The Book of Acts - "To Be Continued" (Wk 1 and 2)
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
Is there any book in the Bible more exciting to read than the Book of Acts? It marks the birth of the Christian church. In the very first chapter, we read that Jesus was taken up into the sky after His resurrection. Yet just before He departs, He gives the disciples some very important instructions.
Day 1 – Powerful Eyewitnesses
Read Acts 1.
Acts 1:1-8 (NIV) reads:
“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
It is exciting yet humbling to be reminded, as we read this passage today, that whilst Jesus’ work was finished on the Cross, He left His disciples an incredibly important instruction. They were to go to Jerusalem and wait for the gift His Father had promised. They would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In the same way today, we are also called to be His witnesses. The original word for witness in the Greek was martys. Here it was used in the historical sense to mean someone who was a spectator of an event.
So once the disciples had been baptised with the Holy Spirit, they were to go out into their city, the region and the nations and tell people what they had seen, what they had heard, what they had touched, what they had tasted and sensed of the life and person of Jesus Christ.
We have exactly the same assignment today. We are also empowered to go out into our neighbourhoods, into our workplaces, into our schools and universities and even to the nations and tell people about Jesus and what He has done for us personally. As His witnesses, we can testify to the truth of the difference that Jesus has made as He has touched our lives. We may not all be called as apostles or preachers or teachers but we are all called to be witnesses.
· What difference has Jesus made to your life?
· Who can you encourage today as you share your story with them?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 2 – Dreams and Visions, Signs and Wonders
Read Acts 2.
On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples and the women with them were all filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in tongues, which caused a great deal of confusion amongst the crowd. So Peter stood up and addressed the crowd, explaining what was happening and quoting the prophet Joel.
Acts 2:17-21 (NIV) reads:
“In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
It is perhaps best to view the last days as a season, rather than a specific period of time. Most Christians would agree that we are in the season of the last days, which began with the coming of Christ.
Peter means to suggest to the curious onlookers that the prophecies of Joel are now being fulfilled in front of their very eyes. The Holy Spirit was being poured out on all people. In the past, He may have been given in droplets, now He is poured out on all.
What an amazing sight this would have been on the day of Pentecost! It had never been seen before. Under the Old Covenant, specific people were filled with the Spirit but only at certain times and for a special purpose. Now, under the New Covenant, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is available for all who call on the name of the Lord. Notice what else we will witness in these last days – men and women prophesying, God dreams and visions, signs and wonders and salvation to all who call on His name.
· In what ways do these promises stir you in this interesting season where a pandemic has swept the world and changed the way we do life?
· Has God spoken to you recently through a dream or a vision? What do you believe God is saying to you right now?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 3 – The Right Thing
Read Acts 3.
Acts 3:1-10 reads:
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognised him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
In life, we often focus on what we don’t have and the enemy loves to remind us of these things. Sometimes people may even come to us for help, asking us for something we cannot offer them – a reason as to why they are suffering, an answer to a difficult problem, or advice as to which path to take. We may not always have at hand what appears to be needed.
But what if we had something even better? What we always bring into every circumstance is the presence of Christ and the name of Jesus, which we carry with us everywhere we go. And inherent to His name is His power and His authority. This is what Peter and John brought to the lame man. The lame man had a problem and he was asking for the wrong thing – sliver and gold. Peter and John looked right into his soul and gave him the right thing – healing and a gateway to a new life.
It is interesting that the man is waiting by the temple gate called Beautiful. Jesus is the only true “gate” as He promises in John 10:9 and whoever enters through Him will be saved. What Peter and John bring to the lame man is healing and that healing comes through the gateway that is Jesus, and through faith in His name and the authority it carries.
Next time you meet a friend who has a problem, remind yourself that although you may not have an obvious solution to their problem, you carry the presence of Jesus with you and His presence is more than enough. Dr Ray Andrews always says, “There is not a problem that the presence of Jesus cannot fix.”
· Who do you know today who may simply need the presence of Jesus in their lives? How can you bring this to them this week?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
At school, were you the “quiet one” or the student always on detention for talking too much in class?
Day 4 – When Censorship Makes No Sense
Read Acts 4.
Sometimes when we choose to do the right thing, it upsets a few people. We read in the beginning of Acts 4 that the priests and the Sadducees were very disturbed because Peter and John healed the lame man and now the apostles were teaching the people about Jesus. The impact was so great that the number of believers grew to about five thousand.
What were they to do? So they arrested Peter and John and had them thrown in jail. When the rulers and elders and teachers met the next day, they grilled them, “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?” (Acts 4:7 - MSG).
Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, does not hold back in his reply.
“By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.” (Acts 4:10-12 MSG).
What could the authorities do? The evidence stood right in front of them – a man, lame for over forty years, and now completely healed. They meet together privately and devise a plan. They decide the only way forward is to silence Peter and John with threats so they won’t dare use Jesus’ name ever again. But listen to Peter and John’s reply –
“Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question - we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20 MSG).
The enemy always tries to censor the work of God. And He hates the name of Jesus.
· How does Peter’s boldness inspire you today?
· The apostles could not remain quiet about what they had seen and heard. Is there a part of your story you can share with someone today – something you have seen and heard?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 5 – The Unstoppable Move of God
Read Acts 5.
The Holy Spirit has been poured out. The apostles have begun to speak, filled by the Spirit, and people are getting saved and healed. Signs and wonders are taking place, so much so that Christ’s power residing within Peter is enough to bring healing. The mere touch of his shadow on the sick, lying on their beds and mats as he passes by, is all they need.
The high priest and his associates are once again jealous. So they have the apostles arrested and put in a public jail. Yet not even this is enough to stop the momentum of God. An angel of the Lord is directed to help them break out of jail, angels make great jail breakers, and the apostles are sent to preach in the temple courts once more. This confounds the high priest and his friends, understandably, you have to admit!
Peter and the other apostles will not bow down to the censorship ruling, saying they must obey God and not human beings. They must testify about Jesus. This infuriates the Sadducees, and they are now considering the execution of Peter. Listen to what happens next in Acts 5: 34-39 (NIV) –
“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honoured by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
There is one thing that is most definitely unstoppable and that is the move of God. If God is for us, who can be against us? Even the Pharisee, Gamaliel, knows this. If it is from God, it cannot be stopped. These men cannot be stopped. It is fruitless to fight against God.
· How have you seen God move in and through the church locally and globally recently? In what areas can you see the unstoppable move of God right now?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 6 – Waiting on Tables
Read Acts 6.
Acts 6:1-7 (NIV) reads:
“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”
It is interesting to read here that even though the first disciples knew that they were called and anointed to preach and teach the Word of God, they were also aware of their responsibility to care for the poor. In this case, it was the Greek-speaking widows who were apparently being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
So they delegate the task, choosing seven Godly men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and the apostles pray for these men, laying their hands on them and commissioning them for the task.
These men had a task just as important as the twelve apostles. They are still running the race, just in a different lane. They had, as it says in The Passion Translation, the responsibility of the “crucial ministry of serving”.
This is a reminder to us, as the Body of Christ, that each of us has a part to play. The servant leader waiting on tables serves alongside the preacher and teacher of the Word. And God gets the glory!
· What part do you believe God is calling you to play in the family of God, the church? Do you appreciate the crucial ministry of serving?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 7 – The Stoning of Stephen
Read Acts 7.
Stephen was a man filled with God’s grace and power who performed many great signs and wonders amongst the people. And once again, there are a few people who don’t like it. This time it is members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen. They try to run him down with their arguments but they are no match for his wisdom.
So they decide instead to frame him, accusing him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God. Now he must appear before the High Council, opposing a group of false witnesses. The high priest asks Stephen if the charges are true. And what follows is one of the most eloquent sermons on the history of God’s people that you will ever read.
However, it’s clear that Stephen is not interested in winning the latest popularity competition amongst his crowd, as he finishes his sermon in this way – Acts 7:51-53 (NIV).
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him - you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
It is no surprise that the members of the High Council reacted in this way, as we read on.
Acts 7:54-60 (NIV) says this -
“When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.”
If your name is Stephen, you may wish it wasn’t right now. How can this be fair? This guy is completely innocent of all charges, entirely framed and asked to excuse himself in front of a hung jury. What are his chances of escape?
Yet it seems that Stephen is not interested in excusing himself; he does not look for a way out. Instead, he asks that God not hold their sins against them (sound familiar?) and he prays, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
· How does Stephen’s life inspire you, especially the way he conducts himself in his final hours?
· Stephen must have known the fate ahead of him. How do you think he faced it so bravely?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 8 – The Gift Money Cannot Buy
Read Acts 8.
Simon is the city sorcerer and all the people in Samaria love him, so much so that they call him the Great Power of God. However, when Phillip arrives on the scene and begins talking about the Kingdom of God, Simon joins the believers and is baptised along with all the others. Simon becomes Phillip’s shadow, absolutely captivated by all the signs and wonders he sees.
Yet there is something wrong in his heart.
In Acts 8:18-24 (NIV) we read:
“When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Simon is used to fame and fortune accompanying the operation of his apparent gift. His motivation is wrong and Peter can see it from a country mile. It is a sobering reminder that for all who are called into ministry, their hearts must be right before God.
It is interesting that Peter recognises too that Simon is full of bitterness and captive to sin.
· What do you think motivates Simon to offer the disciples money in exchange for the gift of being able to lay hands on people that they may receive the Spirit?
· We cannot buy God’s gift with money. Think about that as you go about your day. It cost Jesus everything, His life, for us to have a relationship with Him. Yet all God asks of us .....is us. What He requires of us is our undivided hearts.
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 9 – Too Far Gone
Read Acts 9.
Acts 9 is a perfect picture of God’s incredible and inconceivable grace. If you and I had met Saul, we may have said “He is too far gone! There is no hope of him ever considering a life lived for Jesus. He’s a murderer, a zealous maniac.”
Yet in God’s economy, no one is too far gone. God chooses Saul as his “chosen instrument”. Listen to Saul’s encounter with Jesus in Acts 9:1-9 (NIV).
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.”
Meanwhile, The Lord speaks to a disciple called Ananias in Damascus via a vision and tells him to go find Saul. He assures Ananias that Saul has had a vision that he will come and place his hands on him to restore his sight. So this is what happens next in Acts 9:17-19 (NIV).
“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptised, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.”
· Have you ever been shocked by the grace of God? Why do you think God chooses Saul as His “chosen instrument”?
· If you have invited Jesus into your life, then you too had an encounter with Christ and “something like scales fell off your eyes”. You were finally able to see with spiritual clarity things you had never seen before. Can you remember your transformation?
· If you have never asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, now is a great time to open your heart to Him. It is as simple as asking Jesus to be your best friend and thanking Him for His death on the Cross for you. If you have just made this decision, please let us know. We would love to help you in your journey with Christ.
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 10 – When Grace Meets the Grubby
Read Acts 10.
In Acts 10, we read of Peter’s encounter with Cornelius. Both Cornelius and Peter have visions from God. Peter had a bad habit of saying “no” to Jesus and he does it again, at first, in his response to his vision (Acts 10:11-16).
Peter says he has never eaten anything impure or unclean. Yet God is speaking to Peter about more than food. Notice God’s words to Peter in verse 15 - “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Peter had put God in a box and now God was going to challenge his thinking and smash that box! So God tells Cornelius, a God-fearing centurion in the Roman army, to send some men to Joppa and bring back Peter. Whilst Peter is still puzzling over his vision from God, these men arrive at his house and Peter invites them in as guests in his house.
This went against every Jewish custom of the day. A devout Jew may have been willing to speak to these Gentile men in the street but he would certainly not have invited them inside, not to eat a meal and definitely not to stay with him. According to Jewish tradition, this was forbidden. Yet God had spoken to Peter.... and he obeyed.
Grace had transformed Peter’s heart. He had begun his journey of an encounter with those he had always viewed as the unclean, common, unholy, impure, unacceptable to God. Grace met the “grubby”, at least that is how Peter had always viewed a Gentile up until this point.
So Peter travels to Caesarea the next day with the men and visits Cornelius and his relatives and friends in his house. This is how he addresses them in verses 28 and 29:
“You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
Cornelius explains his vision to Peter. Listen to how Peter addresses the people in verses 34 to 35 –
“I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
Peter then preaches on the message and life of Christ. Watch what happens next. Talk about a paradigm shift. In Acts 10:44-48 (NIV) we read –
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptised with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”
· We too can have a habit of putting God in a box. Just when we think we have God all figured out and we know what will happen next, He loves to change things up. In what ways, do these passages challenge you? How do they encourage you?
· God does not show favouritism. How will that reassurance shape your day?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 11 – When Grace Gets People Grumbling
Read Acts 11.
The news of Peter’s visit to the house of Cornelius has spread all over Judea, and not surprisingly, many people are not happy. Acts 11:1-3 (NIV) reads in this way –
“The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticised him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Listen to how The Message puts it –
“The news travelled fast and in no time the leaders and friends back in Jerusalem heard about it—heard that the non-Jewish “outsiders” were now “in.” When Peter got back to Jerusalem, some of his old associates, concerned about circumcision, called him on the carpet: “What do you think you’re doing rubbing shoulders with that crowd, eating what is prohibited and ruining our good name?”
Ethnic barriers have been broken. Peter has crossed the line and the Jewish believers are not happy. So starting from the beginning, Peter explains the situation. Listen to what he says in verses 15 to 17 (NIV).
“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
Sometimes, we too may be inclined to want to stand in God’s way but Peter, the rock, the one who denied Jesus three times, gives us a great example here of a man who has been radically transformed, who has allowed God to bring down his wall of prejudice and change his heart.
· Who do you need to show grace to today?
· Are there some “outsiders” you can invite “in”?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 12 – Walking with Angels
Read Acts 12.
Acts 12:1-11 (NIV) says this:
“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
I wonder how many times we have been in the presence of angels without even knowing it! They are, after all, sent to us believers as our protectors, messengers from God, even God’s warriors, sent to fight on our behalf.
Peter has been woken by the angel, followed his instructions and dressed, escaped the prison, walking right past the guards and even marched through the iron gates of the city. It is not until he has sauntered the full length of a narrow street where the angel now leaves him that the penny drops. He realises this is not a vision. He has been walking with angels.
· Why do you think that God chose to rescue Peter in this way?
· Do you believe in God’s angelic protection of you today?
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
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Day 13 – Barnabas, Saul and Dr. Know-It-All
Read Acts 13.
Acts 13:1-12 (NIV) reads:
“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
They travelled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.”
It is interesting that the proconsul, whom Luke points out as an intelligent man, sends for Barnabas and Paul as he wants to hear the Word of God. A man in power who is curious about the things of God. Naturally, the devil does not like this and so he enlists some opposition in the form of Elymas, the sorcerer. The Message Bible calls Elymas Dr. Know-It-All. Elymas stirs up some commotion, trying to divert the governor from becoming a believer.
The enemy is always trying to divert, to distract away from the things of God. He is still at work today, using the same tactics. Yet notice how candidly Paul deals with this demonic distraction. He addresses Elymas directly, calling him out and naming him for his true colours.
In The Message, Acts 13:10-11 reads –
“You bag of wind, you parody of a devil—why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God. But now you’ve come up against God himself, and your game is up. You’re about to go blind—no sunlight for you for a good long stretch.”
Mist and darkness come over Elymas and he can no longer see. The enemy’s schemes are no match for a Spirit filled believer such as Paul, one who understands the power and authority of the name of Jesus.
The reality is that we will also be confronted by the schemes of the enemy but the same Spirit who empowered Paul empowers us. The same Jesus who lived in Paul lives in us, and so we have the same authority in His name over the devil today.
· Are you aware of the distractions in your life that might pull you away from the things of God?
· Why not spend some time now thanking Jesus for His powerful name, the name above all names. You carry His presence with you everywhere you go today.
28 Day Devotional on the Book of Acts – To Be Continued
Mr Whippy is in your street and you’re hungry for ice cream. What will you buy?
Day 14 – Recognition and Opposition
Read Acts 14.
Acts 14:1-7 (AMP) reads:
“Now in Iconium Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue together and spoke in such a way [with such power and boldness] that a large number of Jews as well as Greeks believed [and confidently accepted Jesus as Saviour]; but the unbelieving Jews [who rejected Jesus as Messiah] stirred up and embittered the minds of the Gentiles against the believers. So Paul and Barnabas stayed for a long time, speaking boldly and confidently for the Lord, who continued to testify to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders (attesting miracles) be done by them. But the people of the city were divided; some were siding with the Jews, and some with the apostles. When there was an attempt by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their rulers, to shamefully mistreat and to stone them, they, aware of the situation, escaped to Lystra and Derbe, [taking refuge in the] cities of Lycaonia, and the neighbouring region; and there they continued to preach the good news.”
When the truth is preached, there will be opposition. This is no surprise and it’s the reason that Jesus says in Luke 12:51 (NIV) – “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
We may expect opposition in the same way when we bring the good news of Jesus into a situation. Opposition is not always a sign that we are doing something wrong; it may, in fact, be proof that we are doing something right.
Notice though, that in spite of the opposition, Paul and Barnabas continue to speak with boldness and confidence and God confirms His Word of grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
· How do you think that signs and wonders back up God’s message of grace? Are you expectant that God can move today in the same way?
· Who do you know today who needs a miracle? Why not take some time to pray for them right now.
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