All posts by Virjil Selvan

Acts 10

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Let’s learn a little about this Centurion – Cornelius. Who was Cornelius, How did he get to know the Lord?

During the New Testament era, a Roman centurion was a professional military officer commanding a platoon of troops called a “century.” This could be anywhere from nearly one hundred to several hundred men. Each Roman legion was composed of nearly 5,000 men, divided into multiple cohorts, each cohort composed of multiple centuries. As a result, a legion could contain as many as sixty centurions. Their importance was based on seniority, with the senior centurion in a legion being in a position of great prestige. Some historians have compared the top-level centurions to medieval knights. Roman centurions represented the bridge between enlisted troops and commissioned officers, in much the same way as warrant officers do in the modern U.S. military.

Soldiers were appointed as centurions by virtue of their bravery, loyalty, character, and prowess in battle. Centurions were held to high standards of conduct and were expected to fight on the front lines with their men. In fact, the centurion’s designated place in formation was at the end of the very front row. As a result, Roman centurions were well paid and held in high esteem, and they experienced high rates of injury and death during war. The combination of wealth, power, and prestige made them influential in society.

Perhaps the most important Roman centurion mentioned in the Bible is Cornelius, described in Acts 10. Cornelius was said to have a good reputation with the Jewish people, in particular for his prayer and charity (Acts 10:2).

The presence of the Holy Spirit in an uncircumcised, non-Jewish person—a Roman centurion, of all people—proved to the other Christians that the message of Christ was universal.

Cornelius

1. Influential
2. Non Jew
3. Hungry for gospel
4. Angel of God meets a non – jew
5. Household was saved – the rapport / position / authority/ relationship enabled him to introduce the gospel. (well connected to the community)

vs7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

He didn’t waste a minute, immediate action on what he saw, what he heard, shows his hunger towards knowing Jesus.

My question is – why does he need God when he has everything for himself – money power reputation? Jesus had already mentioned about people who are non jews but true seekers, who would know the Lord because their heart seek for the truth. They are the kind of worshipers God is seeking and welcome them into his kingdom.

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4: 21 – 24

On the other hand
Peter

Who was Peter?

A Jew
Apostle of Jesus
Attached to his roots – this is unclean
Journey to preach the gospel to his community – a clear vision.

However according to the initial mission plan the apostles were told in Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Peter’s justification:
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

Changed Vision:
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Application – Learning from Cornelius and Peter

lives touched – In the process of witnessing, my life gets touched. My vision changes. All wrong perspectives come to light my heart is exposed. What is my real attitude towards people?

lives transformed not only the new people but also the apostles, God is changing their perspective

Holy Spirit gives a renewed vision : I have made everything, don’t you dare call it unclean. Change your mindset. Change the way you have thought all this while. Reality is everyone is important and wanted by God.

My Community is touched because of the Holy Spirit’s intervention. Cornelius invited everyone. He didn’t keep this to himself alone.

Peter chose to obey. He had a belief system which had to be broken. Obedience doesn’t come easy. It says – 3 times this happened. Also obedience is tough when you are a leader, you have followers looking at your every move and any wrong move can give them a different teaching.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

We cannot bring revelation with an old thought process, we have to change our perspective and our attitude.God moves in unexpected ways and in unexpected people.

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

Peter also took that risk of being humiliated for associating with a non Jew.

Whether I am a Cornelius, or whether I am Peter for God it doesn’t matter. He wants a contrite heart. With all that Cornelius had he worshiped God. God saw and chose to bless him. I can argue like Peter about my belief system and about all that I KNOW but the Holy Spirit steps in and works. God shows that he is for all and there is indeed no favouritism in his kingdom.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t work with human conditions and standards.

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

Sandra wife of Virjil .The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

 

 

⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

 

May our joy abound… that no matter how we have come this morning… this we know. Death has been defeated!

 

Paul’s words: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith . . . if Christ has not been raised then you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:14, 17).

 

Let us read from the book of John 20

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus^[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 

Every Easter or Resurrection day , one prominent thing comes to my mind is this:

It is amazing to think about the fact that Jesus never wrote a book, in fact he never wrote anything down, and yet there are more books written about Jesus than any other subject in the world.

Jesus never composed a song, but there is more music written about Jesus Christ than any other subject, bar none, in history.

Jesus never drew any pictures or did any sculpture, but more art has been made about Jesus Christ than any other subject in history.

 

Jesus never travelled more than 100 miles from where he was born, and yet, you can find followers of Jesus in every nook and cranny of the planet.

 

So what brought this change? The Resurrection of Jesus changed the entire course of history.

The resurrection of Jesus changed everything.

• No other event has impacted the world so much as the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Resurrection challenged many of them but it was their response which mattered the most in the end.

I thing we have a fair idea of what happened during the Resurrection Day. Means, you know the events a bit . Could you please share those events which you are aware of or what we read or what we sang to our neighbour.

This Morning , I believe God want to challenge our response as we also live in Post Resurrection Era.

Today’s message is titled as Post Resurrection: Reality check

All the four gospels records the events after resurrection. We will look from the book of John this morning..

 

Post Resurrection : Meeting the Dead

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance

Jesus spoke many times with his disciples that he has to die and will rise again on the third day.

In another Gospel, it is written that the women went there with some spices.

Mark 16:

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.

So what to do with spices  when Jesus already spoke that he will be risen. They lived with him, they believed him, they ate with Jesus, They also saw healing and at the most they also saw a great miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from Dead.

But now they are going to meet the Dead. They did this after Jesus was resurrected.

Are we in a state of meeting the Dead. Are we believing the lies of the enemies which challenges the plan of God in your lives. Are we in a dead end where we don’t believe in the word of God because it did not happen for years.

⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.

This resurrection can change your life this morning. He is risen , he is not here.

• But if the world might be offering us empty promises…
• The promise of Easter is an empty tomb full of promise!!

 

Don’t search the Dead but believe the one who is alive.

Post Resurrection : Running the Race

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

There was a Mini marathon here, Peter and John ran to the tomb and one of them outran and it says verse 8 He saw and believed and in verse 9 it says they still not understand the scripture.

We have been called to run the race, they ran to that place when the heard that the tomb is empty.

We have been called to run the race, we need to believe that he has called us . Many times we may have not understood fully but still he asks us to run the race.

 

Post Resurrection : Encountering Jesus

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

In 2023 it’s been the 4^th month. How many times did we encounter Jesus. Did he drawing his attention towards him.

Are we meeting Jesus, Do we experience his presence. When is the last time you experienced his presence or you felt God is with You and you experienced his power, comfort. So remember the tomb is empty , he is here among us.

Jesus called her by name and when she heard that he started crying and she said Teacher.

Jesus grabs our attention when we try to meet the Dead, It can be anything in life other than then Jesus.

If he calls us today and Says “Virjil”. And I believe he calling you. You know Mary wept because she knew her heart condition when Jesus called her. Will you break down this morning when he calls your name. I will certainly because I know how much I need him today.

God says In Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

 

Post Resurrection : Responding Fear

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

They locked themselves in fear, but Jesus meets them in midst of their fears and he says peace with you.

The Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday will only make sense if we hear and acknowledge of what we are hearing from last 20-30 minutes. Jesus meets us in midst of the fear.He shows himself to them. Do we see Jesus in midst of our Fears.

Post Resurrection : Great Commission

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

What a promise we have in Jesus. He breathed that Spirit of God and the same spirit which we read in the book of Acts which was poured out in the first church and it’s poured out in our church. He is sending you, he is sending you among the street children , he is sending you to redeem worship, he is sending you to your offices, neighbourhood, city, our nations.

How did 12 peasant fishermen, tax collectors, farmers – how in the world did they multiply – 12 followers of Jesus to Christianity being spread all over the earth? How?

And the reason Christianity spread is because of the power of Resurrection.

Post Resurrection : Beyond Doubt

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus^[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thomas, one of Jesus disciple was not present in the room in which Jesus met. Other’s told him We have seen the Lord. But he said I don’t believe you. He had certain conditions to be satisfied to believe in JESUS.

What conditions have we kept , we know our Lord is resurrected but our hearts , lives have been filled with so much doubt and we still so reluctant to believe.

Jesus puts this to him

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

It’s like Thomas, my son & daughter Stop doubting and believe. Don’t forget I am alive

And he says this

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The message of Resurrection I believe it’s incomplete without the below

• New Life

The Resurrection promises new life, Christ not only died for us but also he was resurrected on the third day. So I will never be same. I look forward towards things differently.

• Eternal Hope (Life beyond death )

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-55

⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[h]

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”^[i]

 

You know how these men who locked themselves in fear in the room died.

A son and Dad driving… son was terrified by a bee that had got in the car!

• The dad was ninja quick and grabbed the bee, pulling its stinger out! He then said, there is no need now to be afraid…
• The bee was still in the car, but the sting was now gone!
• And similarly, we don’t need to live with the fear of the sting of death… it is still something we will all face… but its sting is gone.

 

• Great Commission

Romans 8:9-11

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

In other words the same power, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is now alive in us!

• You know powerless Christianity is like a beautiful yacht caught out to sea with no wind! It is not going anywhere…
• But then when the breath of God comes and breathes on you, like a mighty wind catching your sails… you receive power!
• And that is the promise of Easter! The same power that raised Jesus to life now lives in us, meaning we have power to live transformed lives!

Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

Acts Chapter 9

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” ²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³ After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a] but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Aeneas and Dorcas

³² As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ³⁴ “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. ³⁵ All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

³⁶ In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. ³⁷ About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. ³⁸ Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

³⁹ Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. ⁴³ Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Many times in the Bible, God changed someone’s name because He was calling them to live out a new mission or identify with a new identity that God was giving them.

 

All about Paul

Saul is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin (Shaul), meaning “ask/question”.

A derivative of Paulus, this name means “small” or “humble.”

Born a Roman citizen to Jewish parents in Tarsus (in modern eastern Turkey)

Studies Torah in Jerusalem with Gamaliel; becomes a Pharisee

Persecutes followers of Jesus of Nazareth in Jerusalem and Judea

We will see in this chapter that God brought this man full of pride to a man full of humility and surrender.

But some question why God chose Saul (thereafter known as Paul), a known and self-confessed sinner to become one of the great founders of the faith. That question was convincingly answered by Paul himself in 1 Timothy 1:16-17, “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life.” If the Lord gave Saul, a murderer and a self-proclaimed “chief sinner”, such a dramatic conversion experience and used him to deliver the message of the faith to millions of people, He certainly not only forgives us of our sins but also has a divine purpose and plan for each of us.

Why did God strike Paul with blindness and not leprosy or any kind of other disease?

Saul hated Christians and his heart was full of hatred for them. He persecuted them to the point of death – Acts 26: 9 – 11

⁹ “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

The time came when enough was enough. Jesus could have used any method to get Paul’s attention but he chose blindness.

His Power was subdued

With Paul being a very prideful and a self – righteous man, it was necessary for Jesus to assert His power. Paul needed to understand God’s power and not his own. The only way to stop Paul and overwhelm him with Jesus’ presence and glory was to make him blind.

Many times God has to break us to make us. Break our pride, our egos and he will showcase his power. We are never greater than God.

His Surrender

When Paul was striked with blindness, he was helpless. His blindness caused him to understand that he is helpless before God and he needed to surrender to this almighty God and he needed God in his life.

With Paul sitting in darkness for three days, not knowing that he would be blind forever or if he would be ever able to see, God brought Paul to His knees. Humbled and confused, by the time Ananias appeared. Because he was now prepared to listen to Ananias as well. Eyes shut, there could be a lot of unknown or uncertain things happening around and you are so dependent that one can be filled with lot of panic and anxiety as well. Once a confident man is now a humbled man.

Renewed Sight

Spiritually Paul needed to lose his sight to gain spiritual eyes. Acts 9: 18 ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Also, to understand better, God had to touch him and show him what blindness felt like to open his spiritual eyes.

 

Ananias

A prayerful man. The Lord called him in a vision. We are not sure of the back ground of when this happened but Ananias seem to be prepared to hear from God.

He is well versed with the situation about the believers being persecuted and killed. He also knows about this man named Saul. With this we can also imagine the popularity of Paul with regard to persecution.

Acts 9: 13 & 14 – ¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

Ananias simply obeyed God. He trusted God for his own life. It was a threat to his own existence.

There are four things we can learn from Ananias

Going beyond your fears

• Risking his own life to obey God, fully knowing who he is going to meet.

Going beyond your expectations

• He didn’t know what this encounter with Saul would turn out to be. Whether he can really expect a change or it’d be much riskier to expose himself to this murderer. However, what he didn’t expect was that Saul created history.

Going beyond my reality

• Ananias trusted God fully. He obeyed all that God had told him. The reality was that he was meeting a murderer but he chose to see from his spiritual eyes rather than what the reality was. He obeyed with faith and not with what reality looked.

Going beyond my emotions

• He may have had hatred towards this Saul for treating his fellow brothers so badly. He was meeting someone who has harmed his community. Ananias simply obeyed God – no hatred, or justification, or any kind of attitude prevented him from healing Saul – ‘brother Saul’

Can we think of being like Ananias? Simply trusting and obeying God. Going beyond what my reality says. I can see a changed person – Saul who turns Paul very evidently.

Acts9: 19 – 25 – Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” ²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³ After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

Now the real story begins in Jerusalem, where majority of Jesus’ followers resided. Everyone witnessed the incident in Damascus but what about Jerusalem.

Do you think it might have been easy for Saul to penetrate into this community of Jesus’ disciples?

Acts 9: 26 – 31 ²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a] but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Barnabas and Ananias are the radical people who trusted God and saw beyond Saul. They witnessed this dramatic change of Saul into Paul by the act of the Holy Spirit. They saw beyond Saul. They saw God working through the Holy Spirit to transform a wretched murderer into a man zealous for the name of Jesus. They trusted God even though it may call for a risk to life.

Who am I?

Am I Saul?

Am I Paul who had a past like Saul?

Am I Ananias? Has God asked me to obey something?

Am I Barnabas – looking with spiritual eyes of faith?

A small portion of chapter 9 is dedicated to peter and his work. How with two miracles he helped people to know the Lord.

For some it needs a major dramatic incident to know the Lord Jesus, for some only a miracle is enough. However as the verse says for those who have been forgiven much, love much.

Luke 7: 47 – ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Sandra wife of Virjil .The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

Good morning everyone, last week to saw how Stephen was stoned to death and the entry of Saul.

Today we are going to look at what happened when Stephen died:

Acts 8

8 And Saul approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ² Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

⁴ Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. ⁵ Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. ⁶ When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷ For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

Simon the Sorcerer

⁹ Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, ¹⁰ and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” ¹¹ They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. ¹² But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

²⁵ After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

Philip and the Ethiopian

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”^[b]

³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” ^{[37] [c] 38} And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Before we start looking at this chapter lets us read ACTS 1:8

Acts 1:8 gives us Jesus’ final words to his disciples before he ascends into heaven. He says:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Let us read Acts 8:1

Stephen died, and Saul (who will later be known as Paul) approves of Stephen’s death. And Then, “That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.”

So yes, the gospel spreads, but it does so because the believers are scattered from Jerusalem, into Judea and Samaria … and this brings us to Philip’s conversation with the Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza. Luke adds the comment that this is the wilderness road. In other words, we are heading into “the uttermost parts of the earth.”

After the death of Stephen , the church was persecuted. And the everyone was in deep pain the bible says they were deeply mourning of Stephens death. In midst of this mourning , Saul was destroying the Church that is what the bible says. Another situation to handle. The persecution was so severe Saul began to go house to house , door to door and dragged them out to prison.

Everyone was scattered (ALL) expect the 12 disciples. Being called as Apostles.

In verse 4 it says

⁴ Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

• The Gospel spreads irrespective of people , situation. His work continues. Even today this time, around the world the Gospel is spreading.
• The Gospel spreads when we are scattered, or to put simply is when we move out.
• No one can stop the Gospel, the good news of Jesus

When is the last time , we have shared the gospel to anyone. When is the last time we moved out and said God give me someone to share the Gospel. When is the last time we invited others for our church programs which happens throughout the week like Street kids, Cell groups , Sunday schools etc..

Over the period of years we felt as a church we have too many programs events inside and people are not getting time to go out. So all our ministries that is Men’s , Women’s , boys , girl’s ministry was moved to happen only for alternative weeks.

So that the other days , everyone gets an opportunity to share our life , Jesus with our friends, neighbors etc.. It is called Missional part of our ministries. It’s our dream , as a church that we will intentionally take time during our Ministry break and meet others.

Verse 5 introduces a one more personality, Philip. Who is Philip?

⁵ Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.

Philip: Who was Philip?

First of all, this Philip is not the disciple Philip. The disciple was from Bethsaida (Jn 12:21) and this Philip is from Caesarea. This Philip is one of the seven “deacons” – or table servers – chosen by the apostles back in Acts 6, to take over the daily distribution of food. Later on, (Acts 21:8-9) this Philip will become known as Philip the Evangelist, and we will learn he has four unmarried daughters who prophesy. But right now, Philip is only recognized as one of the Seven, full of the Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3). Just before the events of this story, he has been preaching the good news throughout Samaria, and many have come to believe in Jesus.

When he was scattered , he went to Samaria. There he preached the Gospel and many believed. Not only he preached he also performed many miracles.

JESUS IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR

⁷ For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city.

Why the Gospel ?, the good news , that is JESUS is so important because

• It Heals
• It Delivers
• It brings Joy

There are so many of them , waiting for Philip to come , to heal , deliver and bring that Joy.

One of the huge setback for our church is including me , we have not seen anyone inviting our friends to Church or any other ministries. When we give invites , including me we don’t have anyone to give that invite whether is a summer camp, cell group etc.

Philip did not became an Evangelist overnight, It was not his primary gifting. The Apostles gave him a Job to serve food to the widows. But the Gospel was not able to content only in his Heart , in his life, in his family , in his church but it overflowed outside.

We may have our primary calling but evangelism, sharing Jesus should be part and parcel of life.

Philip shared JESUS in Samaria. In

Acts 8:4-8

The Samaritans are different than the Jews but not really Gentiles (non-Jews). When the northern kingdom of Israel was defeated by the Assyrians in 722 BC, the Assyrians relocated foreigners to live in and around that region, mixing in with the Israelites not taken into captivity. The Jews thought of them as “half breeds.” These culturally different people refused to worship at the temple in Jerusalem and built a separate temple. They only followed the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Pentateuch. Even Jesus’ disciples hated the Samaritans. When a Samaritan village didn’t welcome him, James and John asked Jesus if he wanted them to call down fire from heaven and consume them, but Jesus rebuked them (Luke 9:52-56).

Very different people, culture, belief but no one can stop JESUS. The bible says , the entire city, entire city was in great Joy.

And there we find one more figure who is Simon the Sorcerer Acts 8: 9-11

⁹ Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, ¹⁰ and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” ¹¹ They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.

Simon’s sorcery is no Magic. It’s no fantasy. It’s real. It’s demonic. It’s witchcraft. He’s arrogant, prideful, and claims to be someone great. The people of Samaria think he has divine powers— “the Great Power of God

He got this art from somewhere dark , evil.

Acts 8:12-13 (NIV)
12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

The bible says , he believed and baptized. And it says he followed Philip everywhere and he was astonished.

So what was his problem?

No real conviction: I believe , He believed because others believed, He was baptized because other were baptized

The real meaning of baptism is the old is gone and new has come. I burry my old self and become alive with my new self in Christ Jesus.

Simon sees that the Holy Spirit is unstoppable. The Holy Spirit, through Philip, brings people to faith and repentance. Through the Spirit Philip performs great signs and miracles.

And he desires for it. There is nothing wrong to have a desire but he thinks that he can buy it. In verse 14-24

¹⁴ When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. ²³ For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

²⁴ Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.

When we live our life without the conviction of the Gospel, without applying the word of God in our life. We will be like Simon. We may believe , baptized but there are no changes happening in our lives.

Things which God is interested in or lives with this questions this morning.

• Heart is not right before God
• Full of bitterness
• Captive to sin

                          Are we carrying it this morning?

Let us set right things with God, he knows everything who you are. He loves and cares us and that is why this message this morning.

Let’s not hold on bitterness on others because of the hurts we have carried. No one is perfect. Forgive and let go.

Let’s not be slaves to Sin. Are you struggling with pornography, lust, gossip, cheating, fooling others.

Another interesting personality we find here in Acts 8:26-40 is

Ethiopian eunuch: Who is he?

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”^[b]

³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” ^{[37] [c] 38} And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

A high-ranking official, in charge of the Ethiopian queen’s treasury. He’s rich enough to have a chariot. He’s rich enough to own his very own scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and he’s powerful enough to make demands of others without flinching.

Yet, he’s an outsider among outsiders, as far as Jewish custom goes. Precisely because of his status as a eunuch, he cannot fully participate in Temple worship. But that’s where he has just been – worshiping in Jerusalem!

When we talk about the LGBT community , the Gospel is for them as well. Everyone is invited to par take, Irrespective of cast, language , drawn to certain kind of Gender.

Some interesting things we can draw from this chapter.

Philip:

He decided to go:

Running towards it:

Invested Time :

Good news and Gospel:

Very interestingly , the angel of the Lord did not tell the name of the person aor gave any hint about the version but Philip choose to go.

Ethiopian:

Influential Man: an Ethiopian^[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”).

Knew the word  : This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship

Desire to know more : and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.

Learn from others : How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Open to change/ Willing to accept : As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”

 

Philip is a fascinating character, especially when you consider the various ways God led him. He was led to Samaria by persecution. He was led to Gaza by an angel. He was led to the Ethiopian’s chariot by the Spirit. After this, “the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away.” He “found himself at Azotus.” He then passed through various towns, preaching the gospel, before entering Caesarea, where he lived for at least twenty years, raising a family with four daughters devoted to Christ (Acts 21:8-9). But none of this had been planned by Philip. When the Hellenist widows complained they were neglected in the daily distribution (Acts 6), and the church decided to appoint seven good men for the task, they asked if Philip would help out. He said yes. He submitted himself to the task. And the rest is history. Philip went for it, and God exploded it into a beautiful life. What might happen if we said yes to the Lord?

When we share about JESUS, there is power. The ACTS of the holy spirit works even now and it’s working all around the world this time. The good news need to be shared.

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

The MAKING OF A MARTRY

Acts 7

² To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ³ ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’^[a]

⁴ “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. ⁵ He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. ⁶ God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. ⁷ But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’^[b] 8 Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

⁹ “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him ¹⁰ and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

¹¹ “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. ¹² When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. ¹³ On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. ¹⁴ After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. ¹⁵ Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. ¹⁶ Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

¹⁷ “As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. ¹⁸ Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’^[c] 19 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.

²⁰ “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child.^[d] For three months he was cared for by his family. ²¹ When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. ²² Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

²³ “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. ²⁴ He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. ²⁵ Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. ²⁶ The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’

²⁷ “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? ²⁸ Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’^[e] 29 When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.

³⁰ “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. ³¹ When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: ³² ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’^[f] Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

³³ “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. ³⁴ I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’^[g]

³⁵ “This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness.

³⁷ “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’^[h] 38 He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.

³⁹ “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. ⁴⁰ They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’^[i] 41 That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. ⁴² But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:

“‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
⁴³ You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek
and the star of your god Rephan,
the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile’^[j] beyond Babylon.

⁴⁴ “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. ⁴⁵ After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, ⁴⁶ who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.^[k] 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him.

⁴⁸ “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:

⁴⁹ “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.
Or where will my resting place be?
⁵⁰ Has not my hand made all these things?’^[l]

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴ When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷ At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

 

Who was stephen?
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch,
a convert to Judaism.

Acts 6:1-7: As the Apostles’ numbers grew, because of the size, certain people became overlooked, such as the Gentile widows (opposed to the Hebraic widows). Seeing a need to delegate roles, the disciples elected the first seven deacons known to the Christian faith. These deacons had to “be full of wisdom and the Spirit.” These deacons would take charge of the distribution of food to the widows, among other duties. The disciples chose Stephen, and six others, and prayed over them as they began their ministry.

Acts 6:8: Stephen performs various wonders and signs. Throughout the history of the early church, various charismatic gifts such as healing, belonged to several followers of Christ.

He was likely Jewish: Jews, from an early age, memorized portions of the Old Testament. They had a strong knowledge of the Scriptures, as seen in Stephen’s speech featured in Acts 7

.
Stephen belonged to this Hellenist group. The New American Bible notes that the Hellenists here were most likely Palestinian Jews who spoke only Greek. In contrast, the Hebrews referred to in the account of Stephen’s death were probably Palestinian Jews who spoke Hebrew or Aramaic and also Greek. Together, they formed the Jerusalem Jewish

Christian community.

In general, the term Hellenist was applied to anyone who was culturally Greek.

The audience that he is talking to.
Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen argued with Stephen. Scholars think these men were freed slaves from various parts of the Roman empire. As devout Jews, they would have been horrified at Stephen’s claim that Jesus Christ was the much-awaited Messiah. That idea threatened long-held beliefs. It meant Christianity was not just another Jewish sect but something entirely different: a New Covenant from God, replacing the Old.

who are members of the Sanhedrin ?

FREEDMEN, SYNAGOGUE OF THE (συναγωγή τῶν Λιβερτίνων). The term occurs in the NT in Acts 6:9. It refers to those who together with Cyrenians and Alexandrians and others opposed Stephen. They apparently opposed him on theological grounds, but were not able to withstand the wisdom by which he spoke. To oppose Stephen they hired false witnesses who accused Stephen of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God. As a result, a mob gathered and he was arrested and accused before the council. Their only accusation was that he said Jesus would destroy the Temple and change the customs of Moses.

who is stoned to death?
Leviticus 24:16 ESV
Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

Deuteronomy 17:2-5 ESV
If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, ³ and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods.. Then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones.

Leviticus 24:14 ESV
“Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. (Anyone who curses their God )

Deuteronomy 17:6 ESV
On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Application?

How did Stephen become like this? Didn’ t he fear life? There are five things that we can learn from the life of Stephen.

 

 

HE WAS FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

How did he become full of the Holy Spirit?

 

Biblically, the main evidence of being filled with the Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Those qualities are not produced overnight or by an ecstatic experience, but over months and years of walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). Being full of the Spirit does not imply sinless perfection. No one achieves that in this life. Even the most godly of saints have their areas of imperfection and weakness. Even after a lifetime of walking in the Spirit, a godly man or woman can fall into sin,

 

 

HE WAS FULL OF WISDOM.

What gave him that wisdom?

 

Greek word for “wisdom” is used only four times in Acts, twice of Stephen (6:3, 10) and twice in his message before the Sanhedrin (7:10, 22). Proverbs 2:6 states, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Thus wisdom comes from knowing God, and Scripture reveals His wisdom.

God’s wisdom is summed up in Jesus Christ and the cross. To those who are perishing, the cross is foolishness, but to those who have been called by God, Christ is both “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:18, 24). To be people full of wisdom, we must grow in our understanding of the cross of Christ, where human pride is humbled and God’s grace is exalted.

 

HE WAS FULL OF FAITH.

How did he build up his faith?

 

Stephen is described in 6:5 as being full of faith, referring to his faith in God. Stephen’s sermon in chapter 7 shows that he believed in a sovereign God who called Abraham out of a pagan country and through His covenant dealings with Abraham and his descendants, brought Jesus the Righteous One to save His people, in spite of their history of rebellion. God is sovereign even in the matter of the cross of Christ (2:23; 4:27-28).

 

HE WAS FULL OF GRACE.

What was that experience in the life of Stephen that he was full of grace?

 

inward experience of grace flows outward into a gracious spirit toward others. Stephen’s being full of grace means that he was a gracious man. He did not curse his persecutors as they threw stones to crush his bones, but rather blessed them by praying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (7:60). The most effective witnesses have a clear understanding of the gospel of God’s grace and they are gracious toward others, even to those who are rude, offensive, or do them harm.

 

Who is that Stephen to me?
Jesus, the salvation himself.

 

Stephen’s life speaks volumes. Definitely he’s a martry. He teaches us a lot.

 

Learning the scriptures.

What is the evidence of my faith? Who will believe me if I cannot relate the scripture to my audience. He convicts the people by saying

‘The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ³ ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’

Investing time and energy to getting to know people, connecting it to the information that I have, gives people a rich perspective. Stephen was not an ordinary man. He might have dedicatedly read his scriptures, learnt from it. No one could sway him from the word of God.

How many of us here are living a life of not knowing the treasures from the word of God?

The word of God will transform us. It will show us the truth and no one would be able to deceive us or confuse us. Many of us fail to explain the Gospel. We ourselves are unsure, how can we even clear the doubts of the world. So the first step is not Martrydom, it is to know the scriptures.

Secondly, for what was Stephen selected? To feed the poor widows. Did he only feed them? Every Leader’s / Hero’s story starts with a small beginning

The scripture speaks for itself. he did not limit himself to only feeding the widows, but he grabbed every opportunity to testify, heal and deliver.

³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 6: 3

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 6: 8-10

Stephen was not an overnight product. There was a lot of learning, teaching, execution, exercising of his belief that happened. He also had to take bold courageous steps of talking to people in the Sanhedrin.

_________________________________________________________________________________

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46

Is it easy to let go of all the hard work and all your life’s earnings, expectations for one small thing? The world may laugh at us. The value of that pearl (God’s Kingdom) will be known to only those have found it’s worth. The worth is far more than my life, my career goals, my dreams.

__________________________________________________________________________

This verse speaks volumes – The making of a martry

What does my life look like today? Do I desire to know the worth of this Gospel? Why is it so precious? Precious than their own life? If people are dying for this Gospel, definitely means there’s more to it. Jesus’ cross is worth more than a lifetime. Stephen understood it.

I am sure many of us would say, wow what a great man Stephen was. I could never do that because, I have a lot of responsibilities, I am not a spiritual person, I am new,  I am old etc. I am sure, when Stephen was in charge of the widows, he also could have thought the same thing. However, what transformed him? The passion and the love of God, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ made him realize that I am not only to live in that box of feeding but I need to do so much more for God.

We may be in the stage of just getting to know God,

Just reading the scriptures and understanding

Just being helpful with the ushering team or the street kids team

Or just showing up Sunday after Sunday. That’s fine but don’t limit yourself to only feeding your family and yourself. There’s so much more to do in the kingdom of God. Have the eagerness to understand that precious pearl. It’s not an Easter Story. We were rescued from a brutal death – eternally.

We don’t know what kind of a start Stephen had but he ended well.

I don’t know what kind of a start you had but you can have a beautiful ending like Stephen – A life with no regrets, no …only ifs, a Life full of forgiveness and grace.

Let’s begin the journey together..

 

Sandra wife of Virjil .The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

 Book of Acts: The Gospel Package

We have been doing a study from the book of Acts and past few weeks we had some special Sundays were we did not continue , now we are in Acts 5

Let us read the Acts 5:

Ananias and Sapphira

5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³ No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. ¹⁵ As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

The Apostles Persecuted

¹⁷ Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

²¹ At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. ²² But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

²⁵ Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” ²⁶ At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴² Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Before we deep dive we need to understand the background. This book is a New Testament book which is written after the death of Jesus Christ after the church was formed and the outpouring of the Holy spirit . This all events were recorded after Jesus said it is finished , I have paid it all. There is no more blood to be shed.

The Sinfulness of Man:

Chapter 5 starts with this

5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

They also sold a property, that means someone else as well sold the property.

Just before this chapter, in ACTS 4 last verses we see someone else doing the same .

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

So someone called Joseph decided to sell a field and he brought that money at Apostles feet.

After they saw the great generosity of Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37), Ananias and Sapphira decided to do the same.

But there was a problem

² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

They sold the possession, and gave only a portion to the church, while implying that they sacrificially gave it all to the church.

His wife also being aware of it: Clearly, both husband and wife were partners in the deception. They both wanted the image of great generosity, without actually being remarkably generous.

“Once the love of money takes possession of a person, there is no evil that he cannot or will not do.”

Submission, what if the wife may have said No and she disagreed the entire plan. But the husband said no , if anyone asks you have to say this is the amount. What do you think whether she was correct ?

The Sinfulness of Man (Ananias and Saphira)

Hypocrisy : (They are not the people they are showing off to others. They were not generous at all)

Receive Respect / Appreciation: (They desired respect, status in the society)

The contempt of God : (Did not care about God, worthless)

Deception: They thought now one will be aware of . They tried to deceive God, people and the Church.

Here we the sinfulness of Man, we are not talking about Ananias and Saphira but it is us. You & Me.

I talked it before , This incidents all happened after the Jesus Ascension . After the curse of Sin was broken, After the great revival of the Church , after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

But still we fall because we are in a fallen state. And we need God everyday.

Their sin is imitated in many ways today. We can create or allow the impression that we are people of Bible reading or prayer when we are not. We can create or allow the impression that we have it all together when we do not. We can exaggerate our spiritual accomplishments or effectiveness to appear something we are not. It is too easy to be happy with the image of spirituality without the reality of spiritual life.

The Holiness of God:

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

We need to know that our God is Holy. Just a small lie challenges his holiness. A small lie tests God?

Peter says , You have not lied to human beings but to God.

There was no fear , reverence for God in their life.

We should always keep a check on us , like “I cant do this , my God will not like this”

 Peter also says, You tested God. So with our every unpleasing act which challenges God’s holiness , we are testing God.

Ok, let me put me another way. There was one Bible character who lied thrice ? Who was he? Why he did not face God’s Judgement?

Exodus 33:19b

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” means God’s freedom to demonstrate mercy is not limited by anything but His own divine choice.

If we think God’s judgment is too harsh, then we underestimate the holiness of God. We can underestimate the holiness of God. In the words we speak? In the things we look at? In the things we do? In how we worship?

 

The Grace of God :

Let us read from verse 12

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³ No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. ¹⁵ As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

One thing really was amazed was the response of the apostles and the Church . Such a big setback for the church and them but they way the responded to this crisis was amazing , the next verse says they performed miracle, wonders, healing.

I see here the Grace of God, I was Just thinking about those sick people, those who had been tormented by the impure spirit.

God chooses to heal them, they would have been suffering for days, months, years. God choose to give them a new life. People who been in sick bed for years, that was the bible says, people who have been struggling with sickness. God chooses to give them new life.

Just before this we saw that , the Judgement / Wrath of God but just the next verses we see a compassionate God, loving God, He showed Grace.

Ezekiel 18:23

²³ Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

He does not want anyone to die but everyone to live.

The Power of God :

¹⁷ Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

²¹ At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. ²² But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, ²³ “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

²⁵ Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” ²⁶ At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴² Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

They have been arrested but put it in Jail But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

We see the great power of God, The angel appears and opens the door for them. God fighting for them not them. It was all God.

³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.

³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Such a powerful statement , If it is by Human wisdom , it will fail but if it from God no one will be able to Stop. And you will only find yourselves fighting against God. No one cant stand against the Power of God.

⁴⁰ His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

They flogged them but it does not affect them. The power of God works in our lives, it is not US our achievement , It is God. Even When we suffer , we need to believe in the Power of God.

When we look at the cross , we need to see all these , our sinfulness, Holiness of God, Grace of God & the Power of God.

Last slide put everything together and tell that only this is applicable , no.. everything is applicable and it is the truth.

 

Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the Renewed Hope Community. The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.

 

Series | The Acts of the Holy Spirit

Book of Acts, Chapter 4

Previously:      This chapter is a continuation of the previous, where Peter and John healed a crippled beggar at the ‘Beautiful’ gate of the temple. Peter goes on to preach the message of the resurrected Christ to the astonished onlookers. This invites some unwelcome guests who would rather have Peter nor anyone not teach about the risen Saviour.

 

Background:   Chapter 4 starts with a disturbed set of high priests, captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees putting Peter and John behind the bars to question them the next day. Before moving further into the incident of chap 4, let us understand what kind of people Peter and John are facing. Typically, the Sadducees are the aristocratic section of the Jewish society – influential and wealthy. They also had the backing of the Roman military. They believed in nothing supernatural including life after death. They were highly corrupt and put on the mask of religiosity to squander the temple money under their leadership. These were the same corrupt and murderous people who killed innocent Jesus. And they ask Peter in verse “By what power or what name did you do this?” – the so-called religious people didn’t know what name did this, the highly influential people didn’t know what power did this. Ironically, they were so alien to this healing God whose temple they were governing.

Now, it is before such impure people Peter and John were held for questioning. Just as we saw the background of the Sadducees, let us also see the track record of Peter from John 18:15-18, 25-27. Here we see Peter deny Jesus fearing persecution. And Peter was even warned about his denial, but he failed miserably.

But it is startling to see the response as in verse 8 onwards:

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’[a]

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

 

What made Peter speak like this? He slashed the ear of the guard when he was with Jesus. But when he saw Jesus taken away into custody he denied Him. Now what had happened to Peter? – It was the ACT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The disciple whom Jesus asked why he doubted, now healed a born cripple by faith!

Let us quickly go through three verses to see what the Holy Spirit does. This is from the perspective of the disciples.

John 16:                      8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Sin – not believing in Jesus, primary sin

Righteousness – righteousness from God, which Jesus atoned for us

Judgement – Defeat of satan, through the death and resurrection of Jesus

He gives A NEW LIFE!

 

John 14:          16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

As One who never leaves. The resident president. Not just a fellow neighbour. In all that we do, He is with us. Everywhere we go, He goes with us. All we do is as if He does it. He that is in you is greater than He that is in the world! In the physical absence of Jesus, He has provided even His real presence in our lives.

He NEVER LEAVES US ALONE!

 

John 15:          26 But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

Jesus as a responsible leader, has sent the Holy Spirit from the Father. He is keen in sending us the Holy Spirit. It is imperative that we realize this fact and believe it. There is a common man-made notion that some teach where if someone didn’t receive the Holy Spirit, they should strive hard and wait in a manner that God will be pleased and then send Him. But the truth of the matter is God knows better our dire need for Him to be present with us and He gives when we ask. We need to believe this.

He baptizes us in the Holy Spirit – In-dwelling and Immersion (to be filled and overflow)

The Holy Spirit being with them was good as Jesus being with them. They saw 5 loaves and 2 fish feed 5000men. They walked on water. They healed the sick and delivered people from bondage and preached the good news to the poor. What kind of life are we living?

We are the apostles of today’s time!

 

Conclusion: Personhood of Holy Spirit

Baptism of the Holy Spirit is often spoken of as an experience by some. For those who haven’t received Him yet, they might have even noticed external responses and reactions that people who claim to have received the Holy Spirit show. Let not such questions stop anyone from receiving Him. Let us not limit him to some sort of a feeling or emotion, HE IS A PERSON!

Do you recognize the Person??? Or are you a stranger to The Holy Spirit just like the Sadducees who wondered what power that was?

If you need Him to be with you, call upon His name. Ask Him to come and reside in you and believe. You will be filled with Him, and when He comes you will receive power!

 

Samuel Melbon works as a civil engineer and is part of  Renewed Hope Community which is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.