J.Vernon McGee Vol.1
J.Vernon McGee Vol.1
J.Vernon McGee Vol.1
Chapters 1—14
J. Vernon McGee
THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS
Nashville • Atlanta • London • Vancouver
CONTENTS
ACTS—Chapters 1—14
Preface
Introduction
Outline
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapters 13 and 14
Bibliography
PREFACE
The radio broadcasts of the Thru the Bible Radio five–year program were transcribed, edited,
and published first in single–volume paperbacks to accommodate the radio audience. From the
beginning there was a demand that they be published in a more permanent form and in fewer
volumes. This new hardback edition is an attempt to meet that need.
There has been a minimal amount of further editing in this publication. Therefore, these
messages are no the word–for–word recording of the taped messages which went out over the
air. The changes were necessary to accommodate a reading audience rather than a listening
audience.
These are popular messages, prepared originally for a radio audience. They should not be
considered a commentary on the entire Bible in any sense of that term. These messages are
devoid of any attempt to present a theological or research and study in order to interpret the
Bible from a popular rather than from a scholarly (and too–often boring) viewpoint.
We have definitely and deliberately attempted “to put the cookies on the bottom shelf so that
the kiddies could get them.”
The fact that these messages have been translated into many languages for radio broadcasting
and have been received with enthusiasm reveals the need for a simple teaching of the whole
Bible for the masses of the world.
I am indebted to many people and to many sources for bringing this volume into existence. I
should express my especial thanks to my secretary, Gertrude Cutler, who supervised the editorial
work; to Dr. Elliott R. Cole, my associate, who handled all the detailed work with the publishers;
and finally to my wife Ruth for tenaciously encouraging me from the beginning to put my notes
and messages into printed form.
Solomon wrote, “of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of
the flesh” (Eccl. 12:12). On a sea of books that flood the marketplace, we launch the series of
THRU THE BIBLE with the hope that it might draw many to the one Book, The Bible.
J. VERNON MCGEE
The
ACTS
of the Apostles
INTRODUCTION
The Book of Acts, sometimes called the fifth Gospel, is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke.
Dr. Luke is the writer, as he states in his introduction (v. 1). Sir William Ramsay, after making a
critical study of Luke’s writings, declared that Luke was the greatest historian, ancient or
modern.
The Book of Acts is remarkable in many ways. It is a bridge between the Gospels and the
Epistles. The New Testament without the Book of Acts leaves a great yawning gap. As Dr.
Houston puts it, “If the book of Acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it.” The last
recorded fact about Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is the Resurrection, which is recorded in
Acts 1. In the Gospel of Mark, the last recorded act of Jesus is the Ascension, which is also
recorded in Acts 1. In the Gospel of Luke, the last recorded fact is the promise of the Holy Spirit.
That is also in Acts 1. And in the Gospel of John the last recorded fact is the second coming of
Christ. You guessed it—that is also in Acts 1. It is as if the four Gospels had been poured into a
funnel, and they all come down into this jug of the first chapter of the Book of Acts. Also the
great missionary commission, which appears in all four Gospels, is confirmed in the Book of
Acts.
The Book of Acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the Epistles. It would be an enriching
experience to read them together, as Acts gives the history of the founding of the churches to
which the Epistles are directed.
The Book of Acts records the beginning of the church, the birth of the church. The Book of
Genesis records the origin of the spiritual body which we designate as the church.
The theme or key to the Book of Acts is found in 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The book divides naturally according to this key verse. The first seven chapters record the
Lord Jesus Christ at work by the Holy Spirit through the apostles in Jerusalem. Chapters 8
through 12 record the Lord Jesus Christ at work by the Holy Spirit through the apostles in Judea
and Samaria. The remainder of the book is devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ at work by the Holy
Spirit through the apostles unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The Book of Acts is not complete. It breaks off with Paul in his own hired house in Rome. It
has no proper ending. Do you know why? It is because the Book of Acts is a continuing story.
Perhaps the Lord has Dr. Luke up there writing the next chapters now. Perhaps he is recording
what you and I do for Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. I hope so.
Some special features of the Book of Acts are:
1. Prominence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus has left His disciples now. He is
gone. He has ascended in the first chapter of the book. But He is still at work! He has just moved
His position, His location. He has moved His headquarters. As long as He was here on this earth,
His headquarters were in Capernaum. Now His headquarters are at the right hand of the Father.
The Lord Jesus Christ is prominent. He is at work from the vantage place of heaven itself.
2. Prominence of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit. This promise is
mentioned in the Gospel of John four times (John 1:33; 7:37–39; 14:16–17; 20:22). The same
promise is given in the Book of Acts (Acts 1:8). You and I are living in the age of the Holy
Spirit. The great fact of this age is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers.
3. The power of the church. There is a power in the church and, of course, this is the working
of the Spirit of God. That power of the early church is not manifested in churches today. Why?
Because the early church operated on a high spiritual level which has not again been attained in
any age since then. However, it is the Holy Spirit working through the believer when any service
brings honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Prominence of the church, visible and invisible. The church is a new institution. It has
come into existence in the Book of Acts.
5. Prominence of places. The book begins at Jerusalem and ends in Rome. Sir William
Ramsay checked all the places mentioned by Dr. Luke and found them to be accurate.
6. Prominence of persons. Dr. Luke mentions 110 persons by name, besides the references to
multitudes or crowds. I believe that by the end of the first century there were millions of
believers in the world. The church had a phenomenal growth in those first two to three hundred
years. It certainly has slowed down today, exactly as our Lord said it would.
7. Prominence of the Resurrection. The Resurrection is the center of gospel preaching. In too
many churches today, we have one Easter sermon once a year. As a pastor, many times I have
featured Easter in August. People would come just to find out what had happened to the
preacher. They thought the heat was getting to me. However, in the early church the resurrection
of Jesus Christ was the very center and heart of the message, and no sermon was preached
without it. The theme of Peter on the Day of Pentecost was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He
explained that what was taking place on that day was because of the fact that Jesus was now in
heaven at the right hand of God and had sent His Holy Spirit into the world. It was all due to the
Resurrection. You will find that the Resurrection is the very heart of the messages of Paul.
There are a great many people and preachers who like to “ride a hobby.” Some people like to
ride the hobby of prophecy; others dwell on the Keswick message or some other facet or phase.
Now, if you want to ride a hobby, let me suggest one for you: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In
the early church, every Sunday was Easter, a day to proclaim the Resurrection. “He is risen!”
was proclaimed everywhere (see Matt. 27:64).
8. There is a prominence of Peter in the first section of the book and of Paul in the last
section. There is a strange omission of the other apostles. God had good reasons, I am sure, for
emphasizing the ministry of these two men.
Also there is a human reason. I believe that Dr. Luke was acquainted with the ministries of
these two men. He was an associate of Paul. Some people hold the idea that there was a
disagreement between Peter and Paul. Very candidly, I am of the opinion that Dr. Luke and Peter
and Paul got together a great many times and had many talks.
The proper title for this historical book has always been a problem. The Bible which I use is
the authorized version and there it is called The Acts of the Apostles. The Codex Vaticanus and
the revised versions also call it The Acts of the Apostles. Robert Lee called it The Acts of the
Ascended and Glorified Lord. The Bantu title is Words Concerning Deeds.
I would rather think that the key is given to us in the first two verses of the first chapter. On
the basis of this, I would venture a title which is a rather long one: The Lord Jesus Christ at
Work by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles.
OUTLINE
I. The Lord Jesus Christ at Work by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles in Jerusalem,
Chapters 1–7
A. Preparation for the Coming of the Spirit, Chapter 1
1. Introduction, Chapter 1:1–2
2. Forty Days Post–Resurrection Ministry of Jesus, Chapter 1:3–8
3. Ascension and Promise of the Return of Jesus, Chapter 1:9–11
4. Waiting for the Spirit, Chapter 1:12–14
5. Appointment of an Apostle, Chapter 1:15–26
B. Day of Pentecost (Bethlehem of the Holy Spirit), Chapter 2
1. Coming of the Holy Spirit, Chapter 2:1–13
2. First Sermon in the Church Age of Peter, Chapter 2:14–47
C. First Miracle of the Church; Peter’s Second Sermon, Chapter 3
1. Healing of Lame Man, Chapter 3:1–11
2. Appealing and Revealing Address of Peter, Chapter 3:12–26
3. Believing Five Thousand Men (Results), Chapter 4:4
D. First Persecution of the Church; Power of the Holy Spirit, Chapter 4
E. Death of Ananias and Sapphira; Second Persecution, Chapter 5
F. Appointment of Deacons; Witness of Stephen, a Deacon, Chapter 6
G. Stephen’s Address and Martyrdom (First Martyr), Chapter 7
II. The Lord Jesus Christ at Work by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles in Judea and
Samaria, Chapters 8–12
A. Conversion of Ethiopian Eunuch (Son of Ham), Chapter 8
B. Conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Son of Shem), Chapter 9
C. Conversion of Cornelius, Roman Centurion (Son of Japheth), Chapter 10
D. Peter Defends His Ministry; Gospel Goes to Antioch, Chapter 11
E. Death of James; Arrest of Peter, Chapter 12
III. The Lord Jesus Christ at Work by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles to the Uttermost
Part of the Earth, Chapters 13–28
A. First Missionary Journey of Paul, Chapters 13 and 14
B. Council at Jerusalem, Chapter 15
C. Second Missionary Journey of Paul, Chapters 15:36–16:40
D. Second Missionary Journey (continued) Paul in Thessalonica, Athens, Chapter 17
E. Second Missionary Journey (concluded) Paul in Corinth; Apollos in Ephesus, Chapter 18
F. Third Missionary Journey, Chapters 18:23–21:14 Paul in Ephesus, Chapter 19
G. Third Missionary Journey of Paul (continued), Chapter 20
H. Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Is Arrested, Chapter 21
I. Paul’s Defense before the Mob at Jerusalem, Chapter 22
J. Paul’s Defense before the Sanhedrin, Chapter 23
K. Paul before Felix, Chapter 24
L. Paul before Festus, Chapter 25
M. Paul before Agrippa, Chapter 26
N. Paul Goes to Rome via Storm and Shipwreck, Chapter 27
O. Paul Arrives in Rome, Chapter 28 (Last seen preaching to Gentiles)
CHAPTER 1
——————
THEME: Preparation for the coming of the Spirit
As suggested in the Introduction, in my opinion the proper title for the Book of Acts would be:
The Lord Jesus Christ at Work by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. And the first seven
chapters reveal the Lord Jesus Christ at work by the Holy Spirit through the apostles in
Jerusalem. The first chapter, which is the preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit, includes
a brief introduction; a resume of the forty–day post–resurrection ministry of Jesus; His ascension
and promise of return; then the apostles waiting for the Spirit, and their appointment of an
apostle to take the place of Judas.
INTRODUCTION
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and
teach,
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given
commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen [Acts 1:1–2].
The “former treatise” was Luke’s Gospel, which also was directed to Theophilus—whose name
means “lover of God.” I totally reject the idea that just any lover of God is intended. Obviously
Luke knew a man by the name of Theophilus, and undoubtedly the name was appropriate—a
lover of God. Luke’s Gospel was “all that Jesus began both to do and teach,” and in the Book of
Acts Jesus continues to do and to teach. Today He is still at it, if I may use that expression, and
He will continue on with this present program until He takes His own out of the world.
“Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost [Spirit]”
makes it clear that just because Jesus was taken up into heaven didn’t mean He ceased doing and
teaching. But now, from the vantage place of the right hand of God, He is continuing to work
through the Holy Spirit. As in the army where commands pass from one man to another, so the
Lord Jesus Christ is working through the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit operates through the
apostles and on out to you and to me where we are today. This is a remarkable statement here.
FORTY DAYS POST–RESURRECTION MINISTRY OF JESUS
Dr. Luke uses one of his periodic sentences here, which continues on through verse 4.
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being
seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God [Acts
1:3].
He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs after His suffering and death. There are ten
recorded appearances of Jesus after His resurrection. His post–resurrection ministry, as revealed
in His appearances, has a more important bearing on the lives of Christians today than does the
three–year ministry recorded in the Gospels. I have a little book entitled The Empty Tomb, which
tells of this post–resurrection ministry of the Lord Jesus. Paul stated it this way: “Wherefore
henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh,
yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2 Cor. 5:16).
You and I do not know Him today as the One who walked on this earth over nineteen
hundred years ago. We know Him as the one Man in the glory. He is up there right this moment,
and He is real. How often the church loses sight of this fact.
Recently a letter came to me from a person who said he had been a church member all his
life. He had gone through all the prescribed rituals, and he thought he was a Christian. Then
through hearing the Word of God he learned that he didn’t even know Jesus. The wonderful
discovery for him was that not only did Jesus walk on this earth nineteen hundred years ago, but
also He is alive today and is sitting at God’s right hand. He came to the living Christ and
received Him as Savior and Lord. How wonderful that is! Jesus showed Himself alive by many
infallible proofs.
The problem of the unbeliever today is not with the facts but with his own unbelief. The facts
are available. I wonder whether anyone doubts that the Battle of Waterloo was a historical event.
Very frankly, I believe that Napoleon lived, and I believe that he fought the Battle of Waterloo.
But I have very little evidence for it. Actually there is ten thousand times more evidence for the
death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ than there is for the Battle of Waterloo, and yet
there are people today who say they do not believe it. Where is the problem? The problem is in
the heart, the unbelieving heart. There is a natural tendency for man to run away from God just
as Adam did. Man turns his back upon God today. If you are an unbeliever, the problem is with
you. The problem is not in the Word of God. He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs.
You can know if you really want to know. The problem is that you don’t want to know. The
problem is not in the mind; the problem is in the will.
Let me insert a comment here about the Resurrection. There is a verse which I think has been
twisted and distorted. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will
draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). How was He lifted up? He was lifted up in the
Resurrection, friend, lifted up from the dead. That is the message. Regardless of how much you
talk about Jesus or how lovely you say that He is, the message is that He has been lifted up from
the dead. He is risen! The reason that more people are not drawn to Christ is that there is not the
preaching of a resurrected Christ. How the Book of Acts puts the emphasis on the resurrection of
Jesus Christ!
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart
from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of
me [Acts 1:4].
That’s the end of the sentence—these first four verses are all one sentence! The apostles are to
wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Until that event takes place, His command is to wait.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many
days hence [Acts 1:5].
The risen Jesus appeared to the apostles and gave them these instructions. He tells them that
something is going to happen to them. They are going to be baptized with the Holy Spirit not
many days hence. This baptism of the Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father, and Jesus had
previously told them about it.
It is very important to point out that this is not talking about water baptism, which is ritual
baptism. This is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is real baptism.
It is this baptism of the Holy Spirit which places a believer into the body of believers, which we
sometimes refer to as the church.
When we get to the second chapter, which tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day
of Pentecost, we will learn that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Filling was necessary in
order that they might serve. The fact that they were filled with the Holy Spirit for service
indicates that the other ministries of the Holy Spirit had been performed.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this
time restore again the kingdom to Israel? [Acts 1:6].
You will find that some of the commentators rebuke the apostles for asking this question—they
feel the apostles made a mistake. I believe that the answer the Lord gives them indicates they
made no mistake. Their question was a legitimate question, a natural question, and one that our
Lord answered as such. He did not rebuke them. He did not call it a foolish question.
The apostles were brought up and schooled in the Old Testament. They had waited for the
coming of the Messiah. They understood that the Messiah is the One who will establish the
Kingdom upon this earth. That was their hope. It is still the hope for this earth. God is not
through with this earth. God does not intend to sweep this earth under the rug. Although it is
small enough to be swept under His rug, He is not going to do that. God has an eternal purpose
for the earth. It was the Kingdom of God that they talked about, which involves the re–
establishment of the house of David. These were the things He talked about after His resurrection
—we see in verse 3 that He spoke of things “pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father
hath put in his own power [Acts 1:7].
He let them know, at this particular time, that the Kingdom would not be established. Rather, He
would call out a people to His name, the church. In chapter 15 of Acts, when the apostles met for
the first council in Jerusalem, James pointed out this fact: “Simeon hath declared how God at the
first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words
of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of
David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the
residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning
of the world” (Acts 15:14–18). This is what God is doing today. He is visiting the Gentiles to
take out of them a people to His name. That is, God is calling out of the world those people who
will trust Christ, and the Holy Spirit baptizes them into the body of believers, the church.
So when the apostles asked Jesus whether He would restore the Kingdom “at this time,” His
answer was that this was not the subject for discussion at that time. Nor is it the subject for
discussion today. There are a great many people who say to me, “Don’t you think the Lord will
be coming soon?” Well, now, I’ll let you in on something that is confidential between you and
me: I do believe that He is coming soon. However, I don’t have any authority to tell you that He
is coming soon, because I don’t know. Our Lord said it is not for us to know the times or the
seasons. That is not the important part for us.
I do believe in prophecy. However, I think one can overemphasize it. To be built up in the
faith you need more than a prophetic study.
Then what is our business today? Notice again that the Lord did not rebuke them. Instead, He
showed that He had something else in mind. There is something else for us to do. It is not for us
to know the times nor the seasons—the Father has put those in His own power—but here is your
commission:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth [Acts 1:8].
This is the commission that still holds for today. This is not given only to a corporate body, to
the church as a body; it is not a corporate commission. This is a very personal command to each
believer—personally, privately. This was given to these men even before the Holy Spirit had
come and formed the church. It is a direct command for you and for me today. It is our business
to get the Word of God out to the world. We can’t say that it is up to the church to send
missionaries and to give out the gospel, and then sit back and let others do it. The all–important
question is whether you are getting out the Word of God. Have you gone to the ends of the earth
as a witness to the gospel? Or do you support a missionary or a radio program that does? Are you
personally involved? Today there are a great many people who want to talk about the times and
seasons of His coming, but they don’t want to get involved in getting out the Word of God. But
that is His commission—not only to the apostles—that is His commission to you and me. I am of
the opinion that if the Lord should suddenly appear to you or to me right where we are at this
moment, He would not talk about the time of His coming, but He would talk about getting out
the gospel. He wants people to be saved. This is our commission.
In order to get this gospel out, we need power. That was His promise: “Ye shall receive
power.” And we need the leading of the Lord. Although it is our business today to get out the
Word of God, there is no power in us, there is no power in the church, but there is power in the
Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who moves through an individual or through the church or
through a radio program. The question is whether we permit Him to do so. “Ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”
“Ye shall be witnesses unto me.” Our witness is to Christ. He is the center of attraction. “In
Jerusalem,” which applied to us means our hometown, there should be a witness to Christ. “All
Judaea” is equivalent to our community; “Samaria” represents the other side of the tracks, the
folk we don’t associate with. Although we may not meet with these people socially, we are to
take the gospel to them. Of course we can’t associate with everybody. We can select our friends
as everyone else does. That is part of the freedom which we have. There are folk who wouldn’t
want to associate with us. There are lots of folk who wouldn’t want me around; I would crimp
their style. But we have both the privilege and the responsibility to get the Word of God out to
folk whether or not we associate with them socially.
Finally, this witness to Christ is to go to the uttermost part of the earth. We never should lose
sight of the fact that this is the Lord’s intention. He has told us if we love Him to keep His
commandments. His command is personal. We can’t pass this off on the crowd, and say “The
church is doing it; so I don’t need to get involved.” How much are you involved, friend? What is
your witness to Christ?
ASCENSION AND PROMISE OF THE RETURN OF JESUS
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud
received him out of their sight [Acts 1:9].
The ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ is an important and significant miracle in the ministry of
the Lord. This is especially true for our space age when eyes are turned aloft and we are talking
about travel in space. Space travel isn’t really new. The Lord Jesus took off, and He didn’t need
a launching pad or a space suit or a missile.
There was a cloud to receive Him. What kind of a cloud was that? Was it a moisture cloud?
No, this was the same shekinah glory cloud that had filled the tabernacle. In His high priestly
prayer He had prayed: “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory
which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:5). When He was born into this world, He
was wrapped in swaddling clothes. When He left this earth, He was wrapped in glory clouds.
This is the way He returned to the Father’s right hand.
While the apostles are watching all this, two angels appear to them. They look like men, and
they have an important message.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by
them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him
go into heaven [Acts 1:10–11].
It is the glorified Jesus who went up into heaven. This same Jesus, the glorified Jesus, will return
in like manner and to the same place. Zechariah 14:4 tells us: “And his feet shall stand in that
day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives
shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very
great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the
south.” He took off at that place, and He will come back to that place.
WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem
a sabbath day’s journey [Acts 1:12].
“A sabbath day’s journey,” which was less than one mile, kept people pretty much in their
location. That was why they would all camp very close to the temple during the feast days when
they came to Jerusalem to worship. The Mount of Olives would probably be covered with people
camping out, possibly several hundred thousand of them at the time of the feasts. Why? Because
they needed to stay within a Sabbath day’s journey of the temple.
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter,
and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew,
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary
the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren [Acts 1:13–14].
I rejoice that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there. Her reputation has now been cleared. At this
point it was obvious that Jesus was the Son of God, and virgin born, as she had claimed.
The attitude of the apostles and the other believers was that of oneness, of prayer, and of
waiting.
There is no way that we can duplicate this period today. Remember that this is in a time
period, a time capsule, between His ascension into heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
You and I do not live in that time period. It cannot be duplicated. We are not waiting for the
coming of the Holy Spirit; He came over nineteen hundred years ago.
APPOINTMENT OF AN APOSTLE
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of
names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by
the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took
Jesus.
For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst
asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out [Acts 1:15–18].
Here is Simon Peter speaking up again. Note that this is before the Holy Spirit came at
Pentecost. This man needs the filling of the Holy Spirit—and so do you and I.
He certainly gives a vivid picture of Judas, doesn’t he?
If you are bothered by a seeming discrepancy here and with Matthew 27:5, the following
quotation from Unger’s Bible Dictionary by Merrill F. Unger (pp. 615–616) will be helpful to
you.
NOTE.—Between these two passages (Matt. 27:5; Acts 1:16–25) there appears at first sight a
discrepancy. In Matthew it is stated “He cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and
departed, and went and hanged himself.” In Acts (ch. 1) another account is given. There it is
stated: (1) That instead of throwing the money into the temple he bought a field with it. (2) That
instead of hanging himself, “falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels
gushed out.” (3) That for this reason, and not because the priests had bought it with the price of
blood, the field was called “Aceldama.” The fact would seem to be that Judas hanged himself,
probably with his girdle, which either broke or became untied, and threw him heavily forward
upon the jagged rocks below, thus inflicting the wound mentioned by Peter in the Acts. The
apparent discrepancy in the two accounts as to the disposition of the money may be thus
explained: “It was not lawful to take into the temple treasury, for the purchase of sacred things,
money that had been unlawfully gained. In such case the Jewish law provided that the money
was to be restored to the donor, and, if he insisted on giving it that he should be induced to spend
it for something for the public weal. By a fiction of law the money was still considered to be
Judas’s, and to have been applied by him in the purchase of the well–known ‘potter’s field’”
(Edersheim, Life of Jesus, ii, 575).
And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in
their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell
therein: and his bishopric let another take [Acts 1:19–20].
There is always a question about what happened here. Should Simon Peter have held this
election to choose a man to take the place of Judas? I don’t think so.
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus
went in and out among us,
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us,
must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection [Acts 1:21–22].
I believe that the election to choose a successor to Judas Iscariot was conducted by Peter without
the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet been given. Matthias
was evidently a good man. He met the requirements of an apostle, which meant he must have
seen the resurrected Christ, as that was a necessary requirement.
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether
of these two thou hast chosen,
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression
fell, that he might go to his own place.
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with
the eleven apostles [Acts 1:23–26].
I can’t see that this was the leading of the Holy Spirit, nor that it was God’s leading in the casting
of lots. Is Matthias actually the one who took the place of Judas? I don’t think so. I believe that
in His own time, the Lord Jesus Himself appointed one to take the place of Judas Iscariot. We
don’t hear another word about Matthias—nothing is recorded of his ministry. I think the Holy
Spirit ignored Matthias. It is my conviction that the man the Lord chose was Paul. You may ask,
“Do you have an authority for that statement?” Yes. Listen to Paul as he writes to the Galatian
believers: “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the
Father, who raised him from the dead;)” (Gal. 1:1). Paul is saying that he was chosen by God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. How did He do it? Through the Holy Spirit whom He had sent
into the world. The ministry of Paul certainly justifies the fact that he was the one to take Judas’
place. Of course I realize that the majority of good Bible commentators disagree with me, but I
am just passing on to you my own conviction.
It is remarkable, and I want to mention again how Acts 1 brings the four Gospels to a focal
point. Matthew concludes with the Resurrection, Mark with the Ascension, Luke with the
promise of the Holy Spirit, and John with the promise of the Second Coming. Acts 1 brings all
four records together and mentions each of them. The four Gospels funnel into Acts, and Acts is
the bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles.
CHAPTER 2
——————
THEME: The Day of Pentecost
We can divide this chapter into two sections. The coming of the Holy Spirit is recorded in
verses 1–13. The first sermon in the church age, given by the apostle Peter, is recorded in verses
14–47.
COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place
[Acts 2:1].
The words fully come could be translated “fulfilled.” When the Day of Pentecost was being
fulfilled, they were all together in one place.
Pentecost took place fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits. You may remember in our study
in Leviticus that we found that the Feast of Firstfruits speaks of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Christ is the firstfruits—“… Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming”
(1 Cor. 15:23).
The Passover speaks of the death of Jesus Christ, we learn from 1 Corinthians 5:7: “… For
even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” Since the Passover has been fulfilled in the death
of Christ, and the Feast of Firstfruits has been fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ, we believe
that the Feast of Pentecost represents something—that is, it is the fulfillment of something. Its
fulfillment is the birth of the church, the day the church came into existence.
When the Day of Pentecost “was being fulfilled,” or “was fully come,” means that this was
the fulfillment of the meaning and the purpose for which it was given originally. On Pentecost
there was to be a meal offering to the Lord, which was to be presented in two loaves of fine flour
baked with leaven (Lev. 23). This was to depict the beginning and origin of the church. It spoke
of the coming of the Holy Spirit in the very particular ministry of calling a people out of this
world to form the body of Christ, which is the church. Five minutes before the Holy Spirit came
on the Day of Pentecost there was no church. Five minutes after the Holy Spirit came on the Day
of Pentecost there was a church. In other words, what Bethlehem was to the birth of Christ,
Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost was to the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit became
incarnate. He began to baptize believers, which means that the Holy Spirit identified them with
Christ as His body here on this earth. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13).
The Holy Spirit began to perform a ministry on the Day of Pentecost. The Day of Pentecost
was fulfilled on that day. When the Day of Pentecost “was fully come” does not mean it was
12:00 noon or 7:00 in the morning or 2:00 in the afternoon. It means that Pentecost, which Israel
had been celebrating for many generations, was fulfilled.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all
the house where they were sitting [Acts 2:2].
Now I wish to call your attention to something that is very important. When the Holy Spirit
came, He was not visible. However, He made His presence known in two ways. There was an
appeal to two of the gates through which all mankind gets his information: the ear–gate and the
eye–gate. We hear and we see. The Holy Spirit used both these gates. Through the ear–gate they
heard a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind. This sound filled the whole house where
they were sitting.
Notice that it was not a wind; it was the sound as of a wind. It wasn’t like the sound of the
wind blowing through the treetops. It sounded like a tornado, and I believe that all of Jerusalem
could hear it. A friend of my daughter lives in Kansas and went through the experience of a
tornado. It did not destroy their home but came within two blocks of it. When she wrote about it
to my daughter, she said, “The first thing we noticed was a sound like a thousand freight trains
coming into town.” Friend, that was a rushing, mighty wind, and that was the sound. It was that
kind of sound that they heard on the Day of Pentecost.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them
[Acts 2:3].
Again, I would call your attention to this. The tongues were like as of fire. It was not fire, but it
looked like fire. This verse would be better translated, “There appeared unto them tongues
parting asunder.” That is, the tongues were like as a fire and it rested upon each of them. This
was the appeal to the eye–gate. So on that Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to the
church, baptizing them into the body of Christ, there was an appeal to the ear and an appeal to
the eye.
This is not to be confused with the baptism of fire. The baptism of fire is judgment which is
yet to come. In the Book of Revelation we see the wrath of God revealed from heaven, fire from
heaven. That is a baptism of fire. If men will not have the baptism of the Holy Spirit, then they
must have the baptism of fire—judgment. The baptism of fire is for those who have rejected
Jesus Christ.
I used to go to a prayer meeting which a wonderful preacher attended. I loved that dear
brother, although his theology differed from mine in some points. He would always pray that fire
would fall on us. And I always canceled out that prayer and said, “Lord, for goodness sake, don’t
let fire fall on us.” Fire, you see, is judgment. Fire burns. That is yet to come. When the Holy
Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, they saw something that in appearance looked like fire.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance [Acts 2:4].
This verse says they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Someone may question the fact that I have
been saying they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Were they? Yes. The Lord Jesus told them
they would be. “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should
not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard
of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many
days hence” (Acts 1:4–5). The very fact that they were filled with the Holy Spirit indicates that
all the other ministries of the Holy Spirit to believers in this age had already been performed.
They occurred in this order: First, they were regenerated. A man must be born again. “Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Secondly, they were indwelt by the Spirit of
God. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Rom. 8:9). Thirdly, they were
sealed by the Holy Spirit into an eternal relationship with God. “In whom ye also trusted, after
that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:13–14). And again,
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph.
4:30). It is possible to grieve the Spirit of God, but it is not possible to grieve Him away. He
seals the believer unto the day of redemption. We are never told to ask for the sealing of the Holy
Spirit. It is something which God does “after that ye believed,” which is better translated “having
believed.” Faith in Jesus Christ gives us the sealing of the Holy Spirit unto the day of
redemption.
Fourthly, they were baptized of the Holy Spirit. This was foretold by John the Baptist (Luke
3:16) and repeated by the Lord Jesus: “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:5). The baptism took place, which
placed them in the body of believers. It marked the beginning of the church. Ever since that day
every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is placed into the body of Christ by the baptism of the
Holy Spirit. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor.
12:13).
Now when the filling of the Holy Spirit took place on the Day of Pentecost, it indicated that
the other four ministries of the Holy Spirit had been accomplished. “And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost.” The filling of the Spirit was for service. The experience of the Day of Pentecost
came from the filling of the Holy Spirit (not the baptism of the Holy Spirit). It is still the same
today. The filling of the Holy Spirit is for service. This is the only work of the Holy Spirit that
we are to do anything about—we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit: “And be not
drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). Notice that before
Pentecost the believers wanted this filling of the Spirit. “These all continued with one accord in
prayer and supplication …” (Acts 1:14). What would their supplication be about? About the
promise of the Lord Jesus that He would send His Holy Spirit to them.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a command given to us. It is not an experience. It is an
act of God whereby the believer in Jesus Christ is indwelt by the Spirit of God, sealed unto the
day of redemption, and placed into the church, the body of Christ, by the baptism of the Spirit.
The filling of the Spirit of God is the enablement for service. We are commanded to be filled
with the Spirit.
After they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they “began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance” (v. 4). These “other tongues” are not unknown tongues. There were
many tongues spoken by Jews throughout the Roman Empire. These worshipers had come from
the different areas of the Roman Empire for the Feast of Pentecost. Remember that all male Jews
were required to come to Jerusalem for three of the feasts. They were in Jerusalem because of
that, and many of them couldn’t speak Hebrew.
That is not unusual. There are many Jews in our country today who cannot speak Hebrew.
For years it was a dead language. In Israel today, Hebrew is being spoken again.
Now, my friend, the Day of Pentecost cannot be duplicated. It was a precise point in history.
We cannot duplicate it any more than we can duplicate Bethlehem and the birth of Christ at
Christmas.
Suppose the wise men had come back to Jerusalem again the next year and had said, “Say,
we’re looking for the King of the Jews who is born in Bethlehem.” Suppose Herod would have
said, “Weren’t you fellows here last year?” “Yes.” “Well, did you find Him?” “Yes.” “Well, if
He was born in Bethlehem last year, He isn’t born there again this year.” “Oh, but we had such a
wonderful experience here last year, we thought we’d come back and do it all over again.” Of
course, Herod would have answered, “Look, fellows, you can’t duplicate that. He was born in
Bethlehem only once.”
Just so, friend, you cannot duplicate Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came on the Day of
Pentecost. You don’t have to beg Him to come or urge Him to come. He is here. The Spirit of
God is in the world today. Jesus told us what He would do after He came: “He shall glorify me:
for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:14). We know He is here when
He takes the things of Christ and shows them to us. And when we are talking about the things of
Christ, the Spirit of God has something that He can work with.
“As the Spirit gave them utterance.” These apostles were from Galilee. They couldn’t speak
all these other languages. But they are speaking them now. The Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven
[Acts 2:5].
They had come from everywhere because of the Feast of Pentecost. This was their reason for
being in Jerusalem.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded,
because that every man heard them speak in his own language [Acts 2:6].
A better translation of “when this was noised abroad” is “when this sound having taken place.”
Because of the sound as of a mighty rushing wind, a multitude came together. I shall never forget
here in Pasadena, where I live, the first time we heard a jet plane break the sound barrier. We
were all out in our front yards wanting to know where the sound had come from. We had never
heard anything like it before. The sound the people of Jerusalem heard had never been heard
before; so they came rushing toward it—which may have been to the temple area. Probably all
120 believers were there (Acts 1:15).
The people who rushed there were confounded because every man heard—in the Greek the
imperfect tense is used, so that it should read, “every man was hearing”—them speak in his own
dialect. It was not only that the language of their country was spoken, but each man heard his
own dialect as it was spoken in his area of the country.
These men were not talking gibberish. They were not talking in unknown tongues. These
men were speaking the dialects of the people in the multitude.
Now there is another aspect which I must mention. Some Bible scholars believe that what is
meant here is that the apostles were not speaking in other languages at all, but were speaking in
their own Galilean dialect, and the miracle was in the hearing because it says that every man
heard them speak in his own dialect. Was the miracle that broke down the language barrier in the
speaking or in the hearing?
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these
which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and
Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers
of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God
[Acts 2:7–11].
Here were people from three continents. Certainly they were of diverse languages and dialects.
They each heard these Galileans speak in an understandable dialect. May I say, these were not
unknown tongues. They were languages that were understood.
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
[Acts 2:12].
They were amazed—perplexed would be a better word. They didn’t understand what was taking
place.
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine [Acts 2:13].
The literal translation is sweet wine, and I understand that is a little more intoxicating. They
thought these men were drunk.
Remember that Paul writes: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). Have you noticed that a drunk man seems to have more power? He
certainly is more talkative. Perhaps many of us today need the filling of the Spirit to make us
talkative—not to speak in an unknown tongue, but power to speak the gospel to others. That is
the kind of tongues movement we need today. And by the way, we need a tongues movement of
giving the gospel in the language that the man can understand. That is all important.
What a day Pentecost was! It was the day the Holy Spirit came to call out a body of believers
to form the church. The day before Pentecost there was no church. The day after Pentecost there
was a church. Just as the Feast of Pentecost in the Old Testament followed fifty days after the
Feast of the Firstfruits, so fifty days after the Lord Jesus arose from the dead the Holy Spirit
came to call out a body of believers.
Now Simon Peter is going to stand up and answer the mocking taunt that they are full of new
wine.
FIRST SERMON IN THE CHURCH AGE, DELIVERED BY PETER
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of
Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my
words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day [Acts
2:14–15].
Now I think that we need to recognize who the congregation was. These were men of Judea and
all that dwell at Jerusalem. In that day Jerusalem was entirely a Jewish city. Pilate and his people
had their headquarters in Caesarea, not in Jerusalem. This early church was 100 percent Jewish.
It was made up of Israelites. We need to recognize that. The church began in Jerusalem, then
moved out to Judea, then Samaria, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. This has been the
movement of the church from that day to this. In the Old Testament it was to Jerusalem that the
world was to come for worship. Now they are commanded to leave Jerusalem and to take this
message to the ends of the earth.
Peter replies to their mockery and ridicule by saying, “This could not be drunkenness,
because look at the time of day it is!” This was not an hour when people in that day were drunk.
He is talking to the cynic.
Now Peter quotes to them from their own Scripture.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel [Acts 2:16].
He uses this prophecy as an answer to the cynical, the unbeliever, the mocker. This is his purpose
for quoting it. He says, “That is that,” which is, this is similar to or this is like that. He does not
say that this is the fulfillment of that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. He is saying, “Why
do you think this is something odd or something strange? We have prophecy that says these
things are going to come to pass.” Peter goes on to quote the prophecy from Joel. I’m glad Simon
Peter quoted as much as he did because he makes it obvious that he was not attempting to say
this was fulfilled. Now what is it that is to come?
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all
flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and
they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire,
and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and
notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved
[Acts 2:17–21].
I don’t think that anyone would claim that on the Day of Pentecost the moon was turned to blood
or that the sun was turned to darkness. When Christ was crucified, there was darkness for three
hours, but not on the Day of Pentecost. Nor were there wonders of heaven above and signs in the
earth beneath. Nor was there blood and fire and a vapor of smoke. Simon Peter quotes this
passage to these mockers to show them that the pouring out of the Spirit of God should not be
strange to them. Joel had predicted it, and it is going to come to pass.
My friend, Joel 2:28–32 has not been fulfilled to this day. If we turn back to the Book of Joel,
we will find that he had a great deal to say about the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord will
begin with the Great Tribulation period. It will go on through the Millennium. In three chapters
of the Book of Joel the Day of the Lord is mentioned five times. Joel talks about the fact that it is
a time of war, a time of judgment upon the earth. That has not yet been fulfilled. It was not
fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.
If we could only see that all Simon Peter is saying in his introduction is, “Now look, this is
not strange or contrary. The day is coming when this will be fulfilled. And today we are seeing
something similar to it.” Now after his introduction, he will move on to his text. Remember he is
speaking to men who knew the Old Testament. Don’t try to read nineteen hundred years of
church history into this. This is just the beginning of the church on the Day of Pentecost. This is
the inception of the church. Obviously he is speaking to the Jews—“Ye men of Israel.” He
doesn’t say, “Ye men of Southern California.” He is talking to Israelites. Now he is getting down
to the nitty gritty. Now he is getting to his subject.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you
by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye
yourselves also know [Acts 2:22].
Now I personally think that miracles and wonders and signs were all different. I believe that
miracles were performed for one purpose, wonders for another purpose, and signs for another
purpose. Jesus did certain things that were to be signs. Some miracles of healing were performed
to get the attention of His hearers. These were the three areas in which our Lord moved.
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,
and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible
that he should be holden of it [Acts 2:23–24].
Peter is saying that what has happened was not contrary to God’s program. This is not something
that took God by surprise. However, he makes it clear that this does not release men from their
responsibility. Who is responsible for the crucifixion of Christ? The religious rulers were the
ones who began the movement. I would say that they were largely to blame. They moved upon
the multitude so that they produced mob action. They also maneuvered the Roman government
to execute Him. Remember, friend, He was crucified on a Roman cross. Peter is pointing his
finger at his fellow Israelites.
But there is no use in our arguing about who was responsible for His death back at that time.
I’ll tell you who is responsible for His death. You are responsible, and I am responsible. It was
for my sins and for your sins that He died. Listen to the words of Jesus: “Therefore doth my
Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me,
but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17–18).
Peter is speaking to men who were directly involved in the plot of the Crucifixion, and he
says, “Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.”
However, that is not the most important part of his message. He goes on, “Whom God hath
raised up, having loosed the pains of death.” He preaches the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is
the first sermon ever preached in the church age. This is the beginning. This is the Day of
Pentecost. What is his theme? It is not the prophecy of Joel, my friend. It is the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s not try to change his subject! Now he is going to quote his text. He
quotes from Psalm 16:8–10. I am glad he did that because this helps me to understand Psalm 16.
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on
my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest
in hope:
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption [Acts 2:25–27].
The word hell should be “sheol.” In that day it was sheol.
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance [Acts 2:28].
In Psalm 16 David is talking about the resurrection of Christ. This has now been fulfilled. The
interpretation of this psalm is given by Simon Peter, who is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead
and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day [Acts 2:29].
Apparently Peter was standing in the temple area. He could point his finger to the sepulchre of
David. I have stood in that temple area, and I could point my finger up to the top of Mount Zion
where David is buried. He is saying, “It is obvious that David wasn’t speaking about himself
because his bones are right up there on the top of the hill. His grave is there; his body did
undergo corruption. He is not speaking of himself but of Someone whom you and I know,
Someone who did not see corruption but was raised from the dead.”
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of
the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell,
neither his flesh did see corruption [Acts 2:30–31].
This is what David was talking about in Psalm 16. He was speaking of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. You may say, “But I read Psalm 16, and it doesn’t say that Jesus Christ will rise from the
dead.” My friend, here in Acts 2 we have the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of this psalm. Now we
can go back and read the psalm, knowing that it refers to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
What is Simon Peter talking about? His sermon is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The
first sermon ever preached in the church age was an Easter sermon. And every sermon in the
early church was an Easter sermon.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses [Acts 2:32].
Now Peter is saying to the crowd there that day, “This that you have seen—that is, the miracle of
hearing their own languages spoken by Galileans—has taken place because Jesus was raised
from the dead.”
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the
promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my
Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thy foes thy footstool [Acts 2:33–35].
Old Testament saints didn’t go to heaven. If any of them had been up in heaven, David would
have been there. David did not ascend into heaven. You see, the Old Testament saints are going
to be raised to live down on this earth someday. It is the church that will be taken to the New
Jerusalem. It is said of the believers today when they die that they are absent from the body and
present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).
Now he quotes Psalm 110:1. He is showing them that Jesus is up yonder at the right hand of
God. He will be there until He comes back to establish His Kingdom. But while He is at the right
hand of God, He is still working in the world.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ [Acts 2:36].
He is preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ—that Christ died for their sins, but He rose
again.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? [Acts 2:37].
The message of Simon Peter brought conviction to them.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [Acts 2:38].
This is for a people who had the Word of God, who had heard the message, who knew the
prophecies. They had been going along in one direction, which was away from God, even though
they had a God–given religion. They are told to repent. They are to turn around and come God’s
way.
Peter says to them, “Repent, and be baptized.” Water baptism would be the evidence that
they had repented, that they had come to Christ and had put their trust in Him.
Peter says to them, “Be baptized … in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. This
will be an evidence that you have trusted Him for the remission of your sins—rather than
bringing a sacrifice to be offered in the temple.” You see, their baptism would be a testimony to
the fact that Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
“And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Anyone who believes, who puts his trust in
Jesus Christ, will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many
as the Lord our God shall call [Acts 2:39].
Nineteen hundred years ago you and I were “afar off.” He is talking about us here.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this
untoward generation [Acts 2:40].
In other words, “Get away from this religion. Turn to Christ.”
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added
unto them about three thousand souls [Acts 2:41].
This is not some preacher’s count. These were genuinely born again believers. Here is one place
where the figure on the number of converts is absolutely accurate.
THE CHURCH WHICH HAS COME INTO EXISTENCE
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of
bread, and in prayers [Acts 2:42].
I have a little booklet called the Spiritual Fingerprints of the Visible Church. How can you
identify a real church? Notice the four marks of identification. First, They continued stedfastly in
the apostles’ doctrine. The mark of a church is not the height of the steeple nor the sound of the
bell. It is not whether the pulpit is stationed in the middle or the chancel is divided. The
important issue is whether or not they hold to the apostles’ doctrine. Correct doctrine was one of
the fingerprints of the visible church. Secondly, fellowship. They were sharing the things of
Christ. The third, breaking of bread. Breaking of bread is more than just going through the ritual
of the Lord’s Supper. It means being brought into a fellowship and a relationship with Christ.
The fourth, prayers. I’m afraid in the average church today it is a little fingerprint. That is, prayer
is the evident weakness of the church. Actually, the greatest asset of any church is prayer.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles
[Acts 2:43].
It was the apostles who had the sign gifts.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house
to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved [Acts 2:44–47].
Never has the church been as spiritually strong as it was at that time. This type of living would
never work today because we have too many carnal Christians. And, notice, it was the Lord who
did the adding to the church.
CHAPTER 3
——————
THEME: First miracle of the church; Peter’s second sermon
We are still in the first division of the Book of Acts which shows the Lord Jesus Christ at work
by the Holy Spirit through the apostles in Jerusalem. We have seen the birthday of the church on
the Day of Pentecost, a day which can never be repeated. There was a church because the Holy
Spirit had become incarnate in believers. He was indwelling the believers, and He filled them
with His love, power, and blessing for service.
Just as you and I cannot repeat Bethlehem, neither can we repeat Pentecost. But we do need
the power of the Holy Spirit today. Thank God, He is in the world, convicting the world,
restraining evil in the world. We don’t have to seek Him; He is indwelling all believers in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
In this third chapter we will find the healing of the lame man, verses 1–11. The appealing and
revealing address of Peter is in verses 12–26. The result was five thousand men who believed!
HEALING OF LAME MAN
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth
hour [Acts 3:1].
This apparently was the time of the evening sacrifice when a priest went in to offer incense with
his prayers. We find in the first chapter of Luke that this was the service Zacharias was
performing when he went to minister before the golden altar and the angel appeared to him. That
golden altar, the altar of incense, speaks of prayer. This was the time of prayer. There would be a
great company in the temple area praying at this time.
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the
gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the
temple [Acts 3:2].
This man had been born lame. He was brought every day and put there at the gate of the temple.
What a contrast he was to the gate which is called Beautiful. Here was a beautiful gate, and here
was a man who was carried. Man can make beautiful things, but man cannot improve himself. Of
course, man can do some trimming on the outside. He can cut his hair, have his fingernails
manicured, take a bath now and then, but man can never change that old nature which he has.
This is the contrast we have here—a beautiful gate of the temple and a man lame from his
mother’s womb.
He was there to beg for alms. This was the way he lived, of course.
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms [Acts 3:3].
This shows us that after the Day of Pentecost, Peter and John still went up to the temple to pray.
All the believers there in Jerusalem were Israelites or proselytes, and they continued to go to the
temple to pray. The poor beggar saw Peter and John, and he hoped that they would be able to
give him something.
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them [Acts 3:4–5].
When these two men gave him this much attention, the beggar looked at them with the certainty
that they would give him something.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk [Acts 3:6].
An incident is told of one of the early saints of the church in Rome who walked in on the pope as
he was counting money. Realizing that he had walked in on something which was private, he
started to walk out. The pope said to him, “No longer can the church say ‘Silver and gold have I
none.’” As the saintly man continued walking out, he said, “Neither can the church say to the
impotent man, ‘Rise up and walk.’”
Today the organized church has wealth. I suppose that if one could put together all the
holdings of all the churches, all groups, denominations, and non–denominations across the
country, we would find the church wealthier than any other organization. I think it is wealthier
than the Standard Oil Company. Yet the church today lacks power.
Now notice what Peter does.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle
bones received strength [Acts 3:7].
Remember that Dr. Luke wrote this book. You will notice that when Dr. Luke records a miracle,
he gives a great many details which we don’t find in some other books. He tells specifically what
happened. The weakness had been in the feet and ankle bones of this man.
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and
leaping, and praising God [Acts 3:8].
Friend, don’t miss this word leaping. It occurs twice in this verse.
This is a very interesting chapter. We will find that Peter is going to offer the Kingdom to the
nation again because at this time the church is 100 percent Israelite. There are no Gentiles from
the outside. The church began with the Jews in Jerusalem. Later, it will go to the ends of the
earth. But this, now, is the Jerusalem period.
Don’t try to tell me this is another dispensation. We have hyperdispensationalists today who
call this another dispensation. It is not different at all. But it is a period of transition. The Lord
had said they were to begin by going out to the ends of the earth.
Now the Kingdom is being offered to Israel again. This will be the final opportunity. What
will be some of the identifying marks of the Kingdom? Well, one is that the lame shall leap!
“Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness
shall waters break out, and streams in the desert” (Isa. 35:6).
Every instructed Israelite going up to the temple that day marveled at this lame man leaping.
They knew this could actually be the beginning of the Kingdom. The Messiah had been
crucified, raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and seated at God’s right hand. If they
would receive Him, He would come again.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and
they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him [Acts
3:9–10].
They saw him. They recognized the man. They caught the significance of this miracle. I’m afraid
there are a great many today who haven’t caught the significance of this record which Dr. Luke
has given us.
And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together
unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering [Acts 3:11].
Is this to be the beginning of the Kingdom? Great things had happened in Jerusalem during the
past few weeks. They had witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus, His resurrection, His ascension, and
the Day of Pentecost. They are amazed. What is really taking place?
THE APPEALING AND REVEALING ADDRESS OF PETER
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at
this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had
made this man to walk? [Acts 3:12].
He doesn’t say, “Ye men of the United States.” He is talking to the men of Israel. This is the
Jerusalem period, friend. This is the transition period. The church has not yet moved out to other
areas. No one in Rome has heard yet. No one in America has heard. No one in England has
heard. This is in Jerusalem.
May I say something kindly? Folk reading the Bible should bring to it the same common
sense they use in reading other books. This is God’s Book. But it is not some “way out yonder”
type of book. It deals with us right where we are, and it communicates so we can understand it.
Peter is very careful to tell them that this miracle was not done in his own power. He is going
to direct this Jewish audience back to the Old Testament. He is going to tell them that if they will
turn to God, these prophecies can be fulfilled.
Listen to some of the prophecies which these Jewish people knew. “And I will pour upon the
house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications:
and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his
firstborn” (Zech. 12:10). This would be fulfilled if they would turn to Him. It was not fulfilled
because the nation did not accept the Lord Jesus at that time. They did not repent and turn to
Him. Peter will invite them to turn to the Lord Jesus. They will refuse. The time is still to come
when this will be fulfilled. Also Ezekiel spoke of the Kingdom: “And I will put my spirit within
you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye
shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your
God” (Ezek. 36:27–28). Notice the twelfth chapter of Isaiah, a remarkable chapter—only six
verses—that speaks of the worship during the time of the Kingdom: “And in that day thou shalt
say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and
thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD
JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation” (Isa. 12:1–2). Also, as
we have mentioned, Isaiah 35:6 told of the lame man leaping as an hart. “And the ransomed of
the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they
shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isa. 35:10). They should
have seen that this lame man was a miniature, a picture of the whole nation. If they would but
turn to God, all these promises would be fulfilled.
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his
Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was
determined to let him go.
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are
witnesses [Acts 3:13–15].
Here he goes again. Simon Peter will never preach a sermon without the mention of the
Resurrection. Paul won’t either. Unfortunately, today there are many sermons preached without a
mention of the Resurrection.
And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and
know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence
of you all [Acts 3:16].
In essence Peter is saying, “Don’t you see that man leaping there? That is what they will do in
the Kingdom. The question is whether or not you want the Messiah to come back. Do you want
to receive Him?”
And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that
Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled [Acts 3:17–18].
Their past deeds call for a course of action. That action is repentance and conversion. This was
not a new message to them. “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own
sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isa. 43:25). Listen to Peter’s message:
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of
refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you [Acts 3:19–20].
If they had accepted Jesus, would He have returned to the earth? The answer, of course, is yes.
Peter says He would have. Then what would have been God’s program after that? I’ll tell you
something today that will be a secret just between you and me: I don’t know what would have
happened. Does that come as a surprise to you? Well, I have news for you. No one else knows
either—no one except God. We can ask innumerable “if” questions to which there are no
answers. All I know is that the nation did not accept Jesus Christ. That is the only answer I know
to the “if” question. Any other answer would be only the wildest speculation.
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath
spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began [Acts 3:20–21].
Some folk use this verse to bolster their belief that eventually everything and every person will
be saved. “The restitution of all things” is the phrase they use. Exactly what are the “all things”
which are to be the subject of restitution? In Philippians 3:8 when Paul said, “… I count all
things but loss …” did he mean all things in God’s universe? Obviously not. So here, the “all
things” are limited by what follows. “The times of restitution of all things, which God hath
spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” The prophets had spoken of
the restoration of Israel. Nowhere is there a prophecy of the conversion and restoration of the
wicked dead.
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you
of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto
you.
And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be
destroyed from among the people [Acts 3:22–23].
The nation of Israel was on the verge of a great judgment. In A.D. 70 Titus, the Roman general,
came with his army and destroyed the city. It is estimated that over a million people perished,
and the rest were sold into slavery throughout the Roman Empire. Judgment did come upon these
people.
Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken,
have likewise foretold of these days.
Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers,
saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away
every one of you from his iniquities [Acts 3:24–26].
This is a transition period. They were given their final chance to accept the Messiah. Because
they turned down their opportunity to accept the Messiah, later on Paul will come on the scene as
the apostle to the Gentiles. What might have happened if they had turned to God is merely
speculation. They did not turn to Him. God is never surprised by what man does, and He still
works things out according to His plan and purpose.
CHAPTER 4
——————
THEME: First persecution of the church; power of the Holy Spirit
This chapter shows the result of Peter’s second sermon. Five thousand people were saved. Then
the apostles were arrested and put into prison. This was at the instigation of the Sadducees, and
the reason for it was the preaching of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
FIRST PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the
Sadducees, came upon them,
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection
from the dead [Acts 4:1–2].
I want to call your attention to something that is quite startling and interesting to see. Who was
it that led in the persecution of the Lord Jesus and finally had Him arrested and put to death? It
was the religious rulers, the Pharisees. They were the enemies of Christ as He walked here on
earth. Apparently quite a few of the Pharisees were saved. We know that Nicodemus was. Joseph
of Arimathea may have been a Pharisee. We know that Saul of Tarsus was one. Apparently there
were many others of the Pharisees who were brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus
Christ. After they had gotten rid of Him, their enmity and their spite were over.
Now the Sadducees, who do not believe in resurrection, become the great enemies when the
church comes into existence because the apostles are preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Let me give you an illustration of this. I have never engaged in any movement or reformation
to try to straighten up any of the places where I preached. I never felt that was my job. I was a
pastor in downtown Los Angeles for many years. In that town we had movie stars who had their
day, but then the stardom disappeared and they became burned–out cinders. Often they would go
into some kind of reformation work after their star had gone out. Maybe that was some type of
reaction, I don’t know. Such a woman called and asked me to serve on a committee that was
trying to clean up downtown Los Angeles. I agreed it needed cleaning up, but I told her that I
could not serve on the committee. She was amazed. “Aren’t you a minister?” she asked. “Aren’t
you interested in cleaning up Los Angeles?” I answered, “I will not serve on your committee
because I don’t think you are going about it in the right way.” Then I told her what the late Dr.
Bob Shuler had told me years ago. He said, “We are called to fish in the fish pond, not to clean
up the fish pond.” This old world is a place to fish. Jesus said He would make us fishers of men,
and the world is the place to fish. We are not called upon to clean up the fish pond. We need to
catch the fish and get the fish cleaned up.
I have found that the biggest enemies of the preaching of the gospel are not the liquor folk.
The gangsters have never bothered me. Do you know where I had my trouble as a preacher? It
was with the so–called religious leaders, the liberals, those who claimed to be born again. They
actually became enemies of the preaching of the gospel. It was amazing to me to find out how
many of them wanted to destroy my radio ministry. They were our worst antagonists. It was not
the gangsters, not the unsaved folk, but these religious leaders. They are the Sadducees of today.
They are the ones who deny the supernatural. They deny the Word of God either by their lips or
by their lives. That is important to see.
The Sadducees of that day and the “Sadducees” of our day try to make trouble for anyone
who preaches the Resurrection. You can preach Jesus, friend. You can make Him a nice, sweet
individual, a sort of Casper Milquetoast, and you will not be in trouble. But you are in trouble if
you preach Him as the mighty Savior who came down to this earth, denounced sin, died on the
Cross for the sins of men, and then rose again in mighty power. That is the hated message. When
the apostles preached it, the Sadducees arrested them and brought them in to the Sanhedrin.
And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now
eventide.
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was
about five thousand [Acts 4:3–4].
All this was happening at Solomon’s porch following the sermon which Peter had delivered. If
there were five thousand men who believed, how many women and children do you suppose
might have believed? This was a whole multitude that turned to Christ.
I have always been reluctant to criticize Simon Peter. You can’t help but love the man. He
was mightily used of God. This is not an evangelistic meeting where figures are turned in rather
carelessly. These are genuine converts. There is nothing like this on record from that day to the
present day, and I don’t believe it will be exceeded as long as the church is in the world.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were
of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem [Acts 4:5–6].
We have met this crowd before. These are the sneaky fellows, Annas and Caiaphas, in the
background. These are the two men who condemned Jesus to die.
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name,
have ye done this? [Acts 4:7].
Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin. The lame man had been healed, and Peter had
preached his second sermon. The Sanhedrin demands to know by what power and by what name
they do these things.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders
of Israel [Acts 4:8].
Notice that Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t baptized by the Holy Spirit at this time
—that had already been accomplished. However he was filled with the Holy Spirit. You and I
also need the filling of the Holy Spirit. That is something we should seek after; it is something
we should devoutly want. Don’t tarry and wait for the baptism of the Spirit. They had to tarry
and wait until the Day of Pentecost when they were all baptized into one body, but today if you
will turn to Jesus Christ, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and placed into the body of
believers at the very moment you are regenerated.
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is
made whole;
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man
stand here before you whole [Acts 4:9–10].
Peter does a good job of speaking to these men. Up to this time, every time Peter opened his
mouth, he put his foot in it. But this time, I tell you, he has his “… feet shod with the preparation
of the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15). He is filled with the Holy Spirit, and he is saying the right
thing: “Are we on trial for the good deed we did for the sick man?” That is a searching question!
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the
corner [Acts 4:11].
Peter goes on to point out two things about the Lord Jesus. The first is that He was crucified and
raised from the dead. The other is that Jesus Christ is the stone. Jesus had said, “… Upon this
rock I will build my church …” (Matt. 16:18). What is the rock? The rock is Christ. Now Peter
says, “This is the stone.” What is the stone? Is it the church, or is it Simon Peter? No, it is the
Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He has become the Head of the corner. This has been
accomplished by the Resurrection. Notice that the Resurrection is central to the preaching of the
gospel.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved [Acts 4:12].
Go back to the birth of Jesus and the instruction of the angel: “… thou shalt call his name
JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). He is the Savior. That was His
name at the beginning. When you accept the name, you accept all that it implies in the person
who is involved. Peter makes it clear, and I want to emphasize that when you come to Him, my
friend, you come to Him for salvation. There is no other name under heaven that can save you.
The law can’t save you. Religion can’t save you. A ceremony can’t save you. One alone, the
name of Jesus, can save you. Jesus is the name of that Person who came down to this earth to
save His people from their sins. When any person comes to Him in faith, that person is saved.
There is no other place to turn for salvation.
Isn’t it interesting that in the long history of this world and all the religions of the world and
all the dogmatism that these religions have, not one of them can offer a sure salvation? An uncle
of mine was a preacher in a certain church which believes in baptismal regeneration; that is, you
must be baptized to be saved. I asked him this question, “Look, if I get baptized as you say, will
that guarantee my salvation?” “No,” he said, “it couldn’t quite do that.” My friend, may I say
something to you today? There is none other name under heaven whereby you can be saved. If
you come to Him, if you trust Christ, then you are saved. That guarantees your salvation.
That was a great message of Simon Peter’s, and this is a fine note to conclude that message
to the Sanhedrin.
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were
unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they
had been with Jesus [Acts 4:13].
“Unlearned and ignorant”—that is, these men hadn’t been to a theological seminary. But the
Sanhedrin noted that they had been with Jesus. How wonderful to have a life that somehow or
other calls attention to Jesus!
And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing
against it.
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among
themselves [Acts 4:14–15].
Were they moved by Peter’s speech? No, they were not moved at all.
Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done
by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it [Acts 4:16].
Not even the Sadducees of that day could deny that a miracle had been performed. It takes a
liberal, living in the twentieth century and removed by several thousand miles, to deny miracles.
If you had been there then, you would have had difficulty denying the miracle. The liberals of
that day had to say, “We cannot deny a miracle has taken place.”
People today say that if they could only see a miracle, they would believe. That is not true.
This crowd wouldn’t believe, and you have the same human nature as these people had. The
problem is not a problem of the mind. It is a problem of the will and of the heart. It is the heart
that is desperately wicked. Unbelief is not from a lack of facts; it is the condition of the human
heart.
Now they are plotting.
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they
speak henceforth to no man in this name.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all or teach in the name of
Jesus [Acts 4:17–18].
Peter and John have an answer for them.
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God
to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
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 [Acts
4:19–22].
You would think that the men of the Sanhedrin would have been softened by this. They were not.
They were hard as nails. Their hearts were hard.
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests
and elders had said unto them.
And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said,
Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is
[Acts 4:23–24].
Peter and John have been released and have returned to the church, and they give their report.
Here we have recorded a great meeting of the early church. I do not believe the spiritual
condition of the church has ever again been on such a high level. We find the key to this in their
prayer. It is more than a prayer; it is a song of praise.
“Lord, Thou art God. Lord, You are the Creator.” Friend, I am afraid the church is not sure of
that today. The Lord is God. Are you sure that the Lord Jesus is God? Are you? That is most
important.
The church is not sure today. The church is fumbling; it has lost its power. The church is
always talking of methods, always trying this gimmick and that gimmick to attract people. The
church in suburbia and the church in downtown are little more than religious clubs. The church is
not a powerhouse anymore.
The early church was sure that Jesus is God. They refer to the second psalm:
Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the
people imagine vain things?
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord,
and against his Christ [Acts 4:25–26].
The beginning of the fulfillment of Psalm 2 was when they crucified Jesus Christ. The hatred of
Jesus and of God has been snowballing down through the centuries for nineteen hundred years. It
is gathering size and momentum. It will finally break into a mighty crescendo upon this earth in
the final rebellion of man against God.
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all
boldness they may speak thy word [Acts 4:27–29].
I am moved by this. This was a great prayer and praise service. They all were in one accord.
Probably they did not all pray at one time, but they were certainly saying “amen” with the one
who led in prayer. Notice that they did not pray for the persecution to cease. They prayed for the
courage to endure it! They asked for power and for boldness to speak. That early church was
something different, friend, from the church of our day.
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the
name of thy holy child Jesus [Acts 4:30].
Note the power of the early church.
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness
[Acts 4:31].
It was the condition of the church which made this possible.
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any
of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things
common [Acts 4:32].
This did not last very long. Carnality came into the church very soon.
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and
great grace was upon them all [Acts 4:33].
That is the heart of gospel preaching.
Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or
houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man
according as he had need.
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The
son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet [Acts 4:34–37].
This kind of living could be carried out for a short while because of the spiritual condition of the
church. It is nonsense to say that we should put this into effect today. If we tried it, we would
have utter chaos. Why? Because there must first be the same high spiritual level, and we don’t
have that today. Let us be honest and face up to it. We need to come into a closer relationship to
the person of Jesus Christ.
We have been introduced to Barnabas. We will hear more of him later.
CHAPTER 5
——————
THEME: Death of Ananias and Sapphira; second persecution
As we come to chapter 5, we are continuing to see the effects of the great sermon that Simon
Peter gave. Also we are introduced to the first defection in the church, followed by the death of
Ananias and Sapphira—who were Christians, but were not living on the high spiritual level of
the early church.
At the end of chapter 4 we were introduced to a man by the name of Barnabas. He will be
before us again. He was one of the wonderful saints in the early church, a true man of God. He
was the first missionary partner of the apostle Paul when they went into the difficult Galatian
area, and yet God marvelously blessed their ministry there.
Barnabas had given quite a sum of money to the church. He had made a generous
contribution, and everyone was talking about it. I imagine he received a great deal of publicity
for his generosity. Remember that in the early church they had all things common. It reveals the
fact that they were on a high spiritual level to be able to do this.
Now the first defection comes in. Having all things common could not continue and did not
continue simply because of the carnal nature that is in mankind.
DEATH OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession [Acts 5:1].
It is obvious that they were imitating Barnabas. They saw that he got a certain amount of
publicity, and they thought it would be nice if they could get that kind of publicity too. They
wanted it.
I have found that there are people who will give in order to be noticed. I recall a meeting with
businessmen in Pasadena when I was a pastor there. We were planning to start a youth
organization, and we were asking these men to give donations for the founding of this
movement. It was decided that donations would not be made public.
I was informed that one of these men would contribute very little if he were not given the
opportunity to speak out publicly to let everybody know how much he was giving. It is quite
interesting that he contributed a small amount. After the meeting he confided in one of the men
that he had intended to give about ten times that amount, but he had expected to be able to stand
up or at least raise his hand to indicate how much he had given. You see, pride is still in human
nature today. That was the condition of Ananias and Sapphira.
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 [Acts 5:2].
There was nothing wrong with the fact that they kept back part of the money. They had a right to
do that. The property had been theirs and they had the right to do with the money whatever they
wished.
Today, we in the church are under grace. We are not constrained to give any certain amount.
Someone may say we ought to give a tithe. In the early church they were giving everything they
owned. Ananias and Sapphira did not give all but kept back part of it, which they had a right to
do. Their problem, their sin, was that they lied about it. They said they were giving all when
actually they were keeping part of it for themselves.
I don’t like to have people sing the song that talks about putting “my all” on the altar.
Unfortunately, that makes liars out of the people who are singing. We need to be very careful
about the songs we sing. A vow to the Lord should never be made lightly.
Ananias and Sapphira said they were laying all on the altar, but they were lying about it.
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? [Acts 5:3].
The sin of this man and his wife was that they lied about it.
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 [Acts 5:4].
There are people today who deny that the Holy Spirit is God. You will notice that Simon Peter
believed He was God. First he says, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy
Ghost?” Then he says, “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” The Holy Spirit is God.
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on
all them that heard these things [Acts 5:5].
There are those today who think that Simon Peter caused the death of this man, Ananias. They
even blame him for his death. I want to absolve him of this crime. Simon Peter was probably as
much surprised as anyone when Ananias fell down dead. I don’t think that he knew at all what
was going to happen. Do you know who struck Ananias dead? God did. Do you feel that you
want to bring charges against God? Do you want to call the FBI to tell them that God is guilty of
murder? May I say to you, if you can give life, you have the right to take it away. This is God’s
universe. We are God’s creatures. We breathe His air. We use bodies that He has given to us. My
friend, He can take our bodies any time He wishes to. God is not guilty of a crime. This is His
discipline within the church. God is the One who is responsible for the death of Ananias and
Sapphira.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done,
came in.
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said,
Yea, for so much.
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the
Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall
carry thee out [Acts 5:6–9].
Simon Peter knows what will happen to her. He did not know what was going to happen to
Ananias, but now it is quite obvious what will happen to this woman.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men
came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things [Acts
5:10–11].
There are two things that amaze me about this incident. One is the fact that a lie, such as these
two were living, could not exist in the early church. There was a holiness of life in the church.
Ananias and Sapphira, although they were saved, lied to the Holy Spirit and were removed from
the company of believers. They had committed the sin unto death. “If any man see his brother sin
a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto
death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” (1 John 5:16). This was a
sin unto death which Ananias and Sapphira committed. This kind of sin could not exist in the
early church.
There was defection in the church and it required discipline. However, after this experience
the church would never be as pure as it was before. Up until this time they had all things in
common. This incident almost ruined them. We shall see more of this in the next chapter.
Fear came upon all the church, and fear came upon people who heard of these things. Power
would continue in the church, and multitudes would be saved. Yet the church would never be as
pure as in those first days of existence.
The other amazing thing is the spiritual discernment of Simon Peter. This also is lacking
today.
I was very much amused at a young man who came to me in a Bible class not long ago. He
told me he had the gift of discerning of spirits and he could tell truth from error. Then he quoted
one of the worst heretics today. I questioned him again about his gifts of discernment of spirits,
of truth and error, and then asked him whether he approved of the man whom he had just quoted.
“Oh yes,” he said, “this man speaks the truth.” I told him that I didn’t believe he had any special
gift—he just thought he did.
Today the worst kind of hypocrite can get into our Bible churches. They are not good at
coming to Bible studies—I have discovered that, but they can hold offices and even run the
church. If those who lied to God in our churches were to drop down dead, we would have a lot of
funerals. The undertakers would be doing a land–office business.
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people;
(and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) [Acts
5:12–14].
Notice that the apostles exercise the apostolic gifts. Gifts of healing and gifts of miracles were
sign gifts which were given to the apostles. They did many signs among the people.
The discipline in the church had put a fear on the people and had stopped the revival. Yet
there were those who were still being saved. Believers were being added to the Lord. We know
that by A.D. 300 there were millions of people in the Roman Empire who had turned to Christ.
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and
couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick
folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one
[Acts 5:15–16].
May I compare this to modern faith healing? Modern faith healers never heal all the people who
come to them. Have you ever noticed that? The apostles had sign gifts, friend. No one in the
church since then has had those gifts. People were healed, every one of them. They emptied the
hospitals. This was the power of the early church.
We must remember that at that time there was no written New Testament. The church is built
on Jesus Christ—He is the Cornerstone—and the apostles were witnesses to Christ. The sign
gifts were given to them to demonstrate the fact that they spoke with God’s authority. Today we
have a written New Testament as our authority.
THE SECOND PERSECUTION
We have seen that there was discipline within the early church. Now we find that there is
persecution from without. When the apostles exercised their gifts, they produced a reaction.
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the
Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison [Acts 5:17–18].
Notice that the Sadducees are leading in the persecution. It was the Pharisees who had led in the
persecution against Jesus; it is the Sadducees who lead the persecution against the early church.
So the apostles are arrested for the second time and are put into prison.
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and
said [Acts 5:19].
This translation should be “an angel” and not “the angel.” In the Old Testament, the angel of the
Lord was none other than the preincarnate Christ, but now Christ is the Man in glory at God’s
right hand, and He is the One who is directing the activity of His apostles. Today, unfortunately,
much of the time His hands and His feet are paralyzed because the people in the church are not
moving for Him in this world. Jesus Christ wants to move through His church. He wants to move
through you and me if we will permit Him. This is not Christ who appeared here; it was an angel.
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.
But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and
all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without
before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within [Acts 5:20–23].
This is the same sort of thing that happened at the resurrection of Christ. The stone wasn’t rolled
away to let Jesus out; He was out before the stone was rolled away. The stone was moved to let
those on the outside come in. The same thing happened here. The doors did not need to be
opened to let the apostles get out. They were out long before the doors were unlocked.
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these
things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing
in the temple, and teaching the people.
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they
feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest
asked them,
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and,
behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood
upon us [Acts 5:24–28].
People were listening to the apostles. They were good witnesses. They were real missionaries.
Jesus had said that the gospel was to go out, first in Jerusalem. We see that this has been done
—“Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.”
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than
men [Acts 5:29].
The apostles were obeying what their Lord and Master had told them to do. Believers are
commanded to obey civil authority—except when it comes in conflict with the commandment of
God.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree [Acts 5:30].
Jesus Christ was hanged on a tree. It was not a nice, smooth piece of timber with a crossbar, as
we see it pictured today. It was a tree.
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give
repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath
given to them that obey him [Acts 5:31–32].
This is still the message to the nation Israel in Jerusalem today.
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law,
had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little
space [Acts 5:33–34].
Gamaliel wants the apostles excused so that he can talk to the Sanhedrin. This Gamaliel was an
outstanding man and greatly respected. (He was the teacher of the apostle Paul, by the way.)
And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as
touching these men.
For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a
number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as
obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much
people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or
this work be of men, it will come to nought [Acts 5:35–38].
He is giving sage advice.
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God
[Acts 5:39].
Gamaliel gives examples of men who had started uprisings and had a following, but after they
were killed, their followers disbanded. Now he advises them that the same thing will happen to
Jesus and His followers.
And to him they agreed: 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 [Acts 5:40].
If these men were innocent, they should have let them go. If these men were guilty, they should
have held them and punished them. Beating them and then letting them go was a sorry
subterfuge. They should have listened to Gamaliel a little more carefully.
Things aren’t much different today. There is that gray line between guilty and not guilty. The
courts today let people off by giving them some light sentence. My friend, if a person is guilty,
he should be punished. If he is not guilty, he should be let go with no sentence.
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for his name.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus
Christ [Acts 5:41–42].
These apostles were marvelous men. They were rejoicing that they could suffer for the Lord
Jesus. They continued to teach and to preach Jesus Christ. What is the gospel? It is a Person! It is
Jesus Christ.
Do you have Him today? You either do or you don’t. You either trust Him, or you do not
trust Him. Either He is your Savior, or you do not have a Savior. That is the message. The
apostles did not cease to teach and to preach Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER 6
——————
THEME: The appointment of deacons; witness of Stephen, a deacon
In this chapter we see the further result of the defection that was in the church. We first saw that
defection in the case of Ananias and Sapphira. They were believers who were saved, but they
could not remain in the early church with that lie in their lives.
Now the defection we see in this chapter led to the selection of deacons. The chapter
continues with the account of one of those deacons, Stephen. He was framed, arrested, and tried.
THE APPOINTMENT OF DEACONS
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a
murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in
the daily ministration [Acts 6:1].
We need to recognize that this took place early in the history of the church. They had attempted
a form of communal living and, actually, it succeeded for a short while. Then carnality entered
the church. We saw how Ananias and Sapphira misrepresented their situation. Now we find that
there is a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews. This is not a clash between two races.
This is not a demonstration of anti–Semitism. The word Grecians here means “Hellenists,”
Greek–speaking Jews. They had a background of Greek culture while the Hebrews in Jerusalem
closely followed the Mosaic Law. Naturally, a misunderstanding developed.
It has been estimated that the number in the church at this time may have been around
twenty–five thousand. And we see that this early church was not perfect. We hear people say,
“We need to get back to the early church. The early church was power–conscious, and we today
are problem–conscious.” That is only a half–truth. The early church did have power, but the
early church had problems also.
The high plane to which the Spirit had brought the church was interrupted by the intrusion of
satanic division and confusion. The sharing of material substance, which first characterized the
church, gave way to the selfishness of the old nature. Carnality had come in. The Grecians, who
evidently were a minority group, felt neglected and demanded that their widows be given equal
consideration with the Hebrews. This communal form of living wasn’t working as well as they
would have liked. This was brought to the attention of the apostles.
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason
that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables [Acts 6:2].
The apostles felt that they should not give up the study of the Word of God. They felt it was
important for them to continue with that. If they gave up the study of the Word of God and
served tables, that would be the undoing of them. They should spend their time in prayer and in
the study of the Word of God.
It is important for every church to recognize that the minister should have time to study the
Word of God and should have time for prayer. Unfortunately, the average church today is
looking for a pastor who is an organizer and a promoter, a sort of vice–president to run the
church, a manager of some sort. That is unfortunate. As a result the church is suffering today.
When I was a pastor in downtown Los Angeles, I had to move my study to my home. I built a
special room over the garage for my study. I found out that all I had in the church was an office,
not a study. They didn’t intend for me to study there. They didn’t want me to study there.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy
Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word [Acts 6:3–
4].
The seven men were to be appointed because a crisis had arisen. The apostles felt it was
important that they should not have the burden of this detail so that they could give themselves to
prayer and the ministry of the Word.
Now I want you to notice the qualifications of these seven men who are to assume the burden
of handling the material substance of the church. I’m afraid this is something which is neglected
in the average church today when the deacons are chosen. In fact, I’ve heard men say they didn’t
want to be appointed to the spiritual office of an elder but would like to be a deacon to handle the
material things.
May I say to you, the office of deacon requires more spirituality and wisdom and prayer than
any other office. Now notice the qualifications: These men had to be men of honest report. Their
honesty was to be unquestionable. It is really a tragic thing for a church to have a deacon whose
honesty is in question so that others—including the pastor—cannot trust him. Such a man should
not be in the office of deacon. The second qualification was “full of the Holy Ghost.” They were
not to be filled with wine but were to be “filled with the [Holy] Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). Thirdly, they
were to be men of wisdom. They were to be spiritual men who would be able to make an
application of spiritual truth. That was very important. You see, the fact that they were handling
material matters was apt to give them a lopsided view of things. So it is most important that
deacons should be men who look at things from the spiritual point of view.
We shall see that Stephen was a man who met these qualifications. He had wisdom—“they
were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake” (v. 10). He had real
conviction. Also he was “full of faith.” Not only did he have saving faith but also serving faith—
witnessing faith. It wasn’t the amount of his faith but the object of his faith that was important.
We learn from this same verse that he was full of power. Such were the kind of men chosen as
deacons.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word [Acts 6:4].
That was the duty of the apostles.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith
and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and
Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch [Acts 6:5].
I can’t tell you anything more about the last five men. The first two, Stephen and Philip, will be
mentioned again as we go along in the Book of Acts. They were outstanding men in the early
church. Although they were to “serve tables,” the record of them is that they were spiritual men.
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on
them [Acts 6:6].
Now, friends, there is a great deal of hocus–pocus and abracadabra connected with this matter of
laying on of hands. A great many people think that some spiritual power is connected to it. They
think that putting on the hands communicates something to a person. Frankly, the only thing you
can communicate to someone else by the laying on of hands is disease germs. You can pass them
on, but you cannot pass on any kind of power.
What is the meaning of the laying on of hands? As we saw in Leviticus, when we were
studying the Old Testament sacrifices, the sinner would put his hand on the head of the animal to
be sacrificed, which signified that the animal to be offered was taking his place. The offering was
identified with the sinner.
When the apostles put their hands on the heads of the deacons, it meant that now the deacons
would be partners with them. They were together in this service. It designated that these men
were set aside for this office, denoting their fellowship in the things of Christ and their position
as representatives for the corporate body of believers.
Notice that this was a social service in which these men were engaged. The early church took
care of its own. I think that should still be true today. The early church had a poverty program,
and it included only the members of the church. The church today should also take care of its
own.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem
greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith [Acts 6:7].
It is still important in our day for the Word of God to be increasing. Certainly this is the purpose
of my radio program. It is my sincere desire that the Word of God may be increased.
Don’t miss the fact that many of the priests turned to the Lord. Some of them must have been
serving in the temple when the veil was rent in two at the death of Christ. Many of them must
have turned to Christ after that experience.
WITNESS OF STEPHEN, A DEACON
Our attention is now drawn to Stephen. He is one of the great men in the early church.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people
[Acts 6:8].
Apparently these deacons are one with the apostles in having the sign gifts. They have been
brought into a unique position. Because Stephen is a strong witness to the gospel, he incurs the
hatred of the Sadducees. False witnesses are brought before the council to accuse Stephen.
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines,
and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with
Stephen.
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words
against Moses, and against God.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and
caught him, and brought him to the council,
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words
against this holy place, and the law:
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall
change the customs which Moses delivered us.
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face
of an angel [Acts 6:9–15].
Stephen is brought before the Sanhedrin, and false witnesses are brought in. The false witnesses
tell a half–truth, of course. The Lord Jesus did say that they would destroy this temple and He
would raise it up again, but He was speaking of the temple of His body. At His trial, the false
witnesses misunderstood that and misrepresented it. So here, they misunderstand Stephen when
he says that the temple in Jerusalem will be left desolate. Actually, it was desolate without Christ
anyway. And they twist what he is saying about the customs of Moses. Of course men are not
saved by the Law but by grace. But salvation in Moses’ day was by grace even as it is today.
Their accusation is based on only a partial truth.
They see something marvelous in the face of Stephen. This man came closer to being an
angel than any man who has ever lived.
CHAPTER 7
——————
THEME: Stephen’s address and martyrdom
In this chapter we find Stephen’s defense before the council—which is really not a defense.
Rather it is a rehearsal of the history of the nation Israel and of their resistance and rebellion
against God. He charges the council of being betrayers and murderers of Jesus. That, of course,
engenders their bitterest hatred and leads to the stoning of Stephen.
In his inspired survey of the history of the nation, Stephen makes it very clear that there
never was a time when the entire nation worshiped God. Yet there was always the believing
remnant, a small remnant of true believers—even as there is in our day.
STEPHEN’S ADDRESS
Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our
father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, because he dwelt in Charran [Acts 7:1–2].
They have made an accusation against him. He is questioned as to the truth of the charges. In
his response he makes no attempt to clear himself. In fact, he doesn’t even mention the charges
they have made against him.
What a marvelous beginning. He calls them brethren. They are his brethren in the flesh. He
calls the older men fathers. He is a younger man and shows them this respect. This young man is
to become the first martyr in the church.
We sometimes hear it said that at the beginning Christianity was actually a youth movement.
It is not altogether inaccurate to state that it was a youth movement. Two men who held as
prominent a place as any were Stephen and Saul of Tarsus, whom we will meet soon. These two
men had a great deal to do with the shaping of the course of the early church. Both of them were
remarkable young men. Both of them were gifted and used by the Holy Spirit. Yet the only time
these two young men ever met, they were enemies. The Cross divided Stephen and Saul of
Tarsus just as truly as it divided the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus. Paul knew what
he was saying in 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” When Saul saw Stephen, he
thought Stephen was very foolish.
This address of Stephen is a master stroke. He reviews the history of the nation beginning
with Abraham. That is where the history of the nation Israel began. They did not go back any
farther. You will find the same thing in the Gospel of Matthew. This book, written to the nation
Israel, traces the genealogy of Jesus Christ back to Abraham. If you want to trace it all the way
back to Adam, you must turn to the Gospel of Luke. Stephen starts with Abraham, a man of
faith.
Even though he traces the resistance and rebellion against God by the nation, still there was
always a believing remnant.
This is true today, too. In the organized church, in the visible church which you and I can see,
there is a remnant of believers. Not every one in the visible church is a true believer. People may
ask, “Do you think So–and–So is a Christian?” The answer is that even though he goes to church
and is a church officer, he may not be a Christian. Just as in the nation Israel there was the
believing remnant, so in the visible church there is the little remnant of true believers.
Abraham was a man of faith. He believed God, and he obeyed God. Faith always leads to
obedience. Stephen starts his narrative with Abraham in Mesopotamia, down in the Tigris–
Euphrates Valley. That was the place of Abraham’s hometown. It was there that God called him.
And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the
land which I shall shew thee [Acts 7:3].
God called Abraham away from his home because it was a home of idolatry.
Then came he out of the land of Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when
his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he
promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as
yet he had no child [Acts 7:4–5].
He is relating the story of Abraham. This shows the faith of Abraham. God had promised him a
child, and God had promised him the land. Although Abraham had neither one, he believed God.
And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they
should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall
they come forth, and serve me in this place.
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and
circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve
patriarchs [Acts 7:6–8].
Stephen goes from Abraham to the patriarchal period. He speaks of the brethren of Joseph,
motivated by envy and hatred who sold Joseph into Egypt. But God overruled and used Joseph to
save them. What we have here is really the Spirit’s interpretation of the Old Testament. That
makes this a remarkable section.
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of
Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and
our fathers found no sustenance.
But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was
made known unto Pharaoh.
Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and
fifteen souls.
So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a
sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem [Acts 7:9–16].
Now Stephen comes to another period in the history of these people. He is going to remind them
of the deliverance out of Egypt. God made Moses the deliverer. And he shows that at first the
children of Israel refused to follow Moses and that Moses had trouble with them all the way.
But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people
grew and multiplied in Egypt,
Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast
out their young children, to the end they might not live.
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s
house three months:
And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her
own son [Acts 7:17–21].
The comment which Stephen adds confirms some of the things that we said when we were
studying about Moses. If Rameses II was the pharaoh of the oppression, Moses could have been
the next pharaoh. Pharaoh’s daughter brought him up as her own son. This pharaoh had no sons,
so Moses would have been the next in line.
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in
deeds [Acts 7:22].
Moses was brought up in the wisdom of the Egyptians. The wisdom of the Egyptians is not
despised even in our advanced day when we feel that we know about everything. Too often we
do not give the Egyptians full credit for what they did know. They had developed mathematics,
chemistry, engineering, architecture, and astronomy to a very fine point. They had developed
these fields of study in a way that was really remarkable. Look at the pyramids. Look at the
colors we find in the tombs, colors which have stood the test of the centuries. They understood
about embalming. They had calculated the distance to the sun. My friend, they had a highly
developed culture and were not an ignorant people.
Moses had all the advantage of that day, being raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He
was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was outstanding. Yet he was not prepared to
lead God’s people. All the learning of the world of that day did not equip him to lead God’s
people. All the wisdom that men have today is not enough for them to understand the Word of
God. It is too difficult. Why? Because the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of
God. These things are foolishness to him and he cannot know them because they are spiritually
discerned (see 1 Cor. 2:14). Although Moses was learned in the wisdom of his day, he was not
ready to deliver God’s people. So, after forty years of learning in Egypt, God put him out into the
desert. There God gave him his B.D. degree, his Backside of the Desert degree, and prepared
him to become the deliverer.
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the
children of Israel.
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was
oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would
deliver them: but they understood not [Acts 7:23–25].
Notice that Moses did what he considered to be a very fine thing to do. He intended to deliver his
brethren. But they didn’t understand. Actually, neither did Moses understand. He still was not
really ready, and God had to take him out to the desert to train him.
And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at
one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a
judge over us?
Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? [Acts 7:26–28].
Now Moses was frightened.
Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat
two sons.
And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina
an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of
the Lord came unto him [Acts 7:29–31].
Moses had wanted to deliver the children of Israel, but he wasn’t prepared for it, and the people
weren’t prepared for him either. They wouldn’t accept his leadership. They resisted him. Then
God called him to be the deliverer.
Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou
standest is holy ground.
I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their
groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt
[Acts 7:32–34].
God told Moses, “I have heard their groaning.” He saw their need. That was the reason He
delivered them. It was for the same reason that He provided a Savior for you and me. It wasn’t
because we are such wonderful people. He didn’t look down and say, “My, they are so lovely
down there. I must go down and save them. They are so sweet, and so kind, and so loving to Me,
and so faithful to Me.” No! God looked down and saw nothing but corrupt, rotten sinners. We
were all lost in iniquity. He loved us in spite of our unloveliness. That is the explanation.
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did
God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in
the bush [Acts 7:35].
Notice the emphasis that has been placed upon the ministry of the angels in the life of the nation
Israel. You will find the ministry of angels prominent throughout Israel’s history. God gave the
Law to Moses through the ministry of angels.
We hear a lot about the angels at Christmas. Whom were the angels addressing? And for
what purpose? They had messages for the people of Israel—for Mary, for Joseph, for Zacharias,
and for the shepherds.
God is not sending messages through angels during this period of the church. No angels have
appeared around my place. And there have been none appearing to you. If you are seeing angels,
you had better make an appointment with a psychiatrist. By contrast, angels did appear and bring
messages from God to members of the nation Israel.
Now Stephen goes on to describe the wilderness experience.
He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and
in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your
God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the
mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us [Acts
7:36–38].
The word church here does not mean that there was a church in the Old Testament in the same
sense that there is a church in the New Testament. The word for church is ekklesia, which means
“called–out.” Even a group called out to mob somebody would be an ekklesia, a called–out
group. So, Israel in the wilderness was a called–out group. They were called out of Egypt, by
God, for a particular purpose.
To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned
back again into Egypt [Acts 7:39].
Israel did not go back to Egypt in a physical, material sense. But in their hearts they went back to
Egypt many, many times. In the same way there are many people today who say they deplore
certain sins of the world and sins of the flesh. It is always so easy to point the finger at someone
else and condemn him for his sin. A question we need to ask ourselves is: Would I like to do the
same thing? Where is our heart? Israel went back to Egypt in their heart.
Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us
out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him [Acts 7:40].
They didn’t know what had happened to him, and they didn’t care. They had rejected Moses.
And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the
works of their own hands [Acts 7:41].
Stephen is showing them that Israel has always been rebellious.
Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the
book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices
by the space of forty years in the wilderness? [Acts 7:42].
They went into idolatry. That is why Moses (and later Joshua) pleaded with the people to choose
God and turn from their idols.
Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which
ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking
unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the
Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David [Acts
7:43–45].
Jesus is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Joshua.
Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob [Acts
7:46].
You see that the temple was David’s idea. I have always thought it should be called David’s
temple even though Solomon built it.
But Solomon built him an house.
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the
Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Hath not my hand made all these things? [Acts 7:47–50].
Now he comes to his condemnation of the religious rulers of that day.
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as
your fathers did, so do ye.
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which
shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and
murderers:
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it [Acts 7:51–53].
Physically, these men were circumcised, but in their hearts and in their ears, they were
uncircumcised. That is, they would not hear God any more than their ancestors down through the
years had heard Him.
This is a masterful speech. Stephen reminds them of the deliverance out of Egypt. God made
Moses the deliverer, but the children of Israel refused to obey him. The wilderness experience
was a series of rebellions against God, brought to a climax in the making of a golden calf. A
plague of idolatry broke out again in the land and resulted in the Babylonian captivity. Stephen
concludes with Joshua, who led them into the land, and Jesus, who made the way to heaven. He
charges that the Law was given to them supernaturally by the ministry of angels, and they did not
keep it. Perhaps they knew that the birth of Jesus was announced by angels. Obviously, they
have been the betrayers and murderers of Him.
MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN
Stephen became the first martyr. Also, in this portion of the chapter, we are first introduced to
Saul of Tarsus.
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with
their teeth [Acts 7:54].
How they hated Stephen for saying what he did!
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of
God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God [Acts 7:55].
Since God is a spirit, how can there be a right hand of God? Because at “the right hand of God”
indicates the place of prominence, the place of honor. God had promised Jesus Christ that He
would glorify Him and give Him a name that is above every name. Jesus Christ is exalted. He is
at the right hand of God. In Hebrews 1:3 we are told, “… when he had by himself purged our
sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” The fact that He was seated at the right
hand of God indicates that His work was completed—our redemption is finished. But that
doesn’t mean He isn’t still working in our behalf. Here He is standing, ready to receive His first
martyr.
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand
of God.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one
accord,
And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a
young man’s feet, whose name was Saul [Acts 7:56–58].
These two young men—Stephen and Saul of Tarsus—are together here for the first time, the
only time, the last time. They are enemies. They stand on the opposite sides of the Cross.
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
And when he had said this, he fell asleep [Acts 7:59–60].
Stephen falls asleep. Jesus puts his body to sleep to await the Rapture. Stephen goes into the
presence of Christ who is standing to meet him. Stephen is the first martyr of the church to go to
be with his Lord.
The other young man there that day was a Pharisee, and he thought he had everything. He
looked up into heaven when Stephen said that he saw the heavens open. I am sure that Saul
looked up longingly and admitted to himself, I don’t see anything, but I’d like to see what he
sees. I have an empty heart. Stephen was a tremendous witness to Saul. Stephen was the one, I
believe, who prepared Saul for the appearance of the Lord Jesus on the Damascus road, as we
shall see.
CHAPTER 8
——————
THEME: Conversion of Ethiopian eunuch (son of Ham)
We have now arrived at the second major division of the Book of Acts. You remember that we
divided the book according to the Lord’s commission in Acts 1:8. First they were to witness in
Jerusalem. Now we come to the Lord Jesus Christ’s work by the Holy Spirit through the apostles
in Judea and Samaria. This section of the book includes chapters 8–12.
Chapter 7 concluded with a most unusual scene. It included the two young men who had the
greatest influence upon the early church. The one was Stephen, the deacon, the young man who
gave up his life, the first martyr in the church. That other was a young Pharisee who had charge
of the stoning of Stephen. His name was Saul.
SAUL BECOMES THE CHIEF PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH, AND THE
CHURCH IS SCATTERED
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution
against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout
the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles [Acts 8:1].
Saul was taking the lead in the persecution of Stephen, and he was in the cheering section. Now
this young man, Saul of Tarsus, was amazed when he saw the face of Stephen. Stephen was
looking into the heavens, and there he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
Young Saul looked up—he didn’t see anything. But, friend, he wished he could. He will see a
little later. I believe that Stephen is the one who prepared Saul for the appearance of the Lord
Jesus on the Damascus road.
Saul becomes the chief persecutor of the church. This causes the church to scatter. Actually,
he does the church a favor. They were all settled down in Jerusalem, and I don’t think they
would have moved out had it not been for the persecution which Saul of Tarsus instigated.
Judea and Samaria are the next territories which the Lord had told them to enter. Judea
surrounds Jerusalem, and Samaria lies to the north of Jerusalem.
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him [Acts
8:2].
I would like to make a few remarks here about Christian burial. There is a question that comes to
us today: Is it right or wrong for Christians to be cremated? There is nothing in the Bible against
it. No one will lose salvation by being cremated. However, the burial of a Christian is like
sowing weeds. It is like putting the body into a motel so it can sleep until the Resurrection.
This is the way Paul speaks of it in 1 Thessalonians 4. He speaks of the body as seed in 1
Corinthians 15. You don’t burn the seed before you plant it. Neither do you burn a person before
you put him into a motel or hotel to go to sleep. Planting the body in the earth like a seed is a
testimony—an evidence of your faith in a future resurrection. Undoubtedly the body of Stephen
was terribly mutilated. They took him up tenderly and put him in the ground as you would plant
a seed. Stephen had gone into the presence of Christ, who was waiting in heaven for him. His
body went into the ground to await the Resurrection. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is
sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is
sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Cor. 15:42–44). I cannot see that
cremation sets forth this idea. Rather, this is the picture of real Christian burial.
Some people protest that we are running out of space for graves. My friend, this old earth has
taken in bodies for thousands of years now, and there is still room.
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and
women committed them to prison [Acts 8:3].
This was a young man full of zeal. Remember that he later wrote about himself—“Concerning
zeal, persecuting the church …” in Philippians 3:6.
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word [Acts
8:4].
Here we see the effect of the persecution. Actually, it did not hinder the church but furthered the
work of the church. Later on, Paul would give this same kind of testimony after he had been put
into prison in Rome, “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which
happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Phil. 1:12). I do not
believe that the church can ever be hurt from the outside. It can be hurt from the inside, as we
shall see later in this chapter.
PHILIP BECOMES THE CHIEF WITNESS AFTER THE DEATH OF STEPHEN
We are introduced to the second deacon whom God used in a marvelous way.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them [Acts 8:5].
The Lord Jesus had said they should be witnesses unto Him in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.
Now the Word is going to Samaria.
And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing
and seeing the miracles which he did [Acts 8:6].
Stephen had had the sign gifts of the early church, and now we see that Philip had those same
gifts. Not everyone had them—only those who were in the places of leadership, those who were
taking the Word of God out to the world. There came the day when the sign gifts disappeared.
They disappeared after the time of the apostles. By the time the canon of Scripture was complete
and established,the credentials of a true man of God was correct doctrine rather than sign gifts.
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with
them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
And there was great joy in that city [Acts 8:7–8].
The gospel has now come to Samaria. Philip is well received in Samaria, and there, of all places,
the gospel brings great joy.
Now because the church is growing very fast, there are people actually joining the church
who are not believers. Although they are really unbelievers, they make a profession of faith. We
will now meet one like that.
SIMON THE SORCERER
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery,
and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one [Acts 8:9].
He sets himself up as some great one. We find the same sort of thing today. If someone claims
to be a faith healer, that sets him apart, believe me. People may declare that the faith healers are
humble. Humility is not manifest in services where a person is supposedly healing people and
implying that he is the only person there who has that gift. That is “giving out that himself was
some great one,” as Simon the sorcerer was doing.
To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great
power of God.
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with
sorceries [Acts 8:10–11].
These people felt that Simon the sorcerer was like a god. Just as with these people, there are a
great many people who are bewitched today. My friend, do not be bewitched by any man or his
power. Even if a man is giving out the Word of God, do not look to the man. Look to the Word
of God and check to see if he is presenting it accurately. Look to God. Turn to Him. When we
get our eyes on man, we take our eyes off the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what had happened in
Samaria.
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and
the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women [Acts 8:12].
Philip preached the gospel in Samaria, and many men and women believed. Simon came in
contact with Philip, and apparently he made a profession of faith under the ministry of Philip. I
believe that Simon is the first religious racketeer in the church—but, unfortunately, not the last.
He professes to be a believer during the sweeping revival in Samaria under the ministry of
Philip.
Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip,
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done [Acts 8:13].
Simon believes, he is baptized, and he becomes a friend of Philip. You would certainly think he
was a real child of God. However, he is not converted. We will see that there are also others who
are professing believers, but they are not born again. They have the head knowledge, they go
along with the crowd, but they are not saved. Although they have been baptized with water, they
have not been baptized into the church of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.
There are a great many people like that today. I receive many letters from people who have
told me that since they have been studying the Bible along with our program, they have begun to
examine their faith. Many have come to realize that they have just been following along with
someone else and that they have not been genuinely, personally converted. Paul says, “Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves …” (2 Cor. 13:5). It is a very good
thing to check yourself. See whether you are in the faith or not.
This man Simon had all the outward trappings. He answered that he did believe in Jesus, and
so he was baptized. But it was not a genuine faith.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had the word of God,
they sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy
Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus.) [Acts 8:14–16].
When the apostles heard that there was a great moving of the Spirit down in Samaria, they sent
Peter and John to check on it. They found a great company of professing believers who had not
been born again. They had not been baptized into the church by the Holy Spirit. They were not
saved. They had gone through an outward ceremony.
My friend, being baptized with water or going through some other ceremony will not make
you a Christian. This gives the background to explain why Simon was able to put over his racket
on the others. He liked this idea of performing miracles.
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost [Acts 8:17].
It may be that Philip had not told all the facts and conditions of the gospel. It may be that they
had not accepted them. At any rate, now they are brought into partnership with the apostles. Now
they believe the gospel and they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now the Spirit of God has
entered into them. I think this needs to be considered in its historical setting. It was the
commission given to the apostles to open up each new area to the gospel. On the Day of
Pentecost the gospel was given in Jerusalem. Peter and John are to bring it into Samaria and
Judea. Paul is to be the apostle to the Gentiles. Jesus had given this commission. We are now
seeing it fulfilled here in Samaria.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was
given, he offered them money.
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy
Ghost [Acts 8:18–19].
Simon wanted to pay for the gift. Why? Well, because this man is a religious racketeer. He wants
to use it for profit.
How many such claims are made by individuals today! They claim that great miracles take
place in their meetings and humbly say they have nothing to do with them. If that is so, why do
they permit this type of deception to go on? Bewitch is the word used here. There have been
religious racketeers around bewitching the multitudes from that day to this.
Persecution from the outside didn’t hurt the church. It scattered the believers and actually
worked for the furtherance of the gospel. What hurt the church was that people got on the inside,
professing to be believers when they were not believers. Always the church is hurt from the
inside.
It was the same with the Lord Jesus. He was betrayed from the inside. He was betrayed to
His nation by one of His own disciples. His own nation betrayed Him to the Roman Empire, and
the Roman Empire crucified Him. Also today He is betrayed within the church.
It is like the wooden horse brought into the city of Troy. The city was impenetrable, it was
invulnerable, until that wooden horse got on the inside. The Devil started out by persecuting the
church, fighting it from the outside. He found that didn’t work. It just spread the gospel. Then He
decided to start his work from the inside. That is where he can get in and do damage. How many
pastors could testify to that today!
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the
gift of God may be purchased with money.
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God
[Acts 8:20–21].
This is the reason we know this man is not converted. Simon Peter declares that his heart is not
right with God. He is not converted. His big interest is in the money. That was the important
thing to this man.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine
heart may be forgiven thee.
For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity [Acts 8:22–
23].
You can’t make it any stronger than the way Simon Peter says it.
Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things
which ye have spoken come upon me [Acts 8:24].
Simon doesn’t ask to be saved. He doesn’t ask for prayer for his salvation. He just asks that none
of those terrible things happen to him. We do not know if this man ever came to Christ.
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to
Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans [Acts 8:25].
The gospel is starting its journey to the ends of the earth. It started in Jerusalem. The apostles
were there and a church was established. Soon the center will move to Antioch. Then it will
move to Ephesus. Later it will move to Alexandria, then to Rome. Today, I don’t think there is
any particular center of the church. It has gone to the ends of the earth.
I believe that one of the finest vehicles to get the gospel to the ends of the earth is radio.
Through this mechanical means the church can do what has not been accomplished since the first
century when the gospel did penetrate to all the known world.
PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN
In chapters 8, 9, and 10 we find the record of three remarkable instances of conversion. I think
that these three have been lifted out and given to us particularly for a lesson. Chapter 8 gives the
conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, a son of Ham. Chapter 9 gives the conversion of Saul of
Tarsus, a son of Shem. Chapter 10 gives the conversion of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, a son
of Japheth. You will recall that the entire human family is divided into these three categories.
This was an ethnological and a geographical division made after the Flood. Ham, Shem, and
Japheth were the sons of Noah. We find here that the gospel reaches out to representatives of
these three divisions of the human family.
You will also notice from these examples that in a conversion three factors must be brought
into focus before there can be a conversion. All three of these are evident in these three
representative conversions.
1. The work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had taken this man Philip to Samaria where
there had been a great moving of the Spirit of God. Then the Holy Spirit moved him down to
Gaza, and again we see His moving in the heart of the Ethiopian eunuch. The Spirit of God had
gone ahead to prepare the heart and also to prepare the messenger. This leading of the Spirit of
God is absolutely essential. I’m afraid that a great deal of personal work is done in a haphazard
manner and without the leading of the Spirit of God. I believe that we ought to make it a matter
of definite prayer before we talk to anyone. We should talk to the Lord about the individual
before we talk to the individual about the Lord. It is not simply that we need the Holy Spirit to
lead us. What we need is for the Spirit of God to go ahead of us and prepare the way, then to call
us up to where He is. We want to go where the Spirit of God is moving. This is the first essential
in a conversion. We find it true in the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch and also in the
conversion of Saul and of Cornelius.
2. The Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
(Rom. 10:17). The Word of God is the second essential. The Holy Spirit will take the things of
Christ and will reveal them to an individual. It is the Spirit of God using the Word of God. But,
wait a minute, there must be a human instrument.
3. The man of God. The Spirit of God uses the man of God who delivers the Word of God to
produce a son of God, one who is born again. We will see this in the record of the conversion of
this Ethiopian eunuch.
The second part of chapter 8 brings us to another part of the ministry of Philip. The gospel
had gone to Samaria, and there were many genuine believers. But we also saw that in Samaria
evil came into the church in the person of Simon the sorcerer. Now, in contrast to Simon the
sorcerer, we come to the experience of Philip with a eunuch from Ethiopia. Philip led this man to
Christ, and he became a genuine believer, a wonderful man of God.
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 [Acts 8:26].
Samaria is an area which lies north of Jerusalem. Now Philip is told to go way down to the south.
What we know as the Gaza strip is south, over along the Mediterranean. This was the trade route
down into Egypt and Ethiopia. He would probably travel through Jerusalem to get there.
Philip had been speaking to multitudes in Samaria, and now he is sent down to a desert. He is
to leave the place where there has been a great moving of the Spirit of God and go into a place, a
desert, where there is nobody. However, when he gets there, he finds that God does have
someone to whom he is to witness.
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority
under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had
come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet [Acts 8:27–28].
We read here that this man of Ethiopia had charge of all the treasure of the queen. He was
actually the Secretary of the Treasury. He was an official, and a high official of that day. This
man was not traveling alone. He had a great retinue of servants and minor officials with him. He
wasn’t sitting in a chariot with the reins in one hand and a book in the other hand as we see him
pictured. This man was sitting back in a chariot, protected from the sun by a canopy. He had a
private chauffeur and was riding in style.
He was a citizen of Ethiopia, but he had come to Jerusalem to worship. This indicates that he
was a proselyte to Judaism. He had just been to Jerusalem, the center of the Jewish religion.
Although Judaism was the God–given religion, he was leaving the city still in the dark. He was
reading the prophet Isaiah, but he was not understanding what he was reading.
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot [Acts 8:29].
The Holy Spirit is leading, as He must in any conversion. Philip is the man of God whom the
Spirit of God is using. The Word of God is already in that chariot, for the Ethiopian is reading
from the prophet Isaiah.
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said,
Understandest thou what thou readest? [Acts 8:30].
Philip is a hitchhiker. When he hears what the man is reading, he asks, “Do you understand what
you are reading there?” The Ethiopian doesn’t; so he stops his retinue and invites Philip to come
up and ride with him.
And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he
would come up and sit with him.
The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for
his life is taken from the earth [Acts 8:31–33].
Where was he reading? You will recognize that this is from the fifty–third chapter of Isaiah. He
was reading the seventh and eighth verses. It is obvious that he must have been reading for some
time. So it is also obvious that he must have read the preceding verses: “He is despised and
rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces
from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and
carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa.
53:3–6).
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this?
of himself, or of some other man? [Acts 8:34].
What a marvelous place to begin! When the Spirit of God leads, how wonderfully everything
opens up! He will take the things of Christ and make them clear.
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him
Jesus [Acts 8:35].
The Holy Spirit will use the Word of God.
I do not believe that people can be converted by hearing a song. The song may affect a
person emotionally and influence the will to make a decision for Christ. However, if the Word of
God is not in it, there can be no true conversion. It requires the Word of God. How important that
is!
Simon Peter, whom God used so wonderfully in the conversion of multitudes, makes it very
clear that the Word of God must be involved if a person is saved. He wrote in his first epistle:
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth
and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The
grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:23–25).
When the Spirit of God uses the Word of God, what is going to happen? These men were in
the chariot, discussing the Word of God. Philip was telling the eunuch about Jesus.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See,
here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God [Acts 8:36–37].
Remember that Philip had had an experience with Simon the sorcerer up there in Samaria. He is
not about to have a repetition of that. When this man asks for water baptism, Philip wants to be
very sure that he believes with all his heart.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both
Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip,
that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing [Acts 8:38–39].
Philip is snatched off the page of Scripture. He is not needed here anymore. The Ethiopian rides
off the pages of Scripture in his chariot. He went on his way, rejoicing. Now what about this
man? The first great church was not in the United States, nor was it in Europe, nor was it in
Jerusalem, nor was it in Asia Minor. The first great church was in northern Africa. The Ethiopian
evidently went back and through his witness and his influence, a church was begun there. You
would find it very profitable to read about the early church in North Africa.
Now what about Philip?
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he
came to Caesarea [Acts 8:40].
Azotus is Ashdod, which is over in the Gaza strip. To reach Caesarea, he would have gone
through Joppa. Tel Aviv is there today. So he went, preaching the gospel along the coast up to
Caesarea. The gospel has gone to Judea and to Samaria and is moving out. The eunuch has
carried it down to Ethiopia. Philip is carrying it along the coast to Caesarea.
CHAPTER 9
——————
THEME: Conversion of Saul of Tarsus (son of Shem)
This chapter tells about another remarkable conversion. The conversion of the Ethiopian
eunuch was in a chariot; the conversion of Saul of Tarsus was down in the dust. Probably he was
riding a little donkey when he went up to Damascus, and he was knocked right down into the
dust.
When we get to the Book of Philippians, we will look at the theological, psychological, and
philosophical aspects of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Here, we are dealing with the facts of
what actually happened on the road to Damascus.
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,
went unto the high priest.
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way,
whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem [Acts 9:1–
2].
When the persecution broke out in Jerusalem, the church went underground. The apostles
remained in Jerusalem, but many of the others were scattered—we found Philip up in Samaria
and along the Mediterranean coast. The thing that triggered it was the stoning of Stephen,
followed by persecution.
The other religious leaders in Jerusalem were satisfied after they had run the Christians out of
Jerusalem. They were willing to let it stay at that point. But not Saul of Tarsus! He was the one
who was breathing out threatenings and slaughter. He hated Jesus Christ. I do not think that the
Lord Jesus Christ ever has had an enemy greater than this man Saul of Tarsus. He went to the
high priest and said, “Look, I’ve heard that a group of them have run off up there to Damascus,
and I’m going after them.” The fact of the matter is that he intended to ferret them out, anywhere
they went. His goal was to exterminate the Christians.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him
a light from heaven:
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest
thou me? [Acts 9:3–4].
Paul will recount this incident twice more in the Book of Acts. In fact, Paul never tired of telling
about his conversion. We find him going over it again in his Epistle to the Philippians where he
gets right down to the heart of the matter and tells what really happened to him. Here we are
simply given the facts. He will go over them again when he gives his testimony before king
Agrippa—that is a masterpiece.
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it
is hard for thee to kick against the pricks [Acts 9:5].
Will you notice, here, the ignorance of Saul? He was possibly the most brilliant man of his day.
He was probably a graduate of the University of Tarsus, the greatest Greek university of that day.
He was a student in the school of Gamaliel, the Hebrew scholar. He was trained in the details of
the Jewish religion. But he did not know the Lord Jesus Christ. “Who art thou, Lord?” Friend, to
know Him is life. Saul didn’t know Him!
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord
said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do [Acts
9:6].
Saul is right down in the dust on that road to Damascus. This is a remarkable conversion. He
immediately reveals his conversion. This man who hated the Lord Jesus, who did everything he
could against Him, now calls Him “Lord.” And he asks what the Lord would have him do. He is
ready to do the bidding of the Lord. He has been completely changed. “Wherefore by their fruits
ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20). We can surely tell what has happened to this man.
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no
man [Acts 9:7].
Later on it says that they didn’t hear. Is this a conflict? No, they heard a voice but that was all.
They couldn’t understand what was said. It didn’t make any sense to them. They didn’t see
anyone. There was no one for them to see. They were speechless with amazement. We shall see
this in more detail in Acts 22 and 26.
And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they
led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink [Acts 9:8–9].
This man was blinded by the light that he had seen from heaven. Here was a man who was
puzzled as much as any man has ever been. Some people jump up and down when they are
converted. Some shout for joy. Not Saul of Tarsus. There never was a man as confused as he
was. Had we met him on one of those three days in Damascus and had we asked him what had
happened to him, his answer would have been, “I don’t know.” But he is going to find out.
And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in
a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and
inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him,
that he might receive his sight [Acts 9:10–12].
Saul of Tarsus, a brilliant young man, is sitting in darkness and confusion. The Spirit of God
comes to another man, Ananias, and sends him over to Saul of Tarsus.
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath
done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my
name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake [Acts 9:13–16].
God states two reasons for calling Saul. He was God’s chosen vessel for two things. First, he was
to bear the name of Jesus. Notice that he is not called a witness as the disciples were. Although
Paul may have seen Jesus at His crucifixion, he had not walked with Him in the days of His
flesh. He really knew nothing about Him until that day on the road to Damascus. Now he is to
bear that name. That is the same name we are to bear today, the name of Jesus.
He is to bear that name before three different groups: Gentiles, kings, and the children of
Israel. Gentiles are first on the list. Paul will be the great apostle to the Gentiles. Then to kings—
he will appear before kings, probably including Nero himself, and then to the nation Israel. When
Paul goes into a city, he always will begin in the Jewish synagogue. The synagogue will be his
springboard to put him into the community, into the life of the city. From there he will reach the
Gentiles. But he will go to the Jews first.
Second, the Lord said He will show Saul what great things he must suffer for His name’s
sake. He is chosen to suffer for Jesus Christ. In my judgment, there has never been anyone else
who has suffered for the Lord as Paul the apostle suffered. None of us dare say, “I’m suffering
more than anyone else. Why does God let this happen to me?” We may be suffering or we may
think we are suffering more than we are. At any rate, none of us suffer as Paul the apostle
suffered for the Lord.
Now as we look back on this remarkable conversion, you may remember that I said
conversion requires the Holy Spirit using the Word of God through a man of God. Does this
prove true in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus?
The Lord Jesus appeared to Saul personally. Before the Lord Jesus left His disciples, He told
them that He was going away but that He would not leave them orphans. He promised them that
He would send His Holy Spirit, and this is what the Spirit would do: “He shall glorify me: for he
shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine:
therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:14–15). Now I
think that when our resurrected Lord appeared to Saul personally, the Spirit of God opened his
eyes spiritually and closed them physically so that he might see the Lord Jesus. So the Holy
Spirit was definitely at work.
How about the Word of God? How was that used in the conversion of Paul? Saul of Tarsus
was a Pharisee. He knew a great deal about the Word of God. In fact, if there ever has been
anyone saturated with the Word of God, he was Saul of Tarsus. When reading his epistles, it
becomes obvious that he was very familiar with the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit and the
Word of God were operative in Saul’s conversion.
How can one say that God used a man of God as the human instrument to reach Saul?
Although a man of God was not present at the time, I believe the man whom the Lord used to
reach Saul was none other than Stephen. These two young men, Saul and Stephen, met only
once, and that was when Saul stood with those who killed him. Stephen had looked up into the
heavens and said, “I see heaven open and Jesus standing there!” (see Acts 7:56). Saul of Tarsus
looked up into the heavens and couldn’t see anything. Then he looked into the face of Stephen,
and he knew that Stephen was actually seeing something. I believe that Saul actually hoped that
the heavens would open and that he, too, could have a vision of God. And he did on the
Damascus road. It was Jesus Christ who was revealed to him.
I believe that God uses a human instrument in the conversion of every individual, although
that individual may not be present at the moment of the conversion. That is the reason you and I
should cast our influence for the Lord Jesus Christ at all times.
Recently I received a letter from a man who is a barber. A certain man had been his customer
for twenty years. One time when the customer got out of the chair and was paying for his haircut,
he asked the barber, “Have you ever heard Dr. McGee on the radio?” The barber said he had not;
so the customer walked over to his radio and turned it to the station on which we can be heard in
that town. He said, “Every morning at eight o’clock! You listen to him!” That was the last time
these two men saw each other. The customer died suddenly within a day or so. You can guess the
end of the story. The barber started listening to the program. He had been listening to it for over
two years when he wrote to me. He has come to know Jesus Christ as his Savior. The human
instrument in his conversion was his old customer.
Dr. C. I. Scofield is the man who edited the Scofield Bible. Before his conversion he was an
outstanding international lawyer, but he had the problem of being a very heavy drinker. He had a
godly mother who prayed for him continually. She died before Dr. Scofield was converted. On
one occasion Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer was praying with Dr. Scofield. He told us that he heard
Dr. Scofield say, “Lord, if my mother doesn’t know that I have been converted, would You
please tell her so?” God uses a human instrument in the conversion of every person although that
person may not be present at the moment of conversion. I don’t think a person can be converted
without a human instrument. So why don’t you be an instrument? That doesn’t mean you have to
get a person to his knees; it does mean that you get the good news of Jesus Christ to him. There
will not be a real conversion without a man of God using the Word of God, directed by the Spirit
of God.
Now, going back to Saul of Tarsus where we left him in Damascus, he is still sitting in
solitary blindness, praying. Brilliant young man that he is, he is still somewhat confused since his
conversion. So the Spirit of God appeared to Ananias and sent him over to help him.
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said,
Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest,
hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost [Acts
9:17].
What a change! He is still Saul of Tarsus, but now he is Brother Saul. He is not the enemy. He is
a brother. Any person who loves the Lord Jesus Christ is a brother to any other believer.
Unfortunately, I must add that brothers don’t always act like brothers.
Saul is to receive his physical sight. Also, he is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He is to be
filled with the Holy Spirit for service. This is the experience which reveals itself in the life of the
believer. He was baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Damascus road. In other words, he was
saved on the Damascus road. But it wasn’t until this man Ananias came to him that he was filled
with the Holy Spirit. He is going to become a witness for the Lord Jesus. He will receive his
physical weight and his spiritual sight.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight
forthwith, and arose, and was baptized [Acts 9:18].
Now he is baptized with water as a sign and seal of his conversion. The water had nothing to do
with his salvation. He had been baptized by the Holy Spirit—that is, he had been saved on the
Damascus road. When Ananias had laid his hands on him, he had been filled with the Holy Spirit
for service. And now he is baptized with water.
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the
disciples which were at Damascus [Acts 9:19].
SAUL BEGINS TO WITNESS AT DAMASCUS
And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God [Acts
9:20].
Saul of Tarsus begins to witness immediately. Why? Because he is filled with the Holy Spirit.
He began to preach “Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”
Friend, you must know who Christ is before you can believe what He did. He died to pay the
penalty for your sins. It is because He is the Son of God that He could die for your sins. I
couldn’t die for your sins; you couldn’t die for mine. No human being can die a redemptive death
for another human being. Only Christ could do this because He is the Son of God. So Saul began
to preach that Christ is the Son of God. That is the first thing you must know.
But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which
called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them
bound unto the chief priests?
But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt in
Damascus, proving that this is very Christ [Acts 9:21–22].
The “very Christ” means the very Messiah. Saul confounded the Jews by preaching this. Saul of
Tarsus is number one in several departments. He is number one in suffering; he is number one as
a missionary. I think he is also number one in his I.Q.—he was a brilliant man. He was able to
confound those who attempted to tackle him intellectually.
And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill
him.
Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket [Acts 9:23–
25].
When the Jews couldn’t win by argument, they resorted to another tactic, which was to eliminate
the enemy.
I’m sure it must have been quite a thrilling experience to have been let down over the wall in
a basket. Yet we never read anywhere in the New Testament that Paul toured the Roman Empire
giving a lecture on the subject, “Over the Wall in a Basket.” That ought to be a lesson for a great
many folk who deal in sensationalism today. Here is a man who has had a most remarkable
experience, but he has something more important to present.
We must never let our experience get in the way of presenting Christ. We must never let our
person get in the way of the person of Christ. Sometimes I hear the very pious prayer, “Hide the
preacher behind the Cross.” No, friend, that is not what he needs. Rather, we should pray, “Help
the preacher to present Christ in such a way that the Spirit of God can take the things of Christ
and show them to us. Help him to present Christ!” This was Paul’s method.
SAUL IN JERUSALEM
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they
were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple [Acts 9:26].
They thought this was a deception on the part of Saul of Tarsus, that he was worming his way
in. They were experiencing persecution. And they probably had heard of Simon the sorcerer and
the tactics he used in Samaria.
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he
had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached
boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus [Acts 9:27].
Good old Barnabas, whose very name means the “son of consolation and comfort”! He comes
over and puts his arms around Saul. What a blessing he was to him! How we still need people
who will put their arms around some new Christian and will help that new Christian along.
Barnabas becomes the sponsor of Saul.
And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem [Acts 9:28].
Paul is accepted into the assembly at Jerusalem and joins forces with the Jerusalem church.
And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but
they went about to slay him [Acts 9:29].
These are not Greeks. They are Israelites who have a Greek background. They had been brought
up outside Israel somewhere in the Greek world. The witness of Saul was so powerful that they
concluded the only way to get rid of his effectiveness was to eliminate him, to kill him.
Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to
Tarsus [Acts 9:30].
Paul goes to his hometown. He probably went back home to tell his father and mother, brothers
and sisters, and other relatives about Christ. We know nothing about them. Paul never talked
about his family—with one exception. In Romans 16 he mentions some folk who are related to
him.
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were
edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were
multiplied [Acts 9:31].
The church continued to grow. The gospel went into Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. It will start to
go to the ends of the earth very shortly.
PETER’S MINISTRY IN LYDDA AND JOPPA
And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the
saints which dwelt at Lydda.
And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and
was sick of the palsy.
And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy
bed. And he arose immediately.
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord [Acts 9:32–35].
CHAPTER 10
——————
THEME: Conversion of Cornelius, the Roman centurion (son of Japheth)
Chapter 10 continues the record of the ministry of Simon Peter. Later Peter will pass from the
scene, and the history will continue with the ministry of the apostle Paul. Although Paul is the
apostle to the Gentiles, Peter opened the door to the Gentiles by entering the home of Cornelius
and presenting salvation through Christ to his household.
CORNELIUS’ VISION
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the
Italian band [Acts 10:1].
Remember that Paul had been in Caesarea (Acts 9:30) and probably some of the other apostles
had been preaching the gospel along the coast. Tel Aviv is really a part of old Joppa. As one
travels up the coast from Joppa, the next place of any size is Caesarea, which was really a Roman
city. It was the place where Pilate lived. The governor and those who ruled the land stayed there.
This is where Cornelius was stationed. He was a centurion, which means he was a commander of
a hundred soldiers in the Roman army. The Italian band was a cohort of Roman soldiers
recruited in Italy.
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the
people, and prayed to God alway [Acts 10:2].
He was “a devout man.” That means his worship was rightly directed. He recognized his
dependence upon that which is divine. Remember that even a pagan can have devotion and a
deep conviction to his gods. Sometimes we wish that Christians today had more devotion and
conviction.
He was a devout man and “one that feared God.” He was not a Jewish proselyte in the strict
sense of the term, but gravitated toward Judaism and could be called a “proselyte of the Gate.”
Today we might say that he was a man who lived in the neighborhood, attended church on
special occasions, was friendly toward the church, but was not actually a Christian. That could
have been Cornelius. He feared God.
He “gave much alms to the people” means he gave many gifts of charity to the Jewish
people. The nation Israel has always laid great stress upon giving. God had taught them this in
the Old Testament. We speak of the tithe, but it is obvious from the Mosaic system that they
actually gave three tenths. They gave for the running of the government (which was a theocracy
at the beginning), they gave for the maintenance of the temple, and they gave a tenth of all that
they produced. So they have been a giving, generous people.
It is interesting that even today many of our eleemosynary, that is, charitable foundations,
were established by Jews. There is no group of people in our day that gives as generously as does
the Jewish community in its support of the nation Israel. They are a very generous people.
Cornelius “prayed to God always.” This centurion took his needs to God. He needed to have
more light. He wanted it. He probably didn’t really know too much about prayer, but he prayed.
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to
him, and saying unto him, Cornelius [Acts 10:3].
This centurion was an officer in the Roman army, a career officer, and a man of influence. Also
he had a tremendous influence in his own household, as we shall see. He was a good man to all
outward observation. In America today he would pass for a Christian, a Christian of the highest
degree, an outstanding man. But he actually was not a Christian. He had not even heard the
gospel.
He is an example of a man who lived up to the light which he had. John 1:9 says this of
Jesus: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” This
centurion had not met Jesus Christ nor come into His presence, but he was living up to the light
that he had. Paul is referring to those who do not live by the light they have in Romans 1:19–20:
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto
them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are
without excuse.” This is God’s answer to that oft–repeated question, “What about the poor
pagan, that ‘good’ heathen, who wants to know God but never had a chance? Is he lost?” The
answer is that God will get light to such a person. God will enable him to hear the gospel. Now
how will God get the gospel to Cornelius? The barriers seem insurmountable. The church at this
time—and for the first eight years—was exclusively Jewish.
These Christian Jews were still going to the temple and observing many Jewish customs.
They could do that under grace because they were trusting Christ. Then the gospel broke over
into Samaria. The Jews in Jerusalem were surprised, but they recognized the hand of God in this.
Now how is God going to open the door of the gospel to the Gentiles? Paul is to be the great
missionary to the Gentiles, but God has Paul out in the desert in Arabia, training him there. It is
Simon Peter who must open the door to the Gentiles. God used perhaps the most prejudiced and
religious bigot, the greatest extremist of the day. Obviously, the Holy Spirit directed every move
in getting the gospel to the Gentiles. My friend, all genuine Christian work is directed by the
Holy Spirit. No other work amounts to anything. The Holy Spirit had to work in the heart of the
Gentile; the Holy Spirit had to work in the heart of the Jew. The Holy Spirit directed the bringing
of the gospel to the gentile world.
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto
him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God [Acts 10:4].
An angel of God appeared to Cornelius in a vision. He was not dreaming but was given this
vision while he was praying.
Now I do want you to notice that there are certain things that do count before God. These are
things which can in no way merit salvation, but they are things which God notes. The prayers of
Cornelius and his alms had come up for a memorial before God, and God brought the gospel to
him. Wherever there is a man who seeks after God as Cornelius did, that man is going to hear the
gospel of the grace of God. God will see that he gets it.
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what
thou oughtest to do [Acts 10:5–6].
The angel tells him where to find Peter. He doesn’t need more of an address. The odor of those
hides down in that vat will lead them to the right place!
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his
household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa [Acts 10:7–8].
These men won’t have any trouble finding the tanner’s house. While they are on their way, God
must prepare Simon Peter.
PETER’S VISION
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up
upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour [Acts 10:9].
It is absolutely necessary for God to prepare Simon Peter. You see, Simon Peter didn’t have the
breadth that Paul had. Although he didn’t have the background or the training that Paul had, God
can use him differently. I believe it is a tremendous mistake to think that every person has to be
poured into the same mold for God to use him.
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into
a trance.
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great
sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping
things, and fowls of the air [Acts 10:10–12].
Notice that there were beasts, all kinds of birds, and all kinds of bugs.
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean
[Acts 10:13–14].
While Peter is wondering what this means, a voice speaks to him. Isn’t it interesting that he calls
Him, “Lord,” but he doesn’t obey what the Lord tells him to do?
Now don’t miss this. Here is a man who is on this side of the Day of Pentecost. He is living
in this age of grace when it makes no difference whether we eat meat or whether we don’t eat
meat. However, Peter is still abiding by the Mosaic system and he is not eating anything that is
ceremonially unclean. He is sincere and honest about it. Someone may say that he ought to be
broad–minded and eat everything. Well, you see that the Lord is teaching him that he is no
longer under the Mosaic system and is free to eat anything. Today the big problem is that some
people decide they don’t want to eat meat and then they try to put everyone else under that same
system. My friend, under grace you can eat meat or not eat meat. That is your business. Eating
some certain food may give you indigestion, but it certainly will not change your relationship
with the Lord.
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not
thou common [Acts 10:15].
What God has made clean, don’t you call unclean. You can eat anything because God has said
so.
This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven [Acts 10:16].
Peter was left wondering what it was all about.
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean,
behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and
stood before the gate.
And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent
them.
Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said,
Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good
report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for
thee into his house, and to hear words of thee [Acts 10:17–22].
Simon Peter is to go to Caesarea. This little delegation from Cornelius gives an explanation to
him, then extends an invitation to come with them to the house of Cornelius.
THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them,
and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had
called together his kinsmen and near friends.
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped
him [Acts 10:23–25].
We can see that Cornelius had quite an influence on his family and friends. He has called them
together for this occasion. Also we can see that Cornelius is still a pagan, a heathen. When he is
instructed by an angel to send for Simon Peter, he concludes that this man must really be
important; so he falls down and worships Peter.
It is interesting to see Simon Peter’s reaction to this. Friend, Simon Peter would never have
let you get down to kiss his big toe. He just wouldn’t permit it.
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man [Acts 10:26].
Peter reached down and pulled him to his feet and said, “Stand up; I myself also am a man.” I
like the way he did that.
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to
keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should
not call any man common or unclean [Acts 10:27–28].
Peter stepped into the house. What a step that was! It was the first time that Peter had ever been
in a gentile house. He still is really a little baffled at God’s command to go there.
He violates the first rule of homiletics when he begins his message with an apology. What he
says is not a friendly thing to say. In fact, it is an insult. In essence, he said, “If you really want to
know how I felt about this, well, I just didn’t want to come. I’ve never been in the home of a
Gentile before. Never before have I gone into a place that is unclean!” But he does go on to add,
“Even though I have never before been in an unclean home, God has told me not to call any man
unclean. We are all sinners and we are all savable.” How would you feel, especially if you are a
lady who is a housekeeper, if some visitor came into your home and his first words were, “I am
coming into your home, which I consider dirty”? You wouldn’t exactly respond with a warm,
friendly feeling, would you? Yet this is the substance of what Simon Peter said.
Because God had showed him that there was neither clean nor unclean, he continues his
message.
Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for
what intent ye have sent for me? [Acts 10:29].
This amazes me. Why would Simon Peter ask that question? Why didn’t he immediately begin to
tell them about Jesus Christ? Well, you see, the Spirit of God is in charge here, and He keeps
Peter from rushing right into this.
This should be an important lesson for us. So often we are rather brisk and even crude in our
witnessing. Because we find it difficult to witness, generally when we do it, we are very
amateurish about it. We do it so abruptly and in such a way that often it offends people.
We need to be led by the Spirit of God. I personally believe that the finest kind of evangelism
today is prayer evangelism. I mean that we should begin by praying for an individual. Then the
day will come when we need to put legs on the prayer. Ask God to lead you. Friend, I know that
He will lead you. If you have been praying for a loved one, or a friend, or a stranger, don’t just
go to him in your own strength and in the power of the flesh. If you do, you will fail. Let God be
the One to lead you.
Let me share with you one of my first experiences of witnessing. When I was a student in
college, I was very zealous to be a witness for God, but I was rather timid about it, and, very
frankly, I wanted to be sure I had the leading of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t have any money for bus
or train fare, so I did a lot of hitchhiking. One time when I was out on the highway, a man in a
brand new Model A Ford drove by and stopped fifty yards past me. Then he motioned for me to
come on and get in. He said that he always looked over a hitchhiker before he picked one up. He
introduced himself and told me he was a salesman for drug companies. He asked where I was
going and I told him it was to Memphis. Well, he was going all the way to Memphis and he
would be glad to take me all the way, but he did need to stop at several drug stores on the way to
get his orders from them. Obviously, that was fine with me.
As we rode along, we talked of everything under the sun. Under my breath I was praying,
“Lord, I’d like to witness to this man, but You will have to open the door for me. I’m not going
to broach the subject because if I do, he’ll think he has some religious nut in the car with him. If
I open the door, he will probably open the car door and tell me to get out.” So we rode along
some more and just talked and talked. Finally he asked me whether I’d mind driving for him. Of
course, I would love to drive that new car; so I did. He sat there and relaxed.
We got about sixty miles from Memphis and we had run out of conversation. There was a
lull, and I was still praying, “Lord, we’re getting near Memphis and there still hasn’t been a door
open for me. I’m not going to open it because I’m afraid he’ll throw me out. You open the door
for me if You want me to witness.” We rode on for about ten more minutes, and then out of a
clear sky he said, “You know, my wife and I went to church yesterday.” He looked at me and
laughed, and I laughed. Then he said, “I don’t go very often. But that preacher said the funniest
thing. He said Jesus was coming to this earth again. What do you think about that?”
Well, friend, I told him. Then I told him all about the first coming of the Lord Jesus. Finally I
said, “The second coming of Christ means nothing to you now. You’ve got to come to Christ and
accept what He did for you the first time He came if you are to have an interest in His second
coming.” This man was wide open. He drove me to the dormitory where I stayed at the college.
He parked there and said, “I want to see you again.” So I just blurted out, “Wouldn’t you like to
accept Christ as your Savior?” He said, “I sure would.” I told him he could do that right there in
the car. So we bowed our heads in prayer. I prayed and then asked him to pray, and he accepted
Christ. Now I’ll be honest with you, I would never have opened my mouth if the Lord hadn’t
prompted him to open up the conversation. We need to be led by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit had
prepared his heart, and his conversion was genuine. The first sermon I preached after I was
ordained in Nashville, as I looked down at the congregation, I noticed this man and his wife. He
just sat there and smiled. Afterward I invited him to join my church. He said they had already
joined a good church over in another part of town. He and his wife had become active Christians.
What a wonderful experience that was!
We ought to be very careful in our witnessing that we are being led by the Spirit of God.
Simon Peter does not walk right in and begin lecturing or preaching. He first finds out what is
going on. “Why have you called for me? Why did you send these men for me?”
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I
prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
And said, Cornelius thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the
sight of God.
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the
house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now
therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of
God [Acts 10:30–33].
Cornelius tells him, “I really don’t know why I sent for you, except God told me to send for
Simon Peter. You must have some message for me.”
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of
persons:
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he
is Lord of all:)
That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from
Galilee, after the baptism which John preached [Acts 10:34–37].
Apparently Cornelius and those assembled with him would have heard certain basic facts about
Jesus of Nazareth and also about the ministry of John the Baptist.
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about
doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in
Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly [Acts 10:38–40].
Notice carefully what Simon Peter does. He presents the facts concerning Jesus Christ, assuming
there are some of the incidents which they already know. He makes it very clear to them that this
Jesus was crucified on a tree and that He rose again on the third day. God raised Him and
showed Him openly. This is the gospel. Nothing short of that will do.
This past Christmas I received many cards on which were printed the rather well–known
message, “One Solitary Life.” It is very fine; there is no question about that. It is very readable,
but there is a strange omission—a solitary omission in it. The most important fact is not
recorded. It records that Jesus died, even mentions that He was buried, but completely leaves out
His resurrection. Friend, there is not a single sermon preached, as recorded in the Book of Acts,
that does not mention the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the very heart of the gospel. Until
that is preached, the gospel has not been preached. Jesus Christ died, He was buried, He rose
again from the dead. Those are the historical facts. Your relationship to a risen Savior determines
your eternal destiny. He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was raised again
for our justification (Rom. 4:25).
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and
drink with him after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was
ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him
shall receive remission of sins [Acts 10:41–43].
You may remember that I have pointed out Peter’s weaknesses and his faults. I actually rejoice
in the fact that Peter was so human and so like another fellow I know very well by the name of
McGee. But the important thing is that Peter preached the gospel. Here is the gospel: Jesus Christ
died, He has risen, and whoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins. If we do not tell
people that message, we are not telling them the gospel.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter,
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to
tarry certain days [Acts 10:44–48].
This incident has been called the Gentile Pentecost. Peter was astonished that the Gentiles should
receive the Holy Spirit. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was made audible by their speaking in
tongues. The tongues were an evidence to Simon Peter and the others with him that God would
save the Gentiles and would give to them His Holy Spirit. Peter later relates this as evidence that
these Gentiles had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and that God had granted repentance unto
life also to the Gentiles (Acts 11:17–18). In Acts 15:7–11 Peter again refers to this incident,
declaring that it proves that the Holy Ghost has been given to the Gentiles and that they are saved
through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ just as are the Jews. It is hard for us to realize the great
barrier that existed between Jew and Gentile. The Jews of that day simply could not believe that
Gentiles were going to be saved—in spite of the fact that the Lord had told them this was to be
so. Then the Gentiles at Cornelius’ house are baptized in water.
Again let me call your attention to the fact that the Book of Acts records three representative
conversions. The Ethiopian eunuch was a son of Ham. Saul of Tarsus was a son of Shem.
Cornelius was a son of Japheth. In each instance the Holy Spirit moved, using a man of God and
the Word of God.
CHAPTER 11
——————
THEME: Peter defends his ministry; gospel goes to Antioch
Peter recounts the events in connection with the conversion of Gentiles in the home of
Cornelius. The news that the Gentiles had received the Word of God did not seem to bring any
joy to the church in Jerusalem. They demand of Peter an explanation of his conduct, so Peter
must defend his ministry—which is really difficult for Simon Peter, as he himself feels
apologetic about it.
Antioch becomes the center of the gentile church.
PETER DEFENDS HIS MINISTRY
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also
received the word of God.
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended
with him,
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them [Acts 11:1–3].
There was doubt and division. We need to understand that to the Jews the action of Simon Peter
was a terrible thing. In fact, if we could have talked to Simon Peter a month before this, he also
would have said it was a terrible thing to do. Actually, Peter gives them an apology. He makes it
clear that he didn’t want to do it at all, but that the Spirit of God was in the whole episode.
But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them,
saying,
I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend,
as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of
the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air [Acts 11:4–6].
Listen to his account. He is still amazed at God’s command.
And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my
mouth.
But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou
common.
And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven [Acts 11:7–10].
The word for “drawn up” indicates all were suddenly withdrawn into heaven.
And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was,
sent from Caesarea unto me.
And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren
accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him,
Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning [Acts
11:11–15].
Now Simon Peter tells what went through his mind.
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with
water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord
Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? [Acts 11:16–17].
The purpose of the tongues was to give evidence to Simon Peter that the Holy Spirit had actually
“fallen on them.” How else would he have known that they had been baptized by the Holy Spirit
which placed them in the body of believers?
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath
God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life [Acts 11:18].
Even the Judaizers had to shut their mouths now. They had nothing more to say in objection
because this obviously was of God. So they glorified God. This was a great day—the door had
been opened to the Gentiles! We see now that the stage is being set for the gospel to move out to
the ends of the earth.
GOSPEL GOES TO ANTIOCH
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen
travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto
the Jews only.
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to
Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus [Acts 11:19–20].
The “Grecians,” you will remember, are Jews who spoke Greek and were Greek in their
customs. So far, you will notice, the preaching has been to Jews only.
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto
the Lord.
Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and
they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch [Acts 11:21–22].
There is a great moving of the Spirit of God in Antioch, and the church in Jerusalem hears about
it. So the Jerusalem church sends Barnabas to Antioch. We are going to see now that Antioch
becomes the second center of the church. In fact, the center actually shifts from Jerusalem to
Antioch.
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that
with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was
added unto the Lord [Acts 11:23–24].
This is a wonderful thing that is said about Barnabas. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit,
and full of faith. And, my friend, there is no reason why every Christian shouldn’t be a good
person.
Barnabas became the pastor of the church there. He began “exhorting,” which would be
preaching and teaching. And the congregation grew, for “much people was added unto the
Lord.” As the church grew, it became evident to Barnabas that he needed an assistant pastor, and
he knew where to get a good one.
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a
whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the
disciples were called Christians first in Antioch [Acts 11:25–26].
Barnabas had to go find Saul and bring him with him. I detect in this that Saul was a little
reluctant to come. He held back.
It was here that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ were first called “Christians.” I do not
think this was a term of ridicule. I think it simply meant that these were the ones who were the
followers of Christ, they were Christians. It is an excellent name.
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should
be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius
Caesar.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the
brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul [Acts
11:27–30].
The incident that is recorded here is also verified in secular history. There was a general famine,
but the effect was especially felt in Jerusalem where the church had been persecuted, decimated,
and hurt. They were in dire need during this time. It is wonderful to see the fraternal spirit, the
bond of love, that held the early church together. The other believers sent help to the troubled
church in Jerusalem.
We remember that Saul had been one of those who had wasted the church in Jerusalem by
his relentless persecution of them. How wonderful it is to see that by his own hands a
transformed Saul now brings relief to that same church. That is Christianity in shoe leather, my
friend. That is the way it ought to be.
CHAPTER 12
——————
THEME: Death of James; arrest of Peter
In this chapter persecution strikes through Herod Agrippa I. James is executed and Peter is
imprisoned—but is miraculously delivered. Herod dies by a judgment of God. Although
persecution comes, the church grows and the Word of God is multiplied.
DEATH OF JAMES
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church
[Acts 12:1].
“Herod the king” is Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great (who attempted to put the
Lord Jesus to death at the time of His birth). There never was a family more at enmity against
God. As far as we know, not a single member of the Herod family ever really turned to God.
You will recall that up to this point the persecution against the church had been largely from
the religious rulers, the Sadducees in particular. Now it moves into the realm of government.
Persecution swings from religion to politics. Perhaps Herod did this to gain favor with certain
influential groups. We know that he stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. The
word vexed is hardly adequate to describe what he did. He carried on a brutal, unfeeling
persecution of the church.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword [Acts 12:2].
The fact is stated so bluntly—he killed James with the sword. James becomes another martyr in
the church. He is the second martyr who is named. I am of the opinion that there had been many
others who had already died for the name of the Lord Jesus.
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then
were the days of unleavened bread.) [Acts 12:3].
James is slain, but Peter will be miraculously preserved in all of this. Here we find an example of
the sovereign will of God moving in the church. I’m sure there were many who asked, “Why in
the world was James put to death and Peter permitted to live? Why would God do that?” Many
ask that same question today. The answer is that this is the sovereign will of God. He still moves
like this in the contemporary church. I have been in the ministry for many years, and I have seen
the Lord reach in and take certain wonderful members out of the church by death. And then there
are others whom He has left. Why would He do that? If He had asked me, from my viewpoint as
the pastor, I would say that He took the wrong one and He left the wrong one! But life and death
are in the hands of a sovereign God. When you and I rebel against His decision, it is simply too
bad for us. This is His universe, not ours. It is God’s church, not ours. The hand of a sovereign
God moves in the church.
James apparently was one of the heads of the church in Jerusalem. God permits Herod to slay
him. Peter must have been a leader too. God permits him to live.
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four
quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people
[Acts 12:4].
The word Easter should be “Passover.” Actually, they are at the same time because you
remember that Jesus ate the meal with His disciples just before He was crucified. However, the
Jews in Jerusalem at this time would have been celebrating the Passover and not Easter.
He really put Peter under guard here. The guard is strengthened and enlarged. Four
quaternions of soldiers to keep this man! Wouldn’t you say that he suspected someone would try
to deliver Peter?
PETER’S DELIVERANCE
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church
unto God for him [Acts 12:5].
Another translation would be “but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.”
They didn’t come before God with a kind of grocery–list prayer. They went before God and
earnestly prayed that this man Simon Peter be delivered. Their hearts were in their prayers.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping
between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the
prison [Acts 12:6].
How could Simon Peter sleep between two soldiers? Remember that he went to sleep also in the
Garden of Gethsemane. I would say that Simon Peter was not troubled with insomnia. He didn’t
have any difficulty sleeping. It seems he could sleep just about any place and any time. What a
wonderful confidence he must have had in God to be able to sleep between these two soldiers!
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he
smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off
from his hands.
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he
saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the
angel; but thought he saw a vision [Acts 12:7–9].
The angel tells him to do a very reasonable thing—get dressed. There was nothing in the way of
alarm, just sensible directions. Peter thought the whole thing was a dream, and he would have
walked out of there without his shoes!
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that
leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and
passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him [Acts 12:10].
They certainly had enough guards to keep Peter in prison. I really think that they expected
something like this. You remember that the Lord Jesus had come forth from the grave. That was
a source of real embarrassment to them. They do not intend to let something like that happen to
them again. So they more than doubled the guard.
Remember that the church in Jerusalem is praying for Simon Peter while this is happening.
As soon as Peter is out of danger, the angel lets Peter go on his own.
Let me call attention to the fact that the translation in verse 7 should be an angel of the Lord
and not the angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord in the Old Testament referred to the
preincarnate Christ. Jesus Christ is now at God’s right hand in His glorified body. It was not the
Lord Jesus who came down to deliver Peter. It was an angel whom the Lord Jesus had sent. The
prayers of the church are definitely answered.
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath
sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the
expectation of the people of the Jews [Acts 12:11].
Peter immediately recognizes that God has delivered him.
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John,
whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying [Acts 12:12].
The church at this particular time, and for about a hundred and fifty years after this, did not have
church buildings. Today, when we talk of a church, we usually mean a building. We say, “The
First So–and–So church is on the corner of Main and So–and–So.” Actually, that is not a church
at all; it is a building in which the church meets. The church is the body of believers. At the
beginning the church never met in a public building. They had none. They met in homes.
Now Mary, the mother of John Mark, apparently was a woman of means and had a home
large enough for the church to meet there. They were gathered together praying for Simon Peter
to be delivered.
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda
[Acts 12:13].
“To hearken” means that she came to the door to listen. These were days of persecution. It was
important to know who was knocking. Rhoda means “rose”; she was probably a servant girl.
And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told
how Peter stood before the gate [Acts 12:14].
She forgot all about opening the gate, you see. She was so excited that she just left him standing
there at the gate while she rushed back to the people who were praying.
And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so.
Then said they, It is his angel [Acts 12:15].
When she tells them Peter is at the gate, they tell her she is crazy. “No,” she tells them, “Peter is
at the gate.” “Well, did you see him?” “No, I didn’t open the gate, but I heard him and I know his
voice.” “Oh,” they say, “it’s his spirit.” The word angel is pneuma, which really means “spirit”
rather than angel. They are not saying that he has a guardian angel. They think it is his spirit. In
other words, they think Peter is dead, that he has been slain by Herod.
It is interesting that while the church is praying for Simon Peter to be delivered, he is
delivered; but when it happens, they don’t believe it. They think he has been slain, and it is his
spirit which has appeared.
It is a great comfort to me that the early church, with all of its tremendous spiritual power,
did not believe that their prayers had been answered on this occasion. They didn’t believe that
Simon Peter had actually been delivered. Isn’t that same thing true of us so many times? When
we do have an answer to our prayer, we rejoice and talk about it as if we are really surprised.
And we are surprised—to be honest, we really didn’t expect an answer. Yet God heard and
answered our prayer. How gracious He is!
“But Peter continued knocking.” That’s just like Peter. Nobody’s opening the gate because
they don’t believe their prayers have been answered—they are in there arguing whether it is
Peter or whether it is his spirit. Peter wants in and he is about to knock that gate down!
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they
were astonished.
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how
the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James,
and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place [Acts 12:16–17].
They just couldn’t believe their eyes. They just couldn’t believe that their prayers had been
answered.
Now Peter got out of town. Since God had miraculously delivered him, couldn’t God have
miraculously kept him safe in Jerusalem? Shouldn’t Peter have said, “I’m just going to stick
around. God has delivered me out of prison, and I know He can keep me”? Of course, God could
keep him. But God expects us to use our common sense. Sometimes what looks like a
tremendous faith in God is actually tempting God. Even after God has done some wonderful or
miraculous thing for you and for me, He still expects us to use our common sense.
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of
Peter [Acts 12:18].
Notice that Dr. Luke uses the diminutive—“no small stir.” When he says there was no small stir,
believe me, he means there was a mighty big stir. Also in chapter 15 of Acts, when Judaism
came into the church, Dr. Luke says they had “no small dissension.” He means they had a regular
knock–down–drag–out. They had a real fight, a regular donnybrook. But Dr. Luke always uses
that very gracious and gentle diminutive—“no small stir” and “no small dissension.”
When the soldiers found what had happened and realized that Simon Peter was gone, I think
they called out half the army. They must have made a house–to–house search. Maybe they threw
a guard around the city to prevent his escape. There was no small stir according to Dr. Luke. I’ll
say not! There was a mighty big stir.
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and
commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea,
and there abode [Acts 12:19].
Herod is cold–blooded and he is hardhearted. He has no regard for human life. By executing the
guards, he is saying to the world that he does not believe Peter’s escape was an act of God. He is
holding his men responsible. He executes all the soldiers who were guarding Peter. Then he goes
down to Caesarea, which is a resort area on the Mediterranean. Pilate enjoyed it down there, and
many of the Roman rulers stayed down there. Actually, it was the Roman headquarters. Romans,
like Pilate, didn’t care for Jerusalem. They certainly didn’t love Jerusalem as King David had. So
now Herod beats it down to Caesarea to have a little vacation.
DEATH OF HEROD
Now we will see that God holds Herod responsible for the light He has given him.
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one
accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired
peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country [Acts 12:20].
Tyre and Sidon did business with Herod and when he was displeased, this hurt the economy of
Tyre and Sidon. So they came down to make an overture to Herod.
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an
oration unto them [Acts 12:21].
Herod was pompous and lifted up by pride. He was also a pleasing speaker. He was the kind of
politician who would have been elected no matter what party he would run for.
Herod is one of the men who is a miniature of Antichrist. John tells us this in 1 John 2:18:
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are
there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” The people hail him as a deity.
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and
he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost [Acts 12:22–23].
Friend, God will not share His glory with anyone. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my
glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isa. 42:8). Herod refused to
glorify God through the miracle of Peter’s escape from prison. And now he is willing to let the
people deify him! God judges him. God is jealous of His glory. What a lesson we have here!
Now one would think that with all this persecution taking place the poor church would be
destroyed and disappear.
But the word of God grew and multiplied [Acts 12:24].
Persecution didn’t hurt the church at all.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry,
and took with them John, whose surname was Mark [Acts 12:25].
John Mark goes back to Antioch with Barnabas and Saul. Remember that they had been down in
Jerusalem with the gift to the church there.
We have come now to the end of the second period of the Book of Acts. The gospel has gone
into Judea and Samaria. Beginning with the next chapter we will see the movement of the gospel
to the uttermost part of the earth. We are still in that movement today. I hope that you and I are
both involved in it.
CHAPTERS 13 AND 14
——————
THEME: First missionary journey of Paul
We come now to the final major division of the Book of Acts. It is the Lord Jesus Christ at
work by the Holy Spirit through the apostles to the uttermost part of the earth. This section
includes chapters 13–28.
You will remember that the key to the book is the fact that Jesus said, “Ye shall be witnesses
unto me” (Acts 1:8). This was not a command to the church as a corporate body but to you and
me individually. This witness was to go out to Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria, and then to
the uttermost part of the earth. During the Jerusalem period we saw that the gospel went to the
Jews, and the church was 100 percent Jewish—no Gentiles. During the next period we saw the
gospel go to the Samaritans and we saw the conversion of some Gentiles. Now the gospel moves
out officially on its way to the ends of the earth.
On its way to the ends of the earth the gospel came to my ancestors and to your ancestors.
Today you and I are the beneficiaries of the fact that someone went down the road of this world
to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. You and I ought to be in the business of taking the
gospel down beyond where we are to some who have not heard.
In this surge of the gospel beyond the boundaries of Simon Peter we find that Paul becomes
the dominant leader and Peter disappears from the scene. God had used him mightily. Now Paul
is the dominant one whom God will use.
As you will see by the map (p. 158), Paul begins his journey with Barnabas. The first stop is
the island of Cyprus, the home of Barnabas. They cross the island, then set sail from Paphos to
go over to Perga in Pamphylia. Then they enter the interior of Asia Minor, which is now Turkey,
and go into the Galatian country. They visit Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe; then they
return through Attalia, and then sail back to Antioch.
BARNABAS AND PAUL SENT OUT FROM ANTIOCH
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as
Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which
had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and
Saul for the work whereunto I have called them [Acts 13:1–2].
You will notice as they begin their ministry it is “Barnabas and Saul.” They will not be very far
into the first missionary journey until Saul’s name is changed to Paul. It is soon evident that Paul
becomes the leader and the chief spokesman; then this team is called “Paul and Barnabas.”
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away
[Acts 13:3].
These men are now set aside as missionaries. Did you notice the church that sent them forth into
the world? It was not the church in Jerusalem. I say to you very candidly, the church in
Jerusalem was not a missionary church. The church in Antioch had the missionary vision. They
fasted and prayed because of their earnestness and their desire for the will of God.
They laid their hands on these two missionaries they were sending out. We still do that today
to our missionaries. Why? Is it that we are imparting something to them? I’m afraid all that we
can impart to someone by laying our hands on them is whatever disease germ we have on our
hands. The laying on of hands is a means of identifying, of declaring that we are partners with
that one. So the Christians in Antioch are indicating by placing their hands on them that they are
in a partnership with Paul and Barnabas in the enterprise of getting out the Word of God. They
are sending these men out as their representatives. They will minister at home while Paul and
Barnabas go to the regions beyond.
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they
sailed to Cyprus [Acts 13:4].
The important thing is that they are sent forth by the Holy Spirit. They will led by the Holy Spirit
of God. They went down to the seacoast town of Seleucia and sailed from there.
And when there at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews:
and they had also John to their minister [Acts 13:5].
Notice that they had John Mark along with them.
From the very beginning Paul adopts a method which he followed through his entire
ministry. He always used the Jewish synagogue as the springboard from which he preached the
gospel. A friend of mine was criticized for going to speak in a synagogue. This man preached the
gospel, I can assure you. I reminded his critic that Paul always went first to the synagogue to
preach. If he was going to find fault with my friend, he would also have to find fault with the
method of the apostle Paul.
OPPOSITION AT PAPHOS
And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a
false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar–jesus [Acts 13:6].
It would appear that their ministry didn’t have much success at Salamis. At least no record is
given of any fruit from their ministry. They cross over the Isle of Cyprus to the other side of the
island. In Paphos they encounter this opposition, which is actually satanic, through a sorcerer
who had a tremendous influence on the Roman deputy, the governor of that island, Sergius
Paulus.
Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for
Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to
turn away the deputy from the faith [Acts 13:7–8].
This is satanic opposition. This man had the governor under his influence. Unfortunately there
are a great many rulers today who are under the influence of all kinds of cultism which is in
opposition to the Word of God and in opposition to the gospel.
Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him [Acts
13:9].
Here his name is changed. Why was he called Paul? The name Paul means “small or little.”
Some think that he took that name as an act of humility, that he no longer wanted to bear the
proud name of Saul. It is possible he took the name of the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was his
first convert.
And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all
righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? [Acts 13:10].
Paul may have been a mild man in some ways, but I tell you, when he encountered this kind of
opposition, he denounced it with all his being. He recognized it as satanic and he denounced it. I
think we ought to do the same today.
And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the
sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went
about seeking some to lead him by the hand [Acts 13:11].
He was already in spiritual darkness. Now he is put into physical darkness as well.
Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of
the Lord [Acts 13:12].
I call your attention to the fact that Paul had the sign gifts of an apostle. When he went over there
to Paphos, he couldn’t ask them to turn to the New Testament. There was no New Testament for
him to preach from or for them to turn to. He couldn’t preach from the Epistle to the Romans
because he hadn’t written it yet. They couldn’t turn to the Gospel of John because John hadn’t
written it yet. So how will they recognize his authority? It is by the sign gifts. Today, the New
Testament is written. We are now given a different way to recognize authority. “If there come
any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God
speed” (2 John 10). This doctrine is in the Word of God, in the New Testament.
Probably the sorcerer had been doing some fancy tricks by the power of Satan. In that day a
false prophet could probably heal and perform other miracles by the power of Satan.
Paul has his authority from the Lord Jesus Christ. He absolutely dominates the sorcerer by
his message of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sergius Paulus comes to the light. He has
been in spiritual darkness but now believes and is astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia:
and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem [Acts 13:13].
That is all Dr. Luke says; he mildly records the fact of John Mark’s departure. He doesn’t issue a
tirade against him. We will learn later that John Mark actually deserted. He showed a yellow
streak and ran home to mommy. Remember that his mother was a prominent member of the
church in Jerusalem and that her home was the place of meeting for the church there. When he
reached Perga and got a look into the interior of Asia Minor—the paganism and the physical
dangers and hardships that were there—he decided that he hadn’t been called as a missionary. He
heads in another direction, and that direction is home.
Later on we find that Paul refuses to take John Mark on another missionary journey. In fact,
Paul and Barnabas finally separated. Paul went one way and Barnabas went another way. Paul
was wrong about John Mark. God didn’t throw him overboard because of his failure. Thank God,
He doesn’t throw us overboard because of our failure either. He gave John Mark another chance.
Later on Paul was big enough to admit he had been wrong, and when he was close to his death,
he actually asked for John Mark to come to him. “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring
him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11). This is the John Mark
who wrote the Gospel of Mark. He made good. Thank God. He gives us a second chance!
However here at the beginning John Mark is a failure. He left them and returned to
Jerusalem. Meanwhile Paul and Barnabas go into the interior of Asia Minor.
PAUL’S SERMON AT ANTIOCH
But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the
synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto
them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say
on [Acts 13:14–15].
Paul follows his method of going first to the synagogue. Jews were scattered throughout the
Roman Empire, and they established synagogues in the cities in which they had settled. When
visitors would come from Jerusalem, since they would want word from the religious center, they
would invite the visitor to say something. This always afforded a marvelous opportunity for the
apostle Paul. He certainly took advantage of it here.
This sermon which Paul preached in Antioch of Pisidia is one of the great sermons, in my
opinion; yet it is generally passed by today. It is the first recorded sermon of Paul, preached in
the synagogue on the Sabbath Day. When they asked Paul whether he would like to say
something, you can be sure that he wanted to say something. That was his whole reason for
being there.
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God,
give audience [Acts 13:16].
One would conclude from this introduction that there were some visitors there—probably
Gentile proselytes.
The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt
as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.
And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to
them by lot.
And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years,
until Samuel the prophet [Acts 13:17–20].
Notice that Paul is doing the same thing that Stephen did before the Sanhedrin. He recounts
Israel’s history as a nation.
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of
the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom
also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own
heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus
[Acts 13:21–23].
After recounting their history, he will present to them the person of the Savior.
When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the
people of Israel.
And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But,
behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth
God, to you is the word of this salvation sent [Acts 13:24–26].
These people apparently had heard of John the Baptist. Now Paul will get down to the nitty–
gritty.
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the
voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in
condemning him.
And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be
slain [Acts 13:27–28].
As Paul is reviewing their history, he is pointing out that all this was done as a fulfillment of
prophecy. They were fulfilling the prophets at the very same time they were reading them! They
read without understanding what they were reading.
And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree,
and laid him in a sepulchre.
But God raised him from the dead:
And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem,
who are his witnesses unto the people [Acts 13:29–31].
You will notice that the core, the heart of every sermon preached in the New Testament, is the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the message. Simon Peter preached it; now Paul
the apostle preaches it. There is not the slightest disagreement in the message of these two men.
Don’t tell me these two men disagreed. They did not!
And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the
fathers,
God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as
it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee [Acts
13:32–33].
This Old Testament reference, Psalm 2:7, does not refer to the birth of Christ; it refers to the
resurrection of Christ. “This day have I begotten thee”—not begotten in the virgin birth but
actually in the resurrection from the dead.
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to
corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption [Acts 13:34–35].
Paul enlarges upon the Resurrection. He is citing the same that Simon Peter did on the Day of
Pentecost.
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was
laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto
you the forgiveness of sins:
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be
justified by the law of Moses [Acts 13:36–39].
Now he is pinning this thing down. He is explaining the significance of the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is actually asking them for a decision to believe on the Lord
Jesus.
Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work
which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you [Acts 13:40–41].
Here is his appeal to them. He urges them not to reject the message.
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words
might be preached to them the next sabbath [Acts 13:42].
There were Gentiles there who said, “We would like to hear this same message.”
Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes
followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the
grace of God.
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God
[Acts 13:43–44].
There must have been much discussion of Paul’s message. The next Sabbath Day almost the
entire city was there to hear Paul preach.
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those
things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming [Acts 13:45].
This time there was a big commotion because the leading religious rulers of the synagogue
opposed Paul and Barnabas.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God
should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves
unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles,
that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region [Acts 13:46–49].
Here is the recurring pattern. The gospel is preached to the Jews first; they reject it; so they turn
to the Gentiles with the good news.
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city,
and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts
[Acts 13:50].
They were run out of town; they actually were forced to leave the town.
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost [Acts 13:51–52].
Notice the condition of those who were converted. They were filled with joy, and they were
filled with the Holy Ghost.
GALATIAN COUNTRY
Now in chapter 14 Paul and Barnabas face the almost impenetrable paganism of Galatia. I
personally believe that the Galatian field was the hardest mission field that Paul ever entered.
You need only to read the Epistle to the Galatians to discover that. Galatians was the harshest
epistle that Paul wrote. He wrote it to a group of people who had a spiritual bent in the wrong
direction. They were constantly going off the track. He visited those churches more than any
others.
Let me give you this brief background of the Galatian country which Paul is entering on this
first missionary journey. The people for whom the province was named were Gauls, a Celtic
tribe from the same stock which inhabited France. In the fourth century A.D. they invaded the
Roman Empire and sacked Rome. Later they crossed into Greece and captured Delphi in 280
A.D. At the invitation of Nikomedes I, king of Bithynia, they crossed over into Asia Minor to
help him in a civil war. They were a warlike people and soon established themselves in Asia
Minor. In 189 A.D. they were made subjects of the Roman Empire and became a province. Their
boundaries varied, and for many years they retained their customs and language. The churches
which Paul established on this first missionary journey were included at one time in the territory
of Galatia, so this is the name which Paul would normally give to these churches.
The people were blond orientals. These Galtic Celts had much of the same temperament and
characteristics of the majority of the American population, which came out of that same stock in
Europe and the British Isles. Caesar had this to say of them: “The infirmity of the Gauls is that
they are fickle in their resolves, fond of change, and not to be trusted.” Another writer of that
period described them as “frank, impetuous, impressible, eminently intelligent, fond of show, but
extremely inconstant, the fruit of excessive vanity.” Paul wrote them a very harsh letter because
they needed that kind of letter. The majority of the people in the United States are like them.
That is the reason so many cults and “isms” have begun in this country. We are a fickle people.
One day we follow one leader, and the next day we follow someone else. It is amazing to watch
the polls of our political candidates. If they make one statement, one slip of the tongue, the entire
population shifts from them to someone else. We are a fickle people—very much like the
Galatians.
All of this should make this section especially interesting to us. Martin Luther used the
Epistle to the Galatians for the Reformation because it was written to folk who are like we are.
THE WORK IN ICONIUM
And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the
Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed
[Acts 14:1].
If you follow the journey on a map, you will notice that they crossed over the length of the
island of Cyprus, and then sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. Then they traveled up into the country
of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. These are the cities of Galatia. So they are now in the
heartland of Asia Minor.
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected
against the brethren.
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the
word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the
apostles [Acts 14:2–4].
Paul and Barnabas cause quite a division in the city. You must remember that Paul and Barnabas
are both Jews. They always went to the Jews first and used the synagogue as a springboard to get
to the Gentiles.
And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their
rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the
region that lieth round about:
And there they preached the gospel [Acts 14:5–7].
Because they didn’t get a very good reception in Iconium, they fled to Lystra and Derbe.
However, we know that they came back through Iconium so there must have been some
believers there.
THE EVENTS AT LYSTRA
And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his
mother’s womb, who never had walked:
The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith
to be healed,
Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked [Acts 14:8–10].
As we have seen, Paul and Barnabas had the gifts of an apostle, the sign gifts. They came into
these places without any New Testament with the message of the gospel. What were their
credentials? How could they prove their message was from God? The sign gifts were their
credentials—they needed them. Today we have the entire Bible, and what it has to say. If only
we could get people to do that!
The other day I played golf with a very affable, generous, bighearted man. He is an unsaved
man, and he told me very candidly that he was chasing around. Mutual friends had asked me to
play with him. I attempted to talk with him about the gospel. He knew the facts of the gospel as
well as I do. And you know something else? He believed them. He said he believed that Jesus
died and rose again, and he believed that if he put his trust in Jesus, He would save him. So I
asked him why he didn’t do that. Then he began to mention names, names of certain men whose
lives just didn’t measure up to their profession of faith. So I said to him, “For goodness sake get
your eyes off men. In the first century the apostles performed miracles, and men got their eyes on
the apostles. So it was necessary to get their eyes off the apostles and turn them to the Book
which presents the Lord Jesus Christ. You need to get your eyes on the Word of God and learn
what God says today. He tells us that the important thing is our personal relationship with God
through Jesus Christ. All those other men you mention will not even enter into the picture when
you stand before the Lord Jesus someday. The only question will be your personal relationship to
Jesus Christ as it is revealed in the Word of God. Go to the Word of God.” I’ll be very frank with
you; I didn’t really get very far with this man. He did say that I had given him a new approach;
he had never heard it that way before. He thought maybe he would try it. I encouraged him again
to get his eyes off other Christians because we all have feet of clay.
The people at Lystra were looking to Paul and Barnabas.
And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the
speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men [Acts 14:11].
The man had real faith to be healed. When Paul told him to stand upright on his feet, he leaped
and walked. Remember that the people in the area were pagan, heathen people. When they saw
what Paul had done, they began to shout that the gods had come down in the likeness of men.
Their eyes were on Paul and Barnabas. They were really excited about them.
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the
gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people [Acts 14:12–13].
Paul is the leader of the team, the chief speaker, and the people want to make them gods. They
bring garlands and sacrifice and are ready to worship them. Fickle! Does it remind you of
someone else? In America it is a baseball player one year, then a politician, then a football star,
then another politician. By the following year they are all forgotten, and it is someone else new.
It is the same way with the preachers. One can preach the Word of God, and everyone will
acclaim him as a wonderful preacher. Then the next day they are ready to crucify him.
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in
among the people, crying out,
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and
preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways [Acts 14:14–16].
Paul and Barnabas are not only startled and amazed that these people want to worship them, but
they are completely shocked. They rush in among them, shouting, “We are human beings like
you are!” You will remember that Peter had to say the same thing to Cornelius when Cornelius
bowed down to him to worship him.
Certainly none of us is to bow down to worship any man. A Christian is not to be so
obsequious that he gets down to lick the boots of anyone. Unfortunately, even in Christian work,
we find some people who want others to bow to them. How tragic that is.
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from
heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice
unto them [Acts 14:17–18].
He is attempting to turn their attention to the living God who is the Creator. He wants to draw
them away from their heathen, pagan idols and the mythology of the Greeks.
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the
people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead
[Acts 14:19].
How amazing this is. Such fickle people! One day they are ready to worship Paul and Barnabas
as gods. The next day they stone Paul to death.
(How like Americans—we follow fads. One time it is the hula hoop. Then it is the miniskirt.
We simply follow one fad after another.)
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city “supposing he had been dead.” Do you
think he was dead? I’ll tell you what I think. I think he was dead. Later Paul writes of the
experience he had: “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I
cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the
third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God
knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is
not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor. 12:2–4). Who was that man? It was Paul himself. “And lest
I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to
me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above
measure” (2 Cor. 12:7). I don’t think that crowd left him there half dead; I think they left him
dead. I believe that God raised him from the dead.
Why would God permit this stoning? Galatians 6:7 tells us: “Be not deceived; God is not
mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Paul reaped what he had sowed.
He had ordered the stoning of Stephen. Maybe someone will object that now he is converted.
Yes, but even after conversion we will reap whatsoever we have sown. This is a law of nature as
well as a law operating in our lives. We shall reap whatever we sow. Because Saul took part in
the stoning of Stephen, years later the same thing happened to him.
Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and
the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe [Acts 14:20].
This is miraculous. A man who has been stoned would be brutally wounded. Paul rose up, and
the very next day he was able to travel. This is a miracle whether or not he was actually raised
from the dead.
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned
again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that
we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God [Acts 14:21–22].
If you are following the map, you will notice that Derbe is the pivotal point. It is the end of the
line. At this point they turn back and retrace their steps through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting,
they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed [Acts 14:23].
They return through Pisida and Pamphylia, and preached again in Perga. Then they go to Attalia,
and sail from that port back to Antioch.
And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of
God for the work which they fulfilled.
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that
God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
And there they abode long time with the disciples [Acts 14:26–28].
Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch to give a report of the work because this is the church that
had sent them out. They revealed that God had now definitely opened the door of the gospel to
Gentiles. When the gospel started out, the churches were comprised entirely of Hebrews. Then
they became partially Gentile. And now the gospel is going definitely to the Gentiles. Now the
churches in Asia Minor are comprised entirely of Gentiles. Although there may also have been
some Jews in these churches, it seems that in most places the Jews rejected the gospel and the
Gentiles received it.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(Recommended for Further Study)
Alexander, J. A. The Acts of the Apostles. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1875.
Conybeare, W. J. and Howson, J. S. The Life and Epistles of St. Paul. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1855. (A classic work.)
Eims, Leroy. Disciples in Action. Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1981.
Frank, Harry Thomas, editor. Hammond’s Atlas of the Bible Lands. Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture
Press Publications, 1977. (Inexpensive atlas with splendid maps.)
Gaebelein, Arno C. The Acts of the Apostles. Neptune, New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1912. (A fine
interpretation.)
Heading, John. Acts: A Study in New Testament Christianity. Kansas City, Kansas: Walterick
Publishers.
Hiebert, D. Edmond. Personalities Around Paul. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1973. (Rich studies
of people in contact with the apostle Paul.)
Ironside, H. A. Lectures on the Book of Acts. Neptune, New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1943.
(Especially good for young Christians.)
Jensen, Irving L. Acts: An Inductive Study. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1968.
Kelly, William. An Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles. Addison, Illinois: Bible Truth Publishers,
1890.
Kent, Homer A., Jr. Jerusalem to Rome: Studies in the Book of Acts. Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House, 1974. (A splendid work for individual or group study.)
Morgan, G. Campbell. The Acts of the Apostles. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co.,
1924.
Rackham, R. B. The Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1901. (A
detailed study.)
Robertson, A. T. Epochs in the Life of Paul. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1909.
Ryrie, Charles D. The Acts of the Apostles. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1961. (A fine,
inexpensive survey.)
Scroggie, W. Graham. The Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing
House, n.d. (Splendid outlines.)
Thomas, W. H. Griffith. Outline Studies in the Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids, Michigan:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956.
Vaughan, Curtis. Acts. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1974.
Vos, Howard F. Beginnings in Bible Archeology. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1973.
1
1McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary: Church History (Acts 1-14). electronic ed. Nashville :
Thomas Nelson, 1991 (Thru the Bible Commentary 40), S. 160