In the final verses of chapter 14 we have Paul and Barnabas returning home to Antioch after two years on the road. They will report back what they have experienced and remind the sending church that missionary work requires (1) sacrifice, (2) sustained effort, (3) preaching a message of salvation, and (4) strengthening and sustaining…
Paul and Barnabas move to Iconium and Lystra with the good news of Jesus Christ, and perform an amazing miracle of healing on a lame man. The crowd are amazed and begin to worship the Apostles, but they respond in despair and encourage the crowd to turn from worshipping vain idols to worship the true…
The gospel of Jesus Christ has a polarizing effect on its hearers in Antioch Pisidia. From one group, it provokes love for Christ and a desire to hear more about Him. For another group, the gospel is a stench of death and there is active opposition to the message and the messenger. There is no…
Paul and his companions travel to Antioch Pisidia and are invited to speak in the synagogue. Paul’s message highlights key themes that the Jews need to understand from the Scriptures. Although the Apostle’s words are initially directed to Jews, they also have much relevance to those who have spent much time in Christian circles.
Luke takes our focus back to the church in Jerusalem and we witness 4 P’s. Persecution arises which in turn leads the church to Prayer. God then Providentially delivers Peter and justly Punishes Herod for his pride. As these things unfold, we are reminded that the Word of the Lord will continue to increase and…
We are introduced to the very first Gentile church recorded in Scripture and this marks a pivot away from the gospel exclusively going to Jews but to the wider world. This is such a momentous event, it is in Antioch that believers are first called Christians.
We are restarting our series in the book of Acts some 7 years after we paused in Acts 10. As we recommence, we reflect on the significance of Gentiles being saved and added to the church. If Acts 10 is the Apostle Peter grappling with this foreign concept, Acts 11:1-18 is the church in Jerusalem…
In a fractured and divided society, how sweet it is to find unity and peace. We are reminded that true peace begins with God and works itself out in the life of the family of God. Will we prize unity? Do we protect and preserve? Are you prepared to pursue and promote?
What is Zion? Is she splendid or a scrapheap? This Psalm challenges our perceptions of the church, her purpose and place in God’s plans.