Paul’s Life Testimonial

Acts 20:17 – 38

Let us study Paul’s life testimonial written in Acts 20:17 – 35 to become imitators and a model (1 Thessalonians 1:6 – 7).

Paul said to the elders of the church in Ephesus (expressed as “us” in the following summary):

From the first day and always (18), Paul

• served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of his Jewish opponents (19).
• has not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to us but have taught us publicly and from house to house (20).
• has declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus (21).
• considers his life worth nothing to him; his only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given him—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (24).
• declares to us today that he is innocent of the blood of any of us (26) because he has not hesitated to proclaim to us the whole will of God (27).
• instructs us to
  • keep watch over ourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made us overseers (28^a)
  • be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood (28^b).
  • be on our guard! Remember that for three years he never stopped warning each of us night and day with tears (31) because he knows that …
    • after he leaves, savage wolves will come in among us and will not spare the flock (29).
    • even from our own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them (30).
• commits us to
  • God and to the word of his grace, which can build us up and give us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (32).
• has not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing (33). We ourselves know that these hands of his have supplied his own needs and the needs of his companions (34). In everything he did, he showed us that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (35)

Then, he knelt down with them all and prayed (36). They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him (37). They accompanied him to the ship (38^b).

Reference

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition.). London: Hodder & Stoughton.

Peter’s Vision

Acts 10:9 – 23

In Leviticus 20:24 – 26, God commanded Israel to make distinction between clean and unclean animals or birds. Details about this distinction are found in Leviticus 11:1 – 47. The purpose of this was to set Israel holy and apart from the other nations (Leviticus 20:26).

But in the vision, Peter saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ (Acts 10:11 – 13)

Peter replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.’ (Acts 10:14)

The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ (Acts 10:15)

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven (Acts 10:16).

This vision is aligned with the fact that Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). More details are found In Mark 7:14–23.

Before this event (Peter’s vision), an angel of God appeared to Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment and told him to invite Peter to his place (Acts 10:1, Acts 10:3). Cornelius and all his family were devout and God-fearing, generous to the poor and prayed to God regularly (Acts 10:2).

God gave Peter this vision so that Peter would not discriminate Gentiles but share the good news with them.

Peter now realised how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right (Acts 10:34 – 35).

Everyone – Jews and Gentiles alike – who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name!

Amen!

This type of changes or differences between old testament and new testament can be understood if Matthew 9:14 – 17 is read, as shown below.

¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came and asked him, ‘How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?’

¹⁵ Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

¹⁶ ‘No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ¹⁷ Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.’

Jesus, Son of God is true representation of God, the Father. Knowing Him is knowing God. If we want to know more about God, we simply need to learn and follow Jesus. We are in the darkness if without Him who is the true light of the world. He is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). He is greater than Solomon (Luke 11:31) and His testimony is weightier than that of Baptist John (John 5:36). He is new wine that requires new wineskins.

References

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton

The Community of the Holy Spirit

Acts 4:32 – 37

Acts 5:1 – 11

I. The believers shared their possessions (Acts 4:32 – 37)

See Acts 4:32.

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there was no needy person among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need (Acts 4:33^b, Acts 4:34 – 35).

Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet (Acts 4:36, 37).

II. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1 – 11)

Bearing the part I in mind, let us take a close look at Acts 5:1 – 11.

A man named Ananias together with his wife Sapphira also sold a piece of property (Acts 5:1).

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 (Acts 5:2).

They died by God’s judgement as shown in Acts 5:5. Before we continue to study on this topic, let us learn what Jesus taught in Luke 13:4.

⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’

And Jesus taught a parable to show that sure judgement was simply delayed to give an opportunity for repentance in Luke 13:6 – 8.
The instance written Acts 5:1 – 11 also gives a warning that leads them to repent.

Let us read what Peter said to Ananias in Acts 5:3, 4.

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.’

Also let us read what Peter said to Sapphira in Acts 5:9.

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.’

Brief summary:

1. Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3)

The devil is a liar. See John 8:44^b.

for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

So, Peter told Ananias, “Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit” in Acts 5:3.

[1] One must remember that the community was “of one heart and mind” (Acts 4:32). This spiritual unity lay behind their not claiming their possessions as their own, their sharing everything they had. They were the community of the Holy Spirit, and in this community they placed all their trust, found their identity and their security. But this was not so with Ananias. His heart was divided. He had one foot in the community and the other still groping for a toehold on the worldly security of earthly possessions. To lie with regard to the sharing was to belie the unity of the community, to belie the Spirit that undergirded that unity. That is why Peter accused Ananias of lying to the Spirit. The Greek expression is even stronger than that—he “belied,” he “falsified” the Spirit.⁸⁹ His action was in effect a denial, a falsification of the Spirit’s presence in the community. All this had happened because he had allowed the archenemy of the Spirit, Satan, to enter his heart. Satan “filled” Ananias’s heart just as he had Judas’s (cf. Luke 22:3). Like Judas, Ananias was motived by money (cf. Luke 22:5). But in filling the heart of one of its members, Satan had now entered for the first time into the young Christian community as well. [1]

2. They conspired and tested the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:9)

Let’s look at ‘test’.

When the devil tempted Jesus to throw Himself down from temple top (to experience God’s protection), Jesus answered him

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:7).

If you expect God may do as you expect, you are testing God. In the gathering of the believers, they may not be or do as you expect. If there is any disappointment by you, the real problem may be in you testing God.

Sapphira expected God might neglect the lie but He didn’t.

Finally, let us read and meditate Galatians 6:7 – 10.

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

[Reference]

[1] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 157). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.

Salvation is found in no one else

Acts 3:12 – 4:22

Last week we studied Peter’s 1^st Message written in Acts 2.

Today, let us study Peter’s 2^nd and 3^rd Message written in Acts 3 and 4.

Let us remember key verses (Acts 4:11, 12, 19, 20) and declare them when applicable.

I. Peter’s 2^nd Message

In Acts 3:1 – 10, Peter and John healed a man who was lame from birth. People were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him (Acts 3:10). While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 3:11). When Peter saw this, he said to them his 2^nd message.

The speech itself falls into two main portions [1].

First, Peter established the relationship between the healing of the lame man and the basic Christian proclamation of the death and resurrection of Christ (Acts 3:12–16) [1].

Then he appealed to the Jews to repent and accept Christ as the Messiah sent from God (Acts 3:17–26) [1].

The result of the message is shown in Acts 4:4.

⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

II. Peter’s 3^rd Message
Now, let’s take a closer look at chapter 4.

The priest and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees were greatly disturbed by the apostles’ teaching, and they seized Peter and John and put them in jail (Acts 4:1 – 3). But this couldn’t stop the power of the message (Acts 4:4).

The rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law including Annas the high priest and Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family met in Jerusalem (Acts 4:5 – 6).

They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’ (Acts 4:7)

Here comes the 3^rd message of Peter.

Peter said to them that the man was miraculously healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but whom God raised from the dead (Acts 4:8 – 10).

1. Their rejection and Jesus’s Resurrection were foretold in Psalm 118:22. See Acts 4:11.

Jesus is

‘ “the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.”

Here the stone represents Jesus. Peter spoke this in front of the very ‘builders’ (including people in Acts 4:5 – 6) who despised, rejected and crucified Jesus. But, God made Him the cornerstone. This was divine reversal.

2. Jesus is the one and only Savior of the world. See Acts 4:12.

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.’

We can quote this verse to anyone who is wondering around to find salvation anywhere else. They are lost and need GPS (God’s Plan of Salvation).

They were astonished by their courage even though they were unschooled, ordinary men. And they took note that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). After discussion (Acts 4:15 – 17), they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18). What was the response of Peter and John? See Acts 4:19 – 20.

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.’

This is how we should react to any objection to the evangelism.

References

[1] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 130). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.

The 1st Message of Peter

Acts 2:14 – 41

Acts consists of 28 chapters. I recently read the 1^st half (Chapter 1 ~ 14).

In Acts chapter 1 ~ 14,

There are several messages by Peter, Paul, and Stephen. An interesting fact I see is that they preached in front of Jews who put Jesus to death. How real and how confronting!

There were opposing people who were jealous, threated, wanted to kill, Jailed, persecuted, stirred up the crowd, poisoned minds, and stoned them.

But the power of God protected them and supported their mission.  For example, whenever they were jailed, God miraculously rescued them.

Now I chose Acts 2:14 – 41 as the first post based on the book of Acts in Comnc.org website. The title of the message is the 1^st Message of Peter.

Peter actually met Jesus face-to-face. He had real life experience to follow Jesus and witnessed His life filled with miracles, wonders, and signs. He loved Jesus who came to serve and give life for many. He saw the crucifixion of Jesus. He met Jesus after He was risen. He saw Jesus was ascended to the heaven. Now he was standing in front of Jews, the very people, who put his beloved Master to death not long ago.

Let us learn his evangelical message that saved 3,000 people.

In Acts 2:1-13, the Holy Spirit came down to the believers and they started to declare the wonders of God in variety of different languages.

1. The Pentecost Prophesized by Joel (14 – 21)

Peter stood up to speak (14). He mentioned that this supernatural event was prophesized in Joel 2:28 – 32.

2. The Main Message (22 – 36)

Now, let’s take a look at the main part of the message.

1. Jesus of Nazareth (22)

Peter started with reminding them of Jesus of Nazareth, who was a man

accredited by God to them

by miracles, wonders and signs

As shown in the 4 books of Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Jesus came to the world according to the written promises in the Old Testament and His life was filled with miracles, wonders and signs.

2. Crucifixion (23)

Peter mentioned about God’s deliberate plan and pointed out that they crucified Him:

• Jesus was handed over to them by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.
• They, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.

3. Resurrection (24 – 32)

In v24, Peter mentioned about the Resurrection.

²⁴ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

In v25 – 28, He quoted Psalm 16:8 – 11 in regarding to the Resurrection.

²⁵ David said about him:

‘ “I saw the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

²⁶ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest in hope,

²⁷ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

you will not let your holy one see decay.

²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence.”

In v29 – 32, Peter explained what he quoted previously (v25 – 28).

²⁹ ‘Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. ³⁰ But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. ³¹ Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. ³² God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

4. Ascension (33 – 35)

v33 – 35 is Ascension of Jesus to the right hand of God. Peter quoted Psalm 110:1.

³³ Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

‘ “The Lord said to my Lord:

‘Sit at my right hand

³⁵ until I make your enemies

a footstool for your feet.’ ”

5. Conclusion (36)

Climax of his message is v36:

³⁶ ‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’

3. A Call to Repentance (37 – 41)

What is response of the audience? See v37.

After listening to his message, people were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (37)

What direction did Peter give them? See v38 and 39:

³⁸ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’

⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’

As a result, 3,000 people joined the believers (41).

This time, we just briefly investigated the contents and structure of the message. Let us take this message as a reference when we write evangelical messages that can change 3 * 10ⁿ people, where n >= 0.

Finally, at this moment, let us think of ‘the Cross’, which implies the simple and powerful messages. Let us list a few:

• God loves us (John 3:16)
• Jesus dies for our sins (Isaiah 53:5 – 7, 1 Corinthians 15:3)
• The consequence of Sin is death (Romans 6:23)
• God made Jesus to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)
• Those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24)
• If we sin, we are crucifying the Son of God (Hebrews 6:4 – 6).

[Reference]

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition., Ac 2:36). London: Hodder & Stoughton.