Devotionals: Acts Archives - Page 2 of 9

Satanic Opposition

By Andrew YoungDecember 1, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“But Elymas the magician… opposed them…” (Acts 13:8) Bible Reading: Acts 13:6-12 From Salamis, Barnabas, Saul and John Mark travelled westwards through the island of Cyprus until they reached its administrative capital, Paphos. There, they encountered a “magician,” a Jewish false prophet named Bar Jesus (Acts 13:6), who takes centre stage in the story. This man was “with the [Roman] proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God” (v. 7). News of the gospel preachers had evidently reached the Roman palace and aroused the interest of the governor. […]

Mission Underway

By Andrew YoungNovember 30, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit… they sailed to Cyprus.” (Acts 13:4) Bible Reading: Acts 13:4-5 The verses before us record the first phase of Barnabas and Saul’s missionary journey. It took place on the island of Cyprus. Luke tells us that having been ordered by the Holy Spirit to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which he had called them, the prophets and teachers in Antioch sent them off “after fasting and praying,” and after they “laid their hands on them” (Acts 13:3). The newly commissioned pair, taking with them John Mark as an […]

Lessons from Antioch

By Andrew YoungNovember 29, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“While they [prophets and teachers] were worshipping the Lord and fasting…” (Acts 13:2) Bible Reading: Acts 13:1-3 We noted yesterday that these verses highlight the sovereignty and superintendence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. They also point to two features of the way the Spirit works. The first is suggested by what the prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch were doing when the Holy Spirit spoke to them. They were “worshipping the Lord and fasting” (Acts 13:2). In the New Testament context, “worshipping the Lord” probably refers to specific acts of devotion directed to […]

The Sovereign Spirit

By Andrew YoungNovember 28, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul…” (Acts 13:2) Bible Reading: Acts 13:1-3 The focus of much of the first twelve chapters of the book of Acts is on the life of the early church in Jerusalem, Samaria and Judea. Now it shifts to the north, to Antioch in Syria. There, we noted earlier, men from Cyprus and Cyrene (in North Africa) had preached the gospel not simply to Jews but to “Hellenists” – that is, to Greek-speaking Gentiles. A church had come into being and flourished under the oversight of first Barnabas and then also of Saul of Tarsus, […]

An Arrogant King Killed

By Andrew YoungSeptember 2, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down…” (Acts 12:23) Bible Reading: Acts 12:20-24 Earlier, we read of an angel of the Lord delivering Peter from prison (Acts 12:7). Here, we read again of an “angel of the Lord” putting to death an arrogant king (v. 23). King Herod, we noted, had turned persecutor of the church, seeking to gain favour with the Jews by imprisoning and killing its leaders (v. 1). He was successful in putting James to death, and “came within an inch” of executing Peter too. However, as mentioned, his intentions with Peter were foiled by […]

Praying People Amazed

By Andrew YoungSeptember 1, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“… and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.” (Acts 12:16) Bible Reading: Acts 12:12-17 Peter’s first action, when he became fully aware that he was no longer in prison, was to go to the home of one of the women in the church, Mary, the mother of John Mark, “where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12). We are not told why he chose this particular home. Perhaps it was nearby; or again, Mary might have been known to Peter as a praying woman. Whatever the reason, he makes his way there and knocks at the “door […]

An Angelic Deliverer

By Andrew YoungAugust 31, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him and a light shone in the cell…” (Acts 12:7) Bible Reading: Acts 12:6-11 Peter’s remarkable deliverance from prison by an angel of the Lord provide one of the fullest accounts we have in the Bible of angelic actions. It has much to teach us about these beings and the nature of our universe. The first thing we learn is that angels are able to make themselves present visibly. They are not by nature physical beings but “ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14). Yet, clearly, they can on occasions make themselves visible. […]

Herod on the Rampage

By Andrew YoungAugust 30, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“…Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church.” (Acts 12:1) Bible Reading: Acts 12:1-5 While Barnabas and Saul were in Jerusalem, a fresh wave of persecution broke out against the church there. King Herod “laid violent hands on some of the church,” had the apostle James killed by the sword, and Peter arrested and put in prison (Acts 12:1-3). Exactly why Herod went on this rampage against Christians in the city is not clear. Some suggest that it was to win favour with the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin, which at this time was still […]

A Generous Church

By Andrew YoungAugust 29, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“So the disciples determined… to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.” (Acts 11:29) Bible Reading: Acts 11:27-30 Luke tells us here of an event that took place towards the end of the year that Barnabas and Saul were teaching in the church in Antioch. “Now in those days,” he writes, “prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch” (Acts 11:27). We are not told why they made the journey, or whether it was with the endorsement of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. These things are incidental to the main point of their visit. As it turns out, […]

Teaching People

By Andrew YoungAugust 28, 2018Devotionals: Acts

“For a whole year they… taught a great many people.” (Acts 11:26) Bible Reading: Acts 11:25-26 By the grace of God, a “great number” of people in Antioch in Syria had “believed” and “turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). What happened to these people then? These two verses supply the answer. Something more was required. The many new believers in Antioch needed “teaching.” Wisely, Barnabas saw that the task was beyond his efforts alone. Having already met Saul, the converted Pharisee (9:27), and knowing where he had gone (9:30), he sets out to look for him. Having found him in […]