In the early centuries after his resurrection, Jesus’ kingdom grew remarkably. The writer of Acts – Luke – shows us the foundation for that spectacular growth. Key to his tale is Paul, an apostle not from the original twelve (1Co
The battle of Iconium
Jesus was a divisive figure. One of the big factors in the negative reactions he provoked was his pointing out of others’ lifestyles and attitudes which had to change. That can really wind people up, especially when they expect the
Make me smile
Joy is found throughout the New Testament. Yet it often occurs in situations which involve pain or trouble, including our passage. So what is this joy and how can we experience it? Paul has preached Jesus as resurrected saviour to
Better call me Paul
This report of Saul’s first missionary journey has some of the elements of a typical church/mission report today: an outreach activity and an interesting conversation. On the other hand, linking the Spirit to the blinding of a man and a
A new adventure
First there was one church, launched in Jerusalem and expanded until it stretched across the ancient land of Israel (Ac 9:31). Then a second church was founded in the city of Antioch in the land of Syria: an independent church
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
Two new arrivals
For nearly 2000 years Jesus followers have been known as ‘Christians’. Where did the name come from? An ancient city called Antioch (sited near to modern Antakya in Turkey), where not only that nick-name but also the first local church
Gracious disagreement
If Jesus came to build God’s kingdom (Lk 4:43) and bring people into unity (Co 3:11), why have Christians formed so many different types of churches? Has something gone wrong? Our verses provide part of the answer, as they give
Baptism in the Spirit
What is ‘Baptism in the Spirit’? Is it, as some say, a personal experience given by the Lord to a Christian, in which he/she receives the Holy Spirit in a fuller way and is thus empowered to: pray better, know
The gospel
In this summary the numbers [1], [2] etc. point to the numbered rows at the bottom of this page. What is the gospel? In eight verses Luke summarises Peter’s explanation of it to the Centurion Cornelius and his houseful of