Category: Daily Readings

(Acts 13; all quotes are from the NIV. Today’s lesson is a review and a transition to Paul’s ministry as seen in Acts). Our study in Acts began with a Great Promise and a Great Commission: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in…

(This page is repeated from yesterday, since it did not go to those who receive the email). Acts 12 is a wonderful chapter, filled with action, amazement, and humor. “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church” (v. 5). Herod had executed James,…

Here is an outline of Acts 10-11 that we will follow in the lesson this Sunday, February 26. [1] We are all seekers, looking for answers. Cornelius was a good man, “a devout man who feared God,” but he needed help to find truth. Fortunately, “he prayed constantly,” and God sent him a vision. We…

As we observe the Holy Spirit-filled activity of the early Christian leaders, it is clear that the Holy Spirit was leading them to imitate Christ in their ministries. We saw how Stephen asked for forgiveness for those who were stoning him, even as Jesus forgave those who were crucifying Him. In the text for this…

Devotional on Acts 9 (NIV). Saul had witnessed the death of Stephen and his prayer of forgiveness for those who were stoning him. Perhaps even then his heart was sensitized to the reality of who Jesus was. But he fought against that reality by “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (9:1).…

Devotional on Acts 8 (NIV). We have seen the sad yet triumphant story of Stephen. The only other one of the seven (Ac. 6:5) that we read about is Philip. After the death of Stephen, there was great persecution, and the new church in Jerusalem was scattered. Saul had witnessed and approved the death of…

(This was posted yesterday, but the emails were not sent out. I am trying again today). Devotional on Acts 7 (NIV). God gave Stephen some insights about the faith of the patriarchs. May these insights encourage our faith today! (Abraham) God had brought Abraham to the same land where Stephen was addressing the angry mob.…

Our reading this week is found in Acts 5:12-42 (NIV). After the first persecution, when Peter and John had spent a night in jail, the apostles had prayed for power to speak God’s word with great boldness. This led to dramatic growth in the church. “More and more men and women believed in the Lord…

Jordan will speak to us this Sunday from Acts 4:32 to 5:11. I entitle this section, “Holy Generosity.” The true nature of our spirituality could possibly be revealed by our bank statement. These new believers in this new church, filled with the Holy Spirit, held a unique perspective: “No one claimed that any of their…

The exciting events of Acts 3-4 end with these words: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (4:31). What had transpired in the life of the new Jerusalem Church that led Luke to make this declaration? Out of the events of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit led…