The Infectious Good News of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ spread quickly. The love of God, in the blood of Jesus, covered a multitude of our sins!
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
The Book of Acts begins in Jerusalem with the disciples huddled in a room on the Day of Pentecost. Then the Holy Spirit came upon them and authorized them to be His witnesses. The rest of Acts describes the ripple effect of that great event.
Jesus’ followers first witnessed to the Jews in Jerusalem, with Peter at the center of the movement. Then persecution broke out (7:59-60), scattering believers into Samaria and the rest of the known world. Saul of Tarsus, once a leader of the persecution, became a leader of the persecuted.
In chapter 11, the focus of the Book of Acts moves from Peter’s ministry to the Jews to Saul’s ministry to the Gentiles. Under his more familiar name Paul, this converted persecutor established churches in Asia Minor and Europe. The Book of Acts records three of Paul’s missionary journeys, as well as his voyage to Rome to face his trial. The book ends abruptly with Paul under house arrest in Rome.
The ending is fitting, because the entire Book of Acts is itself just a prologue. Jesus has not finished His work on earth. The narrative begun by Luke in this book will not end until Jesus Christ returns in glory (1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:28). The NKJV Study Bible
Acts 7:59-60 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 1:9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
1 Corinthians 15:28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
1 John 5:9-13 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
The believing Jew ministered to fellow Jews. God knew that He would be rejected by the Jews and that He would offer salvation to all who believe in His salvation of the Cross. Three bear witness on earth, the Holy Spirit given to believers in Jesus, the water which is the flesh and the divine blood of Jesus.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
The fork in the road was the road to damascus, Christ the crucified and resurrected, and Paul meeting Him on the road to Damascus. the mystery of the Gospel of Grace was revealed to him. Paul was chosen to minister this mystery to the Gentiles.
John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Those who do not believe in the only begotten Son of God condemn themselves.
Acts 9:13-16
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Probably 8 years after Pentecost the Jewish believers were preaching the word of the OT to fellow Jews. And then Paul came on the scene. It changed everything.
Romans 16:25-27 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
Paul’s gospel of grace, the preaching of Jesus Christ, was the mystery revealed to him. It was hidden until this time. Offering His salvation in the Gospel of Grace to all who by faith accepted it was kept secret until it was revealed to Paul. It was hard for the Jewish believers to accept.
Ephesians 3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
The Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promises in Christ in which they can be saved. The mystery was revealed to Paul, the grace of God, to minister to the Gentiles. To make all see the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning was hidden in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
The Jewish believers found it very hard to understand that the Gentiles could enter into salvation without becoming Jews and without circumcision. But the leaders of the Way, Peter, James and John, agreed with Paul that they would go to Israel and Paul to the Gentiles.
2 Peter 3:15-16 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand,
Peter came to the realization that the future of the Gospel relied on the grace of God and HIs long suffering heart for His creation. The Gospel of Grace is salvation to all who accept. In the end the Jew will accept their Son and King and He will reign forever. Carla
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Acts 9:14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”And they divided His garments and cast lots.
John 18:38–19:16 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.”“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”…
Luke 23:4–5 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.”But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.”
Acts 3:13–15 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you…
Life presents many challenges during our exile on earth, and maintaining healthy relationships is one of them. But amid our struggle, let's prioritize our relationship with God through prayer and through reading and obeying His Word (Isaiah 26:3-4). Let's also remember that the pain we feel today won't last forever; the joys of heaven will (Psalm 30:5).
As we pray for healing in our relationships, we can surrender our desire for control and instead trust Jesus to change hearts. Let's never give up hope in the God of all hope (Romans 15:13).
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14, CSB).
Jesus conquered the curse of death through His death and resurrection! Now all who place our faith in Him for salvation receive the gift of eternal life. When our exile on earth ends, we will spend eternity in heaven, where "there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him" (Revelation 22:3, CSB). First5
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