Recap

So far in Acts, we've read through the introduction, the disciples' time in Jerusalem, the church spreading into Samaria, the missionary trips to the ends of the earth, and started Paul's journey to Rome. Acts, a sequel to Luke's gospel, explores the early church's birth and growth. Jesus commissioned his disciples to spread the good news from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

After his ascension, the Holy Spirit came as wind and fire, making believers God's new temples. Empowered to speak in different languages, the disciples amazed the crowd, and Peter led over 3,000 to salvation. The church was born, and believers lived in community, sharing all they had.

Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple, explaining that God’s presence now dwelt in his people. This led to conflict with the priests, who warned them to stop preaching. As struggles arose, the Apostles appointed seven men to manage daily tasks, and the church grew.

Stephen, one of the seven, performed miracles but was murdered for his faith. His death triggered persecution, forcing Christians to spread the gospel to Judea and Samaria.

Meanwhile, Saul, on his way to arrest Christians, was blinded by Jesus, healed by Ananias, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He began preaching immediately, despite opposition. The disciples in Jerusalem were initially wary of Saul, but Barnabas vouched for him.

Peter received a vision that led to him preaching before Gentiles and seeing them saved and baptised in the Spirit. The Gentiles were now included with the believers. A multi-ethnic church was established in Antioch, supported by Saul and Barnabas.

Paul and Barnabas began spreading the gospel in Cyprus and Asia Minor. They preached to Jews and Gentiles, facing opposition but establishing churches. Returning to Antioch, they reported their success, and the believers praised God.

A group argued that Gentile converts must be circumcised. At a council in Jerusalem, the apostles decided that the Gentiles had already been filled with the Holy Spirit. They didn’t need to adopt Jewish customs as well, but must reject things offensive to God.

After a disagreement over John Mark, Paul and Barnabas took separate missions. Paul, led by the Holy Spirit to Macedonia where he planted churches in Thessalonica, Berea, Atheans, and Corinth. On his third mission, Paul spent two years in Ephesus growing the church, visiting other churches along the way.

Heading back to Jerusalem, Paul was warned not to go, with prophecies that he would be bound and handed over to the Gentiles. Despite this, Paul insisted he was ready to be arrested or even die for Jesus. In Jerusalem, he faced hostility from Jews who believed he was undermining their traditions. To show his commitment, Paul purified himself in the temple, but the crowd still attacked him. Roman soldiers arrested him and planned to whip him until Paul revealed his Roman citizenship.

Paul defended himself before the religious leaders, but they sought to kill him. The Lord encouraged Paul, saying he was being sent to Rome to share the gospel. To protect him from the Jewish plot, Paul was sent to Governor Felix in Caesarea, where he defended himself. Felix kept Paul under house arrest for two years, hoping for a bribe. Felix was replaced by Festus, who, to appease the Jews, suggested Paul be tried in Jerusalem. Paul, instead, appealed to have his trial in Rome.

King Agrippa visited Festus, who invited him to hear Paul. Paul shared his conversion story and mission to preach to the Gentiles. Both Agrippa and Festus agreed Paul was innocent, but since he had requested to go to Rome, to Rome he would go.

Acts 27-28

The trip to send Paul to Rome is planned, and Paul is put under the charge of a centurion named Julius, along with a number of other prisoners. The group set sail and travel from port to port, ship to ship, along the coast of Asia towards Italy.

During this time, Paul has great favour with Julius, who allows him free rein to visit his friends in the cities they stop in. The further they travelled, the more dangerous the seas got, and Paul warned them that it might be better for the cargo, the ship, and the people if they waited rather than continuing on like this.

He was ignored, as the centurion and the crew wanted to find a better place to wait out the winter. Their plan was to settle in Crete. But as they got closer to Crete, the weather seemed to calm and so they decided to push a little further.

At this point, the weather picked back up, and they were completely under the control of the storm. As it continued to get worse, they started throwing the cargo and ship’s gear overboard. It was starting to look like they were doomed.

Paul then stands up and encourages the crew. He was visited by an angel who told him he would indeed reach Rome and all those with him would be protected. Paul has every confidence his God will do this, though they may have to run aground on an island. Empowered by God, Paul is able to rise as the clear leader during this storm.

More time passes and the men grew more afraid they were going to be dashed against the rocks. Some were tempted to take their chances and flee in the smaller boats, but Paul warned them that any who leave will die. He then encourages them to eat, for they have been too afraid and gone without food for two weeks.

The next day land comes into sight and so some start swimming to shore and floating on bits of wood. Some of the soldiers want to kill all the prisoners to stop them from escaping, but Julius prevents it, making sure Paul survives. Because of the favour on Paul, many are saved. Everyone makes it to land alive.

They learn the land was Malta and the people of Malta tend to and care for them. As they are gathering wood for a fire, Paul is bitten by a viper. At first, the people assume he must be guilty, because only a guilty man could survive a storm like that and then still be destined to die by the gods.

But Paul is fine, and people start to question maybe he is a god for surviving both a storm and a snake bite. Paul goes on to heal many of the island’s sick.

After spending winter in Malta, the crew set sail from Rome again. They travel along the coast of Sicily and Italy before arriving in Rome. There, Paul is given freedom to live by himself and see all of his friends and believers in Rome. This favour allows him to continue his ministry and the mission that God had called him to.

In Rome, Paul gathers together the Jews there and makes his case why the Jews in Jerusalem were wrong in their accusations of him. The Roman Jews have heard nothing from the Jerusalem Jews and are completely unaware of these accusations. However, they are interested in hearing from Paul about this new sect (Christianity) that is growing in popularity.

And so Paul teaches them about the good news of Jesus and how it has also been spread to the Gentiles. Some are convinced and others are not, but Paul continues to preach and share the good news in Rome.

In Acts, we’ve seen the birth of the church. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the believers have moved in power and in boldness. They’ve also been moved in unity, supporting for and caring for one another, regardless of ethnicity or background.

They’ve stood up powerfully in the face of opposition and have received great favour as they continue in the mission to spread the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. And through it all, we saw the hand of the Holy Spirit and God guiding events towards God’s will and purpose.

And in all this, we are called to do the same. To seek the empowering power of the Holy Spirit. Not so we can go live our best lives, but so we can go out and share the kingdom of God with the world, and support and care for those in needs, even in the face of persecution. That is the book of Acts.

Psalm 130

This psalm isn’t attributed to anyone in particular and is named as a psalm of ascent. These psalms were sung by worshippers as they ascended to Jerusalem for the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Festival of Weeks, and Festival of Tabernacles) or possibly by the Levites as they ascended the steps of the Temple. Psalm 120-134 are all psalms of ascent.

Psalm 130:1-2 - Call to the Lord

Psalm 130:3-4 - The Lord forgives

Psalm 130:5-6 - I will wait on the Lord

Psalm 130:7-8 - Hope in the Lord

In this ascent journey we’ve gone from being far from God's presence (Psalm 120), to seeking God’s presence (Psalm 121), and then to reaching God’s presence (Psalm 122). From there, the psalmist has asked the Lord for help (Psalm 123) and then praised the Lord for his protection (Psalm 124).

From within Jerusalem, they reflected on the nature of righteousness and wickedness (Psalm 125). They thanked God for how he has restored his city, but also ask for more (Psalm 126). This leads the psalmist to reflect on the importance of God being first and foremost in our live (Psalm 127) and fearing God (Psalm 128).

Having focused on God’s authority and power, the psalmist then reflects on how God rescued them and Israel from oppressors (Psalm 129). Now the psalmist calls out to God to rescue them from, and forgive them for, their sin.

The psalmist starts with a call to the Lord to hear their pleas. They recognise that if God were to keep track of everyone’s sin, no one would be able to stand before him. Instead, God forgives his people so they can come before him and worship him.

Therefore, the psalmist will wait on the Lord to redeem them. They also encourage the rest of Israel to trust and hope in the Lord, for he will redeem them from their sins as well.

As the psalmist has got closer to God’s presence in this journey to ascent, they recognise the need to deal with their sin.