Creative Space for Wanderers
Read: The subtle change of Saul’s name to Paul slips into the narrative today, but Luke is careful to avoid making a big deal out of the name change. There’s lots of speculation about the purpose of the new name. I have a few thoughts on this based on what I’ve read. It’s interesting, but …
Continue reading “Acts: Saul becomes Paul, but that’s not the most important thing.”
Read: In this passage we are provided with two extreme examples: one is tragic and the other is triumphal. James is executed while Peter is saved. The miraculous events surrounding Peter’s release from prison give us hope. And while the death of Herod might be cause for celebration, we are not invited to gloat. There …
Read: Luke takes us back to the stoning of Stephen where the disciples were scattered to continue the story of the gospel spreading far and wide. First, the Jews heard the good news, then the Greeks. When Barnabas was called to Antioch, he saw something special in this group and reached out to Saul. This …
Read: Luke provides an extensive passage to capture the interaction between Cornelius, a Centurian, and Peter. In this part, we read about two visions: one for Cornelius and one for Peter followed by immediate action based on the vision. Given the details, the repetitive style of writing, there must be something significant about this interaction …
Read: In this marvelous passage, Luke provides two examples of miraculous healing as Peter does what he was told to do: ministering to the sheep of Christ’s flock. The first few words of verse 32 show us that Peter is actively moving about, going from place to place is nothing new, it’s just what he …
Read: So much is happening in these few verses, it’s like watching an action movie that just keeps speeding up. Here’s a brief synopsis: Saul is welcomed into the disciples in Damascus, preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Amazing! This baffles the Jews as they, once again, begin to conspire …
Continue reading “Acts: Saul Baffles Jews, Death Threats, Church Grows”
Read: Incomprehensible. Or perhaps unbelievable. The man named Saul was methodically and completely eliminating Christ-following disciples, gaining trust from synagogue to synagogue as he went along from town to town seeking and ridding the population of the cancer they defined as Christians. Suddenly, everything changed. These few verses attempt to capture what is perhaps the …
Read: Philip doesn’t get a lot of attention in the Bible, but his character is one that epitomizes a man of faith that listened to the Spirit and played a huge part in spreading the gospel to Ethiopia. This passage includes some intriguing details that demonstrate his obedience to the Spirit’s direction with some supernatural …
Read: Stephen’s death at the hands of the Sanhedrin caused many to flee from Jerusalem. This scattering of disciples served to spread the gospel to distant places, as well as some that were not so distant. Before Saul’s conversion, we are invited to read an account of Philip’s successful ministry in the evil place called …
Read: The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira resulted in great fear among the people, but these events did not slow the growth of the church in the least. The remainder of chapter 5 climaxes with Gamaliel’s assertion that the disciples should be allowed to follow their hearts and let God be the judge. His compelling …
Continue reading “Acts: Healing, Preaching, Prison, and Flogging — The Church Grows”