Acts 4:23-37 “The Response to Persecution”

Good morning Calvary Chapel Lake City!

Children’s Ministry dismissal.

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Today, I want to highlight Logos Bible Software which is the Bible Software I use for study.

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Sun, June 26th: Baptism & Pool Party @ the Kitch’s House

We will have hamburgers & hot dogs.

If you can, please bring a side or dessert.

Sun, July 3rd: Immediately after church… Summer Picnic in lieu of our Fellowship Lunch

Center Lake | Bixler Park

Bring your favorite yard games, and enjoy some great fellowship

Feel free to stay to 10pm… we have the South pavilion rented all day.

In fact, our youth group plans to meet there in the evening.

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Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 4. We finish Acts 4 today looking at VSS 23-37.

I’ve really enjoyed the study over the last three weeks… Peter and John at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple in Jerusalem… at the ninth hour to pray… where they encountered a man who was lame from his mother’s womb.

This man was now over forty years old and was daily laid at the gate to beg…

This was a strategic location… beyond the gate was the Court of the Women.

And, this was a beautiful location… these massive 45’ high… Corinthian bronze gates were a sight to see.

Yet, in contrast was the lame man.

He was a picture of humanity… laying powerless before a religious system that could not heal him.

Even Jesus never laid hands on him to heal him.

God’s plan was to heal this man through Peter.

God’s timing was perfect… perhaps this man felt different… he likely wondered why he still suffered when Jesus healed other people who were lame, blind, deaf and so forth.

But in God’s timing, Peter was used to heal this man and share the Gospel and the result?

Over 2000 people would be saved… taking the number of disciples to over 5000.

The crowd looked at Peter and John as though they had the power to heal… and Peter pointed them to the true source… Jesus whom they killed… whom God raised from the dead.

Jesus died for our sins… God raised Him from the dead accepting the sacrifice… and salvation comes by faith in His name.

That’s the simplicity of the Gospel message.

It was important that Peter shared the Gospel, because while many of the Jews believed in the miracle… belief in miracles alone DOES NOT SAVE. ONLY Faith in Jesus saves.

I love how succinctly Peter preached the Gospel...

In Act 3:14 Peter said to the Jewish people, “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong...”

Death, Resurrection, and Salvation by faith. That’s the simplicity of the Gospel!

In Act 4:10 Peter said to the Sanhedrin, “… by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.”

That’s the Gospel. Pointing to Jesus… Messiah who died and rose again, and by faith in His name we are made whole.

The ruling class… the Sadducees became greatly disturbed by teaching in Jesus’ name and teaching on the resurrection… because they did not believe in miracles, nor in the resurrection.

And, through Peter… a notable miracle was witnessed by thousands… followed by a teaching on the resurrection.

Which was just wrecking the theology of the Sadducees.

If Jesus wrecks your theology… Good… it’s then time to get a new theology.

The Sadduccees thought differently though… instead of yielding to Jesus… they arrested and threatened Peter and John… attempting to arrest the Gospel message… and they became the first group to persecute the early church.

Peter and John, fishermen, spoke boldly to them… and the Sanhedrin marveled at these untrained and uneducated men.

Then they realized that they had been with Jesus.

And as the former lame man stood before them… and all the people glorified God.

The Sadducees were now powerless against the work of God.

A long introduction, but a good reminder of what we have observed these past three weeks: we saw the miracle, the message, and the persecution.

Today, we observe “The Response to Persecution” which is the title of our sermon today.

And, this is a great chapter that models for us what we should do... if and when we are mis-treated or even persecuted…

Let’s Pray!

Acts 4:23-26 “And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them...”

Pause right there… we are going to look at this prayer in detail, but lets get grounded first in the disciples response to persecution… how do they deal with it?

Keep in mind… Peter and John were arrested, threatened, and told to be silent by the 71 richest, most powerful, most educated rulers of the land.

Today, we will learn from what they do, but…

We can also learn from what they don’t do…

They don’t get violent… they don’t retaliate…

They don’t isolate, and let their feelings get the best of them.

And, they don’t petition God… like David in his imprecatory Psalms “Break their teeth in their mouth, O God!” (Ps 58:6)

But, they do go to God… for boldness... they give this situation to God their defender…

Like Paul in 2 Tim 4:14 … Paul wrote, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.”

He gave it to the Lord.

And this early church will do the same… and they will come to God as a church unit… as the bride of Christ.

Notice… before praying… Peter & John first seek Christian fellowship.

Not that this is an absolute model, but it’s what they do here, and I see value and wisdom in this.

V23 again reads... “And being let go, they went to their own companions...”

Can I say… if you are a Lone Ranger Christian forsaking assembling with other Christians… you’re missing out.

Heb 10:24-25 instructs, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

If you are not in regular fellowship with other Christians… how do you “consider one another?” How do you “exhort one another?”

How do you “stir up love and good works” going it alone?

This verse implies love and good works are done while considering one another and that happens by not forsaking assembling.

The Day is approaching… every day we are getting closer to the Lord’s return.

So, don’t give up on Christian fellowship.

Even if you’ve been hurt…

Even if you think Christians are a bunch of hypocrites (which often we are…)

Even if you're in the practice of just watching sermons… thinking this is sufficient for spiritual life…

YOU HAVE TO IGNORE OR DISOBEY THIS VERSE IN HEB 10 if you are not in relationship with other Christians…

When Peter and John get arrested and released… they have people in their life they can go to… people who care about them… people who will stir up agapē and good works.

And, so how do these companions support Peter and John?

Well, they listen. Peter and John, in V23 “reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.” and V24 says, “So when they heard that...”

Peter and John needed friends to talk to. Not to gossip about those bullies the Sanhedrin… pulling them into the Chamber of Hewn stone… intimidating them with their numbers… pointing their crooked fingers at them.

Peter and John were wronged. They were used by God to heal a lame man, and they suffered for it.

So, they seek out their friends. They needed their friends. We all need friends… and you are missing out when you isolate.

Pro 27:9 reads “Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.” (Lit. “counsel of the soul.”)

After talking to their friends, notice what Peter and John do in the last half of V24… they pray! “… they raised their voice to God with one accord and said:...”

Conversation and counsel from friends is good for the soul…

But, don’t neglect to talk to God.

That’s what the early church does! They go before God in one accord.

The phrase “one accord” is easily a sub-theme in the Book of Acts.

The phrase is used repeatedly in Acts… 7x in Acts when referring to the disciples… more than any other book in the Bible.

They were in one accord… unity… agreement… one-mindedness.

Every Sunday morning… I pray with my family… the worship team prays together (and if we are having sound issues… they pray again)… at 9:30 am, I gather with a group of guys and pray as well.

Feel free to jump in and pray with us.

Feel free to start a group of people praying in one accord.

Col 4:2 states, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”

I like this verse paraphrase of Col 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Now… notice HOW they pray…

In V24… they recognize God as the sovereign creator.

In VSS 25-28… they acknowledge His prophetic plan which included persecution…

In VSS 29-30… they petition Him for boldness to preach His word and perform miracles (which is what got them persecuted in the first place… so essentially they pray FOR persecution).

I pray for a lot of things… persecution is not one of them… and I’ve never had anyone ask, “Hey Pastor Marc… Can you pray for me? I’d like God to send some persecution my way? I need a little persecution in my life.”

NO WAY… no one asks for persecution… but, in a round about way the disciples do.

Let’s unpack this prayer.

Let’s read the prayer in it’s entirety and then circle back to discuss…

Starting in V24, they pray… “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

In V24, the disciples pray, “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them...”

First, they acknowledge God as their Lord…

Phil 2:11 states, “...every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Who is the Lord?… Jesus Christ.

And, what does Acts 4:24 state?... “Lord, you are God...”

Connect the dots… Jesus is God.

Now… the title “Lord” by def. means “Master”… which is a humble submission to Him as a servant.

The Gk. word “Lord” is a rare form of this word in the NT. The usual word for ‘Lord’ is kurios… used 748x in the NT.

The word for “Lord” here is dĕspŏtēs (des-pot´-ace)… only used 10x in the NT… it’s the root for the English word “Despot.”

By def., “an absolute ruler…one who possesses supreme authority.”

And, that’s who God was to them… their supreme authority…

Now keep in mind… Peter and John just stood before the authority over Israel… the High Priest plus 70 Elders of Israel… the Sanhedrin.

They told Peter and John not to teach or speak in the name of Jesus… to be silent.

But, what did Jesus tell them to do?

Matt 28:19… Jesus commanded... “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you...”

Mk 16:15 records it this way, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Lk 24:47 states “…repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations...”

Jesus said speak and teach in His name… the Sanhedrin said “silence.”

Two competing messages! So, who will they obey?

And, this is a question we all must answer- who do we listen to and obey?

Do we listen to the world and it’s leaders?

Or, do we listen to the heavenly leader?

Truly… a question of Lordship. Who is your Lord?

The disciples obey God alone… indicated by the opening of their prayer beginning with “Lord.”

Next… they acknowledge God as having sovereign power over all creation…

During the Sermon on the Mount…in Matt 6:9 Jesus instructed to start our prayers with… “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name…”

Our Father is in heaven… and Holy is His name.

So… Honor His name as you begin your prayers.

The power of the Sanhedrin was NOTHING in comparison to the Lord… the Supreme Power… the Creator of the Universe.

And, that’s who they appeal to.

And, this effected me… I believe it will effect my prayer life.

God is the King of the Universe… how important is it to recognize His authority when we pray.

Not for His sake, but for our sake. God knows who He is… but do we know who He is?

God doesn’t need accolades… but we need conviction in our prayers… we need faith in our prayers.... we need perspective… to be in the right mindset of WHO God is before we ask for our needs to be met.

Establishing our prayer by the foundation of WHO God is… helps us to pray in faith.

What need do you have that is too big for the God of the universe?

God created all things… so acknowledge the Supreme Creator, and then petition Him.

Pastor Damien Kyle… one of my favorite Calvary Chapel teachers… shared a story about a friend of his in ministry…

For over 20 years, Damien prayed with this man… and never once has he known this man to present his petition before acknowledging WHO God is.

I was just at a Pastors and wives conference and heard many prayers of thanksgiving that went right into praise and thanks. And, that made sense to me.

But, I think it’s wise to acknowledge God first as Sovereign Lord… when praying prayers of petition or intercession.

And, this is the order how these disciples prayed… and how Jesus modeled prayer.

A biblically modeled prayer starts by honoring God’s name, and then petitioning Him.

And, I have to say… How often are WE (me included) guilty of just straight asking God to do something for us… without even saying, “Hello”?

Let’s learn from this Chapter in Acts.

Next in VSS 25-26, the disciples recognize the persecution they faced was foretold in Scripture, as they quote scripture in their prayer.

And, we should incorporate scripture in prayer… especially God’s promises. Because, if God promised it… it will stand.

Josh 21:45 states, “Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”

That held true for Israel. And, it stands today.

Num 23:19 states, “God is not a man, the He should lie…”

2 Cor 1:20 states, “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

And, we love God’s promises of blessings in scripture…

Like Phil 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

A beautiful promise!

Or Heb 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

And He won’t. Jesus said, “...lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

But, what about this promise? 2 Tim 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

We’re not quick to quote that one!

We don’t quote that promise often or NEVER. Yet, still… it’s true.

Can I say… I love that Jesus has been honest with us.

What if Jesus only promised prosperity to the disciples?

Would they have been able to stand when persecution came?

But, He did warn them… And, now as they were arrested… and threatened to be silent before the Sanhedrin… they don’t stumble… if fact they do just the opposite… they pray for boldness to continue despite persecution.

These disciples will trust all the promises of Jesus right to their graves as martyrs.

They don’t doubt Jesus when they face persecution. They lay hold of and never let go of the most important promises…

Like John 10:28 where Jesus said, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Our God is honest… His promises are the actual reality we see in life… good and bad things happen in this lifetime, but for ages to come… glory.

We can lay hold of His promises.

Well, back in Acts 4:25-26… the disciples realize persecution was foretold in Ps 2:1-2.

Quick note… V25 ascribes Psalm 2 to David, which is interesting because Psalm 2 does not ascribe an author.

Of the 150 Psalms, 50 are anonymous… Psalm 2 being one of them… except for this note here in Act 4 that David wrote this Psalm.

Psalm 2 finds it’s ultimate prophetic fulfillment in the Tribulation time, but like any prophecy… there is a “near and far” fulfillment… or a “partial and complete” fulfillment.

And, the disciples in Acts are experiencing the “partial” or “near” fulfillment.

Look again at VSS 25-26… ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’

Ps 2 is a reflection of the persecution against Jesus during His crucifixion.

And surely the disciples would remember Jesus’ promise in Jn 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”

Which we will unpack further in V27, but quickly notice the last word in V26… “Christ.”

Acts 4:25-26 & Psalm 2:1-2 are almost word for word except for the last word.

In Acts 4:26 the final word is “Christ.”

And, in Psalm 2:2 the final word is “Anointed.”

“Anointed” in Hebrew is mâshîyach, meaning “Messiah.”

“Christ” in Greek is Christŏs, meaning “Anointed One -or- Messiah.”

This Anointed One… the Christ… it’s the same word… Messiah… and this is who the Sanhedrin opposed.

V18 stated the Sanhedrin “… commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

But, they plotted in vanity… meaning “empty-handed or foolish.”

Which is how they looked… the Sanhedrin was silenced before two bold fisherman filled with the Holy Spirit…

And they were powerless to punish them because they feared the people who praised God because of the miracle of the lame man healed.

And, during the Tribulation, the nations of the world will stand in opposition to God, and they too will do so in vanity.

Their prayer continues in VSS 27-28…

Acts 4:27-28 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.”

Again, in VSS 25-28 the disciples acknowledge God’s prophetic plan which foretold persecution…

V27 reflects on all the parties involved in opposing and persecuting Jesus during the crucifixion… whom the disciples describe as God’s “holy Servant Jesus” whom God anointed as Messiah.

These parties mentioned in VSS 25-26 (the Ps 2 quote) match the parties mentioned in V27…

“Nations” in V25 correspond to “Gentiles” in V27.

“People” in V25 correspond to “the people of Israel” in V27.

“kings” in V26 corresponds to “Herod” in V27.

And, “rulers” in V26 corresponds to “Pontius Pilate” in V27.

The suffering that Christ faced is beginning to repeat as the sufferings of the disciples begin.

But, in V29, the disciples recognize there is a purpose… it was God’s sovereign will for these things to be so.

In the case of Jesus… His persecution allowed for you, and for me… and for all who have faith in Him to be redeemed.

As we continue in Acts, we will see persecution is used to fulfill God’s will as well… persecution will force the disciples out of Jerusalem… taking the Gospel to all nations…

Jesus said in Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

It was God’s will for the Gospel to go out beyond Jerusalem… to a world that needed the Good News of Christ.

And, He used persecution to do it.

Acts 8:1 states “At that time [after Stephen’s martyrdom] a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

Because of persecution… the disciples fulfilled Acts 1:8 being witnesses in Judea and Samaria.

So, while persecution is horrible… it’s also at times purposeful.

But, marvelously… notice in Acts 4:29… even though the disciples recognize the persecution upon them… they don’t pray to escape the persecution…

Look what they pray…

Acts 4:29-30 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, [persecution] and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

How magnificent is this? They were arrested and threatened for boldly teaching in Jesus’ name… so they pray and ask FOR MORE BOLDNESS to speak God’s word!

Blessed are you if that is your prayer when facing persecution.

When you can put your personal safety aside to pursue evangelism… that’s bold faith.

Paul understood this. In Eph 6:19, Paul requested prayer for himself specifically “…that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel...”

And, in the Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul reflected on the new covenant… and the glorious ministry of the Spirit… and this gave Paul confidence in preaching… in 2 Cor 3:12 Paul wrote, “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—”

And, Paul had this boldness… I love the account in Acts 14 where Paul is stoned by Jews and dragged out of Lystra… thought to be dead… disciples gathered around him and “he rose up and went into the city.” That’s boldness!

The disciples don’t ask for deliverance from persecution…like Paul, they ask for boldness to preach His word and perform miracles as they face persecution.

Moving on to V30… here the disciples attribute the miracle of healing to God’s hand being stretched out… not a power they inherently possessed.

Remember in Acts 3:12 after Peter was used to heal the lame man, he addressed the Jews who marveled, “why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”

And in V16, “His name [Jesus], through faith in His name, has made this man strong.”

It was God’s hand stretched out.

But, signs and wonders… supernatural gifts and abilities would be done through the disciples… by God’s Holy Spirit… all which would testify of and point to Jesus.

This was their prayer. And, it was a bold prayer.

Boldness is thematic in Acts 4… appearing 3x in this chapter and 9x total in Acts… more than any other chapter and more than any other book of the entire Bible.

This boldness begins in Chapter 4 of Acts… after Peter and Paul are arrested…

The religious leaders were “greatly disturbed” by Peter and John preaching and teaching in Jesus’ name, but there were 5000 people who desperately needed to hear the truth of Jesus Christ.

Their boldness would have a ripple effect in Jerusalem…and in eternity.

But, what is essential… is boldness in the spirit… not boldness in the flesh… or you will lack love…

When love is absent what good are our spiritual gifts?

1 Cor 13:1 states, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”

Bold speech… not seasoned with love… is just noise.

And, so, what we read next is vital. As the disciples finish their prayer… they immediately will receive boldness… their prayer will be answered…

BUT, they also receive another fresh filling of the Holy Spirit… twice now in Acts after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit… and this is essential for ministry.

Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

That’s a powerful response to their prayer. God moves the physical by their spiritual petition.

We don’t know anything about this agitation of their meeting place… was this seismic activity? To what degree on the Richter scale? Was it local or geographic?

We don’t know, BUT it would seem that this shaking is a sign and wonder of God’s approval… He grants them their request… and further fills them with His Spirit to do so.

Their prayer is fulfilled. They speak the word of God with boldness… which we will see them continue to do through the Book of Acts…

A great model for us NOT to be timid in our faith… and a great conclusion to this account of the lame man healed and the fallout of persecution that befell the Apostles, and their response.

Our final six verses reflect on the disciples and likely how persecution influenced them to draw closer to one another… and to God.

Also, these next six verses are a bridge to Chapter 5… which we will look at next week.

Acts 4:32-37 “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. V33 [Beautiful verse] And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. [A partial fulfillment of Acts 1:8} And great grace [mĕgas charis] was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

In these final 6 verses of Chapter 4, we again see the idea of the disciples living life out in “one accord.”

And, it was a decent size group… “a multitude”… V4 states the men numbered 5000… there could be 8k-10k Christian men, women, and children present.

And, even with such a large group. V32 describes the early church as being of “one heart and one soul.”

They were unified spiritually. Their hearts (or inward desires) and their souls (their thoughts or intellect)… were unified.

I don’t think Calvary Chapel Lake City is perfect, but it seems to me that we have this going for us.

I observe a group of people here who genuinely like each other… a group that is authentic… a group that is of “one heart and one soul.”

And, I’m blessed by that. I’m blessed by all of you.

The early church was in one accord spiritually, and the rest of this chapter describes how they were also in one accord materially.

Now, this is not a mandate… we will see issues that resulted from their sharing of possessions.

But, for such a time as this… this was how they survived. They voluntarily gave and distributed to those in need… and there was need according to V35.

Many of you and much of the church globally still functions this way in principle… being open handed with material possessions and money… supporting missionaries… devastated countries… benevolence in general.

I have experienced the generosity of open-handed Christians from the moment we stepped out to pursue our calling.

Faithful Christians materially sharing as they felt led as we went to Bible College, to the Philippines, back to our sending church, and planting this Church.

I read some pretty jaded commentaries about the state of the church today… reflecting on it’s selfishness… I’m sure that’s out there… but, that hasn’t been my experience.

The generous heart of the early church in caring for one another is still very much alive today.

A couple closing points…in V36, this is our first introduction to Joses surnamed Barnabas… who will become Paul’s travel companion.

Paul and Barnabas will sail to Barnabas’ homeland… the Island of Cyprus on their First Missionary Journey.

After Stephen is stoned, Acts 11:19 states because of the persecution, some Christians move to Cyprus… so this will become a base for Christianity.

Interesting that Barnabas, as a Levite owned land… In Num 18:20 and Deut 10:9, the Levites had no land inheritance in Israel for the Lord was their inheritance.

V37 does not tell us specifically where this land that Barnabas owned was located.

But, if the land was in Cyprus, perhaps it was ok to own… being it was outside of Israel.

Regardless, Barnabas the “Son of Encouragement” sells the land and open handedly gives the proceeds to the apostles… a certain encouragement to the early church.

My last observation for today is I find the current state of Barnabas and Paul very interesting...

Barnabas is presently a Jewish Levite completed in Christ. He is a saved believer.

Paul is presently Saul.... a zealous Pharisee persecutor of Christians who we will meet in Acts 7.

And, God will change the heart of Saul… transforming his heart to serve.

And what a marvelous bridge God builds… Saul and Barnabas… first enemies… later reconciled in Christ.

Look around the room… look at how our common faith in Christ brings us together.

Without Christ… many of circles would not have crossed.

But, that’s the power of the Cross of Christ.

If God brought Paul and Barnabas together… and brings us together… imagine what He will continue to do with our lives in our surrounding communities.

Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever!

His great grace remains upon us all.

Let’s Pray!

If you need prayer for anything…

May the Lord give you a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit to to speak His word and reach the world around you!