Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“Now those who had been scattered went about proclaiming the good news of the word. And Philip came down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. And the crowds with one mind were paying attention to what was being said by Philip, as they heard him and saw the signs that he was performing. For many of those who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them, crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:4-8)

Acts 8:3 showed us how enthusiastic Saul was about persecuting the Jewish believers in Jesus. He thought they were slack concerning the Law and following God’s dictates to the Jewish people. He refused to see how Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law, the payment for our sins, the promised New Covenant, and by following Jesus’ commandments, the entire Law would be kept. He had gone into synagogues and homes, dragging men and women to prison, and he secured them death sentences where he could by his testimony against them (Acts 22:4; 26:10). Chapter nine opens with Saul still breathing threats and murder against the followers of Jesus. His persecution had scattered them, so he got letters from the chief priest giving him permission to go to Damascus, seize any followers of Jesus he found in the synagogues, and drag them back to Jerusalem for trial.

On the way to Damascus, a heavenly light, brighter than the sun, struck him and his companions. They saw the light, but could not perceive the voice that spoke. It was Jesus, taking the persecution of the church VERY personally. In fact, later Saul told King Agrippa that Jesus chastised him for kicking against the conviction in his spirit that Jesus WAS the truth. Faced with a very real proof of who Jesus was, Saul immediately submitted and asked what to do. Jesus sent him to Damascus to wait. Saul found that when the light left, he was blind. He got taken into the town and he spent the next three days fasting and seeking the Lord. During that time he had a vision of a man named Ananias coming to lay hands on him and praying (Acts 9:12). Also during that time Saul was being shown what lay in his future with the Lord (Acts 22:10).

Ananias was a devout Jew with a great reputation in the city. He didn’t slack when it came to following the Law and worshipping God. He was ALSO a believer in Jesus. This was the PERFECT man to talk with Saul. Ananias was ready when God asked him to go to Saul and was willing to go, in spite of the danger. He was faithful, prayed over Saul, and Saul’s sight was recovered. Immediately, Saul rose and for baptized in the confession of his belief in Jesus (Romans 10:9; Matthew 28:19). Saul stayed with the disciples in Damascus a few days, preaching and teaching Jesus in the synagogues there. But the Jews who DIDN’T believe in Jesus didn’t like this. They arranged for Saul to be killed. The believers heard about it and lowered Saul over the wall in a basket in the night.

Saul went back to Jerusalem and tried to join the community of believers there, but they were scared of him – hard to blame them. But Barnabas believed Saul and spent time with him. He took Saul to the apostles and declared the truth of Saul’s conversion. Saul spoke boldly in Jerusalem and the religious elite didn’t like that. They conspired to kill Saul, so the believers helped him to escape. He fled to Caesarea and then went back to his hometown of Tarsus. By this time there were churches throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. They were getting settled and strengthened, multiplying through their reverence for the Lord and the comfort of Holy Spirit. Peter also travelled in these areas. He healed a man in Lydda who had been paralyzed for eight years. In Joppa, while visiting the believers there, learned of the death of Dorcas. She was a beloved believer who had been a great help to the community and loved by all. He went with the messengers and went to Dorcas. He commanded her to rise, and agreeing, she did. Peter stayed there in the home of Simon, who was a tanner, many days.

Meanwhile, in Caesarea at the beginning of chapter ten, there was a Gentile named Cornelius. He was a devout man who reverenced God and worshipped Him. He had been fasting and seeking the Lord. An angel appeared to him and told him that his prayers and tithes had been heard by the Lord. He told Cornelius to send men to Joppa and ask for Peter, staying with Simon, and that Peter would come and tell them what to do – showing that angels don’t preach, that’s the job of men. Cornelius obeyed.

Peter was on the roof of Simon’s house waiting for lunch to finish cooking when he had a vision. The Lord lowered a sheet filled with all the animals that the Law said were unclean in it. The Lord told Peter to kill and eat since He was hungry. Peter protested that he had NEVER defiled himself with unclean animals. The Lord told him not to call unclean what the Lord had cleansed. This happened three times. Peter was wondering what it meant when Holy Spirit told him three men were downstairs waiting for him and Peter was to go with them because the Lord had sent them. Peter went down and discovered they were Gentiles. He was shocked, but obeyed the Lord , took some fellow believers, and went with them to Caesarea. Remember that Jews did not EVER enter a Gentile home because the tradition of the elders taught this defiled you. God had never said any such thing or wrote it in the Law. This was purely a human thinking tradition.

Peter went into Cornelius’ house and heard the whole story from him. Peter told them that he could clearly see that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) and that He called those in every nation to come to Him. Peter preached to them the gospel of the Kingdom and they all believed in Jesus’ name. In fact, as he was preaching to them Holy Spirit fell upon them and they spoke in other tongues and magnified the Lord. Peter was astonished. He asked his fellow believers if anyone could deny these Gentiles baptism because they clearly had received Holy Spirit just the same as the believing Jews. Peter commanded them to be baptised. They asked him to stay for a few days, and he did.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Apostles, Saul, Ananias, Peter, Cornelius, Jews

Key Verse(s): Acts 9:1-9; 10:34-48