S – When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.” 

Act 11:18  CSB

O – Commentary:  

With Peter the saints recognized that the conversion of Gentiles was initiated by God and that they should not stand in His way. This response had two ensuing and significant results. First, it preserved the unity of the body of Christ, the church. Second, it drove a huge wedge between Church-Age believers and temple-worshipers in Jerusalem. Before this the common Jewish people looked on Christians with favor (cf. 2:47; 5:13, 26), but soon thereafter the Jews opposed the church.

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

A – As believers, we should strive for unity even though we still will have differences.    The enemy will constantly want to bring division.  We must learn how to stay in unity even when we are in disagreement.  We can agree on Jesus and salvation comes through Him.  It is one thing that has not changed since His resurrection.

R – Lord, help me to remain in unity with those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Help me to allow their difference from me to be something that doesn’t keep me from us being in agreement that Jesus is the only way to heaven.

S – Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, ³⁵ but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him

Acts 10:34–35 CSB

O – Commentary: 

These words of Peter were revolutionary. They swept away the prejudice and indoctrination of generations of Judaism. However, Gentile salvation certainly was a doctrine known in the Old Testament (cf. Jonah; Gen. 12:3). In the Old Testament the Jews were God’s Chosen People, the special recipients of His promises and revelation. Here Peter stated that God’s program was reaching out to the world through the church.

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

* Note – The person who “fears” (reverence, awe) God is key to a relationship with Him.  “Do what is right” is obeying His commands.

A – Paul is shifting hundreds of years of culture while staying true to the message of the gospel.  Paul is doing this while he is shifting his own paradigm of thinking.  We must be open to God showing us new things and be obedient to act upon them.

R – Lord, help me to see through your lens what is going on in the spiritual realm.  You desire a relationship with all people. Help me to go beyond my own walls that slow that down.  Help me to be led by you and obey your directions.

S – Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. 

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

Ac 9:4–6 CSB

O – Commentary: 

But Saul the persecutor was about to become Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ! His background and qualifications suited him eminently for the work to which God had called him:

(1) He knew the Jewish culture and language well (Acts 21:40; Phil. 3:5).

(2) Because he was reared in Tarsus he was well acquainted with the Greek culture and its philosophies (Acts 17:22–31; Titus 1:12).

(3) He possessed all the privileges of a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37; 22:23–29; 25:10–12).

(4) He was trained and skilled in Jewish theology (Gal. 1:14).

(5) Because he was capable in a secular trade he was able to support himself (Acts 18:3; 1 Cor. 9:4–18; 2 Cor. 11:7–11; 1 Thes. 2:9; 2 Thes. 3:8).

(6) God gave him zeal, leadership qualities, and theological insight

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

A – God uses every gift, talent and experience to bring Him glory.  All of Saul’s traits were not by accident.  God crafted a plan where the most zealous persecutor of the early church would become the most zealous sharer of the gospel in verbal and written form.  He will do the same with us.  Embrace all of your gifts, talents and experiences and ask God to use them for his glory.

R – Lord, I thank you that you have a plan and purpose for me.  You crafted me in the womb and you hold all of my gifts, talents and experiences in your hand.  I submit them to you that you would weave a story and an action plan for me.  Help me to be obedient to your purposes today as led by the Holy Spirit.

S – Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.⁴ So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word

Acts 8:3–4 CSB

O – The result of this great wave of persecution was that all the believers … were scattered. Rather than having their enthusiasm dampened, however, they simply spread the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

* Another example of God being “opposite” of what man expects – persecution brings shut down and demonstration.  God scatters, spread more of the Good news.

A – This is high-level persecution.  Yet, it forced the Gospel to move beyond Jerusalem.  Shows that more than the disciples were sharing and ministering.  Good seed produces good fruit.  The result is salvation and the filling of the Holy Spirit.

* I will face challenges.

* I will move beyond my comfort zone.

* I will value others in my journey and empower them to grow in their faith.

* I will share the Gospel.

R – Lord, help me to face persecution and challenges with the resolve that I will honor you first.  Let me do this in humility and with great courage.  I yield the results to you.

S – They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

 Acts 7:58 CSB

O – This is a terrible event and Saul is witness to it. It emblazons him to become militant against Christians. At the height of his fervor, he will encounter God and have a radical conversion.  Paul will transform the early church and write a significant portion of the Bible.

A – God works even in terrible events.  God has a plan and a purpose for everything.  Even in the most difficult and challenging circumstances, I have to trust that God is in it and will work it for my good.

R – Lord, help me to trust you in difficult times.  Help me to know that you are using people and challenges to mold me into the man you want me to be.  I want to grow through these situations to be closer to you and to demonstrate your love to others.

S- Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty

Ac 6:3 CSB

O – “Tables” – (trapezais) may refer to tables used for serving food or to money tables, that is, banks. Probably it was used here to refer to the place where funds and supplies were administered for the widows

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

3 Qualities:

1.  Full of the Spirit – are you actively growing in your faith and actions?

2.  Wisdom – are you applying your learning and circumstances to growth?

3.  Reputation – what are you known for?

A – This is a great template for leadership.  Trust is one of the foundational tenets of leadership.  Those you lead need to trust that you are worth following.  Knowing that supplies and money were involved, the disciples needed to trust these men.  Add the care for someone else’s spiritual walk and you have a tremendous responsibility to lead then and today.

R – Lord, help me to grow in all three of these qualities.  Help me to grow in my relationship with you as your Spirit leads me.  Help me to apply all that I am learning and experiencing so others may grow closer to you as well.  Let these two grow in such a way that it gives others trust in my leadership.

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 – This is wisdom and practical application at a high level.  It isn’t so simple to discern God’s role in things.  Two strong concepts – if it is human origin, it will fail.  If it is God, you can’t beat it.

A – The Holy Spirit and discernment are important as you navigate certain people, events or circumstances.  God uses all of these to share his love with you and those who don’t know Him.  The enemy uses the same to manipulate or alter the truth to confuse us.  It is important for you to know and listen to God in these situations.

R – Lord, I submit to your leading.  When facing people, events or circumstances that bring confusion, let me hear your voice and be led by you.  I don’t want to condemn something that is part of your will.  I don’t want to be misled by something that isn’t part of your will.  Help me to hear your voice and direction clearly in these moments.

S – When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus

Acts 4:13 CSB

O – What leaders thought was a weakness, turned out to be a strength of Peter and John.  They were not “book trained” and “culture approved.”  But it was recognized they had been with Jesus.

A – Being with Jesus equips you to do the things God has called you to do.  I accepted Christ forty-four years ago and I have been a minister for thirty-three years.  I still need to “be with Jesus” through His Word, prayer, worship and silence.  I still need the Holy Spirit to be in my day to lead, guide, and bring an understanding of situations.  “Being with Jesus” is the training I need each day to do God’s will and build my relationship with Him.

R – Lord, thank you for the time I get to spend with you.  I love that you desire a relationship with me.  I continue to submit to your leadership and training to be your disciple.  Help me to grow so that I can share the love of God with others.

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 – Peter is saying that faith in His name has the power to heal.  A person’s name represented the person and their characteristics.  A great example for us who cannot see or walk with Jesus.

A – How do we build our faith 2,000 years after Jesus was on the earth?  We get into the Word and learn of who he is and what is his character.  If we did the same with any other “person of history,” we would be a student learning of the past.  There is life-changing power in the name of Jesus and who he is.  He truly is the Son of God and changes lives.

R – Lord, thank you for the opportunity to know you better each day.  As you continue to unfold your character and love, help it to change me to be more like you.

S – So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 

Acts 2:41–42 CSB

O – This gives a simple breakdown of what early believers did.

A – Here is what they did and how it applies to the early church that was forming.  Understand, this is all new to the Jewish culture who relied on the Torah as their Word of God.  There was no savior or church.  This was introduced to “the world” through the disciples.

1.  Accepted the message of Jesus as their savior.

2. Baptized.

3. Devoted to apostle’s teaching – There was no Bible,  greater understanding of the Torah (OT) and how it Jesus was the fulfillment of those promises.  

4.  To Fellowship – Speaks to intimacy and trust.  Important if the message and ministry were to continue – you would need different gifts and expressions to reach all people.  They had to be in unity as a whole even though they retained their uniqueness.

5.  Breaking Bread – speaks to communion – gratitude for what Christ has done and relationship.  It also speaks to a common meal that is shared.  A relationship is what God wants for us (Love God, love others.)

6.  Prayer – You can speak to God directly.  You need to do this often to build that relationship with God.

R – Lord, thank you for those in the early church who modeled what you want for us today.  You want an individual relationship with you.  You also want us to be grafted into a body that brings their gifts and talents together to share your love with those who don’t know you.  You want us to be in a relationship with You and others.