Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”” (Acts 10:15, ESV) My last pastoral ministry was in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The church ran a soup-kitchen where they would feed a hot lunch to about a hundred people every Tuesday. Many of these people livedContinue reading “A New Viewpoint (Acts 10:9-16)”

“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the dayContinue reading “A Memorial (Acts 10:1-8)”

“But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. . . And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” (Acts 9:40-42, AV) In 1987, we movedContinue reading “New Life (Acts 9:40-43)”

“Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.” (Acts 9:39, AV) A movie titled “Get Low” was released in 2009 that featured aContinue reading “Being Missed (Acts 9:36-39)”

“And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose.” (Acts 9:34, ESV) Years ago, while serving as an elder in a small church. A young couple brought their infant child to me and asked for prayer. The child was a bit cranky and they askedContinue reading “Jehovah-Rapha (Acts 9:32-35)”

“And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified;Continue reading “Turmoil and Peace (Acts 9:28-31)”

“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. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.Continue reading “Seeing Is Believing (Acts 9:26-29)”

“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, AV) When IContinue reading “Shrewdly Courageous (Acts 9:23-25)”

“But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.” (Acts 9:22, AV) It often seems difficult for people to change their minds about things, even when the proof is undeniable. This is a problem of paradigms. According to the dictionary, a paradigm canContinue reading “Breaking Paradigms (Acts 9:19-22)”