Tag: Acts

Were Early Christians Socialists?

Today socialism is a hot topic. In 2015, Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders won the hearts of many young Americans in his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination with promises of free college tuition and medicare for all. More recently Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has taken the spotlight as she pushes the radical vision of her Green New…
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Acts 9

Read: Acts 9 This chapter represents a turning point in the Book of Acts. The persecutor named Saul becomes the persecuted. Whereas most of the Book of Acts has been about Peter, John, and Jesus’ other disciples, now the story shifts to focus much more on Saul. Here in this chapter, one of the most…
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Acts 8

Read: Acts 8 Here we see that the persecution that the Christians are facing worsens to the point that “all except the apostles were scattered.” This forces the new believers to go to places they normally wouldn’t go. Philip specifically goes to Samaria. Typically, Jews hated the Samaritans; a Jewish man like Phillip would not…
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Acts 7

Read: Acts 7 When good things begin to happen, Satan prepares to make his move. In Acts 7 we have the first recorded instance of someone being killed for proclaiming the name of Jesus. Stephen, “full of the Holy Spirit,” speaks a powerful message about the history of Israel and he condemns the listeners for rejecting the…
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Acts 6

Read: Acts 6 Here in this chapter we see the need for delegation in church leadership. Many people today expect that it is the pastor’s job to do the ministry and they leave it at that. They give to the church to support the pastor and his family so he can dedicate time to work…
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Acts 5

Read: Acts 5 In this chapter we see a lot happening with the early church.  First we see that God does not tolerate false testimony when Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit.  This was not because they didn’t give all the money away from selling their land; it was because they lied and…
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Acts 4

Read: Acts 4 Peter and John are confronted and arrested because of what they did in chapter 3.  This did not dampen their spirits at all! Instead, these two men amaze their captors with their boldness.  Peter and John are just ordinary men, yet they see that there is something inexplicably amazing about them. They…
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Acts 3

Read: Acts 3 In the beginning of chapter 3, Peter and John heal a man and the people are astonished at what they see.  Peter and John tell them that it is not by their own doing, but by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that they are able to heal.  These people no…
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Acts 2

Read: Acts 2 This chapter contains one of the most important moments in history; the descent of the Holy Spirit on believers at Pentecost was a game changer. These ordinary people became extraordinary people once they were filled with the Holy Spirit. This moment was so powerful that about three thousand of those in attendance became believers…
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Acts 1

Read: Acts 1 The Book of Acts is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke, which is the “first narrative” that he is referencing in verse 1. In The Gospel of Luke, we learn about the things that Jesus did during his earthly ministry; The Book of Acts starts after he has been resurrected. Jesus…
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