GOSPEL MEDITATION # 18

Acts 5:17-42

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

1. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
2. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
3. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
4. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
5. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
6. First Peter and John but now the Twelve Apostles are arrested and brought before the Council of Israel—and the trouble is their preaching Jesus as raised from the dead.
7. An angel sets the 12 free, and we see very little of angelic ministry from this point forward. The angel of the Lord instructs that they go to the temple and preach Jesus.
8. Once the Council discovers the 12 missing, they are re-arrested and brought back for an interrogation.
9. How confusing it must have been for the leaders of Israel. If the followers of Jesus were right, then their whole structure and reason for living was nullified and more than that, error.
10. Peter, as spokesperson, will not budge and insists it is their duty to obey God rather the Council. This, understandably, enrages the august body to the point they are ready to kill the Twelve.
11. The bloodshed was prevented by Gamaliel, the chief teaching rabbi of the school of Hillel. Paul, still Saul, is one of his students.
12. The wise cleric counsels moderation. He recalls others who rose up against the established order and were eventually defeated. The idea is that the same would be true with the followers of Jesus the Galilean.
13. There was the possibility that the Council might even be found fighting against their own God. Leave them alone; let the results of the Jesus movement be the proof.
14. The Apostles were beaten (see Dt. 25:1-3) then set free.

These immediately continued preaching Jesus in the temple and from “house to house.” Courage under fire for sure

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 16

Ananias and Sapphira—Acts 5:1-11

(Also see: Lev. 10:1-11; Mt. 6:24, & 1 Peter 5:6-11)

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 passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Now a shift—Ananias and Sapphira connive to sell property but withhold a certain amount for themselves. It would be thought that they brought in the whole amount; perhaps they wanted attention and praise from the Church.
8. First Ananias, after questioning by Peter, drops dead. Probably not due to fright and fear, but by the hand of God. Then, 3 hours later, Sapphira, the wife, has the same thing happen to her. They are buried, no official inquiry is made, no report to authorities is made either. We are not sure of what would have been proper or expected in that situation.
9. This is not the first time something like this appears in Scripture. It is necessary now to study the story of Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, found in Leviticus 10:1-11. These two priests offered, drunkenly, worship in an unauthorized manned. They paid for it with their lives.
10. Then there is the story of Achan in Joshua 7:11ff.
11. The account of Ananias and Sapphira shows a shift in the life of the Church; nothing like this ever occurs again in Acts. We are left to wonder why Luke included this event.
12. It is in sharp contrast with Barnabas’ generosity. Notice “But” in 5:1. The “dirty laundry” is not hidden from view.
13. Jesus made it clear we cannot serve God and mammon, and mammon meaning money. (see Mt. 6:24) Money, and power that goes with it, is so often the devil’s tool to corrupt us. We see this in our world and in ourselves.

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 15

Acts 4:32-37 & 5:1-11

They had Everything in Common & Ananias and Sapphira

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 passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Some 5000 new believers in Jerusalem and many of these had homes far away, necessity was laid upon the new born Church and the Holy Spirit was working powerfully.
8. “One heart and soul”—a common saying meaning they experienced homothumadon meaning one mind.
9. The apostles continued to preach Jesus and the resurrection.
10. They operated under two principles: one, they depended upon the apostles to distribute funds, and two, the distribution was based upon need.
11. Luke now introduces the reader to Barnabas, one of the most significant figures in the early Church.
12. Now a shift—Ananias and Sapphira connive to sell property but withhold a certain amount for themselves. It would be thought that they brought in the whole amount; perhaps they wanted the attention and honor of the apostles.
13. First Ananias, after questioning by Peter, drops dead. Probably not due to fright and fear, but by the hand of God. Then, 3 hours later, Sapphira, the wife, has the same thing happen to her. They are buried, no official inquiry is made, no report to authorities is made either. We are not sure of what would have been proper or expected in that situation.
14. This is not the first time something like this appears in Scripture. It is necessary now to study the story of Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, found in Leviticus 10:1-11. These two priests offered, drunkenly, worship in an unauthorized manned. They paid for it with their lives.

16.       The account of Ananias and Sapphira shows a shift in the life

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 14

Acts 4:23-31

The Believers Pray for Boldness

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. Carefully read the passage of Scripture. Reread it.
6. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Peter and John, arrested by the Council are ordered to stop proclaiming Jesus, but state they must obey God instead.
8. When released they rejoined their “friends” and make a full report to the gathered followers of Jesus.
9. The reaction of those believers was to begin praying to their “Sovereign Lord” the creator of all things, and they also quote from Psalm 2, where David spoke of opposition and persecution that would come to the Lord’s anointed.
10. The list of those who oppose the Gospel is essentially inclusive of all rulers and peoples.
11. The early church is keenly aware of the predestination work of their creator God. Thus they are not shocked or shaken by the forces arrayed against them.
12. The difficulties are not ignored nor minimized but admitted.
13. There is no mention or retreating, going underground, or softening the message; rather the believers pray for boldness to keep on with their commission.
14. The believers also know that by means of signs and wonders their message will be affirmed and confirmed.
15. “Holy servant Jesus” is how those early believers spoke of Jesus, and servant is paida which is Greek for child.
16. The prayer concluded, (it is not clear what form the prayer took nor if all prayed or if there was a leader) the unknown location they were in was “shaken” (wish we had more details on what this was) and the believers were “filled” with the Holy Spirit. Not likely a second Pentecost but an inner renewal and strengthening of those present at the time.

GOSPEL MEDITATION #13

The Book of Acts # 13

Peter and John Before the Council part 2

and The Believers Pray for Boldness

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 passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. The boldness of Peter and John—they might have been flogged or worse—this by the Holy Spirit since they were common folk, with no real backing in Jerusalem.
8. The Council threatens but knows they cannot do much more. Charging the apostles not to talk about Jesus any longer, Peter replies that they cannot, will not, stop doing so. Here is the origin of Christian-style civil disobedience.
9. Peter and John return to the fledgling assembly of followers of Jesus and make their report. (It is likely that either Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea reported on the inner workings of the Council.)
10. Now comes the first recorded prayer of the first Christian gathering, and which begins with, “Sovereign Lord.”
11. The prayer almost seems to have been written down either before hand or afterward. We notice that “they” prayed and not a single individual. Wish we knew more of this.
12. In verse 28 the word “predestined” stands out. The Christians saw all that had taken place as something planned by the sovereign God. Even the actions of Herod and Pilate, as well as by the rulers of Israel had been predestined, and these, either known or determined in eternity.
13. The prayer is for two things: One-boldness to preach, and two-that God would grant signs and wonders through, or by, Jesus the Messiah. And this prayer was answered

GOSPEL MEDITATION #3

The Ascension

Acts 1:6-11

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 passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. The disciples want to know when Jesus will restore the kingdom to Israel. These men were people of their time having the general concept that the time of King David would return.
8. Jesus ignores the question saying that the time of the arrival of the kingdom is not their concern. The focus must be elsewhere.
9. “But”—is the key word. Jesus diverts the conversation with this word.
10. Now we have what is perhaps the most important verse in Acts.
11. Jesus first gives us a promise: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” The work ahead requires the working of the Spirit of God. (We are reminded of Matthew 3:11 now.)
12. Then secondly Jesus gives us the command to be His witnesses to the entire world, beginning at Jerusalem.
13. The witness must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. The content of that witness is what we call the “person and work of Jesus Christ.” This means the setting forth of who Jesus is and what Jesus did.
14. And it is this preaching and teaching that marks the presence of the Holy Spirit.
15. Jesus is now lifted up to heaven—the ascension—to the right hand of God, that place of power and authority.
16. A cloud took Jesus out of their sight, a statement that is difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend. “Cloud” however does point to the glory of God.
17. Two men, angels, as in Luke 24:4, appeared to the disciples with the assuring statement that Jesus would in fact return.

GOSPEL MEDITATION on Acts # 2

Acts 1:1-5

(Also see Jer. 31:31-34, Ez. 36:22-26; & Joel 2:28-29)

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 passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Volume 2 from Luke. First the account of Jesus’ words and deeds then the record or how part of the Church covered by Luke began to carry out the charge He gave that Church.
8. After the ascension Jesus appeared to the apostles, and a host of others for forty days from Passover, proving that He was indeed alive. The Greek word for “alive” in verse 3 is from zoe meaning life in its complete, fullest sense.
9. The chosen, hand picked, received His words. Today we are the chosen, and we still hear His words.
10. Jesus talked to His disciples about “the kingdom of God” during those forty days. What was He saying to them? is a question not easily answered. A best guess is that it is what we have Jesus saying as recorded in the Gospels.
11. Jesus gave orders, (verse 4) and so He will since He is Lord. Knowing this makes so much difference while living in such a confused world. The order was to wait for the “promise of the Father.” This promise is spoken of in the prophetic passages, among others, listed above.
12. Jesus had affirmed the empowering event of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:1-12. Soon (it would be in10 days) this promise would be made real—the Holy Spirit’s baptism.
13. Indeed, the apostles, and by extension we as well, will be baptized IN (not with as found in many translations), that is, plunged into and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Gospel Meditation on Acts #1

An Introduction

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. Part 2 of a two volume work is the Book of Acts.
7. Lucas, or Luke, (name meaning ‘Light Giving’), a Gentile perhaps from Antioch of Syria; as a physician, likely having graduated from one of the universities of that day, maybe of Alexandria, Rome, or Tarsus, his home town.
8. He may have been a proselyte of Judaism or a “God-fearer’. Less is known of him than any other Gospel writer.
9. Acts is the longest book in the New Testament, 1007 verses. It has the best Greek in the N.T. Luke was a careful researcher, a reliable historian, having talked with a number of the Twelve including Mary the mother of Jesus. Luke is correct in his times, places, and persons.
10. The “we” passages of Acts, like in 16:10, indicate he was a companion of Paul on at least two missionary trips.
11. Luke was faithful to Paul—“Luke alone is with me” Paul tells Timothy, 2 Timothy 4:11.
12. Luke abruptly ends his narrative of the early church probably about A.D. 62 or 63 while Paul was under house arrest in Rome. The book covers part of the history of the church from A.D. 30 to 63.
13. “Acts”—the question is, Whose acts? The Apostles, the Holy Spirit, the early church, or the working of the early church to fulfill Acts 1:8?
14. Acts 1:8 may be the key verse in all of the Book of Acts.
15. There was no title or name of author on the book; these became attached to Acts after the middle of the 2^nd How much we owe Brother Luke!

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 240

1 Peter 3:8-17

Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake

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 passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Of first importance Christians are to have unity of mind that is evidenced in empathy, compassion, and humbleness — this in the face of persecution.
8. Christians are not to be vengeful or retaliatory, which would only provoke like behavior, but rather we are to bless those who persecute us. (see Matthew 5:10)
9. Peter finds support in Psalm 34:12-16 for his counsel to the followers of Jesus as seen in verses 10 to 12.
10. Peter, experiencing persecution under Rome’s Nero, knows that making Rome the enemy is not an acceptable Christian response.
11. There will be persecution, it is probable not just possible, thus should be expected. Christians are right then in defending themselves, being ready to give an answer for their trusting in Jesus. And this “apologetic” must be prepared in advance.
12. The Christian defense must be made with gentleness and respect. How few of us are able to do this? is a question that comes to mind. Here is the test of genuine Christ likeness and empowering by the Holy Spirit.
13. Christians will be slandered, and who of us have not done this to Christians in our pre-Christian lives?
14. Good, Christ-like living, will be reviled, made fun of, and the way we receive this may be a witness for Christ.
15. Being slandered and persecuted for standing by our confession may be God’s will for us then after all.

GOSPEL MEDITATION # 239

The Gospel of Mark 16:9-20

The Long Endings of Mark

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 passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Does Mark’s Gospel end at verse 8? The preponderance of manuscript evidence suggests that it did. Was a page lost? — Some say yes, others think one or more endings were added later on. There is no firm answer here.
8. There is a long history that verses 9-20 describe some of the thinking of the early church. We turn now to these.
9. Verses 9-11 have Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus and John 20:11 says outside the tomb. Mary then goes to the eleven, or more, to tell them and finds them mourning and weeping, only to have them not believe her. These verses have a “ring of truth” despite the lack of manuscript credential.
10. Verses 12-13 describes Jesus appearing to two other disciples who have left Jerusalem, who then turn back and report they had seen Jesus. Again, the disciples reject it. This is likely Jesus meeting two disciple on the road to Emmaus, see Luke 24:13-35. Here again is the “ring of truth” despite the lack of manuscript credential.
11. Verses 14-20 reports on the appearance of Jesus to the eleven who have recovered enough to be having a meal. He launches into a sharp rebuke of them for their lack of faith.
12. Verse 15 has a version of the Great Commission and is vintage Jesus. Follows then is a list of signs and wonders that accompany the mission work–some of which seem incredible. Yet, there is that “ring of truth.”
13. Last the ascension, standard, and a report of what followed.