As we’ve already noted, there was some opposition to taking the gospel to the Gentiles. Peter had been criticized by the “circumcision party” for eating with uncircumcised men (Acts 11.1-2). However, once the apostle reported how the Lord had given the Holy Spirit to Cornelius and his family, these traditionalists “glorified God, saying, ‘Then to... Continue Reading →

On the day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed that Jesus was crucified, then raised and ultimately exalted (Acts 2.23,32-33). Paul proclaimed the same when he proclaimed the gospel at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13.28,32-33,37). Jesus is now the exalted King, but His exaltation came through suffering. Significantly, while on this earth Jesus told His disciples that they... Continue Reading →

“and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1.8 ESV) Chapter 13 begins the fulfillment of the third part of Jesus’ plan: spreading the gospel to the end of the earth. Luke prepared us for this moment by recording the conversion... Continue Reading →

Throughout history, the Kingdom of God has been challenged on various fronts. In this class we will note how the Kingdom triumphed over two very different challenges: 1) the saints misunderstanding God’s purpose in redeeming the Gentiles and 2) secular persecution of the church. Notes From The Text 11.1-18, Peter Defends Going To The Gentiles... Continue Reading →

Every Jew was familiar with the regulations laid out in Leviticus 11, for that was where God laid out their dietary restrictions, defining what was clean and what was unclean. And why was God so concerned that His people be able to discern between clean and unclean? “For I am the LORD who brought you... Continue Reading →

The Lord promised that when His Kingdom was established, “all the nations shall flow to it” (Isaiah 2.2). While on the earth Jesus stated that “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd”... Continue Reading →

The Lord had told the apostles that they would “be my witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1.8). Jerusalem had been the setting of Acts 1-7, but beginning with chapter 8 we see the gospel starting to spread to surrounding areas. What was probably... Continue Reading →

Over the last couple of lessons we’ve noted how the citizens of God’s Kingdom dealt with opposition. Persecution from the Jewish leaders did not stop the proclamation of the gospel or hinder the growth of the Kingdom (see Acts 5.42). Nor did internal problems such as sin or even disharmony in the group (see Acts... Continue Reading →

God had ransomed a people before. Israel had been brought out of Egyptian bondage by the mighty acts of God. Jehovah led them through the Red Sea, destroying their enemies in the process. He provided for their every need, supplying water where there was none and causing manna to appear every morning. And when hostile... Continue Reading →

One thousand years before Jesus’ life on earth, David penned these words: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed…” (Psalm 2.1-2). As we will see in this lesson, those words would form part of the... Continue Reading →