Paul's Sermon

Paul's Sermon
To my mind one of the best sermons ever spoken was spoken by the Apostle Paul. It is recorded in the book of acts and does two things.
It is an example to believers in Christ Jesus how to present the message of Christ to non-Christians.
At the same time it presents a clear message of what believers in Christ believe to the non-believer.
It starts with what Paul seemed to always do when he entered a city. He presented his ideas to anyone who would listen to. The book of Acts records,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.   Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others” Acts 17:17-34.
Thus the question becomes. What do you the reader believe?
Please think about it.

Two Choices

Two choices
The book of Acts records these two incidents in the life of the apostle Paul.
“When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.  
As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,  explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,’” he said.  
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. 
But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.  
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”  
When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.  Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. 
As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.  
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  
Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. 
When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up.  
The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea.  
The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. Acts 17:1-15.
Here is an illustration of how two types of people receive the message of Jesus Christ even today.
Some accept the message of Christ with open arms and hearts. They believe what believers in Christ Jesus tell them.
On the other side is a wide spectrum of people in the world that are opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Radical religious groups, terrorist, political groups, governments even Atheist that say they know best. Groups that try to stop the spread of the gospel.
Ultimately however it is up to you the individual. What I would ask anyone who is reading this and not a Christian is to read the New Testament and see for yourself what those early believers in Christ Jesus believed. Then make up your mind as to whether you will follow Christ.
Please think about it.

Salvation for all

Salvation for all
The book of acts records Paul entering with some companions Pisidian Antioch. There
“..... On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” Acts 13: 14,15.
Acts 13:16-37 tells of Paul accepting the invitation gave them a brief history lesson in which he showed that Jesus was the promised Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. He concludes his remarks saying,
“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”Acts 13:38.
The book of Acts then notes,
“As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath.  
When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.  
When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. 
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.  
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’’” 
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.”Acts 13:42-49.
While acts 13:50 notes that Paul and Barnabas were exiled from the region, it didn’t stop the gospel message.
The fact is the gospel message is impossible to stop. It is a message directly from God. A message of forgiveness of sins, of hope, and Life everlasting with God the father, to all those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ.
The question today in the twenty-first century  however becomes the same question Jesus himself asked Martha. As recorded in John’s gospel,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
   What do you believe?
Please think about it.

No Favourites

No favourites
The book of Acts records this statement by the apostle Peter,
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism  but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Acts 10:34-35
Long story short. Until this point most if not all those who came to believe in Jesus were Jews. This however changes when a God fearing Roman centurion get a vision from God telling him to seek out the apostle Peter and hear what he has to say.
The apostle Peter a devout Jew who’d been taught from birth to not do anything against the Jewish food laws and traditions also received a vision.
The book of acts records,
“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.  
He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.  
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.  
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.  
Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 
  The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.  
They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.  So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” Act 10:9-20.
Peter went with the men to meet Cornelius and his household, where he told them about Jesus Christ. It was at that point Peter realized that the gospel of Jesus Christ was for all people. The book of acts noting,
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism  but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Acts 10:34-35
Jesus before His ascension into heaven said to the disciples,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
The word we translate in English as nation actually means “ethnic group” thus Jesus was making it clear to his disciples that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was meant to be heard by every ethnic group in the world. Something that it seems became real to the apostle Peter when he met Cornelius.
This is something true Christians today believe to be true. The salvation and eternal life Christ Jesus offers is open to everyone on the planet.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Romans 10:9-13
Please think about it.

You never know

You never know
The book of Acts records the day when Saul, known later as Paul, became a follower of Christ. His conversion illustrates two things. First of all you never know who God will use, and an act of faith taken by a man named Ananias.
Luke the author of Acts records,
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest  and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.  
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.  
“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.  Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.  
For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,“Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.  
In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.  
And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said,    “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,  and after taking some food, he regained his strength.” Acts 9:1-19.
Saul as this portion of scriptures states was an enemy of what was then called The Way or believers in Christ.
He had received letters from the authorities in Jerusalem to arrest any man or woman found to be following Christ. God however had other plans for Saul.
As Luke the writer of Acts notes on the road to Damascus Saul had a supernatural encounter with Jesus.
The voice was not just in Saul's head. The people with Saul heard the voice but saw no one. However Saul obeyed the voice.
Another man Ananias a believer in The Way, also heard God’s voice telling him to go and minister to Saul.  Ananias was justifiably hesitant. He knew who Saul was and that he had intended to persecute the early church. Still he acted in faith, in obedience to God. He went to Saul and ministered to him.
Ananias that day acted purely on faith. He had no idea that Saul who would later become known as Paul would go on to be a powerhouse for the Christ.
That Paul himself would be persecuted and later die for being a follower of “The Way”
That Paul would write a large portion of the still to be written New Testament.
That Paul would be an integral part of taking the Gospel of Christ throughout the known world. That the words Paul would write would be encouraging believers in Christ Jesus two thousand years later. 
The story illustrates that believers in Christ need to know the voice of God and be willing to act in faith. For you never know who God will use to present the message of eternal life through Christ Jesus to the world.
Pleases think about it.

Of God

Of God
The book of acts records the following incident between the apostles of Jesus and the religious leaders of their day. Those religious leaders had told the apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus. Yet they continued to do so. Thus they were arrested.
The book of acts then records,
“Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:27-42 
Luke the writer of Acts tells us the religious leaders were furious with the disciples wanting to put them to death. However cooler heads prevailed in the name of man named Gamaliel. Whom Luke describes as
“a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people.”
Gamaliel gives them a brief history lesson of incidents that the religious leaders knew about. How several men claiming to be of God led several groups of rebels against the status quo. However when these men were killed their followers scattered and the movement they started amounted to nothing. He then went on to say about the apostles,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
Those religious leaders must have thought what Gamaliel said had merit for rather than having the apostles put the death they simply had them flogged. Which still didn’t stop the apostles for preaching in the name of Jesus.
The book of Acts recording,
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”
Considering it has been two thousand years since this incident, and the followers of Jesus are still growing despite persecution in many countries around the world. I think we can say what the apostles were teaching and what believers in Christ are teaching today is of God.
The question however comes down to what do you believe.
Is Jesus the one and only Son of God, the Saviour of mankind or is he not?
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Sometimes Christians Forget

Something Christians forget.
The apostle Peter wrote,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12.
Sadly all too many Christians in North America don’t remember this statement.

1/ They don’t remember that they are aliens and strangers in this world. 

And, 

2/They don’t live good lives in front of the world around them.

Too many Christians in North America get involved in Politics. They mix their politics with their religious beliefs.
Someone once said mixing politics and religion is like mixing water and gasoline. The water is undrinkable, the gasoline unusable and the whole mixture explosive.
Christians are not called to mix their faith and politics. We are called to present the gospel of Christ to the whole world. We can’t do it if we are taking a political side.
I believe the only time Christians have the right to take a political stance is if the government is attacking publicly any peaceful law abiding group. Be it because of their faith, their race, or their lifestyle. I believe at that point we as Christians especially if we are living in a democracy even if we disagree with the group being persecuted must stand up for their rights.
A good example is Nazi Germany in the years leading up to and throughout the second world war. Far too many people Christians included, did not stand up to Adolph Hitler and his henchmen. The result was world war two and the death of between 56,000,000 and 60,000,000 men women and children. Soldiers and civilians. The worst conflict in human history.
Martin Niemoller a German Lutheran pastor and initial supporter of Hitler, who later became an Anti-Nazi wrote,

When they came for the Communists, 

I did not stand up, 

because I was not a Communist. 

When they came for the Jews, 

I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. 

When they came for the Catholics, 

I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. 

                 When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.                                                                                        Martin Niemoller

Pastor Niemoller spent eight years 1937-1945 in Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps for his beliefs and standing up to the Nazi’s.
I wonder how many Christians living in North America today would be willing to stand up for the rights of other faiths to practice their faith? For Communists to participate in the general elections?  For the rights of the LGBTQ community to exist?
That being said in a truly free and democratic society everyone has the right to practice what they believe. To live a lifestyle they want to live provided they bring no harm to anyone.
Such a society make living a Christian life much easier also.
In a free and democratic society Christians can openly share their faith, can exchange ideas, with all people without fear.
                Please think about it.

Christian life

Christian Life
The Book of Acts records,
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.  
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales  and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 4:32-35. 
This is how true Christians should live. Helping those in need however should not end by simply helping other Christians it should extend to the world around us. Be that need in our neighbourhood, our town our country or around the world.
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
The Christian faith is very much a faith of action, not faith alone. As believers in Christ our faith should spur us on to do good works.
Jesus said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-46.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ, are you helping those in need in whatever way you can?
Please think about it.

Truth

Truth
In my previous blog I quoted  Acts 4:1-22, where we read about Peter and John being brought before the religious leaders of their day for preaching in the name of Jesus. They warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus. To which Peter and John replied,
“But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.  
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”Acts 4:19,20.
Luke the writer of the book of Acts tells what happened when Peter and John reported to the other believers what had happened. Luke writes,
“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.  
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.  
You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:“ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’  
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  
They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  
Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”Acts 4:23-31
Put simply the believers prayed and gave praise to God.
The believers then as believers today know, that what they believe is true. Those early believers were not put off by the arrest of Peter and John.
Instead they did what all true believers in Christ do. They prayed and praised God. They did it because they knew first of all that they were right in their beliefs.
They also knew that those persecuting them must consciously or subconsciously believe that the facts about Jesus is true.
After all if Jesus was just a man and those who were believing Him were believing a myth why persecute them. A myth cannot hurt anyone.
On the other hand if everything the New Testament writers said about Jesus is true then people have a lot to consider. John’s gospel records Jesus as saying,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
C. S. Lewis said of Christianity,
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it. 

What we have seen and Heard

What we have seen and heard
In my previous blog I spoke about how Peter and John were used by God to perform a miraculous healing of a well known man sitting at the gate Beautiful in Jerusalem. The book of acts goes on to tell the reaction of the Sadducees and other religious leaders. It states,
“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.  
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  
They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.  
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 
The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.  
Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family.  
They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!  
If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.  
He is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’  
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  
But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.  
So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.  
“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.  
But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” 
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  
But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.  
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 
After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.  For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.” Acts 4:1-22 
In this incident a man who had obviously been sick for a long time, a man that was forty years old. Was healed and God received the glory for the healing.
Still the religious leaders of the day who had opposed Jesus, arrested Peter and John. Having done so they couldn’t figure what to do with them. After all it was a good deed. A man was healed.
Their solution was to tell Peter and John to shut up and not tell people about Jesus. Something they would not do. Peter and John replying to religious leaders saying,
‘But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.  
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19,20.
What happened to Peter and John is happening to believers in Christ around the world today. Men and women who are proclaiming the word of God, men and women who are doing good works in the name of Jesus, are being imprisoned for what they are doing. Some are even dying.
These men and women and indeed believers in Christ all over the world however truly believe what Peter and John did was right. They can and do say to anyone who would tell them to be silent about Christ the same words the two apostles said,
 “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard”
Matthew’s gospel record Jesus speaking to his disciple saying,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
It is a message believers in Christ will continue to proclaim no matter the circumstances, for it is the single most important message mankind needs to receive.
Please think about it. 

The Message

The Message
The book of Acts records,
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.  
Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.  
When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.  
Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”  
So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  
Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  
He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  
When all the people saw him walking and praising God,  they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 
While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.  
When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?  
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.  
You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.  
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 
“Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.  
But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.  
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:1-19.
I have always said that if the miracles recorded in the Bible were not true, why would the writers include them. For if they were not true it would work against what believers in Christ were saying. As a result I believe they must be true.
In this case Peter and John participate in the healing of a man who was well known as a beggar at the gate Beautiful.
Peter is quick to point out that it is not he and John that healed the man but God. He states,
“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”
He then gives the crowd a brief talk on how Jesus was allowed by the people to be put to death even when the Roman governor wanted to release him.
Peter however notes,
“Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.  
But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.  
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”
The message Peter gave to the crowd that day is the same message believers in Christ present to the world today.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.
To the Ephesians Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
Salvation is a gift of God. A free gift. A gift we can accept of reject. The choice is always up to the individual. God will not impose his will on anyone.
Thus the choice is yours do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
 Are you willing to accept by faith the free gift of eternal life God offers you or not?
Please think about it.

The Example

The Example
The book of acts gives this few word snapshot of how the early church believed. It reads,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  
All the believers were together and had everything in common.  
Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47 
The early church set an example for all believer in the years and centuries to come.
They were in one accord.
The followed the teachings of the Apostles.
They had fellowship with one another.
They broke bread together.
They worshipped openly in the temple courts.
They lived such good lives that they enjoyed favour of all the people.
It’s interesting to note that Piliny the Younger writing to the Trajan around 112 AD wrote this about Christian,
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind...”Piliny the younger.
Piliny was looking for something negative to say about Christians in order to have them executed. There is no record of him finding anything. That however did not stop him from executing known Christians. Being a Christian in the first century AD was enough to get someone executed.
From this account of Piliny, and the account in the book of Acts, we can assume that those first century Christians followed the teachings of Peter who wrote,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12.
As Christians living in the twenty-first century this is how we should be living.
Please think about it.