King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Chapters: Acts Chapters 9-10
Message: To All Believers of Christ
Hello My Friend,
I am in a support group for people who have loved ones suffering with dementia, and all day long you read post after post about someone who has had a visit from a priest about last rights or earning their wings and it saddens me. I try to the best I can to be a witness in there, but there is only so much I can do or say. So many people believe in God and Jesus and yet have it so wrong, believing their way to heaven is the correct way. I will admit that I too use to believe that all roads led to heaven and that eventually they lead to the truth of Christ, but that is not the case either, [Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.]
Now, I did receive Christ as my Saviour well before I understood what it all meant, but because I was unlearned of the Scriptures and in a church that had it all wrong, I thought that you had to go up the altar every week and get saved. Thankfully, I was shown the truth when I was invited to a fall festival at a church that preached the truth. Strangely enough, it was my half-brother who was only in church when his life was going well, which proves that it truly is amazing what God does through people to get us to know the truth. This is why I dedicated my life to Christ in teaching the truth, [John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.]
Speaking of Jews, yesterday, we read about Philip being called to meet an Ethiopian to preach the Gospel, but I did not touch on it, since it is important I am including it here. This would be an introduction into the Gospel being preached to Gentiles, [Acts 8:26-30 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?]
[and heard him read the prophet Esaias,] Here is this man reading out loud from the Book of Isaiah, no doubt about the virgin birth of Immanuel, but seems to be reading where it was prophesied of Christ’s crucifixion. He admits to Philip that he did not understand and needs some help.
[Acts 8:31-32,35-37 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.]
[what doth hinder me to be baptized?] Notice how Philip responds, that in order to be baptized in the water he first needed to believe in the Gospel of Christ. This is more proof that water baptism has nothing to do with salvation, it is just a way for them to announce their faith in Christ and back then they did not wait weeks or months to be baptized after they got saved, they would do it that same day. We are already baptized with the Spirit as soon as we accept Christ, [Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.]
It does not matter where we are or what we are doing, it is not uncommon for the Holy Spirit to guide us to preach or I should say minister the Gospel to someone, it is just wired in us to do so. Now, as we continue in the reading of Acts, we learn that Saul, the one who stood there and watched Stephen being stoned to death, was about to hit the road and go through every synagogue to capture anyone preaching the Gospel. He set his sights on Damascus because or its large Jewish population and even when to the high priest and asked for letters authorizing him to arrest anyone who believed in Christ and bring them to Jerusalem.
[Acts 9:1-5 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.]
[it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.] [Prick; To sting, as in that of bees, or scorpions.] These creatures wound by their sting and can even cause death, so Jesus is saying that Saul’s persecution toward Christians was an attack on Him and is hurting Him over and over again. Well, of course, he was frightened, but asked Jesus want He wanted from Him.
[Acts 9:6-9 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.]
[he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.] This is interesting, Saul, was a Pharisee so it was probable that he was there when Jesus was crucified. I believe that Jesus was showing him how spiritually blind he was and how those who are lost to the truth grope in darkness, [Isaiah 59:8-10 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. 9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. 10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.]
Meanwhile, back in Damascus, Jesus spoke to another man, his name was Ananias, [Acts 9:10-14 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.]
[I have heard by many of this man,] I love it how we attempt to explain to Jesus why we cannot do something or what so and so has done. This is why so many people are afraid to speak of their past for fear of judgment, which was the way I was at first. Over the years I learned not to be ashamed of my testimony because I know exactly what Jesus did for me. I side with Paul when he said, [2 Timothy 1:8-9 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,]
Jesus, knows everything and Saul was going to not only have his sight restored, he was going see things that he has never seen before and I do not mean with his physical sight. Jesus, assures Ananias that he was going to be just fine meeting up with Saul and as soon as Saul arrived in Damascus, Ananias was there.
[Acts 9:15-18 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.]
[And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales:] Those scales removed were more than whatever film was on Saul’s eyes that kept him from physically seeing, it also removed them from his heart. In fact, while in Damascus he still went to the synagogues, but this time he had a different message.
[Acts 9:20-23 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:]
[Saul increased the more in strength…proving that this is very Christ.] There is no better way to preach the Gospel then through our own testimony. So, this once beloved Pharisee, who was training himself to become a member of the Sanhedrin, is now preaching the very Gospel that he persecuted Christians for. And well, it was not only the Jews who were not receptive to him, the Christians were not either.
[Acts 9:26-27,30-31 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.]
[and sent him forth to Tarsus.] Jesus, was not quite ready for Saul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles, he had some learning to so. This is when Saul would spend three years in Tarsus where he would actually be ministered by Jesus, [Galatians 1:15-18 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.]
[the churches rest…and were edified;] You see, we need more than preachers and teachers of God’s Word to guide us, we also need to get into it ourselves and study it. Through the Holy Spirit, He teaches us how to discern the truth from lies and how to reach people through our testimonies and sometimes that may take a while. Without the Holy Spirit we will never understand God’s Word, [Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.]
Meanwhile, we learn what Peter was up to when he begins his travels, preaching the Gospel and runs into a man named Aeneas, [Acts 9:32-35 And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. 33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. 34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.]
[Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise,] Peter, knew that Christ would cure this man and use this experience as an instrument to reach others and it worked because not only did several receive Christ, they wanted him to come to those who could no get there such as the case when he was approached to help a woman named Dorcas.
[Acts 9:39-41 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.]
[kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body] Peter, did not touch the woman, he took all the clothes that Dorcas had made for the people, knelt down on top of them and prayed to God. As soon as he turned toward her body, he spoke her name, and her eyes were opened. During his prayer with God, he had, undoubtedly, received confidence that she would be raised as soon as he spoke her name and she did. Do not underestimate the power of God through our faith, God, can and does the very same things as He did back, He just uses us in different ways, [Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:]
Now, at this point, the majority of people who were getting saved were Jews, but God was about to change all that. God, used a dream and Roman soldier, named Cornelius to show Peter that the Gospel of Christ eliminated the need for Jewish customs and that salvation was given to all who believe, not just the Jews.
[Acts 10:1-5 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:]
[He saw in a vision…an angel of God coming in to him,] He was not dreaming or in a trance, but was wide awake as it was three o’clock in the afternoon, which is the hour of prayer and this angel just appears right in front of him. This angel assured him that God had heard his prayers for himself and family, and that Peter would show him what to do. Meanwhile, the next day, Peter, had a strange dream too, it was noon when he was praying and got a crazy vision.
[Acts 10:9-13 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.]
[but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,] So, while Simon’s family was getting dinner ready, Peter fell into a trance and saw animals like pigs, ducks, and rabbits and was told to kill and eat them. Of course, Peter, being raised not to eat these things, responded by saying he had never eaten anything unclean.
[Acts 10:14-17 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,]
[I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.] It is so easy to question God when we think we know what we are doing, but we need to understand that God’s ways and thoughts are always going to be higher than our own. For years I was taught that the Jews were enemies, and are not to associate with them, which is another lie of false doctrine. Likewise, the Jews are taught this as well, but what God did here as show Peter that Jesus died for all, not just a select group of people, [Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.]
Peter, still questioned the vision, but went with Cornelius’s men anyway. Cornelius, literally fell down at Peter’s feet, [Acts 10:21-22,25-26 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.]
[Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet,] I do not think that Cornelius believed that Peter was anything other than man, but did this out of respect, nevertheless, it did show Peter what the vision meant.
[Acts 10:28,35-36,39-41 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.]
[Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God,] You see, not everyone gets the truth, but that is not to say that God does not give all the opportunity to hear the truth. Which Peter goes on to say and as soon as he did all the people in the room received Christ and the Holy Spirit, [Acts 10:42-45 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.]
[through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.] This is more proof that you do not need to be baptized with water in order to one; be saved and two; be filled with the Holy Spirit. We are saved by the grace of God alone through our faith in Christ alone, and that goes for all believers, [Romans 2:9-13 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to theTo Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Acts 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for willingly giving Yourself as payment for the debt I owe for my sins, and thank You for seeing my faith in God to begin with so that the scales on my eyes would fall, and I would see You as my Saviour. Lord, I do not know why You have chosen me to be a witness, but I do know that You will be with me, guiding me along the way. Give me Your power, strength, and wisdom to know how to discern false doctrine, and let me know how to explain the truth to others, with boldness, having compassion on them as well. Keep me looking to You when I am tired and weary, and help me to get up when I feel like giving up the fight. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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