Devotional Thoughts on Acts
Legacy (Acts 28:30-31)
“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:30–31, ESV) It has been my style to share a little about myself in my preaching and writing. The…
Pressing On (Acts 28:28)
“Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” (Acts 28:28, AV) There are many times in life when our expectations are not met. We have a plan for our lives and things just do not go as planned. When I survey…
Mixed Reception (Acts 28:23-27)
“And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” (Acts 28:24, AV) Years ago, my wife and I were invited to a company Christmas party at a place called “The Dry Gulch.” I guess you can imagine from the name that it was not the kind of place in which we would…
Inquiring Minds (Acts 28:17-23)
“And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.” (Acts 28:21–22, AV)…
A Reception (Acts 28:15-16)
“And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.” (Acts 28:15, AV) In 2019, after ten-years of ministry in Portsmouth, I retired from the full-time pastorate. It honestly was a difficult…
Hospitality (Acts 28:11-16)
“Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.” (Acts 28:14, AV) Six months after the Lord saved me, the pastor of our church spoke to me about going to Omaha Nebraska to attend an Evangelism Explosion teacher training conference. I had never been to…
Miracle on Malta (Acts 28:7-10)
“And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: Who also…
Great Physician – (Acts 28:1-6)
“And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath…
Change of Command (Acts 27-38)
“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day…
In the Eye of the Storm God is in Control (Acts 21-26)
“For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even…
I Told You So (Acts 27:13-21)
“But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.” (Acts 27:21, AV) I once worked for a company in Switzerland that manufactured printing presses. Prior to that, I worked…
The Fruit of Secularization (Acts 27:1-12)
“And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.” (Acts 27:10–11, AV) There was…
The Passion of Compassion (Acts 26:26-32)
“And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” (Acts 26:29, ESV) When I was a young adult, I became involved with sport target shooting. Ultimately, I would shoot on our collegiate…
True Words (Acts 26:22)
“Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. . . But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.” (Acts 26:22,…
Called and Sent (Acts 26:1-18)
“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom…
Civil Rights (Acts 25:1-12)
“For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed…
Conviction (Acts 24:22-26)
“And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I…
Great Divide (Acts 24:21)
“Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.” (Acts 24:21, AV) There is a hydrological feature that extends from Alaska to the southernmost tip of south America. It is called the Great Divide. It is…
Self-Defense (Acts 24:1-21)
“Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:” (Acts 24:10, AV) On occasion, we are called to defend our actions. I have had several of these,…
Grand Escort (Acts 23:23-34)
“And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.” (Acts 23:23–24, AV) The…
Pity the Fools (Acts 23:12-22)
“And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul . . . “And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.” (Acts…
Confidence (Acts 23:6-11)
“And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” (Acts 23:11, AV) Years ago, I was a church planter pastor in Savannah Georgia. I began a new church on a college…
Speak No Evil (Acts 22:30-5)
“Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.” (Acts 23:5, AV) In our country, we currently are in a period of unrest. I have seen much political unrest in my lifetime, but I have never…
Citizenship (Acts 22:22-29)
“And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.” (Acts…
The Call (Acts 22:12-21)
“And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:14–15, ESV) Most pastoral ordination boards usually will ask the…
Irrefutable (Acts 22:1-11)
“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” (Acts 22:1, ESV) In witnessing, I often share the story of my own conversion. In short, I was searching for answers following my wife’s decision to be baptized in a local church. To find the answers, I began reading a Gideon Bible every…
A Small World (Acts 21:27-36)
“And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,” (Acts 21:27, AV) When our children were young, we went to Disney World in Orlando Florida. While there, we went on a ride, “It’s…
Misunderstanding (Acts 21:20-26)
“Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.”…
Rejoicing in Birth (Acts 21:17-20a)
“And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord.” (Acts 21:19–20a, AV) I remember the birth of our children, our daughter born in a military hospital while I was on field maneuvers and our son…
Courageous Release (Acts 21:7-14)
“Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:13–14, AV)…
We Are Family (Acts 21:1-6)
“And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and…
Sweet Sorrow (20:36-38)
“And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.” (Acts 20:36–38, AV)…
Providing Care (Acts 20:28-35)
“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28, ESV) When I was in the Army, stationed in Germany, the military had a variety of clubs or stores in…
Innocent (Acts 20:26-27)
“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:26–27, AV) When I was studying engineering at Drexel University, part of the program was to work in a cooperative program (co-op)…
Courage (Acts 20:22-25)
“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might…
No Couch-Potato (Acts 20:17-21)
“Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was…
Stay Alert (Acts 20:1-16)
“And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.” (Acts 20:9, AV) I heard this story some time back. A young pastor one…
Government (Acts 19:38-20:1)
“Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.” (Acts 19:38–39, AV) In our country there are various…
Share With Grace Acts 19:35-41)
“Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.” (Acts 19:36–37, ESV) In the previous devotion dealing with clashing worldviews, one concluding thought was that we need to witness graciously. The…
Clashing Views (Acts 19:28-34)
“And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.” (Acts 19:29, AV) I remember turbulent times during the era of the Vietnam conflict. There were protests in the streets and in the universities. People were…
Religious Business (Acts 19:21-27)
“For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but…
Surrender (Acts 18-20)
“And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.” (Acts 19:18–19, AV) When I went to the Army Ranger School…
In the Name Of (Acts 19:11-20)
“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth . . . And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” (Acts…
Outreach (Acts 19:8-10)
“But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and…
Unique Pertinence (Acts 19:1-7)
“He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” (Acts 19:2, AV) A short while after being called to pastor in New Hampshire, I began a small group Bible study in my home.…
Good Friends (Acts 18:24-26)
“And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” (Acts 18:26, AV) Life has some embarrassing moments. I was at a pastor’s conference once and a church-planter arose to tell his story of…
Strengthening (Acts 18:22-23)
“And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.” (Acts 18:23, AV) Some time ago, I was surf-fishing. I am not certain when it happened. It may have been when I ran for my rod when a big…
Providential Plans (Acts 18:18-21)
“But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.” (Acts 18:21, AV) In 1987, my employment in the Chicago area was terminated. The company gave me a decent severance package of three…
Bizarre Responses (Acts 18:12-17)
“But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And…
Grounding (Acts 18:11)
“And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” (Acts 18:11, AV) One of the ministries I had in Savannah Georgia was as the Director of Single Adults Ministries in a medium sized church. One of the things I started in this role was to have a Friday…
Fear Not (Acts 18:9-10)
“Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” (Acts 18:9–10, AV) Proclaiming Christ to a lost and dying…
Moving On (Acts 18:5-8)
“And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6, AV) It has been rare but, on occasion, I have had some mildly hostile encounters in evangelism. They were not…
Relationships (Acts 18:1-4)
“And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” (Acts…
Painting a Picture (Acts 17:23-31)
“For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;”…
The Audience (Acts 17:22-23)
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.”…
Bridging (Acts 17:20-21)
“For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (Acts 17:20, AV) In the military while in the Army Ranger School, I learned how to build rope bridges. One evening on a training exercise in the swamps of Florida, we had to get across a river and…
Provocations (Acts 17:16-21)
“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” (Acts 17:16, AV) I do not want to get too political in these devotions, so I will not present to you a political view on issues. I will only present the biblical…
Mark of Nobility (Acts 17:10-15)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11, AV) When you meet someone of noble character, you meet someone who stands above the crowd in some way. Yet, it is not in…
Green Eyed Monster (Acts 17:5-9)
“But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” (Acts 17:5, AV) The phrase “Green Eyed Monster” seems…
Authority of Truth (Acts 17:1-4)
“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”” (Acts 17:2-3, ESV) When I…
Wrong & Right (Acts 16:35-40)
“And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.” (Acts 16:40, AV) There was a time when I managed a plant that printed shipping containers. The third shift operator had printed a lot of material that was off…
What Must I Do (Acts 16:26—34)
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30–31, AV) While I was attending a church in Savannah Georgia, something unusual happened. it was during a Wednesday evening prayer meeting. as…
Light in Darkness (Acts 16:19-25)
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:25, AV) I once heard a report of a boy who was part of an evangelism team at his church. He faithfully went every week with the team. Now, this does not seem too exceptional when most…
Distractions (Acts 16:16-18)
“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of…
Better Plans (Acts 16:6-15)
“And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” (Acts 16:10, AV) When I was in the military, I often heard the following. “There was the right way, the wrong way, and the captain’s way.”…
Bring No Offense (Acts 16:1-5)
“Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.” (Acts 16:3, AV) In the 1850’s, a missionary named Hudson Taylor went to China. In China, he took a revolutionary approach to…
Imperfect Servant (Acts 15:36-40)
“And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” (Acts 15:39–41, AV) When…
In Writing (Acts 15:22-35)
“Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner . . . So when they were dismissed, they came…
Civilized Debate (Acts 15:6-22)
“The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.”…
Legalistic Problems (Acts 15:1-5)
“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5, AV) One of the jobs I had was to set up a field service office for a German printing press manufacturer in…
Mistruth Destroys (Acts 15:1-5)
“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem…
Inspiring Reports (Acts 14:24-28)
“And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:27, ESV) Often, I have heard people share testimonies and the focus seems to be on the person sharing. I hear a lot of…
Prepared Church (Acts 14:21-23)
“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. And when they had…
Divine Protection (Acts 14:19-23)
“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. 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.”…
Laboring for Truth (Acts 14:16-18)
“Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.” (Acts 14:18, ESV) In the movie, “A Few Good Men,” there is a famous quotation, “You can’t handle the truth.” The Colonel in the movie is in a trial and being questioned regarding an incident that he ordered. He had denied…
Scary Response (Acts 14:8-18)
“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…
No Compromise (Acts 14:1-7)
“But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.” (Acts 14:4, AV) We who live in the United States have experienced unity. Our unity was severely tested during the Civil War. Yet, as a nation we survived the trial and remained the United States. The…
Shaking It Off (Acts 13:50-52)
“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. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.” (Acts 13:50–51, AV) I remember playing baseball as a…
Ordained (Acts 13:48)
“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.” (Acts 13:48, AV) One of the most difficult doctrines for many to accept, and is humanly impossible to reconcile, is that of the doctrine of election. It would be…
Preacher’s Dream (Acts 13:40-44)
“And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 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.…
True Freedom (Acts 13:38-39)
“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 13:38–39, AV) What does freedom look like and how does…
To Witness (Acts 13:13-36)
“Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 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.” (Acts 13:35–37, AV)…
Spiritual Warfare (Acts 13:4-12)
“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, AV) In World War…
Direction (Acts 13:1-3)
“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 13:2, AV) I knew a preacher who was between ministries. He was quite frustrated. This went on for some time, over a year. I experienced this same thing when…
Stealing Glory (Acts 12:20-25)
“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, AV) I do not think that I…
Prayer of Faith (Acts 12:12-17)
“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. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they…
Power of Prayer (Acts 12:1-12)
Power of Prayer (Acts 12:1-12) “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” (Acts 12:5, AV) One winter evening in the Chicago area, our small church had a Wednesday evening Bible study and prayer meeting. Unbeknownst to us inside the building, it began snowing.…
Body United (Acts 11:28-30)
“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 11:29–30, AV) When I worked for a company located in Zurich Switzerland, I would need to travel…
Joining In (Acts 11:19-26)
“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 11:22, AV) I was raised surf-fishing on the New Jersey shore. Every weekend my dad would pack us up in the jeep on Saturday morning…
Determination (Acts 11:1-18)
“So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, ‘You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.’” (Acts 11:2-3, ESV) When I worked in manufacturing management, I discovered that it was very easy to point the finger at someone based upon the circumstances. Often, I would come into the plant…
Signs of Change (Acts 10:44-11:18)
“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.” (Acts 10:45–46, AV) One evening while I was serving in the Army, I was in…
Sinner’s Prayer (Acts 10:44-48)
“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.” (Acts 10:44–45, AV) Years ago, I was the…
Forgiven (Acts 10:34-43)
“To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”” (Acts 10:43, ESV) Several times, I have met people who were convinced that they had sinned in a way that they considered so grievous that they could not be forgiven by God. A woman came…
Hunger (Acts 10:30-33)
“So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” (Acts 10:33, ESV) There have been a few times in my life when I was really hungry. There…
A New Viewpoint (Acts 10:9-16)
“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 lived…
A Memorial (Acts 10:1-8)
“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 day…
New Life (Acts 9:40-43)
“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 moved…
Being Missed (Acts 9:36-39)
“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 a…
Jehovah-Rapha (Acts 9:32-35)
“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 asked…
Turmoil and Peace (Acts 9:28-31)
“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;…
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Renewing the Heart 