KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:1” And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.”

Apostle Paul and Barnabas maintained their missionary journey. These men were committed to the instruction of the Holy Spirit. They spoke with a sense of urgency to satisfy their master. Dear child of God, would you resolve to please Him alone? No wonder they obtained so many positive results. Anytime the Holy Spirit is involved in the work of evangelism, good results are inevitable. Their preaching in Iconium brought salvation to a great multitude, both Jews and Greeks alike.

From Apostle Paul’s experience, we see that one’s passion to get the message across is a vital ingredient to make the Holy Spirit confirm the message with great impact. When anyone preaches to the lost as if he or she has been hired to do so, the impact and result will not be encouraging.

Despite the impact of their work and the success achieved, the Jews raised an opposition against Paul and Barnabas. Persecutions normally arise when we obtain success in ministry. Satan would not sit idly by when people are getting saved. He would hit back, but don’t yield to his threats, Paul and his team did not stop. They kept ministering the word.

Acts 14:3 says they abode in Iconium for a long time and spoke boldly, while the Lord granted signs and wonders to be performed by their hands. One virtue that every Christian needs to be effective and to see signs and wonders happening in his or her life is boldness. Every Christian is a storehouse of power ready to do, just like our master Jesus did. Do you remember the master said, “Greater works than he did will we do because He goes to the Father? (John 14:12). The implication of going to the Father is the coming of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7b “……but if I depart, I will send him unto you”. Every child of God has the Holy Spirit. Why is everyone not exhibiting the miraculous signs the Lord talked about? The answer is a lack of boldness.

In Acts 4:29, after the disciples had gathered for prayer, they said, “And now, Lord, behold their threatening; and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word. BOLDNESS is the vital virtue every child of God needs to do the exploits the Lord talked about. Pray and receive boldness to do His works.

Once again, they were persecuted, and so they left Iconium and went to Lystra and Debbie, which were cities of Lycaonia, and to the regions that lay about. May the life and experiences of Paul inspire in us a commitment to spread the gospel with all diligence and a stubbornness to any opposition that may show its head. PREACH THE WORD.

 PRAYER

Oh, Father, fill me with divine boldness, so I will do your work with so much impact in my days.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Proverbs 28:1” The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 13:13. Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

Paul and Barnabas continue on their missionary journey. They left Paphos and came to Perga, which was in Pamphylia. John Mark, who was their minister or assistant, decided to go back to Jerusalem. The Bible did not give any reason for his refusal to continue with the mission. In Acts 15:37 and 38, Barnabas determined to take along John for their mission, but Paul refused because he left them in Pamphylia and would not go with them to the work. May we always maintain our commitment to the work of God and not give up as John Mark did. Many church workers run away from difficult moments. Some make pledges only to refuse to pay because times may be difficult.

Once again, they joined the Jews at the synagogue to fellowship with them. (Note the apostles and the Christians met on the Lord’s Day or the first day of the week. Acts 10:7″And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them……” The Christians, after the resurrection of Jesus, met on Sundays.) Apostle Paul, speaking to the Jews, used the principle of the known to the unknown. He started from the story of Moses and narrated the history of the Jewish people to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Apostle Paul made sure that he based what he said about Jesus on the Old Testament prophecies. He then majored in the death and resurrection of Jesus. He established that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after his resurrection. Apostle Paul made them understand that through Jesus, their sins were forgiven, for all those who believed were also made righteous, something that the law of Moses could not do for them. This is the good news. We must passionately send it to all men.

In Acts 13:42, the scriptures said that after the Jews were gone, the Gentiles also came requesting that the gospel be preached to them on the next sabbath. By the next sabbath, the whole city came together to hear the gospel. Dear reader, many people in our day are not responding to a lot of preaching because most of these preachings are not the gospel. The true gospel is about the grace of God that made Jesus a substitute for our sins so we may be justified and become the righteousness of God. Please preach the gospel and not something different. Jesus died for all men, so they must be free from the power of sin and the devil.

CONFESSION.

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. I am made righteous through believing the gospel and sharing in the divinity of God.  I am a new creation, and I am more than a conqueror because God lives in me.

FURTHER STUDIES:

Acts 13:38-39” Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses”.

2 Corinthians 5:19” To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 13:8” But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.”

(Read Acts 13:6-12

Apostle Paul and Barnabas were invited by the deputy governor of Paphos, called Sergius Paulus, a prudent or wise man, to share the gospel with him.

When they got to him, they found one called Bar Jesus, which means the son of Jesus (in Hebrew), a false prophet, or a sorcerer, with him. This man opposed the gospel.

Satan has many ways he uses to oppose the gospel. In this instant, he used this false prophet who tried to confuse the deputy governor from accepting the message. Satan may oppose the gospel by scandalising about the men who preach the gospel. He may oppose the gospel by raising financial challenges to limit the ease with which the gospel is propagated. Satan can also do so by raising certain false prophets whose practices become a great hindrance for people, making them reject the gospel. Another subtle way to oppose the gospel is when he attacks a man advancing the gospel with a kind of deadly disease that makes him or her unable to project the gospel as a strong person would do. He can also use the persecution of believers in the nation to hinder the gospel.

How did Apostle Paul stop this satanically orchestrated plan to hinder the gospel? Acts 13:9 says, “Then Saul (who also is called Paul), filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on Him”. Paul rebuked him and pronounced God’s judgement on him, which happened instantly, thereby erasing that negative impact on the proconsul. Elymas, or the false prophet, became blind instantly.

Beloved reader, it was through the power of the Holy Spirit and Paul’s reliance on Him that he was able to overcome that resistance.

The bible said Paul was full of the Spirit, out of whom he spoke to stop that opposition. What does it mean to be full of the Holy Spirit? The following scriptures will assist us in knowing what it is like to be full of the Spirit. Acts 6:5, speaking about Stephen, describes him as full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. Acts 11:24 also speaks about Barnabas said, he was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. These scriptures and others reveal a relationship between being full of faith and being full of the Holy Spirit. They always go together. We can say Apostle Paul was full of the Holy Spirit and also full of faith. He silenced the opposition by any act of faith. He spoke in faith against the opposing person or situation. The main answer to various oppositions to the advancement of the gospel is a bold step of FAITH.  It may be applied in various forms; for example, through prevailing prayer, faith is the victory that overcomes the world. (1st John 5:4). To be full of the Holy Spirit is to be full of faith.

It is the fullness of the Holy Spirit in us that makes us overcome. Let the Spirit have you totally by deciding to act on the word. This is what faith is all about. Act in faith and stop Satan’s resistance to the gospel.

 CONFESSION

I am submitted to the word of God. I act on the word that allows the Spirit to have His way in me, making me full of Him. I obtain great results by acting on the word.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Hebrews 11:33-34” Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

1 John 5:4” For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 13:4 “So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.”

The Holy Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas from the church in Antioch. They were very influential in raising the church of Antioch, but did not claim they had to sit there and ran the church, but they yielded to the Holy Spirit, ready to obey His instructions. Dear man of God, it is not what you want that you do, but what the Lord says.

They quickly obeyed the Spirit’s commission. May we all be obedient to our Lord’s commission. Matthew 28:19 reads, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations. …..” This is the Lord’s commission to every Christian, and we must all religiously obey it.  Many of us do not go out there to share the Gospel because we are not ready to lose our comfort.  Serving God means denying yourself to love the Lord and do that which pleases him.

Matthew 16:24” Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

They first went to Seleucia a distance of about 41 miles by sea, from there they sailed to Cyprus, an Island in the Mediterranean which is not far from Seleucia. Now note this, the Spirit asked them to go and preach but did not tell them where to go in particular. As we have also been commissioned to go and teach all nations, we do not wait for the Spirit to say go here or go there. We get going and share with whosoever we meet. (The Holy Spirit in some cases can be specific about where to go)

They got to Salamis which is a principal city and seaport of Cyprus. It was the custom of the apostles to preach first in the synagogues which were Jewish gatherings.

Acts 13:16 reads “when they went through the Isle………” These men were simply combing through the region and sharing the Gospel to as many who were ready to receive them. We must likewise move everywhere to share the Good News with all men.

The deputy governor of the country (Paphos) was called Sergius Paulus. He invited Paul to listen to the word of God.  What made a deputy of the Land, call on Paul and Barnabas to listen to the Gospel? I believe what prompted this invitation was the impact of the message.

1.The gospel brings peace to all those who believe it.

2.The gospel brings transformation of the life to all who receive it. Sinners receive power to be free from sin.  

3.The sick are healed when they believe the gospel.

4. People who were filled with hatred, strive, and anger begin to express true love to their neighbours when they receive the gospel.

I believe these are some of the impacts of the gospel that caused the proconsul or deputy governor to invite Paul and Barnabas to hear them, too.

Dear child of God, the gospel, or good news, is the power of GOD unto salvation to everyone who believes. SHARE IT. The gospel declares our Lord Jesus died for our sins, and was raised on the third day for our Justification or to make us righteous. (Rom 4:25)

Dear reader, if you have not received eternal life, then believe in the Lord Jesus today and admit Him to be the Lord of your life by confessing Him as your Lord.

 CONFESSION

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. I share it wherever I go, bringing heavenly blessings to all who receive it. It is indeed a great joy to be a partner with the Lord in sharing this good news.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Corinthians 5:15” And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again”.

John 3:16” For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 13:2. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

  Paul and Barnabas returned from Jerusalem to Antioch, where they joined the brethren in a time of prayer, fasting, and ministering unto the Lord.

   The scripture said they ministered to the Lord and fasted. The word ministered means to serve. To serve or minister in this context was to offer the fruit of your lips, which is praising and giving thanks unto the name of the Lord. Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, That is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Whenever we sing or express words of thanksgiving, it is a form of service we are rendering unto the Lord. Do not take it lightly, it is the delight of the Lord that we minister unto Him. May you continue to offer the fruit of the lips unto the Lord always.

 Along with praising and giving thanks unto the Lord, they fasted. Fasting is an abstinence from food and pleasure to devote time for God in prayer and meditation on His word. Fasting strengthens one’s desire for the Lord. Fasting is not an optional   Christian discipline but an obligatory one. The Lord said in Matthew 6:16, “Moreover when ye fast…….” It is proper for every Christian to set up specific times or days to fast, pray, and minister unto the Lord.

 As they fasted, the Holy Spirit said Separate me, Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. “The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. He is an active person who has will, choice, and instincts. He said Paul and Barnabas should be separated unto him. It is only God who demands our dedication to Him. This makes Him one with God. He is God. The Holy Spirit is our helper, guard, and guide. We can only be successful if we recognise that he is Lord of the work. We must continually seek his guidance. Failure in ministry is serving without his assistance in leading. As many as are led by the Spirit, they are the sons of God.

 Pastor Benny Hinn described the Holy Spirit as   Jesus Christ’s unlimited. When the Lord was on the earth, He was confined to a body and located in one place at a time.

 The Holy Spirit can be everywhere at the same time, working through anyone who gives him the right to lead and guide him. Through the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus is presently unlimited, alive in every child of God, and ready to do what He did when He was physically present on the earth. Cooperate with Him for an effective life and ministry

PRAYER

I thank you, heavenly Father, for giving us the Holy Spirit, our helper, advocate, counsellor, comforter, and guide. Through His leading, I am never found wanting, always a success in all I do.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 27:6 “And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.”

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 12:5 KJV” Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

Please read Acts 12 1-17

The following narrative clearly shows that God may not do anything about man’s situation until men pray. Certain individuals in certain conditions seem not to change, yet they ask Do I have to call ceaselessly on God before a change would come? Yes, that is the answer.

In the passage, King Herod took James and killed him. James was one of the three inner core men of Jesus’ ministry. The bible said it pleased the Jews so much that he decided to go for Peter, who happened to be the leader of the church at that time. This was a very big blow to the church. The marginal bible reads as follows: that instant and earnest prayers were made without ceasing unto God for Him. Please note that Peter was arrested before the Passover, and he was to be kept in prison until after Easter, then he would be slain, like Herod did to James. This means these brethren were to pray without ceasing for at least three days or more.

I believe they fasted and prayed as well. These brethren decided that they were not going to allow King Herod to slaughter Peter, too. Please remember that God has given so much authority on this earth to man to determine what God permits or prohibits. Matt 18:18 KJV” Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” If we say no to a condition, heaven would back us and sanction no to it. If we say yes, then heaven’s response would be yes. They kept praying until the last night when he would be killed the next day, then God’s answer came through. Many of us have not gotten answers to our desires because we did not pray through, but stopped halfway through.

Pastor Yonggi Cho, who pastored the world’s largest church, shared a testimony concerning his son, who drank poisoned water with thirty other boys. Sadly, all the boys died. When his son was brought to him, he was almost unconscious and was gradually losing his senses. He started praying, yet the son died. He decided not to give up. He prayed for three hours, but the son did not come back to life. He prayed for another three hours, and the boy instantly vomited the poison as he came back to life. The son said the following after being raised back to life: that, in the dead state, he was with Jesus and wanted to go along with Him, but the Lord told him that his father would not let him die, so he had to go back. Please, dear brother or sister, God has given so much power to Christians. Do not easily give in to challenges or give up; hold your ground till you receive your desired answers.

THOUGHT: IF YOU CAN PERSIST SOME MORE, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT GOD SAYS YES TO YOUR YES.

FURTHER STUDIES

Luk 18:1 KJV “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV “Pray without ceasing.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

 In our last study, Apostle Paul was sent to Tarsus to save his life from the Greeks who were planning to kill him. When the work of God was growing at Antioch, Barnabas decided to go for Apostle Paul. Tarsus was Paul’s home, where he was a maker of tents.

Acts 18:3 says, “And because he was of the same craft, he abodes with them and wrought for by occupation they were tent makers.” What was he doing at Tarsus? Had he gone back into tent-making? Could it be that the first instant of the Jewish plot to slay him at Damascus, and the subsequent plans by the Greeks to kill him, had caused him to slow down on his aggressive work in witnessing? He could also have been involved in sharing the Gospel in Tarsus.

 The word says that Barnabas went for him. This is more of a subjective state. This suggests he had calmed down on his fervency. Barnabas did not give up or forget him. He went for him. Let us also be sons of consolation who would strengthen and lift those who are weak.   A positive word would change somebody’s life and future forever. Make up your mind to build up rather than to cast them down.

 James wrote in his epistle that a fountain cannot give out fresh and salty water simultaneously. It can only give one kind of water. The Lord Jesus was an uplifter of men. He said to the woman caught in the act of adultery, Neither do I condemn you, but go and sin no more.

Acts 11:26 says When Barnabas brought him to Antioch, they stayed there for a year teaching the brethren. I believe Barnabas, who led him back, would automatically be the leader of the team, yet because of Paul’s encounter with the master and the revelations granted him, he was made the main teacher of the brethren.  Barnabas had awakened a giant who might have been sleeping.  The impact of Paul and Barnabas’s ministry in Antioch made the brethren to be called Christians. This means to be like Christ.

I believe Apostle Paul’s insight into the new creation realities and the divine life of God available to every Christian sparks in them the awareness of the oneness with Jesus, and so they began to talk and act like Jesus. I believe miracles and healings were rampant. This is the hallmark of Jesus.

 CONFESSION

I have the Holy Spirit, the spirit of comfort and encouragement. I always lift the weak and have a positive word for all under all conditions. I bless and inspire towards fulfilment and success.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;’

James 3:10” Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:29” And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.”

OUR key scripture states clearly that Apostle Paul spoke boldly in defense of the gospel. I realise a great part of the church lacks that level of boldness in talking about Jesus. I ask, why is it so? Most people lack this boldness because they do not have a good knowledge of the truth to freely talk about it. Our previous studies revealed to us how Paul had to isolate himself somewhere in Arabia, to learn and also to be taught by the Spirit concerning the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Anyone with a good knowledge of the truth would be very bold in communicating it. The next reason for one to be bold in communicating a truth is the knowledge of its truthfulness, thus its ability to answer man’s challenges

Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16, that, ‘ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes…..” This conviction inspired him to speak boldly about Jesus. Dear one, “may you also come to the conviction that the gospel is the only truth to save lost humanity.

What was the thinking of the Greeks? 1st Corinth. 1:22 says, “For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom “. The Greeks were philosophical in their views. The Greeks saw the preaching of the cross as foolishness. Despite how worldly the Greeks were, Apostle Paul spoke boldly or freely, such that he made nonsense of their thinking and teaching. Paul did not dispute with them along their lines of ‘wisdom’ but kept establishing that the death and resurrection of Jesus is the wisdom of God to save men.

To get an idea of Paul’s defense of the gospel among the Greeks, please read 1st Corinthians 2:1-16. Please read the following verses: 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: “Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to defend the gospel

The Greeks also planned to kill Paul. The brethren, realising this, took him away and sent him to Caesarea and later to Tarsus. May we always be alert to protect the set men God has placed over us. They are arrowheads whose impact is very effective and cuts deeply into the works of the enemy. Losing one anointed vessel is a great loss to the larger body of Christ. Paul’s life was saved by the brethren, and we must protect the anointed men God has given to us.

 PRAYER:

I pray that the church of God would be strong to confound the world by her witness and her lifestyle.

FURTHER STUDIES

 1 Corinthians 2:13” Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

1 Peter 3:15” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Heb 13:2 KJV Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Please Read Acts 9:23-42

Apostle Paul went to the Synagogue at Damascus to engage the Jews.

The Jews in Damascus, realising they could not comprehend the level of insight and knowledge with which Paul taught about Jesus, decided to kill him. Unfortunately, religion creates murderers. Sadly, there are many professing Christians who are just religious.  They observe ordinances without personal knowledge or submission to    Jesus.

Acts 9:23). They lay in wait at the city gate so that when he passed by, they would attack and kill him. Apostle Paul got to know of it. Acts 9:25 says the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket. These brethren who helped him escape did not know they were saving somebody who would write about half of the letters in the New Testament.  I do not believe they knew that God had given him a special revelation that would change the course of the world. Dear child of God, the convert you have been privileged to care for and raise may be a special instrument in God’s hand to affect many lives. He or she may be another Paul or Peter. He or she may be another Pastor Chris Oyakhilome or bishop Dag Heward Mills.  Give him or her every love, care, and attention needed to make him or her stand strong in Christ.

Those disciples who let him down in the basket were risking their lives by doing that. The Jews who had wanted to kill Paul would have attacked them if they had seen them attempt to let Paul down the wall. Give every sacrifice to protect, help, and strengthen that new Christian you have found.

The story continues that when Paul got to Jerusalem, the brethren were so scared of him that they could not believe that he was a disciple. It took Barnabas, whose name meant Son of rest or son of consolation, to stand with Paul and defend him before the apostles. Love believes all things. There is no fear in love. Don’t stay far and judge. Get close and allow the Spirit to communicate the truths about that particular individual to you so you would be able to relate well with him or her.

PRAYER

Lord, I pray for all Christians to be committed to lovingly and sacrificially discipling all new converts that they find in their midst.

FURTHER STUDIES.

John 21:15-17” So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yes Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 9:22. “But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the very Christ.”

 Acts 9:20 reveals that Paul started preaching about the Lord Jesus straight away. after his conversion. The question is what he knows about Jesus Christ to be able to teach, and the Jewish lawyers and teachers? Apostle Paul, as a new convert, needed to be taught the truths about Jesus. According to Isaiah 28:13, ” But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” This verse shows us how the scriptures are interpreted or rightly divided. A little here, a little there

Our question in Acts 9:20 is answered by Galatians 1:12, which says,” 

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

These developments give credence to what Paul said in Galatians 1:15-17. It was after he visited Arabia and was confined in the presence of the Lord that he received insight into the truths about Jesus. It was on his return to Damascus that he started teaching in the synagogues and confounded the Jews.

  From what Paul wrote to the Galatians about himself, we can explain what Luke wrote in the Acts of the Apostles.  When we explain scriptures with other portions of the bible, we appreciate the clarity of what has been written.

Some brethren complain they do not understand the scriptures, because what they may be reading may not be so clear. Dear one, my piece of advice to you is that keep reading the scriptures generally. A good grasp of the scriptures as a whole would explain to you part of what may be lacking in one part that you might have read. The bible is indeed an amazing book. It has so many books written by various persons, yet the author is one, the Holy Spirit. It says all scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.2nd Timothy 3:16. The Holy Spirit, who inspired these men to write the scriptures, gives a perfect blend and meaning to what has been penned down, by taking a little here and a little there.

People go into heresy or error in interpreting the scriptures because they try to explain or make doctrines out of one verse, without reading further to understand what subsequent verses teach. I have heard people of other faiths trying to condemn Christianity as a whole simply because they read one verse and went ahead to conclude and even use it to condemn Christians. The bible is one book. Acts 9:20 cannot be interpreted in isolation.  A critical examination of the verse would raise many difficult questions that one may find hard to answer.

PRAYER

Father, help me through the assistance of your Spirit to be able to blend various portions of the scriptures, so I will rightly divide and apply them effectively.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”