Devotionals: Acts Archives

Testimony to God’s Grace

By Andrew YoungDecember 11, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“….they declared all that God had done with them…” (Acts 14:27) Bible Reading: Acts 14:24-28 Paul and Barnabas are on the homeward leg of their first missionary journey. Along the way, they have strengthened and set in order the churches they had seen come into being. Now we read of their reunion with the church in Antioch, Syria. But before we do, it is worth noting that as they were leaving Asia they “spoke the word in Perga” (Acts 14:25). We read earlier of them passing through this city, but the only thing noted on that occasion was that John […]

Through Many Tribulations

By Andrew YoungDecember 10, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“…through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22) Bible Reading: Acts 14:18-23 There is a popular saying, “From hero to zero.” It refers to people who crash from the heights of fame to the depths of disgrace. That’s how things turned out for Paul and Barnabas in Lystra. One minute they were being heralded as gods come in human nature, the next, Paul is being stoned and dragged outside the city and left for dead (Acts 14:11, 19). Having “scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifices to them” (v. 18), they face the hostility of the […]

A Living God

By Andrew YoungDecember 9, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“…that you should turn from these vain things to a living God…” (Acts 14:15) Bible Reading: Acts 14:14-17 We left Paul and Barnabas in Lystra facing the prospect of being worshipped as “gods… come… in the likeness of men” (Acts 14:11). What would they do? When they heard of this, “they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven […]

Two Kinds of Faith

By Andrew YoungDecember 8, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“…seeing that he had faith to be made well…” (Acts 14:9) Bible Reading: Acts 14:8-13 We have noted how Paul and Barnabas’ preaching ministry was reinforced by signs and wonders (Acts 14:3). We have a case of one such miracle happening in Lystra, the city to which the missionaries fled after being forced out of Iconium. It was connected with a man who “could not use his feet” (v. 8). He had been “crippled from birth and had never walked.” Somehow he came to hear Paul speaking and obviously drank in the teaching about Jesus in a way that gave […]

A Repeating Pattern

By Andrew YoungDecember 7, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“But the people of the city were divided…” (Acts 14:4) Bible Reading: Acts 14:1-7 Having fled Antioch and made their way to Iconium, Paul and Barnabas followed the same pattern of ministry that they had established in Cyprus. They went first to the Jews (to the synagogue) and from there, the word of the Lord spread to the Gentiles in the city. When they entered the synagogue in Iconium, they “spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Gentiles believed” (Acts 14:1). I recall a godly pastor referring to this verse as he was teaching […]

Opposition and Joy

By Andrew YoungDecember 6, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“But the Jews… stirred up persecution… And the disciples were filled with joy…” (Acts 13:50, 52) Bible Reading: Acts 13:48-52 The opposition of jealous Jews led Paul and Barnabas to “turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). While this didn’t go well with their persecutors, it brought joy to those who were not of Jewish background. We read that “when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (v. 48). For centuries, the Gentiles had been spurned by Jews. But here, Paul and Barnabas were […]

Jealous Jews

By Andrew YoungDecember 5, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“…they were filled with jealousy…” (Acts 13:45) Bible Reading: Acts 13:42-47 Paul’s synagogue message left its mark on his hearers. Even as they left the building, people asked that he would return the following week to tell them more (Acts 13:42). Others followed him and Barnabas to learn from them immediately (v. 43). A fire had been lit in the city. So great was the effect of that message that the following Sabbath, “almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord” (v. 44). News of what had happened obviously spread beyond the Jewish community and caught […]

Forgiveness through Faith

By Andrew YoungDecember 4, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“…through this man forgiveness of sin is proclaimed to you…” (Acts 13:38) Bible Reading: Acts 13:32-41 Having announced the coming of the Messiah in Jesus, Paul goes on to show his listeners in the synagogue in Antioch how God fulfilled his promises to their fathers by raising Jesus from the dead (Acts 13:32). First, he shows how the resurrection of Jesus brings to pass the words of Psalm 2:7, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.” The resurrection of Jesus marked the commencement of his rule as God’s messianic King, a rule that would subdue all the nations […]

The Heart of the Gospel

By Andrew YoungDecember 3, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“… they asked Pilate to have him executed… But God raised him from the dead…” (Acts 13:28, 30) Bible Reading: Acts 13:26-31 We continue to examine the message Paul brought to Jews and God-fearers in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia. It bears careful study and can guide us in how to tell others the good news about what God has done in Jesus. We noted yesterday that having surveyed Israel’s history up until King David, Paul then introduced the idea that “from this man’s offspring, God has brought a Saviour to Israel, as he promised” (Acts 13:23). Now he […]

Preaching to Jews

By Andrew YoungDecember 2, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.” (Acts 13:16) Bible Reading: Acts 13:13-25 From Cyprus, Paul, Barnabas and John Mark travelled north to the mainland of Asia (modern Turkey) to a place called Perga in Pamphylia where John left them to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). From there, they moved on to Antioch in Pisidia where they entered the Jewish synagogue on the Sabbath day and were given the opportunity to speak “a word of encouragement” to the people (v. 15). Luke records for us what Paul said that day. Along with Peter’s sermon on the day of […]