Tag: Prophecy

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

Romans 12:1 — Our Reasonable Service

~ mikethemissionary

     I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭

In Acts 7:59, they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Whether or not we are ever called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice like Stephen, we are all called to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. I love Romans 12 because it tells me how to be a Christian. Not always easy, because the problem with a living sacrifice is it keeps crawling off the altar. Paul described his own struggle in this regard in Romans 7. He continued to struggle until he realized he could only find victory in Christ and the new covenant of grace. Paul wrote:

     There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭

As we continue through Acts, remember to ask to be filled with the Spirit each day, to have some Scripture time with prayer each day, to sing some Psalms or hymns or spiritual songs in your heart each day, and to always trust in the grace of God. (I John 1:9) Walking in the Spirit is the key to victory. The law (the flesh) will only condemn us.

Father, thank You for remembering our sin no more, for removing it as far as the East is from the West. Thank You most of all for 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 7 — Stephen Is Promoted to Glory

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, they dragged Stephen before the council. In this post, Stephen is going to give the council a history lesson. Stephen understood how important history is. The enemy understands this too, which is why he constantly seeks to rewrite it, twist it, and retell it to his own liking (ie, lie). 

The council would have done well to heed Stephen’s lesson and consider the adage, Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it, which is exactly what is going to happen. (Matt 23:37)

You may notice some differences between Stephen’s history lesson and our Old Testament; see if you can find them. As a Greek-speaking Jew, Steven used the Septuagint, which accounts for this.

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

Acts 7
1 Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
2 And he [Stephen] said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
6 And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

Stephen starts by reminding them that the father of the nation, Abraham, had to exercise faith and trust God, the implication being, they needed to do that now too. 

God told Abraham to leave all that was familiar to him. Abraham had neither the land nor the child that God promised him. He needed to have faith and trust that God would keep his promises (v 5), which He did (v 8).

9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12 But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
13 And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15 So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
16 And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.
20 In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father’s house three months:
21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

I love verse 22 because it shows how God can use us despite our shortcomings, or what we may think about our own abilities. Moses thought he could not speak well enough to do what God was asking him to do. (Ex 4:10)

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 ¶ This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40 Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

It has been suggested that the star of your god Remphan in verse 43 is a reference to the Star of David. I do not know, but I think it’s a fair question. The hexagram is found not only in pagan religions but also in occult magic.

If not the Star of David, what ‘star’ did Stephen mean? Stephen is quoting Amos 5:25-27, which specifically names Moloch and ‘Chiun’, which most scholars say points to the worship of Saturn, which was considered a ‘star’. 

Again, I do not know if verse 43 is talking about the Star of David, as the symbol is not found in any Jewish writings until the thirteen century (Kabbalah). It is said to have been Solomon’s seal, but it became a modern national symbol through the influence of the Rothschilds, who adapted it as their own personal symbol. More here. One interesting thing about the Star of David is that it has six points and six triangles, surrounding a six-sided hexagon (cf Rev 13:18).

Some Orthodox Jews reject the Star of David and do not recognize it as a Jewish symbol. I move to replace the Star of David on Israel’s flag with a blue menorah.

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus [Gk Iésou] into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

Stephen was speaking Greek to the council, so ‘Jesus’ is a literal translation of what he said in verse 45, but so is ‘Joshua’, which may be what he meant. I am not sure it was, as Stephen is trying to make them see that Jesus was with them when they entered into the possession of the Gentiles (as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night). If Stephen was referring to Joshua, that would still be an indirect reference to Jesus, as Joshua was a type of Christ. He led Israel into the Promised Land when Moses could not. Jesus and Joshua are the same in Greek (Iesous), Hebrew (Yehoshua), and Aramaic (Yeshua).

46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built him an house.
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
51 ¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

Stephen’s message to the council is that throughout Israel’s history, they rebelled against God and his messengers (vv 9, 25-28, 35, 39-43, 51-53). He reminds the Sadducees how Moses, whom they greatly revered, foretold that Jesus would come, and how he commanded them to hear Him (v 37). (This, of course, is a key point. Peter pointed this out as well in Chapter 3.) Stephen concludes with a stinging rebuke, much like the rebuke Jesus gave the scribes and Pharisees before He went to the cross. (Matt 23) Stephen’s message is the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of the Old Testament.

54 ¶ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
55 But he, 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

After Stephen was martyred, the persecution continued and got much worse. According to Fox, millions were martyred in the first few centuries of church history. Today, there is reportedly more persecution in Africa than anywhere else in the world. (There are also more Christians in Africa than anywhere else in the world.) In recent years, the persecution has been spreading further south into sub-Saharan Africa, affecting Burkina Faso, CAR, the DRC, and Mozambique, to name a few places, but no place has seen worse persecution than Nigeria. 

According to Chairman Chris Smith of the  House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa:

     “Northern Nigeria, and this is just Northern Nigeria alone, has seen the destruction of over 18,000 churches since 2009 -18,000 churches. And I saw five of them, completely burned out – and many people killed from car bombs and the like.

     “An August 2024 report from the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa found that 55,910 people were killed and 21,000 people were abducted in the context of terror groups in Nigeria within just four years from October 2019 to September 2023.”

You may recall how the media called attention to the girls in Nigeria who were abducted by Boko Haram for the crime of going to school, but Christian men are typically just killed, and the media stays silent about it.

Yesterday, October 31, President Trump acknowledged the Nigerian persecution on Truth Social. Hopefully, there will be more attention and more awareness, and ultimately an end to the bloodshed:

Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a “COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN” — But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 Worldwide), something must be done! I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter, and report back to me. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!

DONALD J. TRUMP,
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

May we always remember to pray for our persecuted sisters and brothers. Nigeria is only one of many different places where this is happening. In China, for example, Christians who are arrested can reportedly become victims of organ harvesting. Persecution is increasing even in places people are less likely to suspect, like India, for example, which is ‘pro-Western’ and ‘democratic’. 

Father, thank You for the crown of life your servants receive when faithful unto death. Thank You for giving us your Son on Calvary. He is far more precious than anything or anyone in this world. Strengthen your church and make us as bold as lions. Give your persecuted church the courage of David that they may each withstand in the evil day, having done all, to stand. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 6 — As the Face of an Angel

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In the preceding chapters of Acts, we saw the rapid growth of the early church as the Holy Spirit moved in amazing ways. In Acts 6, we are going to see even more miraculous growth, but more resistance as well. Since Pentecost, there has been a steady escalation of tensions between the church and the hard-hearted religious leaders in Jerusalem. First it was jail and threats. Then, it was jail, beatings, and more threats. 

The Spirit-filled apostles ignored these threats as they continued with their ministry, right in the Temple, in clear view of the Temple administrators. As we begin Chapter 6, the simmering tensions are coming to a boil.

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

Acts 6
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians [Greek-speaking Jewish transplants from around the empire] against the Hebrews [local Jews], because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration [Gk diakonea].
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve [Gk diakonein] tables.

This is how the office of deacon, which literally means ‘servant’, originated. The sharing of all things (Acts 4:34f) is getting a little more complicated as the church continues to grow. It looks as if some wanted the apostles to take over the ministration of the church’s physical needs, but the apostles knew better.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Notice how the apostles are not micromanagers? (I Pet 5:3) They did not even give the church a shortlist to choose from. They simply said, You choose the deacons, bring them to us, and we will take care of it. The apostles came up with a solution this time, but Paul said if there is a disagreement in the church, do not ask the pastor. Let the janitor settle it. (I Cor 6:4)

In more recent history, the birth of America was in many ways a rebuke against overbearing ecclesiastical government. According to the author of The Religious History of America, a widespread “antiprelatical” bias contributed to the spirit of the Revolution in America. Professor Carl Brindenbaugh called it the “Great Fear of Episcopacy.”(1) This shift was a much-needed break from the Catholic traditions of the old world that had corrupted the simplicity of the gospel. 

In contrast to England, where the head of the government was also the head of the church, following the Revolution in America, the First Amendment said the government “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

This has proven to be the sweet spot. In authoritarian Communist countries, people lose the ability to make their own decisions or think for themselves. In authoritarian Christian governments, the gospel is stifled by overbearing leaders who are in the flesh.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Christians who make light of teaching and preaching as if it is not all that important are in the flesh. The apostles knew how important their teaching and prayer time was, and their decision paid off (v 7).

5 ¶ And the saying pleased the whole 
multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Choosing church leaders is a serious matter (I Tim 5:22). However charming or charismatic someone may be, however talented or however much they contribute financially, it is of no matter. According to the apostles, what mattered when choosing deacons was that they were honest, wise, and full of the Holy Ghost (cf I Tim 3:7-13). Those who were chosen were not from among the ‘Hebrews’. Each had a Greek name. I am sure there were qualified candidates among the Hebrews, or local Jews, as well (who incidentally spoke Aramaic, as well as Greek), but they probably thought that choosing ‘Grecians’ would nip the favoritism problem in the bud, since they were the ones who felt neglected. 

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

According to Wiersbe, there were an estimated 8000 priests who served in the Temple. That a great company of them became Christians no doubt irritated the Temple higher-ups.

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 ¶ Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

The ones who are starting trouble now are Greek-speaking transplants like Stephen. ‘Libertines’ were Freedmen, freed slaves or descendants of slaves who had been emancipated. Ironic, how they are opposing the messenger of freedom, Stephen, in favor of slavery. (Gal 4:21-31) 

As a Jew who was steeped in Greek culture, Stephen was familiar with democratic principles — concepts like the importance of debate on public issues and direct participation in civic matters. When his fellow ‘Grecians’ oppose him, Stephen is up for the challenge.

I have been in Greece for a couple of weeks now and it occurs to me that maybe it is not only our modern form of government that the Greeks influenced. I believe the Greek culture (or at least certain Greek writings) influenced Paul and other New Testament writers as well, and hence, the church. Paul preached against idolatry in Greece, but at the same time, Greek values — like freedom of speech and the value of each individual’s contributions, virtues like bravery and self control — comport with the gospel. The author of the letter before us, Dr Luke, is said to be master of the Greek language. As the impeccable historian that he was, Luke must have also been well-versed in both Greek and Roman culture.

10 And they were not able to resist the 
wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. [Luke 21:15]
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

The Libertines did not believe in the adage, If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. They believed, If you can’t beat ‘em, pay someone to falsely accuse ‘em. When Stephen won the debate, they resorted to breaking the very law that they accused Stephen of speaking against. (v 13; Ex 20:16)

12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Acts 6

Stephen’s name comes from the word for ‘victory crown’ (Gk stephanos), which is a fitting name for the church’s first martyr. (Rev 2:10) 

A clever liar can use a bit of truth out of context and twist it to sound plausible, so the false accusations against Steven could sound true from a certain point of view. Jesus did say the Temple would be destroyed (Matt 24:2), and He did rebuke the scribes and Pharisees for the way they had twisted the customs Moses delivered to them. This technique is widely used today on the Internet with great success: Tell some half-truths, add some sophistry, delete important details, and voilà, people suddenly believe the earth is flat; Hitler was really a great guy; the Jews are not really Jews (fact check); the Jews are all horrible people. Satan is really pushing those last two hard, because the Jews are so essential to God’s plans and the prophetic template of the Bible. (Rev 7 et al) 

Hence, Stephen is dragged before the Sanhedrin (or council, v 15). This is the chance they have been waiting for, but they are compelled by Stephen’s countenance to hear him out, as his face is as the face of an angel. I cannot say for sure what that means, but I cannot help but think Stephen’s face was shining like Moses’ face was after he came down from Mt Sinai. (Ex 34)

We will have to wait to unpack what happens next, but in closing, consider that Christianity does not have a man-centered power structure. One might say the structure is top-down, yet God-centered. Ordinations come from God, and if a piece of paper is given, it is only given to agree with the Holy Spirit. A rigid system never would have picked Peter to be a church leader, but Jesus did. 

Likewise, the Holy Spirit raised up Stephen who,

full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Stephen started by serving tables, but soon he was led of the Spirit to do much greater things. He did not ask for permission. He just did what he felt led to do. What about you? Do you think it’s possible, for example, that the Holy Spirit may want you to go to a hospital with your Bible and read it to some of the patients?

The organized church with its man-centered hierarchy oftentimes follows what Jesus called the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which He hates. (Rev 2:6, 15) The end of this system is the one-word church, which is led by MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Rev 17:5), which will be the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (‭‭Rev‬ ‭18‬:‭2)

If you feel led to start ministering the gospel, do not be surprised if other Christians tell you to stop. They may say things like, ‘You should not do that unless you go to seminary first’. They probably mean well, but Christians who say such things are not in the Spirit. Believe it or not, most seminaries spend a great deal of time trying to convince their students not to believe the Bible. Therefore, cemetery is probably the last place you want to go if you want to be used by God. (If you want to go to school, a good Bible college would be a much better choice.) 

Never doubt that God speaks to you. Never doubt that He wants to use you. When you are headed for that hospital to share the gospel, do not listen to the voice of the enemy telling you to turn around and go back. God used Stephen with very little training. To use Paul, the scholar, the Holy Spirit had to spend three years retraining him.

It was Margaret Mead, the American cultural anthropologist, who said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Father, help us to stay focused on You and your Son and your Spirit, and to not be distracted by the world, or the voice of the enemy. Help us to deny ourselves and tune out the noise, that we may hear your voice clearly and then respond accordingly. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Ahlstrom, A Religious History of the American People, p 361.

Acts 5:15 — Mustard Seed

~ mikethemissionary

     Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ ‭

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, let’s take a closer look at the way people were healed when Peter’s shadow touched them. Jesus endowed the apostles with immense power to lead the early church. (Matt 18:18 et al) The people were witnessing mighty miracles at their hands. (Acts 3:7 et al) The witness of the Holy Spirit was strong in the hearts of the people. (Acts 5:32)

Jesus said that if we have only a mustard-seed-sized faith, we can move mountains. That statement shows how lacking our faith is. We murmur and complain. We faint in the day of adversity. We are prone to disobey Jesus’ commandments and quick to forget God’s promises.

Sometimes, people decide in their heart that if such and such happens, then they will have faith. For a certain woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years, it was touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. Her faith was only strong enough to believe she would be healed if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. When she was healed, Jesus told her that her faith had made her whole (not his garment). 

The kind of faith that is the most pleasing to Jesus is the faith that does not need to see to believe (John 20:29), the kind of faith that believes without pretense (Luke 7:8f). Yet, Jesus also honors the faith of those who need a little something extra to believe. I have met people who would pray over a glass of water, then drink the water believing it would heal them, and it did. They offered me some of the water and I politely declined, because it did not add anything to my faith, but it did to theirs. I believe such was the case with Peter’s shadow.

When people believed ‘If only we can get Hannah close enough to touch Peter’s shadow, God will heal her’, it was good enough for Jesus. Jesus wanted them to believe the gospel Peter was preaching, and the miracles helped them to believe. Jesus always meets us where we are. At first, our faith is weak and our understanding is shallow. Then over time, our faith increases as we see Him answer our prayers and guide us through our trials. It helps when we spend time in the word each day (Rom 10:17), and always remember to pray before we read our Bible. This process is key to our walk with Jesus. (Rom 1:17; II Cor 5:7)

In closing, sometimes God’s answer is no, regardless of how strong our faith is. True faith continues to believe even when God does not heal. (II Cor 12:8f)

Father, increase our faith. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Direct our paths. Use our lights to shine in the darkness and light the way for others to believe on your Son, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 5:19-33 — We Ought to Obey God Rather Than Men

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends, 

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off at Acts 5:18, the envious religious leaders who ran the Temple were beside themselves, as people flowed into the city to get saved and/ or healed of whatever was afflicting them. Instead of listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, the Sadducees tried to silence the apostles by arresting them.

One might think the apostles were in big trouble, but nothing is as it seems. Jesus said that persecution is a cause for celebration. (Matt 5:12) The apostles knew their arrest was not worthy to be compared with the tremendous move of the Spirit taking place in Jerusalem. (Acts 5:12; Rom 8:18)

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

Acts 5:19-33
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate [Sanhedrin] of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

So, the apostles are rescued by an angel. Did you know you have angels watching over you? If you are in Christ, you do. (Ps 91:11; Heb 1:14) Now that their cell is found empty, their persecutors are getting even more concerned about the spread of the gospel. 

25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

The Sadducees are indignant that the gospel has spread throughout Jerusalem, but I can almost see the apostles high-fiving each other. They have now completed the first phase of the Great Commission. (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8) 

The actions of the Sadducees seem to be prompted not only by envy, but fear as well. They are afraid the apostles intend to bring Jesus’ blood upon them, but that is what they agreed to. (Matt 27:25) How quickly they seem to have forgotten. In the grand scheme of things, I am just as guilty as they were, but they refused to repent. David committed adultery and then murder to cover it up, but he repented. Saul, his predecessor, refused to repent of his sins. As a result, he grew more and more fearful and vindictive, like the Sadducees in our text.

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

There is a certain preacher with a high-profile ministry to Israel, Hagee, who tells them Jesus is not their Messiah, but he clearly missed something. (Does he know how to read?) Jesus is the only Messiah — the Messiah of Israel, the Messiah of the Gentiles.

32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Acts 5:19-33

Jesus taught us that as Christians, we are similar to the prophets. (Matt 5:12) Thus, Peter and the apostles responded to their persecutors in the same manner as the prophets that went before them. The result is always the same, ie, their persecutors took counsel to slay them. This is what happens not only to prophets, but to all believers from Abel all the way to Jesus. Satan would gladly kill us all if he could. Thankfully, we each have a hedge of protection which Satan cannot breach without Father’s permission. (Job 1:9-2:7)

Christianity is not a game and Jesus does not like cowardice. (Josh 1:9; II Tim 1:7; Rev 21:8) The good news is that even if you are not a brave person, the Holy Spirit will make you into one. (Matt 26:56; cf Acts 5:29-32)

I have been humbled at times to meet Christians who have been jailed and beaten for sharing their faith. Although I have been ‘hauled in’ a few times, I’ve never seen the inside of a jail cell. I’ve never been beaten. I can still remember the first time it ever occurred to me that I might be tortured or worse some day for being a Christian and it freaked me out. Now when I think about it, I always remember what Opa said to Corrie ten Boom when she asked him ‘What if I’m persecuted some day and I’m not strong enough to keep from denying Jesus?’ Opa said, ‘When we take the train to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?’ Corrie answered, ‘Before we get on the train’. Opa then explained to Corrie that Jesus would give her all the strength she needs when she needs it, should that time ever come. Many years later, persecution did come, and Corrie passed her test with flying colors. 

As for the rest of us, Jesus commands us to share the truth in love. When the world calls it hate and tries to intimidate us, remember We ought to obey God rather than men.

Father, give us the boldness of the apostles, that we may always tell the truth, the way the prophets who went before us did. Should persecution come, give us the courage of David that we may obey You always, even unto death if need be, that we may receive a crown of life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 5:12 — Testudo Formation

~ mikethemissionary

    And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬ ‭

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, let’s take a closer look at the fellowship they enjoyed in the early church. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia, which means much more to a Christian than the dictionary definitions like ‘partnership’ or ‘community’. When Christians fellowship, they share a spiritual connection with one another through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. (Matt 18:20) 

I am always amazed at how I can meet a brother from another mother (same Father) 8000 miles or more away from home, who I have nothing in common with except our faith in Christ, and immediately I feel closer to him than I do to my brother from my same mother. (No offense Todd, but you need Jesus.)

In the verse above, we see how strong their fellowship was in the early church. If you do not have Christian friends you need to make some (I John 1:7), which means you are going to have to be friendly. Solomon wrote A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: (‭‭Pr‬ ‭18‬:‭24a‬) The best place to start looking is at church. (Heb 10:25) 

When the fiery darts come, and they will (II Tim 3:12), you do not want to be standing alone. When Roman soldiers saw a barrage of missiles coming, they formed a canopy shell with their shields called the testudo (lit tortoise) formation. Likewise, our shields of faith (Eph 6:16) are more effective when we join them together with the shields of other believers. The way the Christians were all in one accord in Acts 5 is the ideal. This is what Jesus wants to see in his church (Ps 133), but the sad reality is that we have drifted a long way from Acts 5:12. (Matt 24:12; Rev 3:14-22) If you are having trouble finding like-minded believers to fellowship with, remember that all of the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 walked alone. Not by choice, but sometimes that is what happens. (Sparrows travel in flocks but eagles don’t.) We should never give up, but when all else fails, remember there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Pr 18:24b) Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. Jesus is with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Father, we pray for unity in the body of Christ. We pray for your church to be in one accord, as they were in Acts 5. If anyone reading this needs help connecting with other Christians, direct her or his path as needed. Fill each of us with your Holy Spirit, that we may follow the more excellent way of I Corinthians 13, that we may obey your commandment to love one another, in Jesus’ name. Amen.