Though Christ's enemies work woe against His church, the Word advances as she depends on the Lord in prayer.--Sermon Outline---I. Herod incarcerates Peter -v. 1-5-.--II. God emancipates Peter -v. 6-19-.--III. God's Word triumphs -v. 20-25-.

When God's hand is with His church, she is devoted to evangelism, discipleship, and showing compassion.--Sermon Outline---I. Earnest for evangelism -v. 19-21-. --II. Duty to discipleship -v. 22-26-. --III. Conquered by compassion -v. 27-30-.

Peter's ministry to Cornelius emphasizes that Jesus destroyed the Jew-Gentile barrier and reconciled both groups to God through the cross. --Sermon Outline---I. Peter preaches the good news to Gentiles -v. 34-43-.--II. The reception of Gentiles into Christ's church -v. 44-48-.

While men have the tendency to erect barriers -social, economic, political, racial, etc.-, God removes barriers between men with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ's church, we can focus on the differences that divide us -which would be to our detriment-, or we can focus on the Lord who unites us.--Peter's ministry to Cornelius emphasizes that Jesus destroyed the Jew-Gentile barrier and reconciled both groups to God through the cross.--I. The heavenly vision to Cornelius -v. 1-8-.--II. The heavenly vision to Peter -v. 9-23-. --III. Peter's visit of Cornelius -v. 24-33-. --IV. Peter's preaches the good news to Gentiles -v. 34-43-.--V. The blessing of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of Gentiles -v. 44-48-.

Peter's miraculous ministry confirms the gospel message and paves the way for Gentile inclusion in the church. --I. Peter's healing ministry in Lydda -v. 32-35-.--II. Peter's raising ministry in Joppa -v. 36-43-.

Paul's gospel-centered ministry brought opposition from the world but acceptance by and growth of Christ's church. --I. Paul's gospel-centered ministry put him at enmity with the world -v. 19-25-.--II. Paul's gospel-centered ministry brought him into fellowship with Christ's church -v. 26-30-.--III. The peace and growth of Christ's church -v. 31-.

Have you ever felt like a second-class citizen in a nation, neighborhood, school, workplace, family, etc.- The leveling effect of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that distinctions of classes do not apply. There are only two categories of people- the sinless -who is Jesus Christ and Him alone-, and sinners -all the rest of us-. Any worldly distinctions have no bearing before God--a high worldly status will never help you before God, and a low worldly status will never harm you before God. In Acts 8-26-40, we learn about how God brings in a Gentile -Ethiopian- eunuch by faith in Jesus Christ. While he was an outsider in Judaism -for being a Gentile AND a eunuch-, in Christianity, he has an everlasting name in Christ. Through Jesus, the first become last and the last become first -Matthew 20-16-.

In Acts 9-1-19, we have an account -the first of three- of perhaps the most significant conversion in the history of the Christian church. Yet even though Paul was called as an Apostle to the Gentiles, as one untimely born, God is glorified, not Paul, in his conversion. Also, despite the fact that he would be used so greatly by the Lord to build Christ's church, at his conversion, he was humbled and reminded of his own need for the ministry of the church -in Ananias-.

Simon Magus serves well as a bad example to search your motives, understanding, and appreciation of the gospel. --I. A powerful past -v. 9-13-.--II. A holy conferring -v. 14-17-.--III. A phony exposed -v. 18-25-.

Though Christians suffer and even die by persecution, God uses it to spread the gospel and advance Christ's church.--I. Persecution brings suffering to Christ's church -v. 1-3-.--II. Persecution brings blessing to Christ's church -v. 4-8-.