In Acts 9:32-43, we begin the third major part of Acts with two brief stories of healing that Luke uses to build a balanced structure and to communicate the continued spread of the gospel among the Jews in Judea.

The post Acts 9:32-43 Gospel Witness Through Signs and Charity first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 9:1-31, God sovereignly chooses the lead persecutor of the young Christian movement as his ambassador to the Gentiles.

The post Acts 9:1-31 The Persecutor Transformed Into Ambassador first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 8:25-40, God sovereignly directs Philip to a man doubly excluded from the people of God and by his immediate baptism shows us the full inclusion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The post Acts 8:25-40 Inclusion of an Ethiopian Eunuch first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 8:1-24, the gospel is propelled forth from Jerusalem by the persecution following Stephen’s death and into the unorthodox soil of Samaria. In this first occasion of cross-cultural witness, Samaria receives the word of God.

The post Acts 8:1-24 The Samarian Awakening first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 7:1-53, we consider Stephen’s speech, the longest speech recorded in Acts, as a response of the gospel to traditional religion.

The post Acts 7:1-53 Stephen’s Speech first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 6:8-15 and 7:54-60, we begin the second major section of Acts (6:8-9:31) with a clash between the gospel message of the New Covenant community and first-century Jewish orthodoxy.

The post Acts 6:8-15 and 7:54-60 Stephen’s Arrest and Death first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 5:17-6:7, we consider another external threat from the establishment and another internal threat concerning the distribution of goods among believers. Tension heightens in Jerusalem as we reach the end of the first of six major sections of Acts.

The post Acts 5:17-6:7 Further External and Internal Conflict first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 4:32-5:16, we consider the sharing of common property among the first Christians and take note of how seriously and severely God deals with the internal threat of hypocrisy.

The post Acts 4:32-5:16 Internal Threat of Hypocrisy first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 4:1-31, the leaders of Jerusalem strike out against the new, vibrant Christian community. We consider these questions. What motivates the antagonism of the establishment? What enables Peter to stand so boldly in witness? How does the Christian community respond?

The post Acts 4:1-31 External Threat from the Jerusalem Establishment first appeared on Observe the Word.

In Acts 3, Luke reports on one of the many miraculous signs being performed by the Apostles during the Jerusalem Awakening, giving us a second opportunity to consider Peter’s gospel message as he again follows up the miracle by speaking to the gathered crowd. 

The post Acts 3 A Sign of Healing and Witness to Jesus Christ first appeared on Observe the Word.