Acts 9.1-19a - Conversion of Saul

Aside from Pentecost, Saul's conversion is probably the best-known story in Acts.  Many popular depictions of the story in art show horses and darkness and light.  Only the light appears in the story.  The effect, however, is the same. Saul falls down, confronted by the risen Christ.  Aside from God's Spirit and Jesus Christ, Paul is the most important human character in Acts. And the story of how he goes from persecuting fascist to messenger for Jesus made a deep impression on the author, Luke.  He tells the story three times through the course of the book, meaning that this was an issue that Paul/Saul and his friends had to confront everywhere they went. Aren't you the guy that killed all those Christians at Jerusalem and murdered Stephen?
Saul's story is powerful. God changed a man's heart and changed the focus of his life.  How many of us have allowed God to change us that way?

Acts 8.26-40 - ...in all the earth.

The story of the gospel in Acts travels from Jerusalem to the road to Ethiopia.  Ethiopia probably contained a group of diaspora Jews, like this court official from the court of Candace.  Much like the word Pharaoh, Candace (Kentake) was a word that meant queen.  Biblical Ethiopia or Cush was ruled by a dynasty of queens. The lands south of Egypt were considered wealthy, providing gold to ancient Egypt.
The church in Ethiopia believes it has the ten commandments, housed in the building in the photo below.

Most people dismiss this claim, but the monk (and scimitars) that guard this shrine say otherwise.  To the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia, the ark rests here.
Jesus had called on his disciples to witness to the gospel in all the earth, a commandment fulfilled in this story by Philip. Our openness to new cultures and people different from ourselves is a key to the spread of the gospel.  Philip was fearlessly obedient to the Word of God.  His sharing changed the world.  May the Lord take away our fears and make us open to different cultures.  May we all share in the never-ending grace of God.

Acts 8.2-25 - ...in Samaria...

Most Christians know about Samaritans from the picture presented in Jesus' parable. To call someone a Good Samaritan today loses the irony of the situation.  In Jesus' day, to Christ's audience, no Samaritan was good. It was an oxymoron, like "military intelligence" or "old news"
During the persecution of Paul, Philip the deacon took the good news about Jesus to the Samaritans.
What do we really know about the Samaritans? They lived north of Jerusalem, in the remains of the divided northern kingdom of Israel.  The original Jews were removed and then repopulated after being attacked by the Assyrians. The ancient historian Josephus said that the Samaritans responded to their circumstances. They had friendly relations with their Jewish cousins when times were good and denied their common ancestry when times were bad.

There are some 800 Samaritans in modern-day Israel.  On Passover, they sacrifice lambs at Mount Gerizim.

Stoning Stephen - Acts 7.54-8.3

Today, when we call someone a martyr, we usually mean that they are whiny, or that they falsely believe that the world is against them, or that they suffer for no reason.
A true martyr is a witness, someone who dies for what they believe in.  Stephen was willing to die in obedience to Jesus.  The modern world says that we must be crazy to die for our beliefs.
Is there something you are willing to die for? Has God laid some area of mission or ministry on your heart so much that you would give your life for it? Most of us would live for Christ and his commitment to the world. Who would die for Jesus today?

Acts 6.8-7.53 - Stephen's speech

One of the longest sections of Acts, the actions of Stephen's trial, speech, and stoning are an important story.  Stephen tells God's story through Moses and the old testament prophets and patriarchs.  Stephen's speech encapsulates the story of the witness of Israel to God in a way that convicts us even today.  The message of God the Creator's justice and mercy trumps everything else.  Humanity's disobedience is great; God's power is greater.  We have received the same law and the same righteous one.  How do we receive him, with humility and repentance? Or do we reject him?

Acts 5.12-42 - Gamaliel's Speech

The apostles reach a crossroad.  They've been hauled before the authorities once already.  This time, a new voice is heard.  We would expect to hear Joseph of Arimathea stand to defend the disciples, since he himself was a disciple of Jesus. But instead we hear the voice of Gamaliel, who taught Paul back when we was Saul of Tarsus.
The effects of Gamaliel's speech are clear. And his point resounds to us today. If what we do is human in origin, it will fail.  If what we do is of God, we cannot fail. Following God's plan, God's way, is the goal of life.  Following our own way is the road to destruction.  May we follow the pathway of God.

Acts 4.32-5.11 Great Grace

This weeks story shows us a marked contrast.  On the one hand, we have Barnabas, the cheerful giver who encourages others.

On the other hand, we have Ananias and Sapphira, who plot to withhold from God.
The penalty seems harsh (death), yet the matters are serious.

We know that we can lie to others and often get away with it; we deceive ourselves when we lie to God.  We often live worried about what others will see and as though God cannot see.
How can we live lives that show integrity and honesty to God? How can we encourage others?
The grace of God is great. His giving never ends.