GOSPEL MEDITATION #29

Acts 9:1-19a

The Conversion of Saul, part 1

1. Find a quiet place without distractions.
2. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. We can only wonder at the extreme reaction Saul/Paul had toward the followers of Jesus. Were we that way as well?
8. There were about 10 synagogues in Damascus at that time; Paul needed the commission of the Council of Israel, which they gave to him. The Sanhedrin was in crisis mode.
9. On the road to Damascus (Syria), a light from heaven flashes around Paul; God is present right there.
10. “Why?” Paul are you persecuting Me. To persecute the disciples of Jesus is to persecute Jesus Himself. We are His body after all. (see1 Corinthians 12:27)
11. Paul’s travelling companions also heard the voice, now utterly stunned, they lead blind Paul into the city.
12. Ananias, a disciple, God also speaks to in a vision (orama in the Greek), not a trance state, likely while in prayer. He receives instructions about Paul, but he is reluctant since he has heard about the evil Paul was doing.
13. God’s ways are not our ways, and He has plans for this persecutor. His commission of this “chosen instrument” will be three-fold: preach to Gentiles, kings, and to the “children of Israel.”
14. Ananias obeys, comes to Paul, lays hands on him, which shows fellowship and a setting aside, a common Jewish practice, and Paul experiences conversion.
15. At once Paul is baptized. Wish we knew more of this.

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 28

Acts 8:26-40

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or chant the Jesus Prayer.
4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. The “deacon” Philip serves as an evangelist, now is sent by the Holy Spirit of God away to a desert place, near Gaza, to the road that leads south to Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
8. He comes across an official of the government of Ethiopia (Cush in the O.T., also Nubia centuries before) that is ruled by a Candace (Kandake) the mother of the king. He is returning from Jerusalem (probably a God-fearer like Cornelius the Roman centurion-Acts 10).
9. The Eunuch is in a chariot, covered wagon type, and is reading the scroll of Isaiah, in fact, reading the passage about the suffering servant of Israel, Isaiah chapter 53.
10. Philip shows him the passage is about Jesus, which would go to the heart of the Gospel message. The eunuch believes.
11. Quite apparently part of Philip’s message had to do with baptism, something Jesus has commanded to be done as in Matthew 28:19-20.
12. As a eunuch he would not have been able even to enter the Temple (see Dt.23:1) but as Isaiah 56:3-5 shows, nothing prevents the eunuch from being baptized.
13. Verse 37, as found in the KJV, is not original to Acts and rightfully does not appear in the ESV as also most others.
14. Philip and the eunuch go down into the water and Philip baptizes him. Here we see that others than apostles baptize.
15. In a way which we do not understand, the Spirit carries Philip away, and the eunuch continues home rejoicing—thus Luke showing a genuine conversion.

16.       Philip continues to his home-Caesarea. (Acts 21:8-9.)

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 27

Acts 8:9-25

Simon the Magician Believes

1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
5. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.
6. Reread them. From memory, determine the central points.
7. The “deacon” Philip preaching in Samaria, comes across one Simon, a magician (Simon Magus) or sorcerer, who captivated many with his powerful magic. This is not slight-of-hand, but demonically powered magic.
8. Many trust in Jesus and are baptized, including Simon. Here is the Biblical pattern, evangelism, which focuses on Jesus, conversions follow immediately, and the new believers are baptized.
9. The apostles in Jerusalem hear of this and send Peter and John to Samaria. (Remember John, one of the sons of thunder had wanted Jesus to send down fire on Samaritans.)
10. Peter and John prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. This is not easily understood. Maybe the apostles expected what had happened to them on the Day of Pentecost to take place with the new Samaritan believers. It is unclear, but the apostles lay hands on and the result is the Holy Spirit was received. Did they speak in tongues, praise God?
11. Simon observes the proceedings and wants this power and attempts to buy it. (He still has the heart of an occultist.)
12. Peter is not impressed and sharply rebukes Simon. Peter’s words indicate he does not think that Simon is born again—this point is arguable—but Peter does give Simon an opportunity to repent.
13. Simon’s answer indicates he still is clinging to magical thinking—wanting Peter to pray for him.

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 26

Acts 8:1-8

Saul Ravages the Church

and

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
5. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.
6. Reread them. From memory, determine the central points.
7. After Stephen is killed and caused a “great lamentation” among the believers in Jesus—normal when loss occurs.
8. The religious authorities turn their attention to the fledgling Church, and lead by an outraged Saul/Paul, much chaos is generated among the believers. The result is a scattering of Jesus’ followers throughout the region, and as they went, they were “preaching the word.” These are the un-named evangelists.
9. Philip, one of the Seven, not the apostle, goes to Samaria, an area where he would not be welcome.
10. Philip preached to the Samaritans that Jesus was the Messiah and crowds heard him gladly, surprisingly.
11. Luke tells us that the hearers were highly impressed by seeing the signs Philip was going. (Perhaps Philip was among the “72” Jesus sent out as recorded in Luke 10.)
12. Then we recall the time Jesus visited Samaria and the impact there as recorded in John 4. (Luke would not have known about John’s Gospel.)
13. “Unclean spirits” came out of many Luke tells us. The impact of this would have been dramatic—ancient peoples suffered mightily from demonic oppression and possession and were virtually powerless over such evil forces. Something utterly new is seen now.
14. Also, many were healed, and of serious organic physical conditions. This is an account of a real awakening, noted throughout Christian history as the Samaritan Awakening.
15. There was “much joy” in Samaria.

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 25
The Stoning of Stephen
Acts 7:54-60
1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
5. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.
6. Reread them. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Stephen now faces what he knew was coming—his execution by stoning per Leviticus 24:10-16.
8. Stephen did not soften the Gospel message before the Council of Israel. It takes courage to be courageous.
9. “Cut to the heart”—these leaders were angered beyond measure just like Paul (Saul) was per Acts 9:1-5. Were we like that as well? Are lost people still this way today?
10. In the face of death, and of a savage kind, Stephen has his eyes upon Jesus, which may be what “full of the Holy Spirit” means in verse 55.
11. “Heaven opened” is likely an idiom, a saying that would have been understood by Stephen’s executioners. We have Stephen seeing Jesus “standing” and not “sitting”, which reveals a high Christology. (see Matthew 26:64)
12. The religious leaders cannot bear to here Stephen’s words so with one mind (thumadon in the Greek), they rush to kill Stephen. Desperate people indeed.
13. Luke introduces Saul now, who is our Paul, and reveals his role in the stoning of Stephen. (See 1 Timothy 1:15)
14. At the point where Stephen is at the gate of death, he beholds Jesus and says, “receive my spirit.” This is a common expression meaning that someone is about to die.
15. Then, reminiscent of his Lord, Stephen asks the sin of the elders of Israel not be held against them, just as Jesus had done. (see Luke 23:34)
16. Stephen “fell asleep” – a way of saying he died.