Old Sandals

Acts 11:18
When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

If Christ did indeed die for the sins of the whole world, how else could it be?

Acts 10:9
The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

Prayer – how vital a part of the Apostle’s life!

Acts 9:3-6
As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

What other response?

Acts 8:18-20
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!

“Take your money and go to hell!  This isn’t about money.”

The gift of God is priceless.

Acts 7:51-52
“You  stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers.”

Fighting words. Fearless words. Faithful words.

Acts 6:5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

The wheat and the tares. Stephen, the first martyr, and Nicolas, who (according to tradition) became an apostate.

Acts 5:14-15
And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

Thine, O Lord, is the kingdom and the power…

Acts 4:8-12
Then Peter, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them: “Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we today are examined concerning the good deed to the ailing man, by whom he has been saved, be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you did crucify, whom God did raise out of the dead, in him has this one stood by before you whole.  This is the stone that was set at naught by you— the builders, that became head of a corner; and there is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under the heaven that has been given among men, in which it behooves us to be saved.”

This is the plain truth.  This is the hard truth.  This is the true truth.

Acts 3:4-8
And Peter, having looked steadfastly toward him with John, said, “Look toward us”; and he was giving heed to them, looking to receive something from them; and Peter said, “Silver and gold I have none, but what I have, that I give to thee; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and be walking.” And having seized him by the right hand, he raised [him] up, and presently his feet and ankles were strengthened, and springing up, he stood, and was walking, and did enter with them into the temple, walking and springing, and praising God. (YLT)

But what I have… What do we have?  Certainly the same Lord, the same faith, the same baptism, the same God and Father of all.

Acts 2:3-4
…and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them,  and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, according as the Spirit was giving them to declare. (YLT)

Perhaps never in the history of the Church has there been as great a need for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as there is today.