Acts 12:1-13:3

Introduction

Acts 20:7–11 “7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.”

And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.  - Justin Martyr 1 Apology chapter 67.

Message in a sentence:

My hands are in God’s hands.

Read Acts 11:29-13:3

A1. The Antiochene church sends money to Jerusalem by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

B1. Herod laid hands upon James and killed him.

C1. Peters’ hands are bound and his is imprisoned.

C2. Peter’s hands are free to knock and depart.

B2. God put his hand on Herod and killed him.

A2. Barnabas and Saul are sent out again from Antioch after the church laid hands on them.

I think there are two main things going on in this text.

Luke is handing off the narrative from Peter and the other apostles to focus on Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles.

The Lord is demonstrating that he hands his glory or sovereignty to no other.

Application

Repent and Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Hand off your life to God.

Last week we looked at prayer and silence.

This week we see prayer and fasting.