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. 

 Acts 8:25-40 It seems that Philip traveled back towards Jerusalem with Peter and John, but somewhere along the way an angel spoke to him, telling him to take the desert road to Gaza.  Gaza was located south west of Jerusalem, towards the Mediterranean Sea.  The Lord led Philip to meet an Ethiopian court official along the road.  This man worked directly for the queen of Ethiopia called Candace.  He was in charge of all of the queen's treasure, and "he had come to Jerusalem to worship." 

The man had procured a copy of the scroll of Isaiah and was reading it aloud as he traveled by carriage or chariot along the road.  The Holy Spirit told Philip to catch up to the carriage and so he ran along the road and heard the man reading.  He asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 

Well it just so happened that he was reading Isaiah 53  which is the Messianic prophecy about Jesus being "led as a sheep to slaughter".  The man wondered if this was Isaiah talking about himself or someone else and Philip "preached Jesus to him."  Whatever scriptures Philip used we are not told.. how long they talked we do not know.. but it was enough that the man ordered the chariot to stop when they came across some water and he asked to be baptized!

Philip spoke again " If you believe with all your heart, you may" The man testified clearly, " I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."  Then Philip baptized him right then and there!  The man went his way rejoicing.. but Philip was swept away by the Spirit and found himself in another town, Azotus ( Ashdod) miles away.   

Philip just kept walking north along the sea, stopping at city after city "preaching the gospel".  He ended up in Caesarea. Caesarea was an important city because it was the place that Herod the Great had built.  It had a great harbor where Paul would sail from and it was the place of his trial before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. The city had a majority of Greek citizens. 

It appears that Philip established a church there in Caesarea.. In Acts 21:8 we are told that Paul and his team stayed with Philip on his way to Jerusalem.  Philip had "four virgin daughters who were prophetesses".  It was at that time that Agabus, another prophet from Judea, came and took Paul's belt and tied up his own feet and hands to demonstrate what was going to happen when Paul went to Jerusalem.  The church wept for Paul and begged him not to go.. but Paul knew that he had to anyway.  There were disciples from this church that accompanied Paul to Jerusalem. Some of these may have been the Greeks that were seen with Paul and thought to have been brought into the temple.. leading to Paul's arrest. 

Father in heaven,  thank You for men like Philip and Paul and others who preached Jesus!  May godly men and women, filled by Your Spirit, moved by Your Spirit, and even swept away by Your Spirit.. continue to preach Jesus wherever they go!  Fill us today, that we might hear Your voice and find those who You are sending us to.. and tell them about Jesus Christ.  Bless Your servants today Lord God. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Acts 8:4-24  Philip was one of the 7 men chosen to serve in the church, but when the church was scattered because of the persecution in Jerusalem, Philip went to Samaria.  He began preaching and "proclaiming Christ".  He also performed many signs and wonders, casting out unclean spirits and healing those in need.  The whole city was rejoicing because of what God was doing among them. 

One man in particular came to Philip to be baptized.  Simon was a magician. He gathered a lot of followers and enjoyed the attention he received for his magic. The people called him great.. like a god..   But, when he saw the miracles that Philip was doing, he was amazed and wanted to follow along. 

When Peter and John came to Samaria after hearing what the Lord was doing there, they began laying hands on the believers so that they could receive the Holy Spirit.  Here is where Simon's heart was revealed to the apostles... for he wanted the power to also lay hands on people to give them the Holy Spirit and he was willing to pay for that authority...  Immediately Peter rebuked him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God." 

Peter said that Simon's heart was full of bitterness and he was a slave of iniquity. He told Simon to repent and to "pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you."  Simon, in return, asked them to pray for him themselves.. 

Did Simon repent? Did he find true forgiveness?  Did he receive the Holy Spirit? We are not told.  Hopefully he humbled himself before the Lord and found salvation and freedom from the strongholds that Satan had trapped him in. 

Father in heaven, there are many people who claim to believe in Christ Jesus and may even be baptized.. but their hearts are still not right before You.  We need You, Holy Spirit, to examine all of our  hearts and bring us to full repentance and forgiveness in Jesus.. Set us free from every sin and stronghold that may keep us from having a right heart before You. Keep us, Lord, in the shelter of Your love and grace. Bring us into the fullness of Your Presence to the glory of Your Name we pray. Amen.