Acts 13:1-12 The church at Antioch had 5 main "prophets and teachers".. Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul.  The Holy Spirit spoke to these leaders saying "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 

With prayer and fasting, they laid their hands on the two men and sent them out.  The first place they went was Cyprus, the island where Barnabas had grown up.  They began preaching in the synagogues through the whole island from one end to the other. When they reached Paphos they met two significant people.. Elymas/ BarJesus who was a magician and false prophet; and Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of Cyprus.  Elymas used fraud and deceit to try to keep the proconsul from hearing or believing the message of the Gospel. Paul rebuked him and stopped him by speaking to him, "and now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time."  A "mist and a darkness fell upon him."  

But, the proconsul, listened to the Word, saw what the Lord had done and "believed". 

It was here that John Mark, who had traveled with them to Cyprus, turned back to Jerusalem.  Paul and Barnabas and whoever else was traveling with them sailed from Paphos on to Perga in a region called Pamphylia, which is in modern day Turkey. The group traveled inland to the city of Pisidian Antioch.  This was another important city in Asia Minor. Here Paul and his companions went to the synagogue and Paul preached his first recorded message.  It is also here that Paul "turned to the Gentiles". 

Paul was led by the Holy Spirit everywhere he was sent. He probably never imagined what God had in store for him when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. God prepared him for this ministry of preaching the good news about Jesus Christ in all the places he was sent.. in places he was received and in places he was rejected and ejected.  No matter what, Paul and the disciples were "continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." 

Father, prepare us also for the work You have for each of us, wherever it is that You send us.  Fill us with Your Spirit and with joy as we walk through the path that You have led us in.. that we might be Your witnesses wherever we might be. Help us to be faithful and bold in proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ the Lord. Bless those who are even now serving You in other lands.. may the Word of God run rapidly throughout the land and many more come to believe in Jesus Christ the Lord. amen. 

 Acts 12   Herod took up where Saul had stopped.. persecuting the church.  Verse 2 "and he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword."  

James and John.. the sons of thunder.. had once wanted to call down fire from heaven when a village of Samaritans did not receive Jesus.  They were also 2 of the 3 that saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain top, speaking with Moses and Elijah.  James and John had asked Jesus if they could be seated next to Him when He ruled in His Kingdom.  They told Him that they could drink of the cup that He would drink.. and they did.  James was the first of the disciples to be martyred for the name of Jesus. John would be the last. 

After James was killed, Herod.. quite pleased with the response of the Jews.. had Peter arrested.  He intended to kill Peter also, but the Lord intervened. Peter was sleeping between 2 soldiers, guarded by 4 squads.. and apparently at peace with his fate.  The Lord had other plans. An angel woke Peter up and told him to put on his cloak and his shoes. He then led Peter out through the doors, past the soldiers, right through a gate that opened on its own accord. Only then did Peter realize that this was not a dream!

Peter went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. A prayer meeting was going on in that house and God answered their prayers for Peter.. but, they couldn't believe it when the servant girl told them Peter was at the door!   Peter told them to let the others know that he had been set free and then left for unknown parts. 

Herod was furious and ordered the innocent soldiers to their deaths.  He then left Jerusalem and went to Caesarea.  Anger filled Herod's life... and eventually brought him to an awful death.  When people began to flatter him and refer to him as a "god", Herod drank it all in. "And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died." ( v23) 

Father God, we do not know what a day will bring.. but we put our trust in You that Your plan is good and no matter what we face, You will be with us.. and Your name will be glorified.  We do not know why James was killed and Peter spared, but we know that You were leading their steps and holding them in Your Hands.. completing Your will in them both.  As it is with each of Your children.  Whatever You have for us today, we simply pray.. Your will be done! Let our lives be a testimony of Your grace and goodness no matter when or how we die.. whether we are released from these mortal bodies by death or if we are caught up with Jesus in the rapture..we pray, "To God be the Glory".  Amen. 

 Acts 11:19-30 The Lord used the death of Stephen to move His church from Jerusalem outward into Samaria and now into "Phoenicia,  Cyprus, and Antioch".   In verse 20 we are told that some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and began preaching about Jesus to the Greeks as well as to the  Jews. "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord." 

Cyprus is an island off the coast of Phoenicia, and was the birthplace of Barnabas. Cyrene was a city in northern Africa, near ancient Ethiopia.  One man that we know came from Cyrene was Simon,"and as they were coming out they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross." ( Matthew 27:32)  There were people from Cyrene in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10)  There were men from Cyrene who argued with Stephen. ( Acts 6:9) There is also a prophet named Lucius of Cyrene, part of the church in Antioch who commissioned Saul and Barnabas for the first missionary journey. One of the other leaders in Antioch was "Simeon, that was called Niger" Could this have been the same Simon/Simeon that carried the cross?

The church at Antioch was not only the first church where the believers were called Christians.. it was the first multi-cultural church that the Lord established by His hand. 

As the church grew, the leaders in Jerusalem heard about what the Lord was doing there and sent Barnabas to them.  He "rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord."  After a little while... Barnabas went to Tarsus and found Saul, bringing him back to Antioch. For a year the two men worked together teaching this growing, thriving church. When the prophet Agabus came from Jerusalem and told of a coming famine this church began, "according to their ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren"...  collecting money to send to the believers back there.  Barnabas and Saul would deliver this gift to the elders. 

Antioch was a large city filled with many Jews who had gone there to start businesses in a relatively free environment. There was also a large Greek population.  It was the third largest Roman city, after Rome and Alexandria.  It was also a seaport on the Orontes River, 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean . There were pagan religions in Antioch as well as the Jews, Greeks, and Romans with all of their religious preferences. In spite of all this the Lord built His church in Antioch!  God used these people to send out the first missionaries, do relief work for those undergoing famine, and to bring together Jews and Greeks and others into one family, honoring God, the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit who filled them with His Love. 

Today this city is called Antakya and is located in Turkey just north of the Syrian border. It is still a multi-ethnic population. 

Father in heaven, help us to never underestimate what You can do.. what You want to do in Your church. Built us up in our faith that we might be "resolute" to remain true to You in every way. Send out workers into the harvest field.. help us to be determined, according to our own ability, to help those of our brothers and sisters in Christ in their times of need... and bring us together in unity.. "to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus that with one accord we many with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  In the name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen. 

Acts 10-11:18  The Lord moved Peter.. again.  He was in Joppa, waiting for lunch, when God gave him a vision.  Three times a sheet was lowered from the sky.. containing all kinds of "unclean" animals that were not permitted for the Jews to eat.  Each time Peter was told to kill and eat.. and each time he resisted.  The Lord had a lesson for Peter, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."  Peter was learning that the Law did not have authority over the Lord.. God Himself was and is the Supreme authority!

Meanwhile, in Caesarea, we are introduced to Cornelius, the centurion,  a Gentile follower of God. Cornelius was known among the Jews for his "prayers and alms". We learn here that God noticed him too!  Cornelius also has a vision. An angel of the Lord came to him and told him to send for Peter.. in Joppa.. at the home of Simon.  Immediately, Cornelius obeyed, sending two servants and a devout soldier. These men were trusted with this important mission.. and traveled the distance  of around 38-40 miles (about 12-13 hours of walking) in just a day.  When they arrived at Simon's house and talked to Peter, he was still thinking about his vision.  The Spirit of God told Peter, "Behold, three men are looking for you. But, arise, go downstairs, and accompany them without misgiving; for I have sent them Myself." 

Peter and the men, plus some of the disciples from Joppa, went to Cornelius. Peter preached about Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon them just like he had the Jews in Jerusalem, and all those present were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  

Peter's understanding was completely changed by this.. " I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him." 

When Peter went back to Jerusalem the news had already reached them about the Gentiles and they were ready to blast Peter.. but when Peter told the whole story they "quieted down and glorified God saying ' Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.' " 

Do we realize how amazing and wonderful that event was?  Just think about how many non-Jews are now believers in Jesus Christ.  We have been granted "repentance that leads to life".. We have been welcomed into the Kingdom of God's Son!  So thankful for the grace of our God who does not show partiality. There is no nation that is exempt from God's grace if they will fear Him and come to believe in Jesus Christ the Lord.  Hallelujah! 

Father, thank You for showing us Your love for all of mankind. May every tongue and tribe and nation bow before You and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their King forever.  There are many nations today that still need to hear the good news about Jesus, so we pray that You, the Lord of the harvest, would send out workers into the fields.  Bless and strengthen Your servants around the world. We pray for those who are working in ministries like the CMA, Wycliffe, FEBC, Slavic Gospel, Remember Nu, Voice of the Martyrs, Compassion International, OMF, and Samaritan's Purse.  I'm sure there are many more that I do not know of, Lord God.. but You know them and I pray that Your Spirit will move Your servants to where the message needs to be heard.. to the hearts You have prepared.. that You will grant repentance that leads to life.. all over the world today.  We ask this, Lord God, in the name of the Savior, the Light of the World.. Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Acts 9:32-43  "...Peter was traveling through all those parts.."  The Lord moved Peter from Jerusalem to a town called Lydda.  There he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for 8 years.  Peter had compassion on this man and said, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; arise, and make your bed. And immediately he arose." 

I wonder if Peter was remembering the paralyzed man that had been let down through the roof in front of Jesus?  Or the man by the pool of Siloam who had not been able to move into the water for 38 years. What a privilege he had to be able to help this man!  Because of this many in that city and in the whole region turned to Jesus. 

The news traveled quickly and the disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was nearby. They traveled the 9 miles to Lydda and entreated Peter to come to Joppa.... for "a certain disciple named Tabitha.." had died. This woman was known for her kindness and charity. She would make garments for the widows.  She was so loved that when she died they wouldn't put her in a grave.. they washed her body and laid her in an upper room. The widows stood there weeping until Peter came into the room and sent them out. 

Peter "knelt down and prayed".  Then he turned to her and said, "Tabitha, arise".  And she did. Tabitha, the gazelle.. in Greek "Dorcas".. was returned.. alive.. to her friends and fellow disciples in Joppa. God was moving there.. and so that is where Peter stayed for "many days".

Father in heaven, we come to You today, asking that You will move in our town and region.. that the Name of Jesus would be preached and that many more will believe and turn their lives over to You. We pray for Your church to be filled with disciples like Tabitha.. abounding in deeds of kindness and charity.. showing the love of Christ to those in need.  Help us to be fully surrendered to Your will, witnesses of Your power to save the lost and to bring life to the dying.  We are Your servants.. use us for Your purposes we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 Acts 9:19-31  "Now for several days he (Saul) was with the disciples who were at Damascus."   The newly saved and transformed Saul began to preach Jesus.  He went to the synagogues.. the same ones that he had planned to visit in order to detain Christians.. telling everyone there that "Jesus is the Son of God."  People there had heard all about Saul, the persecutor.. but were stunned when he came as Saul the disciple of Jesus Christ.  Saul took all the knowledge that he had gained as a student of Gamaliel.. and filled by the Holy Spirit he confounded the Jews.. "by proving that this Jesus is the Christ." 

It didn't take long for the Jews to begin plotting to kill Saul. So, those who had become his disciples took him and put him in a large basket. They lowered him out of a window on the city wall and he traveled back to Jerusalem.  Saul tried to approach disciples there in Jerusalem, but they were all afraid of him, until Barnabas "took hold of him" , brought him to the apostles, and "described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus." 

It wasn't long.. again.. before Saul became a target of the Jews.  Again others took hold of Saul and sent him to Caesarea where he boarded a ship to Tarsus. The next we read about Saul is when Barnabas goes to Tarsus to find him and bring him to Antioch where together, they led the church there. (Acts 11:25-26)

I noticed something about Saul/Paul in this passage.  After meeting Jesus on the road, Saul was led by the hand into Damascus.. he sight was restored by Ananias, his disciples took him and lowered him in the basket.. Barnabas brought him to meet the apostles.. the brethren took him to Caesarea and put him on a boat to Tarsus.. and finally Barnabas brought him to Antioch. 

Saul did not determine his own path but allowed the Lord to order his steps. The Lord used others in his life to move him to where God wanted him to preach that Jesus is the Christ.  Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Saul seems to have learned that truth from the beginning of his walk with Jesus.  He would find this true for the rest of his life.. willingly allowing the Lord to move him wherever He chose.. even to prison.. even to death. 

Father in heaven, we do like to make plans for ourselves.. but we know that Your plans are always better and so we willingly lay our lives down and ask for You to direct our steps.  Your will be done!  We ask that You would work in us both to will and to do what pleases You.  Move us, take us, bring us, and yes, when You see fit, bring us Home.  Help us to rest in Jesus,  for we are the branches and He is the Vine.. do as You desire so that we will bear fruit for the glory of Your Holy Name. Come and have Your way Spirit of God, flow in us and through us we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

 Acts 9 " Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus.. " 

Damascus claims to be the oldest capital city in the world.  It has existed for around 5000 years.  It is now the capital of Syria, home to over 2 million people.  Over the years Damascus was ruled by many different nations and religions.  One of the oldest mosques was at one time a church named for John the Baptist.  Two of the main trade highways went through Damascus in Paul's day.  It was an important center of the Middle East. There were many Jews that moved to Damascus during the Roman occupation of Israel, establishing synagogues throughout the area.  Paul was motivated to make sure that Christianity was not moving into this major city.. 

But.. we know that Paul was actually being moved.. not by his own indignation.. but by the Spirit of God. Paul had.. unknowingly.. traveled to a personal encounter with the Living Lord on that road to Damascus. 

It began with a flash of light from heaven that knocked him to the ground.  Then he heart the voice, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"  His answer  reveals the beginning of Saul's transformation by the power of God's grace.. "Who art Thou, Lord?"   There was no doubt in Saul's mind at that point that he was in the Presence of Someone so great that He should be called "Lord".   The Lord answered Saul, " I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.. " 

The men around Saul were speechless... but Saul was blinded. He had to be led by the hand into the city of Damascus. For three days Saul fasted.. blind and overwhelmed...he prayed.  On the third day the Lord directed a reluctant Ananias to go to Saul and lay his hands on him. The Lord told Ananias that Saul was His "chosen instrument.. to bear [His] Name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel." 

Saul received his sight.. was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then did he eat some food and was "strengthened".  From persecutor to believer.. look what one encounter with the Living Lord can do!

Father in heaven, You are great and mighty.. able to change the hardest hearts.. You alone can transform lives!  Thank You for loving us so much that we can come to You... because You choose us to be Your own. We are overwhelmed by Your grace and patience and kindness.. knowing that we are nothing.. helpless to save ourselves.. fully and utterly dependent on Your Spirit to bring us into Your Presence.. whether on a road.. or in a church.. we thank You for calling us by name and revealing our sins.. and forgiving us our trespasses.May we glorify Your name in all we do today, Lord, we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.