Daily Bible Reading – Acts 8
Acts 8
Chapters 7 and 8 set the background for something crazy and wonderful that only the God of the universe would purpose to do…. Wait until Chapter 9…. Hint….
And Saul approved of their killing him (Stephen) …But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Whether God orchestrated the persecution of the church or used the persecution of the church for the good of the world and His own glory theologians can figure out. But, as you read this section of scripture you can’t help but be struck by the perseverance of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit in the people of God!
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
Evil Spirits: Some have asks about the spiritual battle we see written of in these passages. It reads like evil spirits shrieking and coming out of people was normative for the early church. And Healings took place everywhere. Some have said this was used to authenticate the Apostle’s message, and frankly it is hard to argue with this logic especially in this instance. Some say miracles like this don’t happen anymore because the gospel has been established and the scriptures given. We do not need to see these same things to believe. I don’t have the answer to this one. But, I will simply say that sometimes we don’t realize how powerful and real evil is, both evil inside us in our sinful nature and evil working in the world. I also don’t think we see all that God does and all He has delivered us from and into…
On Receiving the Holy Spirit by the Apostles hands… I am thankful that today we don’t have to wait for the Apostles to come and touch us so that we might receive the Holy Spirit. Some use this as a centerpiece in their theology for understanding a “second blessing” that comes after repentance and faith. Though I can see how they would get it, I don’t see enough evidence in the rest of scripture for this view.
At this point the church is spreading to the Jews. I love the Eunich/Philip story. He needed someone to explain the gospel to him!! As Christians EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US should be able to explain the gospel to someone who has questions, so that they will understand. Even if they don’t believe, at least people should understand it! Let God work through you as Philip did, just learn the good news, listen and look where God is working and preparing hearts and then respond!!
“Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?”
…Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
