Acts 19

This is part of a Daily Devotional Orwell Bible Church prepares each week. You can get a copy from our Downloads and Literature page.

Paul’s ministry of the gospel in Ephesus began with followers of John the Baptist. These believed the Baptist’s message that the Christ was coming, but that was all, and they were without the Spirit (vv. 1-2). Their baptism by John showed they repented of their sins and believed the Christ was coming (vv. 3-4, “baptism of repentance”). So Paul told them Jesus was the Christ and they believed this and demonstrated their belief in Jesus through Christian baptism (v. 5). Verse 6 is the third (8:17; 10:44-46) and last time that miraculous signs accompanied Spirit baptism, providing indisputable proof from God of a shift from the old covenant (Mosaic Law) to New Covenant ministry.

Miracles were signs signaling God’s approval on the message and messenger. The extra-ordinariness of the miracles in verses 11-12 is clear! These contrast with the self-appointed efforts of verses 13-16. The evident work of God supported the spread of the gospel, resulting in significant conversions (vv. 17-20). “Fifty thousand pieces of silver” (v. 19) was equivalent to about 140 years income for a common worker!

Ephesus was the center of Diana worship and idol manufacturers made their living from such. This explains why Demetrius and the raucous crowd responded as they did to the many conversions. The more who were saved, the fewer number of people would support idolatry (vv. 24-34)! Their belief in legends and fables so controlled them that they assumed such to be undeniable (vv. 35-36).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Right knowledge of God’s truth regarding Jesus Christ must be believed and depended on for salvation, with the Spirit’s transforming work as the indisputable evidence of true faith. Nothing less will do. What do you believe? What does your life say?
2. Unbelieving idolaters reject truth and embrace error. While “idolatry” includes worshiping carved images, it involves anything that takes away the glory and devotion that God alone deserves (cf. Rom 23, 25, 27; Col 3:5).
3. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, and through the gospel the Lord can convert and save idolaters!

Acts 18

This is part of a Daily Devotional Orwell Bible Church prepares each week. You can get a copy from our Downloads and Literature page.

Corinth was a notoriously wicked city, filled with idolatry and immorality. Paul’s ministry of the Word in Corinth involved walking through Scripture, showing point-by-point how Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled every OT truth about Israel’s Messiah and King, resulting in a new church established (vv. 1-8). Paul responded to Jews’ unbelief and rejection by a drastic, symbolic sign conveying that he fulfilled his responsibility, their judgment was on their own heads, and not even a pebble would be found on him (v. 5).

Having experienced significant opposition from and attacks by Jews and Gentiles in the past, Paul was evidently fearful. The Lord Jesus appeared in a vision, admonishing him to continue, trusting in Jesus’ continual presence, knowing that God’s elect would be saved through his ministry (vv. 9-11).

At the end of this missionary journey Paul made a vow (vv. 18-21). Though the Mosaic Law taught this practice (Num 6:2-5, 13-21), Paul was not under the Law (Rom 7:1-6; Gal 3:2-3; 5:18); he acted as the Jew that he still was, making a vow the way Jews did. Upon arriving at Caesarea, he went to the Jerusalem church, then to Antioch, and then left on his third missionary journey (vv. 22-23).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. God through Jesus Christ saves and sanctifies the lost—even from wicked cities. Christian witness does not adjust or adapt the gospel and its ministry to gather a crowd and so unbelievers would make decisions. Faithfully ministering the gospel is how God saves his elect; be faithful in it!
2. The gospel message (“Jesus is the Christ,” vv. 5, 28) and ministry (reasoning, persuading, testifying, speaking, showing from the Scriptures) remain unchanged today.
3. Government should not control or restrain true religion. Regardless of what may happen, Christians must always trust the Lord and be faithful.

Acts 17

Luke relays that Paul ministered in the Thessalonian synagogue for three weeks (v. 2). The length of Paul’s ministry was most likely longer than that, as a solid church was established, the church was mostly made up of Gentiles (1 Thess 1:9), and the Philippian church (100 miles away) sent two gifts to Paul while he was there (Phil 4:15-16).

The Athenian philosophers desiring to hear from Paul are identified in verse 18 as being Epicureans (believed happiness found in peace of mind and body) and Stoics (believed everything is God, that God isn’t a person, emphasized rational ability and self-sufficiency).

When Paul ministered the gospel to Jews he taught that Jesus as the Christ had to suffer and rise again (v. 3), and that he is the Christ, Israel’s Messiah and King (vv. 3, 7). When Paul ministered the gospel to idolatrous Gentiles he started by teaching that God is their Creator (vv. 24-25), sovereign sustainer (vv. 26-28), the only One they should worship (vv. 29-31), and that Jesus, who died and rose again, would be their judge.

Paul always taught from the Scriptures (vv. 2, 13, 24-31), and this involved explaining, demonstrating, and calling for immediate repentance and faith. There were always some who believed and some who did not, no matter if their background was biblical Judaism or pagan idolater.   

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. When witnessing for Christ you must be able to patiently walk through the Scriptures to help understand it so that they will believe it. The better you know your Bible and the more you witness for him, the better servant of the Lord you will be!
2. The lost can be very devoted to religion. Being really religious doesn’t wash sins away or make one right with God. Only Jesus can do that! They must hear this and the Spirit must convict them. Pray and labor toward that end!
3. When talking to someone without any biblical background, you must start with who God is, show them their dependence on God, their relation to him as sinners, teach that the resurrected Jesus will judge the world, and that they must therefore repent and believe in Jesus.

Acts 16

Paul’s having Timothy circumcised (v. 3) did not mean he gave in to unbelieving Jews. Rather, they  adopted a practice taught in the OT for Jews to enable ministry in synagogues for increased usefulness (cf. 1 Cor 9:19-23). The Holy Spirit’s direction where to go preach the gospel wasn’t given by “impressions” or feelings. Rather, the Spirit spoke through Paul who was an apostle and Silas a prophet, gifts present then but not now.

When entering a new city to preach the gospel, the preachers’ practice was to go first to a Jewish synagogue. There was none in Philippi (at least 10 Jewish men were needed), so they went where the few Jews of the city gathered for prayer, taught them about Jesus, and Lydia was saved and baptized (vv. 11-15). By God’s grace a demon-possessed slave girl was freed, but those without God’s grace completely misinterpreted what happened (vv. 16-19), resulting in false charges and imprisonment for Paul and Silas (vv. 20-24).

The Philippian jailer’s question (v. 30) didn’t come out of the blue—he had been listening to Paul and Silas’ singing, praying, and testifying for hours! As a result he and other souls in the jailer’s home heard the gospel, believed in Christ, and were baptized (vv. 31-34).

Paul’s response to the magistrates’ request (vv. 35-37) was not out of spite for the new Philippian church’s testimony, as they had been publicly slandered (vv. 20-21).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The grace Jesus showed in this chapter is the same grace he shows today. He supplies laborers for the harvest field, strengthens churches, directs the spread of the Word, and saves souls. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus!
2. What God commands must be obeyed by faith. When you read what God has given in the Bible, no matter what doubts you have you must not wait for better times and conditions but trust him and his grace and obey!
3. Persevere in difficult times by Christ’s grace. People are watching…and listening! You may not know how things will turn out; leave that to the Lord, just trust and obey him!
4. Baptism always follows faith. There are some who insist that infants would have been in households (v. 33) and thus would have been baptized. The text, however, is very clear that the gospel was spoken to the household (v. 32), that those in the household who believed would be saved (v. 31), and that all in the household believed in God (v. 34).

Acts 15

We have seen that as Christians witnessed of Jesus (1:8) both Jews and Gentiles were saved. Sadly, there were some in Jerusalem who believed and taught the church at Antioch that salvation required becoming a Jew and coming under the jurisdiction of the Mosaic Law (v. 1). The church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to address this problem that came from there (v. 2).

The Jerusalem church leadership correctly recognized that Gentiles were saved by faith alone just as they as Jews were (vv. 7-11). They wrote a letter to the church at Antioch condemning those who came and taught a false gospel (vv. 1, 24). The Jerusalem leaders also encouraged them to live holy lives (vv. 20, 28-29)—expected of every Christian, Jew or Gentile. They must not participate in idolatry or sexual immorality, and maintain good relationships with Jewish Christians by not being a stumbling block (not eat blood or things that were strangled).

Paul and Barnabas then made plans to visit the churches they had seen begun from their first trip (chapter 13). However, they had differences of opinion as to who should be on their “team” (15:37-40). Both men were absolutely convinced what was the right and proper thing to do. We are only told what happened, we are not told that either was right or wrong. Nowhere in the rest of the NT do we read of either men having a grudge against the other, but quite the contrary!

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Sinners’ only hope of being forgiven of their sins is in Jesus Christ. No amount of good works can earn forgiveness of sins. They must therefore repent of their sins and self-righteousness/false religion and trust Jesus alone to save them (Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).
2. Heresy must be vigorously opposed for the sake of the truth, the salvation of souls, and the unity of the church.
3. Christians are not under any aspect of the Mosaic Law, period (cf. Rom 7:1-6; Gal 3:2-3; 5:18). This does not mean Christians are “lawless”! Christians are under the Law of Christ (Rom 8:2; Gal 6:2) which involves obeying Jesus’ commands given in Scripture.
4. Personal problems must be handled biblically. Grudges have no place in the church.

Acts 14

Luke here records the essential aspects of what Jesus after his resurrection commanded his disciples to do (“the Great Commission”). Paul and Barnabas entered Iconium, proclaimed to Jews the good news that the Messiah had come (vv. 1-3). Many Jews and Gentiles believed, but unbelieving Jews persecuted the preachers and divided the city, causing Paul and Barnabas to leave and go to Lystra and Derbe (vv. 4-7). There the preachers did the same thing, with the same results (vv. 8-20).

While in Lystra the Lord through Paul healed a man lame from birth (vv. 8-10). Believers rightly interpreted this event as a miraculous work of the God of the Bible. Unbelieving idolaters wrongly interpreted this event as a miraculous work of their gods Zeus and Hermes (vv. 11-13). Paul and Barnabas stridently preached against this, calling them to repent of their idolatry and turn to the living God (vv. 14-18).

Before the preachers returned home (v. 26) they organized Christian’s in these cities into local churches, stabilizing them in the faith through instruction, and appointed pastors in the churches (vv. 21-23).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Human hearts are unchanged since the events of Acts 14. Unbelievers are just as committed to idolatry, and their only hope is in Jesus Christ. Christian, we must tell them that they “should turn from these useless things to the living God”!
2. Christ’s commands he gave after he rose from the dead (the “great commission”) does not stop when souls trust Christ in response to the gospel. They must be baptized, built up and strengthened in the faith, and formed into/added to local churches with godly leadership. Jesus’ commands are unchanged since the events of Acts 14!
3. Paul and Barnabas worked and accomplished what they did because of God’s grace (v. 26). God’s grace was indispensable—they depended on nothing else. Nothing has changed since Acts 14!

Acts 13

In this chapter we read how the gospel spread as it was intentionally spread outside the land of Israel. Through prophets (vv. 1-2) the Holy Spirit selected and sent Saul and Barnabas out to do his work. First, they preached God’s message throughout the island of Cyprus (vv. 4-12). They then sailed northward (modern day Turkey), traveled inland, and preached the gospel in a synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia (vv. 13-41). Many responded with repentance and faith, and many rejected the message about Jesus (vv. 42-52).

Paul’s message in the synagogue is an example of how he taught and told Jews that Jesus was their promised Messiah. Though Jesus was Israel’s promised Son of David and Savior (23-25), Israel rejected and crucified him (27-29) but God raised him from the dead (30-37). These Jews’ only hope of having their sins forgiven and being accepted by God as righteous (“justified”) was if they believed this message about Jesus (vv. 38-41).

Sadly many Jews disbelieved, but many Gentiles believed. Those who didn’t believe faced eternal judgment (v. 46), but those whom God “appointed to eternal life believed” (v. 48).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. God called those to serve him who were already serving him (vv. 1-2). They had different backgrounds and gifts but they labored together for Christ. They didn’t sit and wait for opportunities, they served the Lord where they were at. Are you serving the Lord by spreading the gospel where you’re at with what the Lord has entrusted to you?
2. Believers know their sins are forgiven (vv. 12, 39, 48). Contrary to many false gospels (such as that taught by Roman Catholicism), true believers know they have eternal life and that their sins are forgiven, because they are resting and relying entirely on Jesus, not their own good works. Do you know that your sins have been forgiven? How?
3. Salvation is credited to God, damnation to sinners (vv. 46, 48). Election is to salvation, not damnation. Sinners are damned because of their sin and unbelief; that is the basis—and the only reason for—their damnation. When election is rightly understood it never discourages evangelism; in fact, it gives real hope in evangelism because God will save his elect through the preaching of the gospel. Preach it to everyone!

Acts 12

The church first experienced persecution from the Jewish religious establishment, and then it was persecuted by the government. Herod governed by maintaining peace with the majority (v. 3) rather than governing by truth and righteousness (Rom 13:4). The four squads of soldiers guarding Peter (16 in total, v. 4) served in shifts of four, not all at once. Two were chained to Peter and two stood by on guard.

The church responded by praying (v. 5), God miraculously delivered Peter from prison (vv. 6-11), and he then went to the church while they prayed (vv. 12-17). Their expression of amazement (“it is his angel!” v. 15) reflected traditional Jewish belief about guardian angels that is not taught in Scripture.

Herod responded by executing the guards (vv. 18-19). Escaped prisoners would be executed; Herod concluded that Peter escape by an inside job.

This chapter closes by contrasting Herod’s pride and demise (vv. 20-23) with the gospel’s power and progress (v. 24). Citizens of Tyre and Sidon offended Herod and gave false praise to regain favor (vv. 20-22). The Lord immediately judged Herod by inflicting him with intestinal roundworms that caused great pain and death (v. 23). In contrast to Herod’s limited power, “the word of God grew and multiplied,” (v. 24).

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Government that encourages and promotes evil while persecuting righteousness can seem to be successful while churches and the gospel are not. This views and assesses things only from an external standpoint, and that is always wrong to do!
2. The righteous will be persecuted. Christians live in a godless world under Satan’s rule: it hates Christ. They rejected Christ, they will reject you (John 15:18, 20)! Sometimes God delivers from persecution (Peter); other times he delivers them to persecution (James). Be faithful now and until death!
3. The prayers of the gathered church are powerful and effective because of Who is prayed to and what is prayed for. Despite bloodthirsty hatred the church kept gathering and prayed all the more. How would you respond in such times? Would you scatter, or pray?
4. Herod lived for the world and died and is now in hell. Sin, sensuality, greed, and striving after worldly glory never bring lasting satisfaction but always eternal damnation. James and Peter lived for Christ and died, but now are in heaven. What are you living for?

Acts 11

When Christian Jews in Judea heard about the events relayed in chapter 10, they were astonished that Peter disobeyed the Mosaic Law about fraternizing with Gentiles (11:1-3). These Christian Jews were still living according to the Mosaic Law; they had not yet grasped that God had set aside the Law as a ruling force following Christ’s ascension and the Spirit’s work in forming the church, the body of Christ (see yesterday’s notes on chapter 10:44-46). Peter answered their concerns with a detailed account (11:1-17), and these Christian Jews rightly submitted to God’s work (v. 18).

The events of the last few chapters resulted in the gospel being spread to both Jews and Gentiles. As the Word spread God worked powerfully (“the hand of the Lord,” v. 21) so that many repented and trusted Christ (v. 22). The Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to help teach these new believers, and he and Saul ministered with them for a year.

Verses 27-30 tells of a prediction of famine in Jerusalem. Prophets were Christ’s gift to the church to build its foundation (Eph 2:20; 4:11). They received direct revelation from God for the church’s instruction. The church in Antioch responded by sending financial help to Christians in Jerusalem. The Antioch Christians’ giving was motivated by love, was voluntary, and was according to each one’s ability.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The church must help other Christians in their time of need. Verses 27-30 are often used to teach that the church must be involved in meeting various social needs of anyone, but that is not what happened here.
2. Christ’s church is built through God’s Word (11:1, 14, 19-21, 26). God’s Word must be proclaimed to the lost, and Christ’s church is stabilized, built up, strengthened, and equipped through the ministry of the Word. Salvation/conversion is just the beginning; new saints who are baptized and added to the church must be taught and matured. An edified church is an evangelizing, growing church (v. 24b).

Acts 10

The significance of Acts 10:1-11:18 is massive. Since the time of Abraham (Gen 12) up until this point, “salvation is of the Jews” as Jesus said (John 4:22). This does not mean that non-Jews (Gentiles) were not saved, for many were. However, those who did trust in the Lord for salvation necessarily came into the nation of Israel which involved being under the jurisdiction of the Mosaic Law. However, Israel rejected Jesus who came to save them from their sins (Acts 3:13-15; 4:8-11), and after his resurrection Jesus commanded his disciples to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), to preach repentance and remission of sins “to all nations” (Luke 24:47), “make disciples of all the nations” (Matt 28:20), and be his witnesses “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

In Acts 10:1-11:18 a Gentile centurion, Cornelius, was very religious toward the true and living God but was yet unsaved (11:14) and needed to hear the gospel and trust in Christ for his sins to be forgiven (10:6, 22, 32). For this to happen, God caused Peter to see a vision communicating to him that Christians should not view anyone—even Gentiles—from a Jewish perspective (note 10:28; cf. Mark 7:19). Peter thus directly went in among Gentiles (something he would not have done as a faithful Jew in Israel) and told them the gospel of Jesus Christ (10:34-43). Cornelius and those listening trusted in Christ and were immediately made part of the body of Christ through Spirit baptism (vv. 44-46; cf. 2:1; 8:14-17). The significance of this was that Jewish and Gentile believers had equal standing in Christ before God without coming under the Mosaic Law. This was a radical change from before in the Old Testament, when saved Gentiles had to become Jewish and obey the Mosaic Law.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Because God does not judge sinners based on externals Christians must not.
2. Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead. Regardless of external differences, Jesus will judge based on one point: belief in him (John 3:18).
3. We must spread the gospel as Jesus commanded to everyone. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17).

Acts 9

Acts 9:1-30 is a crucial event in the history of the church’s witness for Christ, as it relays the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who would become known as Paul the apostle (“Saul” was his Hebrew name, “Paul” his Roman name). Saul as a zealous Pharisee was concerned about the perceived threat to Judaism, and thus sought to eradicate Christianity.

Saul’s conversion occurred through Jesus’ personal appearance to him. God had chosen Saul to be Jesus’ witness to Gentiles, kings, and Jews (v. 15). Thus God opened Saul’s eyes—spiritually as well as physically!—to believe the truths about Jesus. Saul’s immediately witnesses to Jesus’ deity (“he is the Son of God,” v. 20) and being Israel’s Christ and King (“proving that this Jesus is the Christ,” v. 22).

The last two events—the healing of Aeneas and raising Dorcas from the dead—were miracles authenticating that Jesus is the Christ (v. 34). As a result many repented of their sins, believing that Jesus is the Christ (vv. 35, 42). These events—occurring in Lydda and Joppa—also set the stage for the next two chapters.  

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. The church is Jesus’ body (Col 1:24) and he is jealous for her. Jesus will judge those who seek to destroy the church (cf. 1 Cor 3:17). Christian, do not fret when persecuted; your Lord and Savior will deal with those who are enemies of Christ (Phil 3:18-19; 2 Thess 1:6-10). Focus on serving Christ more than saving your life!
2. One can be very devoted to religion that’s based on the Bible and be very wrong. Years later Paul would testify that his religion before Christ was worthless compared with Christ (Phil 3:2-11). What are you depending on for forgiveness of sins? To be accepted by a holy and righteous God? Good works and good religion can’t do it! (Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-7)
3. The circumstances surrounding one’s conversion may differ, but salvation always involves gospel truth and the right response of repentance and faith. Paul’s conversion experience was both one-of-a-kind (Jesus appearing to him) yet like every other sinner’s salvation (repentance and faith).

Acts 8

Persecution did not result in squelching the belief in and spread of the gospel! To the contrary, Christians continued growing in and spreading the truth about Christ, just in different places. God allowed Jewish persecution of the church, resulting in the providential continued spread of the gospel.

Acts here shows how the gospel thus spread to Samaria (1:8) through Philip’s witness that Jesus was the Christ, Israel’s promised Messiah and King (vv. 5, 12). Those who believed demonstrated their faith by being baptized. Simon (vv. 9-13, 18-24) is an example of a false believer—outward profession and identification does not mean there is inward change evidenced by true repentance.

Jews viewed Samaritans as racially inferior and not on their level. Verses 15-16 show Samaritan Christians’ equality with Jewish Christians by the same outward experiences. This event was just like what happened to the Jews in Acts 2:4, showing their equality. Everyone truly born again immediately has the Spirit indwelling them (John 3:5-7; Rom 8:9). This event in verses 15-16 is the second of three passages in Acts showing the equality of saints regardless of external differences (Acts 2:4; 8:15-16; 11:15-17).

While Philip’s movements in verses 26-40 were definitely miraculous in nature and thus out of the ordinary, his ministry to the Ethiopian was just like his ministry to every other sinner.

Truths to Nail Down and Meditate On

1. Wherever Christians are providentially scattered they are to obediently scatter the Word. Zealous persecution resulted in zealous preaching, not cowardly silence.
2. God uses his Word to change hearts, not amazing experiences. Simon saw great experiences, yet remained in his sin. The Ethiopian eunuch believed the Word and found a great Savior.
3. Never view people on the basis of externals but from Christ’s perspective (2 Cor 5:16). All are sinners needing the only Savior, Jesus Christ. Every saint regardless of external differences has equal standing before God in Jesus Christ.
4. Preach Christ from Scripture that clearly speaks of him. Philip didn’t preach Christ by drawing analogies from the nails of the Tabernacle, but from a definite OT prophecy about Jesus.
5. Christ’s commands are true today: repent and trust in Jesus Christ! Publicly identify with Christ and his church through baptism and church membership! Grow in grace! Testify of Christ!