“Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food…….
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith….
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.  But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freemen …..rose up and argued with Stephen.  But they were unable to cope’ with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking….”                  Acts 6:1-10

“Growing pains.”  What in the world are they?  I remember in med school we used to call it a “wastebasket diagnosis”.  Meaning if we cannot find a serious problem after physical, lab, and radiologic evaluation, all we’re left with is a diagnosis of exclusion.  But growth pains are real,  as any pediatrician can bear witness.  They develop in the legs in a 3 to 10-year-old child who is active. They resolve after a good night’s rest.  The physician’s prescription is to reassure the parent and to advise and encourage the child to keep active and not let up.

The body of disciples was growing by leaps and bounds, about 5 years after Pentecost. However, there were growing pains. “ But there arose a complaint on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.”  Until now, the Christian community were of one heart and soul….there was not a needy person among them. (3:32-34).   And now this complaint of discrimination from the Hellenistic  Jews.  It was a growing pain called cross-cultural ministry.

We learn from the historian, Max Dimont, in his book, Jews, God and History, “The Hellenization of the Jews began inconspicuously.  First, it infected their language, manners, and customs; then it encroached  upon their morals, ethics, and religion.”  The exile of these Jews was self-imposed— the way of the known world was Greek. They assumed Greek names. Humility gave way to a “me first” mentality.  They did not speak Aramaic, which further contributed to the confusion regarding the daily serving of food.

It was to these people that the Christian community  ministered and gained converts among them while in Jerusalem.

Another growing pain was called delegation of responsibility.  Up until now, the Twelve ran everything.  They were in need of Jethro-like counsel, like Moses, who experienced similar growing pains. (See Exodus 18)  D.L.Moody said, “that it was better to put ten men to work than to try to do the work of ten men.”  The apostles had as their first priority prayer and the ministry of the Word, but that was being compromised.

So they selected the Seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, of whom Stephen was prominent.  They were also all Hellenistic Jews who spoke Greek, which went a long way towards repairing the language and cultural barriers that contributed to the alleged discrimination.

A great many of the Jewish priests were becoming obedient to the faith.  In this unprecedented new growth, Stephen was exploring the new ministry the Holy Spirit had given him.  He even ventured to engage some of the Jews from Synagogue of the Freemen in discussion, and in so doing spread the Word of God to Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and to some from Cilicia and Asia.  He shared Jesus’ teaching that we are not under the Law of Moses, but under grace through the Messiah and His sacrifice on the cross.   He no doubt shared the Lord’s desire is to dwell in our hearts, not in temples made of stone.  Stephen found out by experience,  “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” (M.L. King, Jr.)  “They were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

So they brought charges of blasphemy against Stephen and dragged him away to stand before the Council. “ And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.” They were about to grow way up!

Questions To Think About:

1. The “wastebasket diagnosis”: In your own life or ministry, are there “growth pains” (frustration, fatigue, or minor conflicts) that you’ve dismissed as unimportant? How might these actually be the signs of healthy expansion?
2. The Hellenistic widows were being overlooked, likely due to language and cultural barriers rather than malice.  Who in your current community might be “invisible” or overlooked because they don’t speak the “dominant language” or share the same background?
3. Jethro-like Counsel: Who are the mentors in your life who can help you see when you are hitting a bottleneck?  Are you open to their “Exodus 18” style of correction?
4. Stephen faced “conscientious stupidity” and “sincere ignorance.”  How do you respond when your well-intentioned growth is met with unfair criticism or legalism?

Week 15 — Chosen to Serve

Weekly Prayer

Lord, shape our hearts to serve as Jesus served. Give us wisdom in moments of challenge, humility in our leadership, and hearts that seek unity within Your Church. Help us to be people of faith, full of Your Spirit, ready to meet needs and reflect Your love wherever You place us. Amen.

Day 1 — When Needs Arise in the Church
Read: Acts 6:1–2 | Also Read: Philippians 2:1–4; Galatians 6:2

Open-Ended Reflection: What does this situation reveal about the realities and challenges of a growing church community?
Learn from Scripture: How do the supporting passages help you understand God’s heart for caring for others while preserving unity within the body of Christ?
Journal Prompt: Where do you see unmet needs around you, and how might God be making you more aware of them?

Day 2 — Staying Focused on the Calling
Read: Acts 6:2–4 | Also Read: Colossians 3:23–24; 1 Corinthians 12:4–7

Open-Ended Reflection: Why was it important for the apostles to clarify their primary calling in this moment?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about different roles, responsibilities, and callings within the Church?
Journal Prompt: How can recognizing your God-given role help you serve with greater clarity and purpose?

Day 3 — Character Matters in Service
Read: Acts 6:3 | Also Read: 1 Timothy 3:8–10; Proverbs 11:3

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do you think spiritual character was emphasized so strongly for those chosen to serve practical needs?

Learn from Scripture: How do these passages reveal the connection between integrity, spiritual maturity, and faithful service?

Journal Prompt: What qualities is God developing in your life that would strengthen how you serve others?

Day 4 — Empowering Others to Serve
Read: Acts 6:5–6 | Also Read: Ephesians 4:11–13; 2 Timothy 2:2

Open-Ended Reflection: What stands out to you about how the church affirmed and commissioned these leaders?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages help you understand the importance of equipping and empowering others for ministry?
Journal Prompt: Who has encouraged or equipped you in your faith journey, and who might God be calling you to encourage?

Day 5 — When the Church Serves Well
Read: Acts 6:7 | Also Read: Matthew 5:16; John 13:34–35

Open-Ended Reflection: What happened as a result of the church responding wisely and faithfully to this challenge?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages show the connection between faithful service, unity, and the spread of the gospel?
Journal Prompt: What kind of witness could your life become when service, love, and faithfulness are lived out consistently?

“But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates  (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.  They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.  But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, “Go stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”  Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.
  “…The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’….,”  The high priest  questioned them, saying,
“…We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 
But Peter and the apostles answered ,  
“We must obey God rather than men.”  Acts 5:17-42 


As the doors of their prison cells swung open, the words of the angelic messenger resounded in Peter and the apostles’ hearing: “Go stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”  The implication being that the people had not received the whole message of this Life.  It is not just about physical healing, but about being made whole—righteous  before God. The whole truth, as Peter and the apostles were finding out, and as Jesus had forewarned them— “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.” (John 16:2)
The Lord was calling these good observant Jewish men  to their own people to declare, in the houses of worship, that the long awaited Messiah has come, and they had missed it!  Not only had they missed it, but they had  killed Him: 

“We must obey God rather than men.  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.    He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them…..” (Acts 5:29-33)

Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee,  stood up and offered this counsel .  He suggested they dismiss the teaching as they had the two other rebels; Theudas, and Judas of Galilee, both of whom were killed and their following dispersed and came to nothing. He then says: “..(F)or if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow  them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)

Gamaliel was prophetic about the Council—they were fighting against God.  These “defenders of the faith” were ironically at enmity with the very God to whom they claimed allegiance.

How does this occur? How does one who in all earnestness looked to please God end up opposing God.  Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus by night.  Jesus knew what he wanted and got straight to the point: “ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  (John 3:3) The new birth requires a receptive soul, the seed of the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit to seal it. Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born again.  “But as many as received Him , to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of men, but of God.”  John 1:12-13

It was more than earnestness, good intentions, and the right credentials.  The Council had all that. But the new birth was lacking and they could not see the Kingdom of God. In their “rightness” they could not see it was God they were opposing.      

As for the first century apostles, they received their 39 lashes from the Council and then went their way rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as The Christ. (5: 41-42) Seeing the Kingdom. Born again!

Questions To Think About:

1. The apostles stated, “We must obey God rather than men.” In your current season of life,  where do you find the most pressure to conform to human expectations at the expense of God’s instructions ?
2. The Council thought they were “offering service to God”while actually opposing Him.  How can we ensure our religious activities and “rightness” aren’t actually masking a heart that is resistant to the Holy Spirit ?
3. The angel told the apostles to speak the “whole message of this Life.” Are you currently embracing the “whole” Gospel—including the parts that call for repentance and sacrifice —or are you only focusing on the parts that that offer comfort and physical blessing ?
4. Jesus said that without being born again, one cannot “see” the Kingdom. In what ways has your spiritual “sight” changed since you began your walk with Christ?  What can you see now that was invisible to you before?
5. When you feel a strong urge to defend your position or “the way things have always been”, is that urge fueled by a love for God’s truth or a desire to maintain control ?

Week 14 — Faithful Under Fire

Weekly Prayer:

Father, steady our hearts when obedience brings resistance. Guard us from fear and bitterness and fill us with courage rooted in Your sovereignty. Teach us to remain faithful no matter the cost. Amen.

Day 1 — Jealousy and Arrest
Read: Acts 5:17–18 | Also Read: John 15:18–20; 2 Timothy 3:12

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does spiritual fruit often provoke jealousy and opposition?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about the normal cost of discipleship?
Journal Prompt: How prepared are you for faithfulness that brings discomfort?

Day 2 — God’s Intervention
Read: Acts 5:19–21 | Also Read: Psalm 34:7; Daniel 6:22

Open-Ended Reflection: What does God’s rescue in this moment teach about His sovereignty?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages reveal God’s authority over earthly power?
Journal Prompt: Where do you need to trust that God sees and acts even when opposition rises?

Day 3 — We Must Obey God
Read: Acts 5:27–32 | Also Read: Daniel 3:16–18; Romans 13:1–2

Open-Ended Reflection: How do believers discern when obedience to God conflicts with human authority?
Learn from Scripture: What tension do these passages reveal between submission and conviction?
Journal Prompt: Where might courage be required for you to obey God first?

Day 4 — If It Is of God
Read: Acts 5:33–39 | Also Read: Proverbs 19:21; Psalm 2:1–4

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does Gamaliel appeal to God’s sovereignty rather than political strategy?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about the futility of resisting God’s purposes?
Journal Prompt: Where are you tempted to control outcomes that belong to God?

Day 5 — Rejoicing in Suffering
Read: Acts 5:40–42 | Also Read: Matthew 5:10–12; James 1:2–4

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do the apostles rejoice after being flogged?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages frame suffering as participation in Christ’s mission?
Journal Prompt: What would it look like to view hardship through the lens of eternal purpose?

Week 13 — Power and Presence

Weekly Prayer:

Lord, keep us humble when You move powerfully among us. Guard us from seeking signs for their own sake and teach us to recognize Your presence as a gift of grace. Use Your work in us to draw others toward You. Amen.

Day 1 — Many Signs and Wonders
Read: Acts 5:12 | Also Read: Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3–4

Open-Ended Reflection: What role do signs and wonders play in confirming the message of Christ?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages show that miracles support the gospel rather than replace it?
Journal Prompt: How do you respond when you see God working in ways that stretch your understanding?

Day 2 — Together in Solomon’s Colonnade
Read: Acts 5:12 | Also Read: Acts 2:46; Psalm 133

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do you think unity continues to be emphasized in moments of visible power?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about community as a foundation for spiritual impact?
Journal Prompt: Where might unity strengthen the witness of your faith community?

Day 3 — Respect and Reverence
Read: Acts 5:13 | Also Read: Ecclesiastes 12:13–14; Hebrews 12:28–29

Open-Ended Reflection: Why were some hesitant to join them even while holding them in high regard?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about healthy reverence before God?
Journal Prompt: What does reverence look like in your daily walk with Christ?

Day 4 — The Lord Added to Their Number
Read: Acts 5:14 | Also Read: 1 Corinthians 3:6–7; John 6:44

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does Scripture emphasize that the Lord added to their number?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages guard against human pride in spiritual growth?
Journal Prompt: How does recognizing God as the one who draws people change your perspective on ministry?

Day 5 — Even the Shadow
Read: Acts 5:15–16 | Also Read: Luke 8:43–48; Acts 19:11–12

Open-Ended Reflection: What does this level of faith and expectation reveal about the people’s understanding of Jesus’ power?

Learn from Scripture: How do these passages demonstrate that healing ultimately points back to Christ?
Journal Prompt: Where do you need to trust Christ’s authority more fully in your own life?

“At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people ; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico.  But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however the people held them in high esteem.  And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.  Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were being healed.”  Acts 5:12-16

We find on the one hand that the people were all with one accord in the temple, at Solomon ‘s portico, where the miracles and wonders were taking place,  but “none of the rest dared to associate  with them”.  These were spectators and fans.  Not disciples. The Sanhedrin had arrested these guys once; they were marked men!  It is one thing to experience the blessing of a healing service or a revival meeting.  Yet it is still another to join a community of believers, in covenant with the Lord. The latter were after the Lord of the blessing, not the blessing itself.

 They had certainly heard about the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, and that this power of God was not just for healing; it was not to be toyed with.  The Spirit of God was a part of everything this faith community did, and that did not dissuade the men and women who wanted to fully commit their lives to the Lord,  and “were constantly added to their number”.  The Spirit of God did not stop at physical healing  but also delivered from unclean spirits through the hands of apostles.

It was much like when Jesus fed the five thousand.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you  saw signs; but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”  Jesus went on to explain “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:26,35).  Jesus goes on to say “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood,  you have no life in your yourselves.” “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said,’This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”….”  “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life.  We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69)

Peter did not completely understand all that Jesus said either.  But like a future apostle (Paul) would say to a young pastor: “For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
(2 Tim.1:12)

Spectators and fans will come and go. The Lord knows who are His.  Peter would cling to this faith to sustain him, for he and John were about to journey to a place  where the rubber meets the road.

Questions To Think About:

1. The scripture mentions that many “dared not associate “ with the apostles despite holding them in high esteem.  What “social costs” or fears currently hinder you from being more public or committed in your walk with Christ ?
2. Jesus’ teaching in John 6 caused many to walk away.  Can you identify a “difficult statement “in Scripture that challenges your lifestyle or logic? What keeps you from “withdrawing” when the teaching gets hard?
3. Peter didn’t have all the answers, but he knew Jesus had the “words of eternal life.”  When you face a situation you don’t understand, do you tend to look for explanations or do you lean into the Person of Jesus?

Week 10 — A Praying Church Under Pressure

Weekly Prayer

Lord, teach us to run toward You when pressure rises instead of retreating in fear. Anchor our prayers in Your sovereignty and fill us again with boldness to speak Your Word. Amen.

Day 1 — Returning to Their Own
Read: Acts 4:23 | Also Read: Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 10:24–25

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do you think the believers gathered together immediately after facing opposition?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about shared burdens and spiritual community?
Journal Prompt: Where do you instinctively go when you face spiritual resistance?

Day 2 — Beginning with God’s Sovereignty
Read: Acts 4:24 | Also Read: Psalm 146:6; Isaiah 46:9–10

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does their prayer begin by declaring who God is?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages frame God’s authority over circumstances?
Journal Prompt: How does remembering God’s sovereignty reshape your prayers?

Day 3 — Scripture in Their Prayer
Read: Acts 4:25–28 | Also Read: Psalm 2:1–4; Acts 2:23

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do the believers incorporate Scripture into their prayer?
Learn from Scripture: What does this teach about interpreting opposition through God’s Word?
Journal Prompt: How often does Scripture shape the content of your prayers?

Day 4 — Asking for Boldness, Not Escape
Read: Acts 4:29–30 | Also Read: Ephesians 6:19–20; Philippians 1:20

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do they ask for boldness instead of relief?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about courage in gospel witness?
Journal Prompt: What would change if you prayed more for boldness than comfort?

Day 5 — Shaken and Filled
Read: Acts 4:31 | Also Read: Ephesians 5:18; Hebrews 12:28

Open-Ended Reflection: What is the significance of the place being shaken?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages describe ongoing filling and reverence?
Journal Prompt: Where do you need renewed boldness today?

“And when they heard this, they lifted their voice to God with one accord and said ,’O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is them, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said
“Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
The kings of the earth stood up,
and the rulers were together 
against the Lord, and against his
his Christ .”      
“…And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while you extend Your  hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”    
 Acts 4:23-26, 29-31

Why did the heathen rage, and still do rage,  is a good question!  How like the secular world and the religious world to be at enmity with each other, yet to join forces in alliance against God and against His Christ!  “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” is their political dictum.  Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor,  and Herod, the King of Israel, had been bitter enemies, but became friends in their alliance to rid themselves of their mutual “problem”. (See Luke 23:8-12)

Rage is defined as “an intense, uncontrollable form of violent anger or fury often characterized by  complete loss of self-control.”   We get clues of what precipitated this loss of self-control if we look at the prophecy of David in Psalm 2:2-3 “The kings of the earth, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” 

The world hates what it cannot control, and any restraint to its behavior is anathema!  It’s the consequences of man’s self-deification as exemplified  by Alexander Pope in his Essay on Man:  
Snatch from His hand the balance and the rod
Re-judge His justice , be the god of God.
In pride, in reasoning pride, our error lies;
All quit their  sphere, and rush in to the skies.
Pride still is aiming at the blest abodes,
Men would be angels, angels would be gods.
Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell,
Aspiring to be angels, men rebel:
And who but wishes to invert the laws
Of Order, sins against the Eternal Cause


The disciples are finding first-hand what Jesus had told them: “ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you…. Because you are not of the world, but I chose you  out of the world, because of this the world hates you. …. But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘ They hated Me without a cause.” (John 15:18-19, 25; Ps.69;4)

The disciples also remember that Jesus told them: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the  world.”    John 16:33                               

They were learning quickly that they will have enemies. Jesus had enemies. No matter how many lame are healed, no matter how many blind eyes are opened, no matter how many deaf  ears are unstopped. The most important thing to remember is: ”When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”                  Prov.16:7

“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness”.  Controlled not by the world’s  agenda , obeying God, not men, and their song— Prepare the Way of the Lord!.

Questions To Think About:

1. When you face “threat” or opposition, do you tend to focus on the problem or the power of the Creator? How does remembering God’s sovereignty change your perspective on your current struggles?
2. The world hates “any restraint to its behavior”and seeks to “break their bands asunder “ (Psalm 2:3).  Are there areas in your own life where you feel a “rage” or resistance against God’s boundaries?  In what ways does “reasoning pride” tempt you to “re-judge His justice” rather than submit to it?
3. Is your life more focused on the removal or tribulation or the arrival of “boldness”? How can you shift your prayers this week to ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you with courage rather than just comfort?

“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them….  But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.   But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart?   You have not lied to men but to God.”  And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it…..
Acts 4:32, 5:1-5

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”             Prov.14:26

“Therefore, since we receive  a kingdom which cannot be shaken , let us show gratitude , by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Heb.12:28

The Scriptures are replete with examples of man taking the nature of God and His holiness far too casually.  In contemporary evangelical churches we are no exception.  The familiarity we boast we have with the Lord deceives us into thinking that God (“old buddy, old pal”) could even wink at sin.  Ananias and Sapphira evidently thought so.  A fatal error.

Achan had been present during the miraculous conquest of Jericho.  “But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully ,in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan….,took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel. As a consequence of Achan’s disobedience the battle for Ai was lost, and 36 soldiers lost their lives.  (See Joshua 7). The sad thing is Achan’s family, along with his booty, were stoned and burned with him. The valley of Achor is a sad monument to a man that had no fear of God.

When the Ark of God (which is called by the Name, the very name of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned above the cherubim) was brought from the house of Abinadab.  It was then placed on a new cart to carry it to Jerusalem. But the ark was not moved as prescribed by Scripture.  So when the cart was jostled on some rough road, Uzzah reached for the ark to steady it, “and God struck him down there for his irreverence , and he died there by the ark of God.” (2 Sam.6:6-7)

The fear of the Lord is awe-filled reverence and profound respect for His Word. (Deu.17:19). The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate .” (Prov.8:13) The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. (Ps.19:9).  

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He shows them His covenant. (Ps.25:14). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge .(Prov.1:7)   It is the key to knowing God.  It is murder for the tendency of man to self-deification.

C.S. Lewis has an unforgettable way of teaching his readers about the fear of the Lord.  God knows it is a lesson we need to learn repeatedly.   I quote at length this passage from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe:

“Who is Aslan? Asked Susan.
“Aslan? “ said Mr. Beaver, “Why don’t you know? He’s the King.  He’s the Lord of the whole wood….You’ll understand when you him.”
“But shall we see him?” Asked Susan.
“Why, Daughter of Eve, that’s what I brought you here for.  I’m to lead you where you shall meet him,” said Mr. Beaver.
“Is—is he a man?”asked Lucy.
“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not.  I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea.  Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts?  Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man.  Is he—quite safe?  I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and make no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver.  “Don’t you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you?  Who said anything about safe?! ‘Course he isn’t safe.  But he’s good.  He’s the King, I tell you.”

For our God is a consuming fire. “But he’s good!. He’s the King, I tell you.

Questions to Think About

1.In what ways do we modern believers tend to take God’s holiness too casually in daily lives?

2. Why do we sometimes feel the need to “perform” or look more spiritual than we actually are in front of other believers?  How does the realization that we are “lying to the Holy Spirit” (not just people ) change we view our private integrity?

3. The stories of Achan and Uzzah demonstrate that one person’s lack of fear of God can have devastating effects on their family or community.  How does this challenge the modern  idea that “my sin doesn’t hurt anyone but me”?  How can a healthy “fear of the Lord” actually serve as a protection (a “fountain of life”) for those around us?

4.  Why is it vital to believe that is “not safe” (powerful, holy, a consuming fire) while simultaneously believing He is “good”?  How does your prayer life change when you approach God with “reverence and awe” rather than just looking for a comfortable or safe experience?

5, Is there an area of your where you have become “comfortable “ with something God hates?

Week 11 — Ananias and Sapphira
 
Weekly Prayer:
 
Father, search our hearts and purify our motives. Teach us to walk honestly before You and others, with reverence, humility, and truth. Amen.

Day 1 — The Danger of Appearance
Read: Acts 5:1–2 | Also Read: Matthew 6:1; Proverbs 21:2

Open-Ended Reflection: Why can the desire to appear spiritual become dangerous?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages reveal the difference between outward image and inward motive?
Journal Prompt: Where are you tempted to manage appearances?

Day 2 — Lying to the Holy Spirit
Read: Acts 5:3–4 | Also Read: Psalm 139:1–4; Galatians 6:7

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does Peter describe this sin so seriously?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about God's knowledge of hidden motives and secret actions?
Journal Prompt: What honesty might God be asking of you now?

Day 3 — A Holy Church
Read: Acts 5:5–6 | Also Read: 1 Peter 1:15–16; Hebrews 12:28

Open-Ended Reflection: What does this event teach about God's holiness?
Learn from Scripture: How do these verses help us understand that grace and holiness belong together?
Journal Prompt: How should reverence shape your walk with God?

Day 4 — Repeated Opportunity
Read: Acts 5:7–9 | Also Read: Romans 2:4; Isaiah 55:6

Open-Ended Reflection: What do you notice about Sapphira's opportunity to respond truthfully?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages show that God often gives space for repentance before judgment?
Journal Prompt: Where might God be inviting you to respond today?

Day 5 — Great Fear Came Upon All
Read: Acts 5:10–11 | Also Read: Proverbs 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13

Open-Ended Reflection: Why was fear an appropriate response here?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about how the fear of the Lord leads to wisdom and humility?
Journal Prompt: What does healthy reverence look like in your life?

“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul;  and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all were common property to them…..”   Acts 4:32

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes,….so you will My people, and I be your God.”Ezekiel 36: 26-28

The prophets foretold a renewal that to take place in God’s people (Jer.32: 39, EzK.36:26).  The message of the Gospel preached by the apostles giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus was a sure indication that this a fulfillment of the prophecy.

For there was not a needy person among them in that church in Jerusalem.  If the need required it, owners of property worked to sell that property and lay the proceeds of the sale at the apostles’ feet.

Joseph is a case in point. Known by his nickname—Barnabus; Son of Encouragement —he did that very thing. Not of compulsion, or guilt, or to receive accolades from the apostles.   But because the need was real and God had blessed him to meet it.    This was something that God had done; his heart of stone had been replaced by a heart of flesh.   Paul would later write :” Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,  which is your reasonable service.”    (Rom.12: 1)

John Bunyan in his wonderful allegory of Pilgrim Progress captures the joy of salvation when Christian walked up the hill to the cross.  Our sacrifice is just reasonable when you consider the price He paid for us.
      “He has given me rest by His sorrow and life by His death.” For a while he stood still in front of the cross to look and wonder; it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should ease him of his burden.  He continued looking at the cross until tears began to streaming down his cheeks. As he stood looking and weeping, three Shining Ones  came to him and greeted him with. “Peace be with you.”  Then the  first said to him, “Your sins are forgiven.” The second stripped him of rags and dressed him with new clothing.  The third put a mark on his forehead and gave a scroll with seal on it.          
This last was to indicate “having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”     Eph.1:13

This is God’s desire: “They shall be My people , and I will be their God;  Then I will give them one heart  and one way….    Jer.32:38-39

The joy in Jerusalem in that first century church came from” owning nothing yet possessing all things.”      2 Cor.6:10

Missionary Jim Elliott said it best: “He no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  Amen.

Questions To Think About

1. In what areas of your life do you still feel a “hardness” or resistance toward God’s leading regarding the needs of others?
2. Barnabas gave out of a heart of encouragement, not guilt.  When you give —whether it’s time, money, or emotional support—do you do it out a sense of “have to”(compulsion) or “get to” (joy)?
3. Reflecting on Jim Elliot’s quote, what are you currently “keeping” that you will eventually lose? What could you “give” today to invest in what cannot be lost?
4. Paul calls presenting our bodies as a sacrifice our “reasonable service” because of what Christ did. When you look at the cross, does it feel like a burden to serve God or a natural response to His mercy?
5. John Bunyan’s Christian found rest by looking at the cross.  What “burden” are you carrying today that you need to lay down at the feet of Jesus?

Week 10 - Believers Share

Weekly Prayer: 

Lord, create in us hearts marked by unity, generosity, and joy. Free us from selfishness and teach us to use what we have for the good of others and the glory of Christ. Amen.

Day 1 — One Heart and Soul
Read: Acts 4:32 | Also Read: Philippians 2:1–4; Psalm 133

Open-Ended Reflection: What does it mean for believers to be one in heart and soul?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages show that unity grows through humility and shared devotion?
Journal Prompt: Where is God inviting you to pursue deeper unity with others?

Day 2 — Nothing Held Too Tightly
Read: Acts 4:32 | Also Read: Matthew 6:19–21; James 1:17

Open-Ended Reflection: Why were believers willing to release ownership for the good of others?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about viewing possessions as gifts from God rather than personal security?
Journal Prompt: What are you holding too tightly right now?

Day 3 — Great Grace Upon Them All
Read: Acts 4:33 | Also Read: 2 Corinthians 9:8; John 1:16

Open-Ended Reflection: How does grace shape a generous community?
Learn from Scripture: What do these verses reveal about how receiving grace shapes generosity toward others?
Journal Prompt: How has God's grace moved through you lately?

Day 4 — No Needy Person Among Them
Read: Acts 4:34–35 | Also Read: Deuteronomy 15:4; Proverbs 19:17

Open-Ended Reflection: What would it look like for a church to care so well that needs are reduced?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages show God's heart for meeting practical needs through His people?
Journal Prompt: Whose burden could you help carry this week?

Day 5 — Barnabas the Encourager
Read: Acts 4:36 | Also Read: Romans 12:8; Hebrews 10:24

Open-Ended Reflection: Why is Barnabas highlighted in this moment?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about the spiritual impact of encouragement?
Journal Prompt: Who can you intentionally encourage today?

Week 9 — Faith Under Pressure

Weekly Prayer:

Father, steady our hearts when obedience brings resistance. Guard us from fear and give us courage to stand firm in truth. Teach us to respond with wisdom and faith when pressure comes. Amen.

Day 1 — Interrupted Obedience
Read: Acts 4:1–4 | Also Read: John 15:18–20; 2 Timothy 3:12

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does faithful proclamation often lead to opposition?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about the cost of following Christ?
Journal Prompt: How do you typically respond when obedience becomes uncomfortable?

Day 2 — Filled Again
Read: Acts 4:5–8 | Also Read: Luke 12:11–12; Ephesians 5:18

Open-Ended Reflection: Why is Peter described as filled with the Spirit again?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about ongoing dependence on the Spirit?
Journal Prompt: Where do you need renewed courage today?

Day 3 — No Other Name
Read: Acts 4:9–12 | Also Read: John 14:6; Philippians 2:9–11

Open-Ended Reflection: Why is exclusivity such a central part of Peter’s message?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about the uniqueness of Christ?
Journal Prompt: How confidently do you hold to the truth that salvation is found in Jesus alone?

Day 4 — Recognized as Having Been with Jesus
Read: Acts 4:13–18 | Also Read: Matthew 5:16; 2 Corinthians 3:2–3

Open-Ended Reflection: What does it mean that they “recognized that they had been with Jesus”?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages describe visible evidence of spiritual transformation?
Journal Prompt: What evidence in your life points others toward Christ?

Day 5 — We Cannot Keep Silent
Read: Acts 4:19–22 | Also Read: Jeremiah 20:9; Romans 1:16

Open-Ended Reflection: What gives believers courage to speak despite consequences?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about conviction that outweighs fear?
Journal Prompt: Where might silence be easier than obedience for you right now?

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them:’ Rulers and elders of the people!  If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth , whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.  Jesus is  “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”        Acts 4:8-12


Cancel culture is not new.  Peter and John experienced this firsthand.  But it wasn’t coming from the secular authorities; it was coming from the religious community.

 The Sadducees in particular, were prominent in the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish legislative and judicial council in ancient Israel.  They considered themselves the protecters of the Jewish faith.  It was this body that “protected” the people from their Messiah.  They had buried that “problem” in a tomb—or so they thought! Now these fishermen from Galilee bring before us the name of Jesus again, in association with a miraculous healing of a man who was lame from birth.  Will it never end?

Jesus had something to say to them as well as to the Pharisees: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you  think that in them you have eternal life.  These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
(John 5:39-40)
Yet here were Peter and John boldly teaching the people , proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  We can’t have that! They arrested them and interrupted their testimony to silence them.

They were asked “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”  Peter remembered the words of Jesus: “When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about  how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11-12

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit…”  said in effect: what is your real problem? Is it really with this man who has been made whole by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth?  Or is it something else?  Is it because He is the stone which was rejected by you, “the builders; the leaders of our people—but which has become the chief cornerstone?  This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.”(Psalm 118:22)

Peter, the accused ,was accusing the Sanhedrin of dereliction of duty!  Protecters of the faith?!  In the words of Jesus:” Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”   Matthew 21: 43-44

  These untrained, uneducated fishermen who spoke so confidently, that their accusers were amazed— and “began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” (4:13)

The Sanhedrin decided to muzzle them—they commanded them not to speak or teach at all  in the of the name of Jesus.  First century cancel culture—not unlike twenty-first cancel culture.

But Peter and John answered them: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”                                    
When they had threatened them further, they let them go….                                        (4:19-21)

“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your servant Jesus.”  And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken. (4:29-30) “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  Jesus.

Questions To Think About:

1. In what areas of your life do you feel the most pressure to “mute” your faith to keep the peace or stay “canceled” from certain social circles?
2. The religious leaders rejected the very thing they were supposed to be building upon.  Is there a part of Jesus’ teaching (e.g., loving enemies, radical generosity, total surrender) that you find yourself “rejecting” or ignoring because it’s inconvenient?
3. Salvation is found in no one else except Jesus. In a world that offers many “saviors” (career, relationships, politics, or self-help), what makes the Name of Jesus the only firm foundation for your life?
4. Peter and John said they “cannot stop speaking” about what they had seen and heard.  What has God done in your life recently that is so “marvelous in your eyes” that you find it hard to keep to yourself?
5. The Sanhedrin recognized that the apostles “had been with Jesus”. If someone spent a day observing your life, what specific “evidence” would they find that you hav

Week 8 — Redirecting the Glory

Weekly Prayer:

Lord, guard our hearts from seeking our own glory. Teach us to point others to Christ in word and action. Give us courage to proclaim truth with humility and clarity. Amen.

Day 1 — Don’t Look at Us
Read: Acts 3:12 | Also Read: Jeremiah 9:23–24; 1 Corinthians 1:31

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does Peter immediately redirect attention away from himself?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about where true glory belongs?
Journal Prompt: Where might you subtly seek recognition instead of redirecting praise to God?

Day 2 — The God of Our Fathers
Read: Acts 3:13–16 | Also Read: Exodus 3:6; Philippians 2:9–11

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does Peter anchor his message in Israel’s history?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages connect God’s covenant faithfulness to Christ’s authority?
Journal Prompt: How does remembering God’s past faithfulness strengthen present confidence?

Day 3 — Confronting Sin Honestly
Read: Acts 3:17–18 | Also Read: Isaiah 53:10–12; Acts 2:23

Open-Ended Reflection: How does Peter balance accountability with hope?
Learn from Scripture: What do these verses reveal about God’s sovereignty even through human wrongdoing?
Journal Prompt: Where do you struggle to hold both truth and grace together?

Day 4 — Repent and Turn
Read: Acts 3:19–21 | Also Read: Psalm 51:10–12; 2 Peter 3:9

Open-Ended Reflection: What does true repentance look like beyond regret?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages define spiritual refreshing and restoration?
Journal Prompt: What might repentance open up in your life that avoidance cannot?

Day 5 — A Promised Prophet
Read: Acts 3:22–26 | Also Read: Deuteronomy 18:15; Luke 24:27

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does Peter point to Moses in describing Jesus?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages show continuity between promise and fulfillment?
Journal Prompt: How does seeing Christ throughout Scripture deepen your trust in God’s plan?

Week 7 — A Visible Miracle

Weekly Prayer

Jesus, open our eyes to see the needs around us and give us courage to respond in Your name. Guard us from indifference and awaken compassion that leads to action. Use our obedience to point others to You. Amen.

Day 1 — Noticing the Need
Read: Acts 3:1–3 | Also Read: Proverbs 3:27; Matthew 25:35–40

Open-Ended Reflection: What might have been different if Peter and John had simply walked past?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages define responsibility toward those in need?
Journal Prompt: Where might you be tempted to overlook what God wants you to notice?

Day 2 — What We Actually Have
Read: Acts 3:4–6 | Also Read: 2 Corinthians 12:9; James 2:14–17

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does Peter give what he has instead of what he does not?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about reliance on God rather than material resources?
Journal Prompt: What has God given you that could bless someone else this week?

Day 3 — Power in the Name
Read: Acts 3:6–8 | Also Read: Philippians 2:9–11; John 14:13

Open-Ended Reflection: What does it mean that the healing happens in the name of Jesus?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages describe the authority carried in Christ’s name?
Journal Prompt: How often do you consciously depend on the authority of Christ rather than your own ability?

Day 4 — Public Witness
Read: Acts 3:9–10 | Also Read: Matthew 5:14–16; Psalm 40:3

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does God allow the miracle to be public rather than private?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about the purpose of visible transformation?
Journal Prompt: Where has God’s work in your life become visible to others?

Day 5 — Redirecting Attention
Read: Acts 3:11 | Also Read: John 3:30; 1 Corinthians 1:31

Open-Ended Reflection: Why is it important that attention moves from the miracle to Christ?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages guard against self-exaltation?
Journal Prompt: Where might you be tempted to take credit for what God has done?

“While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.  When Peter saw this, he said to them:  ‘Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you?  Why  do you stare at us as if by our power or godliness we had made this man walk?  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob , the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.  You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.  You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  You killed the author of life,  but God raised him from the dead.  We are witnesses of this.  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.  It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
   Now, fellow Israelites , I know that you acted in ignorance….Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing  may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah,  who has been appointed for you—even Jesus….He said to Abraham, through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.  When God raised  up his servant, he sent him to bless you by turning  each of you from your wicked ways.”    Acts 3:11-17, 19-20, 25-26 (NIV)

Peter thought the place was familiar; Solomon’s Colonnade.  In his mind He could still hear the Master teaching from this very place. “If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered  “I and the Father are one and the same.” They tried to stone Him then. (John 10:22-32)  When would they  ever learn?

“Why do you stare at us?…..This man is walking before you now because , and only because, of the name of Jesus. Remember Him? You tried to stone Him when all He tried to teach you was the Truth.  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.”

The word “servant” is applied to Jesus only four times in the New Testament. (Here , and v.26 and twice in chapter 4:vv 27, 30).  This is an allusion to Isaiah 52:13: “See, my servant will act wisely, he will be raised and lifted up  and highly exalted.” Jesus said of Himself He was that servant ,”And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)  Isaiah was speaking  prophetically, but Peter was saying this prophecy has been already fulfilled in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  Peter then made his case like a wise prosecuting attorney:

“You handed Him over to be killed, and you disowned Him before Pilate, although he had decided to let Him go.  You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that the murderer be released to you. You killed the author of Life, but God raised him from the dead.”

No doubt there were some present who remembered, or may have themselves contributed to the shouts of “Give us Barabbas!  Give us Barabbas!  “ in place of the carpenter from Nazareth  who “was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isa.53:7)
You mean to say we condemned the man in whose Name this man is healed today?!  The unmitigated shame,… oh how foolish we were and we’ve ruined our lives and charged God foolishly for our folly!  (Proverbs 19:3 AB)  We killed the Source—the very author of life!…..what are we to do?

“Now fellow Israelites I know that you in acted ignorance;….” We can hear Jesus from the cross saying “ Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34)  Peter, like  a treating physician, gives the prescription: “Repent then, and turn to God , so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand, (4:4)   And they could be heard singing “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord….”  Lam.3:40-41 “It is of the Lord’s mercies we are are not consumed, and because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”  (Lam.3:22-24)

Questions To Think About:

1. In what areas of your life are people  “staring at you” (noticing your talents or goodness)?  How can you use those moments to testify about Jesus’ power instead of your own “godliness “?
2. Are there areas in your life where you have chosen something “deadly” or “destructive” over the Author of Life?
3. How does viewing Jesus as the “Servant” (the one who was “lifted up”) change the way you approach Him in prayer ?
4. Do you often view repentance as a heavy punishment, or as the gateway to “refreshing” and “mercy”?

Week 6 — Devoted Community


Weekly Prayer:

Lord, shape us into a people who are devoted to Your Word, to one another, and to prayer. Guard us from shallow faith and form in us a community that reflects Your heart. Teach us to live faithfully together. Amen.

Day 1 — Devoted to the Word
Read: Acts 2:42 | Also Read: Psalm 1:1–3; 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Open-Ended Reflection: What does true devotion to teaching look like beyond simply listening?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages describe the transforming effect of God’s Word?
Journal Prompt: How consistent is your devotion to learning from Scripture, and what shapes that consistency?

Day 2 — Devoted to Fellowship
Read: Acts 2:42 | Also Read: Hebrews 10:24–25; John 13:34–35

Open-Ended Reflection: Why might fellowship be listed alongside teaching and prayer as essential?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about the visible mark of Christian community?
Journal Prompt: Where is God inviting you to move from attendance to genuine fellowship?

Day 3 — Devoted to Prayer
Read: Acts 2:42 | Also Read: Colossians 4:2; Philippians 4:6–7

Open-Ended Reflection: What does consistent prayer reveal about a community’s dependence on God?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages describe the posture and outcome of faithful prayer?
Journal Prompt: What does your prayer life reveal about what you trust most?

Day 4 — Generosity and Awe
Read: Acts 2:43–45 | Also Read: Deuteronomy 15:7–11; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8

Open-Ended Reflection: What connection do you see between awe of God and generosity toward others?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages frame generosity as a spiritual act rather than a financial one?
Journal Prompt: Where might God be inviting you to reflect His generosity more tangibly?

Day 5 — A Witnessing Community
Read: Acts 2:46–47 | Also Read: Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:9–12

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do you think the Lord added to their number daily?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages suggest about the relationship between visible faith and gospel impact?
Journal Prompt: How does your daily life either clarify or confuse the message of Christ?

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful , where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts .  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John.  Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’  So the man gave them his attention , expecting to get something from them.
   Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,—walk!’  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk.  Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.  When all the people saw him walking and praising God,  they recognized him as the same man that used to sit begging  at the temple gate called  Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”                                                   Acts 3: 1-10

It was the hour of prayer.  So many people crowded into the temple with so many needs for prayer; personal, financial , medical, etc., so preoccupied with their problems in their own little world, their own urgencies eclipsing all others, Lord knows!  Their heads were so full of personal concerns  as they came and left, that it escaped their notice that  there was a man seated at the entrance to the sanctuary.  

He was a man that was crippled in his legs from birth.  Luke, the physician and author of the book of Acts (superintended by the Holy Spirit), would have noticed the muscular atrophy and contracture of his lower extremities, that bore witness to his chronic condition of about 40 years. (Acts 4:22)  He was daily dependent on his friends to carry him to the entrance of the sanctuary for he was a cripple, and he had to beg for his living.  He appearance was so regular at the beautiful gate that it seemed as though he was a piece of furniture.  An occasional person would see him out of the corner of their eye, and drop alms into his waiting basket.  Interesting that Luke does not record his name; a name that we must assume is known only to God, whose thoughts about him “outnumber the grains of sands.” (Psalm 139:17-18)

This man had prayers too.  First it was for his daily bread. But his prayers went far deeper than this. Like the psalmist, “ This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his trouble.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.”  Psalm 34:6-7


It was then that Peter and John saw him.  He began asking them for alms, as was his routine.  But Peter and John fixed their gaze on the man and said “Look at us!” He was used to looking down because even those who gave did so without even a backward glance.  Surprised, he lifted his eyes to them full face.  Peter said something to him that he would remember all his days: “Silver and gold have I none, but what I do have I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—Walk!”  

What happened then was a restoration miracle!   Peter helped him to his feet; that was all it took, as muscle fibers regained their tone and tendons and ligaments snapped into position.  He began to walk and went with Peter and John into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God.  He sang the song of the redeemed; what God can do for us when we can’t do for ourselves.
“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.  Then will the eyes of the blind be open and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy, water will gush in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” Isaiah 35:3-6

Our lives are like a desert— unfruitful, barren, and desolate until the Messiah comes, who restores all things.  Our friend at the beautiful gate “leapt like a deer” in demonstrable, immutable testimony that He had come.

Questions To Think About:

1. The man had become like a “piece of furniture “ to those entering the temple.  Are there people in your daily routine —at work, at church, or in your neighborhood—that you have truly stopped seeing?
2. When you go to God in prayer, do you find yourself expecting to get something specific (like silver or gold),  or are you open to Him providing a greater restoration you haven’t even imagined?
3. Peter focused more on what he did  have (the name of the Jesus).  Do you often focus more on your limitations than on the spiritual authority God has given you?
4. Is there a “desert” area in your life right now (something barren or unfruitful) where you need to invite the Messiah to bring restoration ?
5. The crowds were so “preoccupied with their problems “ that they missed the miracle at the gate.  How can you guard your heart against becoming so busy  with “religious duties” that you miss the move of God right in front of you?

Week 5 — A Devoted Community


Weekly Prayer:

Lord, shape us into a people who are devoted to Your Word, to one another, and to prayer. Guard us from shallow faith and form in us a community that reflects Your heart. Teach us to live faithfully together. Amen.

Day 1 — Devoted to the Word
Read: Acts 2:42 | Also Read: Psalm 1:1–3; 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Open-Ended Reflection: What does true devotion to teaching look like beyond simply listening?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages describe the transforming effect of God’s Word?
Journal Prompt: How consistent is your devotion to learning from Scripture, and what shapes that consistency?

Day 2 — Devoted to Fellowship
Read: Acts 2:42 | Also Read: Hebrews 10:24–25; John 13:34–35

Open-Ended Reflection: Why might fellowship be listed alongside teaching and prayer as essential?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about the visible mark of Christian community?
Journal Prompt: Where is God inviting you to move from attendance to genuine fellowship?

Day 3 — Devoted to Prayer
Read: Acts 2:42 | Also Read: Colossians 4:2; Philippians 4:6–7

Open-Ended Reflection: What does consistent prayer reveal about a community’s dependence on God?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages describe the posture and outcome of faithful prayer?
Journal Prompt: What does your prayer life reveal about what you trust most?

Day 4 — Generosity and Awe
Read: Acts 2:43–45 | Also Read: Deuteronomy 15:7–11; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8

Open-Ended Reflection: What connection do you see between awe of God and generosity toward others?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages frame generosity as a spiritual act rather than a financial one?
Journal Prompt: Where might God be inviting you to reflect His generosity more tangibly?

Day 5 — A Witnessing Community
Read: Acts 2:46–47 | Also Read: Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:9–12

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do you think the Lord added to their number daily?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages suggest about the relationship between visible faith and gospel impact?
Journal Prompt: How does your daily life either clarify or confuse the message of Christ?

“…Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”   Acts 2:46-47 (NABS)

Day by day, Day by day 
O dear Lord three things I pray:
To see thee more clearly, 
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly, day by day.
       Stephen L. Schwartz

The musical Godspell was written in 1970 to a generation that was fragmented and was at odds with itself, desperate for the unity that Jesus’ teaching promised.  Vietnam, Watergate, civil unrest and rioting, assassinations of heroes like Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy all caused us to withdraw from each other.

In many ways it’s like the generation of today which has lost its sense of direction and purpose. In addition to the 9-11 attacks and the subsequent war on terror, the internet and cell phones that isolate us from one another, we have the threat of  objective Truth that has been hijacked by destructive ideologies  and the death knell over the culture of reason.

Revealed by the Holy Spirit, the heart of man knows that this life is about more than himself. The Westminster Shorter Catechism  captures the essence of man’s purpose: “the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”  These believers in Acts chapter 2 discovered the joy of living in community which is inextricably linked to enjoying God, in whose image they are made.

Jesus, as the last Adam came to show how man was intended to live, in total dependence on His Father.  Says Jesus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.  For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing;…” John 5:19-20 (NASB)

We were designed to live in dependence  on God, as Jesus modeled for us with His life with His total dependence on the Father.  The problem comes when we think we can go it alone; that we don’t need anyone.   “It’s un-American”; says the rugged individualist.  But it is a lie, which has it roots in the serpent”s deception in the garden : “your eyes will be opened and you will be like God…” (Gen.3:5).  And” there’s the rub!”, as Hamlet would say.

With the Holy Spirit came the liberating Truth that we, the redeemed of the Lord, are                                               not alone in this work!  We link arms with our brothers and sisters,  enjoying the fellowship with our Father.  “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  Day by Day.

Questions To Think About:

1. How has “rugged individualism “ affected your spiritual life, and where do you feel the specific “rub” of loneliness or self-sufficiency?
2. With respect to glorifying and enjoying God and the  joy of community , how does your relationship with other believers help you see God more clearly, and love God more dearly?
3. Do you view your witness for Christ as a series of grand gestures, or as a natural byproduct of living a consistent, “day by day” life with others?

Week 4 — A Bold Proclamation

Weekly Prayer:

Lord, give us courage to speak what is true and clarity to understand Your Word. Guard us from shrinking back in fear, and form in us a boldness rooted in humility and dependence on You. Amen.

Day 1 — Standing Up to Speak
Read: Acts 2:14–16 | Also Read: Joel 2:28–32; Romans 10:14–15

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do you think Peter stands publicly after previously denying Jesus?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about how God restores and uses imperfect people?
Journal Prompt: Where might God be inviting you to step forward instead of staying silent?

Day 2 — Interpreting the Moment Biblically
Read: Acts 2:17–21 | Also Read: Isaiah 44:3–5; Hebrews 1:1–2

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does Peter explain the present event through prophecy?
Learn from Scripture: What does this teach about understanding current events through God’s revealed Word?
Journal Prompt: How do you interpret what is happening around you — through culture or Scripture?

Day 3 — Centering Everything on Christ
Read: Acts 2:22–24 | Also Read: Isaiah 53:4–6; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Open-Ended Reflection: Why is the resurrection central to Peter’s message?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages teach about God’s redemptive plan through Christ?
Journal Prompt: How central is the resurrection to your understanding of faith?

Day 4 — Conviction and Response
Read: Acts 2:36–38 | Also Read: Psalm 51:10–12; 2 Corinthians 7:10

Open-Ended Reflection: What does genuine conviction produce in a person?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages distinguish between regret and repentance?
Journal Prompt: Where might God be prompting deeper repentance in your life?

Day 5 — A Transformed Community
Read: Acts 2:39–41 | Also Read: Ezekiel 36:26–27; Colossians 2:12–14

Open-Ended Reflection: What changes when people truly respond to the gospel?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about inward transformation and outward identity?
Journal Prompt: How has the gospel reshaped your identity and daily living?

“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:….
This Man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge;   and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing him to the cross.  But God raised him from the  dead ….Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah….when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’  Peter replied,’ Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:14, 23, 36-39


Peter stood with the Eleven as he faced the crowd.  The crowd was amazed and perplexed. Those who were speaking in an unknown tongue were obviously Galileans, but the onlooking crowd heard them declaring the wonders of God in their own tongues.   Some, however, thought they had too much wine.

Peter was unafraid of the crowd this time.
This was a dramatic change from the Peter who three times denied ever knowing the Lord! (Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; and John 18:15–27). In fact, the Eleven all found themselves with a new bolder posture, and they too were, strangely, unafraid.

Peter remembered the question that Jesus had asked him: “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?…. Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15)  And so Peter raised his voice and addressed the crowd;

  “Fellow Jews…Let me explain this to you…These people are not drunk, as you suppose. … No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall be in the Last Days, God says, That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters shall prophesy,….’
David would agree with the prophet Joel:
“The Lord gives the command;
The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host… Psalm 68:11

The ancient Near Eastern culture would have been shocked by this prophecy, which clearly indicates that God would use women to prophecy!  In Greek, the word is propheteuo: to speak an inspired message, to preach.  Talk about your culture shock. In the ancient Near East, where women were second-class citizens and not counted in the census, this was not done!
But God said…your sons and your daughters shall prophesy!  Those who have turned the world upside down have come here!

Peter was just getting started.  “Men of Israel, listen to these words.  Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.  But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power…..God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!” (Acts 2:22-24, 36)

The crowd of people was cut to the heart, and they were brought to their knees in desperation: “Brothers, what shall we do?!”

We are just as guilty as they were!  We were the wicked men and women who helped put Jesus to death on the cross. Our hearts condemn us; we are critically ill, moribund, terminal. We need a heart transplant.

But God…is the Only Cardiac Surgeon who has the credentials to operate on the heart of the spirit of man!  God has promised  that He will give us  a new heart “and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you…” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)  

“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  Amen!

Questions to Think About

1. Where in your life are you currently operating out of “fear” or “denial,” and how could a “But God” moment transform that fear into boldness?

2. God uses the “Galileans” and the “daughters” to turn the world upside down.  Who is someone you might be dismissing or overlooking that God might be using to speak an inspired message to you?

3 The promise of the Spirit is for you, your children, and those “far off”.  How does knowing that your spiritual “heart transplant”affect your children and future generations change the way you view your current walk with God?

Week 3 — When the Spirit Comes

Weekly Prayer:

Holy Spirit, awaken our hearts to Your presence. Remove complacency and renew our dependence on You. Teach us to seek Your power not for comfort, but for faithful witness. Amen.

Day 1 — Together in One Place
Read: Acts 2:1 | Also Read: John 17:20–23; Psalm 133

Open-Ended Reflection: Why might unity precede spiritual breakthrough?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about oneness among believers?
Journal Prompt: Where might division or distraction be limiting spiritual growth?

Day 2 — The Sound of God’s Movement
Read: Acts 2:2 | Also Read: Exodus 19:16–19; Ezekiel 37:9–10

Open-Ended Reflection: What do wind and fire symbolize in Scripture?
Learn from Scripture: How do these passages connect God’s presence with transformation?
Journal Prompt: What areas of your life need the Spirit’s renewing breath?

Day 3 — Filled and Sent
Read: Acts 2:3–4 | Also Read: Joel 2:28–29; Ephesians 5:18

Open-Ended Reflection: Why does being filled with the Spirit result in speech rather than silence?
Learn from Scripture: What do these verses teach about the Spirit’s purpose in believers?
Journal Prompt: How does dependence on the Spirit shape your daily interactions?

Day 4 — A Message for Every Nation
Read: Acts 2:5–11 | Also Read: Genesis 11:1–9; Revelation 7:9

Open-Ended Reflection: How does Pentecost reverse what happened at Babel?
Learn from Scripture: What do these passages reveal about God’s heart for all nations?
Journal Prompt: How might God use you to bridge cultural or relational divides?

Day 5 — Awe and Resistance
Read: Acts 2:12–13 | Also Read: 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 7:37–39

Open-Ended Reflection: Why do some respond to God’s work with curiosity and others with dismissal?
Learn from Scripture: What do these verses teach about spiritual perception?
Journal Prompt: How do you respond when God moves in ways you do not fully understand?

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enables them….”
 Acts 2:1-4

“…Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another , ‘What does this mean?’ “ Acts 2:12

A mother in labor groans with anguish, impatient for the ordeal to be over, and then, suddenly, a baby is born.  And in that moment of birth, all the pains of labor shrink to insignificance by comparison.

And so it was, “suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind from heaven,” that the Church was born. Empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the works of Christ, but now in multiplied fashion!  As G. Campbell Morgan succinctly puts it, “It is the story of all He began to do after He was received up. He has never ceased the doing until now. The work is going forward.  He is still doing. He is still teaching.  The risen ascended Lord is the living center of His Church.”

In all their imaginings, none of the disciples could  have anticipated the Holy Spirit baptism in so dramatic a fashion!  Right on schedule during the feast of Pentecost, when the Jews from Galilee, Egypt, Libya, Rome and all surrounding  areas came to Jerusalem to celebrate the harvest.

 But God was more interested in the harvest of humanity!

The prophet Joel had the vision some 800 years ago :  
“The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil…
“And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophecy,”
 Joel 2:24, 28-29

The disciples thought; It’s happening right now just as the prophets and the Lord had said it would!  But what does this mean?

The words of Jesus echoed in their hearing:
“Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.  When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin, and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in Me; about righteousness because I am going to  the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgement, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”                    John 16: 7-11

Suddenly , the redemptive plan of God had entered a new and final phase.  The Holy Spirit will prove the world  to be in the wrong about sin, because the people don’t believe that is there only one way for redemption .  Jesus said : “I am the way, and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14: 6)

Having completed forever the Father’s redemptive  plan, Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father where He will judge the world. “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has  appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
(Acts 17:31)

The enemy of our souls, the Adversary, thought he was rid of Christ at the cross. Little did he realize he would have to deal with multiplied thousands world-wide of reflections of the Christ.
“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”  ( Acts 17:6)
Suddenly…!

Questions to Think About:

1 How does the promise of the Holy Spirit sustain you during those  “labor pains” when you are waiting for God?
2 What “upside down” qualities do people see in you?