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              This new year let’s focus on the Lord, and keep our hope in God. Today by looking at 2 people who were healed by our Lord Jesus, let’s look at the blessings of living by the life given by our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I.                Jesus Christ heals you. (vs. 32-35)

Peter reappears here.  In Acts 8:25 after he left Samaria he has not appeared. Saul who had persecuted the church on his way to Damascus is converted.  In Acts it seems like Peter passes the baton to Saul.  However, Luke in the last part of chapter 9 and chapter 10 again tells us about Peter.  This is probably because before telling us about Paul’s evangelism to the Gentiles, he wanted to tell us the role that Peter played.  After leaving Samaria, Peter followed his calling, and traveled about the country with the Gospel and encouraged, guided, and taught the saints wherever he went.  Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa are all cities North West of Jerusalem and finally Peter continued in that direction until he reached the Mediterranean Sea’s Northern port town, Caesarea.

In the middle of his evangelistic travels, he met a man in Lydda.  He had been paralyzed for 8 years and was bedridden.  His name was Aeneas. He said to him,”Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” (34) And “Immediately Aeneas got up.” (34)

Compared with the greatness of the event, it is written very simply.  However this does not mean that this event is to be taken lightly, or that it was a very easy event.  Actually it is in this type of simplistic writing, that the thing that must be clear can be fully said. That is that “Jesus Christ heals you”. (34)  In other words, the central cause of the healing is Jesus Christ.  When Peter said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” (34) He is saying that Jesus has touched you.

1st Peter calls “Aeneas” by name.  This is like when Jesus called Zaccheaus in Luke 19:5.  Zaccheaus was so thrilled.  When a person is called by his name, he feels like he is loved, and accepted. Therefore, when Aeneas was called by his name, he must have felt the love of Jesus Christ.

2nd Next Peter says, “Jesus Christ heals you.” Jesus who was put one the cross, died, rose, and is now in heaven is now touching Aeneas. It is Jesus Christ who is healing Aeneas.  This shows the faith of Peter that Jesus heals and that He has the power to heal.

3^rd   Then Peter says, “Get up and take care of your mat.” These are the same words that Jesus spoke when the 4 men lowered the paralyzed man down through the roof of the place where Jesus was speaking. (Mark 2:11) Probably Peter remembered this event. Not only that but he wanted the man to be healed.  Any one who has been paralyzed for 8 years has begun to think that this is the way it is and has lost all ability to even ask to be healed.  For such a person it is necessary that they believe that Jesus can heal them, and get up out of their bed.  If that person has that type of desire then it doesn’t matter whether they are healed or not.  The problem is that by the body becoming sick the heart becomes sick.  It looses the desire to become well.  In order for that to not happen, we need to believe that Jesus has the power to heal, and stand up.

When Peter said this to Aeneas, “immediately Aeneas got up.” (34) What a wonderful work of the Lord!  The work of Christ by the Holy Spirit, through the church is going on today too.  Jesus has the power to do so.

II.              Tabitha, get up. (vs. 36-39)

In Joppa Peter meets another person, Tabitha, a female disciple. She is introduced as having the name Dorcas which was the Greek name for the Aramaic name Tabitha. Dorcas means gazelle.  In the Old Testament, a gazelle was a sign of beauty and kindness. Dorcas was full of love and beauty. We can see this in the words, “always doing good and helping” (37) 

Dorcas “became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.” (37)  Usually when a Jew died the person was buried that day.  They thought to leave the body sitting was disrespectable to the person who died.  Man was made from the dust of the earth so to return the person to the earth was the proper thing to do and showed respect to the person.  Since the person’s spirit had already returned to God, to leave his body lying around was disrespectable to the person who died and shameful to the family.  However when Dorcas died they didn’t immediately bury her.  This is because they heard that Peter was in Lydda.  “Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, ‘Please come at once!” (38)

“Peter went with them.” (39) When he got there she was laying in the upstairs room.  Since she had already died we wonder why the disciples sent two men to bring Peter to Joppa.  Perhaps they thought that to have Peter give the message at her funeral would be the best thing they could do for Dorcas who had done so much for them.  Probably more than that they had heard about Aeneas being healed in Lydda and they anticipated that Peter would perform some miracle.  Whether they looked forward to the Word of God or whether they looked forward to a miracle, the important thing is that they put their hope and expectations in God. This year like the people of Joppa, let’s look to God and put our hopes and expectations in Him.

When Peter got to Joppa they took him to the room upstairs.  “All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made.” (39)  In her life she had made a great impact on others.  She is as Hebrews 11:4 says “And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”  Church history is full of such people.  They followed the Lord faithfully; they shared the Lord’s love. In verse 41 after she rose, family members are not mentioned. Perhaps she never married or perhaps she was a widow. Even so she served Christ and the church helping the poor widows, those who were suffering, and doing many great works. The fact that many people were crying shows how much she had given during her life.

However, Jesus Christ who stood Aeneas up didn’t just pass by Dorcas either.

Verses 40 & 41

Peter did exactly what Jesus did when he raised the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. (Luke 8:41-56) When Jesus entered the house, Jesus allowed only Peter and John and James and the child’s mother and father to go in the house with him.  He had everyone else go outside.  Peter also sent everyone outside.  Then what Jesus said, “My child, get up!” (Luke 8:54) is exactly the same.  Also Jesus took her by the hand and she stood up.  Peter did the same.

There is only one thing that is different. However this one difference is a big difference at the root of the miracle.  Jesus resurrected the daughter by his own strength.  However Peter “got down on his knees and prayer.” (40) He prayed before he said, “Tabitha, get up.” (40)  In other words, Jesus meant, “I will make you stand up so my child, get up!” Peter means, “Jesus will make you stand up so Tabitha, get up.”  Therefore, the meaning is the same as when Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ heals you.” (34) This miracle has the same contents as the earlier one.  In other words, Jesus performed the miracle, not Peter.  Jesus has the power to stand people up and raise people from the dead.

III.            Living in the life of Christ. (vs. 42)

In verse 42 the purpose of Peter raising Dorcas is written.  The miracle “became known all over Joppa and many people believed in the Lord.” (42)  For Dorcas death is a blessing.  Then why did she need to be resurrected?  That was because there were many people weeping for her.  When she was resurrected, Peter showed her to all those people. (41)  Dorcas wasn’t just someone who followed the Lord and then as a result of illness her life was over and was living only in their memories, but because Christ raised her up again, she was a witness to Jesus Christ’s life and the grace and strength that it provides. The people were able to be raised out of the despair of death.

The same is true of Aeneas’ miracle too. According to verse 35, “All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”  By Aeneas standing up many people were given hope.  They were given the hope that Jesus Christ has the power to heal.

However, this was not for Aeneas and Dorcas only.  Jesus Christ who made them stand, and raised them up does the same today through the Holy Spirit.  Through those resurrected witnesses He gives life to those around the witnesses.  The Bible continues to speak the Good news, the Gospel message.  That message is that by believing in Christ, that person will be able to live in and have real life.  We whose hearts are dieing in sin can once again become clean and living.  Our hearts which are suffering from sickness, problems, and hurts can once again be set free.  Like Aeneas, we can stand again. Even if we are lying on the floor of the despair of death, if we believe in Christ, we can by his life be lifted up from the floor of despair. We can get up from the floor of death.  Those who see that and hear that, many people will return to Christ and believe in him.  This morning let’s receive this life. Then let’s begin and live this new year by this life.

              Two weeks ago we looked at Saul who had persecuted the Christians miraculous conversion. In today’s passage it is recorded what this converted Saul did.  The result is summarized in verse 31.

              The church’s work doesn’t just move forward.  There is always a reason that it moves forward.  This can be seen in the words, “Then the church…” (31)  In other words, by the things that Saul did after he was converted, and by the work of the church that he was involved, the secret of the peace of the church, and the moving forward of the church can be found. Therefore, today let’s look at why the church moved forward.

I.                Jesus is the child of God, the Savior (vs. 20,21)

Saul who was converted in Damascus boldly proclaimed that Jesus is the Savior. In verse 21 “this” refers to Saul’s proclamation that Jesus is the son of God.  Saul had Annanias pray for him and something like scales fell from his eyes and he was able to see again.  Then he began to proclaim that Jesus was the son of God in the synagogues. This is the only place in Acts where it is written that Jesus was the son of God.  That is because at that time the people thought that the Messiah was the son of God.  Therefore, Saul’s proclamation meant that Jesus had the same characteristics as God.  And that he was the only son of God.  He has eternal fellowship with the father from heaven so he is able to show us God.  In verse 22 we are told that Saul was witnessing to the fact the Jesus was Christ. This is basically the same meaning.  Christ is the king that has been anointed with oil, the Messiah, the Savior. Therefore, Saul’s witness was a statement of faith that Jesus had the characteristics as God, the Savior. The name Jesus Christ is actually a statement of faith that Jesus is the Lord that God has anointed and the Savior.  Jesus Christ is a statement of faith that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior.  Before Saul never imagined that Christ could be the Messiah and therefore, he severely persecuted the Christians who thought that way.  However when something like scales fell from his eyes and he was able to see clearly, he realized that Jesus was Christ, and he shared that with others.  Even so, why did he share this so fervently right away?

1.                                  This was because for a long time he had been against Christianity and had persecuted the Christians.  He had consented to Stephen’s stoning and there were many people in the church who were hurt by him.  For someone that had been so much against the church, and then repented and was converted, it was necessary before God, and others, that he have more zealousness and show and say that he had really changed.

2.                                  I think he also had within himself such a joy that he felt driven to share the Gospel. This is faith.  If we really believe, it is natural that we will want to share that.  Saul tells us this in II Cor. 4:13. In the same way we who have the same faith should share our faith because we believe.  This is a characteristic of faith.

Amos 3:8

If a lion roars, there is no one that doesn’t become fearful.  It’s a natural response. It’s the same with a person who has received the Word of God.  It is a natural response that he speak. If a person has received the word of God, then he can’t be quiet about it. If he does try to not speak about what he has received, then Jeremiah 20:9 tells us what will happen. He will become tired and it is not good for him psychologically.  The Word of God will burn in his heart like a fire and he will be weary of holding it in.  It is unnatural to not speak about the Word of God that we have received.  Speaking the Word of God that we received is a natural response, and healthy.

However, we often don’t share about Christ. We are ashamed to.  We are afraid that other people will think that we are strange. In fact, Saul also had these same feelings.  Therefore in verses 27 and 28, Saul says that he preached fearlessly, and boldly. Probably he mentions this because in reality he had fear and felt shame about sharing the Gospel.  Even so he controlled that fear and shame and spoke the Word of God fearlessly and boldly.

There are some Christians who feel shame because they don’t know how to present the Gospel.  However, verse 22 says, “Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving the Jesus is the Christ.” The word “proving” means “to tie together”. In other words, Saul showed that Jesus was Christ by tying together the Old Testament prophecy and each event of Jesus’ life. Therefore, evangelism is just reading the Bible to others.  No matter how poor verbal skills a person has, he can do that.

“Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.” (22)  If we share about the Word of God, we too will grow more and more powerful and bold.  By evangelizing, we learn more about the Word of God, and we become more powerful.  Saul when he was converted preached that Jesus was the Son of God, Christ and therefore the church moved forward.

II.              He tried to join (vs. 26-28)

Another thing that Saul did when he was converted was to try to join the disciples. According to verse 28 the Jews tried to kill Saul who was evangelizing powerfully in Damascus.  Therefore, his followers put him in a basket and lowered him down in basket through an opening in the wall.  Then he went to Jerusalem.  When he arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples.  This was the same thing that he did in Damascus right after he was converted.  According to verse 19 “Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. He really tried to join and be part of the church.  The church had a hard time believing that Saul was really converted and was afraid that he was a spy and so it took some time before he could really be a part of the church.  Even so, Saul tried hard and waited patiently to become a part of the church.  As a result of his evangelism in Damascus, he had many followers.  However, he didn’t try to form his own group. He tried to enter into the fellowship of believers.

On the other hand, we are also moved by the attitude of the church. It is only natural that the church would be afraid of Saul who persecuted the church and who is now trying to join them.  However, according to verse 27 Barnabas tried to bring Saul into the church.  Barnabas accepted Saul, “took him and brought him to the apostles.”  He explained to the apostles about how Saul had been saved, what had happened in Damascus, etc. and so they were able to accept Saul into the church there.  The words “took him” in verse 27 means to take care of him.  He didn’t just take him because he felt he had to, but from his heart Barnabas accepted Saul, and with a warm heart he tried to help him become part of the Jerusalem church.  People like Barnabas that help Christians and Christians to come together are doing a great work.

Not only that, but the apostles in Jerusalem that heard Barnabas’ petition on Saul’s behalf were also great. According to verse 28, they not only believed Barnabas’ testimony of Saul, but they opened their hearts to Saul and accepted him and allowed Saul to freely move about with in the Jerusalem church. They didn’t have any fear about letting Saul join them.  The fact that Saul moved around freely shows that they had completely forgiven Saul.

When we look at Saul and Barnabas and the church we can see that they all had a strong sense of acceptance.  They saw a converted person as someone that should be included within the church no matter what their past had been.  The church didn’t judge but, had an open heart, was warm towards all who were saved. This was because they all feared God.

Romans 14:4

The Lord’s will is that we love each other and build each other up.  This is made possible by being strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. (31) As a result the church will move forward.

III.            Living in fear of the Lord (vs. 31)

The church moved forward because of Paul’s evangelism and because the church accepted Paul into the church.  However not only that, but it was a result of Paul’s and the church’s thinking and the basic characteristics of their faith.  In other words, both Paul and the church believed that the church should be built up and move forward.  They lived in fear of the Lord.  The final line is that for the church to move forward and for the number of believers to increase, depends on the kind of faith that each individual has and the kind of thinking that each person has.

If that’s the case, then it’s important that we seek the Lord’s will more and more and follow the Lord’s will.  We need to try to join together with the church. We need to like Barnabas, help others to become a part of the church.  We need to believe that the church should be built up and move forward.  We need to live in fear of the Lord.  Let’s follow the Lord, be encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and continue to move forward.

              Saul persecuted the Christians. On his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there, he met the Lord, Jesus.  Jesus told Paul that He was Jesus whom Paul was persecuting.  For someone who was putting the Christians in prison and persecuting them, those words must have been very shocking.  He fell to the ground and couldn’t see anything.  The men that were with him took him to Damascus.

              In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias.　Jesus appeared to Ananias and told him to go to the street called “Straight” and visit Saul of Tarsus at Judah’s house.  God always goes before us.  He made all the preparations necessary for Saul to see again and to be able to standup again.  Also when he could see again, he would see things completely different from before.  By Christ he we was made completely new and he would see things differently now since he was completely turned into a new person. Today let’s look at 3 aspects of Saul receiving his eyesight.

I.                Focusing on God (vs.10-16)

God told Ananias to go to the street called “Straight” and visit Saul of Tarsus at Judah’s house. Ananias was shocked because it was because of Saul that the church was persecuted.  The original Christians in Damascus were there because they were dispersed there as the result of the persecutions.  It was unthinkable that Saul would be saved.  Therefore, the thought of going to visit Saul was scary and unthinkable for Ananias and Ananias told the Lord so. God gives His answer in verses 15 and 16. Saul is God’s “chosen instrument to carry” God’s “name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” (15) Even though Ananias sensed great danger in going to Saul, the Lord tells him “Go!”(15) 

How we think is determined by the things we have experienced up to this point.  Therefore, we decide this person is dangerous, this person would never be saved, etc., but God is different.  He thinks freely and nothing is impossible for Him.  Therefore, he is able to save even Saul and use him as an instrument to spread the Gospel. God can do so much more than we could ever think or imagine.  Therefore, we need to not depend upon our own thinking or emotions, but keep our eyes focused on God. We need to think about what God wants.  Then we need to follow Him.

It’s almost Christmas.  It is unbelievable that God would become man and come into this world.  That Jesus would be born from a virgin is even more unbelievable.  This is more than we can conceive or imagine logically.  At first Joseph thought the same.  Therefore, he “did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (Matt. 1:19) He was able to accept Mary because he heard the word of God.  An angel appeared to him and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  (Matt. 1:20) “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” (Matt. 1:24) This more than we can imagine.  However, when we focus on God who is above all that we could ever imagine and follow him, then God will perform great works. 

This is both in our personal lives and in the church too.  We need to live not by our own thinking or emotions, but by keeping our eyes focused on God.  Even if it goes against our thinking or emotions, if we follow the Lord’s will, God will do more than we ever imagined.

II.              Saul who regained his sight (vs.17-19)

Here Ananias is calling Saul, “Brother”.  Saul who persecuted the church, and came all the way to Damascus to persecute the church was the biggest enemy of the Church. However, Ananias calls him, “Brother”. The church is a spiritual family.  Ananias called Saul, “Brother” shows that Saul would become part of that spiritual family so that Ananias was accepting him as such.  Ananias no longer looked at Saul from a human standpoint. 

After calling Saul, “Brother”, he explains why he has come. That was “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.” (17) This means that he has come so that Saul will be saved, and the eyes of his heart will be opened.  “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.” (18)  This means that Saul saw something that he had never seen before. In this case it means he saw a spiritual truth.  He saw that Jesus whom he had been persecuting is the Lord, Christ, the Savior that was promised in the Bible.  That is why Ananias said, “so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (17)  In Saul’s case, physically too his eyes were opened, but it was a sign that spiritually his eyes were also opened.  At this point God turned Saul’s life around 180 degrees. Saul was led to a new faith, and joyfully changed to a person who witnesses to the Lord. He experiences something like scales falling from his eyes.

After Saul experienced something like scales falling from his eyes, “he got up and was baptized and after taking some food, he regained his strength.” (19)  And then “he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” (20)  It was the birth of the Christian and evangelist Paul. This is something that no one consider happening.

Mark 10:27

God can do anything.  We must give up our small way of thinking and follow the voice of God.  Ananias needed courage in order to go to Saul. He didn’t follow his thinking or emotions, but focused his eyes on God’s will. Therefore, this great thing happened.     

III.            He is praying (vs.10)

In verse 11 we are told that when the Lord appeared to Ananias, Saul was praying.  Saul had been in Damascus, but he hadn’t eaten or drank anything.  It was because he was praying.  When he was praying, he was given a vision.  While praying, he was led by the Lord.  To those who pray, God shows his will and leads them.  Therefore, in order to know God’s will and follow His will, we need to pray.   Through prayer we need to be taught what we should be doing. By doing what we are told to do, God will do a great work.  Just as Saul received a vision from the Lord when he was praying, we too, when we pray, God will do a great work. Therefore. please pray that the Lord will do a mighty work in your lives too.

              Until now we have looked at the persecution of the church that resulted from Stephens martyr and especially the evangelism of Phillip that began in Samaria.  However, when we come to chapter 9 Luke changes the topic to the conversion of Saul.  Saul’s conversion was an extremely important even in the history of the church.  In Acts Saul’s conversion is repeated 3 times (22:3-16, 26:9-18)

              There are many reasons why Saul’s conversion was so important.

1.               The fact that Saul who persecuted the church became a follower of Christ is proof that Christianity is real, has power, and is full of glory.

2.               In Acts 1:8 we are told that the Gospel would spread from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.  Saul’s conversion is the beginning of the Gospel being spread to the ends of the earth.

3.                  Last week we studied about the conversion of the Ethiopian.  Saul’s conversion is just the opposite of the Ethiopian’s conversion.  The Ethiopian was searching for God.  He came from far away to worship in Jerusalem.  In other words, he was zealously searching for God.  He read the Bible.  He invited Philip up into his chariot to explain to him what the Bible was teaching. Saul, on the other hand, had no intention of believing in Christ.  He was an enemy. He wouldn’t even discuss anything with Christians.  He just killed them. Even this type of person is saved.  Both of these conversions were totally different.  Even so both were God’s way of leading them to Christ.  Therefore, God uses many means to bring people to him.  This passage teaches us this.

Today let’s look at how Saul became drawn to Christ.  Let’s look at 3 aspects of his conversion.

I.                Saul who persecuted the church (vs.1-2)

Here we are told how Paul wanted to kill the Christians and with what force he did so.  This can be seen by the word, “still”, in verse 1.  He consented to the death of Stephen. After that he stormed the churches by dragging men and women out of their homes and putting them in prison.  (8:3) However, that didn’t put an end to the persecution.  He was “still” threatening to persecute the church.  That zealousness spread to Damascus that was 210 kilometers from Jerusalem. He was not only persecuting the church in Jerusalem, but also churches far away from there.  Also his zealousness caused him to ask the high priest to write a letter to the synagogue in Damascus asking him to find Christian men and women and to send them back to Jerusalem.  This was to show that this wasn’t a one man movement, but that it was proper to punish the Christians.  He wanted to punish the Christians in the outer areas of Judea.  He had confidence that to persecute the Christians was to be faithful to God.  He was a scholar of the law.  He was faithful to the law.  He was confident that there was no one more faithful than himself.  By his thinking a person that was put on a cross was to be cursed.  Deut. 21:23 It was unthinkable that such a person would be raised or that he was God.  Someone who said such a thing was blaspheming God and couldn’t be forgiven.  This caused him to become so zealous in persecuting the Church.  Saul’s mistaken knowledge and mistaken zealousness caused him to walk down the wrong road in his life.

II.              Saul meets Jesus (vs.3-7)

As Saul was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven came upon him and he fell down.  We know from Acts 26:13 that this was not the light of the sun because it was brighter than the sun.  Also those that were with him could not see the light.  This was a light for Saul only.

When Saul received the light, he fell to the ground and he heard a voice, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  Those who were with him didn’t hear the voice either.  This voice too was just for Saul. Saul received a special inspiration from God.

Saul answered the voice, “Lord, who are you?” The word used for Lord is the word that is used for “Yahweh”, the God of Abraham.  In other words, at this point, Saul already knew that it was God who was talking to him.  In verses 5-8 is God’s answer to Saul’s question.  In other words, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” By using “I” and “you”, God is emphasizing that it is a one on one relationship.  Jesus is changing Paul by have a relationship personally with him.  We try to change ourselves.   Even when we think we can change, it is difficult for us to really change.  When we come face to face to others then it becomes possible to change.  That’s when we are able to see our real selves. By Jesus approaching Saul on a one to one basis, he was able to see himself in a way that he never had before.

What did Jesus mean when Jesus answered “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”?

1.    It means that Jesus who died on the cross is alive.  It means he rose.  It means what the disciples said in Jerusalem is true.

2.    It means that Jesus is the glorious Lord.  Saul thought that anyone who died on a tree was cursed. Therefore, he thought that Christians who made Christ their Lord should be persecuted. He thought he was doing the proper thing and was part of his ministry to God. If Jesus is blessed by God, and is living gloriously, then everything that Saul had done up to now was wrong.

3.    This wasn’t just being wrong, but was a huge sin toward God.  It was also a sin towards the Christians who believed in Jesus’ glory.

4.    Jesus has deep compassion and forgiveness towards such huge sinners.        Up until now what Saul has done was against Christ and unforgivable sin, but against this Saul, Jesus says, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”. He does give a long sermon.  He just says, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”. In other words He is Jesus who forgives him.  These words were a message of God’s love. Jesus loves those who don’t deserve it. Jesus forgave Saul. In I Tim. 1:15 Saul (Paul) makes that confession.

If a person is loved and forgiven, it is only by the grace of God.  Saul received　this grace. However not just him, but it is promised to all that believe in him.  Anyone who repents of their sin, and believes in Christ, will be forgiven.

When Saul met Jesus, his thinking and life was turned upside down.  To realize that everything that you believed and stood up for was wrong is an extreme shock. However, to become a person of God, this is a very necessary process.  This happens by meeting Christ. Our Christian life requires that we daily meet Christ.

III.            3 days experience in Damascus (vs. 8-9)

Next let’s look at how Saul who met Jesus was changed.   When Jesus said, ““I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”, Saul became blind. This was because of the great shock that he received.  He wasn’t able to see or eat.  He was in this condition for 3 days.  In the Bible 3 stands for completion.  After Saul met Jesus he experienced 3 days that were like death.  It was like Jesus when he died on the cross and was buried for 3 days. But, on the 3rd day Jesus rose again.  That was the same too.  Before Saul became Paul he spent 3 days in perfect humbleness.  It was the experience of death.  This experience is necessary for us to become a person of God.  For us to be changed from a person of this world to a person of God, it is important that we completely die to this world.  Then we will be able to have a real meeting with Christ.

For you, what is Damascus?  In order for Saul to live a life that pleased God, he gave his life to God.  However, before he had the wrong knowledge and values, and was heading the wrong way, but at Damascus, he was turned around.  He realized that Jesus was Christ.  Do you have any thinking like Saul that is wrong?  Who is the Christ that you know?  What is the center of your life? Even if you believe in Christ and attend church, in reality are there other things that are in the center of your life?  If that’s the case, then that is like Saul zealously going to Damascus. Just like it was necessary for Saul to have a 3 day experience in Damascus, we need to quit walking and listen to God’s word.   There we must meet Jesus.  Then just as Saul became Paul, we will be changed into a vessel of God.  We will be able to give our lives to Christ.  Therefore, let us appear before God and he will change us into his likeness.

              Today’s message title is from verse 39.  After the eunuch was baptized, he “went on his way rejoicing.”  He experienced the joy of salvation.

After Stephen was martyred, the Christians were badly persecuted and as a result were scattered throughout Samaria and the surrounding areas.  Philip came to Samaria where he preached the Gospel and many people were saved.  In today’s passage Philip’s evangelism continues.  In verse 26 we are told that Philip was led to Gaza. On the road there that goes through the desert he evangelizes and led the Ethiopian to salvation in Jesus Christ. Then in verse 39 he is led by the Spirit and he “appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” The next time Philip appears is in Acts. 21:8-9. There he is still in Caesarea so we can assume that he finally settled down in Caesarea.

Today’s passage takes place along the road to Gaza.  There Philip leads the eunuch to salvation.  The eunuch is baptized and then goes his way rejoicing.  Today let’s look at the joy of salvation that the eunuch experienced. Let’s look at three aspects of how he was led to that salvation and the joy that it brought.

I.                Go to the road that goes down to Gaza (vs. 26,27)

In verse 26 the angel of the Lord tells Philip to “Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”  There are several different roads that Philip could take, but he is told to take “the desert road”.  For Philip who was having a great ministry in Samaria, to be told to take a desert road where there are few people, by human thinking doesn’t seem like the proper thing to do.  Why would God say to do such a thing?

The reason is given in verse 27.  When Philip did what the angel told him to do, “he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians.” God sent Philip to Gaza just so that he could meet this Ethiopian and lead him to salvation.  Neither Philip nor the Ethiopian had any idea why they were going where they were.  However, God knew and God knew why they were going.  God was leading them.

There are times when God leads us down to the desert.  However, that leading is above what we can conceive in our minds.  Therefore, even if the road we are walking on is not what we expected, not the road we wanted to be on, we shouldn’t complain about it, but believe that the road is part of God’s leading and take one step at a time. Even if we don’t know why we are walking down that road, when the time comes, God will let us know the reason.  Even if it a desert road, if God has shown us that road, then we need to follow his leading and continue on that road.  Then God will lead us to the person that we need to meet along that road.

II.              Teach me　（vs. 27-35）

The Ethiopian eunuch is introduced as an eunuch.  An eunuch is someone who has had his male gentiles removed.  At those times those who served the queen had their gentiles removed and became eunuchs.  However, according to Deut. 21:1, those who had their gentiles removed were impure. Even if they were religious in their hearts, because they could not be circumcised, they could not enter the temple and had to worship in the outer courts. In other words they could not come near God. Not only that but the Ethiopian eunuch lived in Ethiopia which was considered as the furthest southern country. It was a Gentile country.  Therefore its citizens were looked down upon.  Even so he came thousands of kilometers to worship God.  He was willing to pay that big of a price to worship the Lord.  He was that religious of a person.

When we want to know someone, the easiest way to get to know him is to go visit him.  God is the same.  If we want to know God we need to go meet him.  The way we meet God is through worship.  If we really want to know God, then the best thing is to go to the church worship and meet God.

There are some people who say it does no good for them to go to church because they don’t understand the message.  The Ethiopian may not have been able to worship well either since he had to worship in the outside courts.  On the road the Ethiopian was reading Isaiah, but he couldn’t understand it.  He exclaimed that he could not understand it “unless some explains it to me”. (30)  He had been to worship the Lord, but still he didn’t understand.  However he didn’t return home in discouragement. God prepared an evangelist for him.  In other words, on the way home from worshipping God, he met God’s grace.  It would be great if we meet God in worship, but even if we don’t, God will reward us for wanting to meet Him in worship.  Therefore, it is important that we don’t get discouraged in attending worship, but continue to do so.

Luke 11:9,10

Another wonderful thing about the eunuch was that even though he was still not a believer, he had a Bible and he read it.  At that time it was difficult to get hold of a Bible because they were all hand made.  There was no printer.  Therefore, Bibles were very expensive.  Probably he bought it while he was in Jerusalem.  He was reading it in his chariot on the way home.  The roads were not paved so it must have been difficult to read while riding in the chariot.  God will never let down a person like this who really strives to read the Bible against all odds.

The eunuch read the Bible and God provided a way for him to understand it more.  They important thing is to read the Bible.  For those who don’t know where to read or how to read it, there are many devotion books to help you.  There is “Living Life” and “Saiwai na hito” For those who can’t read that much, there is “The Upper Room”. It only has 1 verse a day with a little article about that verse. You can pick the one that best fits you and that is on your level.  The important thing is not whether you understand or don’t understand, but that you keep on reading it.  If so, God will give you understanding.

Another wonderful point about the way the Ethiopian sought God was that he wanted someone to teach him.  When Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, “’How can I’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” (30)  Not only did the Ethiopian read the Bible on his own, but he realized his weaknesses and wanted someone to teach him.  The more you read the Bible, you have more questions and things that you don’t understand. You feel more and more a need for someone to explain things to you.  Such a person when they come to church receive a hint from the message.  Some people say that they don’t need help.  They say that if the have a Bible dictionary and commentary that they can understand everything so there is no need to have someone teach them.  This is just plain pride.  God could have just sent the Holy Spirit to the Ethiopian and have the Holy Spirit teach him.  However, God sent Philip.  God speaks through people.  It’s good to have someone that you can talk over the things that you don’t understand and that you have questions about.  This is how God spreads the news about Himself to others. 

The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah.  “The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell, me, please, who is the prophet talking about,” (34) “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” (35) In other words, Philip explained the Gospel.  It is important that when we read the Bible that we see Jesus in it.  The center of the Bible is Christ.  Just as Isaiah prophesized, Jesus gave his life in exchange for our sin on the cross that we might be saved.  That was so that all those “that believe in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) God loves us that much.  It was for that reason that God sent Philip there and the Ethiopian was saved.  Of course, the Ethiopian was really searching for God, so he was able to understand and believe in what Philip said.  Then the Ethiopian said, “Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” (37)

III.            The grace of Baptism (vs. 36-39)

This Ethiopian heard Philip’s teaching and he believed in Jesus and was baptized.  A person is baptized as a result of believing in Christ.  At the same time by being baptized a person also receives grace.  In the short Westminister Catechism question 89 is “What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption? Answer: The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation. The Ethiopian who through the Word of God received grace, by being baptized received even more grace.

This is one reason for being baptized.  By following the Word of God and being baptized, we receive grace.  Also by attending the Baptism class and having fellowship with and being taught by the leader is another source of grace.

Also being baptized is a confession of faith.  Some manuscripts include verse 37. “Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ The eunuch answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’” This is the confession of faith of the eunuch.  It is necessary that Christians make such a confession.

Romans 10:9,10

Mark 16:15

If we believe in Christ and are baptized, then we have confidence that we are saved.  That is why baptism is so important.  This is a Christian’s privilege and joy.

Therefore, after the Ethiopian was baptized, even though he couldn’t see Philip any more, he was filled with joy and returned home rejoicing.  It was because he had Jesus Christ the source of all joy.

In this way, those who find Jesus Christ and have Him in their lives, have an overflowing joy.  There is nothing that can provide more joy than this.  Until now the Ethiopian was in charge of all the treasury of the queen and could have had anything. However, having Christ was even more than all those treasures. Even though the Ethiopian lost Peter, even though we loose a friend, our positions, our reputations, Jesus Christ and the joy he brings is more than all these things and can’t be compared with them.   

              When Philip did greater works that the sorcerer Simeon, the Samaritans believed in Christ.  The Jerusalem Church was really surprised and sent John and Peter there.  They prayed for the Samaritans and the Holy Spirit came upon them.  Simeon who had already become a Christian was really surprised and went to the disciples and gave them money asking for the authority that they had.  Peter’s answer is in verses 20, and 21.

              His heart was not right before God.  He wanted to receive God’s gifts through money.  Today let’s look at the mistake that Philip made so that we can be careful not to make the same mistake ourselves.  Let’s look at three things in this passage.

1. I.             The one way grace of God.  (vs. 14-17)

When the Jerusalem church heard that the Samaritans had accepted the Gospel, they sent Peter and John there.  This was probably to check out the situation there.  However, also it was because the apostles had the total responsibility for the church  Therefore, they were sent there to teach and train those who were saved by laymen.  This was especially so because of the Samaritan’s history.  During the Assyrian invasion, the Samaritans intermarried with the Assyrians and as a result the fellowship with the Jews had been cut.  Therefore, the fact that the Samaritans were accepting Christ was surely a concern of the Apostles.  It was necessary for them to actually see that the Samaritans were saved and that the Jewish church and the Samaritan church were one in Christ.

When Peter and John went there they realized that the Samaritans had been baptized, but that the Holy Spirit had not come upon them yet.  Therefore, Peter and John laid their hands upon them and prayed and the Holy Spirit came upon them.  It was like Pentecost. 

This is a little mysterious.  These people believed in Christ though Philip’s evangelism.  The Holy Spirit is a guarantee that God is with us and that we are saved.  Therefore, they should have received the Holy Spirit when they received Christ.

I Cor. 12:3

When we believe in Christ we receive the Holy Spirit.  Therefore it is hard to understand why the Samaritans still had not received the Holy Spirit. 

In Acts this happened only one other time.  That is in 19:1-7.  It is when Paul went to Ephesus.  Here the Samaritans, enemies of the Jews were given the gift of tongues to show that the church is one and that Christ is for all peoples. 

  One of the mistakes that Simeon made is that he didn’t realize that the Holy Spirit is given by the one way grace of God.  He thought that the Holy Spirit was given by people with special authority within the church.  The Holy Spirit is completely a gift from God.  We don’t receive the Holy Spirit by doing something. The Holy Spirit is a gift completely from God.  The Holy Spirit is received by grace.  Therefore, there is no need to search for authority.  We need to only seek the grace of God.

1. II.           Doing little things little by little (verses 18-21)

Simeon wanted to buy the authority to lay hands on people so they could receive the Holy Spirit not only because he didn’t realize that the Holy Spirit is given by the one way grace of God, but also because he wanted instant authority.  He didn’t want to do things little by little. 

I Tim. 3:2, 6

However, it is not just Simeon who seeks instant fame.  We often do the same thing.  We fail to read the Bible everyday and to pray, we don’t enthusiastically attend the events of the church and we don’t witness, but we work hard at things that will surprise people.  Revival is great if it results in a renewal in spiritual disciplines.  However, when it is only to cause other people to be surprised, then it is very dangerous.   When we concentrate on doing little things little by little, we see God do great things.

1. III.         Pray for repentance (Verses 21-24)

The root of Simeon’s problem was that he had forgotten about “heart”. Simeon wasn’t able to receive the authority because his heart was not right before God.  Therefore, he needed to repent.  He was filled with bitterness and captive to sin so repentance was necessary.  However, Peter says that in verse 22 to repent and “perhaps” God will forgive him.  When we repent God always forgives us.  The reason that Peter uses “perhaps” is because Simeon still hadn’t completely repented.  It is like Pharaoh in Exodus 8:8, 28; 9:28; 10:17) In the end Pharaoh’s heart became completely hardened.  Probably Peter saw the same kind of hardened heart with Simeon.  Therefore he used the word, “perhaps”.  However, no matter how much bitterness we have in our heart and how captive we are to sin, if we truly repent, then God will forgive us of our sins.

Through Simeon we can learn that the Holy Spirit is a gift.  It is a complete gift from God.  Let’s live in that grace and have a right heart before God.     

In verse 1 we are told that Stephen’s death triggered violent persecution upon the church.  As a result the members of the church were scattered through out Judea and Samaria.  Amazingly the Christians wherever they were scattered preached the Gospel of Christ and the Gospel spread throughout all the regions.  Their faith and evangelism became real.  The promise of Acts 1:8 was being fulfilled.  God brought this verse into fulfillment by His own plans and leading.  Today let’s look at the people who were scattered.

I.                The people that were scattered (vs.1-4)

“That day” refers to the day that Stephen was martyred.  That day violent persecution fell upon the Jerusalem church. Except for the apostles, the members of the church were scattered through out Judea and Samaria. In God’s plan this was so that the Word of God would be preached. 

When we look at this passage we can see that the bitter things that happen in life are just one step in the fulfillment of God’s plan in our lives.  We sometimes wonder why things happen to us and why God doesn’t seem to care about us, but God wants to use the situation that we are in so that the Gospel can be spread. We need to believe that that is the reason that we are in the situation that we are in now and think about how we can use the situation to share the Gospel.

Except for the apostles, the members of the church were scattered.  The people who were scattered weren’t special people, but everyday laymen.  Even so they preached the Gospel.

In verse 14 we are told that the 12 apostles heard that the Samaritans had believed in God so they sent Peter and John to them.  A similar event takes place in Acts 11:19-22.  Those who were scattered brought the Gospel to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and to Antioch.  In Antioch the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles too and many people turned to Christ. Therefore, the apostles sent Barnabas there.

Often the church takes an attitude of the Samaritans would never believe in Christ anyway.  It’s not necessary to evangelize the Greeks, etc., but the early believers didn’t think that way.  Wherever they went they found new people to share the Gospel with and opened the door to a new evangelism. The growth of the church is based upon the energy of each believer.  God used each believer to share the Gospel and widen the evangelistic fields.

II.              The evangelism of Philip in Samaria (vs. 5-11)

An example of evangelism by laymen is Philip who evangelized in Samaria.  Philip appeared earlier in Acts 6.  There had been complaints that the Greek speaking Jewish widows were not getting their portion of the daily distributions.  Therefore Philip was one of the seven men chosen to help with the distributions.   That was his main responsibility, but he also like Stephen preached the Gospel.  When the believers were dispersed, Philip went to Samaria.  Samaria was conquered by Assyria in 722 B.C. The Jews that were living there at that time intermarried with non-Jews. Jews valued pure Jews so they couldn’t accept the Samaritans.  Also the Jews thought that Jerusalem is the Holy City.  However, the Samaritans built their own temple and worshipped there.  Therefore, the Jews could not accept the Samaritans at all.  

Philip preached the Gospel in Samaria telling the people that Jesus was the Messiah that they were waiting for.  However Philip didn’t just preach the Gospel, but also cast out evil spirits, and healed the sick. They did the same type of work that Jesus did and showed that people that God’s kingdom had come.  This caused the town to be full of joy. 

Philip was able to do such a great work because he preached Christ.  He didn’t talk about his own thinking, or use some kind special technique.  He just preached about Christ. This Christ saved people, changed people, and made them stand up.  Christ’s Gospel has that strength.  This is the big difference between the Sorcerer Simeon who appears in verse 9.  He performed sorcery and surprised the Samaritans and spoke like he was a great person.  However, Philip didn’t perform magic, but only preached the real Savior, Christ.  Through Christ a person can have a new live and become a new person.

III.            Trust in Christ (vs.12-13)

Until Philip came everyone was interested in the Sorcerer Simeon. However, when Philip came and they heard about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and next they believed in Christ.  Both men and women were baptized. Not only that but Simeon himself accepted Christ and was baptized and followed Philip. This is because the joyful news that Jesus is Christ, the Savior changed people’s lives and is the strength of God.

I Cor. 1:18

Simeon heard Philip’s Gospel message, saw his ministry of healing, and saw many miracles and Simeon realized that this was the real thing.  The Gospel has this much power.  If the Gospel has this much power, then it is important that we live by this Gospel.  We need to just believe in Christ.

Philip preached this Christ. This Christ changed people, healed people, and made people stand up, and brought joy to the whole town.  The Word of God has power to save people, build them up, help them, and encourage them.  If that’s the case then we need to trust in the Word of God and Christ.

Acts 20:32

Faith in the Gospel gives us strength not to live for ourselves, but for Jesus Christ.  This faith in the Gospel gives power for people to be saved from sorcery.  No matter where we are scattered to it gives us power to share the Gospel there.

              In verse 37 the prophet like Moses is Jesus Christ.  Stephen is on trial for “speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” Ｉn his defense　Stephen is saying that that is not true。 First Stephen is explaining who the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph is. In other words, He is the “God of glory”. (2)  The “God of glory” doesn’t just live in the Jerusalem temple, but while Abraham was still in Mesopotamia, He showed His glory.  Also even when the possibility that the promised land would be given seemed very small, God was at work.  God controlled history and Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt and became the ruler of Egypt. Next Stephen is responding to their accusation that he had turned his back on Moses.  Stephen is saying that he did not turn his back on Moses, but the opposite.  He is following Jesus Christ whom Moses had pointed out. In verse 37 Stephen is quoting Moses’ words written in Deut. Today let’s look at 3 things we can learn from the relationship of Moses and Christ.

I.                Moses is a small model of Christ. (vs.17-22)

Stephen is saying that He is not turning his back on Moses. He is explaining that Moses was pointing to Jesus and that he is following this Jesus Christ whom Moses had pointed out.  He is saying that Moses was a shadow of Jesus Christ. Moses’ birth was related to the time that God had promised to Abraham.  That promise is in verse 5 that this land would be given to his descendants.  As it became near to the fulfillment of this promise, the Israelites increased in number in Egypt.  The Pharaoh became concerned and made life even more bitterly for the Israelites and killed all male babies who were born by throwing them into the Nile River.

It was at this time that Moses was born.  Moses should have been killed too, but his mother hid him for 3 months.  Then she could hide him no longer so she put him in a papyrus basket and put it in the grasses of the Nile.  The daughter of the Pharaoh just happened to come to take a bath and found the basket.  She felt sorry for the baby and decided to raise him as her child.  Moses was raised as the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter.  Therefore, he was given an Egyptian education. As a result he had exceptional skills.

Stephen is giving us a detailed story of Moses’ life because he wants to show us the similarities between Moses and Christ.  He is saying that Moses’ birth and education was like Jesus.  According to Matt. 2:16, when Jesus was born too, the king, Herod, was having all boys 2 years old and younger living abound Jerusalem killed. This was because Herod was afraid that his kingship was being threatened.  It was like when the Pharaoh was afraid because the Israelites were increasing in Egypt and had all the male babies killed.  In Luke 2:52; 24:19 Jesus is said to be exceptional which is similar to Moses who had a royal education and gained exceptional skills. 

We can see this in verse 23 too. When Moses was 40 years old he saw an Israelite being beaten by an Egyptian, Moses killed the Egyptian.  He thought he would be understood by his fellow Israelites, but instead they asked “Who made you our ruler and lord over us?”  He was asked if he was going to kill him too.  He was not accepted and fled to Median. 

Jesus was the same.  In John 1:11 we are told that Jesus was not accepted by his own people.  He was put on a cross and killed. 

However, God didn’t forget Moses who was in Median.  40 years later God appeared to Moses in the Sinai desert and spoke to Moses the words given in verses 32-34.

God is sending out Moses to rule and liberate.  “This Moses” (35) and “This person” (36) are being emphasized.  Moses is pointing to Jesus. 

Acts 2:23, 24

Moses who was asked “Who made you our ruler and lord?” is now being sent out to be a ruler and liberator.  Jesus who the Israelites hated and put on the cross, God has raised to set us free from the slavery of sin and death.  Moses led the people, and worked many miracles and wonders in Egypt, at the Red sea, and during the 40 years in the wilderness. Also God through Christ is working many wonders and miracles among them to testify to Christ.

Vs. 37, 38

Jesus is the prophet like Moses that Moses prophesized about.  Just as Moses received the Word of God and gave it to the people at the meeting place in the desert, Jesus gave himself as the bread from heaven, and gave the Word of God to the church in the desert.  Jesus was who Moses was pointing to and who the Israelites really need to follow. Jesus said this too in John 5:45, 46

Therefore, Stephen is not blaspheming against Moses.  In fact, the Jesus that he believes in and road of Jesus that he is following is in reality what Moses was pointing to. This is the correct road. However, they aren’t able to understand this.  And they are killing Stephen who is really following Moses and the Prophets.  We all experience times like this.  We are doing what we know is right, but others don’t understand what we are doing.  Sometimes we experience hard times from the hands of our family and friends. We need to explain our thinking in love until we our understood.

II.              Israel who turned their backs on God.  (39-41)

In verse 23 we can see that the Israelites thrusted Moses away.  As a result they had to wander in the desert.  However more than that they revolted against Moses and made the golden calf and worshiped it.

Vs. 39, 41

This event occurred in the Sinai desert after Moses had saved the Israelites from the cruel Egypt.  While Moses was receiving the Law at the top of Mt. Sinai, the people got tired of waiting for Moses and they gathered around Aaron. They discussed making a God to go before them. Then they made a golden calf and worshiped it. (Exodus 32:4)  “In their hearts (they) turned back to Egypt.” (39) Even though God had set them free, they soon forgot the grace of God and looked at the problems they faced and complained to the point that they began to think Egypt was better.  We need to be careful not to make the same mistake.

The beginning of worries is the end of faith.  When things don’t go the way we want them to go, we often make golden calves, ask “Why did you lead me to this place?”, etc., but that is not trusting in God.  We need to stand on the promises of the Bible that God gives us and walk by faith.

III.            God who turned his back on Israel  (42,43)

God’s punishment upon the Israelites for turning their backs on Moses was

1.    “God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies.”  (42)  “the shrine of Molech” in verse 43 was actually the god of the Ammonites. It had the head of a cow with both arms spread out wide.  “The star of your god Rephan” also in verse 43 is a star idol that the Egyptians, Assyrians, and the Phoenicians worshiped. God’s judgment upon those who don’t follow God is to turn away from them, and let them do as they want.  In other words, He has no interest in them.  Proverbs 3:12

2.    God sends Israel into exile beyond Babylon. (43) Stephen quotes Amos 5:25-27 as translated in the Septuagint, except that he replaces Damascus with Babylon in view of the fact that the final exile of Israel from the Promised Land was carried out by the Babylonians. Amos was speaking first of the Assyrian exile of the northern kingdom.  Stephan is saying that the sin that the Israelites committed at Sinai, the sin that caused Israel to be exiled to Assyria in 721 B.C.,  and the sin that caused Israel to be exiled to Babylon in 721 were all the same sin of blaspheming  Moses and putting their own thinking first.  This is the sin of verse 51 “stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears” Stephen is saying that this is the sin of the Sanhedrin. 

This isn’t just a problem of the Israelites in Jesus’ day, but in every era and place.  Those whose hearts become hard and they blaspheme the Holy Spirit are the same as these Jews.  We need to stop having hard hearts, listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us, and open our hearts.  This is the only way to avoid God’s wrath.

Romans 5:9

The only way we can be saved is by the blood of Jesus. Let’s give testimony to this fact. This is what Stephan is saying..

              Today’s passage is about Stephen.  He was one of the 7 who were chosen to distribute the food to the widows.  Here he is described as having a countenance like an angel in verse 15.  Today let’s look at 3 things that we can learn from his countenance.

I.                A person full of grace and strength (vs.8)

The signs and wonders that Stephen performed among the people were so amazing that those who witnessed them were surprised and realized that they were from God.  He performed the signs so that the people would know that Jesus was the savior that God had sent. The apostles had performed many signs and miracles (2:43; 5:12), but the miracles that Stephen performed were even more amazing.  He was able to do so because he was filled with grace and strength.

He was full of grace so he was willing to distribute the food to the widows. Also when he saw sick people, he had compassion and prayed for them.  We too need to be filled with grace.

Ephesians 2:8

Grace is a gift from God that we receive by being touched by the grace of God ourselves.  Therefore, we ourselves need to experience the grace of God.

            Stephen was also filled with strength.  This strength is the strength of the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 1:8

Stephan was filled with the Holy Spirit so he was full of strength.  He was a strong witness to the Lord whether he was performing miracles or distributing food to the widows or preaching the Gospel.  We can see in verse 10 that when he spoke no one could speak against him. Stephan was that strong.  The church needs to pray to be filled with strength so that the pastor, the church leaders, and everyone who is serving in the church can work powerfully.

II.              A person full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit  (vs. 9)

Stephen performed many miracles and signs by being filled in God’s grace and strength and as a result there were people who were opposed to him. These were the people who were in the Synagogue of the Freedmen. In 61 B.C. many Jewish slaves were brought to Rome.  They were soon set free and they and their descendants returned to Jerusalem where they began to worship in another temple than the temple that the Jews worshipped in in Jerusalem.  Their temple became known as the temple of the Freedmen.  These people had been from all parts of the world so there were Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia. Each area formed their own group within the synagogue.  They were seen as not being as religious as the Jews who had always lived in Jerusalem.  They used a Greek Bible instead of the original Hebrew one.  They didn’t worship at the official temple. Therefore, they were seen as liberal.  However, they were people who returned to Jerusalem、the center of Jewish worship and so in reality there were a lot of really religious people in this group.  For example, Paul who later became a Christian and spread Christianity through out the world, was from the Freedman temple. If you look at 21:39 you will see that he was from Tarsus, Cilicia. He was very zealous, in fact, zealous to the point that he was responsible for Stephan’s stoning. (7:58) So there were very, very zealous Jews in the Freedmen synagogue.  It was probably these zealous men that began to argue with Stephan. They were probably objecting to points about the law.  The Apostles call Jesus, Christ, the savior.  The Jews from the Freedmen synagogue could not accept that and considered the Apostles to be blaspheming God.  However, Stephen was full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit so no one was able to oppose him.  Therefore, they “secretly persuaded some men to” speak to the elders and the teachers of the law against Stephen saying that he had blasphemed against God. (11)  They managed to get the elders and teachers of the law stirred up to the point where they “seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.” (12)  Up until now it has been the elders and the teachers of the law that have persecuted the church.  Now it is the Freedmen that are the leaders in the persecution.

Proverbs 18:17

The first person to give his case is at the advantage.  The court that Stephen is standing in is the court the persecuted the apostles.  Therefore, he is facing a very difficult situation.

Next according to verses 13 and 14, they found false witnesses to testify against Stephen.  To go against the temple or law was according to the Jewish court was a death penalty.  Therefore, since they weren’t able to oppose Stephen, they are trying to kill him.  However, we can see that their witness was untrue.

1.               vs. 11. This was originally something they planned.

2.               vs. 13 The word that is used for “This fellow” is a very degrading word.  It is used again in verse in verse 14 for “this” Jesus.  Stephen would never use this word for Jesus.  Therefore, they are not using Stephen’s words, but adding their jealousy and hostility to his words.  They are using Stephen’s words for their own purposes.  This in itself shows that they were false witnesses.

3.               However, the greatest lie was that they testified that they heard that “Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” (14) This is a lie.  Jesus never said this. He said that he was going to build this holy temple.

John 2:19

              Jesus said this in reference to His house of prayer being used for a den of robbers.  In other words they were destroying the temple      Therefore, Jesus says that he is going to build the temple.        

4.           Another mistake was the temple that Jesus was talking about was his body, but they failed to understand that and considered it to be the Jerusalem temple.  Even if they were spiritually blind and didn’t understand what Jesus was saying, in reality their inability to understand came from their evil hearts and lies.  If they were responsive to Jesus they would have asked Jesus what he meant. The fact that they didn’t asked Jesus and made their own interpretation shows that they thought their thinking was correct and wanted to use Stephen to make it so.

The disciples too at first didn’t understand the meaning of what Jesus was saying.  When Jesus rose, they remembered what Jesus had said and they were able for the first time to believe in the Bible and what Jesus had said.  Also Stephen in 7:48 in his message tells us that the real temple is the body of the resurrected Lord, not the temple made by man.  Therefore, what they are testifying is not true but a result of hostility and bitterness.  They just wanted to get rid of him.  How scary this is!  We need to be careful that such thinking doesn’t grow up within us. 

Romans 12:1.2

               If we look at verse 10, we can see how Stephen reacted to the Freedmen.  He spoke to them in wisdom and by the Spirit.  

Acts 7:48

               Here Stephen is saying that God doesn’t live in a house made by hands.  This refers to the temple.  In other words, God doesn’t live in the Jewish temple, but in Christ’s body, the church.  When Jesus said that in 3 days he would build it up, he is referring to building his body, the church.  In other words, the Christian church is the replacement of the Jerusalem temple, the real house of God, the place where God lives.  This is the wisdom that he had.

Colossians 2:3

I Cor. 1:24

               This is the deep secret to how Stephen was able to perform unbelievable signs and miracles among the people.  It was because he trusted in Christ. He believed that  in Christ was God’s strength, and God’s wisdom. This gave him power.

               It doesn’t matter what problem the church has because through the resurrected Jesus Christ the life of God is running through it.  God is with us so we have nothing to fear.  The problem is that we don’t realize this and try to do things by our own power and emotions.  We can overcome any problem by following God’s will and His Word. This was Stephen’s faith.  He was full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit, grace and power.  Therefore, even if we are facing opposition like the freedmen opposed Stephen, we can have deep peace.  That is what Stephen’s countenance was like.   

III.            A countenance like an angel  (vs.15)    

This is an unbelievable record because we all when we face a situation when we are being condemned for something that we did not do, we get very upset.  However Stephen didn’t.  He had no bitterness.  His heart was not stirred up, and his countenance was like an angel. His countenance was like Jesus’ at his transfiguration. It was glowing. This was because he was speaking on God’s behalf and because he was filled with the Holy Spirit.  He trusted in his heart in the Lord and was filled with the Holy Spirit so he was able to have a countenance like an angel even in the midst of opposition.

We too need to experience life through the church of Christ that Christ promised to build up in 3 days.  And then by walking by the Word of God, be filled in the Holy Spirit.  Then no matter what circumstances we are in, we need to have a countenance like an angel.

              In verse 33 it says, “When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.”  “Heard this” refers to hearing the defense of the apostles.  The apostle’s teaching, in other words, the teaching of salvation only through the name of Jesus Christ, had spread throughout Jerusalem.  The High priest and all his associates out of jealousy arrested and put the apostles in prison. (vs.28)  However, the Word of God needed to be preached so God sent an angel that set them free and had them preach the Word of life. Therefore, the temple officers arrested them again and brought them before the Sanhedrin saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name… Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” (28)

              In response to this the apostles answer is given in verse 29. “We must obey God rather than men!” (29) Even if you command us not to do it, God has told us to do so. He has commanded us to do so.  Therefore, we are going to follow His command.  Also our God raised Jesus, whom you have put on the cross and killed, and has made him the Savior and exalted him to his own right hand. This wasn’t just to show Israel that they were wrong.  This was to make Jesus “Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.” (31)  It was so that the Jewish leaders would realize their responsibility, repent, and ask God for forgiveness. When they heard this defense, “they were furious and wanted to put them to death.” (33)  However, in the midst of this there was someone who was calm, Gamaliel. Also the apostles themselves in the midst of this continued their responsibility to share the Gospel.  In this passage 3 different attitudes towards the apostle’s defense can be seen.  These 3 attitudes are seen in all ages and in this country too. Today let’s look at these three attitudes and what kind of attitude God wants us to have.

The first attitude can be seen in verse 33, the attitude of the High Priest and all his associates.  The second is in verses 34-40 in the proposal of Gamaliel.  The third is the attitude of the apostles themselves in verses 41 and 42.

I.                The furious people (33)

“They” in verse 33 are the High Priest and all of his associates. (21, 27)  “Furious” is extreme anger that controls both our heart and mind.  Why were they so furious?

1.                                  They had wrong preconceived doctrine.  The apostles are saying that Jesus who is supporting them is the true Messiah.  The reason for their belief is the cross and resurrection.  Therefore, in verse 30 they say, “The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.”  The fact that Jesus who died on the cross and rose 3 days later proves that Jesus is the Savior. However, this proof made no sense to them. It made no sense to them because they didn’t believe in miracles.  The Sadducees which made up the Sanhedrin rejected the idea of a spiritual world and only believed in natural things that they could perceive in their brains, but other than God and Moses, they wouldn’t accept anything that they couldn’t understand logically.  Therefore, they not only couldn’t accept Jesus’ resurrection, but they saw it as disobeying God and thus such people should be killed. Their preconceived idea that a dead person could never be resurrected caused them to be against Jesus’ resurrection and made the argument that following Christ was actually following God meaningless.

2.                                  The second reason was pride.  They were the highest authority in the temple.  The apostles criticized them saying, “The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.” Therefore, becoming furious was natural.  When their pride is hurt, sinful man’s attitude is anger.  The other day on T.V. Tamori and Atsushi were talking about what kind of attitude you should take when you have a fight with your spouse. Atsushi said, “I never say, ‘I’m sorry’.”  Until the other person comes and apologizes, he doesn’t make any contact at all.  When the other person apologizes, he says, “O.K. I’ll forgive you.”  He says that this works well.  Tamori commented that that was really immature. A person that is good at marriage relationships does not take that kind of attitude. That type of person throws away his pride.  A husband throws away his pride and from his end apologizes.  That’s how a mature person that is good at marriage relationships thinks.  I thought Tamori knows what he is saying. An immature person is set in his thinking and position.  A really mature person can throw them away.  Christ was God, but he was able to throw his position away and become a person that served others.  He became human.  Not only did he become human, but he humbled himself to the cross.  (Phil. 2:6-8)

The High priest and his associates were the opposite of that.  They weren’t able to throw away their authority and positions. They couldn’t accept the criticism of the apostles. Instead, they tried to get rid of them. They weren’t able to change their thinking or opinion. They had an illusion that they would be able to show that they were right.  Because they couldn’t change, they became hysteric and furious.  We need to realize what God is doing, and not decide truth according to our own strength or authority. We need to interpret what events mean spiritually, accept the message that God is giving us, and follow the Lord’s will.  Then our heart will really be peaceful.  To be stuck in our own thinking, to have to have our own way is like a radio that isn’t tuned to a station.  You can’t hear the program that you want to hear.  Under such conditions you will never have peace.  You need to be tuned to channel of Gods will. Only by following God’s will you be able to find peace.

When do you get angry?  When you aren’t recognized by others?  When you are the center of gossip? When someone uses your things?  When someone didn’t keep their promise?  When someone betrays you? When others receive more respect than you?  No matter when it is, when you need to throw away yourself, give it all to the Lord, and accept the fact, and you will be freed from the anger.  If like the High priest and his associates, you try to protect your position, then it shows that you are still immature.  When you try to stick to you own thinking, then you can’t grow.  No matter what situation you are in, you need to find spiritual meaning in it, catch the message that the Lord is giving through it, follow the Lord’s will, and take the attitude that it will help you mature.

II.              Gamaliel’s proposal (vs.34-39)

Here “a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people” appears. He was a teacher of the law and a Pharisee, but he was different from other teachers of the law.  He was honored by all the people.  According to Acts 22:3, he was the great apostle Paul’s teacher so he was a high ranking teacher.  At that time in the Jewish world he was from the most popular Hillel school.  The man who started the Hillel school was possibly his grandfather. Usually the teachers of the law out of respect were called Rabbi, but those Rabbi who were really high level were called Rabban. Within the Jewish history there aren’t many teachers who were called Rabban.  The first person to be called Rabban was Gamaliel.  Jewish traditions expressed his importance by saying, “When Rabban Gamaliel, the Elder died, the glory of the Law ceased and purity and abstinence died.”

This Gamaliel stood up in the middle of the Sanhedrin and “ordered that the men (apostles) be put outside for a little while.” (34)  Then he addressed the Sanhedrin encouraging them to think carefully as to how they were going to handle the apostles.  There was a Jewish revolutionist who said he would the divide the Jordan River and people rallied to him.  He was killed by the Romans and “all his followers were dispersed.” (36)  Also there was Judas the Galilean who led a revolt, but “He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.” (37) Therefore, he suggested that they leave the apostles alone too. “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.” (38, 39)                

Gamaliel was certainly a teacher to be respected .  He made a perfect proposal.

1.                                  We can see a deep trust in God.  He didn’t try to do things in his own strength, but left everything in the hands of God’s providence.  He had a deep trust in God and obeyed him.

2.                                  For him the apostles were a completely different type of people. Even towards people with different opinions and principles, he never lost a kind spirit.

3.                                  By sending the apostles who were hated out of the room for a while, he tried to bring calmness back to the room. He can be given credit for trying to control his emotions.

In other words, His attitude was a deep trust in God and obedience; kindness towards people with different opinions; controlled his emotions; in every aspect he used great care and properness. Indeed, he was a Rabban, a great teacher.

Shuraierumahar (spelling ?) said, “The Lord wanted to tell him more than any one else, ‘you are not far from the kingdom of God.”  Also in the old church legends there was stories that Gamaliel quietly became a Christian, and then with his son and Rabbi Nicodemus were baptized by Peter and John.

He is a perfect example of when you are among overwhelming different opposing views, to say what is right, and when you don’t know what God’s will is, to be patient. This passage has a lot of things to teach me I think.  Over and over again I make mistakes because I start to do something before I check to see if it is the Lord’s will or not. Also his words had power to influence everyone not because his opinion was just logical and outstanding, but because his life was one that he was respected by all people.  That means that we too should strive to listen to and follow the Word of God. Then we will be filled by the Holy Spirit, and by receiving the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and power, we will be a good witness to those around us. 

However, is Gamaliel’s attitude really to be praised? If his opinion was really accepted, then why do we see in verse 40 that the apostles were whipped, charged not to speak in the name of Jesus before they were freed? This is not leaving the men alone. That is not something that people who are persuaded by Gamaliel’s proposal would do. What does this mean?

Yasuo Sakibara in the commentary that he wrote he said that if Gamaliel was really a person with understanding and if his words were really persuasive, then the apostles would not have been treated like that.  They would have left everything in God’s hands and quietly waited for the Lord’s leading. The fact that they treated the apostles like that shows that Gamaliel’s plan to do nothing, tells us in reality it was not the kind plan like we are thinking of.  His attitude of kindness, looked like he had understanding, but in reality there was no will to follow it If the apostles work from men or if it was God, even if it was just from one of them, they couldn’t just “”Leave these men alone!” (38) If it was from God, could they say “Oh, so. It’s from God. Then what shall we do. Wait a minute.  I’m busy right now.  I’ll believe a little later.” They couldn’t say that. If there was any possibility, they would have enthusiastically looked into it.  However, we can’t see any attitude like that. This shows that they had no intention to follow it.

Therefore, Gamaliel’s attitude looks at a glance as being fair. It looks like there’s understanding, but in reality there is a problem in their respect for the living God. “Leave these men alone”, is not a real concern about whether it is from God or not.  What is needed is like what the apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men!” (29) This can be seen in us today too I think.  Even though the truth is clear, in order to avoid it, we always stand looking on.  We don’t jump into it.  This is the Japanese way.  At a glance it looks good. However, if it is truth, either you follow it or you are against it.  There is no way you can be a outside person looking in.

Rev. 3:15-20

The Lord is knocking at the door of our heart. Don’t be satisfied in yourself. You say you are rich. You have acquired wealth. You say that you lack nothing.  To become a really rich person we need to put salve on our eyes so that we can see clearly and see that we are satisfied with a lukewarm faith. We need to realize that we are really poor, and then earnestly depend on the Lord.  The Lord wants us to become that king of our heart.  For that reason he is standing and knocking at the door to our heart.  The Lord  knocks at the door so that the Christians in the Laodicea church would not be content in their condition and that there would be no lukewarm Christians there. It was also discipline from the Lord.

Every morning when I get up, the first thing I do is drink coffee. After sitting in the sofa and drinking hot coffee, I begin my work of the day.  It’s not after I pray.  It’s after I drink my coffee.  However, the coffee must be hot.  I can’t drink lukewarm coffee.  God is the same.  God wants us to be either hot or cold.  He doesn’t want us just looking on.  He wants us to have a faith where we respond enthusiastically to the challenges of the Lord. This means that Gamaliel’s attitude was at a glance one of trusting the Lord and being kind to others and he had an amazing ability to keep himself calm. However that wasn’t the response that God wanted.  Then what kind of attitude does God want us to have.  Next let’s look at this.

III.            Rejoicing that you have been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus. (41,42)

The Sanhedrin influenced by Gamaliel, called the apostles back in, whipped them, told them they were not to preach in the name of Christ and then set them free.  When they left, they rejoiced that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus. Then “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.” (42) It’s unbelievable.  When they suffered disgrace for the name of Jesus, they weren’t sad, but rejoiced.  It was thought that to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus meant having a very difficult and important experience.  Jesus taught this too.

Luke 6:22,23

I Peter 4:14,16

To suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus is something for Christians to rejoice about. This is because it is the Lord’s will.  The joy we have is from the Lord.  It comes from having our hearts satisfied by the Lord.  In general we think of joy being selfish, coming from something we gained or from being praised. That kind of joy we have when we are content, but other times it disappears.  However the joy that Jesus gives is different.  It does not depend upon circumstances. 

Phil. 4:11

Paul was able to say this because the joy that Paul had was different from  selfish joy because it was from God. He tells us this secret in Phil. 4:12,13

The key to his victory was Jesus Christ.  Joy is having your heart satisfied by Christ.  The Sanhedrin thought that joy was produced by having their claims accepted and having their authority recognized. Also, not like Gamaliel, they didn’t find their joy by trying to take a position in the middle of the road so that they would be like by others, but instead found joy in living to proclaim Jesus’ name.

This is the characteristic of Christians. It’s wonderful. Even if we are not accepted by many people and we have been left out history and have suffered disgrace, for the sake of Jesus Christ it becomes the source of our joy in Christ.  Christians have had victory in this world by having this kind of stable joy.

Nobumichi Murakami from the Japanese Holiness Church whose father was also a Pastor too during the middle of the war was put in prison.  The church was disbanded, and they were not allowed to meet. At that time Rev. Murakami was in Aomori and his mother supported the rest of the family by putting little bags on the apples. Rev. Murakami said that when he grew up his mother was experiencing many troubles.  As a child it seemed unbelievable that even though his father had been arrested and put in prison, his mother was always singing praises. Her face was always smiling. It wasn’t because she hated the father.  It was because the suffering was for the Lord, Jesus Christ. His mother often said, “Dad is suffering for Jesus, so he must be happy.”  Because of the era he lived in, Rev. Murakami was often called “a child of the spy” at school and other children would throw stones at him.  Then his mother would encourage him by saying, “Today you suffered for Jesus so your prizes in heaven increased.” Because his father was sick he was able to be released from prison after several months.  However there were many pastor who died in the prisons. In present day Japan where there is peace and freedom, it is hard to believe that such things happened before during the war.

We can’t say for sure that this will not happen again in the future.  Even if this doesn’t happen, we may be disgraced in other ways.  We need to be like the apostles and rejoice that we are worthy to share in it.  We need to be prepared for it.  This is the attitude that Jesus wants us to have in every age and every place.