summary statement about believers united in heart and mind, sharing possessions, introducing Barnabas
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, and 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, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
13 None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them.
14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
15 They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them.
16 The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,
18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody.
19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said,
20 “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported,
23 “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
25 One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.”
26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them,
28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.
31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.
32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.
34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.
35 He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.
36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing.
37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.
39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.
42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
the centurion whose servant was sick, cited as parallel to the believers earnestly begging Peter to come
1 After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death.
3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant.
4 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,
5 for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”
6 Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
7 Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”
10 Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
11 Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.
12 Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.”
14 He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
15 He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.
16 Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”
17 This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea, and in all the surrounding region.
18 The disciples of John told him about all these things.
19 John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?”
20 When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”
21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.
22 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
23 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
24 When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
27 This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
28 “For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”
29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.
30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.
31 “To what then will I liken the people of this generation? What are they like?
32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’
33 For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’
34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
35 Wisdom is justified by all her children.”
36 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table.
37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”
41 “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
43 Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
This message worked through Acts 9:19b-43, following Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem and then Peter in Lydda and Joppa. Pastor Bob traced how the same God who transformed Saul was still at work through Peter, and how the church grew not by programs but by the proclamation of Jesus as Messiah, accompanied by the Holy Spirit. The service closed with the Lord's Supper, which Pastor Bob connected directly to what the passage describes: the continuing body of Christ doing the work Christ began.
What was said
Saul had left Jerusalem in a murderous rage, carrying writs from the high priest to drag believers back from Damascus in chains. When he arrived, something no one expected had happened: he stayed with the very people he came to arrest, and he immediately began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. The Jews in Damascus were stunned, recognizing him as the man who had come to do the opposite of what he was now doing. His arguments were so well-grounded that they could not refute them, which is the same thing that had been said about Stephen, whose stoning Saul had watched and approved.
The reaction from some of the Jews was a plot to kill him. This, Pastor Bob noted, is a recurring pattern in Acts: the proclamation of the gospel produces acceptance, rejection, or outright violence, and the church moves forward through all three. Saul had to be lowered over the city wall in a basket in the middle of the night by the very people he had come to arrest, and he reflected later that it was a shameful exit rather than the triumphant return he had imagined.
When Saul reached Jerusalem, the disciples there were afraid of him. They had good reason to be cautious, but it was Barnabas who brought him in and vouched for him, recounting the encounter on the road to Damascus and how Saul had preached boldly in Jesus' name ever since. Pastor Bob paused on the name Barnabas, reminding the congregation that it was a nickname given by the apostles meaning son of encouragement, and that this is exactly what he lived up to at a critical moment for Saul and for the church's unity.
The section on Peter begins with him traveling from place to place, which fits what had already been said about his pattern after Samaria. In Lydda he found Aeneas, a man paralyzed for eight years, and healed him in Jesus' name. The name Aeneas pointed to a Gentile background, which was not incidental: the gospel was moving steadily outward. The healing caused the whole population of Lydda and the Plain of Sharon to turn to the Lord, with Pastor Bob acknowledging that "whole population" is a figure of speech for a sweeping response, not necessarily a count of every individual.
From Lydda, Peter was called to Joppa, where a believer named Tabitha had died. She was known entirely for her kindness and her care for the poor, and the widows she had helped were gathered around her body weeping, showing Peter the clothing she had made them. Peter cleared the room, knelt and prayed, and told her to get up. She opened her eyes, and he helped her to her feet and presented her alive to the gathered believers. Pastor Bob pointed out that Peter was willing to be interrupted from his own plans to respond, and that the community of believers had already done their part by gathering around Tabitha in her illness and mourning together at her death.
The sermon closed on the thread that runs through both stories: transformation is possible for anyone, the church advances through proclamation accompanied by the Holy Spirit, and the body of Christ today is still doing what Peter and Saul were doing then. The missionary list from First Baptist's own supported work, reaching Spain, Romania, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Turkey, Kenya, China, Vietnam, and other places, was offered as present-day evidence that God is still building His church the same way.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages
in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
Barnabas vouched for Saul when the Jerusalem believers were afraid to accept him. Has there been a time when someone took a risk to vouch for you, or when you took that risk for someone else? What did that cost them or you?
Pastor Nathan pointed out that when Saul was persecuting Christians, Jesus said 'why are you persecuting me?' What does it mean to you personally that Jesus identifies that closely with His people?
Speaker 1Hey, hey. Y'all don't mind starting thirty seconds early, do you? Would you stand? We're going to sing at Calvary. I actually quoted this song in the first service not knowing it'd be the first song in the second service.
Would you take a moment just to think about what it is we're singing at Calvary? Here we go.
Speaker 2Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring that my Lord was crucified. Knowing not it was for me, he died on Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. Bear my burden, soul, found liberty at Calvary.
By God's word at last my sin, I learned. Then I trembled at the lights fern till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burden so found liberty at name the name I'm Bear my burden, soul, and liberty at covering.
Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan. Oh, the grace that brought it down to man. Oh, the mighty gulf of God did stand at Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me, there my burdens sought my liberty at Calvary.
Amen. How about I will sing
Speaker 1of my redeemer? Kind of a weird time signature. Nine eight, if you you care.
Speaker 2I will sing of my redeemer and his wondrous love to me. On the cruel cross he suffered from the curse to set me free. Sing or sing of my redeemer. With his blood, he pardoned me. On the cross, he sealed my pardon, paid the debt, and made me free.
I will tell the wondrous story of my lost estate to save. In his boundless love and mercy, he the ransom freely gave. Sing or sing of my redeemer he purchased me. On the cross, he sealed my pardon, paid the debt, and made me free. On the last, I will sing of my redeemer and his heavenly love to me.
He from death to life hath brought me son of God cross. Sealed my pardon, paid the debt, and made me free.
Speaker 1Amen. Y'all can have a seat. I have a few announcements. The Teton Valley Idaho Fellowship is meeting on the second Friday of the month starting last month. So, this is second month they're doing it.
It's the second Friday of the month each month. Emily Anderson sort of in charge of that. I think that they're sort of a sign up genius or something like that for that, but I don't know what it is. That's her phone number though. (808) 639-4739.
Emily Anderson is the one that's sort of in charge of gathering that. The twenty twenty five men's snowmobile retreat is February 21 through the twenty third. It's at Old Faithful Christian Ranch in Island Park. If you are wanting to find a way to get to know people faster, you spend a weekend with them on snowmobiles especially or in the lodge, you get to know them a lot better. Old Faithful Christian Ranch, Island Park, Idaho, $120 per person that is regardless of the size or age of the person, Not as previously reported.
Richard Largie is the one in charge of that one. (508) 742-5724 is his number. He will let you know how that's going. It would be helpful to know how many people are coming. The Jackson Hole Women's Community Bible Study is meeting.
Sometimes, you know, for months of the time they meet here, they've met at the press church before. This time around, they're meeting at Gateway down in Raptor J from 10AM to twelve noon on Wednesdays. Carl and I played with the band last week and it was so much fun. We had a good time. It's a good group of ladies that are studying Nehemiah.
Deborah Buckingham is the primary teacher, but Natalie Yates spoke this week, and it was absolutely fantastic. Really good time. Wednesdays started a couple weeks ago, but you can catch up. Nehemiah building that wall. There is a new small group that is meeting, women's young adults.
It's for formation of community and whatnot. It's Mondays at seven p m, February 3 through May 5. You can sign up on our website. Annika and Lauren are the ones who are leading this. So I think it's Annika Lampa, I think, and Lauren Ho are the ones that are taking on this group.
We've always said, if you're not in a small group, we'll help you find one to get into, and if we can't find one, you can start one, and that's what happened. So this is a good time. Steve Gilmore spoke last week for a few minutes about a restarting group. The restarting group is walking through 12 steps. It's a 12 part series.
It's not only the 12 steps though. He is, like he said last time, a brain science theologian. So, has degrees in both of those things. And this is about building joy, retraining your brain, and promoting health and healthy relationships. So he is gonna start that on February 12.
He also told me that the first one is more or less an informational thing. So if you feel like, I don't know if I need to go there, I ought to go to that or if it's the right thing for me, come on to that first one and see if it's the right thing for you. It'll meet downstairs and what's the youth room down there. It's painted purple these days. So the purple room downstairs.
He said, the cost of the thing has already been covered but if you want to pay it forward for the next time he does this, you could pay $25 just one time and that's Steve Gilmore's number if you want to talk to him about it. And first b in the Bible. First be in the Bible is in the last three years, we've gone through most of the Bible and we're trying to finish it that we're we're finishing it according to bread. We're finishing it this year and so we'll have in the New Testament a chapter at a time When we're in the Old Testament, we'll do three or so chapters at at a time and somebody from among us, somebody from the church will do notes and application, central truth, and it's really good. If you want to sign up whether you're from here or whether you're from somebody else, it's first being the Bible about 40 different writers will write in in every six weeks or so we come up.
So that's the way it is. You can do that on our website or you can just let us know and we'll sign you up for it. Is there anything else up there? That's it.
Speaker 2So, Faith's Alliance?
Speaker 1That's it. So, in the first service, Berkeley, Johnston came forward to tell us that men's alliance is happening this week at 06:30AM. So this week, six: 3zero am, that's the first Wednesday morning of the month. We get together as men's alliance. Thank you for reminding me of that, Blake.
I knew there was one more. And Awana is on. We're in school so we're in Awana. Even if the snow's deep, we'll be here tomorrow night at 06:00. Would you stand with me?
When we're going through the book of Acts and that's what we've been doing, we see this a lot. Freely, freely, you have received, Freely, freely give. God
Speaker 2forgave my sin in Jesus' name. I've been born again in Jesus' name. And in Jesus' name, I come to you to share his love as he told me to. He said, freely, freely, you have received. Freely, freely, in my name and because you believe others will know that I live.
All power is given in Jesus' name and in earth in heaven. In Jesus' name and in Jesus' name, I come to you to share his power as he told me to. He said, freely, freely, you have received freely, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe
Speaker 1Amen. Amen. The next one is the lamb of God, hymn number three zero two, lamb of God.
Speaker 2Your only son, no sin to hide. But you have sent him from your side to walk upon this guilty son and to become the lamb of God. Oh, lamb of God, sweet lamb of God, I love the holy lamb of God. Oh, wash me in his precious blood. My Jesus Christ, the lamb of God.
Your gift of love, they crucified. They laughed and scorned him as he died. The humble king, they named a frog and sacrificed the lamb of God. Oh, of God, sweet lamb of God. I love the holy lamb of God.
Oh, wash me in his precious blood. My Jesus Christ, the lamb of God. Oh, so lost, I should have died. But you have brought me to your side to be led by your staff and rod and to be called a lamb of God. Oh, lamb of God, sweet lamb of God, I love the holy lamb of God.
Oh, wash me in his precious blood till I am just a lamb of God.
Speaker 1Y'all can have a seat. I'm gonna invite the ushers to come forward. Tim and Steve are heading this way. Bob, would you pray with me? Lord, I I've I've had an overwhelming morning with the sense of your presence with us.
God, thank you. Thank you for that. Thank you for your word. Thank you for these praises that have already been written and we can just sing and lord, I pray that you'd give us a new song to sing to that it'd be so individual that our souls and our spirits would just bubble up with it, Lord. I'm thankful and that gratitude is because of Jesus.
We're gonna celebrate today the Lord's Supper and I'm thankful Lord for the open table that you, Lord, you are still in the same business that you have been in, that your continuing body on earth, the church, is still doing your work. In Jesus name, I pray that you'd call us into greater unity and I thank you lord that this body that's assembled right here and those who are watching online because of deep snow. Lord, I pray that we would all sense a unity that is unparalleled in a very divided world that we, your church, would be unified. In Jesus name, we ask for your blessing on this offering that it would do your kingdom's work, lord, from this place to the very outermost parts. In Jesus name, amen.
Wow. I, where are we? Here we are. Acts nine nineteen B is where I'm going to start this morning. I'm going to go past thirty one.
I'm going go to forty three, I think it is but there are two sections of this. One of em primarily has to do with Saul who will know as Paul before too long. One section is on Saul and one section is on Peter. We're about to hit next week. We'll hit a significant leap forward in the history of the gospel and the expansion of the church with Peter's visit to Cornelius but this week, it's Saul and then Peter and it's in the same chapter, chapter nine nineteen B through 31.
I'll start where I ended last week. So, last week, Saul, it says, stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. Now, if you remember what happened last week, it was the conversion of Saul. At the very beginning of that sermon, at the very beginning of the passage of the conversion of Saul, he, it says, he was breathing out threats with every breath. He was in sort of a murderous rage.
He could not wait to get to Damascus to the synagogues in Damascus. He went to the high priest. The high priest gave him the rights, the writs to be able to go to Damascus to the 10 or so synagogues there to go in among the synagogues and take away any of those followers of the way. At this point, they still weren't called Christians. At this point, they are followers of the way, Jesus followers, believers and so, when Saul left, he was leaving to go drag back people from Damascus, about a 125 miles or so and he's going to drag him back to Jerusalem where he would bring them in and I'm sure he thought he's coming back to be hailed the conquering hero.
He's stamping out in Damascus this heretical group and he's going to bring them back so that they'll face the judgment. Remember, that Paul was present at the stoning of Stephen. He held the coats for the assembled crowd and he doesn't say he threw the stones but he was absolutely in agreement with the lynching stoning of Stephen, okay? And as Jesus said, there comes a time when the people who kill you, my followers, will be doing it thinking that they're doing God a favor. It says, Saul rather than being on his way back to Jerusalem, the conquered hero bringing back these believers in chains.
This verse says, Saul stayed with them. He stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days and immediately after Jesus spoke to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? He recognized Jesus, the one whom he was persecuting. He was persecuting Jesus by persecuting his people, the church. Now, he's staying with the believers and immediately, he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues.
Paul, Saul, at this point. Saul was Paulus. Saul, at this point, was preaching about Jesus in the synagogues to whom? Who goes to the synagogue? To the Jews.
Now, it's interesting because what Jesus had delivered to Saul is I'm the one you're persecuting and what he delivered to Saul through Ananias was Saul was my chosen instrument to the Gentiles and the first that we see of Saul preaching was in the synagogues and he was saying, he is indeed the son of God in the synagogues. Now, they knew that he was on the way. The believers knew he was on the way. They knew what he was coming to do and immediately, he began preaching in the synagogue saying, he is indeed the son of God. What a change has been wrought, right?
And all who heard him were amazed. I would imagine some stunned silence from the Jews that didn't follow the way. Wait a second. We heard about him coming. The believers definitely heard about him coming.
He's on that wrong side of this issue according to the Jews, right? He's, what's he saying? Isn't this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus' followers in Jerusalem? Isn't this that same Saul that we've heard about? They asked and didn't he come here all who heard him speak?
They asked, didn't he come here to arrest these followers of the way and take em and change back to the leading priest? That's what we were anticipating. Saul's preaching became more and more powerful and the Jews in Damascus, that's who he's speaking to. They couldn't refute his proofs. They couldn't refute his persuasive case that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
That's what he says his message was. Saul, this Pharisee, but now empowered by the Holy Spirit was speaking the same message that Stephen had spoken in Stephen's speech just before he was stoned. That Saul heard. Do you remember what it said about Stephen before the stoning? It said that that Stephen that the synagogue of freed men from Cilicia and other parts of the territories couldn't refute what Stephen had said about the gospel.
The truth is the truth and this is what Saul was presenting with many proofs it says. And after a while, some of the Jews, not all of them, but some of them plotted together to kill him. This is a common theme. In the book of Acts, it's a common theme that if you are following after Christ that you will be confronted with this sort of thing. After a while, some of the Jews plotted together to kill him.
I'm sure some were persuaded. They were watching for him day and night and at the city gate, that one of those gates at least in Damascus is still there. Could've been that gate. They're watching for him day and night at the city gate so that they could murder him but Saul was told about their plot and so during the night, some of the other believers, the ones that he went to drag home back to Jerusalem in chains, Those guys put him up in their homes. They fed him.
They took care of him and now, recognizing the danger to his life. They lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall. I just have to say a word for Sunday school. Sunday school, the David C. Cook literature.
Do y'all still remember? I still remember these type of pictures and I marveled at this that a basket could hold a man. It wasn't a hot air balloon basket. I don't know where they found a basket that hold a guy. Maybe.
I don't know. But being lowered down over the city wall. I remembered all the way back to early early childhood thinking, wow, that's amazing. Now, that's a very different way that he thought he was going to leave Damascus. In fact, he goes back later in one of the epistles and says, shamefully, I was lowered down over a wall.
You know, it wasn't the hail the conquering hero. Look at Saul. He's so great. We need to move him up in our order of who gets to sit where in the Sanhedrin. When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, about a 125 miles, like I said, very different walk than he had anticipated.
He tried to meet with the believers but they were all afraid of him. Saul was a fierce persecutor of Christians and if I had to say the transformation that is available in Christ is real but they didn't recognize that or they thought what's the best way to sneak into a group is pretend you're one of them and so they were afraid despite Saul's dramatic conversion, the disciples in Jerusalem were initially hesitant to accept him. Why? It says, they didn't believe that he had truly become a believer. They thought, wait a second.
We we didn't bring anybody back with him. People who were the with him were believers, presumably. They they didn't believe he had truly become a believer but then Barnabas. Oh, I love Barnabas. Remember Barnabas?
I was not here when Carl preached the last time we mentioned Barnabas was just before Ananias and Sapphira and Barnabas was sort of the good example before their bad example and here it is. This is the statement of the early church in Acts five and that kind of introduces us to this guy. Now, at that time, summary statement, all of the believers were united in heart and mind and oh Lord that we would be united in heart and in mind and they felt that what they owned was not their own. It was God. So, they shared everything they had.
The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and God's great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them because those who own land or houses would sell em and bring the money to the apostles to give to those who are in need. For instance, this is just an example. For instance, there was Joseph. How many y'all remember Barnabas' name was Joseph?
I have two guys in the first service that did. I don't think of him as Joseph. I think of him by his nickname. His nickname. One of the apostles gave him a nickname.
Kinda kinda like something Jesus would do, isn't it? Instance, there was a guy named Joseph and one of the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas which means son of encouragement. Oh, what a great nickname. He was from the tribe of Levi which is of course the ministering tribe from all the way back in the old testament, came from the island of Cyprus. Here you go map people for the map people among us.
Israel, this is the current boundaries today down here, so you know where it is. And then, up into the Mediterranean Sea is the island of Cyprus and that's where Joseph, Barnabas was from. From the island of Cyprus. Now, Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and he brought him in. Can you imagine that?
Saul coming in and the and Barnabas was the one who said, he's alright. I've seen it. I know it. I know it seems a little bit scary but he brought him to the apostles. I'm going encourage you to get to know him.
He told him how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus. If you're reading through the book of Acts, we saw it when it happened. We've heard it told one time already. This is a short form. He says, hey, he saw the Lord on the way to Damascus and this is what the Lord said to him.
He said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Actually, may I step back for just a second and say, how encouraging is that? As a member of this little nascent band of believers. How encouraging is it that Jesus is defending them to say, why are you persecuting me? When Saul was persecuting Christians, followers of the way.
Do you realize that we are Christ's continuing body? The church triumphant. Everybody who has ever put their faith in Christ since all the way back putting their faith in Messiah. Those who put their faith in Jesus during his life. Those after the resurrection and all the way to now, we make up the church triumphant, the ones who have bended the knee to Christ, the ones who have partaken and and he said, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me whenever somebody was picking on any of those folks?
Now, this is what he said. The Lord spoken to Saul this way. He also spoke to him through Ananias. He spoke to Ananias, told him the message he wanted to deliver. He also told him that Saul had preached boldly all the way back to the fourth chapter when John and Peter were arrested and they were flogged, beaten, and released, told not to preach in Jesus name again and then, what are we going do?
Obey God or man? It says, what they prayed for, what they prayed for is that they would proclaim Jesus boldly and Barnabas is saying, that's what Saul's been doing. That's what he did in Damascus. Instead of persecuting, beating, dragging out the believers. What he did was partake with them.
And preach in the synagogue boldly. In the name of Jesus in Damascus, so to whom had he preached, I just want you to think about this. He preached to the Jews. Do you know in in Paul's letters? He says, I'm not ashamed of the gospel.
It's the gospel that's the power unto salvation. It says, for the Jew first and then for the Gentiles. He started with that very pattern. He was preaching to them and can you imagine? He he knew the other sides of the debate.
He had been fighting on the other side for a long time. He knew what they were doing but now that he's empowered by the Holy Spirit and he knows the truth by the Holy Spirit, he now is fighting the other side of the argument and they're not able to refute any of it. So, Saul stayed with the apostles. He stayed with the believers in Damascus. He stayed with the apostles in Jerusalem and he went all around Jerusalem with them preaching boldly.
It says again, in the name of the Lord. He was proclaiming what God had done. He was proclaiming Jesus as Messiah. He is indeed the Messiah and it says next, he debated with some Greek speaking Jews but they tried to murder him. Like I said, it's a continuing theme.
Comes up a lot when you try to say a word for Christ. Even appropriately timed and by the Holy Spirit. The reaction is either going to be acceptance or rejection and sometimes it's going to create extreme hatred. He debated with some Greek speaking Jews. He was himself a speaker.
I'm pretty sure of Greek and Aramaic and Hebrew and probably some Latin. He debated with some Greek speaking Jews but they tried to murder him and when the believers, the followers of the way heard about this that trying to murder him, they took him down to Caesarea. Now, Caesarea is right up here on the coast from Jerusalem, probably 60 miles maybe, something like that, 55, 60 miles. They took him down from Jerusalem up on the good Roman roads to Caesarea Maritime and it says, and they sent him away to Tarsus which was his hometown. Now, Tarsus is in current day Turkey, Mersin, M E R S I N.
I don't speak Turkish, but Mersin, Mersin is Tarsus up on the other side of Cyprus and that's where Paul went. Now, that's where Paul's from. This is hometown. This is stomping ground. It is the place where he probably had a library card.
He knew his way around the college. He knew his way around the people and he wasn't as under threat there as he would have been in Jerusalem but it also was a time where he could study. It was a time where he could get away from the heat and the other believers helped him get there and this says the church, the continuing body of Christ on Earth. Plan A, I will build my church. Jesus said, the church then had peace throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria.
Now, that Saul is on their side, it took some of the heat off but throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria and there are those regions. That covers most of what we know is northern, the Northern part of Israel these days. Probably a little further south than my circle in Judea is there. The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria and it, that is the church became stronger as the believers lived in the fear. That's reverence, but it's reverence or fear of the Lord.
The fear of the Lord's beginning of wisdom and with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. The proclamation of God's word, the proclamation of God's messiah is accompanied by the Holy Spirit. He goes before us and he prepares the way. And there will be people who accept it. There will be people who reject it.
There will be people who react violently to it but it is the way that the church goes forward and grows. It's still happening today. I've got a list of missionaries that's first c b supports here this this morning. I went to the missions meeting and I just look and I think, wow, this little church right here has folks in Benbibre, Spain, Romania, all over for a couple of different ministries in The Middle East, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Central Asia, Kenya, Fort Worth. Fort Worth.
Among Muslims in Fort Worth. Lemuria, Kenya, Zambia, Turkey, France, China, Vietnam, Dallas, Montana, and Wyoming, and then Jackson, Wyoming. It's amazing. God is at work and he's building his church and he's doing through the same thing, the proclamation of the gospel. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, you all know that's a storytelling thing, right?
It's the at the same time. The same time that Saul is doing what he's doing, Peter's doing this. It's I see it a lot on westerns. Meanwhile, back at the ranch. Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place.
That's what he was doing. The last time we see what Peter and John were doing together, they went up to Samaria. They saw the Holy Spirit coming upon the Samaritans in the same way that it had come upon them in the upper room and when they came back down, it says, they preached the gospel in all of the Samaritan villages all the way back down to Judea and then into Jerusalem and it seems like Peter enjoyed that traveling. So from place to place, he was going and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. Now, Lydda is this is Jerusalem.
This little pink pen right here. Lydda is towards the coast but not on the coast. It is the current day neighborhood or city of Lod, L O D, still in the same place that Lydda was and that's where Peter went. And there, he met a man, good historian Luke. He's recording the places and the order of the way things happened and the people that it happened to.
There, he met a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Now, Aeneas, when I see that name, think that doesn't sound like a good Jewish name and it's not. It's a Greek name. It means praiseworthy or commendable, but this guy, the picture that we have of him is just that he had been paralyzed for eight years. Now, Aeneas, the name Aeneas comes from the legendary son of the God, goddess Venus, the hero of Troy and Rome and it's a big name among the Greeks and even among the Romans.
Peter said to him, Aeneas, I I I take from that that Aeneas was a Gentile. Not positive. I don't have any proof of it, but his name kinda says that. Naming your Jewish kid after a foreign god would not be a normal thing for a good little Jewish family to do. If if if he was Jewish, it was from a syncretistic Jewish background which is not usually the case.
So Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your sleeping mat and he was healed instantly. That sounds like a gospel story from something that Jesus would do and Peter's continuing in that vein and it says, then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas whom they've been seeing for eight years begging and paralyzed. They saw Aeneas walking around and they turned to the Lord. Now, to say the whole population of Lydda and Sharon, you could take it literally and think every single person that lived in the city limits of Lydda and every single person that lived in the city limits of Sharon came to Jesus and that that may be true.
I hope it's true but it's a figure of speech. It's a figure of speech. In English, it's a figure of speech. In Greek, and it's a figure of speech in Spanish. Like cowboy on Wednesday night.
Okay? Everybody in the world was at the cowboy on Wednesday night. That's just the way it is. The whole population of Lida and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around and they're like, what in the world has happened here? And they turned to the Lord.
Now, that's Lydda and the Plain Of Sharon, the city of Sharon probably at the northernmost heading up towards Caesarea. And then it says from there, there was a believer in Joppa. Now, Joppa is current day Jaffa, which is a part of Tel Aviv. It's where the airport is. Tel Aviv Jaffa Airport is right there.
If you fly into Israel, you're probably gonna see Jaffa. There was a believer in Jaffa. This is a believer named Tabitha. That's an Aramaic name. Also Hebrew name which in Greek is Dorcas, good historian Luke says and both of those names mean gazelle, perhaps it also means gracious, Tabitha does.
There was a believer in Joppa that was named Tabitha and she was aptly named if it means gracious because she was always doing kind things for others and she was always helping the poor. That reminds me of the story from the gospel of Luke, volume one of this history series. If anyone deserves your help, lord, he does. This is the centurion that had a slave boy that was sick and two Jews were sent as emissary or a couple of Jewish people were sent out to bring Jesus to the centurion. If anyone deserves your help, lord, he does for he loves the Jewish people and he even built a synagogue for us.
So Jesus went with those guys. Now, Peter's just doing what Jesus did. He's the continuing body of Christ. Part of it. Now, about this time, she became ill and died.
Well, I hate it. We just got to know Tabitha. Now, she's dead. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. This tells me that Tabitha was a believer but she was a believer from a Jewish background.
A lot of the clues in this say that was Jewish background. He, her body was washed and burial for burial and laid in upstairs room but the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lida. It's not far. So, they sent two men to beg and please come as soon as possible. Sounds like they earnestly begged Jesus to help this guy in Luke seven.
So, Peter was willing to be interrupted. Can we take an application point right here? We've got a lot of plans that we make, and we're trying to do a lot of programs, and trying to do a lot of things, and yes, I've got a lunch meeting here, and I've got a that meeting there, and Tuesday nights, play pickleball, and all this sort of stuff. But in the way I don't literally play pickleball, sorry. That was a dramatic representation.
Not played pickleball since the ninth grade. Living a life of service, the gospel we carry with us, but when you get the opportunity, Peter returned with him and as soon as he arrived, they took him up to that upstairs room and the room was filled with widows who are weeping and they were showing Peter the coats and the other clothes that Dorcas, Tabitha had made for them but Peter asked him, alright, give me some space as Jesus did. They backed up, left the room, he knelt and he prayed and turning towards the body. She's dead. He said, get up, Tabitha.
And she opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up and he gave her his hand and he helped her up and then he called in the widows and all the believers and he presented her to them alive just like Jesus had done. It's amazing. Now, the news spread through the whole town and many believed in the Lord. You know what?
There were probably some who rejected it too. I don't believe that nonsense. That's crazy talk. People don't die and come back to life but they did. And the truth does win if you give it a chance.
The news spread through the whole town and many believed in the Lord and Peter stayed a long time in Joppa living with Simon, a tanner of hides. If you don't believe me, go ask Simon, the tanner of hides. He's given you his historical record but he's also citing his sources. He's spoken to Peter. He's spoken probably to Simon, the tanner of hides.
The news spreading through the whole town. The news is still spreading and it's the same news that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He is the one, the chosen one. He is the son of God and he is the only one who can make a sacrificial atonement for the sins of all who would ever believe. I got a few, I'm gonna back up just a second and then we're gonna go to the table.
Transformation is possible. If you're praying for someone right now and you are fearful that you know what? I don't even think God could save them. You're wrong. God can save them.
Amen, Connor. Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christians experienced a dramatic conversion. Even the most hardened individuals can be changed by God's grace. I'm praying for someone in particular that I'm supposed to meet with this afternoon. I met with him last week and I believe that God is working on his heart and I pray that we all know some what we believe that God is working on their heart.
Transformation is possible. Overcoming doubt and fear. Despite Saul's dramatic conversion, the disciples in Jerusalem were a little bit hesitant to accept him. They needed a Barnabas to come along to vouch for him and say, hey, this guy is preaching the same gospel we're preaching. Let's be unified around this.
Isn't it good that God saves and did save Saul? Living a life of service. The story of Dorcas herself, she's constantly helping people. That's what we know about her. That's beautiful and they sent emissaries when they heard Peter was near and he took the interruption.
The other thing is they were cognizant, the believers, were cognizant of Tabitha's sickness and they were there gathered around her bed when she passed and they were mourning with those who mourn, the community of believers still needs to be doing that. We still need to be rejoicing and when we're rejoicing, we need to be gathered around people who are suffering, and we need to be unified in taking care of that. In Jesus name, we're coming together right now for the Lord's supper. I'll invite Judy back up to play something pretty. I'll invite the ushers to come forward and it's not really turning away from the scripture.
It's turning towards and saying that Jesus said, this is his body. It's representative. All of us who will partake today are a part of the body of Christ. Taking this, it's an open table. I don't care your denominational background.
If you have placed your faith in Christ, this is an open table for you to partake of this little representative sample of his body which walked out a perfect record that was given over and his innocent blood was shed on behalf of all who would believe. So, if you believe in Jesus, this table is for you. I don't care your background. I don't care whether you've known him for seventy five years or you've just known him fifteen minutes. If you've accepted Christ, this table is for you.
In Jesus name, I pray, Lord that you would bless this little representation of your body, this little oyster cracker. In Jesus name, we ask that we would, Lord, turn to you and look towards your example. Partaking right now. Would you cleanse us, lord, from any sin? Would you remind us of that we can get it under the blood?
Confession can happen immediately and I pray that we would all take this with a clean conscience knowing that you have thrown our sins into the feet sea of forgetfulness and remember them no more. Would you give us a chance to agree with you about our sin before we partake? And we thank you for dying for that very sin, Jesus. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
On the same evening that Jesus was betrayed, he took bread after supper and after he had given thanks, he broke it and he said, this is my body which is given for you. Take this and do it as you will in remembrance of me. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Thank you for walking it out. I thank you for the perfect record of submission to the spirit.
I thank you that you did not fail as Adam did before you and every one of us since. Lord God almighty, thank you. For the innocent blood that was shed, this is a remembrance. I pray that you'd bless each as we partake, as we take this on, lord, when we gather it together at the end and we partake altogether. Lord, if there's anyone in the room that has not believed, does not believe, and Lord, I pray that their persistence and unbelief would be met with extreme compassion and love and grace that is overwhelming to the point of being almost irresistible Lord.
I pray that you would show who you are through your continuing body. Thank you for this time of remembrance of your shed blood which is to take away the sense. In Jesus name, amen.
Speaker 2Try me, oh, savior. Know my thoughts, I pray. See if and set me free. I praise thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin. Fulfill thy word and make me pure my
Speaker 1Amen. Hold that thought, Judy. We'll sing the we'll sing that closing part to close. And in the same way that he had taken the bread, he took the cup after supper and he said to his disciples gathered there with him physically present and his his voice rings out to us still today. This is the new covenant in my blood.
It's the only blood that could have done this. This is the new covenant in my blood, Jesus says. Take this, drink it in, do it as often as you will in remembrance of me. Amen. Paul says later that we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again every time we do this and the last version of this song, first, it's search me and cleanse me.
Thank you that you did that and it goes forth from here and it's about the holy ghost and revival that comes from there. Would you stand with me and we'll close in this.
Speaker 2Holy Ghost, revival comes from thee. Send a revival. Start the work in me. Thy word declares. Thou wilt supply our need for blessings now.
Oh, Lord, I
Speaker 1The willing to be interrupted is sticking out to me today for this service. The many of the plans that a man makes but it's the Lord who directs the steps. Maybe be ready for interruption this week and maybe be willing to walk in the steps he's prepared for us which is the benediction for a day. Ephesians two eight through 10 says this, for it is by grace, unmerited favor that you have been saved through faith. It's not from yourselves.
It's the gift of God. It's not by works so that no one of us can boast for we are though God's handiwork, his masterpiece, his poem created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do them. Lord, would you lead us just like you led Saul back from Damascus, just like you led Peter towards Lydda and Joppa and Sharon. Would you be leading us individually and collectively to do your will and your way in Jesus name. Amen.
