Acts 13:38-52

Paul said, "Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God—something the Jewish law could never do. 40 Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said,
41 Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe
even if someone told you about it.’ "
42 As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people asked them to return again and speak about these things the next week. 43 Many Jews and godly converts to Judaism who worshiped at the synagogue followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them, "By God’s grace, remain faithful." 44 The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jewish leaders saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, "It was necessary that this Good News from God be given first to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life—well, we will offer it to Gentiles. 47 For this is as the Lord commanded us when he said, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’ " 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were appointed to eternal life became believers. 49 So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. 50 Then the Jewish leaders stirred up both the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and went to the city of Iconium. 52 And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Devotion (by Chris Bunch):
As we enter the Christmas season, we enter a season called "advent," which means arrival or coming. This is a season of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. His arrival brought "God in flesh" to earth. He became our "Immanuel" meaning God with us. But, the question becomes "Why did he come?"
In verse 38-39 we learn that Jesus came for forgiveness of sin. "In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God." This is the good news of the New Testament: that forgiveness of sins and freedom from guilt are available through faith in Christ to all who believe including you. When you became a follower of Christ he declared you "not guilty" because of his birth, death and resurrection.
Whatever is in your past is in your past. Receive his forgiveness today and be refreshed by it.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming to earth not just as the little, cuddly baby, but also as the Lord of all who can forgive me of anything. Today, I ask your forgiveness for _________________________ (share what you need forgiveness for). I receive your forgiveness today. In Jesus name. Amen

Acts 13:13-37

Paul Preaches in Antioch of Pisidia

 ¹³ Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia.^[a]   On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. ¹⁵ After the usual readings from the books of Moses^[b]and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”
 ¹⁶ So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.
 ¹⁷ “The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery. ¹⁸ He put up with them^[c] through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. ¹⁹ Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. ²⁰ All this took about 450 years.
   “After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. ²² But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’^[d]
 23 “And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! ²⁴ Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. ²⁵ As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’
 ²⁶ “Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! ²⁷ The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. ²⁸ They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway.
 ²⁹ “When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross^[e] and placed him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised him from the dead! ³¹ And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.
 ³² “And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, ³³ and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus:
   ‘You are my Son.
      Today I have become your Father.^[f]’
 ³⁴ For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, ‘I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’^[g] 35 Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’^[h] 36 This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. ³⁷ No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

Devotion
Well if you've ever looked for a brief, yet in-depth look at some of the history of how Jesus came and fulfilled the scriptures spoken about Him in the way that He lived His life, this passage sums it up very well.  Jesus is the good news, the promise that we've been looking for!  I love the part in this passage where the writer talks about John's ministry before Jesus came.  All these people looked to John to get baptized by him and they were following his teachings, but then he told them, I'm not the One you're looking for, I'm not even worthy to be His slave or untie His sandals.  What humility that shows, even when all of those people were looking up to John, hoping he could lead them to the promise they were searching for, he still pointed them to Jesus.  That's what we need to remember even today.  With all of the people and things we can be looking towards to fulfill the promise that we're searching for, we're going to come up empty, unless we place our hope in Jesus.  That is the great news that Paul was preaching here in this passage.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your life and love for me.  Help me to realize that You oh Lord and You alone are the fulfillment of the promise of the life I've been searching for.  Give me the wisdom and strength to follow Your commandments as I seek to place my hope in You and love You with all of my heart.
Amen.

Acts 12:20-13:12

Acts 12:20-13:12 (New International Version)
Herod’s Death
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. 21On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24But the word of God continued to increase and spread. 25When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from[a] Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.Acts 13
Barnabas and Saul Sent Off
1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. On Cyprus 4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. 6They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord
DEVOTIONAL:
There is so much happening in this passage although it sometimes feels like a travel log. I am always struck by the power that accompanies God’s word when it is shared out of obedience by his followers. But today I want to focus on the last line of this passage. ". . .he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord." Here we see someone who was trying to oppose the teaching of the apostles, but when he was confronted by God’s power and the power of his message, he couldn’t help but be amazed. So often I am afraid to share the word of God with others because I’m not sure how they will take it. In the future, I hope to remember this passage in those moments. When I am obedient to God and share his message it is irresistible! Knowing this can make me more bold to share with others the amazing story of God’s love and salvation.

PRAYER:
Father, thank you for the power of your message. Help me to have confidence in your power and to share your message out of obedience and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 11:19-12:19

19-21Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master. 22-24When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master. 25-26Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians. 27-30It was about this same time that some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem. One of them named Agabus stood up one day and, prompted by the Spirit, warned that a severe famine was about to devastate the country. (The famine eventually came during the rule of Claudius.) So the disciples decided that each of them would send whatever they could to their fellow Christians in Judea to help out. They sent Barnabas and Saul to deliver the collection to the leaders in Jerusalem.
Acts 12
Peter Under Heavy Guard 1-4 That’s when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John’s brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter—all this during Passover Week, mind you—and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover. 5All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.
6Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances! 7-9Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: "Hurry!" The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, "Get dressed. Put on your shoes." Peter did it. Then, "Grab your coat and let’s get out of here." Peter followed him, but didn’t believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming. 10-11Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That’s when Peter realized it was no dream. "I can’t believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to." 12-14Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary’s house, the Mary who was John Mark’s mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter’s voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street. 15-16But they wouldn’t believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. "You’re crazy," they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn’t believe her and said, "It must be his angel." All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away. 16-17Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, "Tell James and the brothers what’s happened." He left them and went off to another place. 18-19At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. "Where is Peter? What’s happened to Peter?" When Herod sent for him and they could neither produce him nor explain why not, he ordered their execution: "Off with their heads!" Fed up with Judea and Jews, he went for a vacation to Caesarea.
Devotion (By Emily Alsobrook): Have you ever been in what seemed like an impossible situation? You feel like there’s no way out, no hope. It seems like this was the situation Peter was in. So much so, that when God comes to his rescue, he doesn’t even believe it’s real! Everyone had a hard time believing this miracle! And that’s just it, God is a God of the miraculous. He has to power to do so much in our lives, if we ask and believe.
That’s not to say God will give us everything we want, exactly when we want it. He knows better than that. He has our best interest at heart and gives us what we need. So the next time you’re in a tough situation, remember Peter’s story and know that God wants to do the impossible in your life.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust You no matter what. When I’m in a tough situation, help me turn to You, knowing that You will see me through. Thanks for all the ways you are here for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Acts 11:1-18

1The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." 4Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8"I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9"The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11"Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" 18When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
Devotion (by Isaac Pellerin):
Have you ever done what you thought was right and been criticized by the people you most expected to support you? That’s what Peter experiences in this passage. However, Peter realizes that he was the same way.
There’s something about our human nature that has a hard time extending the same grace and forgiveness to others that we ourselves have received. I think that’s why it takes the Holy Spirit working in our lives to show us how great grace really is. It’s like God works on one level to open our eyes the grace he gave us. And then he goes to work on the next level…showing us that that same grace has extended to others. He teaches us to love ourselves for who he made us to be so that we can better love others for who he created them to be. For the grace God gives allows us to live in a state where our mind and character changes to look more like that of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, help me to extend forgiveness and grace to others as you have to me. Help me to see how you love me and the people around me, so I can love them too. Thank you for your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Acts 10:24-48

They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for him and had called together his relatives and close friends to meet Peter. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell to the floor before him in worship. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, "Stand up! I’m a human being like you!" 27 So Cornelius got up, and they talked together and went inside where the others were assembled.
28 Peter told them, "You know it is against the Jewish laws for me to come into a Gentile home like this. But God has shown me that I should never think of anyone as impure. 29 So I came as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me." 30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago I was praying in my house at three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, Cornelius, your prayers have been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send some men to Joppa and summon Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a leatherworker who lives near the shore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now here we are, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you."The Gentiles Hear the Good News
34 Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God doesn’t show partiality. 35 In every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 I’m sure you have heard about the Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what happened all through Judea, beginning in Galilee after John the Baptist began preaching. 38 And no doubt you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him.
39 "And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Israel and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by crucifying him, 40 but God raised him to life three days later. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen beforehand to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name."44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who had heard the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles, too. 46 And there could be no doubt about it, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, 47 "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
Devotion (by Chris Bunch): God Shows No Favoritism
Acts 10 reveals to us two individuals who were very different. Cornelius was a wealthy, Roman (Gentile), military man. Peter was a poor, Jewish, fisherman who became a part of the inner circle of Jesus’ ministry. However, God had a plan for both of them that would change the history of the early church and Christianity, for that matter. Before this encounter, the main culture that Peter and the early church were reaching out to was the Jewish community. After Cornelius’ encounter with God and Peter, Christianity expanded from just the Jewish world to the entire world. This fulfilled what Jesus said earlier in Acts: "But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Although Jews were God’s chosen people, after Jesus Christ came to earth, died, and rose again, God’s purpose expanded from just one group of people to all people. Because the reality is God shows no favoritism. Peter said, "I see very clearly that God doesn’t show partiality. In every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." (34-35). God does not discriminate on the basis of race, economics, or sex, and neither should those who follow him. Because the reality is we didn’t step out to God first but he steps towards us. I like what theologian William Barclay says, "It is always God who takes the first step. When the human mind begins to seek and the human heart begins to long, God comes to meet us far more than half way . . . When we go to God we do not go to one who hides himself and keeps us at a distance; we go to one who stands waiting for us, and who even takes the initiative by coming to meet us on the road." Just as God accepted Cornelius, Peter and you, he desires that you accept others. Who in your life right now do you find it hard to accept? Do you think deep down that you are better than them? That you are a favorite to God compared to them? What would it take for you to accept and reach out to that person today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to accept others just as you have accepted me. I know you do not show favoritism or partiality, so help me to do the same. Take away any pride in my life and replace it with a humble spirit of acceptance. In Jesus name. Amen

Acts 10:1-23

Cornelius Calls for Peter 1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" 4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.
The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." 7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.Peter’s Vision 9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." 14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." 16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." 21Peter went down and said to the men, "I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?" 22The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Acts 9:20-43

20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is indeed the Son of God!" 21 All who heard him were amazed. "Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?" they asked. "And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?"
22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the other believersa] lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall. 26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When the believersb] heard about this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his hometown. 31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.Peter Heals Aeneas and Raises Dorcas 32 Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!" And he was healed instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.
36 There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcasc]). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. 37 About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. 38 But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, "Please come as soon as possible!" 39 So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. 40 But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, "Get up, Tabitha." And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. 42 The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed a long time in Joppa, living with Simon, a tanner of hides.
Devotional (by Greg Gahl): Peter, a meer mortal, performing miracles through the name of Jesus. How great this is!! Can any of us imagine performing a miracle? Well I would just like to share a little story about the time I witnessed this first hand.
This involved my father when he was still alive. He had became very ill with difficulty breathing and was placed on a breathing machine and was getting medicine through the iv to help keep his blood pressure up. My wife and I had called the pastor and asked him to come. When the pastor arrived my father was placed on the highest dose possible to keep his blood pressure high enough to stay alive and it just wasn’t working. I remember looking into my father eyes and realizing that he was gone. The pastor said "How about we pray?" So we leaned over my fathers body and began to pray. With the prayer my fathers blood pressure began to come back up and this feeling that he was still around came over me. Wow, what a wonderful miracle.
Now he did not just get up and walk right then and there, but he did 4 days later. This one prayer gave me 2 more years with my father. Prayer is such a powerful thing that sometimes we are afraid to do, afraid we might "mess up", we might "say the wrong thing." Just remember God loves us and prayer is so powerful that through this we are able to perform miracles!

Prayer: Lord, please be with each of us and take away any barriers that stops us from prayer. I ask that it becomes natural for each of us to pray without any reservations, for through that, miracles might happen. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 9:1-19

Acts 9
Saul’s Conversion 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." 13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." 15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." 17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Devotional (by Rob Alsobrook):
After reading this passage about the Apostle Paul, here still named Saul, you see how transformative experiencing Jesus can be. This is not new for God. Throughout scripture He has always chosen to take those who seem to know little about theology, genealogies, chronological history, and/or even persecuted His followers as in the case with Paul, to carry out His message and to be His "chosen instrument."
Now Saul did know a lot about the history of Judaism, but up until this point He didn’t truly understand Christianity until He experienced Jesus for himself. And once this happened everything changed and you’ll have to keep reading to find out more about his transformation process. But where are you in your transformation process? It starts with Jesus and continues for a lifetime.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You transform lives. Thanks for taking me in, and helping me through this journey called life. Help me trust You as You mold me into the person You want me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 8:4-25

3-8And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!
9-11Previous to Philip’s arrival, a certain Simon had practiced magic in the city, posing as a famous man and dazzling all the Samaritans with his wizardry. He had them all, from little children to old men, eating out of his hand. They all thought he had supernatural powers, and called him "the Great Wizard." He had been around a long time and everyone was more or less in awe of him. 12-13But when Philip came to town announcing the news of God’s kingdom and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simon and were baptized, becoming believers right and left! Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. From that moment he was like Philip’s shadow, so fascinated with all the God-signs and miracles that he wouldn’t leave Philip’s side. 14-17When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn’t yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit. 18-19When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said, "Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!" 20-23Peter said, "To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that’s unthinkable—trying to buy God’s gift! You’ll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes. Change your ways—and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust." 24"Oh!" said Simon, "pray for me! Pray to the Master that nothing like that will ever happen to me!" 25And with that, the apostles were on their way, continuing to witness and spread the Message of God’s salvation, preaching in every Samaritan town they passed through on their return to Jerusalem.

Acts 7:45-8:3

Years later, when Joshua led our ancestors in battle against the nations that God drove out of this land, the Tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory. And it stayed there until the time of King David.
46 "David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who actually built it. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says, 49 ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that?’ asks the Lord. ‘Could you build me such a resting place? 50 Didn’t my hands make both heaven and earth?’ 51 "You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels." 54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.56 And he told them, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!" 57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!" And with that, he died.Acts 8 1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.
Persecution Scatters the Believers A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Devotion (by Mikey Skoglund): This passage gives us a good look at the history of the Jewish people and how they’d turned their backs on God several times. Here we find Stephen speaking to the crowd and trying to get them to see the mistakes they’ve made in the past. I’ve always said that I like to learn from other people’s mistakes so that I don’t have to make them myself. Now the people didn’t listen to Stephen and they actually took him and had him killed, but look at his attitude as he died. "Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ He fell to his knees shouting, ‘Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!’ This man was having stones thrown at him and yet he calls out to God and asks Him to not charge these people with the sin they’re committing. Now that is perseverance and faith in action.
I don’t think that’s the end of this story though; if we look towards the end of this passage, we can see there’s another man there named Saul. Now Saul was a very big part of trying to dismantle the church, and he condoned the stoning of Stephen, but I wonder if what he witnessed that day, with Stephen there, forgiving Saul as he was dying, stuck with him. As we will read later, Saul becomes Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament. So I don’t think Stephen’s stand against this crowd and his forgiving and gracious spirit in the midst of his killers was in vain.

Prayer: God, please give me the boldness and strength to stand up for Your name. Lord I’m so thankful that I live in a country where I can praise Your name without being arrested or killed, but I realize that there are some days that I’m still afraid of what people will think of me if they hear me talking about Your name. Help me to break down that fear and to share Your name with people. Help me to love them like You love them. Thank You for Your love and Your forgiveness Lord. Amen.

Acts 7:23-44

23"When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites. 24He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 25Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 26The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’ 27"But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday? 29When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons. 30"After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 31When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord’s voice: 32’I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. 33"Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’ 35"This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert. 37"This is that Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.‘38He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us. 39"But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.40They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ 41That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made. 42But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: " ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? 43You have lifted up the shrine of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon. 44"Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the desert. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.

Devotion (by Jana Goebel): Stephen amazes me. He is facing death at the hands of his own leaders. Yet, he is able to prove his understanding of scripture by telling them their own story. He reminds them of the great leaders of the past, and at the same time sends them an important message. As God’s followers, we often don’t get it. God sends us His messengers, like Moses in this passage, and instead of heeding their warnings we turn our backs on them. Why do we do this? I think it’s because we want the easy way out. The Israelites would rather have worshipped false gods made of metal and stone than the true, holy living God Moses taught them about. I’m sure they realized that a false god could not challenge them like God did through Moses. A statue wasn’t going to ask them to do the hard thing.
Sometimes that’s exactly what I want in my life – the easy way out. But when I take it, it never turns out quite as great as I think it will. When I do the hard thing and remain obedient to God’s word, He blesses my life.

Prayer: Father, being obedient to your word can be hard sometimes. Often I want to ignore the messenger you send to me, whether it’s scripture or other Christians. Help me to be obedient to you even when you ask me to do the hard thing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 7:1-22

Stephen, Full of the Holy Spirit
1Then the Chief Priest said, "What do you have to say for yourself?" 2-3Stephen replied, "Friends, fathers, and brothers, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before the move to Haran, and told him, ‘Leave your country and family and go to the land I’ll show you.’ 4-7"So he left the country of the Chaldees and moved to Haran. After the death of his father, he immigrated to this country where you now live, but God gave him nothing, not so much as a foothold. He did promise to give the country to him and his son later on, even though Abraham had no son at the time. God let him know that his offspring would move to an alien country where they would be enslaved and brutalized for four hundred years. ‘But,’ God said, ‘I will step in and take care of those slaveholders and bring my people out so they can worship me in this place.’ 8"Then he made a covenant with him and signed it in Abraham’s flesh by circumcision. When Abraham had his son Isaac, within eight days he reproduced the sign of circumcision in him. Isaac became father of Jacob, and Jacob father of twelve ‘fathers,’ each faithfully passing on the covenant sign. 9-10"But then those ‘fathers,’ burning up with jealousy, sent Joseph off to Egypt as a slave. God was right there with him, though—he not only rescued him from all his troubles but brought him to the attention of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He was so impressed with Joseph that he put him in charge of the whole country, including his own personal affairs. 11-15"Later a famine descended on that entire region, stretching from Egypt to Canaan, bringing terrific hardship. Our hungry fathers looked high and low for food, but the cupboard was bare. Jacob heard there was food in Egypt and sent our fathers to scout it out. Having confirmed the report, they went back to Egypt a second time to get food. On that visit, Joseph revealed his true identity to his brothers and introduced the Jacob family to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and everyone else in the family, seventy-five in all. That’s how the Jacob family got to Egypt. 15-16"Jacob died, and our fathers after him. They were taken to Shechem and buried in the tomb for which Abraham paid a good price to the sons of Hamor. 17-19"When the four hundred years were nearly up, the time God promised Abraham for deliverance, the population of our people in Egypt had become very large. And there was now a king over Egypt who had never heard of Joseph. He exploited our race mercilessly. He went so far as forcing us to abandon our newborn infants, exposing them to the elements to die a cruel death. 20-22"In just such a time Moses was born, a most beautiful baby. He was hidden at home for three months. When he could be hidden no longer, he was put outside—and immediately rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter, who mothered him as her own son. Moses was educated in the best schools in Egypt. He was equally impressive as a thinker and an athlete.
Devotional (by Emily Alsobrook):
You may be wondering, as did I, why Stephen is talking about Joseph, Abraham, Moses, etc. He is basically on trial so why is he giving a history lesson?
Stephen is going back to the roots of the Jewish heritage to remind those in the audience of where they came from. He is building a foundation for his statements that we will see in the next devotional, but I think Stephen is forcing the council and those around him to look at where they have come from.
Many times, it is good to look back and see where life has taken you. Remembering humble beginnings, tragedies, God’s faithfulness and provision, celebrations, and everyday experiences can remind us what a gift life is.
So if you’re in a good place right now, you can look back over your life and see how God brought you to this point and thank Him for His faithfulness. If you’re in a tough place right now, like so many are, you can look back over your life and see how God has never left you and taken care of you in the past, and be assured that He will do the same now and in your future.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the ways You have been there for me in the past. Help me to remember those instances and see how You love me. Thank You for who You are and how You love all people. Help me to live a life of remembrance, thankfulness, and hope for the future. Amen.

Acts 6:1-15

The Word of God Prospered 1-4 During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—"Hellenists"—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, "It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word." 5-6The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose—
Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas, a convert from Antioch. Then they presented them to the apostles. Praying, the apostles laid on hands and commissioned them for their task. 7The Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith. 8-10Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them. But then some men from the meeting place whose membership was made up of freed slaves, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some others from Cilicia and Asia, went up against him trying to argue him down. But they were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke. 11So in secret they bribed men to lie: "We heard him cursing Moses and God." 12-14That stirred up the people, the religious leaders, and religion scholars. They grabbed Stephen and took him before the High Council. They put forward their bribed witnesses to testify: "This man talks nonstop against this Holy Place and God’s Law. We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would tear this place down and throw out all the customs Moses gave us." 15As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn’t take their eyes off him—his face was like the face of an angel!

Acts 5:17-42

17 The high priest and his friends, who were Sadducees, reacted with violent jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 "Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!" 21 So the apostles entered the Temple about daybreak and immediately began teaching.
When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council, along with all the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought for trial. 22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 "The jail was locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!" 24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with the news that the men they had jailed were out in the Temple, teaching the people. 26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested them, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would kill them if they treated the apostles roughly. 27 Then they brought the apostles in before the council. 28 "Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?" the high priest demanded. "Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about Jesus, and you intend to blame us for his death!" 29 But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by crucifying him. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this to give the people of Israel an opportunity to turn from their sins and turn to God so their sins would be forgiven. 32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him." 33 At this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. 34 But one member had a different perspective. He was a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert on religious law and was very popular with the people. He stood up and ordered that the apostles be sent outside the council chamber for a while. 35 Then he addressed his colleagues as follows: "Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! 36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About four hundred others joined him, but he was killed, and his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. 37 After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got some people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. 38 "So my advice is, leave these men alone. If they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God." 40 The council accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. 41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and in their homes, they continued to teach and preach this message: "The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus."
No pain, no gain (Devotional by Chris Bunch):
It was a cold January morning. The temperature was 5 degrees and the wind chill was below zero. A couple guys and myself were running in the snow for two miles training for the Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis in May. As I ran with a ski mask on I looked at my friend and said, "This is nuts. Why are we out here?" He replied, "Remember: No Pain, no gain." In our scripture today the apostles (which means messenger or missionary) are in jail when miraculously they are set free by God’s angel. The angel calls them to go teach and you think at this point in the story that God is going to bless his servants, and they will not have to suffer any more pain in jail.
However, once word gets out that they are sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and his love, they are immediately arrested again, humiliated and flogged (Flogging was not a simple slap on the wrist. Leather strips made into whips were beaten against the bared upper body of the person. A triple-strap whip would be beaten across both chest and back.) In obeying God, the apostles did not receive a reward, but a punishment.
Today, many Christians believe that once they turn to Christ that their life will be nothing but a problem free, blissful life. But, if you read the Bible carefully, you will realize that obeying God often results in pain and suffering.
Yet, the reward in obeying Christ is eternal blessing with him in heaven, and that reward is worth the pain here on earth. So, the question is: Will you obey God and his commands today? Are you willing to have some discomfort and maybe even be made fun of to live your life Jesus’ way?
On that particular day my friend said, "No Pain, No Gain" that phrase ticked me off. However, when I crossed the finished line in May completing the run under my goal time, the gain of this accomplishment was pretty sweet. I had little, to no pain at the end of the race, so that painful January morning did not seem so bad.
Whatever pain you experience for doing the right thing and following Jesus will ultimately have a reward. The Bible says this: I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return (2 Timothy 4:8)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to obey you rather than any person today. And, if that means I suffer pain, I will accept it. Because I know obeying you has a greater reward than obeying human beings. In Jesus name. Amen

Acts 5:1-16

Ananias and Sapphira 1 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!"
5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?" "Yes," she replied, "that was the price." 9 And Peter said, "How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too." 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.The Apostles Heal Many 12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. 14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil[a] spirits, and they were all healed.

Devotional (by Mikey Skoglund):
This passage in Acts about Ananias and his wife really challenges me in my walk with God. So as we read, Ananias sells his property and gives some of the money to God’s kingdom. Ok, well no harm done there right? The problem is that he tells the apostles that he’s giving them all of the money that he sold the property for, but in reality, he and his wife kept a portion of it for themselves. So why would they do this? As the apostle Peter said "The property was yours to sell or not to sell, and the money was yours to give away", meaning it didn’t really matter one way or the other to Peter and the apostles if Ananias and his wife gave them all of the money or just part of it, the problem came when they lied about it. They tried to cheat God.
How many times can we do that in our lives? We try to get people to believe that we’re holy or righteous, when really the real question is, are we right before God? You see, it really doesn’t matter how people in this world view us, what really matters is if we’re being honest and open before God. Are we really being true to our word and putting our hearts into our work? God doesn’t want us to just have the appearance of holiness, He doesn’t deal with illusions. His desire is to take our unholy lives and form them into something holy, but we have to give up trying to just act the part and let God form us into the men and women He wants us to be.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for today. Thank you for another day of Your goodness and holiness in my life. God I just surrender to You right now all of the things that I try and control. I give You the things in my life that I do to try and please people rather than trying to please You. Help me to have a pure heart and clean hands. Thank You for Your love in my life. Amen.

Acts 4:23-37

The Believers’ Prayer 23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The Believers Share Their Possessions 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Devotional (by Jana Goebel): "There were no needy persons among them." (vs. 34) Wow. I find this statement awe-inspiring and challenging. My first response was one of skepticism, but then I looked at it again. Notice that it doesn’t say there were no needy people. It says that there were no needy people among them, meaning the believers. I guess the early believers were really good at loving one another. Jesus had told them that people would know they were his disciples by their love for one another (John 13:35). It’s good to know that they listened and obeyed. But then, do I listen and obey? Do I love my fellow believers to the extent that I would sell my possessions to meet their needs? Do I love them enough that others can look at our relationships and know that I follow Christ? Again I say . . . Wow. Beginning today I will take up the challenge. I will do my best to love my fellow believers to the extent that I would make sacrifices for their needs to be met. I know I may not always succeed with perfection, but I will try.

Prayer: Father, thank you for teaching me through your word and for the example of the early believers. Help me to love others in a way that shows I follow you. Help me to give sacrificially to meet the needs of others. Help me, Lord, be obedient to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 4:1-22

Nothing to Hide 1-4While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!
5-7The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: "Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?" 8-12With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: "Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one." 13-14They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that? 15-17They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: "What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone." 18-20They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard." 21-22The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Devotion (by Emily Alsobrook):
What stands out to me the most is the boldness and confidence in which the apostles are acting. You might ask the same question I did, "What exactly is the difference between a disciple and an apostle?" Before, in the other books we have read, Peter, John, and those with Jesus were called disciples. A disciple is one who follows and adopts the teaching and lifestyle of another. They were the students and Jesus was the teacher. But an apostle is "one who is sent out." When Jesus left the earth, He empowered his disciples to now become the teachers. He gave them everything they needed to be sent out and spread His message to everyone.
And that’s what we find them doing here. They are healing, teaching, and speaking very directly with the religious authorities who had Jesus put to death! Whereas before, Peter had denied even knowing who Jesus was to escape these religious leaders and their power. The disciples had fled and abandoned Jesus because of their fear of these scholars and leaders. Following Jesus, and meeting Him after His resurrection is what produced this transformation in their lives. It so moved them that they were able to look their fear in the face, overcome it with courage, and do exactly what Jesus wanted them to do.
And we can do the same. We have experienced the Jesus who is alive and He is empowering us and filling us with courage every day. Jesus gives us what we need to accomplish the things He wants us to do. So we can look our fear in the face, whatever it may be, and know that Jesus is in us and right there with us, giving us the power to be bold and confident!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for giving me the strength and courage to do what You have called me to do. Fill me with Your boldness to face the things I fear, knowing that You are always with me. Help me to be bold and confident in You. Amen.

Acts 3:11-26

11While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. 17"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’
24"Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Devotion (by Isaac Pellerin):
Following this story of Acts (better understood as the "Actions" of God in the church) can be quite fascinating. I mean Jesus has already lived his life and fulfilled his mission, yet he leaves his church to continue bringing healing to a broken world and to work for justice and peace. Just as Peter is doing what God has left for him to do we see others looking on in amazement and confusion as to what gave him the ability to perform such miracles.
And Peter takes the time to explain that it’s nothing special about him but everything special about God and being someone that allows God to work through.
Sometimes I feel like I spend too much time trying to figure all of life out at once. Or I’ll try to understand every mystery all at once. Maybe there is something to allowing God to be present in a way the does not worry about tomorrow or dwell on the past.

Prayer: God thank you for giving us access to Your power. Please allow me to freely live in the present moment knowing that you will provide what I need in that moment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 2:42-3:10

They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.
1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. 6 But Peter said, "I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. 9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!
ALIVE AND GROWING (by Chris Bunch)
The last six verses of chapter 2 is a recipe for a healthy and growing church. The early church set a list of core values and we find them in these verses. I think an easy way to figure out this recipe and these values is to look at the verbs in this passage. (Take a moment and figure out the verbs now before you continue reading. I think it will help you understand this passage better and the ingredients for the recipe for a growing church.)
O.k., now what verbs did you assume would be listed for a healthy church? What ones surprised you? If you counted the verbs you would find that there are two verbs that are used multiple times. One is the word "met" (vs. 44,46) and the other is the word "shared" (42,44,45,46). The early church was a "meeting and sharing people" and if we are to be a healthy church we must do the same.
In our culture, the norm is to cut ourselves off from others and only take care of our own interests. However, if you are a follower of Christ, it is your responsibility to take care of the needs of other people in your church. The best way to meet the needs of others is to get connected to a small group. Because the reality is there is only so much meeting and sharing you can do on Sunday morning, but in a small group you are able to do this for a longer time, that truly develops rich friendships.
So, let me give you two challenges. First, are you in a small group? If not, why not? Take the time next Sunday and just take the plunge. Sign up for a small group and start meeting and sharing. Second, if you are in a small group, what have you done lately to reach out to someone in the group? Maybe you could send a card, make a meal, offer to watch someone’s kids so they can go out on a date. Take the time now and decide one thing you will do this month to share love with someone in your group.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for always being willing to meet with me and sharing your one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Help our church to be alive and healthy and growing like the early church. Help me to take the risk to try a small group or meet the needs of someone in my small group. I pray in Jesus name, Amen.

Acts 2:22-41

22 "People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. 26 No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. 27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. 28 You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’ 29 "Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. 32 "God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand 35 until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet."’ 36 "So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!"
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God." 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!" 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
Devotion (by Mikey Skoglund):
Wow, isn’t Jesus’ life story an amazing one? I love this passage because it sums up the story very well. Peter is speaking to a crowd here and was trying to get them to understand just what Jesus had done for all of them, and that Jesus was actually who He said He was. It’s amazing to me how Peter uses King David in this passage because Peter knows that this crowd still has a lot of respect for the kings of their past. Even though he was alive long before their time, they still believed the things that were said about him. Jesus was on earth right before this speech was given; Peter walked with Jesus, but its harder for his audience to believe His amazing story.
I just think about how we can do that in our world today. Think about the things we’re taught in school out of textbooks about the history of our world and our country. Did you know that different countries have different accounts of what happened in different eras? I’m sure that the account of the world wars are very different depending on who’s side you’re reading it from. But yet growing up we just believe the things we read and are taught because of the authority teaching us. And yet who’s authority gives the story of Jesus its truth? Its God! That’s authority right there! That’s the authority I want to put my trust in.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to keep my trust in You and not in this world. Help to see Your face and feel Your presence today. Thank You for Your love that You showed us when You sent Jesus here to die for our sins. Thank You that You brought Him out of death and into life, that we may be forgiven. Be with me today as I seek to follow You. Amen.

Acts 2:1-21

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."Peter Addresses the Crowd
14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17" ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Devotional (by Jana Goebel):
As I read this passage this morning, I found myself watching for the actions of the disciples. First of all I noticed that they didn’t seem to react to the wind rushing and the tongues of fire. Perhaps they did, but the text doesn’t tell us. I wonder if they were so accustomed to supernatural events from watching Jesus, and so eager with anticipation for the Spirit’s arrival, that they didn’t even realize how strange these events were.
Then this fire comes to rest on them, and they don’t burn. I suppose that this would clearly make them aware of the Spirit’s presence if they hadn’t figured it out. Then they start speaking in languages that each person there can understand- languages that they had likely never spoken before! If that’s not enough, we can see by Peter’s response that they not only were able to speak these languages but they could understand them.
It is all so amazing! As I stare at the page with wonder, I find myself hoping that I am as willing to be open to the Spirit’s work in my own life. Am I able to surrender my idea of how the world is supposed to work, to accept God’s supernatural hand at work through the Spirit? I pray that I will daily surrender to that and allow the Spirit to use my life however he sees fit.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your guiding Spirit. Lord, make me consciously aware of the Spirit at work in my life, and help me to surrender to your will so I can be used by you in any way that you desire. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 1:1-26

To the Ends of the World 1-5Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."
6When they were together for the last time they asked, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?" 7-8He told them, "You don‘t get to know the time. Timing is the Father‘s business. What you‘ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world." 9-11These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, "You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left."Returning to Jerusalem 12-13So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile. They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas, son of James.
14They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.
Replacing Judas 15-17During this time, Peter stood up in the company—there were about 120 of them in the room at the time—and said, "Friends, long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David regarding Judas, who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus. That Scripture had to be fulfilled, and now has been. Judas was one of us and had his assigned place in this ministry.
18-20"As you know, he took the evil bribe money and bought a small farm. There he came to a bad end, rupturing his belly and spilling his guts. Everybody in Jerusalem knows this by now; they call the place Murder Meadow. It‘s exactly what we find written in the Psalms: Let his farm become haunted So no one can ever live there. "And also what was written later: Let someone else take over his post. 21-22"Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us from the time Jesus was baptized by John up to the day of his ascension, designated along with us as a witness to his resurrection." 23-26They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, "You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way." They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles.


Devotional (by Emily Alsobrook):
First, let‘s get some background information, since we have started a new book —Acts. Acts was written by one of Jesus’ disciples, Luke, who was a doctor and usually good at giving details. We just finished the book of Luke, and have moved on to the second book he wrote, somewhat like the sequel to Luke. In Acts, Luke fills us in on the events that occurred after Jesus returned to Heaven. Throughout the book of Acts, Luke is going to tell us how the first church got started and the events that got us where we are today.
In the opening, he starts off with "Dear Theophilus," which lets us know that this is a letter to an actual person. Luke is giving an account of what happened , although there is some debate about who Theophilus was; a fellow doctor, a family friend, or even a government official. But interestingly enough, the name Theophilus means "friend of God" or "loved by God." And while this letter was written to a specific person in a specific culture and time, we can still learn by reading this letter because we are all "loved by God."
The second part of this section lets us know what happened to Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus and the action taken by the disciples. Jesus’ followers knew it was important to have a sturdy leadership team, and they wanted to keep things the way Jesus started, having 12 disciples in total. They gave qualifications, that it must be someone who followed Jesus just as devoutly as they did, but was not originally selected as a disciple. They nominated two, prayed, and then "drew straws" or "rolled dice." That seems a little odd, doesn‘t it?
Have you ever had two life options in front of you and they both seemed good? It wouldn‘t be wrong to choose one over the other, you‘re just not certain which one is best. This is the situation the disciples faced. They had established requirements and carefully considered people, and it came down to two qualified individuals. They wanted to do God‘s will, so they fervently prayed for God‘s direction, and cast lots because they felt the need for divine guidance. The disciples had to pick another person and they wanted God to have full control, since He could see their hearts and select accordingly.
I‘m not suggesting that the next time you have a big decision to make, you simply flip a coin and say, "Ok God, heads I‘m going to…" Decisions need to be made after setting specific criteria, deliberating, weighing the pros and cons, and much prayer. If a decision can‘t be reached after all that, maybe following the disciple‘s example isn‘t such a bad idea, but be sure you‘ve really prayed and weighed your options, just like they did, before you draw straws.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that I am loved by You. And when it comes to big decisions, You are always here to help me. Lord, help me to trust You in every situation, even when things don‘t seem clear. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Luke 24:26-53

36-41While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you." They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. He continued with them, "Don‘t be upset, and don‘t let all these doubting questions take over. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it‘s really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn‘t have muscle and bone like this." As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn‘t believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true.
41-43He asked, "Do you have any food here?" They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. He took it and ate it right before their eyes. You‘re the Witnesses 44Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled." 45-49He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You‘re the first to hear and see it. You‘re the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you‘re equipped with power from on high." 50-51He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising his hands he blessed them, and while blessing them, took his leave, being carried up to heaven. 52-53And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy. They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes.