Paul and Barnabas had the same trouble in Iconium with the leading Jews stirring up the people to treat the disciples harshly. The people decided to stone Paul and Barnabas, so they left and went to Lystra and Derbe and preached the Good News. While Paul was speaking in Lystra he healed a crippled man there in the crowd listening to him. When the people saw it they were amazed, but instead of praising God, they thought that Paul was Hermes and Barnabas was Zeus and they started sacrificing animals to them. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and ran into the crowd shouting that they were men just like them, but they wouldn't listen. Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, stirred up the crowd and stoned Paul. They left him for dead. The believers gathered around and Paul got up and went back into town and the next day he and Barnabas went to Derbe. Many believed in Derbe and they went back through the towns they had been to and encouraged the believers to remain true to the faith. In each church they appointed elders and prayed and fasted and trusted them to the Lord. They spent a while in Antioch with the believers there.
Some men came from Judea to Antioch and taught the believers that they should be circumsized. Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this. So it was decided that they should all go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about the matter. When they got there, they reported about the things they had done and the believers they had welcomed. The question of circumcision came up and was discussed. After a long debate, Peter stood and spoke. He told them that God had given the Gentiles the Holy Spirit just as they were, so why should they be burdened with that heavy load that even the Jews couldn't carry? Peter said, "No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are." (15:11) The group listened to Paul and Barnabas tell of all the wonderful signs and miracles the Lord showed to the Gentiles. Then James spoke up and told them that Simon Peter had told them how God cared for them, and he quoted Amos 9:11-12 which speaks about the Gentiles who turn to God. He suggested that they write a letter of instruction and encouragement in right living. So they decided to send Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas to Antioch with the letter. Basically they told them not to eat food offered to idols, or blood, or strangled animals, and stay away from sexual immorality. The disciples spent time there with those believers, who were pleased with the letter. Later, Paul wanted Barnabas to go with him to visit the believers in every city they had preached. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but Paul didn't because he had left them before. They argued sharply over it and separated. Barnabas and John Mark sailed for Cyprus and Paul and Silas went through Syria and Cilicia strengthing the churches. Paul went to Derbe and Lystra where a Christian named Timothy lived. Because his father was Greek, Paul circumsized Timothy (which looks on the surface like a contradiction. Bible scholars suggest that Paul did this for evangelical reasons because Jews wouldn't associate with Gentiles, which is what Timothy was considered if he wasn't circumsized. What I don't get is, how would anyone know...?) They traveled to all the towns and the churches were made stronger in faith and they grew every day. The Holy Spirit didn't let them go to Asia, so they went to Galatia and Phrygia. The Spirit of Jesus kept them out of Bithynia, so they kept going to Mysia and Troas. (I have a little map in the back of my Bible which lets me follow along with the travels of these men. It helps!) Paul had a dream that someone from Macedonia needed their help, so they decided to go there.
Tomorrow read Acts 16:11-18:28
20101121
November 21, 2010 Acts 12-13
King Herod began to persecute members of the church. He even killed James, the brother of John. When he realized this pleased the Jews he had Saul arrested and put in jail under very heavy guard. The people prayed and prayed for him. The night before the trial, Peter was sleeping between two guards with his hands and feet chained. Suddenly, an angel lit up the cell, woke Peter, and told him to put on his clothes and shoes and go with him. So Peter did, but he thought it was a vision. The gate opened and they walked out of the jail, and down a street. Then the angel was gone. Peter realized that God had sent the angel to rescue him, that it was really happening. Peter went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark and knocked on the gate. A servant girl, Rhoda, went to see who it was and when she recognized Peter's voice, she ran back to tell the others and left Peter outside the gate. Peter kept knocking and finally they opened the gate. Peter told them everything that happened, how the angel rescued him from jail. In the morning there was a huge commotion at the jail. Herod killed the guards, then he went to Caesarea. One day Herod was giving a speech and the people said it wasn't a man speaking but a god, and an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give honor to God. He was eaten by worms and died. The church grew and Barnabas and Saul finished their mission and took John Mark with them.
In Antioch Barnabas and Saul were fasting and praying with a small group and the Holy Spirit told them to set apart Barnabas and Saul to do the work He had called them to do. They prayed, fasted, placed their hands on them and sent them off. They sailed to Cypress and preached from one end of the island to the other. There, they met a sorcerer who claimed to be a prophet, but he was up to no good. He was friends with the governor. The governor wanted to hear the word of God, so he was listening to what Barnabas and Saul had to say, except that his friend, the sorcerer was trying to turn him from the faith. Saul --or Paul-- rebuked him and he became blind. When the governor saw this, he believed. From there, they sailed to Perga. John Mark went home to Jerusalem. On the Sabbath, they went into the synagogue and were invited to speak words of encouragement to the people. They told the story of Jesus and about resurrection, and forgiveness of sin. The people invited them back again the next Sabbath. When the Jewish leaders saw that everyone in town wanted to hear them they got jealous and disputed what Paul was saying. Paul told them that since they rejected the word, they would preach to the Gentiles (who were thrilled about it.) The Jews got the leaders to start a persecution campaign against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of the city. They shook the dust off their feet from that town. They went to Iconium. The believers in Antioch were joyful and full of the Holy Spirit.
Tomorrow read Acts 14-16:10
In Antioch Barnabas and Saul were fasting and praying with a small group and the Holy Spirit told them to set apart Barnabas and Saul to do the work He had called them to do. They prayed, fasted, placed their hands on them and sent them off. They sailed to Cypress and preached from one end of the island to the other. There, they met a sorcerer who claimed to be a prophet, but he was up to no good. He was friends with the governor. The governor wanted to hear the word of God, so he was listening to what Barnabas and Saul had to say, except that his friend, the sorcerer was trying to turn him from the faith. Saul --or Paul-- rebuked him and he became blind. When the governor saw this, he believed. From there, they sailed to Perga. John Mark went home to Jerusalem. On the Sabbath, they went into the synagogue and were invited to speak words of encouragement to the people. They told the story of Jesus and about resurrection, and forgiveness of sin. The people invited them back again the next Sabbath. When the Jewish leaders saw that everyone in town wanted to hear them they got jealous and disputed what Paul was saying. Paul told them that since they rejected the word, they would preach to the Gentiles (who were thrilled about it.) The Jews got the leaders to start a persecution campaign against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of the city. They shook the dust off their feet from that town. They went to Iconium. The believers in Antioch were joyful and full of the Holy Spirit.
Tomorrow read Acts 14-16:10
20101120
November 20, 2010 Acts 9:23-11:30
The Jews made plans to kill Saul, but he knew about it. His friends lowered him in a basket through a window so he could escape. Saul went to Jerusalem to join the disciples, but people were still scared of him because they hadn't heard what happened to him. A believer named Barnabas introduced Saul to the apostles. Saul went with them preaching all over Jerusalem until he made some people mad. The believers sent him to Caesarea and then to Tarsus. For a time the church lived and grew in peace. Peter traveled and preached everywhere. One time, he healed a man and the whole town believed in Jesus. In Joppa there was a woman named Tabitha (or Dorcas, depending on whether you're talking in Greek or Aramaic) who did many good things to help others and she died. The people with her asked Peter to help, so he went and brought her back to life. Many people believed in Jesus after that.
In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a Roman army captain, who did good deeds; he and his whole family worshiped God. One day he had a vision and was told about Simon Peter, and where he was and that he was to go get him and bring him back to his house. So he did. Meanwhile, Peter was in Joppa and went up to the rooftop to pray. He got hungry and while food was being prepared he had a vision. God told him not to consider anything unclean that God had made clean. By this time the men sent by Cornelius arrived and asked for Peter. The next day they went to Caesarea. Many Gentiles (non Jews) were gathered and they knew that the Jewish religion forbade association with Gentiles. Peter said that God had told him not to consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. Peter asked them why they had sent for him, so Cornelius told him all about his vision. Then Peter said, "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. Whoever fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him, no matter what race he belongs to." (10:34-35) Peter told them all about Jesus and while he was speaking, God poured the Holy Spirit on them, so that no one could deny them baptism. So they were baptized.
At first when people back in Jerusalem heard about Peter eating with ritually unclean people were not pleased. Peter told them about his vision and about Cornelius. Once they understood, they stopped critisizing and praised God. Some believers who had been scattered after Stephen was killed stayed in places like Antioch and preached to the Jews. Others told anyone who would listen. They heard about it in Jerusalem and sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas was pleased to see so many believers. Barnabas was a good man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and brought many people to the Lord. He went to Tarsus to find Saul. Together, they spent a year in Antioch, where the believers were first called Christians. A prophet predicted a severe famine would cover the earth, so the disciples decided to help their fellow believers in Judea and sent them money. Barnabas and Saul delivered it to them.
Tomorrow read Acts 12-13
In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a Roman army captain, who did good deeds; he and his whole family worshiped God. One day he had a vision and was told about Simon Peter, and where he was and that he was to go get him and bring him back to his house. So he did. Meanwhile, Peter was in Joppa and went up to the rooftop to pray. He got hungry and while food was being prepared he had a vision. God told him not to consider anything unclean that God had made clean. By this time the men sent by Cornelius arrived and asked for Peter. The next day they went to Caesarea. Many Gentiles (non Jews) were gathered and they knew that the Jewish religion forbade association with Gentiles. Peter said that God had told him not to consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. Peter asked them why they had sent for him, so Cornelius told him all about his vision. Then Peter said, "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. Whoever fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him, no matter what race he belongs to." (10:34-35) Peter told them all about Jesus and while he was speaking, God poured the Holy Spirit on them, so that no one could deny them baptism. So they were baptized.
At first when people back in Jerusalem heard about Peter eating with ritually unclean people were not pleased. Peter told them about his vision and about Cornelius. Once they understood, they stopped critisizing and praised God. Some believers who had been scattered after Stephen was killed stayed in places like Antioch and preached to the Jews. Others told anyone who would listen. They heard about it in Jerusalem and sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas was pleased to see so many believers. Barnabas was a good man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and brought many people to the Lord. He went to Tarsus to find Saul. Together, they spent a year in Antioch, where the believers were first called Christians. A prophet predicted a severe famine would cover the earth, so the disciples decided to help their fellow believers in Judea and sent them money. Barnabas and Saul delivered it to them.
Tomorrow read Acts 12-13
20101119
November 19, 2010 Acts 7:30-9:22
Stephen continued his speech with Moses' statement that God would send them someone like him (Deut. 18:15,18 March 1.) Stephen reminded them that over and over they to obey God. They had received God's law, but had not obeyed it. They killed God's Servant Jesus. Well, truth hurts and those men listening to Stephen were furious and started stoning Stephen. But Stephen looked up and saw God's glory and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said so. They threw him out of the city and stoned him. They let a man named Saul watch their coats. As stones were being hurled at Stephen, he prayed and asked Jesus to receive his spirit and forgive them, and he died. Saul was pleased.
After that all the believers were scattered except for the apostles. Saul went from house to house, intent on destroying the church. While all this was going on Philip went to Samaria to preach the gospel. Many believed in Jesus and were baptized. The apostles heard that the Samaritans had received the word of God and they sent Peter and John. They prayed for the Holy Spirit to be given to the Samaritans. They put their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Peter got angry at a believer named Simon who had been a sorcerer. He wanted to buy the Holy Spirit. Peter told Simon he and his money could go to Hell if he thought he could buy God's gift. He told him to repent and pray for forgiveness for thinking up something so evil. Simon asked Peter and John to pray for him for forgiveness. Peter and John shared the Lord's message on the way back to Jerusalem. An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south on the road to Gaza. An Ethiopian eunuch who was in charge of the queens treasury rode by in his carriage was reading from Isaiah on his way home. The Lord told Philip to go near the carriage, so he did. He could hear the Ethiopina reading from Isaiah and asked him if he knew what it meant. The Ethiopian didn't understand and invited Philip to join him in the carriage and explain it to him. So Philip shared the Good News about Jesus. Soon they came by some water and the eunuch wanted to be baptized. Philip baptized him and when they came up out of the water, the Spirit took Philip away to another town called Azotus and preached the Good News, and the Ethiopian went on his way and rejoiced.
Meanwhile Saul was on a rampage against the followers of Jesus. He was on his way to Damascus to get written permission to arrest followers and bring them back to Jerusalem. Suddenly a light flashed around him, knocked him down and a voice asked him, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?" (9:4) Jesus told him to go into the city where he would be told what to do next. The men traveling with him heard the voice too. When he got up and opened his eyes, he couldn't see. Meanwhile in Damascus there was a believer named Ananias (it doesn't say, but I think this is a different Ananias from the one we read about yesterday) who the Lord told to go to a house and find a man named Saul, because the Lord had big plans for him. So he did, even though he was afraid of Saul. Ananias found Saul and placed his hands on Saul who had not been able to see or eat for 3 days and scales fell from his eyes and he could see. Saul was baptized. After that Saul went to the synagogues to preach that Jesus was the Son of God.
Tomorrow read Acts 9:23-11:30
After that all the believers were scattered except for the apostles. Saul went from house to house, intent on destroying the church. While all this was going on Philip went to Samaria to preach the gospel. Many believed in Jesus and were baptized. The apostles heard that the Samaritans had received the word of God and they sent Peter and John. They prayed for the Holy Spirit to be given to the Samaritans. They put their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Peter got angry at a believer named Simon who had been a sorcerer. He wanted to buy the Holy Spirit. Peter told Simon he and his money could go to Hell if he thought he could buy God's gift. He told him to repent and pray for forgiveness for thinking up something so evil. Simon asked Peter and John to pray for him for forgiveness. Peter and John shared the Lord's message on the way back to Jerusalem. An angel of the Lord told Philip to go south on the road to Gaza. An Ethiopian eunuch who was in charge of the queens treasury rode by in his carriage was reading from Isaiah on his way home. The Lord told Philip to go near the carriage, so he did. He could hear the Ethiopina reading from Isaiah and asked him if he knew what it meant. The Ethiopian didn't understand and invited Philip to join him in the carriage and explain it to him. So Philip shared the Good News about Jesus. Soon they came by some water and the eunuch wanted to be baptized. Philip baptized him and when they came up out of the water, the Spirit took Philip away to another town called Azotus and preached the Good News, and the Ethiopian went on his way and rejoiced.
Meanwhile Saul was on a rampage against the followers of Jesus. He was on his way to Damascus to get written permission to arrest followers and bring them back to Jerusalem. Suddenly a light flashed around him, knocked him down and a voice asked him, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?" (9:4) Jesus told him to go into the city where he would be told what to do next. The men traveling with him heard the voice too. When he got up and opened his eyes, he couldn't see. Meanwhile in Damascus there was a believer named Ananias (it doesn't say, but I think this is a different Ananias from the one we read about yesterday) who the Lord told to go to a house and find a man named Saul, because the Lord had big plans for him. So he did, even though he was afraid of Saul. Ananias found Saul and placed his hands on Saul who had not been able to see or eat for 3 days and scales fell from his eyes and he could see. Saul was baptized. After that Saul went to the synagogues to preach that Jesus was the Son of God.
Tomorrow read Acts 9:23-11:30
20101118
November 18, 2010 Acts 5-7:29
This passage about Ananias and Sapphira is a little on the unusual side. For one thing, there are many details that the Bible doesn't tell us: Did Ananias lie and say he was giving all the money to Peter? Was it the custom to give 100% of everything always? Suddenly it seems, there is an understanding on the part of new believers that they will sell everything they have and give it to the apostles. Jesus told the rich man to sell everything he owned and give it to the poor. Well, anyway, I think the basic idea of this is that you can't fool God. If you think you can get away with it, you're in for a rude awakening.... After Ananias and Sapphira died everyone was terrified. That certainly makes sense! Miracles and healings were plentiful and word spread about Peter so that people started to follow his route so they could lay sick people in his shadow to be healed. Eventually the apostles were arrested and put in jail. During the night an angel let them out. The men who had put them in jail couldn't figure out how the gates were still locked tight but the apostles were in the temple teaching the next morning. (Nothing was going to get through to these guys!) However, a Pharisee named Gamaliel pointed out to them that if they were from God, they would be fighting against God, but if they were from man then their message would blow away like dust in the wind. (Lets see... it's been 2010+ years, what do you think?) So they backed off for a while. The apostles kept right on preaching and teaching.
It happened that the Greek Jews were angry about the Hebrew Jews widows being fed while theirs weren't. So the 12 gathered the people together and said that they needed to choose 7 upstanding men to manage the money and food. That way the 12 could give their full time to teaching and prayer. So they did. The work continued and many priests accepted the faith. A powerful disciple named Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke to many people. Some of the Jews didn't like him, so they bribed some men to lie about what he'd said.
The High Priest asked Stephen if what had been said about him was true and Stephen answered with the history of Israel beginning with Abraham. He continued with Isaac, Jacob and his sons and their jealousy of Joseph. Then he talked about Moses, and we'll find out where this is going tomorrow.
Tomorrow read Acts 7:30-9:22
It happened that the Greek Jews were angry about the Hebrew Jews widows being fed while theirs weren't. So the 12 gathered the people together and said that they needed to choose 7 upstanding men to manage the money and food. That way the 12 could give their full time to teaching and prayer. So they did. The work continued and many priests accepted the faith. A powerful disciple named Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke to many people. Some of the Jews didn't like him, so they bribed some men to lie about what he'd said.
The High Priest asked Stephen if what had been said about him was true and Stephen answered with the history of Israel beginning with Abraham. He continued with Isaac, Jacob and his sons and their jealousy of Joseph. Then he talked about Moses, and we'll find out where this is going tomorrow.
Tomorrow read Acts 7:30-9:22
20101117
November 17, 2010 Acts 2:14-4:37
Peter stood up and spoke to the people and assured them nobody was drunk - it was only 9 in the morning! He explained what was happening by quoting Joel 2:28-32, and that Jesus had divine authority which had been proven to them many times. He quoted Psalm 16:8-11, that David had seen the future. Peter told them Jesus had risen from the grave and was with God. What the people were seeing and hearing were gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the believers of Christ. All the people of Israel were to know that Jesus whom they crucified is the Messiah! Peter told them that they all needed to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so their sins would be forgiven and they too could receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit. Many believed and were baptized and spent time learning from the apostles and in fellowship with them. The believers shared all their belongings with one another.
One day as Peter and John were entering the temple, they saw a crippled man who was begging for money. Peter and John looked at him and Peter told him to get up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. So he did. They went into the temple and the man continued rejoicing and jumping and praising God for healing him. The people recognized him and were amazed. The people started to listen to Peter talk at the temple. Peter spoke to the leaders and asked them why they were surprised since God can do anything. He told them that Jesus had been sent by God and they had crucified Him. But God raised Him from death. Peter told them he knew they had done it because of their ignorance, and God would forgive them if they would repent. Abraham, Moses and Samuel spoke of Jesus and that His words should all be obeyed.
Some priests and Sadduccees arrived and didn't like that they were teaching that the dead rise to life, so they threw Peter and John in jail. Many who heard, believed. The next day they were questioned by Annas, Caiaphas and other men of the High Priest's family. They wanted to know how they had healed the man and by whose authority. Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered so eloquently that the members of the Council were amazed because Peter was uneducated. There was nothing they could say to them. They had them leave and then tried to figure out what to do with them since everyone in Jerusalem knew what had happened to the lame man. The Council warned them to stop talking about Jesus and they said they would obey God, but they let them go. Peter and John went back to the believers and they prayed to God to allow them to continue to spread the message with boldness. God answered their prayers. The believers were close-knit group and all shared the same purpose. They shared everything they had with each other and God poured out rich blessings on them all. They would sell their possessions and give the money to the apostles.
Tomorrow read Acts 5-7:29
One day as Peter and John were entering the temple, they saw a crippled man who was begging for money. Peter and John looked at him and Peter told him to get up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. So he did. They went into the temple and the man continued rejoicing and jumping and praising God for healing him. The people recognized him and were amazed. The people started to listen to Peter talk at the temple. Peter spoke to the leaders and asked them why they were surprised since God can do anything. He told them that Jesus had been sent by God and they had crucified Him. But God raised Him from death. Peter told them he knew they had done it because of their ignorance, and God would forgive them if they would repent. Abraham, Moses and Samuel spoke of Jesus and that His words should all be obeyed.
Some priests and Sadduccees arrived and didn't like that they were teaching that the dead rise to life, so they threw Peter and John in jail. Many who heard, believed. The next day they were questioned by Annas, Caiaphas and other men of the High Priest's family. They wanted to know how they had healed the man and by whose authority. Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered so eloquently that the members of the Council were amazed because Peter was uneducated. There was nothing they could say to them. They had them leave and then tried to figure out what to do with them since everyone in Jerusalem knew what had happened to the lame man. The Council warned them to stop talking about Jesus and they said they would obey God, but they let them go. Peter and John went back to the believers and they prayed to God to allow them to continue to spread the message with boldness. God answered their prayers. The believers were close-knit group and all shared the same purpose. They shared everything they had with each other and God poured out rich blessings on them all. They would sell their possessions and give the money to the apostles.
Tomorrow read Acts 5-7:29
20101116
November 16, 2010 John 20-21 & Acts 1-2:13
On Sunday before dawn, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw it had been opened. She ran and told Peter and the disciple Jesus loved, who went to see for themselves. The disciple Jesus loved made it first but didn't go into the tomb. When Peter got there he went right on in the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, but the cloth which had been around Jesus' head was folded and placed separately. The other disciple went in too, and then they went home. Mary Magdalene, however stood crying outside the tomb. She looked inside and saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus' body had been. They asked her why she was crying. She thought someone had moved the body. She turned around and saw Jesus standing near her. She didn't recognize Him at first, then He said her name and she knew it was Him. He told her not to hold on to Him because He had not been to the Father yet. He told her to tell the others He would come see them after He had gone up to God. Later that night Jesus appeared to the disciples where they were gathered. He gave them peace and then showed them His wounds. They were overjoyed to see Him. Then He breathed and gave them the Holy Spirit. Thomas wasn't there, but when they told him, he refused to believe until he saw it for himself. A week later, Jesus came again and had Thomas touch his wounds so he would believe. Jesus performed many other miracles in the presence of His disciples, but they are not written in this book. What's here has been written so you may believe and by your faith in Him, have life.
Later when the disciples were together, they decided to go fishing and didn't catch a thing. As they were returning to shore a man at the water's edge told them to drop their nets on the right side of the boat. They caught so many fish they couldn't get the net on the boat. The disciple whom Jesus loved recognized Jesus and told Peter. They brought the boat back to shore and saw a fire and bread and Jesus gave them some to eat. This was the 3rd time they saw Jesus after His death. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Jesus and three times Peter told Him he did. All three times Jesus told him to take care of His sheep. Peter asked Jesus about the disciple He loved, and Jesus told him that if He wanted him to live until He returned, what was that to him? Rumors started that this disciple would never die, but that isn't what Jesus said. The one Jesus loved spoke of these things and wrote them down; what he said is true. There isn't enough room in the world for all the books which could have been written if everything were recorded that Jesus did.
Another letter to Theophilus, the book of Acts continues the gospel according to Luke. For 40 days after His death, Jesus appeared to the disciples and left no doubt that He is alive. He told them to stay put until they received the Holy Spirit. Jesus was taken up to heaven and then there were two angels there speaking to the disciples. The disciples replaced Judas because in Psalm 109:8 it said he would be replaced. They prayed then voted between a man named Justus and another named Matthias. Matthias became the new disciple.
When the day of Pentecost came all the believers were gathered together and a loud noise came and a strong wind which blew tongues of fire on each of them and they began speaking in languages from all over. Some knew it was from God, others just thought they were drunk.
Tomorrow read Acts 2:14-4:37
Later when the disciples were together, they decided to go fishing and didn't catch a thing. As they were returning to shore a man at the water's edge told them to drop their nets on the right side of the boat. They caught so many fish they couldn't get the net on the boat. The disciple whom Jesus loved recognized Jesus and told Peter. They brought the boat back to shore and saw a fire and bread and Jesus gave them some to eat. This was the 3rd time they saw Jesus after His death. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Jesus and three times Peter told Him he did. All three times Jesus told him to take care of His sheep. Peter asked Jesus about the disciple He loved, and Jesus told him that if He wanted him to live until He returned, what was that to him? Rumors started that this disciple would never die, but that isn't what Jesus said. The one Jesus loved spoke of these things and wrote them down; what he said is true. There isn't enough room in the world for all the books which could have been written if everything were recorded that Jesus did.
Another letter to Theophilus, the book of Acts continues the gospel according to Luke. For 40 days after His death, Jesus appeared to the disciples and left no doubt that He is alive. He told them to stay put until they received the Holy Spirit. Jesus was taken up to heaven and then there were two angels there speaking to the disciples. The disciples replaced Judas because in Psalm 109:8 it said he would be replaced. They prayed then voted between a man named Justus and another named Matthias. Matthias became the new disciple.
When the day of Pentecost came all the believers were gathered together and a loud noise came and a strong wind which blew tongues of fire on each of them and they began speaking in languages from all over. Some knew it was from God, others just thought they were drunk.
Tomorrow read Acts 2:14-4:37
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