Biblical studies this week with Author Rev. Paul J. Bern

This week's ongoing Bible study on the Progressive Christian Blog with  Author & Web Minister Paul J. Bern will be part 2 of Acts chapter 21; "The apostle Paul arrives at Jerusalem" -- https://revpauljbern.wordpress.com/2019/04/06/this-weeks-ongoing-bible-study-will-be-part-2-of-acts-chapter-21/ #Biblicalteaching #discipleship

 

This week's ongoing Bible study will be part 2 of Acts chapter 19

The Name of the Lord Becomes Well Known in Asia

[Acts chapter 19, verses 13-22]

To view this on my website, click here :-)

Last week when we completed part one of Acts 19, the apostle Paul had amassed an enormous amount of healing power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He was actively accessing this implanted power – power that he did not possess himself, but which had been imparted by his baptism with the Holy Spirit of the risen Lord Christ Jesus. Untold scores had been healed of various diseases or medical conditions, possibly even thousands. All this was occurring in the city of Ephesus, in what is now western Turkey. It was to the church there that the Book of Ephesians in the New Testament was written. There were also some other disciples who were driving demons out of victims of demonic possession, and that is where we will begin this week's lesson. So let's all start off together at verse 13.

“13) Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, 'In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.' 14) Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15) One day the evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?' 16) Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” (Acts 19, verses 13-16)

Demonic possession is very real, and it is not something that can be trifled around with. The 1970's movie, “The Exorcist” barely scratched the surface when it comes to something as serious as demonic possession. These 7 sons of Sceva, as the apostle Luke relates, evidently thought they could drive out demons by a human combination of determination, focus and faith. While all three are certainly worthy of consideration as it applies to our topic, there is one missing ingredient that is vitally important to ministry – the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Remember last week's study when Paul asked in verse 2 of chapter 19 if the brothers at Ephesus had received Holy Spirit baptism? They had no knowledge of the Holy Spirit, meaning they also had no understanding of Christ's resurrection. When asked whose baptism they had, they replied, “John's”, meaning John the Baptist. John the Baptist, you will recall from our study of Luke's gospel, had been executed decades previously by King Herod. No one knows the exact date of his execution, but it was probably in the years 28-29 AD (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-27; Luke 9:9) after Herod the Tetrarch imprisoned John the Baptist in 27 AD (Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14) at the behest of Herodias his brother's wife whom he took as his mistress. (Matthew 14:3-5; Mark 6:17-20)

It is likely that, like the believers Paul found at Ephesus, the 7 sons of Sceva had John's water baptism but not that of the Holy Spirit. Why is this significant? Because no one can drive out demons except by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Things that are solid cannot drive out spiritual things any more than one can mix oil and water. In that instance, neither can drive out the other, nor can they be mixed together. In the same way, it is not possible for someone without the baptism of the Holy Spirit to drive out demons, let alone be effective at it (see John's gospel chapter 3 for the meaning of Holy Spirit baptism). So, when Sceva's sons tried to drive the demon out of their 'customer' in verse 16, “.... the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” That's what you get for playing around with real demons, like Sceva's sons were doing. You'll be lucky to survive such an encounter as that, and that's no joke either. And now let's move on to part 2 of this week's ongoing lesson.

“17) All the people in Ephesus – Jews and Greeks – learned about this and were filled with fear and gave great honor to the Lord Jesus. 18) Many of the believers began to confess openly and tell all the evil things they had done. 19) Some of them who had used magic brought their magic books and burned them before everyone. Those books were worth about fifty thousand silver coins. 20) So in a powerful way the word of the Lord kept spreading and growing. 21) After these things, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, planning to go through the countries of Macedonia and southern Greece and then on to Jerusalem. He said, 'After I have been to Jerusalem, I must also visit Rome.' 22) Paul sent Timothy and Erastus, two of his helpers, ahead to Macedonia, but he himself stayed in Asia for a while.” (Acts 19, verses 17-22)

So the incident with the 7 sons of Sceva caused a sensation throughout that part of the world. People everywhere, “.... were filled with fear and gave great honor to the Lord Jesus. Many of the believers began to confess openly and tell all the evil things they had done.” Confession, as you just read, is an integral part of practicing Christianity. In fact, Christianity in the absence of confession and repentance is really not Christian at all. The Bible tells us to confess our sins, errors, imperfections and faults, first to God and then to each other. Openness with one another is a requirement of Christianity, and keeping our relationships honest and open is vital to living Christianity as a lifestyle rather than merely as a set of beliefs. Moreover, nobody can fool God. They would only be kidding themselves.

“19) Some of them who had used magic brought their magic books and burned them before everyone. Those books were worth about fifty thousand silver coins. 20) So in a powerful way the word of the Lord kept spreading and growing.” This occurrence in verse 19, where fifty thousand silver coins would equal roughly $750,000 in today's money (assuming one ounce of silver per coin), is what I would call an example of true repentance. Any time you have a group of people willing to throw away what could have amounted to their life's savings for their newfound belief in a blessed Savior and Redeemer, I'd call that genuine faith and repentance any day of the year.

Following all these things, Paul stayed in various places in the province of Asia (not the continent), vowing to visit Jerusalem and his old enemies there before working his way towards Rome. “He said, 'After I have been to Jerusalem, I must also visit Rome.' Paul sent Timothy and Erastus, two of his helpers, ahead to Macedonia, but he himself stayed in Asia for a while.” Now Macedonia is fairly close to where the country is situated today, although their borders do not correspond exactly. The province of Asia, as it was known back then, comprises the western half of modern Turkey, and that is where Paul remained as he preached, taught and planted churches. He had no itinerary, no schedule, and no paycheck, and yet he was in his element because he was doing what God had called him to do, and he did so with fervor and purpose. He was living his life to the fullest, which is precisely what we all need to be doing, if we're not doing so already. Never worrying about money, where he would spend that night, what he would have to eat, or whether his sandals would wear out, Paul was called to be an apostle because Paul was a man who knew how to get his priorities straight.

Few people are like the apostle Paul. So few know how to get their priorities straight. They don't know what truly matters in life. Their lives are filled with social media skimming, TV show and movie streaming, video games, virtual reality, and pornography. All some people want to do is have fun all the time. Unfortunately, life simply doesn't work like that, nor was it ever designed to. So for this week, your assignment is to find out what really matters to you the most. If it's any of the above things, or if it's an addiction, you're on the wrong track. But please don't get mad at me for writing this. I'm just a guy who really cares and who really wants to help. But, if you are already doing these things, then keep up the good work. And next week we'll move on to part 3 of Acts 19.

This week's ongoing Bible study will move on to Acts 19 part 1

The Apostle Paul In Ephesus

[Acts chapter 19, verses 1-12]

To view this on my website, click here :-)

This week, in our chronological studies of the writings of the apostle Luke, we will be moving on to part 1 of Acts chapter 19, where we find the apostle Paul has made his way from where he was in Corinth up into the interior of what would be southeastern Asia Minor today, hundreds of miles northeast of Rome or northwest of Jerusalem. He traveled up through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, in what would be roughly northwestern Turkey today. And so today as we begin this week's in-depth analysis, we find Paul has eventually arrived in Ephesus, a city on the western coast of what is modern Turkey, and that's where we'll start, beginning at verse one.

“1) While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2) and asked them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' They answered, 'No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' 3) So Paul asked, 'Then what baptism did you receive?' 'John’s baptism,' they replied. 4) Paul said, 'John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.' 5) On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6) When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7) There were about twelve men in all.” (Acts 19, verses 1-7)

So here we have the apostle Paul having just arrived in Ephesus, where he found some disciples, or other Christian believers of mixed Jewish and Gentile heritage. Notice that by now, Paul had made good on his vow to leave Judaism and take the Gospel to the Gentile nations, as we read in part one of chapter 18 from two weeks ago. As a result, he had traveled in a large semi-circle throughout the interior of what would be western and west-central Turkey today. At his farthest point in this second missionary journey, Paul was within about 150 miles of the northern coast, near the Black Sea. Now that he has arrived back at the coast again, he resolves to strengthen the church that had been planted there, evidently by a disciple of John the Baptist decades before.

As you can see, the ministry of John the Baptist was far more significant and had a far greater reach than what is being taught in churches today, particularly here in North America. That's why he said in Luke chapter 7, “I must decrease so that He may increase.” (see Luke 7, verses 18-35, which we studied a while back, for the full story on John the Baptist) Today's “prosperity gospel” says that we all must increase, and by as wide a margin as possible. To put it bluntly, this is raw hogwash. But Luke's narrative continues, “....and (Paul) asked them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' They answered, 'No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' So Paul asked, 'Then what baptism did you receive?' 'John’s baptism,' they replied.”

The reason these people had embraced John's baptism is because they had seen a need within themselves to lead better lives and to be a lot more caring towards others. To sum it up, they had repented of their old ways and embraced new ways of thinking and of living by emulating the teachings of Jesus Christ. If everybody did this, the world would truly be a much better place. But the only baptism they had ever heard of had been that of John the Baptist. In today's terminology, they had incomplete information. So then Paul says to them, “....John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.' 5) On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6) When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them....” Notice that the only way Holy Spirit baptism can be administered is by the laying on of hands, just like the only way water baptism can be administered is by water immersion. Pouring a few drops of water across a baby's forehead is not real baptism, folks, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but it's the truth. And now let's move on to part 2 of this week's study.

“8) Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9) But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10) This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 11) God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12) so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (Acts 19, verses 8-12)

So here in verse 8, we see that Paul has had a change of heart, and is once again back in a synagogue, where he and his fathers before him had been educated and raised. It can be a difficult thing to have to renounce one's religion, but this was, once again, what Paul – a lifelong Jew – found himself forced to do. So Paul and those with him move to a lecture hall, which was presumably either paid for out of church proceeds, or the space was given to Paul by Christian sympathizers and true believers. And, they stayed there for two full years, six months longer than Paul had stayed in Corinth. Notice too, God was unable to work any miracles through Paul until he stepped away from the synagogue completely. Once that was completed, the miracles worked by God through his willing servant Paul flowed like water out of a fire hydrant.

“....even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” This did not happen because Paul had special powers just because he was an apostle, as some church denominations erroneously teach. All these miraculous healings took place because Paul, like John the Baptist before him, caused himself to “decrease so that He may increase'. He voluntarily relinquished all ownership of the healing of those who were healed so that he could be used by God to be God's healer, like a conduit for God's tremendous power, which is unimaginably vast and deep. So Paul stayed at Ephesus and built the church there. Next week when we return for part two, we will see where all this leads, and how some who purported to emulate Paul's healing powers would up getting badly beaten for their trouble. So everyone please be sure and return next week for part 2. Shalom!

Stopping Gun Violence Involves Changing More Minds, Not Passing More Laws

To Stop Gun Violence in America,

We Must Acquire “the Mind of Christ”

by Pastor Paul J. Bern

To view this on my website, click here :-)

I could start by writing at length how sick and tired people have become of America's gun violence problem. I'm skipping all that. The news media is already filled with the opinions of those who, in the long run, matter little if at all. I'm skipping the psychoanalysis too. Don't hand me all the utterances of the do-nothings who spend their days pointing out problems without making any effort at coming up with any solutions. You all know the ones I'm talking about, and I don't mean everyone reading this, either – not by a long shot. I'm talking about all the TV and radio pundits who make their living by agitating and provoking people. I know the gunman in the Thousand Oaks, California mass shooting had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I suffer from PTSD myself, but the source of my disorder is from growing up in an abusive foster-care situation rather than from the battlefield. There are a lot of people who have PTSD, but none of the rest of us has arbitrarily decided to go out and mow down a dozen or more people. I can't imagine doing such a thing myself. I find the very thought revolting.

They can call whatever they do whatever they want. I call it 'violently anti-social behavior'. And yet the majority of these agitators on radio and TV are church goers. That's the part that drives me nuts – from the vantage point of the pulpit, that's what I'm seeing – that people today would rather fight each other than help each other. Soon after, the acquisition of such argumentative mindsets devolves into violence because intolerance devalues others to the point that simply killing a few is somehow OK. Taking a life – any life – just because one has deemed it to be necessary, is never OK. We have lost sight of the fact that life is sacred because it comes from sacred origins, whose name is the Almighty God.

The Bible does have some things to say about this. The apostle Paul wrote about this in his letters to the Corinthian churches, and I quote: “6) We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7) No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8) None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9) However, as it is written: 'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him' — 10) these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.” (1^st Corinthians 2: 6-10)

The first thing we can derive from verse 6 is that we should not wait on the government to fix our problems because the government lacks the wisdom to fix anything as it currently stands. There it is, right there in the Bible. God holds the solutions we seek, not government. As for the rest of us, it's not so much that we lack the wisdom, it's that we can't seem to agree on how to go about ending gun violence in America. We cannot reach a consensus because many of us refuse to acknowledge the existence of a Higher Power. Never mind the Christian concepts of a risen Christ and an Almighty God for just a minute – and all my Christian brethren please bear with me for a moment, because I'm seriously going somewhere with this today. It is an indisputable fact that there are sources of Higher Power in the universe. A refusal to acknowledge or remain in touch with this Higher Power – the forces of Light that we call “God” – leaves a vacuum in the human heart that causes the forces of darkness to take its place. You are either from the Light, as I am, or from the Darkness, which is all that is negative. It is evil, which is the power of Darkness that never penetrates the Light unless it is allowed to, that is the motivator for America's gun violence problem.

But the evil I'm writing about isn't psychological, it's not mental illness, nor is it pathological at all. The source of this evil is spiritual. People who give in to evil and so carry out horrible evil such as this epidemic of mass shootings do so because they have made a conscious effort to put their Higher Power – just in case they profess disbelief in the existence of God – out of their lives. When you put the Light out of your life, the Darkness inevitably takes its place. Those who do not believe in Spiritual forces make themselves all the more vulnerable to it. “9) However, as it is written: 'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him' — 10) these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.” The apostle Paul was quoting Isaiah 64: 4 as if to say, if only you will stick with God, his reward for you will be greater than anyone can imagine. Never give up on God, and He'll never give up on you. And even if you do give up, God sticks with us anyway because that's how much he loves each of us. Even if we're in sin, God will still stick with us – but only for so long, if you get my drift.

Paul clarified this still further further down in this same passage when he wrote: “13) This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14) The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15) The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16) for, 'Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ.” (1^st Corinthians 2: 13-16) Now I ask you, how can we continue to have the “mind of Christ” when we have our minds focused on who we can take vengeance upon and kill? Never mind whether we think they “deserve it” or not. I am simply trying to emulate Paul by “explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”

America's mass shooting epidemic is a symptom of a country that is turning to the forces of Darkness. If America was still attuned to the forces of the Light like she used to be, there would have been no more than a handful of these mass shootings before they would have been brought to an abrupt halt. Granted, when it comes to all these shootings, America's gun laws clearly need to be strengthened, that is true. But the ultimate responsibility lies with the individual, as Paul wrote, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments....” OK, so if any given person systematically rejects the things of God, or of their Higher Power, and/or refuses to recognize the authority thereof, then is it any wonder that such people wind up doing such ungodly things as mass murder? It should come as no surprise at all.

All right, so we can safely conclude that those who act out on violent impulses, or who cannot or will not keep their angry feelings in check, to the point where they cannot help but hurt or even kill others – long term incarceration is the only thing that will stop such people. And that's assuming they survive being arrested, and many choose not to. Let's not forget there are some who, as the novelist John Milton put it, “....would rather rule in hell than serve in heaven.” Actually for me, it's the other way around. Keeping in mind that I would rather serve forever in heaven than roast forever in hell is what keeps the forces of Darkness out of my heart, mind and soul. In effect, I and others like me “have the mind of Christ”. Not the person, you understand, but the mindset of the man, the Savior and Redeemer. Only Christ gave his life for you and for me – Jesus Christ the Son of God and no one else. Only the forces of the demonic take lives, they never give anything.

And so in closing, it is vitally important that we all take on “the mind of Christ”. No one can be just like our Lord and Savior because only Jesus lived a sinless life – none of us even comes close to that. But we can overcome our bad natures – especially the propensity to kill – by keeping the “mind of Christ” tucked inside our brains as we go about our daily routines, and as we meet and work with all kinds of people. Some of them are good, some are evil, and still more simply don't care. As long as they're getting their usual, that's all they worry about. They couldn't care less about anyone else but themselves. Although the killers are awful enough, and dangerous enough, it's the ones who don't care who do the most damage of all. That's because the only way evil can flourish is for cold and uncaring men and women to look the other way.

For this week's ongoing Bible study, we'll move on to part 4 of Acts chapter 13

Paul and Barnabas Conclude Their Stay in Pisidian Antioch

[Acts chapter 13, verses 42-52]

For a website view, click here :-)

When we left off last week at verse 41 of Acts 13, the apostle Paul was concluding his first sermon as a new convert as he addressed the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. Pisidian Antioch is located 1 km north of Yalvac in the province of Isparta in southern Turkey. He finished up the greater portion of that Sabbath morning by quoting from the prophet Habakkuk 1: 5: “Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.” Paul was referring to those present who rejected his message, all of whom were Jews and many of whom were quite vocal about it. Their vocal and vehement opposition to Paul's message of salvation as taught by Christ will come to a climax today as we finish up my final installment of Acts chapter 13. So let's take up where we left off beginning at verse 42.

“ 42) As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43) 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. 44) On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45) When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. 46) 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. 47) 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.’”

So the crowd received a Word from the Lord through Paul's message that day, there was no mistaking that fact. The church still has preachers and teachers of the Word who discharge their duties with power and anointing, but we continue to need a lot more of them. What we don't need are more preachers of the “prosperity gospel” or the “pre-tribulation rapture”, where the entire Church allegedly gets a free pass, never having to endure any persecution in the End Times in which we find ourselves. But the people in that Synagogue that morning weren't as stupid and naive as some Christians are today. They knew the real thing when they saw it, and they knew real Truth when they heard it – Divine truth! That is exactly why Paul and Barnabas were invited to return the following Sabbath. That's why the people wanted so much to hear them again. Once a preacher or teacher gets his/her students or audience focused on the things of God instead of that of this world, the scope and depth of their entire field of vision completely changes focus, which changes the listeners forever! And that's precisely what Paul and Barnabas accomplished that morning.

“44) On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45) When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.” It seems supernatural to us now that “almost the entire city” showed up the following Sabbath for morning services. Considering there was no phone, internet or email, Paul and Barnabas relied solely on word-of-mouth, and it paid off really big, just like when Jesus walked the Earth his Father created. When the Jews who were in charge of the synagogue heard Paul's words, they were filled with jealousy and rage. As I have written previously, the Jews of that time – plus many more since – see themselves as exclusive unto themselves, having little or nothing to do with non-Jews. The very thought of equality between Jew and Gentile offended some of them, especially those in positions of leadership. But, they were offended most of all with the teaching of Christ as Messiah.

“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.” The reason Paul and Barnabas spoke the Word of God to the Jews first is because they were themselves Jewish, as was Christ the Lord. The fact that they were in a synagogue bore heavily in this case too, but there were also many Gentiles present, such as Greeks, secular and Christian Arabs, and Turkish individuals as well. But the way the Bible is translated right here doesn't really convey how animated the discussion surrounding Paul's Sabbath message actually was. It says, “Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly....”

In 21^st century terms, this could be written as, 'Paul and Barnabas took all the rejection, snobbery and contempt heaped upon them and threw it all right back in their faces.' The accusatory manner in which these insults were delivered was similarly thrown back in the faces of all the Jews who refused to believe their message, and who were verbally abusive to them. Interestingly enough, there was not a single Gentile in the audience who rejected Paul's and Barnabas' message. They then quote scripture to back themselves up: “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.’” (Isaiah 49: 6)

In the original Greek text, known as the Septuagint by theologians, “you” is in the singular, indicating that the message is for each individual reader. This is significant because it lines up with the words of Christ, and I quote: “18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19) 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, 20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28: 18-20) And now let's conclude this week's study, starting at verse 48.

“48) When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49) The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50) But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51) So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52) And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

“....all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.” Notice it says “all who were/are appointed”, and that means appointed by God from long before any of us were born. It is a reference to prophecies from the old and the new testaments concerning eternal life (see Psalm 119: 89, Isa. 26: 4, Matt. 19: 16 or 1^st John 5: 13, among others). Eternal life is a black and white issue, there is no gray area here. It's not that some have it while others don't. Everyone has a soul, or a spirit if you like, that lives on after our bodies wear out and die. It's where our souls will spend eternity that makes all the difference. Some will spend eternity with Jesus and all the Saints, which is his Bride, the greater church. Others will spend theirs in hell for refusing to believe in God, or at least in his Son Jesus, and for adamantly refusing to obey the commands of Christ. The two foremost commands he has already given us, that we should love God our Creator with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Meaning, those who are lovers of everything else but God and each other will burn.

So the religious leadership there at Pisidian Antioch organized all the political and business leaders and made that new teaching known as Christianity seem like an existential threat. You know, just like the political leaders of any given city, region or country, or just like business leaders do today? Those in positions of power manufacture a problem, always in the form of a group or individual that has interests contrary to theirs, and then present their ready-made solution, which is to forcibly liquidate the “problem”. These people are all a bunch of assassins! “They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them....” By now you all must realize that it was only by their reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide them, plus some very sharp wits, that enabled them to survive all the attacks and persecutions they were subject to. Paul and Barnabas weren't just thrown out of the synagogue or out of Pisidian Antioch, they were expelled from the entire region!

But they rejoiced because of it because they had the honor of being persecuted for their belief in Christ as Lord and Savior: “....the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” But this was about far more than their own beliefs. This was about fulfilling their mission to tell as many people about the Gospel as they could. Whether their message, the message of Christ, was well received by the listeners or not was left up to them, and to the Holy Spirit. Their mission, and that of the Twelve and all the others with them by this point, was fulfilled once the message was delivered, the healing had been distributed and prayers offered. At that point, it was time to move on to the next town. That would be an interesting life in His service, don't you think? Traveling around from town to town, depending on the weather to be able to preach at outdoor meetings when a synagogue wasn't available, and never knowing what kind of reception you will get – this was the life of an apostle in a post-ascension world. In next week's lesson, as we move on to chapter 14, we will see how all this continues to play out as the early Church continues to grow. Until then....

This week's ongoing Bible study will be part 1 of Acts chapter 12

Peter's Escape From Prison and Execution

[Acts chapter 12, verses 1-12]

For better viewing on phones, tablets or my website, click here :-)

Last week when we concluded our examination of chapter 11, we found the faithful in Antioch had taken up a collection of essentials and other valuables to send to the believers in Jerusalem during the famine that occurred during the reign of Emperor Claudius. This occurred around 40AD, give or take, I don't know the exact date offhand. This was presumably done at the request of those in Jerusalem, who were evidently in dire straights. Everyone gave whatever they could spare on a voluntary basis, there was no mandatory 10 percent like there is today. But this week as we move on to chapter 12, we find the apostle Luke once again presenting the reader with a change of scenery. Another persecution has broken out, this time at the hands of King Herod. The "King Herod” mentioned in Acts chapter 12 is identified as Herod Agrippa, the grand-son of King Herod in Matthew chapter 2, whose name lives in infamy as a mass killer of babies. And so let's all begin right there at verse one.

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

“1) It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2) He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3) When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4) After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5) So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6) The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7) Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”

We have all seen in past studies that the first great persecution of Christians happened just after the public execution of Steven back in Acts chapter 7 (you can find that particular study from this link). The instigator then was the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council in Jerusalem. This time it was King Herod, who was a Roman puppet governor appointed by the emperor, and who ruled with an iron hand just like his predecessors. One of his first acts was to execute the apostle James, author of the epistle by the same name. So the apostle James was the first of the Twelve to meet his fate at the hands of his Roman abusers. James was allowed to go home and be with the Lord, but when Herod went after Peter, it was a totally different story, as we saw beginning in verse 7.

“ This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison.” My long-time readers will recall that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is an integral part of the celebration of Passover, an important Jewish holiday that occurs every spring, but not always on the same date due to differences in our calendars. You will also recall that this occurred during the life of Christ the same week he was crucified, a striking parallel to be sure. But in Peter's case it was not to be. Instead, he finds himself awakened in the middle of the night. “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers....” Notice the apostle Luke's recurring theme throughout his writings – prayer! The entire church, all who had heard of the apostle Peter's incarceration and impending execution, prayed earnestly and without ceasing as far as it was humanly possible.

As we can see here in verse 7, the prayers of the church were answered. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” That angel didn't need a key, he unlocked Peter's chains with a mere thought. While I have never seen anyone do anything like that, it's important for us to remember that our thoughts do matter. Positive thoughts yield positive results, and negative thought yield negative results. Positive thought comes from the Light, and negative thoughts come from darkness. So, that angel knew exactly what he was doing. Notice that his command to “Get up!” and the falling of Peter's chains occurred all at once! That was not a coincidence. And now lets move on to the second half of this week's study, beginning at verse 8.

“8) Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9) Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10) They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11) Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 12) When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.”

So here we can see that Peter is being led out of prison – except he doesn't realize it at first. It seems the old adage about believing only half of what you see and none of what you hear goes back at least 2 thousand years, and probably much further than that! “Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.” So the apostle Peter is having a surrealistic experience, or so he thinks, having related all this to Luke much later. “They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself....” Here we are once again seeing locks that unlock themselves without being touched. About this I can only quote Jesus: 'Nothing is impossible with God', which I have paraphrased from Matthew 19: 26.

So if there's anything in anyone's life who is reading this, anything at all that you are ready to give up on, call on God to help you perform the impossible. You can't do these things by yourself, but with God you can do anything you set your mind to. The apostle Peter had come to this same realization as he said to himself, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.” Peter could have done none of this if it weren't for the Divine intervention of the angel who set him free. The angel had been sent by God himself, or by the Holy Spirit as I think, to get the Lord's business taken care of.

The salvation of Christ is quite similar to Peter's being let out of jail. There was no way Peter was getting out of that jail without help. Otherwise, he would have surely been executed the very next morning. In much the same way, there is simply no way anyone can escape the fires of hell except by the shed blood of Jesus Christ! I know, I know, there are a lot of people who don't believe in, or have stopped believing in, God and heaven and hell. Let me caution all of you to stop listening to and watching TV shows, movies and music that is totally secular – that is, devoid of any Spirituality. They have a deeply negative effect on the human mind. There are, on the other hand, certain things in life that are sacred, starting with God and all He has created. So not only is every form of life sacred, from the lowest single-celled creature to human beings, and everything in between, but all life is sacred because Almighty God their creator is sacred. And you can't touch that. Come back next week, when we'll finish up Acts chapter 12.

This week's Bible study will be part 2 of Acts chapter 11

The Gospel Spreads Like Wildfire

[Acts chapter 11, verses 19-30]

For better viewing on phones, tablets or my website, click here :-)

Last week as we finished up part one of Acts chapter 11, we found Peter and six other brothers from Caesarea explaining everything that had transpired at the home of Cornelius the centurion. The primary thing that caused everyone concerned to stop and do a double-take was that the Holy Spirit was being received by Jews and Gentiles alike, something that had previously been unheard of. Centuries of Jewish religious and cultural domination was crashing down all around them, which would end with the fall of Jerusalem and the entire Middle Eastern region at the hands of the Roman Empire in 70 A.D. Still, that historical occurrence was at least 30 years into the future as far as the early Church was concerned at this point in time. So, for this week's study of the apostle Luke's narrative, there will be a shift in the scenery as Luke moves us onward to the medium-sized city of Antioch (pronounced ant-ee-ock), which was in modern-day southern Turkey. So, let's take up where we last left off, beginning at verse 19.

“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Steven traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, some men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” (Acts 11, verses 19-24)

You'll all recall back in chapter 9, when Saul had to be lowered in a basket out of a window in the wall surrounding the city of Damascus after his conversion to Christianity. The religious and legal authorities had put out a 'kill order' on Saul for heresy and blasphemy against the Jewish ruling council in Damascus, and for treason against Rome for siding with the Christians that he was being paid to round up to be transported back to Jerusalem. Saul is currently lying low while he awaits further instructions from the Lord. In the meantime, all those who had fled the persecution brought on by Steven's stoning death had wound up in the places listed above in verses 19 and 20. You already know where Antioch and Cyprus are located. Phoenicia was in Greece, and Cyrene was an ancient Greek city on the North African coast in north-eastern Libya. (The precise location of the ancient city was thirteen kilometers from the coast).

“....some men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” Evidently a very large number, possibly a majority of the population, were being converted as a result of the testimony of the brothers from all these places, and they had all combined their spirits to come and perform Spiritual warfare on the Lord's behalf! As it was in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, and that very morning in Jerusalem as Peter gave a sermon that brought 3,000 men to the Faith (not counting women and children), and as it was at the home of Cornelius the centurion, so it also was at Antioch as the believers and those who testified to what the Lord had done for them through his Holy Spirit retold their experiences. Their messages were received loud and clear, and the very sound of the men's voices testifying to the crowds who gathered wherever they went, was sufficient for the Holy Spirit to baptize everyone who asked for it.

There was no formality or order of service as we understand it, because the Holy Spirit doesn't operate that way. Although those who taught spoke in tongues, or other languages, taught and preached in those tongues, they knew those languages supernaturally. Jews taught to Greeks, Egyptians, Cypriots, Syrians and many others situated in modern Turkey, Jordan and Iraq as they taught each other. All did so supernaturally. None had any formal training in those other languages since there were no schools as we know them today. There was some rudimentary education for some, but for the majority there was none at all. So it was extraordinary that they could teach and inspire one another in each other's native language.

But today we have churches – even whole denominations – whose idea of speaking in tongues is standing up and babbling a bunch of gibberish and what amounts to baby-talk, and that passes for 'speaking in tongues'. Except that that's not speaking in tongues, it's just people putting on a show for the most part. The apostle Paul wrote in 1^st Corinthians chapter 14, verses 1-25, a detailed explanation of what speaking in tongues entails. You can find my study on the first half of that chapter from this link. But my point here is that the apostle Paul wrote that people shouldn't speak in tongues out loud unless there is someone there who can interpret. You can pray in tongues in an unknown language, Paul wrote. But to paraphrase, if nobody else would understand the tongue in which you are praying, pray anyway, but only between yourself and God. Otherwise, no one will understand you and it will confuse or even drive away new believers.

“News of this reached the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” You'll recall from chapter 4 that Barnabas' was actually a nickname which meant 'encourager' or 'the son of encouragement'. Evidently he had a positive, upbeat kind of personality that is always welcome wherever it may go. So we can see that Barnabas' arrival in Antioch was precisely what the Lord had in mind. The Holy Spirit was with Barnabas, and spoke through him to all who would sit and listen, and who were willing to be taught. So it is profitable to seek out such people today just like back then. Nothing has changed. In the world in which we live there are really positive and really negative people living side by side, and not always harmoniously. Unless, of course, you stick with only the positive people, like Barnabas was. Better yet, become one yourself! Be the change you are seeking! And now let's finish up the second half of this week's study starting at verse 25.

“Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread out over the Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11, verses 25-30)

So now we have advanced within the apostle Luke's narrative to the point where Saul, who had been cooling his heels in his home town of Tarsus after barely escaping from Damascus with his life, is brought to Antioch by Barnabas. I am struck by the great lengths people had to go to back then in order to get things accomplished. In today's world, Saul could have been summoned with a phone call and a plane ticket. How easy things are today compared to the first century A.D.! Back then, Barnabas first had to go from Antioch to Tarsus, which was a fishing village on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean sea (this would be in southeastern Turkey today). This is a distance of approximately 123 miles by today's standards. Then he found Saul, who didn't have much luggage due to his clandestine escape from Damascus, and they went back to Antioch – all without a car! Now that's what I call 'dedication'! Could any of us walk a 250 mile round trip today just to bring someone back with them? Barnabas did exactly that.

“So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.” So here it is evident that Saul, who shortly afterward would rename himself 'Paul' and who ultimately wrote one third of the New Testament, was mentored by Barnabas at Antioch prior to his performing any preaching or teaching on his own. Considering that Saul had formerly arrested, jailed and sometimes even executed Christians, his now being taught and mentored by Barnabas amounted to a radical career change for Saul. There's no overstating that fact, that a paid executioner had been transformed into a humble and willing student! That is what the awesome power of the Holy Spirit truly looks like! As a result, others who saw visually what we are seeing here in my words on this page received, and continue to receive, the inner peace and presence of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, Savior and Redeemer!

Then a man named Agabus stood up and predicted a widespread famine, which actually occurred not too long after that. Consequently, the early church in Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside of Judea received an offering from the believers further north in Antioch, as it is written in verses 29-30: “The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.” This gift, and the others described by other apostles, was always in the form of trade-able goods or food stores. There was no cash as we know it today. So they sent gold or silver coins, nonperishable foods, and likely a sword or two. Today, they would be called “preppers” and would have to endure the humiliation of a criminal prosecution. 

 

They sent each other assistance as they had need of. One church or group of churches would send another an offering during times of famine, which happened more frequently back then than it does today. They didn't have to get on radio or TV to get their needs met like so many churches do in modern times They didn't need to demand that everyone pay 10% of their income, either. All they had to do was to come together in prayer in the Spirit, with each person in the group combining the internal habitation of the Holy Spirit within themselves together with everyone else, like a team prayer, and their needs would be met. This was, and still is, especially true when all other means have been exhausted. God supplies all our needs each and every day! And next week we'll begin part 1 of chapter 12.

This week's Bible study will be part 1 of Acts chapter 11

Peter Returns to Jerusalem With Great News

[Acts chapter 11, verses 1-18]

For better phone, tablet or a website view, click here :-)

When we last left off at the conclusion of Acts chapter 10, Peter was staying and teaching at Caesaria at the home of newly-converted Cornelius the Roman centurion, having been sent there through a vision he had. This week as we start part 1 of Acts chapter 11, we find the apostle Peter has returned to Jerusalem some time later to tell the believers there about everything that had happened on his journey. So let's take up where we left off starting at verse one.

“The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had already received the Word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, 'You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.' Peter began and explained to them everything precisely as it happened: 'I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter, kill and eat.' I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean'. This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.” (Acts 11, verses 1-10)

Let's all keep in mind that, to the Jews at least, their promised Messiah was a Jewish Messiah for Jews only, since that is what certain sections of the Old Testament taught. So for the Jews in Jerusalem, the very idea of salvation in Christ being available for Jew and Gentile alike was, frankly, more than some of them could stomach. The ones most vehemently opposed, of course, were the Sanhedrin (the ruling council of the Temple, the Jewish equivalent of the Vatican for Catholics), the very ones responsible for handing Christ over to the Romans for execution. This is why it reads in verse 2, “....You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.' Peter began and explained to them everything precisely as it happened....”.

So the apostle Peter relates all that had occurred to the eager, if slightly confused, Jews in Jerusalem who found themselves thinking outside the box when it came to Gentile salvation. Although many Jewish people since have come to know Jesus Christ as their Messiah, Lord and Savior, the vast majority still await Him. That is between them and God, and so because of that I refuse to condemn them. As you all know by now, the Bible warns us repeatedly not to judge others (see Matt. 7: 1-5, Romans 14: 6-13 and James 4: 11-12). But I would like to appeal to my Jewish brothers and sisters that there is still time to follow His Majesty the King! There is still time to give your heart and mind to Jesus!

But for now, and to finish up the first part of this week's study, Peter tells his Jewish brethren “everything precisely as it happened....”. He spoke of his vision on the roof where he was in prayer, of the definition of “clean and unclean” as far as ancient Jewish customs were concerned, combined with his discovery that there are no unclean people, since Almighty God is the creator of us all. This 'clean vs. unclean' paradigm that had been in place for 2 millennia was done away with for good due to Christ sacrificing himself on the cross for the whole of humanity. Ever since, everyone and everything that God has made is considered clean and wholesome when they are considered equally, since God has made it all equal. And so now let's move on to part 2 of this week's study, starting at verse 11.

“'Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?' When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, 'So, then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.'” (Acts 11, verses 11-18)

So now we begin to see why this part of the Book of Acts was included, even though it may seem repetitive in places. The apostle Luke wrote this to be a teaching tool for all future generations of believers so everyone would know exactly why things unfolded as they did with respect to Peter's ministry. And it's all because of the words of Christ: “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Notice that Holy Spirit baptism was freely given to all the people with no preconditions, and that is was distributed verbally while Peter spoke to everyone in the home of Cornelius the centurion, and so it was much the same everywhere the Twelve went (“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning”). There was no ceremony or laying on of hands such as what we see in some denominations today (primarily Protestant). The laying on of hands upon an individual by the church leadership is something normally reserved for healing, not Holy Spirit baptism.

So I think at least some of these churches, who I will decline to name, are not being Scriptural when it comes to baptism of the Holy Spirit. In order to receive the Holy Spirit, one must first receive and embrace the Word of God that is bringing that Holy Spirit word upon the entire congregation, no matter who they may be. I certainly don't believe that Holy Spirit baptism involves standing up in church and babbling unintelligible things when there is no one present who may interpret those who are performing their version of 'speaking in tongues'. For additional info you may want to read the first 24 verses of 1^st Corinthians chapter 14, everything regarding speaking in tongues is right there. But for Peter and the other six brothers from Caesarea, the baptism of the Holy Spirit came about through the preaching of the Word, which was done in a language everyone could understand – their own!

“'So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?' When they heard this, they had no further objections....” As we can all see, the Holy Spirit, together with the Father and Son, had already made his presence abundantly clear to all. This is most noteworthy, I believe, considering the fact that only six others in the group besides the apostle Peter had been there to witness all these things. Everyone else was running on raw faith, just like we are. So take heart and do not be concerned, because as true believers in Jesus you are in some pretty exceptional company!

“....they had no further objections and praised God, saying, 'So, then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life'.” This sentence sums up the entire New Testament! Just as God has created and loves all men and women equally, so he has sent his only Son as the blood payment for our sins (as in previous studies, including my own), and this blood payment has similarly been distributed equally. This is the Gospel of Christ – that all of us are reconciled to God through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God! Formerly the Bible, which consisted of what we now call the Old Testament, was during the time of Christ the only 'Bible' there was. It was a Jewish book written for Jewish people, calling them God's chosen ones.

But after the ascension of Christ into the heavens, the Gospel has been extended to all because of the positive qualities God has seen within those who call upon his name, and who profess their undying devotion to God's only Son. So there you have it in a nutshell, people. This is just another way to explain how one may obtain eternal salvation. The first step is to hear the Word, or in this case to read it. What you do with it is entirely up to you, and I would advise you to pray before proceeding. But proceed we all must, because where our souls will spend eternity depends on it. See you all next week for the second half of Acts chapter 11.