New Story, New Life
Read: Acts 6:8-15; 7:54-60 Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. (7:56) The story of Stephen’s death is remarkable, and teaches us much about what following Jesus means. The first recorded martyrdom in the history of the Christian faith, Stephen’s story is a shift […]
Strictly Charged
Read: Acts 5:17-32 We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching . . . (v. 28) The religious authorities were afraid. They had already tried to silence Peter and John and the rest of the apostles by warning them not to spread the name […]
Keeping Some Aside
Read: Acts 5:1-11 You have not lied to man but to God. (v. 4) The story of Ananias and Sapphira is, frankly, terrifying. It’s difficult to grapple with the idea of a God who would strike people dead. Peter was clear about this couple’s offense—it’s not the fact that they kept some of the money […]
Resurrection Economy
Read: Acts 4:32-37 And no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (v. 32) What would it be like to share everything in common? It’s difficult to imagine offering up all of our money and possessions—and therefore all of our comfort and […]
Threat in the Portico
Read: Acts 4:1-22 By what power or by what name did you do this? (v. 7) The Jewish leaders were sick of hearing the name of Jesus. Before he was crucified, everyone had been talking about him. The more people talked, the more of a threat he seemed. The leaders thought they had solved their […]
A Different Gift
Read: Acts 3:1-10 I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. (v. 6) The man had never been able to walk. Every day, he relied on other people to carry him to and from the Beautiful Gate, and the generosity, or the pity, of people coming into the […]
Tongues of Fire
Read: Acts 2:1-41 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off . . . (v. 39) The disciples were laying low in Jerusalem, waiting for Jesus’ promised gift. Could any of them have anticipated what came next? Tongues of fire, empowering the disciples to speak in […]
Ends of the Earth
Read: Acts 1:1-11 You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (v. 8) As we begin the book of Acts, we find ourselves once again with the apostles as Jesus makes his final goodbyes. It reads like a replay but with a slightly […]
Fear to Faith
Read: Luke 24:36-52 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. (v. 39) It can be easy to shake our heads at the disbelieving apostles. The resurrection is still a wonder, but a familiar wonder to us at this point. It’s easy to say, “How could they not get it?” Jesus, though, […]