Day 164: Acts 9:1-25

“And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;’ - Acts‬ ‭9:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What a privilege for us to read today about the conversion of the most important man (arguably) to ever follow Jesus. It is so important that Luke finds it necessary to record the account three times (see Acts 22:1-16, 26:1-23).

Saul’s encounter with Jesus on this road is so intense that his retinas failed for three days. Here we also see that when Ananias prays for him, something like “scales” fall away from his eyes. The word for scales (lepis) appears only here in the New Testament, and it describes a thin layer (or flake) of substance.

Saul can now literally see, and for the first time, can see fully in a spiritual sense. He’s so convinced of Jesus’ Lordship that baptism is a must after an invitation from Ananias (see 22:16).

Don’t get discouraged with those who have been slow to have any faith in Jesus. There is still hope for them. There is also hope for us. An expectation that we will, by faith (like Ananias), baptize many more into the name of Jesus Christ (see Acts 2:38).

Day 163: Acts 8:14-40

‘And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.’ - ‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Everyone seems to love an origin story. How did this all begin? What was the catalyst to see this all take place?

By 2050, many experts believe that Africa will be the dominant continent for Christianity. In 1900, there were an estimated 6 million Christians in Ethiopia alone. By 2050, at the current Christian growth rate, there will be 100 million Ethiopian followers of Jesus.

This started with one Hellenistic Jew sharing the gospel with, and baptizing, one African.

In the first century, the common belief about Ethiopia was that it epitomized the ends of the earth. So, this work that Philip was doing was to fulfill was Jesus had commanded the early disciples to do in Acts 1:8.

Do you think you could do something like this? Do you have the confidence or the courage to share Jesus with someone the Holy Spirit keeps leading you towards?

21% of the United States today identifies as “none” when it comes to religious affiliation. We need you to go to them and to many others who have yet to say “yes” to Jesus.

SIDE NOTE:

Did you miss verse 37? Yeah, me too. The NT is made up of over 5800 Ancient Greek manuscripts. Some are earlier than others. None of the earliest manuscripts include verse 37, but as they copied Luke’s masterpiece, many included it in the later copies. Almost as to say, “Look, before we baptize anyone, affirmation of belief in Jesus is paramount. We know Philip would have said this.”

Day 162: Acts 7:51-60, 8:1-13

“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.” - Acts‬ ‭7:58‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Stephen laid down the hammer on these experts. His language was so offensive (uncircumcised would have really set them off), that these men covered their ears and screamed so as not to hear him any longer.

Many among us today are the same way. Hearing the truth is unappealing. The truth will never pamper us. Instead, it confronts us and shows who we’ve really become.

I can’t help but think there would have been a better way for Stephen to communicate, but there really wasn’t. He said what needed to be heard in this moment.

So many things happened as a result of his death. Christianity spread beyond the confines of Jerusalem. The young man named Saul in this scene will, in chapter nine, have his own vision of Jesus and go on to write half of the New Testament. What a strong and authentic witness for the gospel to all who saw this take place.

In this scene we have the first Christian martyr. His life was not wasted but invested; to see many more come to faith in Jesus.

Day 161: Acts 7:30-50

"Did not my hand make all these things? Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?" - Acts 7:49-50 ESV

The Jewish Temple was the epicenter of Jerusalem and their worship of Yahweh. Within its courts, they sang songs of praise, read the Tanakh (Old Testament), and offered sacrifices on the altar. It was actually the cultural norm of the time to consider the gods in the same way.

It was a theology of containment. This dirt, this city, this place, it is sacred. God's presence was considered to be there, which was equated with His divine favor. Everyone else was on the outside looking in.

Stephen quotes Isaiah 66:1-2, which is very similar to what Solomon prayed when they dedicated the Temple upon its completion:

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!" - 1 Kings 8:27

So, where is the best place to worship God? It is wherever you find yourself during the week. At work, home, church, on a walk, while swimming, or even at the salon. God is not contained. Everywhere we go, He is there for us to offer a prayer, meditate on His Word, or soak in His presence.

Everything Stephen's said up to this point has been agreeable to these Israelite leaders. Tomorrow, things will turn violent.

Day 160: Acts 7:1-29

"And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household." - Acts 9:9-10 ESV

Stephen, the former table-waiter, now finds himself faced with a problematic question surrounding the false accusations brought forth about him and what he was teaching. Led by the Spirit, he perceives it is time to let these religious elites know what following Jesus was all about.

Of all things to bring up, Stephen decides to launch into a Hebrew Bible lesson, spanning the history of Israel, starting with Abraham. Though we don't have time to unpack why he puts so much emphasis in today's reading on Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, I do want to point out the language he uses to describe Joseph's experience.

From a spoiled son to a purchased slave and then onto being a prisoner, Joseph endured his fair share of "affliction." In it all, God was at work, rescuing him and laying favor on him everywhere he turned. Yet, rescue and favor didn't come without the trials. He wasn't given a free pass from hardship. Instead, Joseph had to walk through the high waters:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. - Isaiah 43:2 NIV

Are you feeling any resistance in this world as you follow Jesus? That doesn't mean that God has left you. He is still rescuing you and giving you His favor. This isn't going to be easy, but God will put you into a place where you can have maximum influence in this dark world.

Day 159: Acts 6:1-15

'But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.' - Acts 6:10 ESV

Rarely do we hear of someone who is young that is eager to "work their way up" to a more "important" job. Usually, the expectation is that God will place us exactly where we want to be right away, and when this doesn't happen, disappointment sets in. This can also go the other way, where we see ourselves trapped in a role, doomed to cycle through its grasp till the end of our days.

Stephen's story is one that should encourage all of us, no matter what role we find ourselves in today.

He was one of the Hellenistic Jews chosen to make sure their widows were getting what they needed as they distributed food. So how does a guy go from being a food referee to verbally body slamming the greatest thinkers of his time and place?

There were two differentiating factors at play, and both are relevant in any position or role you might find yourself in.

1) Wisdom

2) Speaking by the Spirit

Both are not characteristics we acquire through hard work. They are, like we spoke of yesterday, gifts. Are you sensing a theme in Christianity? We are worshiping a gift-giving God. He gives us what we need and when we need it to accomplish all He's asked us to do.

Day 158: Acts 5:1-42

"The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." - Acts 5:30-31

These religious leaders are dumbfounded as to why the Apostles won't shut up. Their usual threatening hasn't worked as normally did. These men don't seem to be taking their orders from the same place as the other Jewish people. There is no stopping the supernatural impression of the Holy Spirit. What comes into us has to find expression in our lives no matter what the consequence.

The end of our reading for today shows one of those consequences (flogging) and didn't seem to phase them.

What kind of gift do you get for someone who has everything? It is an impossible task. If there is no perceived need, no gift on earth will suffice. This is what the hierarchy of the Israelite faith was like in the first century. They didn't feel like they needed the gift of repentance (Luke 15:7) or any forgiveness (Acts 2:38). Yahweh had been pinned down to their own limits and expectations.

"God, we come to You with open hands, needing your repentance and forgiveness. They are gifts that we never cease to desire and need. Thank you for being so generous. in Jesus' name, we pray, Amen."

Day 157: Acts 4:1-37

'Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.' - Acts 4:13-14 ESV

How jarring it must have been for these Jewish elites to hear Peter and John claim that it was the name of the resurrected Jesus that healed this man who couldn't walk. They were the same group that tried Jesus at night and strong-armed Pilate into crucifying Jesus. Their worst fears had come back to haunt them. To make matters worse, the Holy Spirit was now starting to do the work through more than just one man. This would have broken Twitter.

There was nothing exceptional about Peter and John. They were fishermen by trade and had nowhere near the education of these religious leaders. Yet, they were again flawlessly quoting the Hebrew Bible (OT) to explain all that was happening.

When you spend time with Jesus, it changes you. When you spend a lot of time with Jesus, others will start to wonder what happened to you. They'll ask for your secret.

This is when we tell them the honest truth:

There is salvation in no other name. Jesus has changed the world, and He will continue to do so, one soul at a time.

Day 156: Acts 3:1-26

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago." - Acts 3:19-21 ESV

In Acts 2, we saw God perform a miracle with tongues of fire, enabling the disciples to speak in other languages. That sign opened up the opportunity for Peter to share a message that inaugurated the Church as we know it today.

In today's reading, we see another miraculous event that paves the way for a second sermon from Peter. A man who was "lame from birth" was given the instantaneous ability to walk and leap, which resulted in praise. Luke records that the crowd is "utterly astounded" and soon surrounds Peter, John, and this newly restored man. This was another moment where Peter could have shared anything, and again he doubles down on this idea of repentance.

These people didn't need to be entertained or impressed. They, instead, needed a change.

The Greek word for repent is μετανοέω metanoeō and is used 34 times in the New Testament. Louw and Nida's definition for the word is on point: "to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness."

They needed a reset from what they had been thinking and living.

I don't know about you, but this is something that I need every day. May we beg God each day for a greater desire for minds and lives that honor and glorify Him.

Day 155: Acts 2:1-47

'Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.''‘ - Acts 2:37-38 ESV

The same Peter who rebuked Jesus, cut off someone's ear, and denied our Savior three times, is now found here stepping up in the inaugural moment of the Christian Church to preach the very first message. It was a sermon given in response to skeptics who were claiming that the disciples had been sipping too heavy on the "new wine."

What struck me from our reading today is how strong of a message Peter brought these thousands of Jews who had gathered for the Jewish feast of Pentecost.

"You crucified Jesus" isn't how I usually start a time of sharing my faith with someone else, but this crowd needed desperately to hear the truth. Turns out, they were starved for it. So much so that Peter continued with "many other words," saying, "save yourself from this perverse generation."

Result?

3,000 souls were brought into eternal life.

Now, there is such a thing as being belligerent, but there is also such a thing as being too passive in our approach to sharing our faith with others. May God help us find the balance today between the two so that we can effectively reach those who need Jesus.