Acts 2:14, 22-33
On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice, and proclaimed:
“You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.
Let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
“You who are children of Israel, hear these words.
Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God
with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs,
which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.
This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God,
you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.
But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death,
because it was impossible for him to be held by it.
For David says of him:
I saw the Lord ever before me,
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.
My brothers, one can confidently say to you
about the patriarch David that he died and was buried,
and his tomb is in our midst to this day.
But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him
that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,
he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,
that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld
nor did his flesh see corruption.
God raised this Jesus;
of this we are all witnesses.
Exalted at the right hand of God,
he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear.”
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Note how the Holy Spirit has allowed Peter to understand the Scriptures. That's really good information for us to remember -- the Holy Spirit, not man, provides the ability to understand the Word of God. This was true for the Twelve, it was true for the early church, and it remains true for us today.
Showing posts with label Acts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acts. Show all posts
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Daily - 1/25/10
Today is the celebration of the conversion of Paul, so I'll roll with that.
Acts 22:3-16
Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral lawand was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. Even the high priest and the whole council of elderscan testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothersand set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalemin chains for punishment those there as well.
“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me,‘ I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’ My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.
“A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,came to me and stood there and said,‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said,‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will,to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before allto what you have seen and heard.
Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,calling upon his name.’”
-----------
Very few of us get knocked down by a great light coming from the sky. But we are all called, in little ways and big. It is up to us to hear that call and respond. In the end, to find Christ, you have to submit to his will and do what he says.
Now, why delay?
Acts 22:3-16
Paul addressed the people in these words: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral lawand was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison. Even the high priest and the whole council of elderscan testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothersand set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalemin chains for punishment those there as well.
“On that journey as I drew near to Damascus,about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me,‘ I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’ My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’ Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.
“A certain Ananias, a devout observer of the law,and highly spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,came to me and stood there and said,‘Saul, my brother, regain your sight.’And at that very moment I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said,‘The God of our ancestors designated you to know his will,to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of his voice; for you will be his witness before allto what you have seen and heard.
Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away,calling upon his name.’”
-----------
Very few of us get knocked down by a great light coming from the sky. But we are all called, in little ways and big. It is up to us to hear that call and respond. In the end, to find Christ, you have to submit to his will and do what he says.
Now, why delay?
Friday, April 17, 2009
Daily - 4/17/09
Acts 4:13-21
13 Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.
14 Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply.
15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying,
16 "What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
17 But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name."
18 So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
20 It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."
21 After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.
-------------
This follows from yesterday. We're still in front of the Sanhedrin, the same body that demanded Christ's execution. Looks like Annas is now the high priest, taking over from Caiaphas. These guys must have thought that their problem ended with killing Jesus. Now we have other men, normal and uneducated, preaching that salvation can only be found through Christ.
And they're not afraid of anything the Sanhedrin can do to them.
The words resonating with me this morning are those of Peter and John. "It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard." I may not have met Christ physically, and I may not have physically seen the risen body, but I most definitely HAVE seen and heard Him. I've read of Him in the Word, and meditated over it. I've encountered Christ one-on-one in prayer. I've received his absolution in Reconciliation. I've physically encountered Him in the Eucharist. I have consumed Him, just as He told me to do. He has transformed me, and He continues to transform me.
Think about that -- it puts me in the same place as Peter and John. I have seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. The humbling question is this: in my own heart, am I like them? Is it impossible for me to be silent? If not, why not?
13 Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus.
14 Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply.
15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying,
16 "What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
17 But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name."
18 So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
20 It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."
21 After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.
-------------
This follows from yesterday. We're still in front of the Sanhedrin, the same body that demanded Christ's execution. Looks like Annas is now the high priest, taking over from Caiaphas. These guys must have thought that their problem ended with killing Jesus. Now we have other men, normal and uneducated, preaching that salvation can only be found through Christ.
And they're not afraid of anything the Sanhedrin can do to them.
The words resonating with me this morning are those of Peter and John. "It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard." I may not have met Christ physically, and I may not have physically seen the risen body, but I most definitely HAVE seen and heard Him. I've read of Him in the Word, and meditated over it. I've encountered Christ one-on-one in prayer. I've received his absolution in Reconciliation. I've physically encountered Him in the Eucharist. I have consumed Him, just as He told me to do. He has transformed me, and He continues to transform me.
Think about that -- it puts me in the same place as Peter and John. I have seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. The humbling question is this: in my own heart, am I like them? Is it impossible for me to be silent? If not, why not?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Daily - 4/16/09
Acts 4:1-12 (Friday, 1st reading)
1 While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them,
2 disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
3 They laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.
4 But many of those who heard the word came to believe and (the) number of men grew to (about) five thousand.
5 On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem,
6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class.
7 They brought them into their presence and questioned them, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"
8 Then Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered them, "Leaders of the people and elders:
9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved,
10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed.
11 He is 'the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.'
12 There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
-----------------
I'm always struck by the contrast between Peter before and after Pentecost. Before Pentecost we see a good chunk of his personality -- emotional, brash, maybe some cockiness -- but he always has faith. Maybe not enough faith, but he has it, going back to the first time we ever see him in Mark's gospel, where Christ takes over his boat. Peter hears him preach, and immediately calls him Master.
After Pentecost we see the man who holds the keys to the kingdom, anointed by Christ, and reinforced after the resurrection (see the "Feed my sheep" passage in John 21). He is a preacher, he heals the sick, and in Acts 9, he raises a person from the dead.
Last week I saw an interesting paragraph written by Pope Benedict. He wrote about this difference, then went on to say that Peter's human elements that we see so vividly in the gospels very likely stayed with him. He still carried the same human faults with him. Despite those, Christ used Peter for His purposes. THAT gives me great hope.
I can't leave this passage without addressing v12. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Him. He is the one to focus on, not anything else.
1 While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them,
2 disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
3 They laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.
4 But many of those who heard the word came to believe and (the) number of men grew to (about) five thousand.
5 On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem,
6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class.
7 They brought them into their presence and questioned them, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"
8 Then Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered them, "Leaders of the people and elders:
9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved,
10 then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed.
11 He is 'the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.'
12 There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved."
-----------------
I'm always struck by the contrast between Peter before and after Pentecost. Before Pentecost we see a good chunk of his personality -- emotional, brash, maybe some cockiness -- but he always has faith. Maybe not enough faith, but he has it, going back to the first time we ever see him in Mark's gospel, where Christ takes over his boat. Peter hears him preach, and immediately calls him Master.
After Pentecost we see the man who holds the keys to the kingdom, anointed by Christ, and reinforced after the resurrection (see the "Feed my sheep" passage in John 21). He is a preacher, he heals the sick, and in Acts 9, he raises a person from the dead.
Last week I saw an interesting paragraph written by Pope Benedict. He wrote about this difference, then went on to say that Peter's human elements that we see so vividly in the gospels very likely stayed with him. He still carried the same human faults with him. Despite those, Christ used Peter for His purposes. THAT gives me great hope.
I can't leave this passage without addressing v12. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Him. He is the one to focus on, not anything else.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Daily - 12/12/08
Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Fortunately for us, we live in a day where persecution means something different than it used to. Here’s how it worked out for St. Stephen in Acts 8:
Acts 8:54-60
54 When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him.
55 But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57 But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
58 They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
60 Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them"; and when he said this, he fell asleep.
Christ’s followers have been persecuted, in some form or another, since the very beginning. The nature of the persecution has changed over time, thank goodness. For us, living in America, the persecution is cultural. The "enlightened" folks of our time love to make fun of Christians in all sorts of ways. We’re hypocrites. We’re stupid. We don’t believe in science. We are selfish and think it’s our way or the highway. We are uninformed. We’re self-righteous. We’re stuck in the dark ages. We are not "progressive." And so on.
I’m not trying to equate enduring cultural persecution in America today with standing there in prayer while the guys from the Sanhedrin throw rocks at you until you’re dead. But there is a basic similarity … if we listen to Christ’s call and remain in Him, we become part of the spiritual war that has been going on since the beginning of time. And THAT means we become targets.
So why is it a blessing? I found a good perspective on the web.
"There has always been a deep antagonism from Satan toward God, from the world toward the Church, and thus from the ungodly toward the godly. This is not to say that every believer hates every unbeliever. But it is to say that there is an essential conflict between evil and good, and that this conflict will spill out of unbelieving, sinful, carnal people against believing, righteous, Spirit-filled people. It will spill out in derogatory remarks, in cutting accusations, in spiteful attitudes, in unfair dealings, and sometimes in physical harm."
Persecution is a blessing because it is proof positive that the enemy has identified us with Christ. It is both a result of and results in further deepening of the relationship with Christ. I like to think of it this way -- if my faith grows to the point where the enemy takes notice of who I am, then I’m doing something right. Of course it also means that I’ve become a soldier in the war, and that I need to prepare accordingly.
10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Fortunately for us, we live in a day where persecution means something different than it used to. Here’s how it worked out for St. Stephen in Acts 8:
Acts 8:54-60
54 When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him.
55 But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57 But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
58 They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
60 Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them"; and when he said this, he fell asleep.
Christ’s followers have been persecuted, in some form or another, since the very beginning. The nature of the persecution has changed over time, thank goodness. For us, living in America, the persecution is cultural. The "enlightened" folks of our time love to make fun of Christians in all sorts of ways. We’re hypocrites. We’re stupid. We don’t believe in science. We are selfish and think it’s our way or the highway. We are uninformed. We’re self-righteous. We’re stuck in the dark ages. We are not "progressive." And so on.
I’m not trying to equate enduring cultural persecution in America today with standing there in prayer while the guys from the Sanhedrin throw rocks at you until you’re dead. But there is a basic similarity … if we listen to Christ’s call and remain in Him, we become part of the spiritual war that has been going on since the beginning of time. And THAT means we become targets.
So why is it a blessing? I found a good perspective on the web.
"There has always been a deep antagonism from Satan toward God, from the world toward the Church, and thus from the ungodly toward the godly. This is not to say that every believer hates every unbeliever. But it is to say that there is an essential conflict between evil and good, and that this conflict will spill out of unbelieving, sinful, carnal people against believing, righteous, Spirit-filled people. It will spill out in derogatory remarks, in cutting accusations, in spiteful attitudes, in unfair dealings, and sometimes in physical harm."
Persecution is a blessing because it is proof positive that the enemy has identified us with Christ. It is both a result of and results in further deepening of the relationship with Christ. I like to think of it this way -- if my faith grows to the point where the enemy takes notice of who I am, then I’m doing something right. Of course it also means that I’ve become a soldier in the war, and that I need to prepare accordingly.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Daily - 11/20/08
Acts 2 – longer than usual, but worthwhile I hope.
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the three o'clock hour of prayer.
2 And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called "the Beautiful Gate" every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.
4 But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."
5 He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
6 Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, (rise and) walk."
7 Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
8 He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.
9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him.
11 As he clung to Peter and John, all the people hurried in amazement toward them in the portico called "Solomon's Portico."
12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?
13 The God of Abraham, (the God) of Isaac, and (the God) of Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence, when he had decided to release him.
14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
15 The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.
16 And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you.
17 Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;
18 but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.
19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away,
20 and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
22 For Moses said: 'A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen; to him you shall listen in all that he may say to you.
23 Everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be cut off from the people.'
24 Moreover, all the prophets who spoke, from Samuel and those afterwards, also announced these days.
25 You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he said to Abraham, 'In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'
26 For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways."
---------------
I’m always amazed at how the Holy Spirit changed Peter. Remember that Peter was a fisherman. He had not spent his life scouring the scriptures to fully understand the law, or the prophecies of the Messiah. He went to work, caught his fish, and went home.
After Pentecost, he’s just a touch different. He has the power to heal, and in Acts 9 he even raises Tabitha from the dead. He suddenly had a detailed knowledge of Scripture, and a full understanding that in Christ the prophecies of the Scriptures were fulfilled. This uneducated fisherman is now speaking to large crowds and preaching a gospel with knowledge and certainly that was given to him by the Holy Spirit. And he testifies that this power doesn’t come from him, it comes from God.
If God can do that with Peter, he can do it with us. We aren’t all called to be Peter, but we are all called by God for certain purposes. Our job is simply to follow Christ. If we dedicate ourselves to Christ and remain in him, we become capable of things we’d have never thought possible. I say that with certainty.
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the three o'clock hour of prayer.
2 And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called "the Beautiful Gate" every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.
4 But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."
5 He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
6 Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, (rise and) walk."
7 Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
8 He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.
9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God,
10 they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him.
11 As he clung to Peter and John, all the people hurried in amazement toward them in the portico called "Solomon's Portico."
12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?
13 The God of Abraham, (the God) of Isaac, and (the God) of Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence, when he had decided to release him.
14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
15 The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.
16 And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you.
17 Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;
18 but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.
19 Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away,
20 and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus,
21 whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
22 For Moses said: 'A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen; to him you shall listen in all that he may say to you.
23 Everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be cut off from the people.'
24 Moreover, all the prophets who spoke, from Samuel and those afterwards, also announced these days.
25 You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he said to Abraham, 'In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'
26 For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways."
---------------
I’m always amazed at how the Holy Spirit changed Peter. Remember that Peter was a fisherman. He had not spent his life scouring the scriptures to fully understand the law, or the prophecies of the Messiah. He went to work, caught his fish, and went home.
After Pentecost, he’s just a touch different. He has the power to heal, and in Acts 9 he even raises Tabitha from the dead. He suddenly had a detailed knowledge of Scripture, and a full understanding that in Christ the prophecies of the Scriptures were fulfilled. This uneducated fisherman is now speaking to large crowds and preaching a gospel with knowledge and certainly that was given to him by the Holy Spirit. And he testifies that this power doesn’t come from him, it comes from God.
If God can do that with Peter, he can do it with us. We aren’t all called to be Peter, but we are all called by God for certain purposes. Our job is simply to follow Christ. If we dedicate ourselves to Christ and remain in him, we become capable of things we’d have never thought possible. I say that with certainty.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Daily - 5/9/08
I'm always struck by the difference between the Peter of the gospels and the Peter of Acts. The difference is the completed work of Christ on earth, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. Peter’s antics in the gospels are well known. The transformed Peter was a different animal entirely – a leader, a preacher, and a healer. It’s testament to the power of Christ’s redemption and the power of the Holy Spirit for those who accept that redemption and give themselves over to God.
Acts 9:32-42
32 As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.
34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." He got up at once.
35 And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving.
37 Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid (her) out in a room upstairs.
38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay."
39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, "Tabitha, rise up." She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.
41 He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive.
42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.
Acts 9:32-42
32 As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.
34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." He got up at once.
35 And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving.
37 Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid (her) out in a room upstairs.
38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay."
39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40 Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, "Tabitha, rise up." She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.
41 He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive.
42 This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.
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