Mission Established (Acts 13:1-12)

If you could bring Billy Graham back for one more mission where would you send him? To a dark city like Dubai or Las Vegas? Maybe to the UN or a G20 summit? Maybe to Burning Man or Comic-Con? There are a lot of places for a lot of reasons. If we give our imaginations room to run, there aren’t enough pins for the map.

This is why the Church sends countless missionaries, both short-term and long-term, volunteer and ordained, to every corner of the earth. We can see in the book of Acts and through history that the targets of missions work have shifted and changed. Places that were once a hotbed of evangelism and revival give way to new destinations. That ongoing evolution can be seen in recent years by looking at who is sending missionaries and who is receiving them. The United States is still the number 1 exporter of missionaries, but, as of 2010, we also receive the most missionaries.

In fact, in 2013, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity started reporting on what they call the “reverse mission…where younger churches in the Global South are [now] sending missionaries to Europe…Nearly half of the top 20 mission-sending countries in 2010 were in the Global South, including Brazil, India, the Philippines, and Mexico.”

Where should Christians be “going” with the Gospel? It’s an important question. But, left to our own devices, there are innumerable answers. After all, what place doesn’t God want to reach with His Good News? His goal is every place, every heart. And, if we were to prioritize targets, it’s likely that a place like Costa Mesa wouldn’t make the top ten. Or Transylvania, where there was revival in the 19th century. Or Wales in 1904.

History shows that God the Holy Spirit has a lot of very specific and, often very peculiar places in mind when it comes to the spread of the Gospel. And not only does He have specific places in mind, He has specific people in mind who He wants to use in those places.

In Acts 13 we have the beginning of what we call Paul’s first missionary journey. After years of preparation and faithful service, he’s going to start doing one of the things that we most associate him with: going into the Gentile world to preach the Gospel to anyone who would listen.

He is launched, not by his own impulse, but by the specific call of the Holy Spirit. As he and Barnabas and the church in Antioch respond, we see some wonderful gains on behalf of the Kingdom, but we must also recognize the submission, the struggles and the sacrifices that are part of following the Lord.

Acts 13:1 – Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

As we embark on this first great adventure with Paul and Barnabas, we are first reminded that they were connected and moored to a local church – the church at Antioch. We hear all the time the sentiment that “the church is not a building.” And, of course that’s true. But there is a sentiment that “the Church” is only the universal aspect of belonging to Christ. Therefore, I don’t need to really connect myself, submit myself, to a local congregation, because I’m a Christian, and therefore I am ‘the Church’ no matter where I am or what I do.

The Apostles didn’t think that way. The writers of the New Testament didn’t think that way. While it’s clear that all Christians were part of a universal family, all one Body and Bride, yet it’s equally clear that local congregations of Christians, who met together, were a necessity. It was a given. Luke says here, “In the church at Antioch.” It was identifiable. It was a group of people who where involved with each other, regularly gathering for worship and instruction. It was a group that was independent from the church in Jerusalem, yet unified with them by love. When the Christians in Judea were suffering, Antioch came to the rescue. But when it was time to send out missionaries, Antioch didn’t wait for the go-ahead or a flow chart from Jerusalem.

Today, there are many Christians who, for one reason or another, don’t feel they need to be part of a local church. But, that’s like saying, “I’m an independent soldier. I’m generally part of the army, but I don’t belong to a platoon or a brigade. I’m my own guy and wherever I go, I’m the army.” There’s a term for that: It’s AWOL. And it’s an unacceptable form of service.

Now, in this local fellowship at Antioch, things were going great. The church was thriving. We’ve seen that they had effective evangelists, which led to great numbers of people being saved and joining in. They had incredible, apostolic teaching. They were full of grace and full of generosity. And here, in verse 1 we see that they were wonderfully diverse. There in the leadership you had older men and younger men. Men from all sorts of backgrounds and different nations. They were very well set up and doing incredible work in this important city. And they were a group of Christians who were intimately connected with one another. They were a real nickname crowd. That’s a trait carried over from Jesus’ style.

It says that some of these leaders were “prophets.” What does that mean? Well, from what we can tell, in these early years before the New Testament was completed, there was a church office of prophet, like there was the office of apostle. While the office no longer exists, we recognize that the gift of prophecy continues today. So what does it mean to be a prophet in this sense? Well, they did, at times, tell the future. We’ve already seen that happening in Acts and we’ll see it again. These prophets also had a gift for speaking forth the word of God. And, we would add that they had a special gift for understanding the Old Testament, in light of Christ, the cross and the resurrection.

Acts 13:2 – 2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Where it says “they were worshiping the Lord,” your translation may say, “ministering to the Lord,” and that is a better sense of what was happening. The term Luke used is the one used for the Temple service in the Old Testament. When these believers went to church, they saw it as an opportunity for them to minister to the Lord.

Of course, in the church we receive help and encouragement and instruction and all sorts of benefits. But a verse like this reminds us that our gathering is not primarily for our benefit, but that the Lord might be glorified and worshiped and blessed by us. He is the object of attention. We will be benefitted as the Lord speaks to us and sings over us, but we’re here for Him.

In this case, it seems the church at Antioch was specifically looking for the Lord’s leading. They were fasting and listening for direction. Sometimes Christians argue about fasting, whether we need to do it or not. All we can say is: The Christians in the New Testament fasted. We should, individually and as a local church, explore it as a practice.

As they fasted and listened, the Spirit gave this very specific call. Now, how did this work? Was there an audible voice? Maybe. But it seems more likely that God spoke this message through one of the prophets listed in verse 1.

However they were led, what they were supposed to do was clear: Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work for which they were called. Does that mean they weren’t doing what God wanted them to be doing? Not at all. In fact, these guys had been really busy ministering to people and exercising their gifts. As they lived out their regular, Christian lives, that included a lot of service to the Lord. But now, God was setting before them a specific task, a specific mission, to go and accomplish.

Let’s take note of the fact that Paul and Barnabas weren’t just sitting around, waiting for the time when they’d be missionaries overseas. This is a sickness that sometimes plagues well-meaning Christians. They are convinced that God has placed a certain call on their lives or given them certain gifts. But, while they wait for their spiritual at bat, they refuse to do other ministry. They don’t serve. They don’t exercise other gifts or participate in what they think are the more menial, every day parts of Christianity. Paul didn’t act that way. He knew from the day he was converted that he’d be preaching to many, far into the empire. But, while he waited for his launch date, what have we seen him doing? Serving. Growing. Being a part of the church. Bringing relief to those who need it.

Now, on the other side, imagine what this would’ve meant for the church in Antioch. They were being asked to give up two of their most beloved and gifted leaders for years. This would be a significant sacrifice for them. But, God was asking them to willfully give up these guys for a time. When it says “set apart” there, the idea is “release them. Let them go free.” As always, the Lord wanted there to be a gracious unity in the church, not unilaterality.

Acts 13:3 – 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

They fasted and prayed again. They were people who were full of faith, but not hasty. We’ve seen the laying on of hands quite a few times in the book already. We’ve seen in in healing, of course, but also it’s done to confer the Holy Spirit, to confer spiritual gifts, and to set people out to ministry. There’s nothing magical about it. We don’t want to make the same mistake that Simon Magus made back in chapter 8. It is simply a way that Christians can show affection for one another and show that we identify with each other and that we acknowledge what the Lord is doing in a person’s life.

The believers in Antioch are an inspiring example of generosity. They did not withhold the Gospel from their neighbors. They did not withhold their resources from those in need. And they didn’t withhold their Barnabas and Paul from the world at large. Can you imagine Paul, the apostle, being one of your pastors for years and then having someone say, “You wanna let this guy go?” I want Paul to minister to me! But they submitted, sacrificed and sent them off.

Acts 13:4 – 4 So being sent out by the Holy Spirit…

Let’s notice this, it’s very important. They were not sent by the design of the church or some strategic initiative or some demographic research. They were sent by the Holy Spirit. The whole world was in need of the Gospel, how could they know where to go? Some commentators suggest that they decided (on their own) to go to Cyprus since that’s where Barnabas was from. But that makes no sense. The Holy Spirit had a specific itinerary in mind. He’s the one that sent them.

Acts 13:4b-6a – they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant. 6 When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos…

The island of Cyprus is about 130 miles long. As far as square mileage, it’s about twice the size of Kings County. It was a deeply pagan place, like most of the world at the time. It also had a large Jewish population, indicated by the presence of multiple synagogues.

Why did Barnabas and Paul make it a habit of going first to the synagogues? Paul was, after all, called to the Gentiles, right? He was, but not at the expense of Jews. Jesus had told him he’d speak to Gentiles, kings and Israelites. Paul preached to everyone. And these two men were, of course, Jews themselves. They had an undying love for their countrymen. Going to the synagogues was a natural and reliable way to start a preaching ministry in a given city. Because, as tradition would have it, visitors like Paul would be invited to share a message to the assembled group. They were able to quickly make connections and proclaim Jesus Christ. And, word would travel fast. We know that’s true from what we’ve already seen in the book, but in a moment we’ll see that, by the time they get to the capital on the other side of the island, the governor already knows all about their trip.

Luke gives us a piece of information that will become very important later on: John Mark came along as their assistant. This was no cushy job. He wasn’t dead weight. In fact, the term used means, “under-oarsman.” Think Ben Hur, but without the beatings! But John would’ve been helping with menial work. Or making travel arrangements. Perhaps he was involved in the ministry side, too, but there was a lot of hard work to be done.

Church work, missions work, requires a lot of effort. We’re so thankful that Calvary Hanford has always been a church full of hard workers, who are willing to do what needs doing.

It says there at the beginning of verse 6: They traveled the whole island! We’re not sure how long it took, but what a great testimony to be able to say that they were able to cover the whole area. It reminds me of those maps that Verizon and T-Mobile use to show everywhere their network can reach. I pray that the Lord would, by His sovereign will, increase our coverage of ministry.

There, in Paphos, we pick back up:

Acts 13:6b – they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

This guy had a lot going on. The name he went by was “Son of the Savior.” He was involved in occult practices. He had Jewish heritage. And he had made his way into the capital building, where he wielded influence over the governor.

God had defeated one of Satan’s servants in the last passage, but the battle continues. There will always be additional opposition to the Lord’s work as long as we’re on this earth.

Acts 13:7 – 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.

The governor of the island was thirsty for spiritual things. And we’re told he was a thoughtful, intelligent man. Unfortunately, being smart doesn’t guarantee that a person won’t be taken advantage of by the devil. As an aside, one of the great privileges we have as Americans is to vote for our leaders. When those opportunities come around, let’s remember that intelligence or worldly success isn’t enough. An intelligent man is susceptible to the Bar-Jesuses that the Devil sends their way. We want leaders who are people of wisdom and integrity. People like Daniel and Nehemiah.

Acts 13:8 – 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Matthew Henry wrote: “Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many.” A capital building is a perfect place for our enemy to attack. Look at our situation today. With all the freedoms we’re meant to have in this nation, suddenly a very few have almost limitless power. Imagine, during the time we find ourselves in, how different things would be if our leaders were Spirit-filled, Bible believing Christians!

Now, whenever I picture this interaction between Paul and Bar-Jesus, I always think of it as a quick thing. Like that scene in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers when Gandalf drives out Wormtongue, who was poisoning the mind of King Théoden. It’s a pretty quick showdown.

But that might not be how it happened here. In Paphos today you can visit with they call St. Paul’s Column. It’s a tradition and is extra-biblical, so we can’t be sure, but the story goes that Bar-Jesus used his influence to cause Paul to be tortured – scourged – while tied to this column. Paul, who won great territory for Christ’s Kingdom, who pioneered work into places no one else had ever gone, the great victor of the faith, nevertheless also suffered great injuries and made great sacrifices in his service to Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:9-10 – 9 But Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths of the Lord?

One of the terrific themes in Acts is that, if we’re in the will of God, you and I do not need to be intimidated by anyone. Not Herod. Not Elymas. Not angry silversmiths. Not Sadducees or soldiers. Paul could be sure of the power of God because he was walking in obedience to the will of God.

Paul spoke incredibly sternly, but lives were hanging in the balance. This guy was engaging in a campaign of opposition, in the hopes that Serius Paulus would not get saved! Paul rightfully calls him out. He says, “You act like you’re the son of the savior, but you’re a son of the Devil!”

Acts 13:11 – 11 Now, look, the Lord’s hand is against you. You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

In wrath, God remembers mercy. Bar-Jesus wasn’t struck dead, though he deserved it. He wasn’t even made permanently blind. Rather, this physical judgment would be temporary, as it had been for Paul, himself. We hope that Bar-Jesus would see the darkness he was living in and turn to faith in Christ, as Saul of Tarsus had done. We don’t know if he did, but we do know that God has this kind of mercy, even for people like this.

Acts 13:12 – 12 Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

The message had power. The Gospel always has power, in every place. There’s nowhere the Gospel doesn’t work. But, one of the reasons that their message was so powerful was because they were in the will of God and in the place He had asked them to go. Eventually we’re going to get to Acts 19 where there are some guys, well meaning, wanting to do God’s work, and they take it on themselves to go cast out some demons. But it goes very badly for them. They hadn’t been set apart for that work. They were operating under their own initiative.

So, how do we apply this? Do we wait to do spiritual things until we get a nearly audible message from the Holy Spirit? No. That’s not what Paul did. He busied himself with spiritual service. He even made plans to go certain places like Asia and Rome and Spain. But he and the other Christians in this book were very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They wanted to be specifically directed and took it seriously. When they got an idea, they prayed about it and looked into it, but, if the Lord said “No,” which He often did, they didn’t force the issue. In the mean time they lived out their faith as fully as they could in the place where they found themselves, until the Lord presented them with some new task, some new opportunity, be it long or short term.

We began with the question of where we would send Billy Graham for one last mission. The truth is, we’re living out that question, but with ourselves as the Billy Graham in the equation! You and I are under the same commission, given the same Spirit, part of the same universal Body. And before us is a huge world that none of us could hope to cover on our own. So, am I supposed to go to Costa Mesa like Chuck Smith or Africa like David Livingstone? Am I supposed to stay in Antioch like Lucius or leave for a time like Paul? Does God want me to be a Barnabas or a John Mark? These are questions we can’t answer but the Spirit can. He has peculiar missions set apart for us and He invites us to discover them as we operate within a local church, living the regular Christian life, ministering to the Lord.

Dana Robert, author of the book Christian Mission: How Christianity Became A World Religion, assessed today’s mentality when it comes to missions. She says, “The current situation is almost a total free-for-all.”

Acts reminds us that God has a specific plan for His Church universal, for our church local and for each of our lives individual. We are free to line up with Him or go our own way. We know the better choice to make.

The King’s Speech (Acts 12:20-25)

Who was the first sitting president to visit California? The year was 1880, the man was Rutherford B. Hayes, our 19th president. Hayes was seen as a bit of a lame duck, so he packed up his family on a great tour of the west. They crossed the border on what was, at the time, California’s biggest holiday: Admission Day. September 9th. General Sherman was along for part of the tour. At one stop he said this of Hayes: “[He is] no longer president of the Atlantic States or of the Mississippi States, but of all States, and which are one, and will be forever and ever.”

The train carrying the president worked its way down from Oakland, through the valley en route to Los Angeles so he could attend 2 fairs that were being put on. “When the train reached Merced, Hayes was still asleep, but a brass band and crowd of shouting townspeople caused him to dress hastily, come out, and shake a dozen or so hands while the animated citizenry congratulated the sleepy chief executive.”

In our text tonight, another head of state takes a trip out of the capital to be seen and to make an appearance at a festival of games. Though Herod was not exactly a lame duck, he had just suffered a public embarrassment. Peter, a prized prisoner he was hoping to use for political gain, had just escaped and was nowhere to be found. Herod, thwarted and wanting a change of scenery, travelled up to Caesarea to preside over spectacles in honor of the Emperor. There, he was well-received, not because he was a good man or a great king, but because certain people were trying to curry favor from him and save themselves from his hatefulness.

This Herod, by the way, is Herod Agrippa. His grandfather, Herod The Great was the one who killed the babies of Bethlehem. Agrippa’s uncle, Herod Antipas was the one who killed John the Baptist. It is Agrippa’s son, Agrippa II, before whom Paul will preach on his way to see Caesar in Acts 26. Clear as mud, right?

Herod Agrippa is an interesting character. On the one hand, we see he was a base man, a political opportunist. He was vengeful and brutal. And yet, the Jewish ruling class loved him. In fact, Jewish historians and writings praise him. In our text he parades as a splendid and dominating king. He was installed by Rome, but the territory he governed was as large as that ruled by his grandfather, Herod the Great. In fact, by 44 A.D., he had become one of the most powerful kings of the east.

On a spiritual level, we saw last time that Herod was a piece of heavy artillery in Satan’s war against the Church. But after a single volley the Lord responds in swift judgment.

Some Bible dictionaries define the term ‘Herod’ as meaning ‘the glory of the skin.’ And, tonight, we’ll see him decked out in human glory, receiving the worship of a crowd of people, who declare that he had the voice of a god. He certainly behaved as if his was the final authority. So, this evening, as we see this so-called ‘great king of the east,’ at the zenith of his power and prestige, I’d have us compare him with our Great and Coming King: King Jesus.

Side by side, whatever power, whatever splendor, whatever import Herod thought he had is shown as abject refuse in comparison to the might and majesty of the One True King of all kings. And, by contrasting the foul with the flawless, we can celebrate more and more just how great and glorious our King is and prompt ourselves to joy in serving and pleasing Him.

We begin in verse 20.

Acts 12:20 – 20 Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. Together they presented themselves before him. After winning over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country.

Tyre and Sidon were not part of Herod’s dominion. And we don’t know what they had done to get on his bad side. We speculate that it was something petty and inconsequential, as there is no historical offense or problem recorded.

We note that Herod was a man of unconditional hate. He killed Christians indiscriminately in 12v1, he hated the people of these 2 cities categorically. So much so that he was planning to decimate their very lives. When it says he was “very angry” it means he was contemplating war. Now, as a subject of Rome, he couldn’t actually send soldiers to lay siege to their towns. But he could start a trade war, turning off their food supply, thereby inflicting a terrible suffering on a great number of people.

Now turn and consider our Lord. The King of unconditional love. The One who never withheld compassion, not even for His betrayer. The One who, even after His crucifixion, sent His messengers again and again to the very men that conspired His murder. The King who, like a good Father, provides the daily bread that we need. The One who is our sun and our shield, who will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

The people of Tyre and Sidon sent a delegation to beg for peace. To do so, they had to cajole and scheme, probably through the bribery of Herod’s personal attendant, Blastus.

Consider our King. He left His throne, like a shepherd going after a lost sheep. He didn’t do so only once, but seeks to save each individual through human history. He knocks at our door, hoping we will invite Him in.

Agrippa went about in a hostile state of mind. He plotted wars in his heart and how he might harm those who slighted him. Christ Jesus sends His power and His people throughout the world to proclaim the message of peace with Him, despite the fact that our offenses toward God are unspeakably grotesque and treasonous. Human rebellion against the King of heaven and earth deserves total annihilation, and yet, the Lord made a way, with the Father and the Spirit, so that He could take our place and have God’s wrath for our sin poured out on Himself instead of us.

Acts 12:21 – 21 On an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a speech to them.

Josephus records that Herod’s garments that day were made wholly from silver. That he “was so resplendent as to spread awe over those that looked…upon him.”

But really, it wasn’t his robe. It wasn’t his throne. This impostor was no son of David. He was given charge over Judea because he had befriended Caligula and others in the Roman court. He was there because they allowed him to be. Earlier in life, he had to flee debtors he owed great sums to. Then he had to flee a different place after being convicted of taking a bribe. He was heard speaking to someone about how he hoped Tiberius would die, and so he was sent to prison.

Jesus Christ is a debtor to no one and lives in perfect righteousness. He is God, mighty and awesome and cannot be bribed. To Him belongs the earth and all that is in it. And, in His grace, He seeks not to enrich Himself, but to share His eternal inheritance with us, His children.

I will say, the silver robes worn by Herod that day must’ve been a sight to see. Did you know that companies are starting to infuse silver into garments? They do it, claiming that silver has antimicrobial properties and will cut down on odor. Doctors aren’t too keen on the idea. While the risks are small, some worry that wearing silver could eventually wear down a person’s microbiome to an undesirable degree. Others point out that “trace amounts of silver dislodged by washing them could leak into the water supply in a harmful way.”

But a robe of silver ironically illustrates the corruption of the king. The plating on the outside may have looked fine in the moment, but the impurities within were inevitably bringing the green tarnish of decay.

The Psalms declare that our Lord is clothed with a robe of light. In Him is no darkness at all. And by means of His light we see light.

We don’t know what Herod said in his speech, but we know that whatever it was could only have been boasts or platitudes. After all, we’ve seen that from his throne only issued malice and death. Here he is, the man who would starve a city, introducing a day of games as if he were some great benefactor.

Acts 12:22 – 22 The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!”

It seems clear that Luke is suggesting this was part of the plan in the minds of the folks from Tyre and Sidon. They knew what kind of man Herod was. Why not get into his good graces through a little flattery and adulation?

As a side note: In the Bible, you almost never want to be part of a crowd of people shouting something. Certainly not in the New Testament. Going along with the crowd very quickly leads to things we don’t want to be a part of. We know why they were saying it that day, it was to save their food supply, but what an obscene thing to say.

If Herod Agrippa was a god, we’d have to say, like the Incredible Hulk: Puny God! This was a man who couldn’t pay his own debts multiple times in his life. A man who couldn’t keep hold of his prisoners. A man who got where he was by betraying his own uncle and getting him banished.

And yet, they praised him as a god. Unfortunately for Herod, there was someone else in the audience that day.

Acts 12:23 – 23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.

I don’t usually think of angels being in attendance at Inaugurations or State of the Union Addresses, but the Bible gives us every reason to think they are. The angelic ministry may be unseen, but it is shown, by passages like this and by the famous story of Elisha and his worried servant, that it is all around us.

In this case, the angel had had enough of Herod’s pride and willingness to receive glory that belongs only to God. And so, he strode up to the platform and struck a single blow and the fight was over. Every now and then we get a scene like this in a movie. Some fighter, pompous and impressed with themselves, swaggers into the ring or onto the battlefield. And then the other guy comes in, quietly, without making a fuss. The bell rings and one punch later it’s over.

Josephus records this incident in detail. He says that Herod suffered in pain and agony for 5 days before finally dying. We remember that Luke was a doctor and so was probably being specific when he references the worms. Scholars try to decipher what he could have meant. Most of what they suggest is pretty horrifying. I’ll spare you their guesses. But, on the spiritual level we can’t help but connect Herod’s physical death with the eternal death that awaited him. But that pain and torment would not end in 5 days. In the Lake of Fire, the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.

God is full of grace and mercy. He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But, along with that, He takes seriously the issue of His glory.

Isaiah says we are created for His glory, not our own. Jesus lived to glorify His Father. The Spirit operates in order to glorify the Son. We are to seek God’s glory and He will not share it with another.

Acts 12:24 – 24 But the word of God flourished and multiplied.

Herod’s words weren’t worth recording. But the word of God expanded and grew like an incredible vine, bearing fruit throughout the world. Not through men like Agrippa, but through humble servants like we read about in verse 25:

Acts 12:25 – 25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned [from] Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark.

Herod was a divider. Christ unites. Herod had seen to it that his uncle was thrown off the throne. Believers like Barnabas and Paul were always bringing others along, including them, inviting them in. In this case, they brought John Mark, who we believe to be Barnabas’ cousin, with them from Jerusalem back to Antioch.

In a final comparison of the kings we note that Jesus set about the business of bringing relief to people, while Herod sought to hurt, to withhold, to destroy.

So, why did the Jews celebrate this wicked king? As I said, Josephus, the Jewish historian, remembers him fondly. The Talmud does as well. The general populous of the time supported him. How could this be? How could this wicked, non-Jew win the hearts of Israel?

One source writes this:

“The synagogue attendant took a Torah scroll and handed it to the synagogue president, who handed it to the High Priest’s deputy, who handed it to the High Priest, who handed it to the king…King Agrippa stood and received it and read standing, and the sages praised him for doing so. When Agrippa reached the commandment of Deuteronomy 17:15 that ‘you may not put a foreigner over you’ as king, his eyes ran with tears, but they said to him, ‘Don’t fear, Agrippa, you are our brother, you are our brother!’”

Agrippa is revealed to be yet another type, another precursor of that ultimate man of sin, the Antichrist. The foreigner whom the Jews will, for a time, rally behind during the Great Tribulation. Sometimes, when debating end times doctrine, people will say, “The Antichrist must be Jewish. The Jews would never accept a Gentile deliverer.” But, history has shown that isn’t true. They were happy to throw in their lot with Agrippa. One reason is that he had interceded for the Jews when his friend Caligula had wanted to defile the Temple in 41AD with a statue of himself. The Jewish people were excited about this intervention and welcomed Herod, this wicked, vile, blasphemer with open arms. The same will happen again after the church is taken up in the rapture and the Antichrist is finally revealed, carrying with him a promise to help the Jewish people.

What a comfort to reflect on the true King by seeing such a dismal counterfeit. What a glorious Lord we serve. Full of grace. Full of majesty. Full of kindness. Full of power.

There’s one more comparison we might make tonight. Look at those cowering beneath the throne of Herod, afraid of his anger. They could only hope to be spared from his hostility. But we who bow at the throne of Jesus do not live that way. We do not need to scheme to get into God’s good graces. He has poured it out over us, sending it in abundance with His peace and His presence. Instead of just hoping to be out of the line of fire, like the poor folks from Tyre and Sidon, we’re able to be full of fire. Full of the Holy Spirit. Going out to herald the greatness of our King and working to glorify His Kingdom. We get to continue to cultivate and multiply the word of God which is vibrant and powerful. We’re sent on mission to proclaim the King. The one, good, glorious King of all the ages: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Stranger Than Fiction (Acts 12:1-19)

Reality television shows draw in their audience with the promise of authentic coverage of incredible situations. Viewers tune in to see hilarious and shocking things happening on the screen, with the producers hoping you’ll spread the word about the show, saying “You can’t make this stuff up!”

Except they do. Whether it’s American Idol, Real Housewives, The Biggest Loser or Pawn Stars, the casting, the scenes, and the conversations are regularly manipulated in such a way to generate the most dramedy possible. On Cupcake Wars, contestants have been told beforehand what their “mystery ingredient” will be and are instructed to act surprised on film. On Duck Dynasty, extra bleeps are added in to make it seem like the family is swearing at each other more than they are. On House Hunters, there is no deliberation. The decision has already been made on which property to buy well before the cameras start rolling.

As Theophilus turned the page from what we call Acts 11 to Acts 12, he must have been astounded. Things more hilarious and shocking than any we see on reality television play out in rapid succession. And it was all true! But it wasn’t just fun and games. After reading about amazing triumphs in Jerusalem, Samaria, Syria and beyond, after seeing sorcerers brought down, eunuchs lifted up, centurions brought in, after seeing the world’s greatest enemy of Christ become a church leader and power going out all over the world, suddenly we see the empire strike back in a big way. In the midst of all the great work of God, the Church endures some heavy and painful blows.

What was Theophilus to think? What was the Church to think? What conclusions might they come to in light of the major developments that take place in this passage? Tonight, we can discover with them some of the realities at work in this Church age and find hope in these troubled times.

Acts 12:1 – About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church

We begin with the phrase, “about that time.” Our memories are sometimes short, so what had been going on? Well, it was a time when the Gospel was going out to the Gentile world, with remarkable success in some places. It was around the time when Paul and Barnabas were in the area. In fact, it’s possible they were in Jerusalem at the time. They had come from Syria back to Judea to bring relief from the church in Antioch. Because it was also a time of severe famine in the region and the Christians are in great need. So, on top of real economic stress and hunger, they’re now facing violent persecution from the government.

When we study this section, the headlines are always about James and Peter. But we should pause to note that it wasn’t only apostles who suffered. There were multiple victims of the tyrant’s crimes.

Acts 12:2 – 2 and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword.

It’s hard to imagine how much of a shock this would have been. On the one hand, the apostles knew their love for Jesus Christ would bring them trials and tribulations. But, we’re at about 44AD here. Not that far removed from the resurrection. And here he have James, one of the 12, one of the 3 in the inner circle of Jesus, suddenly taken away. No final words. No closing sermon recorded by Luke. No last minute rescue. How could such a thing happen?

There have been a few movies that surprise audiences by killing off a major star early in the film. Hitchcock killed off Janet Leigh at minute 47 of Psycho. In Children Of Men, Julianne Moore’s character dies in the first 28 minutes. In the age of COVID, lots of people are re-watching the 2011 movie Contagion. In that movie, 6 characters die in the first 12 minutes. One of them being Gwyneth Paltrow, despite her prominent place on the movie poster.

Eusebius, a Christian historian living in the 300’s, gives us a story from James’ death that had been handed down from Clement. He reports that that the one who led James to the judgment-seat, when he saw him bearing his testimony, was moved, and confessed that he was himself also a Christian, and then was beheaded beside the apostle.

Despite the shock the believers must’ve felt, we commend the fact that they did not scatter when one of their shepherds was struck down. They weren’t part of a personality cult. They weren’t there to see some celebrity. James was merely an under-shepherd, and those that remained continued to fix their eyes on the Lord Jesus.

Acts 12:3-4 – 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

The way it’s written makes us think that Herod had begun his murderous campaign on a whim. “What should I do today? Let’s kill some Christians!” But then he saw it was winning him some points with the right people, and so he mobilized his efforts to maximize political profit.

Peter would spend at least a few days in jail, upwards of a week. Herod and the Devil were licking their chops, but the story’s setting clues us in that God is about to do something big. Passover, Unleavened Bread, these were all about commemorating how God had delivered Israel from her bonds, saved the people from the death angel, rescuing them in the night.

Now, Peter had already “escaped” prison once, back in Acts chapter 5, and he was a miracle worker. So, Herod wasn’t going to take any chances. Guards would be watching Peter on shifts at all times, until he could be paraded out before a bloodthirsty mob.

Acts 12:5 – 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.

The situation is bleak. The church in Jerusalem doesn’t have the strength it did back in chapters 2 through 7. They were hungry. They were helpless. One of their beloved apostles had just been killed and another was about to be. I’m sure they felt like the very ground beneath their feet was giving way. But, here we see an important spiritual reality at work: Even when we are helpless, we have prayer at our disposal. They drew up in formation to fight against the wiles of the Enemy. Satan had wheeled out his heavy artillery: Herod and his government. But, in response, the Christians armed themselves with corporate prayer. We’re told they did so fervently, meaning constantly and with great passion. One descriptor of the word is with “tension.” It was a muscle they were flexing, and kept flexing together, asking God to move and to intervene.

We find ourselves in an unstable time. It’s hard to predict what tomorrow will bring. But this is the reality revealed by God the Holy Spirit: We have this spiritual muscle – prayer – specifically corporate prayer, and we should flex it even when we feel helpless. Because God is always able.

Acts 12:6 – 6 When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.

I took comfort in something small here. It was such a strange thing that we all had to miss Easter in our regular way this year. As a church family, that’s always a Sunday filled with joy and expectation and celebration. Peter missed Passover that year. I’m sure he was discouraged by that. But the Lord was still with him, still mindful of him. And we see that he was ruled by peace. Could you sleep with 2 heavy, iron shackles on your wrists and big, burly soldiers tied to the other ends? I couldn’t.

But what a great demonstration of Godly peace this really is. Obviously Peter wasn’t worried about being executed. That would’ve kept him awake. But, it doesn’t really seem like he’s resigned to death either. If he was sure he was about to die, I’d expect him to be writing last minute notes, maybe making a few goodbyes. Some commentators suggest that he knew he would be delivered because Jesus had predicted he’d live to an “old age.” Maybe, but, even then, wouldn’t you expect him to stay awake to see the fireworks?

Instead, this seems to be a perfect representation of the kind of peace God wants us to have. One that passes understanding. One that is full of trust in the Lord, whether He deliver us or not. Whether He gives or takes away, peace ruling the heart.

Now, as we see Peter’s miraculous deliverance, we shouldn’t resist the urge to chuckle. It reads like a Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis bit, as the angel has to spell out each motion for the groggy apostle.

Acts 12:7 – 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.

There’s some interesting angel information to consider. It’s unrealistic for us to think that these guards were also asleep, as they were on either a 4 or 6 hour shift. So, it would seem that all of this was visible to Peter, but invisible to everyone else. We also see that the angel has power over material objects like shackles and gates without touching them.

The angel’s behavior reinforces the idea that they’re sort of grumpy from our perspective, at least when it comes to dealing with humans. Often, in movies like City Of Angels, angels are depicted as being very enamored and fascinated with how we do things. That does not seem to be the case when it comes to the Biblical record. When the angel lit up the dark room and Peter didn’t wake up, the angel gave him a big whack on the side and starts trying to get him out of his captivity, only to be met with persistent sleepiness.

Acts12:8-11 – 8 “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and suddenly the angel left him.

There are a couple of things I found remarkable here. First, it’s an encouragement that sometimes even the apostles were confused about what was happening in their lives. I mean, Peter had even been delivered by an angel from prison once before and he was still not sure what the Lord was doing. Our part is never to understand everything, how could we? Our part is to trust the Lord, expect Him to be moving in our lives and obey His leading, whether we fully understand or not.

Second, whether you’re Peter, or the church, or Theophilus reading this later, you’ve got to think, “Wait, that’s it? You took him one block away from prison and then just left him?” I’d love a heavenly police escort not just out of the prison building, but somewhere safe! But there Peter is, on the street corner, bleary-eyed and slowing realizing that he had been brought out of his cell, which made him a fugitive, by the way.

Peter had his own exodus experience that night. And though he would be pursued, like the children of Israel were by Pharaoh, he could rest in the knowledge that he was going with God. We can wish God would “do more” to heal or to deliver or to defeat our enemies. But what we should rest on is the fact that God is about His business, He is mindful of our plights and our sufferings, and He has not deserted us. He is with us always, even to the end of the age.

Acts 12:12 – 12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark,, where many had assembled and were praying.

How did Peter know which house to go to? We don’t know and have to speculate, but I think it’s because that’s where they had gathered to pray previously for James. I’ve heard Bible studies on this passage that say the church had failed, refused to pray when James was taken by Herod. That, if they had only prayed, he would’ve been saved, too. Why think that? If anything, reading between the lines, Peter assumed there’d be a group ready to receive him at Mary’s house. We’ll see he’s not going to stay long, he needed to get out of Dodge, so he went to the one place where he could tell everyone he was ok.

For the believer’s part, we see that they were still awake, late into the night, praying for their friend. They might have done this for days. And, it would’ve been a scary time for them to be gathering. Remember: It wasn’t just apostles being targeted, but all sorts of Christians. Yet, in faith they put their lives on the line that they might pray.

Acts 12:13-14 – 13 He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate.

If the previous scene was closer to slapstick comedy, this is more like the cringe humor of The Office. Here you have Simon Peter, on the run, if he’s found out he’ll be killed, and there’s going to be a drawn out argument over whether he’s actually at the door. Little Rhoda gets carried away in the excitement of it all and leaves him hanging there. At first, the angel could barely get him out of the cell, now he can’t get in to the house!

I just love this because it’s a great, candid moment. These were real people and real situations. Not scripted. Not punched up for TV. If you’re Peter, you must’ve been think, “What in the world is going on tonight?” And, we think that a lot, too, right?

Acts 12:15-16 – 15 “You’re out of your mind!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, “It’s his angel.” 16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.

What did they mean, “It’s his angel?” Some point to the traditional Jewish belief that each person had a guardian angel. Others say they meant it was Peter’s spirit, that he must’ve been executed. But, if either of those were really what they thought, wouldn’t they have opened the door for that? It makes more sense to take the position that they were humoring little Rhoda. Clearly they didn’t believe she was right about someone being at the door, so they were probably just giving her a “there, there.”But finally, they heard the pounding, and there before them was the very man they had been praying for God to deliver.

Commentators make much out of their “lack of faith” in prayer. They say, “they were praying, but clearly didn’t believe.” They were surprised, to be sure, but is it fair to say that about these faithful Christians? When’s the last time any of us prayed round the clock for God to do something? Luke had assessed them as fervent and serious in their prayer. They didn’t have some sort of blind, prosperity doctrine in the way that they prayed. After all, God had allowed James to die. He had allowed Stephen to die. He had allowed others to be beaten, imprisoned and killed. It can be hard for us to maintain faith when we pray for big, miraculous things, But that doesn’t mean we should stop. It means we should continue and to supplement those prayers with that wonderful line from the Gospels: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” But we should also accept the fact that sometimes the Lord doesn’t give the kind of deliverance that we want. And that’s ok. In the end, what we want is what God wants. And so we try to balance all of that as we pray.

Acts 12:17 – 17 Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Tell these things to James and the brothers,” he said, and he left and went to another place.

Peter wasn’t going to wait or waste time. He knew he was going to need to run for his life and go into hiding. There’s no command in Scripture for God’s people to categorically refuse to run and hide when persecution like this is coming. Sometimes we see Christians running, sometimes they do not run. The Holy Spirit guides.

There were a bunch of James in the New Testament. It seems that this one is James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, who would later write the New Testament epistle. He had, apparently, become a leader in the church in Jerusalem. We’ll see him again in chapter 15.

Incidentally, we notice that when James, one of the 12, was beheaded, he was not replaced the way Judas had been. Now that the Church had been well established and the Gospel was going out, when James died, they retired his number, as it were. His personal, apostolic office closed up shop. There are no genuine apostles operating on earth today.

Acts 12:18-19 – 18 At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

A prison break is always a black eye, but it was an especially bad one for Herod. He decided to go stroke his pride on vacation, but not before meting out some cruelty on these soldiers. This was the custom at the time. If you were guarding a prisoner and they escaped, you would take the punishment that was meant for him. This is a sobering reminder to all unbelievers that you do not have tomorrow guaranteed to you. Your life may be taken in the morning. What comfort it is to us to know that Peter, assuredly, had shared the Gospel with these men over the days of his imprisonment. Perhaps, as they were each in turn being led to the block, some or all of them called out to Jesus Christ for mercy, receiving it in full measure.

If we were the local church living through this passage, or if we were Theophilus reading it for the first time, we would be shocked at the developments. Once again, the reality was brought home that we are not promised ease, advantage, or even survival in this life. These Christians were hard-pressed, hungry, now were being hunted, and some were paying with their lives. But, what about the miraculous power of God? What about the advance of the Gospel? Well, as we read, we see that was happening too. While suffering was a reality, and continues to be, we see also some other realities at work: That God is still just as powerful as He ever was. He is mindful of His people and their plight. He is attentive to their prayers. He is able to change even the most dire of circumstances in a moment. But, He also allows us to experience His grace and power in the midst of suffering and weakness. When we ask, “Why, God, didn’t you save James also?” In a sense, it’s the same sort of question as “Will You now establish Your Kingdom?” Lord, let’s get to the part where there’s no weakness, no suffering, no struggle, no defeat of any kind.

That’s coming. But, for now, God is on a mission to save. And the reality of that mission is that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We may feel unstable, helpless, discouraged, but this passage teaches and proves that we have one another for support, prayer is still powerful, peace is provided, and God is in charge. Let’s continue with Him, standing resolute with one another in the faith, fearing no evil for the Lord is with us.

All Roads Lead To Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)

“Meanwhile, back at the ranch” is a cliché we’ve all heard. Originally it was a subtitle shown in silent films. It was also used in radio dramas, where scene changes had to be signaled verbally. Later, it became a catchphrase in westerns and cowboy shows, where our heroes were carrying on with their duties and adventures, sometimes unaware of what was happening on the other side of the prairie.

In the last few chapters, some monumental things have been happening. The foremost enemy of the Church has been converted and is on his way to becoming a great Apostle, in one of the most epic origin stories of all time. The door of salvation has been flung wide to all the nations. Revival has broken out in Samaria. People are being healed and raised from the dead, angels are appearing.

Though the story Luke is telling has focused mostly on a few individuals like Peter or Philip or a bit of Saul, it’s clear that God’s work was not localized. We’ve been seeing His astounding providence on display as people from far and wide are being drawn to Him, to hear the magnificent news that Jesus Christ has made a way for man to be saved. And, what a comfort it is, to know that our God has left no corner of this world unnoticed, no stone unturned in His desire that none should perish. Tonight, as we go home to lay our heads down and get that sleep we need every day, we can be sure that God is not slumbering. He is still busy, still working, still unfolding His plan and His will, by His grace, through His people, in all sorts of ways.

Luke has made our eyes wide with what God is capable of doing through just a few, humble people. But now, in the back half of chapter 11, he gives us a “meanwhile, back at the ranch” moment, and shows that the work of the Gospel wasn’t only being accomplished by a few, but by many as each, average Christian, went moving through the world, sharing the truth of Jesus as they went.

As Luke widens the lens, we’ll see the start of a brand new, local church and how it operated. It’s not presented as a model to be mimicked, but as an exhibition and demonstration of what God can do in the lives of people who love Him, are full of His Spirit and submitted to His word.

In the context of the Book, we’ll also see that God was beginning a long and consequential work in a new place: Antioch, the capital of Syria and one of the most remarkable cities in the Roman Empire. As the Lord established a new thing in that place, we’ll see many roads, from near and far, leading to this city and to the church there. It becomes a ministry magnet.

Acts 11:19 – 19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

Many commentators are quick to suggest that the dispersion of Christians from Jerusalem was a result of the Church’s failure to take up the great commission. They say God had to jump start His Bride, who had fallen into a rut. Then, looking at Luke’s pivot to focus on the story in Antioch, they say that, because the church in Jerusalem was still failing, God moved His base of operations up north to Syria, because, after all, the 12 in Jerusalem were a bunch of losers.

I’ve got a few issues with this sort of perspective. First of all, we’re given no such assessment from the Lord in the Word itself. God’s not shy when it comes to calling out His people. Second, church history records that the 12 did carry the Gospel far and wide. John to Asia. Andrew to the Scythians and Thracians. Bartholomew and Thomas to India. Peter to Bythinia, Cappadocia and Italy. Third, dividing out the Jerusalem church as a failure is an entirely grace-less attitude.

Instead, we might look from this perspective: God was obviously doing many things, not just throughout the region, but now increasingly around the Roman world. Luke, as an author, cannot tell every story, and he doesn’t pretend to. He’s leading us into part 2 of his Acts account, which will largely center on his traveling companion, the Apostle Paul. And, in doing so, he shows us how God can use any of us to do Kingdom work.

These Christians, on the run from persecution, are a great example of that wonderful truth. It wasn’t God who scattered them out. Luke says, outright, it was a result of persecution. To say that it was a tool, used by God, to motivate His Church is to make Him like the abusive husband who beats his wife when he doesn’t like the way she cooked the potatoes. Rather, in Job we read:

Job 34:12 – 12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

Saul, before becoming a Christian, had hoped to shatter the church and sweep it into the waste bin of history. Instead, his impact caused believers to scatter like seeds everywhere they went. It reminds us that the Christian life and its Gospel work can be carried out no matter the setting. You can do the Lord’s work while living large or running for your life. You and I can minister whether we feel strong or weak, whether we’re in headwinds or tailwinds, because God is always the same, His truth is always sure and His Spirit is always with us. Acts, on the whole, shows us the incredible adaptability of the Christian life. We find it growing and bearing fruit in dungeons, on the shoreline, lost at sea, in palaces, among friends, among enemies. Wherever you’re making your way, you’re to do so as a Spirit-filled agent of grace.

Now, in this case, we see that these believers, who were all Jewish had dispersed through the empire, but were only speaking to Jews. We’ve talked about this issue at length in our previous studies, but suffice it to say that, while we don’t condone their behavior, we can identify with it. For most of us it’s not not easy to interact with people who are not like us. But, we remember that God’s intention is that we be a light to the world. We’re not to hide our lamp under a basket, but to let it shine, and that means sharing with those who are not like us.

Acts 11:20 – 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

Such a simple choice made an incredible difference. These folks from Cyprus and Cyrene show great courage here. It would’ve been tough to be Jewish believers bringing the Gospel to the pagan, Gentile world. There was no knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus up here. These people were polytheists! And the Jews had been culturally trained to resist and separate from Gentiles. But here, these nameless Christians thought to themselves, “This information I have isn’t just good news for a few people, it’s good news for everyone.”

The Gospel is for everyone, everywhere. Every place, every class, every strata, every ability. Kings or cripples. And these men from Cyprus and Cyrene step out into absolutely uncharted territory, to let the Greeks of Antioch in on the secret.

What did they share? They talked about Jesus. They talked about who He is and what He had done. That’s what the good news is. The good news of the Gospel is not how YOU live your best life now. It’s about our King, Jesus Christ.

Language scholars point out that Luke used a term here when he said “began speaking” which refers to “simple speech…the common…conversation of traveling people.” It wasn’t formal or rehearsed, it was just people talking to people. As we go, let’s find ways to speak casually about the Lord and His Kingdom and see whether those words might not fall on ready soil.

Acts 11:21 – 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

The Christian life is a hands on thing. God’s hand on us, our hands on the plow, as we do personal work, engaging with actual people around us. It’s a strange thing that the world is becoming, technologically, more and more connected, but that same technology makes it all the easier to become isolated and withdrawn, interacting not with individuals, but with screens. But, just as we wouldn’t want God to automate His work in our lives, we want to be careful not to disengage from true, face to face interaction with others.

Now, here we see a great number of people not only believing what they’re being told about Christ, but turning to Him in response. The Gospel requires not only intellectual agreement, but the choice to repent, turn from sin and toward God in obedience and worship. We see it happening in large numbers here, but it was happening organically. The Christians weren’t trying to replicate the Samaritan Revival. They were simply living out their faith, and the Spirit yielded a great harvest.

As these Greeks became believers, we note that there was very little being “offered” to them at the church level. The ministries available were very simple and minimal. And yet, who among us wouldn’t want to be a part of this passage? Sometimes we start to think that we need certain styles or mechanisms or segmentations for proper ministry to be done. Acts refutes that idea, wholesale.

Acts 11:22 – 22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch.

Why Barnabas? It turns out to be a very good choice, but it doesn’t seem like the obvious one. Previously, when they had heard about a revival in Samaria, the church had sent Peter and John. We know that Nicolaus, one of the seven chosen to serve in Acts 6, was from Antioch. We don’t know what or why, other than that the Holy Spirit was drawing Barnabas into this good work.

The leadership sent him in response to what they had heard on what looks like a short term missions trip. He wasn’t going simply because he wanted to, but because he was under authority of the Apostles and part of a local fellowship. God gives us these connections on purpose so that we’re not following our own whims, but part of the collective work.

Acts 11:23 – 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,

How can you see the grace of God? Apparently it’s possible. But we know what Luke means here. It was obvious that these new Christians were full of Godly character and spiritual fruit. You could see the joy on their faces. You could see compassion in their behavior.

Isn’t it an interesting thing that we show our emotions on our faces? What do our muscles have to do with anger or happiness? Yet, we can see a person 100 feet away and take stock.

The question demanded of us by verse 23 is: When people look at us, Calvary Hanford, as a group of Christians, what do they see? Is it grace? I hope so. Let’s think of the most negative example possible: Westboro Baptist Church. That’s the group that used to be in the news a lot more, holding vile signs at funerals, talking about how God hates people. No one, anywhere, sees the grace of God in that group, because it’s not there. What about us? Is God’s grace seen in us? Grace has long been one of the defining aspects of the Calvary Chapel style of ministry. As a group we want to cling to it and apply it, not just institutionally, but to our own faith individually.

Barnabas stepped into a leadership position in Antioch. It’s unsurprising. He’s going to be listed as an apostle in Acts 14. To this brand new group of Christians here’s what his assignment was: “Remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts.” That’s what they needed. Not a capital campaign. Not a strategic program. Abide in Jesus. Continue in grace. Keep moving forward in your personal, spiritual purpose. The term used for “devoted” is one used of the showbread in the Temple, dedicated to the continual service of Yahweh, while in His presence. That’s what this church plant needed.

Barnabas’ example here shows us the significance of good leadership in the Church. Imagine if some brute had come from Jerusalem, or some man seeking prominence for himself. Think of the damage he would have done. Instead, this is what we’re told about Barnabas:

Acts 11:24 – 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

Bible students know that, eventually, we’re going to get to Acts 15 where Paul and Barnabas divide and go their separate ways. But here, writing long after the fact, we see Luke, who was himself on #TeamPaul, held no grudge against Barnabas. No hard feelings.

Why were people added to the Lord? It was through grace-filled preaching. They weren’t added through argument or bribery or entertainment, but through the proclamation of the Gospel. Christians and churches do need to have answers to arguments, we do need to be full of joy and anticipation, we should be excited to gather. But when we’re taking a look at the methods of our ministry, we should always remember that our goal is grace. Numbers aren’t our business, they’re God’s business. Our part is to abide and continue in grace and allow the Lord to give the increase.

Acts 11:25 – 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul,

One commentator pointed out that, apparently, in Antioch they had a lot of evangelists, but no teachers. At some point, Barnabas decided he needed to bring on a partner. Sending a letter wouldn’t do because, apparently, no one really knew where Saul was. It had been quite a few years since he had come to Jerusalem. So, Barnabas went to find his friend and bring him. We should note that there wasn’t a dry, committee formalism to the way things were done here. Barnabas didn’t have to send an official request to Jerusalem. The local church, though part of the universal work, was being operated as an independent group. Unified in spirit, submitted to the same doctrine, but led particularly by the Spirit through the local leadership.

Acts 11:26 – 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

As leaders, they dedicated their time to teaching people about doctrine, about God’s word, about living the Christian life. This is what happened back in Acts 2, when the Jerusalem church first began. And, Paul will later write that God’s house is built upon the foundation of teaching. From a right understanding of God’s word flows the necessary growth in a church. Individually, the Christians needed to abide and continue in the Lord. Organizationally, that was accomplished as people were taught and had God’s word rightly divided and explained to them.

We’re told that the disciples were first called “Christians” here in Antioch. Perhaps you’ve heard that the word means “little Christs,” but, really there’s no evidence of that. The term is simply a compound which means “belonging to the party of Jesus Christ.” But what a beautiful reminder, We belong to Christ. We’re not just trailing after someone who is disinterested in us. We are His. His treasure. His friends. His beloved. The sheep of His hand.

This was evident of the believers in Antioch. It was clear they weren’t just some new philosophy or sect of Judaism. They were Christian. Their belief system led to a visible life change. They no longer looked like Antiochenes. They were set apart. They are an inspiration in a world where, sometimes, Christians are looking more and more indistinguishable from the world around them.

Acts 11:27-28 – 27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius.

Though the Christians in Judea would be the ones hit hard by this famine, God sent prophets to Syria to sound the alarm. Why? Because these people in Antioch would be in a position to send help and because it is God’s plan to make us aware of the needs of others and be a part of bringing relief. We live in such a time, right now. We know that God gives us opportunity to bear each other’s burdens, to show generosity to those in need. What we’ve seen again and again in Acts is not that we need to figure out some scheme or one-size-fits-all approach to ministry, but to invite the Lord to lead us as to what to do in response to the needs of the world.

We note also a very important aspect of this exercise of prophecy: A person made a prophecy, claiming to have revelation from God, and then what he said actually happened. There are many folks today who claim to have a “prophetic” ministry. There’s a very easy way to tell whether they’re true or false.

But here we’re noticing a magnetism in Antioch. People are streaming in from Africa, from the island of Cyprus. Saul is coming. Barnabas is coming. Prophets have come. God was doing something great and wonderful in this city, and though that specific work has since faded, we ask the Lord to do a new work like it, maybe in our own city.

The church, having heard the prophecy, asked: “What should we do?”

Acts 11:29-30 – 29 Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. 30 They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.

There was a coordinated effort, but it was based on individual leading and personal sacrifice. Each Christian sought the Lord and how he or she could participate in the cumulative work of sending relief. We recognize that the Lord’s is a volunteer army. Working together toward specific goals, on particular missions, but as soldiers we’re not conscripted. Who will go? Who will give? Who will be Christ to those in need? That’s the call that goes out day after day. May our answer ever be, “Here am I, Lord, send me!” Not according to the designs of man, but the leading of God the Holy Spirit.

These Gentile Christians did not withhold from their needy, Jewish brothers. What a beautiful thing. The Jews had, at the first, held back the Gospel from the Greeks, but the walls kept coming down. The Church was unified and connected. And so, when help was needed, they sent relief, according to each one’s ability. And, as this church in Antioch grew, they were able to make a big difference in the lives of those in Judea. And we see how quickly the Lord was able to establish this fellowship and cause it to thrive. In verse 19, Jerusalem had sent them exiles. By verse 30, Antioch was sending back Apostles of their own. What a great work of God.

There is much going on all over the world. Meanwhile, we’re here, on our ranch, the place where God has planted us. The best thing we can do, the most essential thing, is to abide in Christ and continue in the submissive study of His word. As we do, the Holy Spirit will help us, direct us, supply us and send us as He continues His wonderful work. We pray that His work in our lives and our church and our city would be dramatic and lasting, like He did in Antioch. The size and scope is His business. Ours is to continue in our devotion to Christ, operating in grace, doing what we can as He leads and thereby being a bright light in a dark world.

Across The Great Divide (Acts 11:1-18)

Not long before His death, Jesus had encouraged His disciples saying, “Don’t worry when you stand trial about what to say. The Holy Spirit will speak through you in that moment.” I doubt that Theophilus, the first recipient of the book of Acts, would’ve ever guessed that this 3rd trial Peter had to face was to be among his own brothers in the Church.

It wasn’t official, but it was serious. A faction of Christians contend against the apostle and his part in the preaching of the Gospel to Gentiles. What follows is a tense exchange, that seems to us to be totally ungracious, overtly racist, and obviously unChristian. But is it fair for us to see it that way? We, of course, have the benefit of thousands of years of Church history and the completed revelation of Scripture. Part of that revelation, which these believers didn’t yet have, was Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he explains that God had revealed to him a mystery, something previously unknown to the church. He said, “Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me.”

Hadn’t God, for thousands of years, said that Israel was a special, separate, called out people among the nations of the earth? Hadn’t the Jews been forbidden from marrying Gentiles and being assimilated into their societies?

On the other hand, why weren’t the Jewish Christians ready for this next step of including all people in the Gospel? Hadn’t Jesus given them a clear directive about going into all the world? Now, with the benefit of the Holy Spirit illuminating their understanding of the Scriptures, couldn’t they see God’s love for those outside of Israel? For every Hagar and Rahab and Ruth?

It was a difficult issue. So, were the men who opposed Peter right for what they did? Sometimes, our friends need to stand up to us. To tell us where we’re going is not where God’s leading. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” We should take seriously those moments when fellow Christians, who love us, come and say, “We think what you’re doing is not right.” But, when that happens, it doesn’t automatically mean that they are correct in their complaint.

When we look at the complaint, the case and the candor of these guys in Acts 11, it shows an obvious misalignment with the heart of God. They’re saved, they’re not undercover Pharisees or anything like that, but in the end we can see that they were out of step with the Lord and it led to some serious errors in the way they were living and relating to others.

Paul would later write to the church at Corinth: “there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!” So we know that these sort of disagreements will be part of church life. When differences arise, we can take a lesson from Acts 11 about how to proceed and how to be on the Lord’s side, moving forward in grace.

We begin in verse 1.

Acts 11:1 – The apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

It had maybe only been a week since Peter preached to Corenlius, but word spread fast through the Christian community. Without telephones, without social media, without marketing. Throughout the region people had heard what happened. And it was big news.

In passing I’d have us dog ear this idea from the example of the apostles: They weren’t the kinds of guys to hold press conferences. They didn’t go around saying, “Look at what we’re doing!” We live in a day and age where everyone feels the need to broadcast everything, to constantly self-promote. To make sure everybody knows the service programs the church is doing or different things we’re volunteering in. I’m not saying it’s always wrong to post what you did to serve the Lord on Instagram, but I do notice that’s not what the disciples did. And, the constant self admiration that is cultivated through social media doesn’t really leave room for the kind of meek and modest humility that Jesus modeled for us.

Acts 11:2-3 – 2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

These were Jewish Christians who were still trying to keep many aspects of the Law of Moses. They wouldn’t have been sacrificing animals in the Temple anymore, but the other code of conduct, dietary restrictions, observing days, washing, circumcision, those sorts of things, were still seen as essential in their eyes. Now, taking a look as a jury at this court martial, we can see that, even here, this was no mere personal conviction they were following, but it was an issue of culture, tradition, and self-righteous legalism. They wouldn’t have agreed with that, but it’s clearly true.

Now, there are legitimate restrictions that God leads individuals into in their personal walks with Him. We call them liberties. Of course, there are broader boundaries that we all are commanded to obey, but on the individual level God asks some of His people to do or not do certain things that He does not ask of everyone. Celibacy is a good example. The New Testament says that God will give some Christians the gift of celibacy. And, if they are given that gift, God is asking them to not be married.

Another example is given to us in the two Simons of chapter 10. Simon Peter had been asked by God to leave his nets. And he did. God said, “I want you to give that up to follow Me.” But then we see Simon the Tanner. He was not asked to leave his tents. He remained there, working the leather as a faithful Christian. Both were used by God. Both were led by God. Different requirements.

So, how can we tell the difference between self-righteous legalism and Spirit-led convictions? The circumcision party here gives us a few ways to tell. First of all, this was a partisan affair. They came as card-carrying circumcisionists. They had a pre-set bias. We note they were categorically opposed to the idea that people who weren’t part of their party would not only be given the gift of salvation, but that Peter would even pay them a visit. The biggest indicator of legalism is this: They wanted to force their conviction onto everyone else. Listen, if God leads you to follow a certain diet as a matter of conscience, that’s fine. Do what He says. But conviction is for the individual. Legalism is put on everyone else. When someone comes to you and draws a line in the sand, not about a truly essential issue like the deity of Christ or the virgin birth or the resurrection, but about some application of the Christian life, some behavior, some observance, when they come and try to force on you some mode of being, that is legalism.

Paul said clearly in Ephesians 2 that God has ended the system of law with its commandments and regulations. So beware of legalists trying to chain you in self-righteousness.

What do we see when these men come before Peter? Rather than celebrate the grace of God, they criticized their brother. They should’ve noticed that their criticism was almost identical to what the Pharisees had said about Jesus in Luke 15. “We don’t like who you associate with. We don’t approve of that meal you just had.”

Now, this would’ve been a truly difficult moment for Peter. This issue threatened to divide the Church altogether. And we know that he felt enormous pressure from this group of Christians. Later in Galatians 2, we’re told “he was afraid of criticism” from these guys. But on this day in Acts 11, the Lord made good on His promise to speak through His servants in situations like this.

In his defense, it’s clear Peter’s goal was not to simply vindicate himself or get back in their good opinion, but to magnify God’s grace and to try to bring these guys along. That’s an important element, too.

Peter’s doesn’t have a knee-jerk reaction and immediately kick these guys out. He doesn’t quickly form a group around himself and devolve into party politics. In times of division, the goal should be unity. It’s not always possible, but always our goal as we vigilantly defend grace.

Let’s look at what Peter said.

Acts 11:4 – 4 Peter began to explain to them step by step:

He didn’t play the apostle card. He didn’t say, “I’m Peter. Deal with it.” He didn’t say, “I’m casting vision, you just get in line behind whatever I want to do.” He didn’t threaten to sue them or start a campaign against them. Instead, he walked them, slowly, step by step through God’s leading and His work in the situation. He’ll highlight God’s word. He’ll highlight God working wonders. He’ll highlight the witnesses. What had happened could be explained and defended according to Godly and Biblical principles.

This is important, not only when we deal with disagreements in the church, but in your own life. When we move into a big decision, some big change, some pivot of opinion or behavior, we should be able to explain how we were led to take that path by the Lord. Peter’s movements weren’t done on a whim. God had directed him. Let’s take big life choices as an example. Christians believe that God gives us particular gifts and particular opportunities and particular works that we are to discover and walk in. So, when a Christian decides to make a big move to another community, another church, another career, it should be accompanied by identifiable leading from God the Holy Spirit. If a person makes a big change and other Christians ask, “Why did you do that?” And the answer is, “More money.” That’s probably a problem. Peter takes them step by step through the clear leading of God, proving that this was not some human desire, but part of the wonderful work of God.

We’ll move quickly through the next verses, as we’ve commented on them already when they were first shard.

Acts 11:5-10 – 5 “I was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a trance, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. 6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. 7 I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 “ ‘No, Lord!’ I said. ‘For nothing impure or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call impure.’ 10 “Now this happened three times, and everything was drawn up again into heaven.

Here’s what we note about Peter’s retelling: He doesn’t inflate himself in the story. He doesn’t reference the fact that he had worked astounding miracles in Joppa. He doesn’t make himself look great or important. He doesn’t remove the warts from the story. These apostles are such a great model for real, Christian leadership. Beware of swagger!

Acts 11:11-12a – 11 At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all.

Any reasonable listener would come to the conclusion that this was an obvious move of God. Peter hadn’t gone out looking to stir the pot. He hadn’t done all of this try to stick it to his ultra-conservative brothers. His motivation was spiritual. It wasn’t about demographics or market share or influence. He was cooperating in the providential work of God as God led him.

The Lord doesn’t need our devices to spread the word about Jesus Christ. “At that very moment.” This whole story shows that our God can harness all of time and all of creation to accomplish His work. Why settle for human schemes when we’re invited to participate in providence? It seems today that more and more Christians and churches are being swallowed up with an obsession with image and with hype and with cultural machinery found in the world. That’s not how the Lord does things. Be led. Be led. Be led!

Acts 11:12b – These six brothers also accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house.

Peter had anticipated that there would be trouble in Jerusalem, or at least that there would need to be an accounting for what was going on. That reveals just how serious the average, Jewish Christian was in their separation from Gentiles. There was clearly no motivation to reach the world with the Gospel. But praise God that He does that impossible, even through imperfect vessels like us.

But, Peter acted wisely here, not just out of fear. Often we think about the division within the early church between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, but what was happening here was monumental from another angle, too. You see, at this point the book of Acts has said that the Christians, after riding out one wave of persecution led by Saul, were now well respected by the Jewish community. They interacted in the temple. There wasn’t a lot of friction between them and, even, the Sanhedrin during these years. But now, having opened their arms to the Gentiles, a violent wedge will be forced between the Church and the non-Christian Jews. In fact, after this text, the next time we visit Jerusalem we’ll see a new period of violent persecution breaking out against the believers.

In the news today we frequently see Christians doing controversial things. If they must be done, they should be done wisely and by the true leading of God. Now, if that’s the case, come what may. But, Peter here must have understood some of the serious implications of his actions, and he carried himself with wisdom, bringing these guys along, not only to witness what happened in Caesarea, but to stand with him in Jerusalem. And we commend these 6 guys. They didn’t shrink under the pressure. They may not have had a speaking role in this drama, but their part was still important. Their role was one of presence and support, standing on God’s side even in the face of opposition.

Acts 11:13-15 – 13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 14 He will speak a message to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning.

Peter reminds them that the issue was salvation. This wasn’t about politics or press or anything like that. They were talking about people whose eternal souls hung in the balance. Not just 1 man, but his whole household and his whole world by extension. Wives and children. Servants and soldiers.

Think of the unsaved masses of humanity walking the earth today. A study done in 2015 suggested that 31% of the world’s population identifies as Christian. Let’s say all of those people really are saved. That means 7 out of every 10 people are headed to hell. 5.5billion people are about to lose their lives forever, unless they become born again. In the mean time, some Christians are arguing over whether we should only sing hymns in church! Let’s keep salvation in the forefront of our minds.

Acts 11:16 – 16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

We note that Peter here, remembering the prophetic word of the Lord, saw a dual fulfillment. This is an important aspect of how we, as futurists, interpret Scripture. Frequently in the Bible, the book of Acts included, we see prophecies having a multi-stage or multi-part fulfillment. It’s Biblical to read prophecy that way and it’s the only way to harmonize prophecy, in a broad sense.

So, by now, through Peter’s defense we see that what had happened was confirmed by a vision, confirmed by the Holy Spirit, confirmed by providence, confirmed by miracles, confirmed by the word of God and confirmed by witnesses. They were all in agreement.

When Joseph Smith arrives on the scene and says, “I’ve seen a vision and have a new message from God,” but that message contradicts the revelation of Scripture, or is given without witnesses, it’s not reliable. It’s not Biblical. It’s not the way God does things. Smith is an extreme example, but the principles can be brought down to any teaching or statement made by people who claim to be servants of God. And, remember, the general context is a disagreement being dealt with in the church body.

Act 11:17 – 17 If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?”

Peter acknowledges here that Cornelius and his household were saved by belief. Not by baptism. Not by circumcision. Not by observing the Sabbath. We are saved by grace, through faith, that’s it.

As Peter closes his statements we notice how frighteningly close this whole thing is to that time when they were before the Sanhedrin. The apostles had said, “We’ve got to obey God, rather than men.” Gamaliel had said, “Hey, leave these guys alone, we don’t want to be fighting against God.” But this scene is not between Christians and Sadducees, but between Christian brothers! It’s amazing how easily even a Spirit-filled believer can wander into serious error.

With all this talk of providence and God’s power, how could we possibly “hinder” Him? Well, the Bible says that we’re able to “quench” the Holy Spirit. The example of the wilderness wanderings and Peter’s own epistle reveal that, through our choices, we can impact God’s timeline in certain ways. Certainly we can hinder the work of God in the lives of others by discouraging them or placing burdens on them. What we do matters and we do not want to be hindering the Lord’s work.

Acts 11:18 – 18 When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.”

We weren’t there, so it’s hard to say just how these guys reacted to what they’d heard. We know that this circumcision problem would dog the church for many years. The way it reads, it seems to me that they held their peace (how could you not?). But, when they say, “So then…” it feels more like them admitting the truth than applauding it. God’s glory will ring out from the rocks if need be, and it seems in this case it came from their rock hard hearts, rather than an overflow of excitement.

In Jeremiah 9, God laments that the stubbornness of His people’s hearts had led them to idolatry and off the path which followed Him. It broke God’s heart and resulted in a terrible desolation, where God had wanted celebration and fruitfulness and His glory to reign as a light to the whole world.

We want to be people who are soft-hearted, relying on the leading of the Holy Spirit and ready to do whatever God asks us to do. We should expect divisions and differences to arise. When they do, we should stand on the side of God’s grace, God’s word, God’s effort to save, not clinging to tradition, self-righteousness or bias. If we stand with the Lord, whether on trial before brothers or adversaries, we can know that we have honored our Master and done His bidding, magnifying His glory through our lives.

Acts 10:24-48 – God’s Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It

In Tolkien’s classic book, The Hobbit, Gandalf, the wise wizard, foists a situation on the narrow-minded Bilbo which offers him a chance at adventure, importance and great rewards. The journey will be challenging and unpredictable, bringing Bilbo into company of new friends, dangerous foes and out of his own comfortable way of doing things. By the end of the story, the hobbit has grown and developed in ways he never could have predicted, he returns home with wonderful treasures in tow and his world is better for his having gone. Victories were won, lives were saved and right was reigning over middle earth.

The broad strokes are not so unlike the story playing out in Acts chapter 10. God had a great adventure in mind, sending His people to go with Him and do battle against the dragon, to take back what he stole. In the Lord’s case, we’re not talking about mere silver and gold, but about undying human spirits. And here, we drop in as God starts an amazing new era of Gospel work which would ultimately cover the whole earth. Like Gandalf, He wants to bring those along who wouldn’t have naturally signed up. In reality, none of us would naturally sign up to take up our cross and follow the Lord, but our Father knows that that is exactly what we need to do. And so, after bringing an unexpected party to Peter’s front door, God sends him down a road that would change his life, change the Church forever and change the course of human history, to our direct benefit by the way.

God invites each of us to follow Him on our own Gospel adventure as we continue the work of Acts. As we go with Him, He doesn’t leave our progress to chance or to our own ability. Instead, we know from the revelation of Scripture, in passages like this one tonight, that the Lord has intentional plans He wants to execute in our lives. We see some the character of these plans as we read about Peter bringing the Gospel to Cornelius at what some refer to as the Gentile Pentecost.

We start in at verse 24.

Acts 10:24 – 24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

In this verse we first see that God’s mission is to get us intermingled with people who need ministry. In the midst of this pandemic, the governments of the world are all about isolation and separation. As a general principle, God’s plan is to mix us up with others. Already we’ve seen Peter interacting with Jews and Samaritans, with Scribes and sorcerers, with cripples and converts. Sometimes he talks to one person, sometimes to a crowd of thousands. Of course, none of these encounters were by his design, but they were part of his adventure as he followed the leading of God the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes we get the feeling that, to be a real Christian, we’ve got to go to some strange and far off land. And, it’s true that in some cases, God does great work through people far from home, among a people altogether different from them. Certainly, in this text, there is a wide gap between the subjugated, Jewish fisherman and the Roman Centurion. But we just as often see people ministering to those immediately around them. That’s what Cornelius did, for example. He gathered friends and family. Andrew had a family ministry. So did Timothy’s mother, Eunice. The principle is not that we must travel a certain number of miles, but, rather, that God’s intention is to get us mingled with others, be they many or few, near or far, so that we can bring the Gospel to them.

Now, Peter and his fellows from Joppa still didn’t know exactly what was going on. I’m guessing it was an interesting couple of days walking to Caesarea. The Gentiles didn’t know what to expect either. And yet, they all pressed on in anticipation.

In verses 25 through 33, we see God’s mission is not only to intermingle us with others, but also to get us into right relationship with them.

Acts 10:25-26 – 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.26 But Peter helped him up and said, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”

Some commentators try to say Cornelius was only giving Peter an oriental-style welcome, but it doesn’t seem like that’s what Peter thought. To Peter’s credit, he immediately lifted Cornelius up and declared their equality, which is an astounding statement, no matter what angle you look at it. On the one hand, Peter is an apostle. He is a miracle worker. He’s one of the 3 in the inner circle of Jesus Christ the Messiah. He had just raised a woman from the dead. He held the keys to the Kingdom. But, looking on this misinformed unbeliever, who clearly assumed Peter was much higher than him, he said, “We’re the same.” From the other angle, his assertion is just as remarkable. Cornelius is the strong arm of the occupying power. He was a man with wealth and prominence and position. A man of valuable skill and strength. Peter was a penniless, semi-retired fisherman who frequently had run-ins with the Jewish authorities.

But in God’s eyes, we are all His most precious creation: Man. Each loved. Each hand-crafted in the womb. Each of us are the object of His fervent affection. Priceless pearls in His eyes.

As we go out as representatives of Christ, we’re to be in right relationship with the people we encounter. There’s no place for pride or prejudice in Gospel work. We note that Peter didn’t think he needed to be hailed as ‘great.’ He wouldn’t try to pocket any of Christ’s glory for himself, like Elisha’s greedy servant Gehazi. No one needed to kiss Peter’s feet or prostrate themselves. The Bible explains that being in right relationship with others means we place their needs before our own, that we treat others the way we want to be treated and that we do so with humility and kindness. We’re not to lord over others or put burdens on them. We’re to “help them up” that they might be fortified and encouraged and brought nearer to the Lover of their souls.

Acts 10:27-29 – 27 While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there. 28 Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean. 29 That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?”

Being in right relationship with people means being honest and forthright with them. Peter, perhaps, was a bit short on tact in his words, but he was by no means dishonest or unkind. He didn’t posture or parade. He didn’t scheme or seek to impress. Neither did he demean or berate. He spoke the truth of what God had done for him. But then he asks a key question: Why did you send for me? What were their expectations? Were they hoping to see a wonder worked before them? Were they hoping to be entertained by this man who knew things about Jesus others did not?

We should commend this group of Gentiles for their hunger for the truth. It’s clear they were all well-versed in Judaism, particularly Cornelius who, we know, though short of fully converting to the Jewish faith, went as far as he could as a God-fearer. Yet, as Peter pointed out, “they knew” that they were outside of Israel, seen by many Jews not even as humans but as animals. And yet, they gathered there that day, in hopes that the God of Abraham would, perhaps, show them mercy. He is the God of mercy. The God who loves the undeserving sinners of this world who have no claim to Him. This scene is a good reminder of the mercy of the God we preach. He offers salvation not to those who work for it or bribe for it. It’s not for popularity or for merit. It’s the free offer of grace to any and to all who will call on Him and believe on His Son.

God’s plan to put us in right relationship with others demands that we value them the way He does. And we see that His call on our lives must supersede any bias we have, any trepidation. It must precede our own pre-conceived schedules and plans. We are to respond as soon as we are sent for. Because we are the agents of grace sent on God’s mission of mercy.

Acts 10:30-33 – 30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. 32 Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.’ 33 Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”

We can imagine the anticipation in the house as they waited for Peter’s arrival. Maybe someone in the group had gently suggested to Cornelius, “This man is a Jew. He can’t come here, let alone speak with us.” But Cornelius would’ve simply said, “He’ll come. He’ll be here.” Thank God Peter did the right thing and obeyed when the Lord sent him out.

Many of you have heard of a Christian named Brother Yun. In his autobiography he tells the story of how, as a young man in China, he became desperate to get a Bible. No one they knew had one. His mother walked him to a village where she had heard a man had a Bible. The man was too afraid to show Yun his copy, but told him to pray for one of his own.

For 100 days Yun fasted and prayed for a Bible. “One morning, there was a knock at the door. Two men had brought a Bible to Yun. Three months before, an evangelist in another town had been instructed by the Lord in a vision to give his Bible to Brother Yun. Although he did not know this young boy, the Lord had showed him the village and house where Yun lived in a vision. It had taken him three months to decide to obey the Lord.”

Thank God Peter didn’t wait, but obeyed when he was sent. Now, God’s mission is not only to send us, but to speak through us. Peter was not meant to only come to Cornelius’ house, but to communicate to him and his family. We cannot always anticipate when God will use us to preach or to minister in some way, but we can ready ourselves to deliver the truth when called upon. What has the Lord commanded? What is the Way by which a person might be saved? How can someone receive forgiveness for their sins? These are questions we can prepare ourselves to answer.

There are countless, rousing speeches in movies just before a battle breaks out. The general stands before his troops or the hero rides along in front of his fellow soldiers, stirring their hearts with talk of valor and honor and glory. Imagine those scenes if the leaders had nothing to say. “Well, I’m here at least.” Peter had done the right thing in coming, but the purpose was to deliver revelation to them.

In verses 34 through 43 we see that God’s mission is not only to intermingle us with others and to get us into right relationship with them, but also to lead us into a deeper understanding of truth.

Acts 10:34-43 – 34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. 37 You know the events that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”

On that long walk to Caesarea, in light of the vision he had received, pieces of a puzzle began to fall into place in Peter’s mind. Suddenly, he was realizing that his perspective on many issues were incomplete or askew. Suddenly, passages from the prophets and scenes from his 3 years with his Lord were all coming together in a unified picture of God’s unlimited grace.

Peter and Paul would both later write about their hope that we, God’s people, would continue to grow in our knowledge of the Lord and His truth. Not so that we could be puffed up or keep some cosmic scorecard of who is more right, but so that we would be more useful in His service and have a greater appreciation for what God has done. Here, in our text, we see that a purpose for growing in our understanding of the Lord’s truth is so we can proclaim it and testify that Jesus Christ is the One Messiah, the One Way to everlasting life.

Acts 10:44-46a – 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God.

God is on a mission to intermingle us with others, to get us in right relationship with them, to lead us into a deeper understanding of His truth and to fill us with the Holy Spirit. That baptism was not meant only for the 12 or the 120 in Jerusalem, but for every Christian everywhere. It is the regular operation of the Spirit in the life of a believer. Not that we demand an experience of tongues or some other visible manifestation, but we should expect the Holy Spirit to fill and infuse us in a life-changing way. Because, as this passage makes altogether clear, God does not class certain Christians high and others low. The Jewish brothers, listening to the same words Peter had just been speaking, were still astonished that the Gentiles really were being saved the same way that they had been. That God didn’t have multiple tiers of access. But what a marvelous thing that God has the same Spirit and the same grace and the same love for you and for me that He had for Peter or for any other great Christian hero of history.

In passing, we note that the filling of the Holy Spirit here was manifest, not just in a miracle of languages, but in the passionate overflow of praise.

Finally, in verses 47 and 48 we see that God’s mission is to get us obeying.

Acts 10:46b-48 – Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

These Gentiles had earnestly sought after God. They had believed in their hearts unto salvation. And now, their life of obedience was to begin as they set out on their own adventure of faith, following after the Lord. Peter led the charge to, in a sense, make it official: “Let’s get these people baptized!” Of course, it wasn’t necessary for their salvation – they were already saved – it was to start them off in their life of obedience to Christ and to make it official to the Jews in the group. They had been saved the same and so they were to be treated the same. As the Gentiles were being commanded to obey, the Jewish believers, too, were given the opportunity to obey God’s leading – to get on board with this amazing work of grace. Not only were they to agree to it, they were to do it. The 6 Jewish brothers from Joppa would be the ones baptizing Cornelius and his family.

The road from Joppa to Caesarea is relatively straight. You go right up the coast from one town to the other. But, for Peter and his friends, the trip had some surprising turns. But they were turns that lead to the immeasurable expansion of God’s mercy through the Gentile world. They were not only agents of that wonderful change, but were changed themselves, as they were brought into a deeper understanding of grace and brought out of their narrow mode of ministry.

We look forward to how God will lead us on, in His grace, to continue the ministry of the Gospel in whatever ways He desires, and making us more like Him as we go along.

The Pigs Are All Right (Acts 10:9-23)

In Marvel’s Black Panther, a key theme in the plot is what the leaders of Wakanda should do with the rich resources of their kingdom when faced with the mounting problems in the nations around them. Historically, the kings had chosen to stay hidden, turning a blind eye to the needs of the wider world. In an emotionally climactic scene, T’Challa, the Black Panther, hovering somewhere between life and death has a conversation with a group of his ancestors in the afterlife and accuses them of wrongdoing. His father says, “I chose our people.” To which T’Challa responds, “All of you were wrong to turn your backs on the rest of the world.” He then returns to earth to try to chart a new course for the people of Wakanda, doing what should’ve been done from the beginning.

Last week we were introduced to a Roman centurion named Cornelius. He was a devout man and had received a message from an angel as God began to accomplish a pivotal work in human history: Opening the Church to the Gentile world. It wasn’t a new idea coming out of heaven. It had been the plan from the beginning that, through God’s people, the hope of redemption would go out to the entire world. Sadly, the Jews had turned their backs on the Gentile nations and now the Lord was going to finally build the bridge of the Gospel from the Church to all people.

Last week, we saw the groundwork being laid on the Gentile side. Tonight we see the other side of the bridge being built as the Lord interacts with the apostle Peter.

When we look at the two representatives, Peter and Cornelius, it’s obvious that it’s the Gentile who is further from God. After all, he’s not born again. He doesn’t have the Holy Spirit dwelling within him. Yet, in this effort, it’s Peter who has the longer trip to take. Though he lived with Jesus for three and a half years, though he was a leader in the church, though he was the preacher at Pentecost, a miracle worker, one of The Twelve, tonight’s text shows us something remarkable: The apostle was wrong. He was wrong in an area of his faith, wrong in his thoughts concerning the Gentile world and wrong about what he thought the Lord would and wouldn’t do.

Wonderfully, we’ll see that his wrongness didn’t make him unusable or distasteful to the Lord. God was going to lead Peter out of his error and into a greater experience of grace. One that would cause him to grow and have direct impact on the world. Just as Christ was drawing Cornelius into truth, so He was drawing Peter into greater truth, greater grace, greater intimacy with the King.

This episode in Peter’s life reveals the fact that all of us have room for growth in our understanding of grace and our walk with the Lord. That shouldn’t surprise us and it doesn’t need to discourage us. It’s the reality of following God in a body of flesh. One day we’ll be finished. One day we’ll be fully sanctified, fully glorified. Until then, we need the Lord to lead us forward, not only in our callings but also in our understanding. And, as we see with Peter, it’s possible that there might be some barrier that we don’t recognize that is keeping us from something the Lord desires. We’ll also see that God’s leading, even of mature, seasoned Christians, is not always as crystal clear as we would like it to be. We know that from experience, but it’s helpful to see it in the examples of Scripture too. What we can be sure of us that God does want to lead us on, more and more into His grace, His peace, His truth and, at the same time, use us to minister to a needy world along the way.

We pick up the story in verse 9.

Acts 10:9 – 9 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop about noon.

Luke builds anticipation in our minds as we move from watching the hurried, urgent quest of these 3 men from Caesarea and pan over to Peter, unaware of what’s coming, relaxing on the rooftop looking over the sea, in a time of quiet prayer with the Lord. It’s amazing how quickly things can change, right? Peter’s planning lunch at the time and has no idea a completely new era of ministry and history is about to begin. Not to mention that the Lord is going to require something very challenging of him.

Before moving on, it’s worth mentioning that both of these remarkable interactions with the Lord, for Peter and Cornelius, happened during a prayer time. As we endeavor to grow spiritually, growing in our prayer life with the Lord should always be a priority.

Acts 10:10 – 10 Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he went into a visionary state.

The term Luke used seems to indicate intense hunger. But, in this case, God was going to put the spiritual thing first. The Lord decided that, at this point, Peter could wait to eat. Sometimes the Lord has us forego physical things in order for us to accomplish spiritual things. Not always, but sometimes. That principle is perhaps most emphasized in the story of the healing of the paralytic let through the roof of the house. There, at the feet of Jesus, obviously in desperate need of physical attention, the Lord said, “Your sins are forgiven.” Of course, he was ultimately healed, but, in that case, the spiritual work came first. That’s not always how the Lord does things, but sometimes. And we see it here with Peter. He was hungry. He needed food. That’s a legitimate need. But it could wait while something spiritual was being done.

Acts 10:11-12 – 11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky.

Peter, as an individual, and many of the other Jewish Christians like him, needed to understand that God had done away with the dietary restrictions from the Mosaic law. The Lord had taught that back in the Gospels, but they hadn’t really gotten the message yet. This would be an issue that Peter struggled with, not only here, but later on in life too. But the wider point of this vision was that the Church, which is represented here by the sheet, is a heavenly work. And in the Church there is no exclusion. Every race. Every ethnicity. Every social class. Every background. Everyone is invited to join in the work that the Lord is doing before that time when the Church will be caught up to heaven in the rapture.

On that sheet were clean animals and creepy animals. The royal lion and the gentle lamb and the off-putting hyena. There were animals you’d like to look at and have around, and lots you wouldn’t. But, in the Church, the Lord sees them all as equal. All as worthwhile. All as part of the family. And, the animals weren’t killing each other on the sheet. They were there, side-by-side, living together.

Acts 10:13 – 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”

In your Bible these words may be in red. There are in mine. It’s not explicitly stated that Jesus was speaking, but it seems as though Peter recognized the voice as his Lord’s.

The command was simple: Get up and devour. Now, Peter was being led out of legalism and being prepared for his work with the ‘unclean’ Gentiles, but it did give me a devotional thought: We want to be hungry for souls. It doesn’t fit in perfectly, these animals are already on the sheet. But, I know I need the Lord to work in my heart and help me develop a greater hunger for souls. He’s sent us out to go and be fishers of men, so this image was a good motivator for me.

Acts 10:14 – 14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!”

Commentators are quick to point out that you can’t say both “No” and “Lord.” But the truth is, Peter kind of did a lot. Maybe not a lot, but 3 or 4 times in the record of the New Testament. And, in reality, we do too. Maybe we don’t say, “No, Lord,” as often, but we’re prone to say, “I can’t, Lord.” “I can’t forgive that person. I can’t be at peace in this uncertainty. I can’t not be anxious. I can’t love my wife the way Christ loves the Church. I can’t give sacrificially.” God gives us many commands and mandates in His Word, and when we think “I can’t,” it’s the same as Peter saying “no.”

In this case, Peter told the Lord, “No, I can’t obey what you said, because if I do, I won’t be properly religious.” It seems silly when we hear it like that, but Christians and churches tend to get hung up on manmade rules and traditions, sometimes choosing them over God’s leading. In the histories of revival there are those who won’t accept what God is doing and say that it’s all wrong. Dave Hunt, in his autobiographical book Confessions Of A Heretic, tells of these great things God was doing in his life – miraculous things – and how there was a great deal of resistance in his own heart to it at first. Then, there was a lot of resistance coming from his very conservative denomination. Even when the Holy Spirit fell on his local congregation in an undeniable way, the ultimate result was that Dave Hunt, a leader in their group, was excommunicated! Very sad, but all too common.

Here’s a generic example: The Bible says you have liberty in Christ and that no one can judge you for celebrating or not celebrating certain days. And yet, there are Christians and traditions who say you can’t be a true Christian and celebrate Christmas. The Bible says let no one judge you concerning Sabbaths. And yet, there are still many groups and traditions who say that all Christians must observe the Sabbath in some way. Those rigid, legalistic positions are just like the one Peter is demonstrating here, and God has gone to great lengths to usher us into grace.

Acts 10:15 – 15 Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.”

God does what He wants. He always acts in truth and according to His nature and character, but He is the decider. He is the definer. He is the director. Our part is to discover what His desire is, what His will is and line ourselves up with that. He is not subject to us or our understanding or our sensibilities, we are to subject ourselves to Him.

Acts 10:16 – 16 This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven.

There was emphasis, but not clarity. We’re going to see Peter pondering, wondering. He doesn’t get what this all means. So, the question is: Why not just be explicit and clear with Peter, the way the angel had been with Cornelius?

We can’t understand all the ways of God, but we remember that, as Christians, we’re invited to mediate on Him. He wants us to draw near to Him. He wants us to apply our hearts and our minds to Him. He wants us to think and listen and inquire and wait on Him. God doesn’t want to have a purely mechanical relationship with us, and we don’t want that either. Now, that means that sometimes God will speak to us in ways that aren’t clear at first, but, when that happens, it’s an invitation to press into the Lord, seek His face, wait on Him and anticipate more from Him.

Acts 10:17 – 17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate.

We have to marvel at God’s timing. His providence is magnificent. But, seeing Peter perplexed while these guys stood at the door reminds us that we can’t always figure everything out before we minister to people. Sometimes we’re going to have to walk by faith with less insight or clarity about how everything’s going to work, trusting that God is preparing us and will walk with us.

Acts 10:18 – 18 They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.

I imagine this was a tense moment for Simon the tanner and his family. You probably don’t want a Roman soldier showing up to your house unannounced.

For their part, the Gentiles were being polite, not barging into the Jewish home, but waiting at the gate, respecting the Jewish sensibilities.

Acts 10:19-20 – 19 While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”

Now the Lord gives Peter some direct clarity, not about the vision itself, but about what he should do next. We should notice that this was a very matter of fact interaction with the Holy Spirit. We don’t see Peter laughing uncontrollably or doing anything weird. The Spirit didn’t possess him. He just spoke, like a friend, giving direction.

I do find it humorous that God didn’t mention, “Oh, and the 3 men down there are Gentiles.” He let Peter find out on his own. So, “go with them. Accompany them. They’re from Me.” Forgot to mention they’re Gentiles. God’s got a fun streak, to be sure.

Acts 10:21-22 – 21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.”

Clearly, these three Romans know that Peter, as a Jew, will be hesitant to engage with them, so they immediately start making an appeal to Peter’s Jewishness. “Cornelius is a God-fearer…the whole Jewish nation knows he’s a good guy…the God of Israel sent an angel.” Peter is being drawn into a greater grace, one that perhaps he should’ve anticipated but hadn’t so far. For our part, we want to operate in grace in such a way that people don’t feel like they have to beg in order to receive ministry from us. Freely we have received, freely we should give.

Acts 10:23 – 23 Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

Peter obeyed. And he obeyed in a big way. By inviting in these Gentiles and eating with them, he was violating terms of the Levitical code. But Peter acted with grace and compassion and care. And, notice, they didn’t leave right away. Now, when Cornelius had his vision it was about 3pm. The servants and soldier left immediately.

Here, it’s just about noon. But, rather than set off right away, Peter can tell these guys need rest. They need a meal. They need to refresh and get supplied. So, in this moment, the physical need was addressed first. They waited till the next morning to set out. And so, in the same text, we see God moving in slightly different ways. And that just reinforces the idea that we really need to be led and directed by the Holy Spirit as He works out the incredible, providential work of the Gospel. Because on the Lord knows, in a given moment, whether the best way for you to minister in a situation is through a meal or a message.

What we do know is that God doesn’t want us to turn our backs on the world. He wants us to go out and minister in grace, even to the difficult, undesirable, prickly and creepy folks out there. We have a limitless supply of heavenly power available to us. Let’s not hinder ourselves with legalistic traditions, human prejudice or an unwillingness to obey. Instead, let’s wait on the Lord, accept His rule and invite Him to direct us into new ventures of faith.

The Motion Of Devotion (Acts 10:1-8)

Reggie White was one of the most awarded players in NFL history. As defensive end, he was, arguably, the greatest pass rusher of all time. J.J. Watt, a more recent defensive end who was once called the NFL’s best player, talked in an interview last year about how he still studies footage of Reggie White’s performance on the field, hoping to pick up a thing or two.

If you know anything about Reggie White, you know that not only was he one of the best to ever play the game, but that he was an outspoken Christian. His boldness for Jesus earned him the nickname “the minister of defense.” After his untimely death, one author wrote: “Perhaps no professional athlete had evangelized more often or more publicly than Reggie White.” Reggie’s story is a remarkable one that teaches and inspires us.

In our text tonight we’ll read about another man who is remembered for both his faith and his vocation. A man whose experience paved the way for Reggie White to get saved. In fact, our passage this evening chronicles a pivotal moment in the story of the Church, and, really, a turning point in human history, as the Gospel is made equally and officially available to the Gentile world.

Acts chapter 10 is somewhere around 8 to 10 years after Pentecost. But, up until now, the entire church is Jewish. There was probably an exception or two, perhaps a few more than the Ethiopian Eunuch who weren’t born Hebrews and had been born again, though some argue that, even then, all those may have been Jewish proselytes. But now, something dramatic and unexpected had happened: The Gospel had been received in Samaria. These half-Jewish, ancient kinsmen of Israel were getting saved. But what about the Gentile world? So far, there had been no apostolic preaching to non-Jews. Even when the Ethiopian Eunuch was saved, it hadn’t been an official invitation, but a spur of the minute, Divine appointment.

It’s clear from the rest of Acts that there was no assumption that God’s offer of salvation was going to go out to the Gentile world. In fact, for years some church leaders and Jewish Christians resisted the idea. At very least, they thought, Gentiles would first have to convert to Judaism and then be able to be saved. It’s a battle the Apostle Paul would have to fight again and again.

But Acts 10 shows what God had in mind. He makes it plain and clear that the Gospel was for everyone. And the way that He does so is bold and striking as we see a man named Cornelius coming to faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a significant event that Luke gives a lot of attention to. And, through this work, God makes some strong statements both to the unbelieving world and to the all Jewish church at the time.

Most of you are familiar with this story already and know what a remarkable man Cornelius was. We’ll see he was a man of great integrity, of deep religious conviction. He was a man of generosity and humility. He was a man with a missionary mindset.

The truth is, good commentators find themselves in disagreement over when exactly Cornelius was regenerated. Rather than debate that, I rather us step back and take a look at something else from his example and that’s that God was pleased with this man’s heart and his behavior. We’ll be told that God heard his prayers and responded to his efforts. I would tend to agree that Cornelius wasn’t yet born in again in verses 1 through 8, but as born again Christians, wouldn’t we say that we want to please God? For God to hear our prayers? For the Lord to reveal more of Himself as we seek Him? Cornelius is described to us as a “devout” man. Now we, Gentiles who have the additional benefits of the completed word of God, the lessons of Church history and the indwelling Holy Spirit, can be encouraged in our own devotion to the Lord and meditate on the kind of life that pleases the Lord. We begin in verse 1, where we read:

Acts 10:1 – There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.

The opening phrase of this pivotal event is important: There was a man. A certain man. A particular individual and his family were the targets of God’s work that day. I say that because the way we do things today is to target a region and set up a church or a ministry there. The metric you hear all the time is, “in this city, this huge percentage of the population is unchurched.” And so, the reasoning is, God must want to establish something in that city. And, maybe that’s true. Paul, we know, had specific regions he wanted to go to, like Asia and Spain. It’s not that the Lord never works that way. But what do we see much more often in the Bible? We see God connecting individuals to other individuals. Philip wasn’t sent to Ethiopia, he was sent to an Ethiopian. Even in Paul’s ministry, churches were established after people got saved, not before. Had God wanted to be strategic the way we so often try to be in our own thinking, He would’ve launched the Gentile outreach in China, which probably contained 20% of the world’s population at the time. Or at least in Rome, which was the most important city. But the Lord was interested more in a person than a place.

That person was a soldier named Cornelius. Not just a soldier, but a centurion, in command of others. And not just any centurion, but one in an elite squad known as the Italian Regiment. The Lord was making a statement here. He was starting this new work in the Gentile world in a blatant, unapologetic way. Cornelius is the poster-boy for Rome: An Italian soldier, tasked with protecting of the governor in Caesarea, as in the land of Caesar! He’s not just a member of the empire, he’s the strong arm of the empire. If you wanted to get as far away from a Jew as possible, this guy is definitely in the running. And that’s who the Lord was going to publicly display as the very first Gentile member of the Church.

This should encourage us in a variety of ways. First, that anyone can get saved. Second, the Gospel plays offense, not just defense. Third, we should ask God for the kind of boldness He has.

Now, Cornelius’ career was impressive, but it’s who he was as a person that put him on God’s radar.

Acts 10:2 – 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.

As we get into his religious life, let’s remind ourselves that Cornelius didn’t earn salvation or buy God’s favor with good works. That’s never how it works with the Lord. Cornelius, like all people, would be saved by grace through faith. But, we see that He was pleased with Cornelius. And in this verse we’re given a lot of description about his spiritual life. There was a lot of motion in his devotion. In fact, Vines Dictionary of the New Testament points out that the term Luke used here for ‘devout’ is meant to convey a sense of energy and activity. Not just a mindset, but that Cornelius directed expressions of his faith toward God.

We learn that he was a man of prayer. A man of spiritual action. He shared his faith with his family and household staff. We’ll see he also influenced the soldiers in his command. He was generous and sacrificial. He had a vibrant, active spiritual life at home, on the field, and everywhere in between.

Categorically, he would’ve been known as a “God-fearer,” which was a classification among the Jews of a Gentile who believed in the God of the Old Testament, even attended synagogue, but had not become a circumcised proselyte. Therefore, even though he was in mental agreement with the teachings of Israel, he would’ve been considered ceremonially unclean and restricted from worship.

Despite being held at arms length by the Jews around him, and despite being undoubtedly hated by many as an enforcer of Roman occupation, Cornelius still engaged with the community of God’s people, still prayed to the God of Israel, still sought God, day in and day out. He didn’t know Jesus yet, and the Lord was going to take care of that, but during this time of great transition in God’s dealings with man, he serves as a wonderful example of vibrant, God-pleasing faith in the Old Testament sense.

He’s also a wonderful example of the truth revealed in the Scripture that, if a person will respond to the light they’ve been given, God will make a way that they receive more light. “What about the tribesman who’s never heard the Gospel?” They’re no farther off than an Ethiopian Eunuch or a Roman Centurion. The Bible promises “Seek and you will find.”

Acts 10:3 – 3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius!”

One thing we should notice throughout the whole situation is the amount of clarity experienced. He saw distinctly. He will be given clear directions. The same will be true of Peter’s vision up next.

Why does that matter? Well, it seems to be more and more popular for people to make claims about visions or supernatural manifestations – that they’ve seen the face of God or an angel or something similar – and frequently there is a complete lack of clarity.

For example: Paula White is a name you might have heard. She’s an author and peddler of the prosperity gospel. She’s said to be a spiritual advisor and personal pastor to our president. She considers herself an apostle. Recently she claimed to have seen the face of God in the throne room of God. She said she couldn’t see it clearly because of a mist. What she could see clearly was the golden mantle given to her. So, naturally we need to listen to her and donate to her ministry and all that. There are many Biblical problems with her claims. But, other people and groups and books are making similar claims about supernatural visions. When you hear them, evaluate them. Pay attention to the details. Do they align with the teaching of Scripture? An encounter like this one between Cornelius and the angel can serve as a measuring tool for when others make claims to have heard from God.

Now, we remember that Jesus appeared to Saul in a vision. Why not here? If He wants Gentiles to be saved, why send an angel? There were two sides to God’s work in this situation. On the one side, His desire was to save Cornelius and his family. On the other side was His desire to show the Jewish Christians that Gentiles had full and equal access to salvation and the Church, not by first jumping through a hoop of converting to Mosaic Judaism, but through faith in Jesus Christ. There would be no difference, no exclusion and no pre-qualifications necessary. If the Church had any hope for unity, it would have to be clear and evident that God was reaching out to the Gentile world in the same way that He was reaching out to Israel. And, toward that end, we can see a dramatic statement being made to the Jewish believers. It was, “Yes, even a Roman centurion can be saved. Even he can have the forgiveness of sins and the exact same filling of the Spirit that you received.” That’s a big statement. One that will be hard for some of the Church members to accept in Jerusalem.

Acts 10:4a – 4 Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, “What is it, lord?”

I’d say this serves as another marker or measuring tool for us when people make claims about seeing angels or going to heaven. In the presence of that kind of power, even this battle hardened, special forces warrior was terrified. To his credit, he didn’t turn and run – he was a courageous man – but faced the angel and waited for instruction.

Acts 10:4b – The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God.

What an amazing thing to be told! Try to imagine what has just been said? There on the altar of heaven, as incense rises, pleasing the Lord, a wisp is somehow identified as belonging to Cornelius. “There is his prayer. There is his act of compassion to a Jew in the town. There is his kindness and generosity.” Those things, accomplished on earth, are seen as a memorial offering in heaven.

We live in the dispensation of grace, but that doesn’t mean we’re done with offerings. We no longer have to make sacrifices for atonement, but we are now free and commanded to make daily, ongoing offerings to our Lord that we might honor God and please Him and glorify Him through our lives.

Here are some New Testament references for us:

Hebrews 13:15 – …let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.

2 Corinthians 8:19 – [Titus] was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem—a service that glorifies the Lord…

Philippians 2:17 – I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God.

Philippians 4:18 – I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Romans 12:1 – Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

We are to be people who continually put offerings on the altar of heaven through our devotion on earth. Cornelius was told that these things were memorial offerings. The memorial offering, detailed in the Levitical law, was always a representative portion. It was given in acknowledgement that all the crop belonged to God. So, when we see these ideas brought together with the imperatives in the New Testament we find that all our praise, all our words, all our money, all our service, all our lives belong to God and we can regularly, joyfully give portion after portion to the Lord that He might be pleased and glorified.

The angel continued:

Acts 10:5 – 5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

I think we can sense God’s grace here. He didn’t demand that Cornelius go AWOL. Rather, the Lord instructed him to send others to go and fetch a messenger who would come and tell them what they needed to do. You see, God didn’t only want to save the impressive head of the house, He wanted to save them all, down to the lowliest house servant.

Acts 10:6 – 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

This encounter ends with clear direction. He’s given all the information he needs to find who he’s looking for. There was no GPS. No addresses. No Find My Friends. But, you know, God can get a lot done even without modern conveniences. That’s a silly thing to say, but, again, sometimes we slip into a mentality that we have to have certain things in order to accomplish ministry. A common pattern I see these days is that when a new church plant is being established, they say, “We need $250,000 to get started.” Even this week I was on a church’s website, it’s a fine church, I’m not against them, but they’ve got a fundraising campaign going. They want 100% of their people to pledge toward a 3 year, $3.5million goal. Here’s what they say on the site: “Build to Reach is a three-year campaign to raise funds to build a dedicated sanctuary for the church that will seat many more people and allow [us] to reach more souls for the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

I know what they mean and I’m sure they mean well. But, you don’t actually have to spend $3.5million before you reach more souls for Jesus Christ. God can get it done in the first century without programs or gimmicks or PayPal. Look what God was able to do through a few, barely literate fishermen!

Acts 10:7-8 – 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius was quick to obey. That’s a very important part of devotion that pleases God. Though it was late in the day, with little sunlight left, he sent his servants on the long, 35 mile trip to Joppa. But, being a man of care and concern, he made sure to send them with protection. He couldn’t go himself, but he fully outfitted them to get where they needed to go. And he was willing to sacrifice his own comfort for the sake of the Lord. He sent his personal attendant to help some slaves rather than keep him back at the house. And, we see Cornelius was an open man. He explained everything. He didn’t lord over these guys, even though it was his station to do so. He didn’t behave as if he was some special, mystical, religious person. He was humble and helpful.

His devotion is an inspiration. And he doesn’t even have the Holy Spirit yet! Just imagine what he would’ve been like after verse 46! We don’t have to just imagine it, we can live it out. We’re the Gentiles on the field now. We’re the ones to whom Cornelius has handed the baton.

J.J. Watt, who talked about studying Reggie White’s play style, admits that he’s been unable to copy one of his signature moves. Of course, that’s ok. Because Watt isn’t White. He’s not supposed to copy. He became a great player in his own right while learning from guys before him.

We’re not to copy either. We don’t please God by trying to copy Cornelius. That’s not going to work. But we can learn from him about the motion of devotion. About living out our faith in a way that is pleasing to the Lord as we seek Him and obey Him and offer portion after portion onto the altar of heaven. A portion of praise. A portion of prayer. A portion of service. A portion of charity. Of generosity.

Reggie White once said this: “I’ve always believed since I was a kid that God was gonna allow me to play professional football, to use it as a platform to proclaim and live out the name of Jesus. And, you know, that’s the most exciting part about my life because God has done things in me to change my character to benefit the kingdom.” In a sense, he was a modern day Cornelius. We can be too as we live life to proclaim Jesus.

Get Up, Stand Up, Stand Up In Your Christ (Acts 9:32-43)

In this age, dominated by social media, you made have heard the term ‘slactivism.’ It’s defined as “the practice of supporting a cause by means such as social media or online petitions, characterized as involving very little effort or commitment.” Someone clicks a like button, or shares a link, maybe goes as far as changing the color overlay on their account’s avatar, and thereby declare to the world that they’re part of a movement, all without having to leave the house. It certainly makes the slactivist feel good as they convince themselves that they are “raising awareness” and voicing important concerns.

Pundits and researchers argue over whether slactivism or “armchair activism” (as it’s sometimes called) has any beneficial results. However, some individuals and groups that actually work to solve problems are snapping back. One volunteer-run, Christian disaster relief group called Crisis Relief Singapore launched a campaign a few years ago called “Liking isn’t helping” using real photos of people impacted by flood, war and earthquake. “The idea [behind the campaign] was simple: virtual things don’t count in real life, and even a billion ‘Likes’ on Facebook won’t help those facing crises in their everyday lives.” Instead of giving a thumbs up, the ads carried this tagline: “Be a volunteer. Change a life.”

As Christians, we’re called out of the armchair and into the real world, to use actions and words as we serve as Christ’s Body. We’re invited to busy ourselves with real efforts to lovingly fill every corner of the earth with the knowledge of God. This has been the function of the Church right from the beginning. Acts records for us the start of the story that we’re still a part of today.

In verse 31, Dr. Luke had given one of his many assessments of the Church’s health and activity. He likes to take the vitals and add them to the chart every few chapters or so, and here’s what he wrote:

Acts 9:31 – 31 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.

The violent wave of persecution, led by Saul, had passed. Now, things were peaceful. The Church was encouraged. It was being built up. It was increasing, not just in Jerusalem, but throughout the region. Having made this assessment, Luke spends the rest of the chapter giving us a few “for instances.” These aren’t the only things that were going on, but they were typical of the work being done in and through God’s people at the time. Our passage tonight will generally focus on Peter, he’s a main character of the book after all, but the book of Acts has made it clear that it wasn’t just 1 or 2 people who were accomplishing great things by God’s power. Almost every Christian listed so far has been a great example to us. Not just Peter and Paul, but Stephen and Barnabas, Ananias who lived in Damascus and the other believers in that city. Philip and the other guys chosen to serve. Tonight we’ll see not just one spiritual superstar, but multiple individuals who were used by God and whole communities of Christians who were full of the Spirit and making a difference where they lived by the power of Jesus Christ. We’ll see different ministries, different gifts, and we’ll be reminded that this kind of encouragement and building up is still the plan for us today.

As Luke showcases these examples for us, he keeps using a particular word over and over again. For us, it’s translated as: “Get up,” or “arise.” We’ll see it 5 times in 12 verses! It’s used toward people receiving ministry and toward those doing the ministry. And, though it’s a common term, it’s hard not to think that Luke was trying to get us thinking about getting up and going about the Lord’s business. When you read (5 times tonight) “get up” or “arise,” it’s a term that means to awaken, recover, begin an action. It’s the same word used when we’re told that Matthew “got up” and followed Jesus when the Lord said, “Follow Me!” It’s the same word Jesus used in the Garden of Gethsemane when the disciples kept falling asleep and He came to them, saying, “Get up and pray.”

The Bible beseeches us to stay awake, to stand firm, to be on the move and tonight we see pointed examples of how the Church was up and walking in remarkable ways.

Acts 9:32 – 32 As Peter was traveling from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.

Some commentators feel that this is when Peter was traveling home to Jerusalem after being in Samaria, which we saw back in chapter 8. Others think it was a later time. Remember: the last passage covered a decade of Saul’s life. We’re not sure, but what we do see is that, while Peter doesn’t seem to have some ultra-strategic plan of attack (he’s just going ‘place to place’), he had made a plan to minister. That’s what he set out to do.

He reminds me here of a honeybee out looking to do his job. Sometimes we can make very definitive plans for ministry with specific targets and specific goals. That’s great. When that’s not happening, go about your business, flower-to-flower as it were, with a plan to minister. That’s not a job just for Apostles. As we’ve seen, this was the mindset of all the Spirit-filled Christians. They were, of course, ready for those surprise, Divine appointments when they came up. In the mean time, they behaved as workers ready to plant and harvest and be used place to place, even if they were on their own.

Acts 9:33 – 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.

It’s not clear whether this man was already a believer or not. What we know is that he had been living through a long period of significant suffering. And, the way Luke writes it, Peter finds him. It comes across as if Peter took the initiative to reach out to this guy. And that’s a great encouragement for us tonight. Each and every one of us can think of someone who we could reach out to in some way. Whether that’s reaching out with compassion or with a presentation of the Gospel or with some act of generosity, maybe prayer. We know there are all sorts of ways to demonstrate the love of God, so we should be “finding” someone and asking the Lord to use us for His purposes in their lives.

Acts 9:34 – 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed,” and immediately he got up.

Here we have the first 2 uses of that term, “Get up.” Peter said “get up,” so Aeneas “got up.” He was put on his feet, restored to strength, invigorated and made whole. Peter’s message to him was simple and straightforward: Jesus Christ heals you. Our Savior is enough to address any problem in the body, the mind, or the soul. There is no insufficiency in Him. He is the ultimate solution to any problem individually or globally. Whatever we face, we face with Christ as our fortress and refuge.

Now, Peter said that Jesus had healed this man and, because of that, Aeneas had an immediate job to do. “Arise and make your bed.” Some translate it as “get ready to eat.” Either works on a devotional level as we think about getting up and walking in the power of the Lord. As we do, we want to be sure to be nourishing our spiritual lives and we want to remember to be faithful to get our lives in order. That doesn’t mean everything we do has to be perfect all the time, but the Lord gives us power for living our regular lives. This idea comes out when the New Testament talks about qualifications for overseers in the church when it says, “they need to have their houses in order.” Make your bed. Love your wife. Love your husband. Don’t exasperate your kids. Christians shouldn’t be defined by personal lives that are full of chaos and inconsistency.

Acts 9:35 – 35 So all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Lydda’s a city, Sharon is a region. This one interaction with the paralytic led to a huge response throughout the district. Tons of people were being converted. And this result can speak to us in a couple of different ways. First, it encourages us to go out and minister. As the story goes, if Peter had just stayed home, Aeneas doesn’t get healed and these people don’t turn to the Lord. Since he made himself available and purposefully went about the business of ministry, an amazing harvest took place. But the second encouragement is this: Trust the Lord to work out the increase. We see again and again in Acts that the Lord was “adding to the Church,” the church was increasing in numbers. But Peter didn’t have a strategy meeting and determine that Lydda was going to be the best place for a revival meeting. Sometimes, when Christians are talking or trying to make a plan, they’ll say something like, “What are we going to do to reach all of Hanford?” Not necessarily a bad desire, but look at what ‘reached’ the whole region in this text: Peter had one conversation with a guy. And, because of the amazing power of the Spirit, countless lives were impacted. You can’t plan that. You can’t schedule that. What we can do is be available and show up to work.

Acts 9:36 – 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. She was always doing good works and acts of charity.

This coast city, west of Lydda, was home to a remarkable Christian lady named Tabitha. No, she wasn’t an apostle or an evangelist or a church planter. But in a moment we’ll see that she made a big difference in the lives of a lot of people. Her ministry was different than that of Stephens, she didn’t debate. Different than Barnabas. She didn’t sell property. Different than Peter. She wasn’t in charge of a congregation. Her gifts were in compassion, generosity and service. And her acts of tangible kindness were essential. Very different than what Paul was doing at the time, but still the same Holy Spirit working in and through her.

This illustrates why we need to resist the urge to get on the bandwagon that “every Christian needs to be doing X.” This happens on the large, cultural level and on the local level. “Every Christian needs to do this program or ministry.” That’s just not the way the Lord does things. It’s election week, so we can use politics as an example. If you read or listen to topical ministry stuff enough, you’ll eventually hear “every Christian needs to get involved in the political process.” I just heard that sentiment on a church webcast this week. But it’s just not true. God lifts up Peters and Pauls and Stephens and Barnabases and Tabithas. What every Christian needs to do is be led by God as they walk in the good works that have been set before them to do.

Tabitha wasn’t traveling city to city, but she was busy all the time in the ministry and it was meaningful and needful. And what an encouragement her example is. God can use any one of us here. He can use our voices. He can use our sewing needles. Whether our work is in a kitchen or a legislative hall, God is big enough to use all those various means to do what He wants to do.

Acts 9:37 – 37 In those days she became sick and died. After washing her, they placed her in a room upstairs.

Compared to Aeneas, Tabitha’s suffering was much shorter, but much more severe. And the Lord was mindful of both. If you’re suffering tonight, God knows and He cares and He wants to minister to you in that suffering. It may end in healing, it may not, but the Lord loves you know is with you.

After Tabitha died, they did what was normal in their culture, preparing her for burial.

Acts 9:38 – 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him who begged him, “Don’t delay in coming with us.”

It’s possible that these two guys left for Lydda before Tabitha had died. But, either way, they felt compelled to reach out to Peter, I’m guessing with the hope that God would do the impossible. Now, when they arrived, they put a lot of pressure on Peter. They beg him. They say, “Don’t hesitate! Don’t wait!” I’m sure they meant well, they were desperate, but we want to be sure it’s the Lord leading us, not pressure leading us. There’s always something that needs doing. There’s more spiritual work that needs doing just in Hanford than any of us has the time or the capacity to do. And, sometimes even well-meaning fellow Christians come and heap pressure on us to be a part of something or to meet some need, and we want to be ready to respond, but responding where the Lord sends us.

What if every soldier and sailor and marine had shown up to Normandy beach? Normandy was obviously essential, but there was a Pacific theater, too. Or a less extreme example: When people run marathons, the race organizers set up hydration stations usually about every 2 miles. So, somewhere between 8 and 12 stops. What if all the volunteers go to the first station? All the water’s there. All the helpers are there. You’re gonna have a problem down on mile 22. So, be patient when people pile on the pressure. Figure out what the Lord wants you to do.

With that said, never in Acts do we see the Holy Spirit saying to some Christian, “I have NOTHING for you to do!” We want to be careful we’re not become slacktivist Christians. As the story shakes out, it’s clear the Holy Spirit wanted Peter in Joppa, so he’s given the all-clear to go. And, while he’s been doing what ministry he could, now he’s suddenly in the midst of one of those great, spontaneous, Divine appointments. And Peter is flexible enough to be used.

Acts 9:39a – 39 So Peter got up and went with them.

He got up. Same term that was used of the paralytic. The Lord’s desire is to continually lift us up and renew us and invigorate us for service. He continually invites us to act according to His will and in His power. So, even if you’ve been a believer for many decades, stay awake, keep following, be about the business of Christianity.

Acts 9:39b – When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. And all the widows approached him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Peter had made no promises, he didn’t claim he’d heal her or raise her, but he said, “I’ll go with you and we’ll be together.” He responded to this need, even though it doesn’t seem like he knew what his part was going to be to play. He’s a great example of faith and flexibility in this section.

Acts 9:40 – 40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.

It seems like Peter wasn’t exactly sure what was going to happen at first. Elsewhere in the book he’s quicker to move. Think of the two paralytics he’s healed. Walks up, has some assurance from the Lord so he immediately says, “Get up!” But here, it seems he’s not as clear. He sends the people out. He spends some time in prayer. We notice that he mimics what he saw His Lord do in the similar situation. Not that the Lord was unsure, but since Peter wasn’t immediately aware of God’s plan to bring Tabitha back from the dead, he proceeded as Jesus would proceed. Always a good plan.

We talk about sermons in the Bible that we wish were recorded like Philip’s sermon to the Ethiopian Eunuch or Jesus’ sermon on the Road to Emmaus. I wish this prayer was recorded. But, at some point, the Lord revealed to Peter what was going to happen and Peter responded in faith.

Once again, Luke uses that term “Get up!” Come alive again. Be restored. And she does. I wonder if she was briefed in heaven before this happened. I imagine she must have been. Her example reminds us of how real and how simple resurrection is for us because of Jesus Christ. Because Christ died and rose again, we will leave death behind. Those believing loved ones you have lost you, will see again because they’ve left death behind. And so will you one day, if you’re in Christ. And we’ll be reunited in perfect strength and everlasting life.

On a devotional level, if you’re a Christian who feels spiritually dead or spiritually asleep, be like Tabitha. Wake up. Get up. Leave that death behind. God gives you the power to do it. Respond as she did. Believe that it is Jesus Christ who heals you and be renewed in your life with Him.

Acts 9:41a – 41 He gave her his hand and helped her stand up.

Stand up is that term yet again. Here we see Peter assisting this sister. We want to be helpers. This is a great failing of the turn or burn street preachers. You may be pronouncing something that is ‘true,’ but you’re not doing with love and you’re not helping people stand up. God sends His Church to help one another stand. 1 Thessalonians: “Help the weak.” Isaiah 35: “Strengthen the weak hands, steady the shaking knees.” Romans 15: “help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.” Behave like Peter does here.

Acts 9:41b – Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive.

What a great moment this would’ve been. Peter not only restores her to life, he restores her to ministry. “Here are your widows, Tabitha!” This scene reminds us that God puts us in a community of believers and knits our lives together. Be a living part of your local body. Present yourself for service to the Lord and to your brothers and sisters.

Acts 9:42-43 – 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed on many days in Joppa with Simon, a leather tanner.

Notice the choice of words: When the paralytic was healed “all” believed and turned to the Lord. Not just in one city, but a whole region! Now, a woman dies and is brought back from the grave and “many” believe. It’s more proof that you can’t predict the work of the Spirit. We’ve got to be led. If we try to plan and strategize everything, we’re going to get it wrong. But the Lord does it all right. And what He does is lift us up, renew us, strengthen us, and then sets us on a course of action that we’re to stand and walk in. Acts shows that’s not just God’s plan for an Apostle or two, but for all of us. Along the way, we are able to minister to people, receive ministry, strengthen one another, make a difference in this world, using the gifts and opportunities God has given to us. Various people, various activities, one grand effort, overseen and directed by the God who loves to encourage, build up and add to His Church.

For He’s A Jolly Good Follow (Acts 9:1-19)

You basketball fans are probably familiar with an iconic picture taken on December 17, 1997. In it you see Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan standing shoulder to shoulder, in the middle of a Bulls/Lakers game. At 19 years old, it’s Kobe’s 2nd season, while Jordan is back from his first of three retirements from the NBA. In the picture you can see Jordan is talking and Kobe is listening. After the game, reporters asked the guys what had happened. With 7 minutes left in the game, during a free throw, Kobe had gone over and asked Jordan a question. One interviewer said, “Was he willing to give you any advice or any secrets?” Kobe replied that he did. When they asked Michael Jordan he said, “He wanted to know how, when I turn around on my jump shot, how I feel the defense.”

It’s a moment that many look back on as a passing of the torch between eras in NBA history. Kobe would, in many ways, pick up where Jordan left off. MJ would eventually, actually retire, but there would be many more games to play. And there would be new players to play them.

In some ways, that speaks to us of the continuing work of God through His Church. If you’re a part of Christ’s Body, you’re not a spectator in the stands, at least you’re not supposed to be, you’re a player on the court. The ball is live and the clock is ticking. You have a position that you’ve been put in and a part to play. You’re a member of a team but also given a lot of personal responsibility and personal opportunity. As we make our way down the court we have the chance to learn from those who’ve come before us. This is one of the great purposes of the book of Acts. Not that we’re just impressed with it, but that we’re instructed by it. That we take a look at those great disciples of the past and listen to their example, learning more about how to be successful in our own walks with the Lord. Not by simply trying to mimic their movements, any more than Kobe just tried to mirror MJ. But by learning from their lives and from these situations where God worked in them.

We want to be used. We want to serve the Lord. And He wants that too. So, how can we be encouraged or instructed in our spiritual game today? Well, we’ve got a great example tonight as we see an ordinary guy, living his ordinary life, being remarkably used by an extraordinary God. And his example of how to follow Jesus Christ is made all the more informative as he is contrasted with history’s greatest Anti-Christian – Saul – who thought he was following God all along.

Acts 9:1a – Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.

A lot was happening in this “meanwhile.” The Church was being scattered out of Jerusalem. A great awakening had come to Samaria. The Gospel is being brought to the African continent. The Lord’s sheep were headed out to the wider world. But, at the same time, The Devil raised up a wolf to try to destroy them. Saul was a ferocious enemy of the Church. He didn’t breathe oxygen to survive, he breathed murder. One of the most enduring sound effects of all time is Darth Vader’s hoo-per. That breathing is simultaneous with dread and villainy and danger. That’s Saul.

Acts 9:1b-2 – He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

At this point, Christians were called ‘the Way.’ While this reminds us that there is one exclusive avenue by which mankind can be saved, it also highlights the continuous, forward-looking activity of the Christian life. It’s a way. It’s a walk. Jesus tells us to follow Him. We’re on the move. We’re headed to a definite destination and we’re to be actively engaged as we move along.

There’s a lot tucked into this verse and a half. First of all, we see that the disciples were not anti-Jew. They still had connection to the synagogues. It’s a horrible mistake when the church allows any attitude of anti-semitism to creep in. That’s happened in church history and it’s a grievous sin.

We also see Saul as a great, contrasting example to what following God really is all about. He’s on a mission, but his mission is to make captives. Christ sends us out to set captives free. His goal was to destroy his enemies. Our goal is to reconcile them to God. He went to the High Priest and received epistles that served as death warrants. Later, Saul would be transformed into the great epistle-writer himself, sending letters to help people grow and be encouraged and receive God’s grace.

But why Damascus? It’s over a hundred miles from Jerusalem, in a different country. We can make some guesses as to why providence led him there. For one thing, Damascus was an important city with many comings and goings and it’s estimated that there were 30 or 40 Jewish synagogues there. Perhaps Saul thought it would be a ‘target’ of this Christian sect. There were some political reasons why they’d be allowed to continue their persecution in Damascus. Interestingly, with Saul’s attention focused on a city so far north, the much closer region of Samaria, where a fledgling group of disciples were just getting their start would be protected from his wrath. And, finally, there was a particular Christian in Damascus that God wanted to use like He had wanted to use Philip to preach to the Ethiopian Eunuch.

Acts 9:3 – 3 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.

We’ll find out that the believers in Damascus knew Saul was on his way. No doubt they had been gathering for prayer, asking God to intervene. And yet, day after day, mile after mile, the Lord let him in closer and closer. On a practical level, this was necessary. Had Jesus knocked Saul down too early in his trip, he’d have just returned to Jerusalem. But, in His grace, the Lord draws His enemies in. Look at Judas. Look at Nebuchadnezzar.

Saul’s approach to Damascus also reminds us that God is more concerned with us relying on Him, trusting in His power, than feeling safe and secure. From our vantage point we know the Christians were bracing for impact, but all the while, Saul was being monitored. He was being followed. He was not outside of the Lord’s jurisdiction.

Acts 9:4 – 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

These words are probably red in your Bible. The last time we saw Jesus speaking was back in chapter 1 where He had addressed His people at the Ascension. And now He’s back to have a talk with the man who hates Christ more than anyone else on the planet.

The Lord uses an interesting play on words here. The term used for “persecuting,” though most often translated this way, is sometimes translated as “pursue.” It can mean running after or following in haste. Saul thought he was following after God, following God’s word. In reality, he was traveling in the opposite direction. But now, the hunter had become the hunted.

Acts 9:5 – 5 “Who are You, Lord?” he said. “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied.

In Avengers: Endgame, the Incredible Hulk goes to a New York rooftop to retrieve an infinity stone. There, he encounters the Sorcerer Supreme, who, with one easy palm to the chest, knocks the strongest avenger out cold, surprising him and the audience. Then they have an important conversation.

Here the Lord Jesus reveals, once again, His personal attachment to His people. Of course Saul could do nothing to harm the GodMan, but Jesus sees any attack on disciples as an attack on Himself. You and I are not nameless pawns on His chessboard or drones in His army. We’re God’s children. We’re the Bride. We are dearly loved. When you suffer, the Lord knows and He cares.

Acts 9:6 – 6 “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Jesus’ treatment of Saul is somewhat harsh. He’s physically knocked him down. He’s leveled a serious accusation against him. Here, the Lord let’s Saul know, “I’m the captain now.” But of course this is all much, much less than Saul deserves. The Lord shows patience and grace toward this wicked man. And thank God that’s true. Because, while you and I may not be guilty of the same actions that Saul was, our sin is just as evil. Just as disqualifying. Just as deserving of judgment and death. But a God of grace has intervened that we might be saved from ourselves and for eternity.

Acts 9:7 – 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.

You know, God didn’t have anything to say to those other guys at the moment. That may seem strange, but it’s true. If you’ve ever tried to share the Gospel with more than 1 person at a time you’ve probably experienced this. In a group of 2 or 3, as you preach you’ll notice that maybe 1 of them is listening and is having a divine appointment while the others don’t seem to be hearing what you’re saying. If you’re preaching the Gospel and that happens, don’t worry about it. Just be sensitive to the people who are hearing what you have to say, focus your attention on them.

Acts 9:8-9 – 8 Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9 He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

In a literal flash, the Church’s biggest, most dangerous enemy was neutralized. He who had dragged off men and women to suffer and die now had to be led by the hand like a little child, unable to fend for himself. It’s amazing what the Lord can do in a moment of time!

We see Saul was profoundly impacted by these events. He’s unable to eat or drink. His mind is reeling. His sin has been shown to him. Surely, thousands of passages of Scripture were coming to mind as he started to piece together that he’s been wrong about everything he’s done and thought for all these years.

Now we get to our forerunner, a great example, the disciple Ananias.

Acts 9:10 – 10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord!” he said.

We’re told later in Acts that Ananias was known to the Jews in Damascus synagogues. He was a good man. A man of integrity. It’s altogether possible that his name was already on the hit list in Saul’s pocket. The Lord calls him by name, just as He called Saul by name. I just want to keep reminding us that God knows us. He knows you, personally. Joe Biden created a memorable gaffe awhile back when asked who his potential VP candidates would be. He said he had 4 but then he couldn’t remember a single one of their names. He roughly described them but even that was a struggle. Not so with the Lord. He actually knows you. He actually loves you. You are His.

Ananias’ name means “Jehovah is gracious.” And he’s going to get a chance to live it out. We’re called “Christians” and every day we have the opportunity to live it out. To live out the life of Christ and the truth of Christ to the world around us. As with Ananias, that task is not for the faint of heart.

Acts 9:11 – 11 “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there.

God not only knows your name, He knows your address. He knows where you’re from. He knows what you’re doing. He is attentive to us, keeping watch as we come and go.

Now, I can’t help but think of the Lord delivering this message with a twinkle in His eye. It’s almost playful. Because, He knows that Ananias knows exactly who Saul is. And yet, He says, “Ok, in this house a few streets over, there’s a guy named Saul and you’ll know him because he’s from Tarsus.” He doesn’t fill in Ananias yet about the Damascus road encounter. He just says, “Saul’s praying.” “…to who?” The Lord continues:

Acts 9:12 – 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”

Have you ever been name checked like this? Or have you ever been volunteered to do something that you really hadn’t signed up for? It’s interesting: In God’s program there are times where the Lord gives an open invitation for certain tasks. Think Esther. “Hey, if you don’t help deliver Israel, someone else will.” Or the exiles returning to the land. “Who wants to go back and rebuild?” And then, other times, it’s like this, “Hey, it’s going to be YOU.” Saul was waiting for this particular guy to come and perform a miracle for him!

The application for us is that while we’re all sent into the world generally to do God’s work, there are certain, imperative, individual things God has prepared for each of us to do and it is our job to discover what they are and then to do them. And when He calls us we want to be ready to answer and obey. Still, Ananias had some questions.

Acts 9:13-14 – 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

Some commentators feel Ananias was being reluctant to obey. I don’t think we need to go that far. More importantly, he becomes another good example for us of how faithful servants are not afraid to be frank with God. God doesn’t want us to pretend when we pray. He knows what’s going on in our hearts and He invites us to honestly communicate with Him. Look at the Psalms. Those people are speaking frankly with the Lord about their concerns and their confusions and their worries.

Acts 9:15-16 – 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”

Saul will become the most prominent instrument in the rest of the book. But, as an instrument, his life’s melody won’t play like a delicate harp, it’ll be beaten loudly like a drum. Ananias had a good work to do in this man’s life, but a hard message to deliver.

Acts 9:17 – 17 So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Ananias shows real courage here. He enters the home of someone who was, undoubtedly, a hater of Christians just as Saul had been. There, in the villain’s lair, surround by members of the Sanhedrin’s SS, he walks in, identifies himself as a Christian, and proceeds to show unconditional love to the man who came to town to kill him. He calls him ‘brother’ and does not recoil, but puts his hands on the weak and vulnerable Saul. If this were the book of Judges, this story would’ve had a much different ending, right? But this is Acts. This is the resurrection power of God working through ordinary people to seek and to save those who are lost. To give spiritual sight to the spiritually blind.

Ananias trusted his Lord. And, because of that, he will be the one to bring the most effective Christian of all time into the Kingdom. What an incredible opportunity!

Acts 9:18-19a – 18 At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. 19 And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

When Saul tells this story later in the book he fills in a few of the details that Luke skips in this chapter. Jesus said to him: “ I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.”

Saul was able to do that because he actually lived it. The message he would eventually preach wasn’t theoretical. It was real. He went and did what had been done for him. He had been blind. He had needed rescue. And God had sent a messenger to come and open his eyes. Later, Paul would take up the torch and continue the work. Then Timothy and Titus. And countless more across the globe and through the decades coming all the way down to you and me. Like Ananias, we’re ordinary Christians living ordinary lives. But also like Ananias, we’ve been commissioned and invited into the work of God. The play clock is running. Since we want to be effective and useful in our Lord’s hands, we can learn from these examples. What do we see? We see prayer. Obedience. Faith and truth. We see a man who was willing to be led by the Spirit and willing to sacrifice for God’s glory. We see compassion and mercy and forgiveness toward the most undeserving enemy of God. And we see the world changed as a result. We are to go and do likewise as we continue the work, following along in the Way.