The Intermediate Years of the Gospel

Writing to the church in Rome, Paul stated:

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Why did God allow persecution to come and wreak havoc on the infant church in Jerusalem? It is because He had a specific purpose.

We may never know the full purpose of it, but certainly part of His purpose was to cause the spread of the gospel message to go from Jerusalem to all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. It’s important for us to understand that the persecution of the followers of Christ often causes the message of Christ to spread like wildfire. John Stott wrote:

An instructive modern parallel is what happened in 1949 in China when the National Government was defeated by the Communists. Six hundred and thirty-seven China Inland Mission missionaries were obliged to leave. It seemed a total disaster.

Yet within four years 286 of them had been redeployed in South-East Asia and Japan, while the national Christians in China, even under severe persecution, began to multiply and now total thirty or forty times the number they were when the missionaries left (the exact figures are not known).

In our extended passage this morning we will see how the disciples were obedient to the Great Commission, and how the prophecy of Jesus to Peter and the apostles regarding the building of His church was being fulfilled in them.

The five chapters that we will survey this morning revolve around the ministries of three men, Philip the Evangelist, Simon Peter, and Saul of Tarsus. Before we go on, we need to look at the effect that the death of Stephen had on the early church. Let’s read Acts 8:1-4.

We see clearly here the obedience to the Great Commission: As you go, make disciples

Preaching the word

euangelizō — preaching

lit. to bring good news

This term is used five times in this chapter

preaching the word — vs. 4

preached the good news about the kingdom of God — vs. 12

preaching the gospel — vs. 25

told … the good news about Jesus — vs. 35

preached the gospel — vs. 40

There is a connection between Acts 8:4 and 11:19 which we will explore when we get to Acts 11.

For now let’s consider

The Narrative about Philip the Evangelist

Philip was one of the original deacons, along with Stephen whose death we looked at last week. This deacon contributed to the Gentile mission through his bold evangelization of the Samaritans and of an Ethiopian official.

In the narrative about Philip we see God using a bad situation, the death of Stephen, to work out a good thing for the sake of His own glory – the spreading of the gospel message.

Philip beautifully pictures for us the directive from Christ: As you go, make disciples. We also see Peter using the keys to the kingdom of heaven as he and John come and join Philip in the ministry at Samaria.

Note the reception Philip had in Samaria:

The people paid attention to what he said — vs. 6

What he said was attested to by what he did — vs. 6-7

This was a joyful time for the people of Samaria — vs. 8

Philip baptized the new believers in water — vs. 12

The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the gospel had been proclaimed to the city of Samaria and they sent Peter and John to join Philip in this mission.

Peter and John prayed for the Samaritan believers that they might receive the Holy Spirit

After laying their hands on the believers they received the Holy Spirit

I see this as a fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy in

Matthew 16:18–19 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The apostles were involved in the Holy Spirit coming upon the Jews on the Day of Pentecost

The apostles were involved with the Holy Spirit coming upon the Samaritans here

It is important to understand that the Book of Acts is a book of transition — certain things which occurred during the time of the early church do not occur now — and dramatic way in which the Holy Spirit came is one of those things

Simon Magus — Acts 8:9-11

Simon practiced the magical arts — which I take to be witchcraft

He held the people spell bound by his power

After hearing Philip preach, and being amazed by the miracles God performed through him, he professed belief in Jesus, and was even baptized

After seeing believers receive the Holy Spirit after Peter and John laid hands on them, Simon offered the apostles money so that he could do the same as they

This brought a strong rebuke from Peter Acts 8.20-21

Peter called for this wicked man to repent

This is all we know of this man from Scripture, but some of the early church fathers have stated that he was one of the originators of the gnostic heresy

The narrative of the Samaritan mission concludes by saying that Peter and John preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans as they worked their way back to Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Philip was whisked away, by order of an angel from God, to the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.

While there he encountered an Ethiopian Eunuch who was the treasurer for Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians. He had been in Jerusalem to worship God — probably what is often referred to in Acts as a God-fearer.

As this man was on his journey back to Ethiopia Philip found him sitting in his chariot reading from the writings of Isaiah the prophet. Look at Acts 8:29-33

Starting with this passage Philip told him the good news about Jesus. The evangelist evangelized this Gentile. And this government official placed his faith in Jesus, and was baptized in water. Then he went on his merry way back home.

Once again Philip was whisked away by the Holy Spirit. And he continued to make disciples as he journeyed, finally settling in Caesarea. (Years later Paul and Luke stayed in Philip’s home for an extended visit as they were making their way back to Jerusalem — Acts 21:8ff). This brings us to

The Narrative about Saul of Tarsus

In this narrative about Saul we see how God can turn an enemy into an ardent associate. Let’s look at Acts 9:1-2

Saul had a very eventful journey to Damascus.

He had an encounter with Jesus Acts 9:3-6

So Saul, now blinded by the light, was led to Damascus by his traveling companions. Acts 9.9

Meanwhile the Lord spoke to one of the believers in Damascus named Ananias. He charged him to go and heal Saul of his blindness. Of course this disciple had heard all about Saul and he wanted nothing to do with the dude. Acts 9.15

So Ananias went to Saul, laid his hands on him, and healed him. Saul also received the Holy Spirit at this time. On this instance there was no need for an apostle to be present for Saul to receive the Holy Spirit since the Spirit had already been given to Jewish believers.

Last week I mentioned the transformation that occurred in the apostles due to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The same can be said for Saul who had, for all intent purposes, murdered many believers in Jerusalem. Notice what Luke says about him: Acts 9. 20-22

After his conversion, Saul remained in Damascus for many days. But eventually he had to escape because of a plot by the Jews to kill him.

At some point in time, after leaving Damascus Saul journeyed back to Jerusalem where he attempted to join the disciples. But they were all afraid of him. Luke informs us that Acts 9.27-28

Eventually the Jews in Jerusalem tried to kill him also. So his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ took him to Caesarea where a caught a boat to Tarsus, his native land. Luke ends this section with an epitaph: Acts 9:31

This brings us to the first part of

The Narrative about Peter

In this narrative about Peter we see both his obedience to the commission to go and make disciples, as well as the continued working out of the promise of Christ that He would give Peter the keys of kingdom of heaven.

Peter’s itinerant ministry brings him to Lydda

While there he heals a man who had been bedridden for eight years

The residents of that town as well as a nearby place turn to Christ after seeing the healing of this man

A disciple from Joppa, (about 10 miles from Lydda), passes away — Peter is sent for and raises her from the dead

The result is that many in Joppa come to faith in Christ

Peter stayed on in Joppa for many days

A Centurion named Cornelius, living in Caesarea, has a vision of an angel instructing him to send for Peter who is presently in Joppa

This man is referred to as a God-fearer — which is a Gentile who believes in the one true God, but has not become a Jewish proselyte

Meanwhile, Peter has a vision which prepared him to go to the home of Cornelius. Look at Acts 10:9-16.

While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit instructed him to go with the men who were asking for him

Peter immediately obeyed

Peter enters Cornelius’s home and share the message of the gospel with all who are gathered

Peter concludes with this statement about Jesus: Acts 10:42-43

While Peter was speaking to them, the Holy Spirit fell on those who heard, and they began speaking in tongues just like on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem

Peter continued to be obedient to the commission to make disciples of all nations

The prophecy of Jesus about Peter having the keys of the kingdom of heaven was finally completed as he was used to open the door for the Gentiles to be saved

The directive of Jesus to be witness to Him to the ends of the earth was being fulfilled

Eventually Peter made his way back to Jerusalem

He was criticized by the circumcision party for eating with Gentiles

He shared the vision he had received with the apostles and brothers, then concluded with these remarks: Acts 11:15-17

After hearing this their complaining ceased, and they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

The Narrative of the Church in Antioch

In the narrative about the Church in Antioch we see continued obedience to the Great Commission: as you go, make disciples of all nations. As well as obedience to the directive to be witnesses to the end of the earth.

The narrative begins were Luke left off in Acts 8:4 – “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.” In Acts 8 the narrative goes on to speak about Philip and the events that occurred as he faithfully fulfilled the Great Commission.

Here in Acts 11 the reference is broader. Luke records that those who were scattered … traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. This narrative also prepares us for the emphasis in the latter part of Acts on the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Notice what Luke reported in Acts 11:20-21

The church in Jerusalem hears about this and they send Barnabas to Antioch

The men responsible for the witness in Antioch were from Cyprus and Cyrene

Barnabas was from Cyprus

Cyrene was in northern Libya on the Mediterranean coast

Barnabas visited Antioch

He acknowledge that hand of God in this ministry

He spoke words of encouragement to the infant church

He took off for Tarsus to find Saul and enlist his help in this ministry

Barnabas and Saul return to Antioch and minister there for about a year

The disciple were first called Christians in Antioch

A prophet from Jerusalem visited the church in Antioch

He announced a worldwide famine that was coming

The infant church decides to send a gift to the brothers living in Judea

The entrust this mission to Barnabas and Saul

The Final Narrative of Peter

Acts 12 closes out the emphasis on the ministry of the Apostle Peter with a rather sensational account of his arrest and supernatural release from prison. Once again, we come face to face with the fact nothing can thwart the predetermined plan of God.