February 4 / Acts 9:1-9

Acts 9:1-9 I have often joked that Saul’s conversion was easier than mine. Paul was knocked from his horse. (Really? Yeah, maybe not in the text, but check out the hundreds of paintings of Saul’s conversion!) And Jesus identified Himself and spoke directly to him! It took a young man named Jim 3-1/2 years to …

February 2 / Acts 8:14-25

Acts 8:14-25 Yesterday I suggested that we list Simon the Sorcerer as a believer and see what follows in the next reading. Well, the next reading, itself, is mixed. First Peter condemns Simon for wanting to buy “Holy Spirit power”. Then Simon apparently “repents” and asks for prayer that Peter’s condemnation not fall on him. …

February 1 / Acts 8:4-13

Acts 8:4-13 We were talking in our Men’s Group recently about healing. I asked/wondered why we saw all these miraculous healings in the 1st century church, but we see fewer miraculous healings today. There followed a lengthy discussion, the most of which I recall as the “miracle of modern medicine”, which did not satisfy me …

February 2020 Readings

Date Reading(s) Verses 01-Feb Acts 8:4-13 10 02-Feb Acts 8:14-25 12 03-Feb Acts 8:26-40 15 04-Feb Acts 9:1-9 9 05-Feb Acts 9:10-19 10 06-Feb Acts 9:20-30 11 07-Feb Acts 9:31-43 13 08-Feb Acts 10:1-8 8 09-Feb Acts 10:9-16 8 10-Feb Acts 10:17-23 7 11-Feb Acts 10:24-33 10 12-Feb Acts 10:34-48 15 13-Feb Acts 11:1-18 18 …

January 31 / Acts 8:1-3

Acts 8:1-3 Only three verses today, but an information-packed three verses, with Saul as a major player. …they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (v. 1b) My Study Bible made two points here. First, this verse is the fulfillment of Jesus’ prediction/charge from Acts 1:8, “…you will be …

January 30 / Acts 7:54-60

Acts 7:54-60 I have often commented on Stephen’s seeing Jesus …standing at the right hand of God. (vv. 55b, 56b), noting that Jesus’ normal position is to be seated at the Father’s right hand, as He Himself said (Luke 22:69, Matthew 26:64, Mark 14:62). But Stephen sees Jesus STANDING at God’s right hand. I’ve pictured …

January 29 / Acts 7:44-53

Acts 7:44-53 I’ve always loved Stephen’s change of tone at verse 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 …