When we repent of sin, our story changes from an ugly tale of sin to a beautiful tale of God’s grace and forgiveness.

Last week in episode 7 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we had a look at persecution. I defined persecution as anything that discourages us from being open about our faith. Anything that discourages us from sharing the gospel in love.

We looked at some of the different forms persecution can take. Often for us in the west, it’s like a rot that slowly corrodes faith over years. It can be seemingly small things like being ignored in conversation because of our faith. Being looked over for a promotion. Having rumours spread about us.

None of those things physically hurt us, our life isn’t in danger, but our faith is. If we don’t recognise the persecution for what it is, we can try ignore it and instead of asking our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us to have strength and boldness, we try pretend that what happened didn’t hurt.

Facing that for years on end can turn a vibrant faith into a dull, lifeless faith that cares nothing for other people, just on making it through each day.

We also looked at the opposite extreme of persecution. Physical persecution, threats against the life of a believer. That kind of persecution is more like a furnace. To face that persecution and prevail takes a faith in God and His power and goodness that many of us can’t even imagine. Not because we don’t have that kind of faith, but because we’ve not been tested in that way.

But regardless of what kind of persecution we’ve faced and continue to face, if we’re open about our faith, it’s likely that we all do face persecution of some kind. The more we’re bold and declaring the gospel with love, the more persecution we’ll face. Whether it’s a slow rot, or a furnace, we’ll face it. And we need to recognise it and be asking others to pray for us.

This week in Acts, we’re looking at perhaps a far more sobering story of how our witness can be killed.

Our witness, our testimony can be killed by us. It can be killed by our own sin and refusal to repent of that sin. It can be killed when we refuse to stop sinning for so long that God punishes us for our sin, or sin itself extracts its price.

Our passage today is Acts 4:32-5:11(WEB):

32 The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all. 34 For neither was there amongst them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need. 36 Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, 37 having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

5 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8 Peter answered her,

As Christians, we face persecution in the West. Unfortunately, many of us fail to recognise it because we see persecution as only physical danger. Today, we look at another side of persecution.

Last week in episode 6 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we looked at how Peter and John were given an order by the chief priests to not talk about Jesus.

That order went directly against Jesus’ own command to them in Acts 1:8, which was for them to be his witnesses throughout the world. Peter and John then said this to the chief priests, the very men who had Jesus put to death: “Which is right in God’s eyes, to listen to you, or to Him?”

We also looked at how the Bible teaches that there is no authority on earth which God hasn’t allowed, and we’re to honour those authorities because that honours God. Peter in 1 Peter 2:13-17 told the church to even honour Emperor Nero, a man who brutally persecuted and murdered Christians.

So as Christians, we have this balance, we’re to honour authorities, so long as their laws do not go against God’s commands. The moment they do, we’re to make following God’s commands a priority over theirs.

Another way to think of it is this: God is the big boss of a company we work for. We want to keep that boss happy, so we do what he says. The big boss has put managers in place to run the company. To please the big boss, we listen to the managers and do what they say because they’re in their position because the big boss put them there. But if a manager tells us to do something that we know goes against the big boss’s rules, who are we trying to please? Which is right in the big boss’s eyes, to listen to the manager? Or to listen to him?

Today in Acts, we’re looking at how the early church dealt with persecution and how that applies to us, even in the West, where we can believe in Jesus openly without our lives being in danger. Our passage today is Acts 4:23-31 (WEB):

23 Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 25 who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,

‘Why do the nations rage,

    and the peoples plot a vain thing?

26 The kings of the earth take a stand,

    and the rulers take council together,

    against the Lord, and against his Christ.’

27 “For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. 29 Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

So after Peter and John had been grilled by the chief priests and warned and threatened to not speak about Jesus, they headed back to their own people, the believers and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

Then they did something which I love.

The believers, when they heard about the persecution, raised their voices together in prayer to God.

They glorified God, they acknowledged the wonders He’d done, they acknowledged that there was nothing on the earth, in the sea, or in heaven that He hadn’t made.

The believers recognised that everything that was happening—what had happened to Jesus, what happened to them—had been prophesied about by David in Psalm 2:1-2.

The Bible teaches us to honour those in authority, especially the leaders of our countries. Today we’ll look at when we need to instead follow a higher power, God.

Last week in episode 5 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast we looked at how as followers of Jesus Christ, we have two important things we need to balance in our lives: Truth and Love. If we focus on truth and forget love, we start to focus on the mistakes of others. We become quick to judge, and to condemn others. We can become Holier than Thou, “Well, at least I’m not as bad as they are.”

But if we just focus on love and ignore truth, we start to water down the gospel, we try to make it acceptable to everyone. We focus only on making people happy. We avoid confrontation, we avoid uncomfortable situations.

We need to have both, the confronting truth, and the gracious love. We need both because that’s the example Jesus gave us every time he spoke to others, that’s the example the apostles gave us when they spoke to others about Jesus.

Today we’re looking at who Peter and John chose to obey when commanded by the Jewish authorities not to talk about Jesus. Our passage today is Acts 4:1-22 (WEB):

As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening. But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

In the morning, their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest. When they had stood Peter and John in the middle of them, they enquired, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, may it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands here before you whole in him. He (that is, Jesus) is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given amongst men, by which we must be saved!”

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled. They recognised that they had been with Jesus. Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred amongst themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it. But so that this spreads no further amongst the people, let’s threaten them, that from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.” They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”

When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done. For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

So after the Holy Spirit through Peter and John had healed the beggar at the temple,

One of the toughest things to balance as a Christian is truth and love. In today’s episode we’re going to see just how important it is that we have both.

Last week in episode 4 of the God’s Word, Today’s World podcast, we looked at how the early church treated each other like family. They weren’t just a group of people who met on Sundays, they met daily, and they shared meals together and praised God together.

We looked at how important it is to share meals together with our church family, because it is one of the best ways to get to know people. Us being a family, us knowing each other well and showing each other the same love that Jesus showed us, is crucial to the effectiveness of our churches.

So the challenge I gave us was for each of us to organise to have a meal, or coffee/tea, with someone we don’t know very well in our church.

This week, we’re going to see how Peter used equal measures of truth and love when he shared the gospel. Our passage this week is Acts 3 (WEB):

Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy. Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, “Look at us.” 

He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them. 

But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. Leaping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God. They recognised him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. As the lame man who was healed held onto Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses. By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

“Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets. 

For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from amongst your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from amongst the people.’ Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followe...

It can be hard to find a church in today’s Western world where people treat each other like they’re really family. But when we look in Acts at the early church, that’s exactly what we see: a family.

Last week in Episode 3 of the God’s Word, Today’s World Podcast, we looked at the disciples passion for God, and their boldness when following Jesus. I challenged us to look at our lives and see whether we had that same kind of passion, or whether we just try to blend into the world. Are we so passionate about Jesus that we can’t help but talk about the incredible things he’s done for us any chance we get?

Or do we treat our faith as something to keep quiet about?

The world tells us that, “You can believe whatever you want… just don’t go telling people about it.” Which is funny, because the people I’ve heard say things like that are usually the people who are very, very vocal about what they believe… or don’t believe.

But the Bible tells us something different. Jesus commands us to be his witnesses, to share the gospel, the good news of what Jesus has done.

Who are we going to listen to? The God who created us?

Or people?

Today we’re going to look at what it means to be a church, a community of believers. Our passage is Acts 2:42-47 (WEBBE):

They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together, and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

When I read this passage, the thing that stands out to me most is this:

The early church looked like a family.

Not only that, they acted like a family. They acted like they actually cared about one another, they knew who was in need amongst them, and they went as far as selling their own possessions so they could take care of those in need.

Their priority was people, not possessions

Some people look at this passage, especially verse 44 which says “All who believed were together, and had all things in common.” and scoff, saying that the early church was a commune, that every single person had to sell everything they had and it was all redistributed equally.

This is not at all what the passage says, nor did Jesus—or the Apostles—teach that.

What we actually see happening in this passage is that those with plenty know they have plenty, and are willingly and joyfully giving up possessions in order to help brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need.

We see a beautiful picture of love and voluntary generosity at work here.

The Apostles didn’t expect anyone to sell their possessions, nor was anyone forced to, because God loves cheerful givers. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (WEBBE):

Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Being forced by others to give results in us giving grudgingly, which is not something God desires. It builds resentment between people, not love. In Acts 4 Luke makes it clear that those who sold property did so willingly and with a desire to help others, not from being forced to. And he also makes it clear that not everyone sold property, only some.

Acts 4:33-35 (NIV):

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or ...

Do you believe you have the same Holy Spirit dwelling in you as dwelled in the Apostles in Acts? In today’s episode, we take a look at the power of the Holy Spirit and what it means for us today that we have the same Spirit in us.

Last week in episode 2 of God’s Word, Today’s World, we saw the disciples in Acts 2 waiting in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. During that time, they decided to appoint a man to take Judas Iscariot’s place amongst the 12 Apostles. They chose two men who had been with Jesus from the beginning, were a part of his full ministry, and had also witnessed his death and resurrection. Once the disciples had chosen the two men, they cast lots to let God decide who would take Judas place. The lot fell on Matthais.

We saw how in today’s world, Christians don’t need to cast lots, because as believers, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and we have the word of God to guide us in making wise choices.

Today, we’re looking at the amazing event of the Holy Spirit’s arrival. Acts 2:1-41 WEBBE:

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marvelled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only nine in the morning. But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘It will be in the last days, says God,

    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.

Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.

     Your young men will see visions.

     Your old men will dream dreams.

Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,

     I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the sky above,

     and signs on the earth beneath:

     blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned into darkness,

     and the moon into blood,

    before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him amongst you, even as you yourselves know, him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before my face,

    for he is at my right hand,

    that I should not be moved.

How do we live our lives in a way that honours God? In today’s episode, we explore what Acts can teach us about living a Godly life.

In episode 1 we looked at Jesus’ last command to the disciples, to go and be his witnesses throughout the world. After Jesus gave them that command, they had a choice, to continue following him, or run and hide. They chose to follow him.

The other thing Jesus told them, was to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit arrived. While Jesus was with them, they didn’t have the Holy Spirit, but soon would come a time when every believer received the Holy Spirit, who would help us to live lives that honoured God.

We join the disciples today as they wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:12-26 WEBBE:

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred and twenty), and said, “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was a guide to those who took Jesus. For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry. Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’ For it is written in the book of Psalms,

“ ‘Let his habitation be made desolate.

    Let no one dwell in it;’

“and,

“ ‘Let another take his office.’

“Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst us, beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.” They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.

So, after the two angels told the disciples to stop staring at the sky, they returned to Jerusalem and met with 120 other believers. Including Jesus’ mother and brothers. They did what all believers in a time of uncertainty should do.

They prayed.

They prayed constantly.

Some time during the ten days during which they waited for the Holy Spirit’s arrival, Peter stood up amongst them. It was time to appoint someone to take Judas Iscariot’s place.

I love the care they went to to choose the right man for the job. He had to be someone who personally knew Jesus; someone who had witnessed Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection himself.

Peter recognised the importance of the 12 apostles being able to say, “Yes, I saw Jesus myself. I saw him die, and I saw him after he came out of the grave.”

And so they nominated two men who fit that, Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.

And I love the prayer they prayed. “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”

They didn’t try to have their own way,

The book of Acts is a blueprint for how the Christian Church should function. In today’s episode, we explore what it means to make a commitment to live God honouring lives.

I’d like to begin this series in Acts with a brief introduction to the book, and to its author Luke.

Acts is the sequel to another book Luke wrote, the book of Luke. That book was the history of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Now, Luke continues where he left off and gives the history of the first 30 years of the early church. All up, Luke records about 60 years of history.

He wrote both books for a man named Theophilus. Theophilus means “one who loves God”, we don’t know exactly who he was, but some have suggested he was probably a Roman official, and possibly he even functioned as Luke’s publisher.

Some people refer to the book of Acts as Acts of the Apostles, others refer to it as Acts of the Holy Spirit Through the Apostles. I like the second because it gives credit to God for the amazing events that Luke recorded.

Acts is an incredibly detailed book. There is so much in it that a history buff could geek out over. Luke was well versed in the politics, had a large vocabulary, could read and write multiple languages, was a doctor, and was a keen researcher. It was no small task to collect 60 years of history. He had no Google, he had no phone or computer to take notes on, no library with a digital catalogue to use, and he had no quick form of transport.

In Luke1:1-4 WEBBE (World English Bible British Edition) he says this about his research:

Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled amongst us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus: that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

Given the care and attention to detail the writing itself has, I dare say Luke’s research included hundreds of interviews to collect stories, and then confirm them by the account of multiple eyewitnesses in order to give the most accurate account of events that he could.

And in chronological order.

It probably took Luke years to research everything he needed for Luke and Acts.

And so as we dive into Acts, remember that we’re not reading a book of one man’s experience quickly written over the course of a few weeks.

We’re reading a thoroughly researched historical document with countless hours of care and attention to detail poured into it.

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

Our passage today is Acts 1:1-11 WEBBE:

The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom. Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. For John indeed baptised in water, but you will be baptised in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up,