Christians have received grace from God. This means we have been given a gift by God which is the very opposite of what we deserve. We deserve death; He has given us life. And this gift is hugely expensive: His
Three troublesome trips
Paul’s perseverance is a notable feature in the stories we have about him (eg 2Co 11:16-33). Our verses demonstrate this as he returns from an exhausting mission trip not simply to enjoy a rest at home, but to handle a
Elders
Paul and Barnabas were not simply nomadic preachers; they were actually builders (1Co 3:10). They travelled not just to win converts and move on, but to see the kingdom of heaven firmly established on the earth. Hence, having reached Derbe
Timely gifts
Christians learn from the words and example of Jesus to help the needy. But these verses are more than just a tale of such kindness in action in the church’s early years. They also contribute to Luke’s description of the
Salt in the land
The church of Acts 9 is filled with Jewish believers in Jesus. But the Lord is about to expand it radically by including Gentiles. First, however, he grants his people a period of peaceful growth. Three years or so earlier,
Laying a foundation
God’s home is heaven (Is 66:1,2); Israel’s temple was only a place he occasionally visited (1Ki 8:10,11). But Jesus’ body became the permanent earthly home of God (Jo 2:18-21): a living temple, later extended when the Holy Spirit came to
One big tent
Peter has spoken of Jerusalem’s sins against Christ (v22,23,36) & God’s vindication of him (v32, 33). Many now respond with an anxious cry (v37), to which Peter replies with a call to repent (v38). They must turn back to God