Acts-Ac.8:26-40 “The Spirit takes the lead”

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“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert”.(v,26)

Jesus had already told his disciples what the outpouring of the Holy Spirit intends to accomplish. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”(John 16:13) He has a place which as Jesus spoke on another occasion, and it is the heart where he was to abide with them and ‘was in you’. St John records, “But ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”(John 14:17). The difference between a believer abiding in Christ and the rest is this knowledge of the glory…

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Acts-Ac.8:3-8 Gospel outreach-the butterfly effect

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“As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison./ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

Saul was zealous for his traditions, acquired of his peers and taught by wisdom of men, and he made havoc of the church in which what was the death of Stephen? His reason must have convinced it was a just punishment meted out to one who flouted the Law of Moses and the traditions of their fathers. What lay hidden was the vast changes it would go on bringing about while he was all bustle and on the go. Rather than go into the butterfly effect or chaos theory which is outside the scope of our purpose, it is fair to say it explains how we are constituted. We are tripartite creatures, pull and…

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Acts-Ac.8:1-25 “Stephen, Saul and Simon”

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In order to introduce Saul it is necessary to touch upon the first martyr of the church. He spoke in defense of his faith which the Spirit gives a definite point of reference, as in these verses,”

But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,/ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”. (7:55-56) God a Spirit whose kingdom envelops everything He has created. The Spirit thus informs us two points which ever moves in tandem whether we are alive or not. Our heart where truth is writ, the inner man refers to the soul which is from God and we have not way to dislodge him even if we want to. He is only accountable…

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Acts-Ac.7 “Man, the message”

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The Spirit has devoted an entire chapter to delineate what it means to have the indwelling Spirit.The defense of Stephen was not to justify himself but for the power of the word. The same power Jesus expressed for the glory of his Father. Who was he,”Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power” and it was he who gave him authority which by the laying of hands was validated in heaven.

Jesus was the word become flesh and while he lived among men his life of witnessing was for the glory of God. In his prayer before his passion he made that clear. “ I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do./ And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own…

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Acts-Ac.6:12-15 “Laying of hands”

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 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Here see an action which is visible, a sign and its significance is derived from the presence of God. The eternal word settled in the heaven is the Word which is law. In an earlier post we considered the expression ‘by stretching for thine hands to heal’ and it forms part of the prayer of the apostles, “And grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,/ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.”(4:29-31). Whatever they did was to be in obedience of the divine Will to which their master was ever zealous to follow. So the Lord God stretching forth his hand it the word gone forth from his mouth…

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Acts-Ac.6 “To suffer shame in his name”

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The upshot of events we covered in the previous chapter did not augur well for the apostles. In doing good to a fellow being a beggar lame of foot they were hauled before the council and in the end as we read,”And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go./ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”(5:40-41)

Peter and John suffered shame for the name of their master. Jesus had forewarned them, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”(John 15:20). Then he went on to explain why. “But all these…

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Acts-Ac.5:12-39 “Signs”

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“For if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:/ But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” (vv.38-39)

 Te high priest presiding over the council (with all the senate of the children of Israel in attendance) was determined to put a stop with all their might the hubbub created by the nascent church. During this conclave of worthies one Pharisee named Gamaliel and a man of no mean repute stood up to warn them which forms the key verse.

Being a doctor of law and well versed in the Holy Writ he was paraphrasing the Isaiah verse,”No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their…

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Acts- Ac.5:1-11 “The spirit of lying”

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“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,/ And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet./ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.”(vv.1-5)

The conjunction ‘but’ used at the beginning referring to an event led by the indwelling Spirit and every member of the church had agreed to accordingly.”And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said…

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First epistle to the Corinthians-Ch.13:2-7-“Putting on Christ”

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While we study the topic ‘Charity’ it would be helpful to understand the caption ‘Putting on Christ’ is in the sense of Righteousness. We have the garment as supplied by the King to all those who heard the call and assembled for the Great Banquet. The wedding garment was freely supplied by the House(Matt.22:1-14). It is the Son’s wedding and the King is particular that regardless of shape or form, race, color and lifestyles of any under his roof present before him dressed in the wedding garment. The man in the Parable was denied because he failed to follow the rule of the House. Righteousness that admitted in eternity is Holiness of God to which each is called. Putting on the characteristics made manifest by the Son is what constitutes charity. In this connection let us go through some of the features which are like veins of gold found in…

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Acts-Ac.4:21-31 “Stretching forth thine hand”

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 “So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done./ For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed./ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.”

The council of elders, scribes and chief priests were chosen to lead people and set good example but they loved the praise of men so we see them cowed by fear. Public opinion was more important to them than honor from God. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men.” Jesus had seen through their hypocrisy,”Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear…

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