Subscription Lists

In Acts 10, both Peter and Cornelius experience God moving in a way neither of them ever thought they would ever experience and see and witness.

Visions lead to men from different backgrounds coming together. Obedience to the revelation of God leads to an outpouring of The Holy Spirit, and a breakdown of barriers and prejudices. While Peter is speaking in that Gentile home those listening to Peter's message are filled with the Holy Spirit. They speak in tongues, and they are baptised in water. Gentiles, people who are not Jews, are 'born again', and the basic essential…  ( Click for more )

Never compromise. Never dilute your doctrine. Never water down your message about God and Jesus Christ. Peter spoke powerfully and with specific essential content in the home of Cornelius, the Roman Centurion. Take time to read the full account of what happened, in Acts 10:34-48.

While Peter is speaking - in the middle of his message - the risen living ascended Jesus pours out The Holy Spirit upon all who are listening. This small group of Jewish believers, who accompanied Peter, are astonished and astounded. They are shocked, that Jesus Christ was pouring out The Holy…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 10:34, Peter begins to address all those who have gathered in the home of Roman Centurion, Cornelius. Do read this passage again. "I have just seen a great truth. God is no respecter of persons. God shows no favouritism." This is quite a transformation in Peter's thinking.

He goes on - and refers to the fear of God - which is a healthy fear. It is like fearing the dangerous traffic - having a healthy respect for fast-moving cars and lorries. If you ignore them or overlook their presence - you could get hurt. But at the same time you don't permit the fear to…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 10:23, we read of Peter and six fellow disciples of Jesus making their way the 20 miles or so from Joppa to Caesarea. Cornelius is waiting for Peter's arrival. He has gathered together all his relatives and friends. He is expecting something to happen. He believed that God is going to move and speak through Peter. Are people still looking for that and expecting that today?

As Peter goes into Cornelius's house Cornelius falls at Peter's feet. But Peter would NOT be worshipped, and he says, "Stand up. I am only a man."

We are NOT to worship men - or bow…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 10, Peter, and some brother disciples of Jesus are in the home of this Roman Centurion, Cornelius. God was dealing with both of these men, in different ways, to achieve different goals.

God was preparing two men who were poles apart, to come together. Cornelius had had a very real spiritual experience, and soon he is to have a mightier experience.

Cornelius and Peter each received a vision from The Lord Jesus Christ, and they both obeyed what God the Lord had said through that vision. For both, it was a hard thing Jesus was asking them to do.

Cornelius…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 10, three men are on their way to meet the apostle Peter, who is waiting before God in prayer, not realising what dramatic events are about to happen.

At that time, the Jews thought of everyone who was not a Jew as common or unclean. Peter had to unlearn what his theology and church and tradition had taught him. To unlearn is almost harder than learning something. This is seldom an easy thing to do.

Have we things to unlearn? Are we holding to prejudices from which God wishes to deliver us and set us free? The Holy Spirit falls upon Peter to perform a new work…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 10 we read of God sending an angel to Cornelius the Roman Army Officer, at the garrison Headquarters in Caesarea. Cornelius needs to meet Peter, and the angel informs Cornelius exactly where Peter can be found.

We have seen this in Chapter 9 - when we need help - ministry - we ask - we send for those whom we know can help. We let the pastors and elders or leaders know that their ministry is urgently required.

It was NOT God's job to let Peter know of the need in Caesarea. It is the job of Cornelius to obey God and send for Peter to come and minister.

When…  ( Click for more )

As we move on into Acts 10, please take time to read the biblical text. It is vitally important to feed regularly upon God's holy Word, and not just thoughts from the Scriptures.

Following the wave of persecution - following the amazing dealings of the risen and living Jesus with Saul of Tarsus - Peter sets out to travel around, visiting those disciples of Jesus who had experienced a sore traumatic costly time. Some would be and pained and wounded. Most would have questions. Emotions would be raw. There would be much to do. Many stories to hear. Many wounds requiring…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 9:32, Peter comes to a fellowship of believers at Lydda, (the site of the modern international Ben Gurion airport) and there he found a man called Aeneas, who had been bedridden and totally paralysed for 8 years.

Peter says to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and tidy up your mat." He is immediately healed. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to The Lord. One act of obedience - one miracle - one brave courageous word from Peter, and many turn to Jesus Christ!

The Word of God is eternal. It has life. It has power to save and…  ( Click for more )

Acts 9:32-42 - and please, do read the passage of Scripture. It is vitally important that we base our life and thinking upon the Word of God and NOT comments upon the Word of God.

When you read the Bible you will never read a wrong word. As we make our way through the Book of Acts I cannot emphasise sufficiently how necessary it is to read the Biblical text.

After that lengthy comprehensive section on how Paul met Jesus Christ - and all that is connected with his being born again - so rich - so valuable - in taking us through the very basics of discipleship - Luke then switches…  ( Click for more )

What happens to Saul when the Jerusalem brothers send him back home to Tarsus for his own personal safety? We do not hear of him for a few years. It needs to be said that personal safety was quite a temporary matter, as he faced tremendous danger later on, but in God's timing. He was not always rescued out of situations which were life threatening.

We do know that Saul went away into the wilderness of Arabia, for at least three years, to work things out.

He needed time to be on his own. To be alone with Jesus - to think and pray and listen, and to consider the implications…  ( Click for more )

Acts 9:28-31. We have been in these verses for a number of weeks, but there is much to learn and I pray that you are studying these principles revealed to us by God in His Holy Word. The born again Saul of Tarsus is preaching again, speaking boldly about Jesus Christ, and SOON there is yet another plot and conspiracy to kill him.

Again, the man who hunted Christians is himself being hunted. But, give up or give in or be put off? That does not enter his thinking! The brothers in the local Jerusalem Fellowship hear of these threats on Saul's life, and they send Saul…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 9, we learn just how vitally important friends are. Some are named and others remain unnamed, but each played his part.

Saul of Tarsus joins The Christian Fellowship. This is an important principle. From the very beginning Saul is committed to The Church of Jesus Christ. He was a physical visible member. Wherever he goes over the next 30 years, Paul (as he was later called) is committed to The Church, which is The Body of Christ. No matter what city or community he goes to, we see this vital principle. Now this is not widely taught.

From the first…  ( Click for more )

Acts 9:27-31. Saul of Tarsus the man who had set out to persecute the Church of Jesus Christ has been 'born again' to everyone's complete surprise. He has met the risen living Jesus, had his eyesight restored, was filled with The Holy Spirit, and baptised in water, then had something to eat.

He began to preach in Damascus, that Jesus is the Son of God. People were astonished and amazed. This, after all, was the opposite of the main reason for his visit to Damascus. Saul grew more and more powerful as he exercised his faith - this muscle called faith.

He baffled the…  ( Click for more )

Acts 9:26. Saul made his way back to Jerusalem, from Damascus. This was not going to be any easier to begin with. He tried to join the Christian fellowship there. Not only was this a hard test for Saul, it was also going to be a hard test for them. To begin with they would NOT accept him.

How would you react if you had tried to get into the Jerusalem Fellowship and someone had said - "No - No - we are not allowing you in here. We don't trust you. You are just a wolf in sheep's clothing - off you go - scarper!" Would that put you off the Church of Jesus Christ…  ( Click for more )

Acts 9:23-31. The enemy of God attempted to eradicate Saul of Tarsus as soon as he was born again and started preaching Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. There are times when he does attempt to rub us out - silence us - remove us - destroy our witness to Jesus Christ.

Saul is facing a violent reaction to his preaching in Damascus and he has to escape. Friends in his new found Fellowship help him to do this, and it is not very dignified. Sometimes we have to be prepared to lose our dignity to rescue our ministry and keep alive.

When opposition becomes real and fierce…  ( Click for more )

Acts 9 is so rich - in reality - in what is real - in testimony - in how the grace of God moves and intervenes and transforms men like Saul and Ananias.

We see how Jesus Christ can surprise a man who is NOT a disciple as well as a man who is a disciple. Chapter 9 teaches us how we come into the Church - into the Kingdom of God - and something of what we can expect after we come in - as it speaks about ministry and witnessing and suffering - the need to have a trusting friend - and taking risks. So much!

This violent, wounding, furious man has met Jesus Christ. He is in…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 9:17, Ananias goes in obedience to Jesus to minister to Saul, who has only been a believer for three days. Ananias was Saul's first Christian friend. They would never have come together if it had not been Jesus leading them. Ananias comes in - "Brother Saul" - what a transformation - from the ringleader of the persecutors to "Brother Saul". Ananias lays his hands on Saul explaining why he has come - SO THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE YOUR SIGHT - AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Let's sort out this eyesight problem. There was something like scales fell from his eyes,…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 9, we are looking at how Saul of Tarsus was confronted by the Risen and Living Lord Jesus Christ outside the city of Damascus and how he was totally changed and transformed. When he wrote later this he says that when we come to Jesus Christ, we become a new creation, and Paul certainly knew what he was talking about.

In our previous study, we left him in Damascus - blind - and spending 3 days praying and fasting. For three days he eats nothing, and drinks no water. Praying and fasting can create an atmosphere in which Jesus can speak. What is he praying? Can…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 9, we see the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ coming to a man who does not believe that Jesus is alive! Jesus meets Saul as he nears Damascus. He was out of Israel. Sometimes we have to get out of our own religious prejudices before we are able to meet the Living God. Sometimes we have to be broken or melted, before we are ready to believe in and follow Jesus.

Saul was a deeply religious man. Did he suspect that these disciples of Jesus might just be right? They were willing to go to prison and die for their faith, and if they were right, then all he had hoped…  ( Click for more )

When we come to Acts 9, the Church of Jesus Christ, which has around some 8,000 members, has been blasted out of Jerusalem by a wave of strong violent persecution. The situation is serious. The Church is on the move, but at that time I do not think people would understand what was happening, and we have hints of that in this passage. There would be questions - confusion - upset - disturbance - as well as suffering.

Remember what has been happening. Those in positions of leadership have gone out to preach Jesus Christ - crucified - risen - ascended - pouring out the Holy…  ( Click for more )

We remain with Philip, in Acts Chapter 8 and at verse 16 when an angel comes to him and speaks to him, "Go south to the road - the desert road - to Gaza." This is the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.

Philip is being removed from the scene of exciting revival to the wilderness - from the fertile valleys of Samaria to the desert - why? God says some strange things to us at times. God can ask us to do peculiar things at times, which can surprise us and make us wonder - "What are YOU up to?" Our gracious loving God does not mind us asking relevant questions. …  ( Click for more )

We are in Acts Chapter 8, and we saw how that wave of violent persecution, master-minded by Saul of Tarsus, got The Church of Jesus Christ on the move and out of Jerusalem. For some 3 or 4 months or so the Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen from the dead and ascended, had been preached only in Jerusalem.

God was now using something which was not good - persecution - for good, and for His Glory, and for the spread and advancement of The Kingdom. We need to know this. Our gracious God can take what is not good, and use it to advance His Kingdom. The Risen Lord…  ( Click for more )

In Acts 8, we read of a most violent wave of persecution, which had the church running from the persecutors in Jerusalem. But, they did not run away from Jesus - or give up - or say - "This is proving too costly." They just got on with doing what Jesus wanted done - without thinking about it.

Some of our finest work can be done when we are on automatic - when we don't think too much about what we say or do - when we are being led and motivated by The Holy Spirit. The Gospel was now on the move for the first time. It is interesting to read that the leaders remained in Jerusalem,…  ( Click for more )