S – You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also.

Acts 7:51 CSB

O – Commentary:

“Stiff-necked” and “uncircumcised heart” are standard prophetic insults in the Old Testament; they appear together in Deuteronomy 10:16. Moses emphasized circumcision (7:8), but those who were spiritually uncircumcised were especially cut off from the covenant (e.g., Deut 10:16; 30:6). Stephen could hardly choose harsher words. His point is that his hearers, like their ancestors, reject God’s messengers; the *Holy Spirit was especially seen as the Spirit who had inspired the prophets 

 The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – We do not want to resist the Holy Spirit; we want to invite Him.  The Israelites had a history of opposing God’s will and relationship through its leaders and prophets.  We can do this as well.  By inviting the Holy Spirit into our days, it expresses an openness to God’s presence and power in our lives.  This invitation allows for obedience and faith to grow.

R – Heavenly Father, you worthy of all honor and praise.  We invite your Holy Spirit to be a part of our day.  Lead us into all truth and your will.  Give us your compassion and grace as we interact with others today.  Help us to see ourselves as you see us.

S – So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith

Acts 6:7 CSB

O – Commentary:

The result of the apostles’ wise handling of the issue was growth and increase in the number of believers, including many of the Jewish priests. • This is the first of three places in Acts where Luke notes that God’s message continued to spread (see also 12:24; 19:20). When real difficulties arose, God’s message could overcome the challenges posed by internal strife, idolatry, and paganism, and the result was growth in the community. Acts is the story of the “unhindered” message of Good News 

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – It is important to note the growth of the church came after challenge.  In this chapter, it was about the need for some to serve the widow.  The Twelve recognized their calling to preach.  In others choosing to serve, it resulted in growth overall.  There isn’t a lesser role in the church – it is about everyone serving in their area.  Stephen chose serving and yet was still described in the chapter as “

full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people” in verse 8.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Holy and worthy of all praise.  Thank you for the way you created each of us.  Don’t let us get distracted by our titles or areas of serving.  Keep us from comparison because that is not your heart.  Show us your pleasure in serving you with all of hearts.

S – So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.

Acts 5:38–39 CSB

O – Commentary:

Here is the conclusion and main thrust of Gamaliel’s speech. Seeing what would come of this movement would tell them if it were of human origin or from God. Interestingly this speech was, in one sense, an apologetic for the church of Jesus Christ given by a representative of the church’s enemies: to try to stop God’s work would be like fighting against God!

“Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – There are many ways to share the gospel.  That is why there are so many churches.  Different theologies produce different denominations.  The foundation must be that Jesus is the son of God, came in the form of a man, was crucified, and resurrected to sit on the right hand of the father.  The Bible is the inherent Word of God. When we differ on other aspects of the gospel, we need to be careful.  

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you above all.  Thank you for your love for us that meets us where we are at today.  We are grateful for all that Jesus did for us.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us in our thoughts, words and actions today.

S – And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness…When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly

Acts 4:29, 31 CSB

O – “Boldness, boldly”- parrhēsia,  all out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by impl. assurance:— confidence, × freely, × openly, × plainly

 The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – We need to ask God for boldness.  Not so we can get in other’s faces to challenge them.  The disciples wanted boldness to help others see God in miracles and tangible expressions of his love.  We need that type of boldness that takes us out of our comfort zone and calls others into relationship with God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God of all things.  Please deepen our boldness to proclaim your love for others in our words and actions.  Do not let us be intimidated by people or circumstances.  Help us to speak and live your word boldly.

S – By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you. 

Acts 3:16 CSB

O – Commentary:

The crippled man’s healing came because of his faith in the name of Jesus. Faith was also evident in many of those whom Jesus healed (e.g., Mark 5:34; 10:52; Luke 17:19). In Bible times a person’s name represented him and his characteristics. In Acts, Luke spoke of “the name” (of Jesus) at least 33 times

“Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We can also have faith in the name and the characteristics of Jesus.  In doing so, it is having faith in God because Jesus is the personification of him.  Peter continues to shift the religous paradigm from priests being the only ones with access to “God’s presence” to His presence being available to all.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you that each of us have the opportunity for a personal relationship and access to you.  Please help us to grow our faith as we get to know you more.  We trust and believe in you.

S – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Acts 2:38–39 CSB

O – Commentary:

Peter instructs the people how to call on the Lord’s name (2:21): be baptized in Jesus’ name. Because baptism was a sign of conversion to Judaism normally reserved for pagans, Peter’s demand would offend his Jewish hearers and cost them respectability. He calls for a public, radical testimony of conversion, not a private, noncommittal request for salvation with no conditions. “In the name of Jesus Christ” distinguishes this sort of baptism, requiring faith in Christ, from other ancient baptisms; this phrase simply means that the person being baptized confesses Christ. 

“Repentence” –In the *New Testament, this term does not merely mean “change of mind” (as some have gathered from the Greek term); it reflects the *Old Testament and Jewish concept of “turning around” or “turning away” from sin. Jewish people were to repent whenever they sinned; the New Testament uses the term especially for the once-for-all kind of turning that a *Gentile would undergo when converting to Judaism or any sinner would undergo when becoming a follower of Jesus.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – Jesus taught the Jewish people of a new way that moved from the Levitical laws and into a personal relationship with God.  His death and resurrection were key to the transition. But this is where the biggest step happened – the disciples and followers were filled with the Holy Spirit and shared the gospel.  When this happened, God’s plan of relationship with all people was now a possibility.  Since then till Jesus comes back, people can repent in the name of Jesus, be forgiven of their sins and accept Christ.

R- Heavenly Father, you are one with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Thank you for your love for us that all three entities embrace us in relationship.  You are perfect and holy.  Forgive us of our sins.  We receive your forgiveness and love.

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

Acts 1:8 CSB

O – Commentary:

This key verse outlines the geographical extension of the Good News from its Jewish starting point in Jerusalem and Judea (1:6–8:1), out to Samaria (8:4–25), Antioch in Syria (11:19–30), and eventually throughout the Mediterranean world to Rome (13:1–28:31). Christ later gave a similar call to be his witnesses … to the ends of the earth to Saul of Tarsus (9:15), who had persecuted the Jewish Christians and then became the primary instrument for taking the Good News to the Gentiles. • The Holy Spirit was the source of power for all this evangelistic and missionary effort

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – The Holy Spirit is our source of power to do the work that God calls us to do.  When we do it in our own strength and intellect, we can be effective.  Yet, we will cap out in our own ability and understanding.  When we invite the Holy Spirit to be our source, he is unlimited in all things.  We can approach each situation and environment knowing we are unlimited in our possibilities.

R – Heavenly Father, you know no limits.  We invite the Holy Spirit to be part of our day today.  We ask the Spirit for wisdom, discernment, courage, counsel, knowledge and a holy fear of you.  As we walk in these, help us to share your gospel in a way that empowers others to take a step closer to you.

S – But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’

Mark 16:7 CSB

O – Commentary:

The women were given a task. They were to go and tell Jesus’ disciples that they would be reunited with Him in Galilee. The words and Peter, unique to Mark, are significant since much of Mark’s material likely came from Peter. He was singled out not because of his preeminence among the disciples but because he was forgiven and still included in the Eleven despite his triple denial (cf. 14:66–72).

“Mark,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We have all done things we regret.  Peter, after boasting that he was ready to die with Christ, denied him three times.  Even he was forgiven of his sin.  Recognizing God will forgive anything when we ask him gives us a wonderful freedom.  We should not live without thinking of consequences.  We should live boldly with humility and faith knowing that we have God’s love even when we fall short.

R – Heavenly Father, you are perfect and holy.  Embolden us to live courageously and in faith.  As we make mistakes and sin, please forgive us.  As we mature, this gives us confidence that you are for us in all situations.

S – When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Mark 15:39 CSB

O – Commentary:

Roman officials or officers often delegated missions like this execution to centurions, who would take a small detachment of soldiers. Because Romans viewed the reigning emperor as a son of the deified Augustus, the centurion might be recognizing Jesus not only as “king of the Jews” (15:26) but also as a rival to even the emperor. But a non-Jew might use a phrase like “son of God” also with reference to a pious philosopher or, more commonly, a hero whose father was a deity. In Mark’s Gospel, of course, “*Son of God” means much more than that (14:61). Whatever the specific nuance intended, however, Mark’s irony (cf. 15:29–32) is plain enough: only a Gentile is explicitly impressed by Jesus’ death

 The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – All through this chapter, Pilate and the soldiers referred to Jesus as the King of the Jews.  This was the only time a Gentile referred to him as the “Son of God.”  It took someone out of the religous realm to recognize he was God.  The presence and character of God does that.  Even those not following God can recognize it.  Sadly, those “who should know God” can miss it.  We need to keep our hearts in a posture of seeking the one, true God genuinely and earnestly.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all powerful and present.  Please empower us to seek you genuinely.  We don’t to miss anything because of fear or misunderstanding.  We want to know you intimately.  We step towards you and invite the Holy Spirit to guide us in all things today.

S – She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” 

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them

Mark 14:8–10 CSB

O – Commentary:

In Jewish tradition kings (including, by definition, the *Messiah, or “anointed one”), priests and others had to be anointed for service; one anointed even honored guests. But Jesus here stresses a different kind of anointing, which the woman undoubtedly had not intended: anointing a body for burial. Long-necked flasks appear in many first-century tombs near Jerusalem, suggesting that others lavished such expensive ointments on their deceased loved ones. This woman’s act of love was the only anointing Jesus would receive (16:1).

14:9. This commemoration does not mean that every individual would know about her; similar *hyperbole appears for writers or heroes whose memories would be preserved in epics by or about them.

14:10–11. Betrayal by a *disciple would shame the teacher, and would be seen as an especially heinous violation of trust. Judas could easily find contacts for the chief priests, although they would not have been accessible to him had his mission been less in line with their plans. His mercenary motives would have appeared as vile to ancient readers as they do to us, and they contrast with the behavior of the unnamed woman of 14:1–9

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – Two people who will go down in history and remembered for their actions on the same night.  One brought honor to the Messiah and prepared him for his death.  The other brought shame and sent him to his death.  Both had direct access to Jesus and their impact was historical.  We also have access to Christ and will make an impact…what will it look like?  How will it be remembered?

R – Heavenly Father, you are God.  We want to know you more intimately so we can share your character and love others.  We want to make an impact in the lives of others that draw them to you.  Our legacy is not our fame but the lives that were changed in relationship with you.