On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem… Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Acts 8:1,4 Scattering feels like loss until you realize Who’s doing the scattering. The early church…
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. Acts 8:5 Philip walked straight into enemy territory because God’s love made him brave. For generations, Jews had been taught that Samaritans were half-breeds, heretics, and enemies…
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15 Sharing your faith isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about sharing your story. Many…
So there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:8 Joy isn’t just an emotion but evidence that God is at work. When Philip preached Christ in Samaria, the result wasn’t just converts but citywide joy. The people felt “great…
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Isaiah 6:8 God’s mission will go forward with or without you. But you’ll…
It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain. Acts 28:20 Chains don’t always limit you. Sometimes they launch you. Paul sat in Roman custody, shackled to a guard, yet his influence had never…
From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God. Acts 28:23 Real ministry happens in the marathon. It doesn’t happen in the sprint. Paul didn’t rush through his talk to the Jewish leaders in Rome.…
They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement. Acts 28:25 Watching people walk away from truth hurts more than physical pain. Paul had spent an entire day carefully explaining the gospel to the…
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Acts 28:27 Hearts don’t close overnight. They close slowly, one rejection at a time. Paul quoted Isaiah to explain why some…
For two whole years Paul stayed there. Acts 28:30 Two years can feel like a lifetime when you’re waiting for God to move. Paul sat under house arrest in Rome, not knowing when or if he would ever be released.…