The time of the judges was a dark period in the history of God's people: everyone did was right in their own eyes. Samson's birth is foretold by an angel. He is to be set apart for the Lord, but Samson fails to live up to his calling. Instead he is controlled by his lusts. And yet, the Lord will use this spineless strongman to bring rescue and rest for his people.

Saul & Barnabas are sent out by the church in Antioch to preach the good news throughout the Roman empire. Both in Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch they are bold in declaring Christ crucified & raised in accordance with scripture. And all those appointed to eternal life believed. Even today, God sovereignly uses the proclamation of his Word to bring people to repentance and faith according to his purposes. Would we play our part in reaching the nations for Christ.

King Herod has James killed for his faith. Peter is imprisoned and earnest prayer is made for his release. Miraculously, an angel leads him out of the prison and he returns to the church. Even in persecution earthly rulers will not have the last word, as God strikes Herod down for his refusal to give God the glory. Even today the word of God increases despite every human effort to suppress it or undercut it. Nothing can overcome our Lord.

The Jerusalem church glorifies God when they hear the news that God has also granted the Gentiles repentance that leads to life. The good news isn't only breaking ethnic boundaries, but it is also spreading geographically. Saul & Barnabas teach in Antioch for one year, and it is hear that the disciples were first called Christians. As the church is unified it grows and spreads far and wide.

Ancient prophecy is being fulfilled as the gospel of Jesus Christ breaks into the Gentile world. God sends angelic messengers and gives supernatural visions to sovereignly bring about Peter's visit to Cornelius. The gospel is received and the Holy Spirit falls even upon the Gentiles. God's salvation is reaching to the ends of the earth.

The psalmist calls us to worship & bow down to the Lord, for he is our God and we are the sheep of his pasture. Like sheep we are to listen to the voice of the Lord and keep our hearts soft to his leading, so that we too may enter his eternal rest.

Saul encounters the risen Lord Jesus on the Damascus road and he enters the city a changed man. The persecutor of the church turns preacher of the gospel. Even today, nothing can stop the life giving power the Holy Spirit to bring about repentance and faith in the heart of the most unlikely of converts.

After the stoning of Stephen, persecution ravages the church in Jerusalem. The faithful are scattered, but their dispersion only advances the gospel as they preach the good news in Samaria, and Philip baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch. Then - as now - persecution can't stop the advance of the gospel or the growth of the church.

In this text, Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr as he faithfully holds fast to the gospel, showing how the entire Old Testament finds its end in Christ. May we too be equipped and bold for witness in whatever way the Lord calls us.

The fledgling church in Jerusalem is buffeted by scandal & conflict from within and imprisonment & harassment from without. But as the wise Gamaliel perceived if this undertaking was of God it would not be stopped. Two millennia later Christ is still building his church and the gates of hell will never prevail against it.