Saul was born in Tarsus, an important town on the trade route between Syria and western Asia (Acts 22:3). Tarsus was a multicultural center of industry and learning and home for a short time to Rome’s most famous orator and senator, Cicero. Saul’s parents were Diaspora Jews (Jews who were not living in the land … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 9:1, Phil. 3:6, 1 Cor. 15:10, Acts 9:1-22, Acts 26:18, Gal. 2:1-17. Memory Text: But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer … Continue reading –>
Cambodia – by Chhenghorn Thean That night she sold five books for $5 each. She was convinced that God is the true God. But a month later her husband told her to stop selling books. Your work is bringing shame on me, he said. Cheng’s husband demanded that she stop believing in Jesus and stop … Continue reading –>
Ellen G. White, The Gospel in Samaria, The Acts of the Apostles, pages 103-111. When they were scattered by persecution they went forth filled with missionary zeal. They realized the responsibility of their mission. They knew that they held in their hands the bread of life for a famishing world; and they were constrained by the … Continue reading –>
Philip, clearly, was anointed to do the Lord’s work. Commentators are divided on what the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip(Acts 8:39) means, whether he was simply told to go to Azotus (Acts 8:40) or was miraculously transported there. Either way, the crucial point for us is that Philip was a man surrendered to … Continue reading –>
According to Acts 8:26-39, Philip’s next contact was with the Ethiopian treasury administrator, bringing mission another step towardthe end of the earth (Acts 1:8, NKJV). Philip was the link between Samaria and the Gaza mission. From Samaria, north of Jerusalem, Philip was called to Gaza, which is south of the city. His work in the … Continue reading –>
Saul, a future apostle and missionary, makes his first appearance in the Bible at the stoning of the deacon Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This wave of persecution only helped further the spread of the gospel. Read Acts 8:1-6. What was the result of the persecution of the church in Jerusalem? Samaria was the first … Continue reading –>
Read Acts 2:44-47, Acts 4:34-37. What kind of picture of the early church is presented here? No question, things were for a time going quite well among the early believers. Of course, everyone is fallen, and before long some tensions started to rise. Read Acts 6:1-7. What problems arose, and how did the church deal … Continue reading –>
While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor. 4:18, NKJV). Think about what Paul is saying here, especially as we study this week about Philip … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Cor. 4:18, Acts 2:44-47, Acts 4:34-37, Acts 6:1-7, Acts 8, Acts 21:7-10. Memory Text: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 NIV). … Continue reading –>
