Additional Thoughts on Acts – Part 2
ACTS 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
In verse 12 notice the order. 1st they believed what Philip preached about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. So Philip preached salvation and they believed it. Then they were baptized after that.
ACTS 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
We see the same order in verse 13. Simon believed and then he was baptized. That is the biblical order. The only candidate for baptism is someone who believes.
ACTS 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
In verse 36 the eunuch plainly asks what doth hinder me to be baptized. And in verse 37 he gets a plain easily understood answer.
ACTS 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
The answer to his question (can I get baptized) is If thou believest. You can’t make it any simpler to understand than that. You can get baptized if you believe. Belief always comes first. Baptism does not save. You can only get baptized if you believe; if you are already saved.
The bible is clear. Baptizing someone who does not believe yet is not biblical. Infant baptism is not biblical.
ACTS 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Then in verse 38 Philip baptized him because the eunuch already believed and made a profession of it. He said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
This is the Biblical order:
You get saved by faith in Jesus alone.
You make a profession of that faith.
Then you get baptized.
If you were baptized before you got saved, then you were not baptized biblically. If that is you, then it is a very easy thing to fix. Just tell a Bible believing pastor and he will get you biblically baptized.
Some people will not follow this clear Bible teaching on baptism. Usually it is because of pride. But they are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to obey the Lord, to show forth that they love God’s Word, to show forth the death and the burial and the resurrection of Christ, to have the joy that comes from doing what the Lord commanded. Just to name a few.
If you have not been biblically baptized, I urge you to fix that this week.
ACTS 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
ACTS 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Simon was a wicked man who had bewitched the people with sorceries for a long time (verse 11). After hearing the preaching the bible says that Simon believed and then was baptized (verse 13). Now instead of bewitching people Simon continues with Philip. I believe that Simon got saved because the bible says that he believed. And after that we see that belief backed up with action. He gets baptized and then he departs from the wickedness he did before. He is now hanging around to hear the preaching of the Word.
Then Simon asks for something that makes many people think that Simon was faking salvation. He tries to purchase a spiritual gift with money.
What we need to understand is that the old man dies hard. You do not get saved and then the next day you are a mature Christian. Simon had not time to grow much in the Lord yet. He had not learned how to walk with the Lord. You have to work with and have patience with new Christians. You have to understand they will make mistakes and that the old sin nature will rear its ugly head. Peter then rebukes Simon for what he did.
ACTS 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
ACTS 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Peter never did say that Simon was lost. He said that he did not have part in this matter. Simon was not going to get the gift he was seeking. He was seeking it for the wrong reason and trying to get it in the wrong way. Peter told him that his heart was not right in the sight of God. A Christian’s heart can get wrong with God over some matter.
ACTS 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Peter does not tell him to pray for salvation. That has already been done when he believed. Peter tells him to pray that his thought may be forgiven. He is to pray for forgiveness so that his fellowship with God may be restored. You cannot lose your Son-ship but you can lose your fellowship.
This goes along with 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ACTS 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
If you don’t believe that a Christian can get bitter and have their life bound up by some iniquity that they will not get right, then you have not known very many Christians.
And look at Simon’s response to the rebuke.
ACTS 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
He does not deny his wrong doing. He accepts the rebuke and seems to have a repentant heart. He asks for prayer. Was Simon saved? I think so.
One of the applications that I see here for us is that we need to have faith and trust in God that he has given us the exact gift that He wants us to have. We should never long after or try to get a work or a gift that belongs to another.
Jesus had left instructions that they were to go into all the world and preach the gospel. However, Jesus told them to wait until after the Holy Ghost had come upon them. For this great task they needed God’s power. So they did wait and the Holy Spirit did come. So far so good, but they were hanging back on the go part. Disciples were multiplying but for the most part only in Jerusalem. So God allows a great persecution to come against the church at Jerusalem.
ACTS 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The persecution got the Christians to start to go abroad. Persecution got them to do what they were told to do. Persecution did what peace did not. Take note of the fact that the apostles stayed in Jerusalem.
ACTS 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
ACTS 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Saul’s persecution was greatly responsible in spreading the gospel. By attacking what he hated, he actually helped it prosper. In a way God was using Saul before he was saved to spread the good news of the glorious gospel. The saving power of belief in Jesus.
ACTS 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Remember I asked you to notice where the apostles stayed. Since they stayed in Jerusalem who went every where preaching the word? Everyday Christians that’s who. Telling others about Jesus is not just for the called men of God. Every Christian needs to be involved in it. The first century Christians understood that. That is why they turned the world up side down. They left us a great example to follow.
ACTS 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
In verse one you have Saul going after Christians. He was even willing to slaughter them. He hated Jesus and those who followed Him.
ACTS 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
In verse 6 the same man is now telling Jesus Lord, what wilt thou have me to do.
What happened? He met Jesus and saw Him for who He really is. This changed his life. He believed that Jesus was who He said He was. The very Son of God who died for the sin of the world. Paul got saved and became a new creature.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This is what happens when someone truly gets saved. There will be a changed life. A change of direction. A change from rebelling against God to asking Lord what will thou have me to do.
Do not miss understand me. When you get saved you do not drop all of your baggage all in a moment. A new born babe in Christ needs to grow. But there needs to be some growth. If there never is any change after salvation, then there never was any salvation.
To have salvation there must be a repentant heart.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Repentance is not works. To repent is to change your mind about your sin. Repentance is to no longer love your sin and to want God to change you. Repentance is a turning. You turn from sin to God.
The moment that you change your mind about your sin and call upon God to save you, God lifts you up and sets you on the rock Christ Jesus.
This explains why so many “Christians” never show any change after they prayed. They never prayed with a repentant heart. There is no change in them because they did not get saved.
You cannot get saved without a repentant heart. Getting saved is not like taking out a fire insurance policy. Say these words that I don’t mean and I am covered. It does not work that way. The prayer to be saved must be genuine.
ACTS 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
ACTS 9:37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
ACTS 9:38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
ACTS 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
Dorcas was one of those special kind of Christians. She gave herself to the service of others in a practical way. The Bible says that she was full of good works and almsdeeds. She did not just talk the talk she walked the walk. She saw needs and did something about it. She did not do a good work here or there. She was full of good works. It was not a once in a while thing with her. She cared, she acted and she made a difference in the lives of others.
After she died Peter came and “they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made.”
She had helped these widows. She spent the time and the effort to make them coats with her own hands. Coats that no doubt were needed and meant a lot to these widows. When Dorcas died she was greatly missed. She was greatly missed in the lives of others because she made a great difference in the lives of others.
Her example should make us ponder how many people would miss us? How many people have we made a real impact on? How many people have we helped? Are we full of good works or are they only a once in a while.
May God give us the grace to care more and do more for others.
ACTS 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
ACTS 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
ACTS 9:12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Saul had been a great persecutor of Christians and had done much evil to them. But now he has met Jesus and is a new creature in Christ. Saul’s past sins have all been forgiven. His past sins have all been paid for at the cross. Saul’s past sins are erased as far as God is concerned. However his past does not get erased. It still all happened. People still remember all the hurt he had caused, and people are still afraid of Saul. Ananias was told to go to Saul and we see that he had his doubts.
ACTS 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
ACTS 9:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
ACTS 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
ACTS 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
After getting reassured by God he goes to see Saul. He accepts what God said and treats him as saved. Ananias calls Saul brother.
ACTS 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
It took time for many Christians to accept Saul and to not be afraid of him. Many people believed that Saul was faking being a disciple so that he could entrap Christians.
ACTS 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
Later on we no longer see this attitude toward him. We see Christians who have a great love and respect for him. What made them change their minds? Watching the power of a changed life. Watching him stand for Christ no matter what. After watching him give his all for the Lord time and time again, the reality of his conversion could not be held in doubt. It was easy to see that Saul’s Christianity was real. It was far more than lip service. He did not just talk about Christianity; he lived it. That is what changed people’s minds. That is the way that all Christians should live.
ACTS 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
ACTS 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
One of the things that I have absolutely zero tolerance for is prejudice. God showed Peter that he should not call any man common or unclean.
The Jews had a law that they were not to keep company with those of another nation. Everyone else was looked down upon. But this was NOT one of God’s laws. It was something that they made up on their own.
Peter was raised with this prejudice and God had to correct him. That is why God gave him the vision of unclean things and told Peter to eat. God told Peter that, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”
God was speaking of men here. God used the picture of crawling things and unclean beasts because that is what Peter thought of Gentiles. God is not pleased with any type of looking down on any man. It does not matter if he is black or Asian or Arab or anyone else you can name.
This is the context of verse 34 that says, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”
People use this verse out of context for all kinds of things.
Some would use this verse to support that anyone can be a pastor. This is not true. God only calls certain men to be pastors. God does make distinctions as far as who He assigns what jobs in His work,
What the verse means is that God makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile, between Black and White, between a Chinaman and a man from Japan. God does not care if you are from Iran or from Canada.
God only sees men in one of two positions. You are either in Christ and thereby saved or you are without Christ and on your way to hell.
And God told Peter that he was to think the same way. Racism is wrong. Period!
There should not be all white churches and there should not be all black churches. Any church should reflect a mix of people that represent the local area.
This one will probably get me some hate mail. But I don’t care. Racism is wrong and it cannot be defended.
ACTS 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
ACTS 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Cornelius was a devout man, and one that feared God. God told him to call for Peter. Peter comes to preach Jesus to Cornelius. And in verse 25 Cornelius falls down at Peter’s feet and worshipped him. Immediately Peter helps the man up and tells him to stand up. Peter tells him NOT to worship him because he is only a man. Worship of any kind only belongs to God and God alone. No man, no matter his position, has any right to accept worship.
The Catholics like to claim that the Peter was the first Pope. There are many things wrong with that. The Catholic organization and its teachings did not develop until hundreds of years later. But there are other problems with what they claim. Peter would not have anyone bowing down and worshipping him. With the popes it is expected. Peter realized that he was a man like everyone else. Peter also preached that it is simple belief in Jesus that saves. verse 43. The Popes teach works salvation. Jesus plus anything is works. They teach that to be saved you have to have membership in their organization, and baptism, and mass, and the list goes on. There is nothing biblical in suggesting that Peter was the first pope. Peter did not believe what Catholics believe, he did not preach and teach what they do, and he did not act like them. Peter refused to be worshipped.
No man has any right to accept worship of any kind. Give all your praise and all your worship to God alone.
ACTS 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
ACTS 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
Cornelius was a devout man. He feared God and all his house. This man was not only devout but we see that he was a good leader of his house. He taught them about God. It says with all his house. He also did many very good things. He gave much alms to the people. He not only helped the poor but he did it a lot. Some people give a little just for show, not this man. He feared God, he did good works, and he prayed. Verse 2 tells us that he prayed to God alway. He did it all the time. Every day. Not just when he needed something. On the surface everything would look good, but there was something missing. Something very important. Something critical.
ACTS 10:3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
ACTS 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
ACTS 10:5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
ACTS 10:6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
He was told to send for Peter, and to listen to him. Peter was going to tell him what he should do. In the next chapter Peter tells exactly what that was.
ACTS 11:14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
The man was devout but he did not have Jesus. He did good works, feared God, and prayed, but he was still lost and on his way to hell. He had religion but he did not have Jesus. Peter tells him the gospel. He tells him about Jesus who went to the cross and was raised again and how, “that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Once again we see a good example in scripture of how you can be religious but lost. How you can be devout and do many good works and still go to hell. Salvation is only thru faith in Jesus.
In verse 26 we learn that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. The word Christian means Christ like. These disciples had grown so much in the Lord that people noticed and started calling them Christ like.
This should bring up the question, what took place in Antioch to bring this about. The first thing that happened is in verse 20.
ACTS 11:20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.
The first thing that happened is preachers came preaching the LORD Jesus. They did not come with a sideshow or dramas or a worldly music program. They came preaching. And they did not preach rabbit trails. They preached the LORD Jesus. They preached salvation and people got saved.
And these are the first ones that left Jerusalem due to persecution to go preaching to Gentiles. Barnabas is then sent from Jerusalem to see what is going on.
ACTS 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
ACTS 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
In verse 23 the preacher exhorted the people. To exhort is to advise, to warn, to caution, to urge. We see that he kept preaching and that they were not tickle your ears, health and wealth, cotton candy messages.
He challenged the people to cleave unto the Lord. You cannot cleave unto the Lord and cleave unto sin. This preacher was busy and could use some help. So he went and found Paul.
ACTS 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
They assembled themselves with the church and taught them for a whole year. The result was that the people grew so close to the Lord and changed so much that they started calling them Christians.
This came to pass because of the preaching and the teaching of the Word of God. We do not need new music or new programs or light shows, side shows or entertainment!
What we need is our churches to simply get back to some real preaching and teaching of the Word of God. That is what God uses to make His children more Christ Like.
ACTS 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
ACTS 11:20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.
Persecution was instrumental in spreading Christianity to the Grecians at Antioch. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. But how can people hear if someone doesn’t go and tell. A person who is a mouth piece for God is absolutely necessary. But never forget it is the Lord that actually does all the work.
ACTS 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
A great number believed because the hand of the Lord was with them. If the Lord was NOT with them then they could have went and said the same exact words and nothing would have happened. Man does have a free will, but God is also very active in drawing men unto Himself. It is God that opens the eyes and brings the sinner under the conviction that is necessary for true repentance to take place. We should never forget just how much we need the Lord. Without Him we can do nothing for Him.
ACTS 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
ACTS 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
I just can’t pass this one up. Many people attack the Word of God because of the word Easter in this verse. They claim that Easter is a mistake and that the word should be translated Passover.
The problem with that is that Passover had already happened. The days of unleavened bread started with Passover. So for it to be the days of unleavened bread, as verse 3 clearly states, then Passover had already come.
The answer for why the word is Easter and not Passover is that they are not the same thing. Passover and Easter are two different events. To prove this to yourself just look at a 2008 calendar. You will find that Easter was on March 23rd. And Passover was on April 20th. That is almost an entire month apart.
This is just another case that shows that the Word of God is correct and the critics are wrong. The Word of God CAN be trusted. This also shows how many Christians have been deceived into celebrating resurrection Sunday on the wrong day.
Christ died on Passover and rose three days later on Sunday. So in 2008 resurrection Sunday (the Sunday after Passover) was actually April 27th and not March 23rd.
Now before you get too upset. Just remember we actually celebrate resurrection Sunday every single Sunday.
ACTS 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
ACTS 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
This portion of scripture is a wonderful example of faith and trust in God. Peter had been thrown into prison by Herod. Herod had recently stretched forth his hand against the church. Herod had recently killed James with the sword and now Peter was to be next. Herod was looking to please to Jews and killing Peter was sure to do it. Judgment had already been passed on Peter by Herod. There will be no trial, no justice from the court of Herod. Peter’s fate had been decided. As far as Herod was concerned it was case closed.
And look at Peter in prison. He is sleeping like a baby. He is bound with two chains in prison awaiting an unjust execution, and he is soundly sleeping between two soldiers. He was sleeping so soundly that he did not awake when the angel of the Lord came in the room. He did not awake when a light shined in the prison. In fact the angel had to hit Peter on the side to wake him up and then the angel and raised him up, saying, “Arise up quickly.”
What a picture of trust in God even in what looked like a no way out situation.
How often do we have restless nights when serious trouble comes our way? Peter gives us a real life example of how God can give the grace to have peace even in the face of dire circumstances.
ACTS 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Prayer is God’s plan. God wants His children to pray unto Him. He has many reasons for this. God is honored in the asking. When we pray believingly it shows our faith in a great loving merciful almighty God. Our faith pleases God. In fact without faith it is impossible to please Him. Prayer is a way that we exercise our faith. God gets the glory when the prayers are answered. God wants to show Himself mighty unto us and prayer has a part in that. Another reason is when He answers prayer, then we are to thank Him. Those are just some of the reasons God has chosen prayer to be a part of His plan. How involved are you in prayer? Are you very active in God’s plan of prayer? Are you semi active? How much do you pray every day? Can you pray more? Have you asked God to help you be a better prayer warrior? How much of your prayers are for yourself vs. others? Do you remember to pray for God’s work and His preachers and missionaries? All good questions for every one of us to ask ourselves from time to time.
ACTS 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
ACTS 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
The Word of God clearly teaches a God called ministry. And look who God called. He called men who were already busy serving Him. (verse 1) God does not call the lazy.
ACTS 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
These God called men where then sent out by a local body of believers (a local visible church).
ACTS 13:4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
ACTS 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
The God called men went to where God sent them and they preached the word of God. Not philosophy or opinion.
The Word of God clearly teaches a God called ministry. One of our big problems today is that we have a lot of preachers who were never called of God. That explains why there is so much weak kneed preaching today. They are preaching to please men and for a paycheck. A real God called man preaches to please God and not man. He preaches to tell you what God wants him to say whether you like it or not.
I hope that you are under the preaching of a real God called man. A man who will preach the whole counsel of God. A man that will call sin what it is and challenge you to forsake it.
Real God called men in our pulpits is one of our greatest needs today.
ACTS 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
God said that David was a man after His own heart. That is quite a statement. In fact we do not find it being said about anyone else. So when you go back in the Old Testament and read of David you might think that you will find a man who lived without committing what we consider big sins. But that is not the case at all. David committed adultery with another man’s wife. Her husband was one of David’s mighty men. When the wife gets pregnant David enters into a deception to try to make the husband think that the child is his. When this did not work David sent him to be killed in the war. God called this murder.
This can make you wonder how then could David be a man after God’s own heart? The answer is found in how David reacted when he realized his sin. He did not blame anyone else. He did not blame his parents, his childhood, society, or anything else. He took full responsibility. He said I have sinned. David had remorse for what he had done and prayed earnestly for God’s forgiveness.
David had a repentant heart. And you never see David committing the same sin again. He realized what he had done; that he sinned against a Holy God. He prayed for forgiveness with a repentant heart. And then he forsook the sin and did it no more.
David did mess up and make many mistakes and he did commit some horrible sins, but David had a heart for God. And when he did mess up it broke David’s heart. (read Psalm chapter 51) David would get his heart right with God again.
It is an honestly repentant heart that made David a man after God’s own heart.
We need to keep that in mind for when we mess up, for we all do sooner or later. And when we do we need to not make excuses, pray for forgiveness. We need to have a truly repentant heart.
ACTS 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
ACTS 13:15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Paul went into the synagogue and was given the chance to preach. He could have preached on many things. Marriage, raising children, or helping the poor for example. Those are all biblical topics and we are to preach the whole counsel of God. However, Paul was preaching to a lost crowd who were on their way to hell. So he preaches the most needful thing.
ACTS 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Paul gives an introduction, establishes some history, shows how the coming of Jesus was foretold in the scripture, and then he preaches the gospel. He presents Jesus as the resurrected one who saves from sin.
ACTS 13:29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
ACTS 13:30 But God raised him from the dead:
ACTS 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
ACTS 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Only belief in Jesus saves. You cannot be justified by the law. Paul laid out the facts in the sermon, then made it very plain with a very clear statement in verse 39.
Paul did not get sidetracked. These people needed to be saved. That was their greatest need. So he preached to them about the resurrected Jesus. Many times people will try to get you sidetracked into strange arguments. Instead of getting sidetracked, we should be worried most about their eternal souls. Turn the conversation around to salvation in Jesus by faith. Preach to them the main thing. The one thing that will matter most thru all eternity.
Justification is faith in Jesus plus NOTHING.
ACTS 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
Here we go again. More preaching and more people getting saved in the book of Acts. You should be noticing a pattern here. What you are seeing in action in the book of Acts is what it plainly states in 1 Cor. 1:21
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
God choose preaching to save the lost. But notice that this kind of preaching will also have another result.
ACTS 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
Some people are going to hate preaching. If your preacher is really preaching, then he is going to make some people mad.
ACTS 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
Some will hate preaching so much that they want to kill the preacher.
ACTS 14:6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
ACTS 14:7 And there they preached the gospel.
They tried to kill the preachers, but they did not quit!!!
They just left those that refused to hear the truth and went to others and preached the same message.
If you are a preacher, NEVER quit. And especially never quit because someone gets mad.
If you sit in the pew, never get upset because your preacher’s preaching made someone mad.
Understand that the Bible teaches that thru hearing the Word of God that people will get saved and that thru preaching the same Word of God that some will get mad. It is the same word spoken by the same man but it will get completely opposite responses. The difference is not the man preaching and it is not what he preaches.
The difference is the hearts of the people who hear.