Tag: Prophecy

Acts 13:1-12 — Paul and Barnabas Launch Out Into the Deep and Let Down Their Nets

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

As Acts 12 closed, we saw Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark returning to Antioch. As Acts 13 opens, we see a diverse cast of characters in the church at Antioch:

• Barnabas (lit The son of consolation) of Cyprus, named so by the apostles.
• Simeon called Niger, possibly ‘Simon of Cyrene’ who carried the cross for Jesus.
• Lucius of Cyrene.
• Manaen, who was raised in the royal household of Herod Antipas. (Pr 22:2)
• Saul of Tarsus, the main character of Acts, aside from Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

They appear to all be Greek-speaking Jews. This alludes to the shift taking place in the body of Christ as Gentiles are added to the church. Greek-speaking church leaders can more easily relate to Gentiles than speakers of Aramaic or Hebrew.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit as we read your word. Give us understanding, that we may each grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We pray this in his holy and precious name. Amen.

Acts 13:1-12
NOW there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger [lit, Black], and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to [served] the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

In my post on Acts 11:19-30, I said I have never made a prophecy. Come to think of it, I did have something like that happen once, but it was so long ago I almost forgot about it. In the mid-90s, a friend was diagnosed with a horrible illness for which there is no cure. I said that she would be healed, which she was. That may not be a prophecy per se, but I have had many similar experiences where God showed me something concerning the future. Like in the verses above, several of my other friends were told the same thing I was, by the Spirit, and all at the same time. (It is implied in verse 2 that the Holy Ghost spoke to all of them about Barnabas and Saul.) From the beginning of the Bible, God speaks to his people. We see this continued in the Book of Acts and in the church today.

Notice it says they ministered to the Lord (not the church). This begs the question, how can one minister to the Lord? If someone is hungry and you feed them, thirsty and you give them drink, a stranger and you take them in, naked and you clothe them, sick and you visit them, in prison and you come to them, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Church service is service to the Lord.

If you will do these things, Jesus said one day you will hear Him say, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: But Jesus also said, Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

I recall an outreach by a church in Margao. They fasted and prayed for months before they went out. Then, when they went into the neighborhoods one Sunday afternoon, every door they knocked on that day was answered by someone who listened and said the sinner’s prayer with them. If you are going to evangelize, prayer and fasting are essential. 

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Seleucia was the seaport of Antioch, on the Mediterranean coast at the mouth of the River Orontes. The island of Cyprus is where Barnabas is from. (Acts 4:36) This makes for a smooth transition into missions work, as Barnabas is familiar with the area.

5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

John Mark is Barnabas’ nephew. (Col 4:10) He was led to Christ by Peter. (I Pet 5:13) He is also the author of the Gospel According to Mark. In Mark 14:51, 52, Mark seems to drop a hint that he was there the night Jesus was arrested.

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer [Gk magos (1)], a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

Like Simon in Acts 8, we have another ‘sorcerer’ here. 

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

From this point forward, Dr Luke refers to Saul by his Greek name, Paulos, meaning ‘small’ or ‘humble’. According to Weiersbe, as a Roman citizen, Paul’s full Roman (Latin) name was probably Saul Paulus, as many Jews had both Jewish and Roman names.

10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Acts 13:1-12

Paul deals with Elymas in much the same way that Peter dealt with Simon the sorcerer, with a stinging rebuke. Paul, however, adds a curse. He removes the sorcerer’s ability to see, but only for a season. The Holy Spirit is patient, even with wicked sinners. Thank God for that, because I need that grace. Elymas may look bad, but not so much if I take an honest look at myself. Sin always looks worse on someone else. We all need God’s grace and mercy.

For Paul to make such a pronouncement — that Elymas would not be able to see — it took faith. The Bible says faith is a spiritual gift. (I Cor 12:9) When had my prophetic experience concerning my friend’s healing in the 90’s, I had the faith to tell everyone in my office that God was going to heal her. It was not very difficult, as God had spoken this truth into my heart, the same way I suppose He did for Paul. It says that when Paul made this pronouncement, he was filled with the Holy Ghost. If you fill your mind and your heart with the word of God, He gives you the gift of faith. (Rom 10:17) If you fill your mind with the things of the world, it will have the opposite effect.

We are now into the final division in the Book of Acts, following the outline in Acts 1:8. Paul, Barnabas, and Mark are taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. As our section ends, the curse on Elymas leads to the conversion of the deputy, Sergius Paulus, and we have another astonished Christian, much like we had in Chapter 12. Our God is an astonishing God, indeed.

 

1 The sorcerers in Acts (Gk magi) were foolish, but the magi in Matthew 2 were wise men. Greek words, like words in any other language, have different definitions depending on the context.

Acts 10:19-48 — Soldier to Soldier

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, we pick back up with the story of Cornelius, Peter, and the visions that God used to bring them together. 

Acts is the great turning point in Scripture. From Genesis 25 through the Gospels and the beginning of Acts, the focus of Scripture is on Israel. There is much for the heathen nations as well — like the occasion when Jonah tried to take a boat from Joppa to Tarshish, only to end up on a mission trip to Nineveh — but the focus is on Israel.

Then in Acts, the focus starts shifting to the church, a body of believers made up of both Jews and Gentiles. In Acts 10 in particular the Gentiles start coming in to the church.

Later in Acts, Paul will tell the philosophers in Athens that God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth. That’s a good message for the ‘philosophers’ of our day too. If someone has a problem with the way God made your skin tone, tell them to take it up with Him. We all have the same Creator and we all need the same Saviour. (Acts 4:12; 17:26) 

The Letters that follow Acts focus mostly on the Gentiles. James addressed his Letter to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad, and there is also the Letter to the Hebrews; yet, overall, the focus of the church age has been the Gentiles. This change started in Acts 10. 

This transition continued through the first century, as the gospel is to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile). Paul in his Letter to the Romans demonstrates how this transition was foretold in Scripture:

8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. [II Sam 22:50; Ps 18:49]
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. [Deut 32:43]
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. [Ps 117:1]
12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. [Isa 11:10] 
Romans 15:8-12

Yet later in Revelation 7, God calls 12,000 Jewish believers from each of the twelve tribes, 144,000 in total. At this point (in the not-too-distant future), not only will the church age be over, but the times of the Gentiles will be wrapping up as well. When Jesus comes back, the leader of the free world will be Jewish and Jerusalem will be the capital. This is God’s plan for Israel. (Rom 11:25)

Hence, we have a watershed moment here. Before Acts 10, none of the apostles were preaching to Gentiles. The Ethiopian eunuch and the diverse crowd in Acts 2 were all either Jews or Jewish proselytes, but Cornelius is a Roman Gentile. Let’s see what happens. 

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit as we read your word. Give us understanding. We pray these sayings will sink down into our souls and bear fruit in our lives, as well as the lives of others. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 10:19-48
19 ¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

I love how the Spirit speaks directly to Peter here. Throughout the Bible, God speaks to his people. Christianity is not a religion. It’s a relationship, and in a healthy relationship, people talk to each other. If you’re not hearing Him, read your Bible more and remember to always pray before you read your Bible. (Also as you’re reading it.)

21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Cornelius was a man who gave God his best, like the woman who poured her precious spikenard on Jesus’ head before He went to the cross. In our last post, we read that Cornelius gave much alms to the people. (Matt 25:40)

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter is being obedient to the vision he had in the first part of the chapter (see here) by inviting the Romans in and letting them stay in the same house with him. 

24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

Cornelius was an evangelist even before receiving Christ. Peter has a nice-sized audience waiting to receive him. It reminds me of the party Matthew threw to receive Jesus. (Matt 9)

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

Notice Peter does not tell Cornelius to kiss his ring, much less his toe. When I was recently in St Peter’s Basilica, I watched as someone went past the velvet rope and kissed the toe of Peter’s effigy — famously worn down from centuries of kissing and touching.

Rather, Peter sets Cornelius straight and tells him to stand up. 

27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

This is Peter’s first time in a Gentile home. He explains to them how God showed him that he has to accept them. As I said in the last post, the unclean beasts in Peter’s vision were not just meant to signify food — the Romans themselves are the unclean animals in the vision. God said he had cleansed them and not to call them unclean. I don’t know how they ever got that idea in the first place, as I do not find that in the law of the Old Covenant. Jesus did not think going to the house of Cornelius(?) was breaking the law in Luke 7:6, but traditions passed down by the scribes and Pharisees came to be accepted more or less as law.

29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

Peter makes Cornelius spell it out for him.

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

Perhaps at this time Peter remembered the great commission. Jesus commanded him (and us!) to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Now, taken together with Cornelius’ vision and his own vision, Peter knows what to say:

34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Verse 35 cannot be used to promote universalism; it says ‘every nation’, but with a qualifier: in every nation he that feareth him [Jesus], and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

There Peter goes again, preaching on the resurrection. Why does he keep playing the same song? Because that is the heart of the gospel. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important part of our faith as Christians. (Rom 4:25; 10:9; I Cor 15:14-19) 

Peter’s preaching shows that a simple message is all that is needed to win souls. (I Cor 1:17) I recall hearing about one new Christian who only knew John 3:16, yet she was an effective evangelist. You can play a song on one string, and it only takes three chords to jam.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick [living] and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Peter is offers a slice of John 3:16 here; you’re either a whosoever will or a whosoever won’t. This is a crowd of whosoever wills:

44 ¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

I believe “they of the circumcision … as many as came with Peter,” probably heard the Romans speaking Hebrew. I once heard a Hebrew scholar, who was by no means Pentecostal, say that he saw a lady receive Christ on the Bayou in Louisiana and immediately start speaking Hebrew. I suspect that is the reason Peter’s friends were astonished. The Jews who accompanied Peter to Caesarea would have never believed these Romans were their brothers in Christ without this compelling evidence.

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Verse 47 destroys the false teaching of baptismal regeneration. They were already saved and had received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized. 

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 10:19-48

Peter may have made some big mistakes (haven’t we all), but he is really starting to get his sea legs now. Yet Peter is still just a man, the same as the rest of us.

When I was in Rome, the exaltation of Peter could be seen everywhere. The basilicas and shrines throughout the city often feature colossal statues of Peter and the other apostles, making them seem like gods. The vaulted ceilings in these shrines are very high and far away, making God seem far away. The decorations and artwork in these places are very lavish, often decked with silver and gold. 

Yet the Bible shows Peter as he really was, full of flaws yet fully accessible to the common people. Peter always directed people to the word of God and away from corruptible things like silver and gold. (I Pet 1:18-2:3)

Wiersbe said that Peter used the keys of the kingdom (Matt 16:19) to open the door of faith to the Jews (Acts 2), the Samaritans (Acts 8) and finally, the Gentiles (Acts 10). That is one possible interpretation, but even that sounds like a bit of a stretch to me. In Matthew 18:18, Jesus told the other apostles pretty much the same thing He told Peter in Matthew 16:19. I tend to think that what Jesus meant when He said the keys of the kingdom was the word of God and the faith to believe it, keys that are available to us all. (Matt 7:7; cf Luke 11:52) The ‘Church’ claims that the keys of the kingdom were passed from pope to pope, giving them their authority. That sounds nice, but it’s not in the Bible. (Neither are prayer beads, confession booths, nor a celibate priesthood. In fact, Peter himself was married.) Therefore, it is another gospel they are preaching in Rome. (Gal 1:6-9)

It is not my intention to insult anyone, but I thank God for my Christian friends who were not afraid to challenge my Catholic faith. I pray all who read this will put their faith in the word of God as I have, and not in the Church.

In closing, at this point in the book of Acts, not only have we seen the gospel go out from Jerusalem to Samaria and beyond (Acts 1:8), but we have seen the gospel received by the three major people groups in Genesis 10: Shem (Acts 2), Ham (the Ethiopian Eunuch), and Japheth (Cornelius from Italy). I wonder what Dr Luke, the Gentile, was thinking while he was writing about the conversion of Cornelius?

For the next couple of chapters in Acts, we will continue to see both Peter and Saul, before the focus shifts away from Peter towards Saul and his missionary journeys. 

Father, thank You for the open door You have set before us. Thank You that all are welcome, no matter what we may have done, however terrible it may have been. Thank You for the precious blood of your Son that washes away all our sins. Thank You that He is risen from the dead and that He is coming back again for us soon. Thank You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Acts 10:1-18 — Peter Goes To Caesarea – Rome Away From Rome

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

I decided to forgo my usual recap of events this New Year’s, as I have been feeling more and more like the news we receive is less and less worth following. I see this not only in the mainstream, but also in the new media. I still follow current events, but more than ever I take the news with a grain of salt, so to speak. For example, the tragedy concerning our fellowservant, Charlie Kirk, was among the major events of 2025, but what do we really know about how or why it happened? Not much at all. 

Considering Dr Luke’s many historical references (eg Luke 2:1-3), it is clear that he was well versed with the inner workings of the Roman Empire, but that was not his focus. 

As a Roman citizen, when Paul confronted the public officials of his day, he always had one clear message: the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Matt 5:44) Let that be our focus too. Let us be realistic about current events (Phil 3:20; I John 2:17; 5:19), and view everything through the lens of Scripture.

In other words, I think we need to strike a balance between viewing events in terms of Bible prophecy and being obsessed with the new world order; between an honest appraisal of the prophetic landscape and a quixotic crusade against the powers that be. (Eph 6:12) I leave that for your thoughtful consideration.

Moving forward, in Acts 9, we left Peter hanging out with Simon the tanner in his tanning shop on the beach in Joppa. A shop where tanning was done was a spartan dwelling that reeked of stale urine from the tanning process. Peter does not require first-class accommodation. 

Moreover, tanners were considered unclean according to the Torah. (Lev 11:35-40) This does not seem to bother Peter either, but he still has a lot to learn. (Don’t we all.) The Holy Spirit is going to deal with Peter’s prejudices and his attachments to the law in this chapter. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Father, and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 10:1-18
THERE was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

Caesarea is just north of the plain of Sharon, which is just north of Joppa. (Where there are revivals resulting from Peter healing Aeneas and raising Tabitha in Chapter 9.)

Paul traveled through Caesarea in Chapter 9. He will return again during his missionary journeys, and ultimately be jailed in Caesarea for two years before setting sail for Rome. 

Caesarea will become the home of Philip. (Acts 21) It was also the home of Roman governors like Pontius Pilate. Caesarea, named for Caesar Augustus by Herod the Great, was the capital of Roman Judea. 

Ruins of Caesarea today

Artist’s Rendition of Caesarea 

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Cornelius is a devout man, meaning he is not merely religious but sincere and dedicated. He feared God (not the gods), meaning he already had faith in the God of Israel. He was very generous with his alms to the people. He was also a man of prayer. Moreover, he took his responsibility as the spiritual leader of his family seriously. To say Cornelius was an honorable man seems a bit of an understatement.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day [ie, the hour of prayer; cf Acts 3:1] an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

In Chapter 9, Paul and Ananias had visions. In this Chapter, Cornelius and Peter are up. The Holy Spirit is busy leading and orchestrating the transition from the law into the New Covenant of grace. 

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

Have you ever had a vision from the Holy Spirit? How much do you pray? It looks like Cornelius is praying when he has his vision, just as Peter is when he has his (v 9). The vision Ananias had seems to be an answer to Paul’s prayers in Acts 9:11, prayers which likewise led to Paul’s vision in Acts 9:12. The angel tells Cornelius he was sent as a result of his prayers and his alms.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

Notice how Cornelius was only given a limited amount of information. He will have to obey, then wait and see what happens next.

7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

I cannot help but wonder if Cornelius might be the centurion Dr Luke mentions in Chapter 7 of his Gospel, and whether one of the servants mentioned here may be the one Jesus healed. The Gospel account of the centurion that loved Israel and built them a synagogue matches. Dr Luke mentions that the soldier Cornelius sends along is a man of faith as well.

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa [Gk Ióppē; called Jaffa in modern English or Yafo in Hebrew].

They make good time and arrive at Joppa the next day. Joppa is about 38 miles south of Caesarea on foot, but as attachés to Cornelius, they are probably on horseback. Or, since Joppa was a major port city like Caesarea, maybe they went by boat?

9 ¶ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

It’s been said that God knows you always have to tell a man twice (Abraham, Abraham; Jacob, Jacob; Moses, Moses; Samuel, Samuel; etc.) Peter requires being told three times. (Cf John 21:17) He said Not so, Lord the first time, but repented after the second and third. (Cornelius, who was used to taking orders, only needs to be told once.)

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
Acts 10:1-18

In our next post, we will see that Peter’s vision is not necessarily about non-kosher food. It’s also about us — non-kosher Gentiles. 

We all have our biases and beliefs that we carry with us from our culture, ingrained deep into our souls from early childhood. Peter’s vision is telling him he needs to let go of his biases and fully embrace the New Covenant of grace. It’s not just ‘okay’ to eat with Gentiles now, but the Lord is commanding it. The one another passages of the New Testament apply to all believers, Jew and Gentile alike.

Throughout the Book of Acts, we see how the Jews resisted the New Covenant of grace and clung to the law. The apostles will start to understand better at the first church council which takes place in Acts 15, but there were many who continued to resist. Ironically, the one least likely to embrace New Covenant grace — Saul of Tarsus — became its strongest advocate.

This same misunderstanding continues today, not just among Jews, but among many Gentiles. Legalism is like a strong tower that keeps Christians bound by rigid superstitions. To fully understand and embrace New Covenant grace is to be free indeed. (John 8:31-36) We will see later in Acts 15 that the only rules for Christians are to abstain from meat offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication (Gk porneia). Paul modified these rules in his Epistles, but the bottom line is that when a Christian is led of the Spirit, all things are lawful. (I Cor 6:9-20)

In closing, if you are a Jewish believer in Yeshua, go ahead and eat the lobster if you want to. According to Peter’s vision it’s okay; even Yeshua said so. (Mark 7:15; cf Rom 14)

Father, please fill us day by day with the Holy Spirit, that we may be led of the Spirit and focused on your Son. Help us to cast aside our unbiblical beliefs and biases, that your Son may feel at home in our hearts, and that we may always be ready to serve Him, in season and out of season. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 9:32-43 — A Time of Rest, Miracles, and Revival

~ mikethemissionary

 Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, the churches had rest following the persecution from Saul. But, Saul on the other hand, learned what it was like to be hunted and persecuted (v 29).

When you are going through a trial, it is always good to remember that this too shall pass. Persecution will be back again soon enough, but for now, the churches have rest.

In this post, we pick back up with Peter as the Holy Spirit sends him on a new mission. Dr Luke will return to Saul near the end of Chapter 11; again, we will see Barnabas helping him.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 9:32-43
32 ¶ And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

Lydda is the Greek name for Lod, a town just south of the Ben Gurion airport.

33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy [paralized]. 
34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

In healing Aeneas, Peter performs another great miracle, which lights a revival fire in Lod that burns all the way to Saron (Greek for Sharon, which is just north of where Tel Aviv is today). 

36 ¶ Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

Dr Luke interprets the Aramaic Tabitha for his Greek readers (Dorcus), which means Gazelle in English. I suspect Dorcus was graceful and attractive like a gazelle.

37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Peter does not delay when called upon by the believers in Joppa (today on the south side of Tel Aviv). He immediately makes the hike of about 14 miles to come to their aid. (See I Peter 5.)

39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

Now Peter performs a greater miracle than the one he performed in Lod. This miracle is very similar to the one Jesus performed when He raised Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5. As Jesus did, Peter puts all the people out of the room and says almost the same words, Tabitha, cumi.

43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
Acts 9:32-43

In Acts 10, Peter is going to perform an even greater miracle than the ones he performed here in Chapter 9: He is going to minister to Gentiles and lead them to Christ. Leading a lost soul to Christ is beyond any shadow of a doubt the greatest miracle anyone will ever perform. We cannot save anyone, not even ourselves, but we can lead them to He who can save them, Jesus, and that is a miracle. 

If you have never led a soul to Christ, ask yourself how much time you have spent praying for the lost. Ask yourself how much time you have spent telling others about what Jesus has done for you. If that sounds hard, write it down. After you practice saying it on paper it will be much easier in person. 

Or, maybe the problem is just that you have not asked them if they want to receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I used to talk and talk, and nobody was getting saved. Then it occurred to me that I was not asking them if they want Jesus. You have to ask. When they say yes, you have to be prepared to lead them in prayer:

Father in heaven, I’m a sinner. I turn from my sin and I receive your Son as my personal Saviour. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and take control of my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and write my name in your book of life. I ask this in your Holy and precious name. Amen.

In closing, salvation is only square 1. A new believer needs doctrine like a newborn needs milk. (Acts 2:42) Satan will attempt to deceive her or him with errors of all kinds. Therefore, you need to see to it that she or he is instructed in sound doctrine. Make sure she or he knows not just to avoid cults and isims, but to reject them outright. (Acts 19:19; Gal 1:8; Tit 3:10)

Prophecy Update: Canada and the EU are partnering together with plans involving AI, digital IDs, and digital wallets. This, and the fine Brussels has slapped X with for daring to host a quasi free-speech platform, are both examples of further steps toward the one-world government prophesied in the Revelation. (Heb 10:37)

PS: As I am sure you know, a big part of the attack on us in these last days is through our food. A convenient and handy way to make healthy choices wherever you may shop is to scan before you buy with the Yuka app.

Acts 9:1-31 — Saul’s Best-Laid Plans 

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left at the end of Acts 8, Phillip evangelized along the coast of the Mediterranean all the way to Caesarea. In Acts 9, the Holy Spirit picks back up with the story of the persecutor of the church, Saul of Tarsus. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Father, and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Acts 9:1-31
AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Saul has a plan. He is a man on a mission. He believes he is doing God’s work. (John 16:2)

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks [cattle prods]. 

God has a different plan. (Pr 16:9)

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

This was Paul’s first lesson in waiting on the Holy Spirit. Oftentimes, we have to wait on the Lord when we go through trials. Little by little, we come to see as we go through life that we can always trust Him as we await further instructions. Just as Philip had to wait to see why he was sent to the desert in Chapter 8, when Saul asked what he should do, the answer was ‘Wait and I will tell you later. For now, just continue to Damascus’.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

More waiting. Saul is getting a lesson in patience, and he is fasting out of contrition. (A wise move.)

10 ¶ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Ananias shares his reservations about his new mission with the Lord, as if He didn’t already know. Have you ever done that? I know I have, and he was patient with me the same way He is with Ananias:

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

We tend to think of Saul as the apostle to the Gentiles, and he was, but he was not limited to the Gentiles. Dr Halley points out that while Paul was Jewish, he was a freeborn Roman citizen; furthermore, he was from a leading Hellenistic city, Tarsus. Therefore, Paul was Roman, Greek, and Jewish. This made him an ideal evangelist, perfectly positioned to be all things to all men. (1 Cor 9:19-22) It’s always good to try to relate to your target when evangelizing him or her.

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

The ‘scales’ that fell from Saul’s eyes were like the scales of a fish, blinding him to the truth of the gospel, but now he sees. (Cf John 9:39-41) The Bible speaks of a veil or “vail” (KJV) over the eyes of the Jews even today (II Cor 3:15), but soon the vail will be removed, the same as it was for Saul. (Rom 11:26)

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Like Philip, the visible sign of the Holy Spirit for Saul was his evangelism (not tongues).

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

According to Wiersbe, had Dr Luke included Saul’s trip to Arabia (Gal 1:18), it would have appeared here between verses 21 and 22. 

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 ¶ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Saul’s plan was to enter Damascus as a special agent on the authority of the Temple, but so far in this chapter he has been struck blind, knocked down, hunted, and forced to sneak out a window like a criminal. It has been said that God has a way of making each of us humble, and He is teaching Saul humility. It has also been said that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans. It therefore behooves us to seek God’s plan for our lives. Saul is learning that lesson.

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

Another lesson in humility. Saul is rejected by the church.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

In Acts 4:36, Dr Luke told us that it was the apostles who surnamed Joses “Barnabas,” and translated the name for his Greek readers (in English, The son of consolation). We are beginning to see why now. While the others are passing judgment and unwilling to forgive, Barnabas is following the leading of the Holy Spirit and sticking his neck out to help Saul. 

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians [of which, Paul was one]: but they went about to slay him.
30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Acts 9:1-31

We are seeing a pattern here which will continue into the narrative around Peter in our next post: Our fellow believers in the Book of Acts keep questioning the leading of the Holy Spirit. Saul was flat-out fighting against the Holy Spirit. Ananias’ response to the leading of the Holy Spirit was, ‘Pray for Saul? That does not sound right’. When the Holy Spirit tells Peter to go non-kosher he will say, “Not so, Lord.” (Acts 10:14)

I met Jesus when I was four years old. As I look back on my life, I can recall several times I heard God speaking to my heart and said, Not so, Lord. This study in Acts is making me painfully aware of this. I recall once hearing a story about a man who went to heaven. After he listened to Jesus review his life before the Bema seat, he received rewards and was welcomed into the joy of the Lord. But he was given a box that Jesus told him he might not want to open. When curiosity got the best of him, and he looked inside, he started weeping, because inside the box he could see all the things that Jesus wanted to give him, but couldn’t because he refused to listen and obey. 

Father, help us to be obedient Spirit-filled Christians who do not question your will for our lives. Help us to be flexible, pliable, and willing to follow wherever You may lead. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prophecy Update: During the Biden era, the alternative press was buzzing with stories about plans for CBDCs in countries around the globe. This piqued the curiosity of students of prophecy, as it looked like another step towards the mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18).

According to a recent white paper from JP Morgan, these plans have not been tabled but are moving forward. Now, the BRICS+ countries are preparing to launch the UNIT, a decentralized digital currency that will be backed by gold and BRICS+ currencies, and utilize blockchain technology. The UNIT is a wildcard that is competing with CBDCs for the evolution of digital money and cross-border transactions. 

It may appear that the new world order is in disarray as nations fight over who will ultimately control it, but they are still, nevertheless, moving forward. We know where this story goes, and how it ends.

Acts 8:25-40 — Revival in Samaria (and a Special Mission)!

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

As we continue in Chapter 8, the Holy Spirit is directing Peter and John to preach in the villages of Samaria as they make their way back to Jerusalem. The Spirit has different plans for Philip, however.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your word. Direct our paths, the same way you did for your people in the early church. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 8:25-40
25 And they [Peter and John], when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

With the revival that was taking place in Samaria, was Philip having a hard time believing God wanted him to go out to the desert? Could this be why it says the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, and not simply the Holy Spirit? I don’t know, but oftentimes the leading of the Holy Spirit is contrary to our own understanding. (Pr 3:5f)

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

According to Wiersbe, this was not exactly what we know as Ethiopia, but Nubia, which was just south of Egypt. Being in charge of the queen’s treasure, the Ethiopian was obviously an important man, a high official.

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

The recurring theme in Acts is being led of the Spirit, something I am endeavoring to do more and more, the further into this study I get. (1)

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

The section of Scripture that the Ethiopian has his scroll rolled open to is what we know as Isaiah 53, one of the clearest pictures in the Tanakh of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross; yet he could not understand it without Philip’s help. As Spirit-filled believers, we can make the Scriptures understood to people who need our help too.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Just as Isaiah 53 has been removed in some Hebrew Bibles sold in Jewish bookstores, Acts 8:37 has been removed in some modern Bibles. Verse 37 is important. Not only does it show that he needed to believe before he could be baptized, verse 37 shows what he needed to believe. (2)

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing [cf v 8].
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Acts 8:25-40

Earlier in Chapter 8, we saw that there is visual evidence of the Holy Spirit (v 18). One of the ways this can be seen is by the joy the Holy Spirit brings (v 8). In some churches, they teach that speaking in tongues is required to prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, but this teaching is not biblical. For the Ethiopian eunuch, the visible change was joy. He was rejoicing after being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Isaiah points out that eunuchs could be saved under the Old Covenant (Isa 56:3-5), but the law was limited in what it could offer the Ethiopian. As a eunuch, he could be saved as a ‘witness at the gate’, but he would not be entered into the Temple registry. (Deut 23:1) Under grace, however, everyone is welcome (Luke 14:21), and we are all equals. Someone said the ground is all level at the foot of the cross, and it’s true. (Gal 3:28) Not only that, but in Christ, we are each a new creation. (II Cor 5:17) No wonder he was rejoicing. That is something to rejoice about! The seeds of the gospel are spreading to the uttermost part of the earth as he heads back to Ethiopia. There has been an active church in that region since the first century. As we continue through Acts, we will continue to see how the Holy Spirit leads one step at a time. First, Philip was told to go out into the desert. Then when he saw the chariot, he was told to approach it. Then there was a church in Ethiopia. I’m sure the Ethiopian eunuch was well-positioned to spread the gospel, the same as the Roman official, Theophilus.

Now that Philip’s work in the desert is done, he makes his way back up the coast, preaching in all the cities along the way to Caesarea. For Philip, the visual change was his evangelism. You know you are filled with the Spirit when you cannot stop telling people about Jesus.

In Caesarea, Philip will meet a nice girl and settle down. We will find Philip still in Caesarea when we get to Acts 21.

Father please fill us each with your Holy Spirit and direct our paths day by day, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Researchers have long known that the heart has its own ‘mini brain’ connected to the central nervous system. I recently read about research that shows the gut has its own ‘mini brain’ as well. The Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and it seems to me that these features may be conduits that link the consciousness to the spiritual dimension. Researchers found that these ‘mini brains’ react to stimuli before they are detected by the five senses. This agrees with Watchman Nee’s use of the term ‘intuition’ to describe the leading of the Holy Spirit.

One of the things to consider about being led of the Holy Spirit is that the little ‘coincidences’ that happen as we go through our day are not coincidental. The Holy Spirit is orchestrating things. For example, the other day, a young man from Afghanistan started talking to me in broken English at the Airport. I ‘happened’ to have an Urdu gospel tract handy and before long, he and his family were reading it. The next day, I was walking through St Peter’s Basilica in Rome with my coat folded over my arm when a grip of Chick tracts ‘happened’ to fall out of the pocket and splatter on the floor as everyone looked. (Catholics know that Chick tracts command them to repent.) I left ‘He Never Told Us’ on a ledge as someone stared at me. Two days later, a Muslim street vendor started chatting me up. I just ‘happened’ to have a good tract for Muslims. I then remembered how the Spirit nudged me to take my tracts with me when I prayed before leaving my flat that morning.

2 Acts 8:37 is included in Uncial E, and at least 27 cursives. It is in 7 different Old Latin MSS (which predate the Vulgate). It’s in the Syriac (Harclean), the Middle Egyptian Coptic (!), and the Armenian. It was cited by Irenaeus (178), Tertullian (220), and Cyprian (258). As cited in Moorman, Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version, p 113. As for Isaiah 53, it is in the oldest manuscript there is, on display for all to see in the Dome of the Scroll in Jerusalem.

PS: Endofdays.press will expire in January. Notes on Acts will continue to be posted at: MichaelJamesHarvey.substack.com

Acts 8:12-24 — Simon the Sorcerer Part II

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In Part I, Philip went to Samaria to preach the gospel. Among those whom Philip encountered was a sorcerer named Simon. 

As we continue, the Samaritans are receiving the gospel and getting baptized. Simon the sorcerer will get baptized as well. It seems he has people fooled, in much the same way that Judas had people fooled, but things get interesting when Peter and John arrive. Let’s see what happens.

Father, we are living in the age of deceit. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us wisdom and discernment as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 8:12-24
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

The sorcerer, Simon, ‘believed’ but so does Satan. Belief is not enough. Repentance — a change of mind — is necessary to become a true disciple and Simon did not repent. What we have here is a tare among the wheat. (Matt 13:24-30)

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

If Peter was the first pope, why was he sent by the other apostles? A pope would have been the one to do the sending.

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon [Gk ep] none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

In the notes on Acts 1:1-14, I mentioned the view that there can be a separate experience after conversion when believers receive an additional filling of the Holy Spirit. The above verses agree with this view. There was certain Greek scholar who pointed to the preposition “epi” in verse 16 to make this point. Oftentimes in the Bible, the Holy Spirit comes upon an individual to empower him for service. (If you want to serve God, this is an absolute necessity.)

I have witnessed this phenomenon firsthand in my own life, as well as in the lives of many others. Sometimes someone says the prayer, believes, and starts reading the Bible and going to church — yet there is no visible sign that anything happened. Other times, immediately after someone says the prayer, there is a visible change. Sometimes they cannot stop smiling. Sometimes they are bewildered, wondering what just happened to them. Sometimes they immediately sober up and pour out their drink. In the early church, one of the visible signs was speaking in tongues. I believe this can still happen today, but I myself have never seen someone speak in tongues after receiving Christ.

In some churches, people are told that speaking in tongues is ‘proof’ of the Holy Spirit. So what happens is people force themselves to speak gibberish. In other words, if it doesn’t come naturally (ie supernaturally), don’t bother.

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

This is where we get the term, ‘simony’, the practice of buying a religious title or office, named so after Simon the sorcerer, who tried to buy the power to dispense the Holy Spirit.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Was Peter too harsh? Telling Simon the sorcerer his money was going to burn along with him? Of course not. Jesus preached this way to the Pharisees in Matthew 23, and it worked. Some of them became believers. (Jude 23) 

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Peter does not pull any punches. He sees Simon for what he is and Peter protects the flock by publicly rebuking the sorcerer (cf II Tim 2:17f). He also tells Simon the key to escaping the judgment he is heading for: He needs to repent.

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Acts 8:12-24

Simon sounds convincing with his pious request for prayer, but what we do not see is repentance. We see a religious racketeer who wants the power the apostles have for his own personal gain or aggrandizement. Yet he is very smooth and subtle. (II Cor 11:3ff)

It is believed by some that Simon the sorcerer assumed the identity of Simon Peter and went to Rome as an imposter. There are compelling arguments for this view. For example, Peter in his first Epistle said he was writing from Babylon. It could be that this was a code word for Rome, as John used it this way in Revelation 17; or was Peter in fact in Babylon? If so, maybe the ‘Peter’ who we are told was crucified upside down in Rome was not really Peter. If this is the case, it explains a lot, like where the idea that Peter was the first pope came from. (In Part I, we saw Simon’s MO of pretending to be some great one.) Then there is the characteristic of legalism which often accompanies false brethren. (Gal 2:4) This would explain the legalism that permeated the Church throughout history, not to mention the practice of simony — paying to receive an office — which was common in the Church as well. An organization tends to follow the way of its leader, so like I said, if the ‘Peter’ who went to Rome was Simon the Sorcerer, it would indeed explain a lot.

I was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church before committing my life to Christ in 1995, so I know something about Catholicism from the inside. What I saw there comports with what the Bible says about Simon the sorcerer. I believe I knew fellow Catholics who were saved at that time in my life but I certainly do not believe they were saved by being Catholic. I believe they were saved despite being Catholic. 

For decades now, the Church in Rome has been leading the creation of the one-world Church of the new world order. Representatives from different religions, from African witch doctors to Zen Buddhists, are regularly invited to Rome for inter-faith meetings. At these meetings, the pope says they are all praying to the same god and I would agree with that — but it is certainly not the God of the Bible. 

This is what the Bible says about Rome and the one-world Church Rome is creating:

     And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
     For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Revelation‬ ‭18‬:‭4‬, 5

Prophecy Update: The first time I heard the proverb, The truth sometimes sleeps but it never dies, it was attributed to an American Indian tribe; I don’t recall which one, maybe Iroquois. Whoever it was that first said this, it’s true. Solomon put it this way: The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (‭‭Pr 12‬:‭19‬)

Case in point: The CDC recently retracted their tired claim that vaccines do not cause autism. Far from telling the whole truth, it’s a step in the right direction, one that almost certainly would have not been taken if not for HHS Secretary RFK Jr. More here.

Persecution Update: Father, please deliver those who were recently abducted from the Catholic boarding school in Nigeria, especially the children. Please give them courage and strength to hold to their faith in your Son, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PS: Endofdays.press will expire in January. Notes on Acts will continue to be posted at: MichaelJamesHarvey.substack.com

Acts 8:1 — No Fear

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, let us consider how the apostles patiently waited for the leading of the Holy Spirit in the midst of persecution. 

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

     And Saul was consenting unto his [Stephen’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭

One of the things I have been contemplating as part of this study in Acts is how to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. To be led of the Spirit, I first need to hear the voice of the Spirit. In The Spiritual Man, Watchman Nee spends a lot of time talking about the need to differentiate between the various voices competing for our attention:

1 There are the many voices from the world that bombard us each day.
2 There are my thoughts, that come from my own soul, or mind. 
3 There is the voice of the enemy, who can inject thoughts into our minds.
4 Then there is the voice of the Holy Spirit.

The last three on the list are the tricky ones. One guideline that I have found helpful is to ask myself if I sense fear. If you sense that a directive you think may be coming from the Holy Spirit has an element of fear attached to it, that is an indicator that it is in fact coming from the enemy. 

One of my favorite proverbs is, ‘Worry is a sin’. (Phil 4:6)

This sort of thought inevitably comes when God is telling us to do something new for Him, when we really need to trust Him as we step out in faith. The enemy would love nothing more than to cripple us with fear. He wants us to be afraid of the government, or a new relationship, or some potential disaster that will befall us if we trust God and do as He says — anything he can use to scare us. Sometimes he will even pick some minor arbitrary issue. For example, I recently felt like God might be telling me if I rented a car to go to Philippi, it was going to turn out to be a hassle that was more trouble than it was worth. I’ve rented dozens of cars and I’ve never had a thought like this before. I almost listened to this thought, but then I realized it was coming from a place of fear. I went ahead a rented the car, and when I woke up on the day I had to return it, I was having a dream that the car was stolen. That was when I knew the enemy was trying to scare me. I had been wondering what the deal was, and now I knew. The dream was proof that I was worried.

In closing, as Saul was wreaking havoc on the church in Jerusalem, the apostles were waiting on the Lord, a good habit to get into. (Why didn’t Saul go after them? Probably because he saw what happened the first two times they tried.) David, who spent a lot of time waiting for the leading of the Holy Spirit, wrote: What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. (Ps 56:3, 4)

Solomon, a chip of the old block, wrote:

     The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs‬ ‭28‬:‭1‬ 

Be brave friends, the Lord commands it: Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)

Acts 7:54-60 — Saul Rejects the Witness of the Holy Spirit 

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

Before we proceed with Philip’s work in Samaria, let’s take another look at the other character mentioned in last week’s post. At the end of Chapter 7, we were introduced to the central figure in the Book of Acts next to God, Saul of Tarsus. Let’s review the end of Chapter 7 once more and consider this key historical figure. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Father, and give us understanding, as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.


Acts 7:54-60
54 ¶ When they heard these things, they were
cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with
their teeth.
55 But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens
opened, and the Son of man standing on the
right hand of God.
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and
stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one
accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned
him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes
at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon
God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a
loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:54-60

Jesus said the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit could not be forgiven, and that is what happened here. Instead of listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, the council stopped their ears and ran upon Stephen with one accord, then stoned him. 

However, God gives us a lifetime to repent. Saul blasphemed the Holy Spirit along with the rest of them. As Chapter 8 opened, Saul was doubling down on his persecution of the church, but he will be forgiven when he repents. If you are afraid you may have committed the unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, you haven’t. Only people who reject Jesus with no thought of repentance commit this sin. Because Saul repented, he became one of the most important figures in church history, not to mention world history.

Saul’s missionary journeys, along with the epistles he wrote to the churches he planted, bore more fruit than anyone imagined possible. In fact, the church by and large rejected Saul when he first started out, but the Bible tells us not to despise the day of a small beginning. (Zech 4:6-10) It was because of Saul’s patience and persistence that Europe was eventually delivered from paganism and brought into the modern era.

One of the things I have noticed since coming to Greece is that Saul is everywhere you look here. He is nothing short of a national treasure.

The price Saul had to pay was tremendous. He probably lost his wife as a result of embracing the gospel, as we do not know what happened to her. (We know Saul was married as this was required to be a Pharisee.) He lost his position in Jerusalem and his reputation among the elders. He lost his health as a result of his missionary travels. (II Cor 12:7) He was beaten by the Jews with thirty-nine stripes on five different occasions, not counting the beatings he received from Gentiles. He labored endlessly for the gospel. In Lystra, he was stoned. At times, he was thrown into prison. He suffered perils wherever he went, whether by land or sea, often being robbed, attacked, and even shipwrecked. 

      In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
II Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭27‬ ‭

He willingly accepted all these hardships to spread the gospel and care for the churches he planted. In the end, he was beheaded by Nero, but let’s back up. When Saul was a party to the execution of Stephen, he had a very prestigious and lucrative career before him. (Gal 1:14) He was not only well connected with the Temple leadership, but he was one of Gamaliel’s star students. Why would he leave behind such a charmed life to be persecuted for Christ? Because Saul knew he found the truth. That is the only explanation for his radical 180 degree change of heart. Saul went from persecuting the church to leading it. His position was on par with the other top apostles.

For example, Peter allowed Saul to rebuke him (Gal 2:11), then even acknowledged Saul’s deep understanding of Christian doctrine. (II Pet 3:15f) 

I wonder what Saul was thinking as he listened to Stephen’s discourse on the history of Israel? It was a powerful and compelling message. Stephen reminded his listeners how Israel had rebelled against both God and their brethren who were sent by God, at nearly every step along the way throughout their history. 

I wonder what Saul was thinking when Stephen said he saw the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God?

Not only was Saul a firsthand witness to the power of the Holy Spirit working through Stephen and the others in the early church, but he was well aware of Jesus’ ministry and the miracles He performed. Saul was a firsthand witness to all the phenomena surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion. (Widespread darkness at midday, earthquake, veil in the Temple rent from top to bottom, etc.) Saul was also well aware of the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection — which could not be disproven as no body was found. I believe there was a conflict taking place in deep down in Saul’s inner being. (Acts 9:5)

Despite the fact that Saul persecuted the church unto the death (Acts 22:4), God forgave him and used him as a powerful messenger and defender of the faith, to say the least. 

Have you done something terrible? God will forgive you too, if you will only pray and let Him:

Father please forgive me. I have sinned against You. Please have mercy on me and write my name in your Book of Life. Lord Jesus, thank You for the precious blood You shed for me on Calvary. Please come into my heart, take control of my life, and direct my path. I ask this in your holy and precious name, the name above all names. Amen.

Memorial to Paul in Berea.

PS: Endofdays.press will expire in January. Notes on Acts will continue to be posted at: MichaelJamesHarvey.substack.com

Acts 8:1-11 — Simon the Sorcerer Part I

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in Acts 7, Stephen was being received into heaven as they stoned him with stones. Saul was present as a party to his execution. As Chapter 8 opens, Dr Luke mentions Saul again, as consenting to Stephen’s death, and then engaging in the persecution of other believers as well. Give us understanding, Father, and fill us with your Holy Spirit, as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 8:1-11
AND Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

The apostles did not fear the persecution. They stayed in Jerusalem and cared for the church.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus gave the outline for Acts. We now come to Section II, as the gospel goes into Samaria. The persecution is watering the church and making it grow, as rank-and-file Christians go out from Jerusalem into Samaria. Similar to how the wind spreads the seeds of a dandelion, the Spirit is using their evangelism to spread the seeds of the gospel.

Just as the Holy Spirit raised up Stephen from among the seven deacons selected in Chapter 7, likewise now Philip steps out in faith:

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies [paralized], and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.

Wherever the gospel is received, it brings joy. Reading Acts reminds me of when I was young and living in San Diego. My friends and I met in houses, churches, Christian coffee shops, on the beach, in the park, and Jesus always came with. When one of my friends was diagnosed with a fatal disease, we all felt the leading of the Holy Spirit telling us to hold a prayer meeting. After we laid hands on her and asked for healing, the Spirit spoke to us and told us she was healed, so we sent her back to the doctor to get tested again. When we went to collect her at the hospital, she informed us the test was negative and she had a clean bill of health. Do you think we had joy? You bet we did, but eventually hardships hit our group and we all splintered off in different directions. That was bitter, but when I ended up in the mission field I found even more joy.

Paul’s treatise on joy, his letter to the Philippians, was written while he was in prison, as joy is not necessarily dependent on circumstances. As Christians, the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh 8:10), whatever our situation may be. Moving through Acts, Dr Luke has been highlighting the joy and gladness that the gospel brings. (Acts 2:41, 46; 3:8f; 5:41; 8:8, 39) Dr Luke highlighted the joy that accompanies the gospel in his first letter to Theophilus as well, but not everyone is filled with joy. We should endeavor to rejoice in the Lord alway (Phil 4:4) but remember to weep with those who weep. (Rom 12:15)

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Acts 8:1-11

That is a very interesting word in verse 11, sorceries (Gk mageia).  Simon fooled people by pretending to be “some great one.” I suspect he wore a costume, as that is usually the first requirement to be a convincing con man sorcerer. For example, a Catholic priest wears a costume, says some mysterious-sounding Latin words, “Hoc est enim Corpus meum,” and turns a piece of bread into Jesus. (Did you know that is where the phrase ‘hocus pocus’ comes from?) 

Anthony Fauci’s costume was his tie and white lab coat. His silver tongue was every bit as effective as a mysterious-sounding foreign language. The tie and white lab coat is probably the most effective costume there is in this regard. People will believe almost anything or do almost anything if a man in a tie and a white lab coat tells them to. This has been demonstrated, for example, in the Milgram experiment, where people delivered what they believed were life-threatening electric shocks to others because a man in a tie and a white lab coat told them to. 

The TV set is an effective prop for sorcery as well. Viewing something on TV, or even in the new media if it is presented well, creates a psychological effect of believability. Why am I talking about this? Because Jesus warned us not to be deceived. (Matt 24:4) 

Whether Simon’s ‘sorcery’ involved any real magic, as seemed to be the case with Pharaoh’s magicians, for example, is not certain, but what real difference does it make? Consider our situation today; when spiritual wickedness in high places takes control of peoples’ minds through control of mass media, turns them away from the gospel, and convinces them to trust new-world-order narratives that are harmful to themselves and others, what real difference does it make how they manage to pull it off? 

Let us consider the contrast between the ‘magic’ Simon used and the power of the gospel that Philip possessed:

Magic requires skill, deception. It enriches the practitioner as he deceived his victims.

The gospel requires humility, obedience, and faith to minister the truth of the the word of God (creation, death and resurrection, second coming, etc). The gospel benefits all who receive it.

The word for Simon’s magic, mageia, is different than pharmakeia, which specifically refers to deception using drugs or poisons. That one, pharmakeia, is a hallmark of the end-times deception. (Rev 9:21; 18:23) 

Although we are not currently experiencing 2020-level lies and deceptions, there is deception all around us. Even for those of us who know Christ, this deception is dangerous. Otherwise, Jesus would not have bothered to warn us about it. Jesus said if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

We will see what happens with Simon the sorcerer in our next post, but for now, let’s consider the Simons in our own day. Let’s carefully consider what we are being told. Question everything and examine all the evidence when considering important issues. Remember the key question, Who benefits? Pray for discernment. Most of what we are told in the media is lies, but if we keep our focus on Christ, if we keep our armor on and continue in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, we will not have a hard time remembering that we are the ones who have the answers — not the talking heads on TV or on X. Most of them are just a distraction.

In closing, ‭‭I don’t often feel joy after reading the news, but I do after sharing the gospel with someone. It may be foolishness to those that perish, but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. Father, we are living in the age of deceit and the strong delusion is already taking hold of peoples’ minds. Strengthen us Father, that we may be strong in the Spirit and in the truth of your word, that we may light the way for others. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prophecy Update: Finally, let’s consider a bit of good news concerning one of the ‘Simons’ in our day, Jeffrey Epstein bud and tech titan, Bill Gates. He has been walking back his ridiculous claims about ‘climate change’. Notice the body language in the clips below as Gates realizes people are no longer fooled by his nonsense:

Of course, profiting from ‘climate change’ through things like carbon credits and fake meat was only one of Gates’ grifts. He is a party to the mRNA vaccine catastrophe, which used the same business model he used at Microsoft; create computer viruses, then market the solution. He applied this model to vaccines, mosquitoes (more vaccines), and more — all of it tied to the new world order and their agenda of depopulation.

PS: Endofdays.press will expire in January. Notes on Acts will continue to be posted at: MichaelJamesHarvey.substack.com