of reason to suspect if they killed Jesus for performing the miracles He performed, they will also be more than willing to make sure you are killed as well.

The only thing that prevented Peter and John from being hauled before the Sanhedrin immediately on the previous day was because it was too late in the day for them to create a judgment panel to assess Peter and John, and what they had done.

It wasn’t so much that they had performed a miracle – that may actually work in their favor. It would be because the miracle they performed in the name of Jesus Christ drew a crowd – and then Peter boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to that crowd.

And the crowd listened. But more importantly, the crowd responded.

This was a threat to the authority of the Sanhedrin over the lives of the people – just as Jesus had been perceived to be a threat.  

Imagine the impact of their public arrest, in the midst of the crowd that had just witnessed this amazing first miracle performed by Peter and John – and then listened as Peter declared that the name of Jesus, in fact, was the power which permitted this lame man since birth to stand and walk and leap for joy praising God – and entering the Temple for the first time in his life! (Those who were not ‘whole’ were not permitted to enter the Temple courts.)

So this is what Peter and John faced on the next day. Would they remain faithful in the face of a possible death sentence? What had changed in Peter’s life since the night he denied knowing Jesus at all?

Pastor Bill

Acts 3:1…

Jesus has a way of drawing crowds around those who are faithful to serve Him.

As Peter and John approached the Beautiful Gate of the Temple at the hour of prayer, they came across a man familiar to all who passed through that gate. He was a man born lame from his mother’s womb that had remained in that condition 40 years.
 
In those days, the best way to gather alms for your personal need was to situate yourself by one of the gates of the Temple, and appeal to the charitable hearts of those passing through those gates seeking the favor of God upon their lives.

What better way to earn God’s favor than to be charitable to someone in need as you make your approach?

Peter and John’s problem was they didn’t have any money. The lame man’s appeal to them was about to fall on deaf ears. But Peter recognized this as a divine appointment, and instead he instructed the man to fix his eyes upon them.

What happened next was the first divine miracle of physical healing of the Church Age, following the pouring out of the Holy Spirit baptism on the Day of Pentecost.

Overcoming 40 years of muscular atrophy and whatever disjointedness of the bones which caused the man to be lame, Peter, filled by the faith the Holy Spirit provided to risk everything, grabbed the man by the right hand and commanded him to rise and walk, and immediately, he did.

Of course, this also immediately drew a crowd as the man began leaping and walking and praising God. For all those familiar with this man from his routine of positioning himself by this gate to gather funds – this was the most amazing thing they had ever seen! A true miracle, inexplicable by any reasonable explanation. The people all ran to Peter and John to see what kind of men had done this for the lame man.

Peter, recognizing Who had performed this mighty work, and knowing better than anyone it had not been himself, immediately deflected all the attention to the Lord Jesus Christ. He also recognized the opportunity this amazing miracle provided and launched immediately into his second Gospel message since being baptized by Jesus with the Holy Spirit.

The true need of the lame man was not to walk, but to be saved from eternal death. The same was true for all those gathered, no matter what they perceived their ‘need’ to be on that day.

Pastor Bill

Acts 2:22…

After explaining to the large crowd gathered because of the sound of the rushing wind and the appearing of tongues of fire – and then hearing of the wonderful works of God in each of their native tongues – about what was happening in their midst, (citing Joel 2:28-32,) Peter goes on to preach his first message.

What a message it was!

It is not a lengthy message, but it is a masterpiece of expository preaching. Peter provides the NEED to be saved, why there is a necessity to BEING saved, and then HOW to be saved. The entire message lasts maybe ten minutes. I’m certain it was delivered with the kind of passion Peter was well-known for, and it produced stunning results.

Peter began by reminding them of the wonderful works of Jesus they had all seen for themselves. Given this proof Jesus was in fact their long-promised Messiah, why had they refused to believe Jesus WAS the Messiah?

Peter then goes on to reveal everyone is guilty of Jesus’ death by their unbelief in Who Jesus was.

This is called CONVICTION.

Peter informs them every single one of them who chose NOT to believe Jesus is Messiah is guilty of His death. That was true on the Day of Pentecost, and it remains true today. If you choose not to believe Jesus is Messiah, despite all the undeniable proofs Jesus IS Messiah, you put Him to death in your mind.

Rest assured The Father does not take kindly to anyone who takes to death of His Son lightly.

Before even beginning his message, Peter had provided relief from this extreme degree of guilt everyone in his audience bore. The last line of the passage of Joel 2:28-32 provided that needed relief:
“And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  
 
The question is, why should they call on the name of the Lord?

Peter goes on to provide a masterful explanation, employing the prophetic words penned by David, in two ways.

1.David spoke of the resurrection, which could not possibly have applied to himself, since his body remained in the tomb to that day. David had to have been speaking of Jesus, whom you all know has been raised from the dead.
2.David calls Messiah his Lord. How could a son of David be his Lord? No one in their culture would ever call a son of their lineage their Lord, unless, of course, he was.

Peter’s message pointedly reminded them they are without excuse – as is everyone today who refuses to believe Jesus IS the Christ.

Pastor Bill

Acts 2:1…

The apostles and disciples had been gathered together in one accord for ten days since Jesus’ ascension.

They had no real idea what would come next.

Jesus had commanded them to wait for the promise of the Father, which He had told them about.

Sometimes, (perhaps all the time,) waiting is the hardest part. Jesus had told them the Holy Spirit would come upon them, which Jesus called ‘the baptism with the Holy Spirit.’

For those who were already born again - as all of the approximately 120 gathered together were – this may have been a trying time. But Jesus told them to wait, and so they did.

What would happen next no one but Jesus could have possibly predicted. It was now the Day of Pentecost, and hundreds of thousands of Jews were gathered in Jerusalem for the days of the feast, described in Leviticus 23.

We well remember in John 7, when on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, when the priests poured the water from the Pool of Siloam on the ground, signifying God had always provided water during the days of the desert wanderings - and that those days were now completed - that Jesus stood up the midst of the quiet reverence of that moment as the thousands were gathered in thanksgiving to God, and declared in strong voice so everyone gathered could hear, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Now, at the Feast of Pentecost, all those who had listened carefully would come to understand the meaning of what Jesus said on that high day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

The Holy Spirit, the ‘Living Water,’ was indeed poured out, and in a very powerful way so as to gather a crowd of worshiping Jews from the known world. There was suddenly the sound of a mighty rushing wind, and the appearance of tongues of fire rested upon each of the disciples gathered in the upper room.

And there was spontaneous praise lifted to the Father by each one of those born-again disciples in the native tongue of the crowd come to see what was going on.

Now all those who had waited patiently for this outpouring - without knowing exactly what they were waiting for - knew why Jesus had told them to wait - and what He had told them to wait for.

Out of their hearts poured forth torrents of living water, and The Church Age was begun.
 
Pastor Bill

Acts 1:12…

They had all just witnessed the most amazing thing human eyes have ever seen. Jesus, before their very eyes, had given them His final instructions and then been taken up into heaven from whence He had come.

Before now, they had thought Jesus was born into this world as they had had been. But now, His pre-existence – which He had spoken of – was proven. Who but God in flesh could be taken up into heaven before their very eyes? (Of course we remember Elijah taken up in chariots of fire, but only Elisha was permitted to have the view of that taking place – as proof he would be the continuation of Elijah’s ministry.)

Jesus’ ascension, we learn here in Acts 1, took place 40 days after His resurrection. We do not know much about all Jesus did during those 40 days, as little is recorded. We know Jesus appeared to Peter along with 6 other disciples at the Sea of Galilee. We know Jesus appeared to over 500 people at once, as recorded later by Paul, and we know Jesus appeared to His half-brother James. Of course we remember Jesus’ first resurrection appearance in the upper room with His disciples on the evening of His resurrection.

Luke also tells us Jesus took them all through a Bible study, employing the entirety of the Old Testament to reveal to them exactly how He fulfilled Old Testament scripture, which they had completely misunderstood pertaining to when the Kingdom Age would begin. It would NOT begin now…

But when Jesus was ascended into the shekinah glory of God, and had disappeared from their sight, two men in white, (believed to be angels,) declared to them Jesus WOULD return to rule the earth exactly as He had departed, and THAT’S when the Kingdom Age would begin. Their’s was not to know when that would be – as Jesus had instructed them in Matthew 24 – only that it would happen in God’s timing.

We should all be living with this expectation.

In all probability, as excited as they were to witness Jesus ascend into the cloud from the Mount of Olives, there was most likely an emotional letdown unlike anything they had ever experienced. The most joyous, miraculous, informative, loving, caring, time of their lives had ended.

As trying as it must have been to them for Jesus to no longer be constantly with them during the 40 days following His resurrection - as He only appeared to them now and then - the idea He was gone for good must have been especially difficult for them to bear.

In essence, the two angels told them to, “stop looking up, and to get busy doing what Jesus had told them to do.”

Of course the FIRST THING Jesus commanded them to do was to WAIT, for the baptism with the Holy Spirit, which they were to receive not many days from the day of His ascension.
 
Pastor Bill