Acts 7:44-8:4

Dear RTB’ers,

Our third day of Stephen’s testimony – the climax. I’ve always loved Stephen’s change of tone at Acts 7:51 (and following): You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit… Before that he had been basically a story-teller, recounting Jewish history, although he was clearly leading up to temple worship and Jesus’ death. We have a hint of a change in tone in Acts 7:48: Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says… I can sense the Jewish leaders taking offense at that statement, but they let him go on, not wanting to challenge his Isaiah quote. But then Acts 7:51-53…!!

At times I wonder about these speeches (and even some of the events). Luke was not one of the twelve apostles; how did he get his information when he wrote his Gospel or when he wrote Acts? He had to have access to some insiders who could relay the details of the events or of the speeches. For this particular event and Stephen’s speech, however, Luke had a trusty eyewitness – Saul, later named Paul, who was present at the event. (Acts 7:58b, 8:1) Also, Stephen has two of the same quotes as Jesus on the cross: Lord Jesus, receive My spirit. and Lord, do not hold this sin against them. (Acts 7:59b, 60b) It’s easy to ask whether Stephen really said these things, since these quotes from Jesus are from Luke, (Luke 23: 34, 46), and are not in the other Gospels. I accept all words of Scripture as “God-breathed” (II Timothy 3:16), so I do not dispute that Stephen said these words. But it’s one of the ways in which non-believers attack Scripture as a product of men, not inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Just that…

Stephen sees Jesus …standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55b, 56b) Jesus’ normal position is to be seated at the Father’s right hand, as He Himself said (Luke 22:69). But Stephen sees Jesus STANDING at God’s right hand. I picture Jesus as Stephen’s defense attorney standing before the Father, the Judge if you will, pleading for Stephen’s life, his entry into heaven upon his death. And Luke writes this exact word TWICE, in verses 55 and 56. I sense that Luke wanted to make that point crystal clear, that Jesus stands before the Father in defense of any who come before the Father and have committed their life to Him. That’s powerful!

The Jews stoned Stephen outside the city (Acts 7:58). They had cast him out (driven him out, dragged him out, according to different translations), so it was imperative to them that they commit this deed outside the city. Did they consider the city itself, not just the temple, such a holy place? Strange.

Blessings!

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See also: November 23 (2023) / Acts 6:1-8:3

Acts 7:9-43

Dear RTB’ers,

STS has Stephen’s long discourse broken down into three days’ readings. Yesterday, the first day was the introduction, going only as far as the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Today’s reading touches on Joseph and his deliverance of Israel (his father, Jacob and his brothers (Acts 7:9-16)), but is mostly focused on Moses (Acts 7:20-40). The third day, tomorrow will be the climax to which Stephen is building. After we read tomorrow, it would be good to go back to verse 2 and read Stephen’s entire sermon as a whole.

…this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer… (v.35b) and This man led them out, performing wonders and signs… (v. 36a) Stephen is building his case, clearly looking forward to Jesus in these two sentences. His “this man” in both sentences is referring to Moses, but it is also clear to Stephen that another “this Man”, Jesus, was doing the same things – ruling and redeeming and performing wonders and signs. And as Moses was rejected by his own people, so will Jesus also be rejected by the Jewish leaders.

So, tomorrow, the climax of these three days’ readings of Stephen’s sermon.

Blessings!

Acts 6:1-7:8

Dear RTB’ers,

Mayday!! And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7) Here we have our fifth transition verse / section (see also Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-37, 5:42, 6:1a), but this verse gives us some really new information, that many of the Jewish priests are converting. This is huge! It’s not just the common people, even priests are hearing and believing! The priests are very learned in their Jewish heritage and faith while the apostles (Peter and John), in the eyes of the Council, were “uneducated and untrained men” (Acts 4:13). These priests, strong in their Jewish traditions are regularly ministering in the Temple, especially in offering the daily animal sacrifices. Their conversion is necessarily their recognition that Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross eliminated the need for these sacrificial rituals. These are major conversions!

Stephen is now brought before the Council. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. (Acts 6:10) These “men from the Synagogue” (Acts 6:9), possibly even including a rabbi or two?, were overwhelmed by Stephen’s claims. They were troubled enough that anger took root and they began to plot against him. Stephen is following the pattern set by Jesus, with false witnesses set against him also, even the charge of destroying the temple – the same charge brought against Jesus. And as we shall see in the next few days, Stephen will suffer the same outcome as Jesus. But not before he lays his counter-charges fully before his challengers! Stay tuned!

Blessings!

Acts 5:17-42

Dear RTB’ers,

Yesterday’s closing verse: The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:16) Today we see the Jewish leaders jealous of the apostles’ success with the people and angry that Peter and the others are disobeying their command not to teach or speak in Jesus’ name: “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (Acts 5:28) It is interesting to me that the high priest is not willing to speak Jesus’ Name!! I wonder why. Guilt? Fear? Pride? All the above? He has been told by Peter and John that there is power in that Name (Acts 4:10); maybe he fears a negative outcome if he is the one who is speaking the Name!! Curious! And frankly (maybe only to me), somewhat amusing…!

Gamaliel’s wisdom: “…for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (Acts 5:38b-39) We will learn later that Saul (later, the apostle Paul) was one of Gamaliel’s students. Paul speaking: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel.” (Acts 22:3a) Interesting.

Blessings!

Acts 4:32-5:16

Dear RTB’ers,

Today we have two sets of “transition verses” (Acts 4:32-27 and Acts 5:12-16), sandwiched around the story of Ananias and Sapphira. In these transition sections time passes, but we don’t know how much. In chapters 1 and 2 Luke had definite time intervals – the Ascension occurred 40 days after Jesus’ Resurrection and Pentecost happened 50 days after the Resurrection. Between chapters 2 and 3 (the healing of the lame man) there is no definite period of time. It could have been that Peter and John appeared before the Council in the first few weeks after Jesus’ Ascension or it could have been months. (We don’t imagine it would have been years.) Likewise, there is no definite time period for the incident before and after Ananias and Sapphira; again it could also be weeks or months, but this time also, possibly years.

Ananias and Sapphira – a sad story…

Again (as in Acts 3:11) we see the apostles gathering in the temple, in Solomon’s Portico (Acts 5:12b), and multitudes gathering around them. Today’s reading speaks of healing miracles (Acts 5:12, 15, 16) accomplished at the hands of the apostles – no doubt the apostles were also sharing their faith. I’ve always admired the Catholic Church’s approach to evangelism, both locally and globally. Their “evangelism” was to go out with a goal of “doing good” (think, Mother Theresa) – mostly building hospitals and schools – and would construct a chapel for their own use, but also invite the locals to join them. Sounds remarkably like the apostles’ healing ministry in Solomon’s Portico…!

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus… (Acts 4:33a). Time has passed since Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension and the Holy Spirit’s anointing at Pentecost, but the one focus for the apostles is the Resurrection. They are seeing miracles and signs and wonders taking place in Jesus’ name, but the preaching focus is the Resurrection. When I am sharing my faith with a non-believer, I often ask a series of questions. Do you believe that Jesus lived? Do you believe that He died, that He was crucified? Do you believe that He rose from the dead. I typically get “yes” answers for #1 and #2a, with a “maybe” for #2b and either a “no” or an “I don’t know” for #3. Then it’s time to launch into evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection. If you’ve never read it, a short book by Josh McDowell, More Than a Carpenter, provides in simple terms a number of evidence items for the Resurrection. Folks, we need to have Jesus’ Resurrection as the foundation of our faith and as the center of our witness. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus…

Blessings!

Acts 4:1-31

Dear RTB’ers,

Acts 4, following the healing incident and Peter’s sermon. We have arrived at the passage that I had pointed to back on April 2:

Jesus speaking: “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” (Luke 21:12-15) Some three weeks down the road we will begin reading the Book of Acts. In chapter 4 we will see Jesus’ words played out, as Peter and John are testifying before the Council: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) They had been with Jesus. That was enough!

…to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (v. 28) Every time I run into some “predestination” item I wonder about predestination and choice and free will. Had God ordered up these people and these events? My Study Bible said that God had allowed them to undertake their “freely chosen acts to accomplish His chosen purpose”. So they get around any predetermined leaders’ activities. The NIV gives a better understanding, I think, of what the text actually means: They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. So the “predestination” notion in verse 28 quoted above refers to the outcome, Jesus’ crucifixion, not to the means to that outcome. That is, God had preordained that His Son would die, but that men acting on their own free would bring it about.

Finally, a member of the Council speaking, “For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.” (v. 16b) We hearken back to Luke 24 when the two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, …one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (Luke 24:18) Today, in Acts 4 we see again that these events are widely known in Jerusalem, and clearly the people have responded, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. (v. 4)

“… we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Blessings!

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See also: November 22 (2023) / Acts 3-5

Acts 3

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, a healing incident and a long sermon. The healing incident in today’s reading continues tomorrow in Acts 4. As for the sermon, we see exactly what I posted about two days ago:

My Study Bible pointed out some general Acts speech items that we will see again in similar fashion in chapters 3, 10, and 13:

1. An explanation of events
2. Jesus’ life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension
3. An exhortation to repentance and baptism/salvation.

Check.

As for the incident, I am always struck by Peter and John being together and being the only ones mentioned. We know Peter as the leader of the Apostles and we always picture John as one of the younger Apostles. Yet here they are going to the temple together. They had run to the tomb together on Easter morning. And later they will be sent to Samaria to pray for new believers there that …they might receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-15) They were two of the three (Peter, James, and John) who witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17), who were with Jesus at the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 5:37), and who went forth with Him when He prayed at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37). So these two, a strange pairing. And where’s James?

And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. (v. 8) What’s strange to me is that the man leaps up and is immediately walking and leaping. In today’s world when someone has a stroke or has a body part replacement, there is a period of physical therapy and rehabilitation, often re-learning basic life functions. I had a hip replacement in 2019 and a long recovery period. But this man, lame from birth, is immediately “up and at ‘em”!! Now that’s Holy Spirit healing!!

Blessings!

Acts 2:37-47

Dear RTB’ers,

The Acts of the Holy Spirit. Yes, definitely, in this chapter! In that room where He first appeared (Acts 2:1-4); in Peter’s transformation – his bold, confident preaching (Acts 2:14-36); in the gospel message received by Peter’s listeners and their repentance (Acts 2:37-41); and in the believers’ fellowship (Acts 2:42-47). Yes, the Acts of the Holy Spirit…

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized … and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.” (Acts 2:38-39) As prominent as the Holy Spirit is in the book of Acts, I daresay He is substantially diminished in the Christian world today. It seems (to me) that many people see the work of the Holy Spirit as defined by His gifts (see Romans 12:3-8, I Corinthians 12:8-10, Ephesians 4:7-13), especially the gift of speaking in tongues. But what we really need to see, understand, and believe is His indwelling in each of us (all who are far off…). “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, … for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19). (For a good article on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, see https://www.gotquestions.org/indwelling-of-the-Holy-Spirit.html.)

Indwelling in each and every one of us – all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself… You, me, everyone.

Blessings!

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See also: November 21 (2023) / Acts 1-2

Acts 2:14-36

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, Peter’s first speech, this one to the Pentecost crowd. A quick clarifying note and a bit of “theological geography” – in verse 14 Peter speaks to “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem…” We celebrate today’s reading as the feast of Pentecost. The root word, “Pente” refers to five or its multiples. So Pentecost is fifty days after the Passover, after Jesus’ Resurrection. It was one of three major feasts in Israel, where Jews from nearby and from afar came to Jerusalem to celebrate the “Ingathering” or “First Fruits”. Peter may not have known of the geographic disparity of the crowd described in verses 9-11. But he probably knew that the crowd recognized him and his colleagues as Galileans (v. 7). Their Galilean identity would have been recognized by the “locals”, more so than by those from distant lands, so he addressed his speech to “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem…”

My Study Bible pointed out some general Acts speech items that we will see again in similar fashion in chapters 3, 10, and 13:

1. An explanation of events
2. Jesus’ life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension
3. An exhortation to repentance and baptism/salvation.

It’s a good pattern for us to follow in sharing our faith with unbelievers, especially (2) and (3).

I’m always amazed at how well Peter and Paul and Philip (Acts 8:26-40) and Jesus! knew their Old Testament prophets and psalms and could quote them word-for-word (Acts 2:17-21, 34-35). No doubt this was part of their upbringing in Jewish families. Their home-schooling was more Scripture than math and rhetoric. In addition, I’m guessing that Jesus used these Scriptures to explain His own death and Resurrection, both before and after His Resurrection, so He built into the apostles even more familiarity with specific psalms and prophecies.

Finally, Peter speaks, but does not explain a fundamental theological point, “But God raised Him from the dead, … since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” (v. 24, NASB) We could go deep into sin and death, but Paul says it most simply, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) As a completely innocent human being, Jesus did not deserve to die. His Resurrection undid that wrongful death, never to die again. As we say every Sunday, “By His Resurrection He broke the bonds of death, trampling Hell and Satan under His feet.” Our liturgy. Sweet!

Blessings!