Paul continues his history lesson to the people of Antioch of Pisidia. He highlights several important points. The Israelites begged for a king, and God gave them Saul, who reigned for forty years. Yet it wasn't too far into his reign that Saul lost favor with God, and he was eventually replaced by David. This replacement, however, was several years in the making and not without struggle, as Saul tried to kill David on several occasions. Paul notes that it is one of David’s descendants—not Saul’s—who would be the promised Savior of Israel, and he identifies Jesus as that Savior, heralded and confirmed ahead of time by John the Baptist.

History is so important. There are many valuable lessons to be learned if we take the time to learn them, lest we be forced to learn through the painful repetition of the same mistakes. Paul was declaring nothing that the prophets had not already proclaimed. The difficulty was getting the people to realize that this was the very time the prophets had spoken about.

This reminds me of Jesus’ words when approaching Jerusalem during His triumphal entry before His crucifixion. We read about it in Luke 19:41-44:

“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.””
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The people of Israel missed the time of their visitation by not accepting Jesus. Consider these words spoken by Jesus as recorded by Matthew:

““O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How many times have we missed the Lord’s visitation in our own lives? There are times when He is speaking to us and drawing us into a closer relationship with Him, but are we responding? The invitation is still open, but we must be careful not to harden our hearts to the point where we ignore so great an invitation.

Do you remember the first time you learned about the Lord? I do. A friend of mine in college “forced” me to go to church with her on Easter during my freshman year. I can’t say I understood everything, but when the preacher gave the altar call, I had to hold onto my seat to keep from responding because I felt so strongly compelled to go forward. Thankfully, after a few well-placed individuals in my life explained the Gospel more clearly to me, I accepted the Lord a few weeks later. I don’t even want to think about what might have happened had I not. The blessings of the Lord have certainly overtaken me throughout my life, and God has been faithful to me in every way.

Don’t ignore the times when the Lord is speaking to you, and don’t put Him off. There was a specific window for Jerusalem that they missed by rejecting Jesus. Let’s not make the same mistake.

God’s invitations often come quietly, but they carry eternal significance. The people of Jerusalem had long awaited the Messiah, yet many failed to recognize Him when He stood right in front of them. The same danger exists for us today. God speaks through His Word, His Spirit, circumstances, and people He places in our lives. Every prompting, conviction, and invitation to draw closer to Him is an opportunity we should not take lightly. While God is patient and merciful, wisdom teaches us to respond when He calls rather than assuming there will always be another opportunity. A softened heart is a fertile place for God’s work, but a hardened heart can miss the very blessing it has been praying for.

Never give Paul the mic unless you want to be challenged in your thinking. The people of Antioch of Pisidia are about to receive a history lesson that will remind them of their heritage, but also of the promises spoken by the prophets of old—promises that were foretold and fulfilled in Jesus’ coming. His message is somewhat reminiscent of the defense Stephen gave before the high council, which sounded well and good until he revealed their hardheartedness toward the message.

While the people of Antioch of Pisidia—not to be confused with Antioch in Syria—were largely receptive to the truth, we shall see that the same spiritual forces that challenged Jesus during His time here were obviously still at work behind the scenes, seeking to stir up the people. For now, however, Paul and Barnabas are experiencing the goodwill of the people.

To know the truth, we must always go back to the beginning as a reference point. Paul is reminding the people of their past in order to prepare them for their future. This is a time in history when they are transitioning from the Old Testament to the New Testament, from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant—all things foretold in Scripture. Yet, as we shall see, some preferred to remain in the old.

As Jesus stated during His teaching about the wineskins:

“But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Are we stuck in the “old”? Are we resistant to the new? There will always be times when we are challenged to step out into the unknown for our betterment, if we are willing to let go of where we are. Being challenged in our thinking is a good thing because it causes us to dig deeper into why we believe what we believe. If what we believe is true, it will always stand up under scrutiny. If it is not true, we will find that we have a decision to make—embrace the new or remain stuck in the old.

One of the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth is not ignorance but an unwillingness to reconsider what we have always believed or practiced. God often builds upon the foundations He has already laid, but He also calls us forward into a deeper understanding of His truth. The people listening to Paul had to decide whether they would cling to what was familiar or embrace the fulfillment of God's promises standing before them. We face the same challenge today. A teachable spirit is essential for anyone who desires to continue growing in their walk with the Lord.

This highlights the importance of engaging and dismantling the devil’s influence in situations, while also ensuring that we do not become stooges for the devil ourselves. What do people think they will gain by serving the devil? Whatever he promises always comes with a price, unlike the free gift of eternal life that Jesus offers us, which costs us nothing. It really is a no-brainer, but that just shows how much people can be ruled by their fleshly desires.

This is the first time we are introduced to Saul’s more famous moniker, Paul. Like his former self, Paul has no problem confronting Elymas and boldly calling him out. Not only that, but he also pronounces God’s judgment upon him, which will hopefully provide Elymas with time to reflect and consider a course correction in his life.

This showdown serves as an eye-opener for the governor, who witnessed what happened and subsequently became a believer in the Lord. Never discount the importance of taking a stand against evil. As Paul later declares about Jesus in Colossians 2:14-15:

“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”

The evil powers and principalities have been disarmed because of what Jesus did on the cross, but guess who gets to enforce that victory here on earth? We do! This does not mean we go looking for a demon under every rock, but neither should we be ignorant of the devil’s devices. We must remain prayerful and spiritually alert at all times.

Just as Jesus destroyed the works of the devil, as stated in 1 John 3:8, we are called to stand against the enemy’s schemes and bring the light of Christ into dark situations. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can help break strongholds, bring hope to the hopeless, and point people to the freedom found in Jesus Christ. The battle ultimately belongs to the Lord, but He has chosen to work through His people as ambassadors of His Kingdom.

The account of Elymas reminds us that there is a real spiritual battle taking place around us. While the enemy seeks to blind people to the truth, God is always at work drawing people to Himself. Paul did not back down from confronting evil, nor did he rely on his own strength. He stood in the authority of Christ and allowed God to deal with the situation. As believers, we are called to do the same—to remain vigilant, prayerful, and faithful, knowing that Christ has already secured the victory. Our responsibility is not to win the battle but to enforce the victory that Jesus has already won.

The enemy always seeks to position himself near power so that he can influence the decision-making process. We must always be mindful of the influencers around us—especially the flatterers in our midst, for they are often trying to worm their way into our good graces for self-serving or even nefarious purposes.

In this case, we have Elymas, a sorcerer—someone who relies on demonic power—who has attached himself to the governor, the very seat of authority. Spiritual opposition has now arrived in the form of Barnabas and Saul, and things are about to go badly for Elymas. He is actively trying to keep the governor from hearing and believing the Gospel. It will not end well for him because he is standing in the way of the work of God.

It is important to be spiritually discerning. Scripture actually tells us to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Jesus said we would know people by their fruit and warned us that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. The very essence of deception is to appear to be one thing while actually being another. Eventually, a person's true character will be revealed, for no one can maintain a false image forever. As the old adage says, “A leopard cannot change his spots.” Unfortunately, many fall under the influence of deceptive people only to discover too late that there was a traitor in their midst.

This highlights the importance of praying for those in authority over us—that they would be discerning and surround themselves with men and women of proven character.

As Proverbs 29:2 states:

“When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.”

A note of caution, discernment is not suspicion; it is wisdom guided by the Holy Spirit. God calls us to look beyond appearances and evaluate people, influences, and ideas by their fruit. The closer someone is to a position of influence, the greater the need for godly character and spiritual integrity. When we pray for our leaders and cultivate discernment in our own lives, we help create an environment where truth can flourish and God's purposes can prevail.

There are times when we feel like we are supposed to do something for the Lord, yet it is always wise to seek godly counsel. Scripture states that there is safety in the abundance of counselors. Here, we see a group of prophets and teachers gathered together when the Holy Spirit spoke to them, revealing that He had commissioned Barnabas and Saul for a specific purpose. After additional prayer and fasting, the group laid hands on them and sent them out.

In my 45 years of involvement in church and ministry, I have observed that there are those who were sent out and those who simply went out. They are not the same. The Holy Spirit is not confused about what He is calling us to do. Yet, because we all see only in part, it is wise to seek counsel and confirmation before making life-changing decisions. We only go through this life once, and in the words of Myles Munroe, “A great tragedy in life is being successful at the wrong assignment.”

My father-in-law used to talk about “young bucks” who would come through the church full of excitement, eager to go out and set the world on fire for Christ, only to have to come back for matches. Entering into ministry is not something to be taken lightly. There is a refining process involved before the Lord releases us into greater responsibility.

The first ministry we have is our own sanctification process. We should never try to shortcut that process, because it will cost us later. Character is forged in the refining fire. It is that character that enables us to remain steadfast in our faith when we face life's challenges. When we are ready, just as we see in this account with Barnabas and Saul, the Holy Spirit will speak at the right time and send us out.

Jesus said that many are called but few are chosen. Why is that? Because few are willing to submit to the refining process. Those who go out on their own often fall into traps set by the enemy. Sadly, we read about some of them in the news—individuals who built large ministries but ultimately succumbed to character flaws that brought harm to themselves and to the body of Christ.

Stay where God has planted you until He makes it clear that it is time to move. There is no shame in waiting on God's timing. In fact, some of the greatest preparation happens in the hidden seasons. When the Lord opens the door and sends you out, you will go not merely with enthusiasm, but with His authority, His anointing, and the character necessary to fulfill the assignment He has entrusted to you.

God is far more concerned with who we are becoming than with what we are accomplishing. Before He entrusts us with greater influence, He often works deeply within our hearts. The waiting season is not wasted time—it is preparation time. Rather than striving to make something happen, trust God's process. When He sends you, no one can stop what He has ordained.

Be careful when people try to put you on a pedestal. There is only One deserving of worship, but pride often tempts us to take some of the credit for ourselves. Herod thought he was all that and a bag of chips, and the Scripture says that he was struck with illness because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving glory to God. We just read where Peter refused to accept worship from Cornelius, and there are several accounts of angels refusing worship from the people to whom they were sent to deliver a message. As Jesus reminded the devil in Luke 4:8:

“Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ””

Ambition is a tricky thing. On the one hand, it is okay to be ambitious for good, yet we must be careful not to be ambitious for self. Some find their self-worth in ambitious pursuits. The problem with that is, what happens to our self-worth if our pursuits do not pan out? Our self-worth must be found in the Lord Himself. Our concern needs to be more with what He thinks than with what the world thinks.

True humility is not denying our gifts, abilities, or accomplishments; it is recognizing where they came from. Every good thing we have is a gift from God. When we understand that, it becomes much easier to give Him the glory He deserves. The applause of people is fleeting, but the approval of God is eternal. Rather than seeking recognition for ourselves, our goal should be to point others to Christ, knowing that apart from Him we can do nothing, but through Him all things are possible.

Pride seeks the spotlight, but humility points to the One who gave us the ability to shine. Whether God entrusts us with great influence or quiet service, our responsibility remains the same: give Him the glory. When our identity is rooted in Christ rather than in accomplishments, success will not inflate us, and failure will not destroy us.

Speaking of Peter here, the angel had just sprung him from jail and left him in the middle of the street. Thankfully, Peter caught on quickly and realized it wasn’t a dream. He went to the home of Mary, John Mark’s mother, where several believers were gathered in prayer.

I feel for Rhoda, for she has gotten a bad rap throughout history as the one who didn’t open the door for Peter. Being so overjoyed at hearing his voice, she ran to tell the others but forgot to open the door, leaving him exposed out in the street. Yet here they all were, praying for something to happen—and it did—and they didn’t believe Rhoda.

How many times have we done the same thing? We pray for something, God answers, and yet we struggle to believe it. We even declare our disbelief by saying, “I can’t believe it!” We must be careful not to miss God’s answers, realizing they do not always come in the way we expect.

I love the next statement: “Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking.” This is one of those moments where I can almost picture Jesus shaking His head with a gentle chuckle. I wonder how many times we have caused the same reaction from the Lord?

Those at Mary’s house were obviously overjoyed when they finally opened the door and saw that it was indeed Peter, so much so that he had to quiet them down. There was no sense in alerting others to his presence, or he might end up right back where he had been before. He then left and went to another place, though Scripture does not tell us where.

There was quite a reckoning the next morning when Peter was found missing. Scripture says that Herod conducted a thorough search for him, and when he could not be found, he interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. It must have sounded like a fanciful tale to Herod, but the reality was that God had intervened. Sadly for the soldiers, the consequences were severe, even though Peter’s escape was entirely beyond their control.

This passage reminds us that God is able to answer our prayers in ways that exceed our expectations. The believers were faithfully praying for Peter’s deliverance, yet when the answer came knocking at the door, they struggled to believe it. How often do we do the same? May we not only pray with faith, but also watch with expectation, trusting that God is at work even when His answers arrive in surprising ways.

As was mentioned yesterday, prayer opens the door for great things to happen. Here we have Peter chained between two soldiers—sleeping! Peter’s calmness, to the point where he could sleep so soundly, is a testament to his surrendered will to the purpose and plan of the Father. Everything was going to be okay, no matter how this situation unfolded.

So soundly was Peter sleeping that the angel who came to break him out had to strike him on the side to wake him up, and miraculously, his chains fell off.

Peter thought he was dreaming, but the angel gave him specific instructions about putting on his outer garment and sandals, and off they went, passing by two fully manned guard posts and through the iron gate leading to the city, which opened by itself—all completely undetected. Several miraculous things were taking place here.

Peter didn’t realize it was really happening until the angel suddenly departed, leaving him alone in the middle of the street.

If God needs to deliver us from our circumstances, He can and He will. Think of the Exodus, where God miraculously delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. Think of the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were facing certain death in the fiery furnace by order of King Nebuchadnezzar, yet who showed up in the middle of the fire? Think of Daniel, facing certain death in the lions’ den, only to be delivered by an angel who shut the lions’ mouths. Think of the Apostle John, whom the Roman Emperor Domitian tried to execute by throwing him into a vat of boiling oil, only for him to emerge unharmed.

Last but not least, think of Jesus, who had to endure the cross and die, yet was raised from the dead to deliver mankind from the clutches of the devil. God knows how to deliver His people.

I think Peter was fully prepared in his heart to die for the Lord, which would explain his ability to sleep so peacefully. But God had more for him to do. We each need to get to that place in our walks and in our hearts where, as Jesus said in the Garden, we can pray:

“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Those are simple words to read, but they are often difficult words to live. Surrendering our will to God requires trust. It means believing that His wisdom is greater than our understanding, His timing is better than our timetable, and His purposes are higher than our personal desires.

That kind of confidence does not come from knowing what tomorrow holds; it comes from knowing Who holds tomorrow. Peter could sleep because he trusted God. If deliverance came, God would be glorified. If martyrdom came, God would still be glorified. Peter had already settled the issue of lordship in his heart.

How different our lives would be if we lived with that same confidence. How much anxiety, fear, and worry would disappear if we truly believed that God is in control and that nothing can touch our lives apart from His knowledge and permission. This does not mean we will never face difficulties, but it does mean we never face them alone.

The same God who delivered Israel from Egypt, protected Daniel in the lions’ den, walked with the Hebrew children through the fire, released Peter from prison, and raised Jesus from the dead is still at work today. He has not changed. He is still faithful, still powerful, and still able to deliver His people according to His perfect will.

There is something deeply wrong when people choose to celebrate the death of an innocent man. Why is it that the forerunners of change are often the first to die for the very change they propose, yet when history finally catches up to them, they are honored? It happened to the prophets in the Old Testament, it happened to Jesus, and now it was happening to the Apostles.

Change never comes easy for some people. Many prefer things the way they are and do not want anyone rocking the boat. Yet how do we improve without change? What benefits one group is not always beneficial to another, and those profiting from the current system are rarely eager to make changes that would help those being victimized by it. One only has to look at present-day politics to see how true that is.

Herod kills James and intends to do the same with Peter. He places him under heavy guard in prison, yet there is one thing that stands out in this account. Scripture states:

“But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.”

Never discount the power of prayer, and never underestimate the multiplied power of unified, earnest, corporate prayer.

Consider the words of James, the Lord’s brother, in James 5:16:

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Peter is about to receive a visitation that is going to create quite a stir in the city, but as we can see, following the Lord is not without cost. James has already paid the ultimate price for his faith, and Peter now sits in prison awaiting what appears to be a similar fate. The Christian life has never been a promise of comfort or safety, but rather a call to faithfulness regardless of the consequences.

Yet in the middle of persecution, opposition, and uncertainty, the church did not panic—they prayed. They understood that some battles cannot be won through human strength, influence, or political power alone. Some victories only come through earnest prayer and complete dependence upon God.


Following Christ may cost us something, and for some throughout history, it has cost them everything. Yet the early church understood that persecution was not a reason to retreat, but a reason to press even deeper into prayer and dependence upon God. When circumstances seem impossible, prayer reminds us that God is still greater than every earthly authority, every prison, and every threat.

Antioch has the unique distinction of being the place where believers were first called Christians. Barnabas went to look for Saul of Tarsus and brought him back to Antioch, where the two spent a year teaching these new disciples the ways of the Lord.

We see here that the gifts of the Spirit and the offices of Jesus—Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher—were still in full operation, as the Scriptures say that “prophets” came from Jerusalem. Agabus, in particular, prophesied about a severe famine that was coming upon the land. As a true community of believers should, when they heard this, they sent a monetary gift with Paul and Barnabas to be delivered to the elders in Jerusalem in order to bless and help those in need.

When you think about the purpose of the church and what we are here for, it is to be a blessing to our communities. The other day, I was listening to someone speak about Veteran services, and he emphatically stated that the focus of Veteran services should be—tada—the veterans. Veterans come first. Yet, how often do these nonprofits lose focus and become about something else? It is called mission drift.

This got me thinking about the church and its function. The focus of the church should be the lost, yet somehow it is very easy for the message to get lost in building projects, fundraising, and supporting the machine instead of supporting the Kingdom. It is always good to ask ourselves, “How are we making an impact for the Kingdom of God?”

Consider Ephesians 4:11-12:

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”

The office gifts are meant to teach and train the church—everyday believers—to go out and do the work of the ministry. Church is an equipping station, yet often it seems that believers feel that if they support ministries financially, they are off the hook from actually doing the work of the Kingdom. They give to the church to support someone else doing the work, and then we wonder why the Gospel is not having a larger impact in our communities.

We all have a part to play. Every day we should look for opportunities to let people see Jesus in us by the things we do.

As Psalm 84:5-6 AMP states:

“¶Blessed and greatly favored is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; The early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; Each of them appears before God in Zion.”

In every place we walk, we should make it better.


The church was never meant to be a spectator sport. We are not simply called to attend services, but to carry the presence of Christ into our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities. Wherever believers go, there should be evidence of the Kingdom—hope replacing despair, generosity overcoming selfishness, and love transforming lives. When the church stays focused on its true mission, the world cannot help but notice Jesus.

It seems history records, over and over again, that what the enemy meant for evil, God turns to good. While it may have seemed to some that the message was being silenced, the opposite was actually true. Because of the persecution, the message of the Gospel was spreading even further.

We can still see that the Jews were somewhat exclusive with the message, even though it was meant for the whole world. Yet some were learning to break free from their religious traditions and prejudices.

Barnabas was such a man. His heart was truly filled with the Lord’s compassion, and he rejoiced that the Gentiles were receiving the Word of God. Barnabas became one of the key figures in spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles, working closely alongside Paul the Apostle.

Notice that Barnabas saw evidence of God’s blessing among the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit was indeed actively at work, touching the lives of both Jews and Gentiles, just as Jesus had said.

As we reflect on this, we are reminded that God’s purposes cannot be stopped by opposition, prejudice, or human limitation. He continues to work through willing hearts that are open to His leading and compassionate toward others.

Here we see that news had traveled throughout Judea that the Gentiles had received the Word of God. Yet, when Peter arrived in Jerusalem, he was castigated for entering a Gentile’s house. In verses 4–14, Peter recounts how he received a vision from the Lord regarding the sheet and the animals, with God telling him not to call unclean what God has made clean. He then tells them that just after this vision, servants from Cornelius arrived, who also had a vision from God instructing them to send for a man named Peter who would tell them how to be saved. Peter recounted how he went with these men, a day’s journey away, to Cornelius’s house, and that is where we pick up in verse 15.

Peter made his defense before these Jewish believers by explaining that he was simply following God’s directives. The Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles just as He had upon them, and Peter exclaimed, “Who was I to get in God’s way?”

With this, they stopped objecting and instead began thanking God for extending the gift of salvation to the Gentiles.

God doesn’t always do things the way we think He should. Often, He uses the least likely people to accomplish His purposes. We can never put God in a box and say He can only do things a certain way. We miss out on much of what He is doing when we have that mindset. His methods often change, but His principles never do.

Much of what Jesus did was misunderstood too. In Matthew 11:18-19, Jesus states:

“For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”
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Wisdom is shown to be right by its results—Gentiles got saved!

The Jewish believers were initially hung up on the policies and procedures, and in doing so, they were missing the miracle that had taken place among the Gentiles.

This was not unlike the Pharisees being upset because Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath. Rules were “king” in their world, and Jesus was showing them that He was the One who made the rules, and that they did not mean what man had morphed them into.

As the Apostle Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 3:6:

“He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.”
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The New Covenant is spearheaded by the Holy Spirit, whom God sent to be our Companion and Guide through this world. The Holy Spirit is not limited by our traditions, denominational backgrounds, or preconceived ideas. He moves where hearts are open and receptive to God.

How often do we become so focused on preserving our traditions that we fail to recognize when God is doing something new? The Jewish believers almost missed the beauty of Gentiles receiving salvation because they were more concerned with Peter entering a Gentile’s home than they were with the fact that souls were being saved. Thankfully, they humbled themselves and recognized the hand of God in it all.

We must guard our hearts against becoming so rigid that we cannot rejoice when God moves outside of our expectations. The fruit revealed the truth—lives were transformed, the Holy Spirit was poured out, and God was glorified. Wherever the Spirit brings life, freedom, repentance, salvation, and transformation, we should celebrate the work of God.

How neat is this—and what an eye-opener to the Jewish believers, who now had to reconcile the fact that God had extended the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles just as He had to them! And how did they know the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given? They heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Speaking in tongues, or praying in the Spirit, is a difficult subject for many believers to reconcile, even today. Not all Christian denominations teach the importance of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Some teach about the Holy Spirit, but refer to Him more as an “it” than a “He,” limiting His work in their lives. Yet Jesus commanded the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on High—until they received the gift the Father had promised. Then they were to continue the ministry Jesus had given them: to be His witnesses throughout the earth.

These first Gentile believers got off to a good start in their walk with God, with the Holy Spirit actively and powerfully working in their lives.

Peter then gave orders for all these new believers to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ—a separate baptism from the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

I can only imagine that when Cornelius asked them to stay a few days, it became like an intense seminar as they learned all they could before Peter returned to Joppa. There is a certain hunger that develops when you stumble upon what you know to be the truth. I experienced this when I came to the Lord in college and found myself in church every moment I could. Like a sponge, I wanted to learn as much as possible because I had found the life that was truly life, and it operated very differently from what I had previously known.

Remember, this was all new territory for both the Jews and the Gentiles, yet God was showing them that the Gospel is for everyone.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles was proof that salvation and the promises of God are available to all who believe. The same Holy Spirit who empowered the early church still desires to work in and through believers today. Our role is to remain open, hungry, and obedient to whatever God wants to reveal and accomplish in our lives.

Peter preaches to Cornelius, his family, and his friends the essence of the Gospel message. I thought it was interesting that he assumed they knew about all that had gone on with John the Baptist and with Jesus, even though the Scriptures do not record that Jesus ever ministered in Caesarea Maritima where Cornelius was stationed. It’s not like they had CNN back then, but I imagine the word got out.

The fact that Peter was one of the original disciples who was a direct witness to Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection certainly helped him make the case before Cornelius. Like so many of us, we may often be aware that something is going on, but not know the particulars, and who better to hear from than a direct witness?

The fact that Peter tells them that Jesus ordered them to preach the Gospel had to mean something to Cornelius, as he understood giving and receiving orders, being a soldier. Cornelius was also aware that Peter took those orders so seriously that he would risk being ostracized by his own people in order to travel a day’s journey to minister to unknown Gentiles.

“Jesus is the one appointed by God to be judge of all—the living and the dead! He is the one the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name.”

I remember hearing a Muslim man testify about how the Lord gave him a vision, and he was surprised that it was Jesus who came to him instead of Muhammad. There will be many people surprised, I am afraid, when that time comes. People may not want to hear the message, but we must put it out there anyway. Orders are orders. Then, there are those who truly want to know, but they simply need to hear the message from someone who knows.

I firmly believe that there are those for whom God will move heaven and earth because they genuinely want to know the truth, just as He did here with Cornelius. Spiritual hunger for the truth will always be answered. The question is: “Are we hungry for the truth?”


God is always searching for hearts that are sincerely seeking Him. Cornelius’ hunger for truth positioned him for a divine encounter that changed not only his life, but the lives of many around him. God orchestrated visions, journeys, and conversations to make sure one spiritually hungry man heard the Gospel. The same God is still pursuing people today, often using ordinary believers willing to obey His voice. We may never fully realize how one act of obedience or one conversation about Jesus could impact eternity for someone else.

God has always been concerned about the poor. Cornelius’ giving to the poor is the very thing that caught God’s attention.

How do we treat the poor? We must remember that Jesus said that whatever we do to the least of these is the same as doing it to Him. That’s why He gave us the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Cornelius’ charitable heart is what precipitated this encounter.

Peter is having a bit of an epiphany as he sees how the Holy Spirit coordinated this meeting, even though it was against “his” custom. God really isn’t concerned about our customs—He cares more about what is right. Peter’s statement, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism,” is a huge admission coming from one of God’s chosen people. We are all, in fact, chosen for His purposes. Israel was chosen by God to be the carrier of His name throughout ancient history, to preserve the historical record, and to usher in Christ, who is the Savior of the world—not just of the Jewish people. We should all be eternally grateful for their witness through time, for it is through the Jewish people that salvation came to the world through Jesus.
However, their rejection of Christ opened the door for the Gentiles.

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 11:11-12:

“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.”
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The Apostle Paul goes on further to say in Ephesians 2:14-18:

“For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.”


One new people out of two people groups! Unfortunately, we are still trying to work that one out. We have to be willing to let go of the Old Covenant in order to embrace the New Covenant ushered in by Christ, one that is readily accepted by Cornelius, his family, and his close friends. Jesus’ promise to the disciples is finding fulfillment in Cornelius’ house.

The Gospel tears down every wall that man tries to build. Race, background, tradition, status, and custom all bow at the foot of the Cross. In Christ, there is no favoritism—only grace extended to all who believe.

Cornelius’ household reminds us that God is always pursuing hearts that are open to Him, regardless of where they come from. The question is not whether God is willing to receive people, but whether we are willing to see people the way He does.

I love how it says Cornelius was waiting for them—and he was not alone. He had such expectation for what God, through Peter, had in store for him, and he did not keep it to himself, but invited others to hear what this man, Peter, had to say.

Once Peter arrives, Cornelius falls at Peter’s feet, which was probably a mixture of gratitude and honor toward Peter. Yet Peter, rightfully so, refused to be worshipped and made the statement, “Stand up! I am a human being just like you!”

We must be careful not to receive or accept the applause of men—we do not share the throne with God. Everything we have and everything we are is because of Him.

Peter then makes it clear that he is breaking Jewish laws he had lived by his whole life by entering their home because God had shown him that he should not think of anyone as impure or unclean. When did God show him that? When He gave Peter the vision of the sheet coming down with all kinds of animals that were, by law, forbidden to eat, yet God told him to kill and eat them in the vision. When Peter protested, God said, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

How was the Gospel and the commission of Jesus going to reach the world if the Jewish people refused to associate with anyone outside of their own ethnicity? Unfortunately, it often takes an act or visitation from God to shake some of us out of our stubborn religious mindsets. It is okay to hold tightly to our beliefs, but we must always leave room for God to reveal truth more clearly. Remember, we see in part—there is always more to learn.

Thank God Peter was courageous and willing to suffer disgrace and be ostracized by his own people because of God’s instructions. God had a plan, and it involved the Gentiles. What do you think Jesus meant when He said:

“I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God’s heart has always been bigger than the boundaries man tries to place around it. The Gospel was never meant to stay confined to one people group, denomination, culture, or nation—it was meant for the whole world. Peter’s obedience opened the door for countless Gentiles to come into the Kingdom of God, reminding us that God often challenges our comfort zones in order to fulfill His greater purposes. May we never become so entrenched in tradition, pride, or prejudice that we resist what God is trying to do. Instead, may we have hearts willing to listen, learn, and obey, even when it stretches us beyond what is familiar.

I love how specific the Holy Spirit is with Peter—three men have come looking for him: Cornelius’ two servants and a soldier. Peter is not to worry, for God has sent them to him.

Again, why might Peter worry about this? They are Gentiles, and one is a Roman soldier. Peter is not accustomed to entertaining Gentiles in his home or associating closely with them. Yet, between the vision God gave Peter about not calling anything unclean and the specific instructions given by the Holy Spirit, Peter is willing to meet them and asks why they have come. The men explain how an angel appeared to Cornelius and instructed him to summon Peter and bring him to his house so that he could hear Peter’s message.

I am not sure Peter would have obliged without the vision and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless, Peter welcomes them to spend the night, as it is late in the afternoon and they have a full day’s journey ahead of them the next day.

Customs and traditions are hard things to violate. Depending on how we are brought up, there are some things so ingrained in us that it is difficult to break from custom or tradition.

Peter was about to violate everything he knew as a Jew, yet he had the assurance of God’s hand upon him, and his obedience was about to open the Gospel to the Gentiles.

God often stretches us beyond what feels familiar in order to accomplish something far greater than we can see in the moment. Peter’s willingness to obey the Holy Spirit, despite centuries of tradition and personal discomfort, became the doorway through which the Gospel reached the Gentiles. What seemed like a simple act of obedience—welcoming strangers into his home and traveling with them—was actually part of God’s redemptive plan for the nations. We must remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and sometimes His greatest work happens when we are willing to lay aside our own understanding, traditions, and fears to simply say, “Yes, Lord.”

Cornelius wasn’t the only one having a vision. Notice the difference in the type of visions, though. While Cornelius’ vision was straightforward, with an angel delivering a message, Peter’s was more symbolic. Visions come in all shapes and sizes. Scripture even says that God speaks to us in the night seasons and that young men will see visions while old men will dream dreams.

Take note of dreams. I have had several dreams where God has spoken to me and ministered to me in my sleep. Some contained answers to questions I hadn’t even asked yet, but were planted in my spirit to be revealed at a later time—in some instances, over 30 years later. Some were warnings, and two were visitations from the Lord Himself. God can speak to us however He chooses. We have to be careful not to get hung up on the delivery system. He is always speaking to us—the question is, “Are we listening?”

The message to Peter was that he was not to call something unclean that God had made clean. In fact, he saw the same vision three times. God was setting Peter up for his encounter with Cornelius’ servants (Gentiles) who were approaching the place where he was staying—mind you, Gentiles were considered unclean to Jews. This message was very timely, for Cornelius’ servants were standing at the gate along with a Roman soldier.


God is always preparing us for what lies ahead, even when we do not yet understand what He is doing. Peter could not fully grasp the meaning of the vision at first, but the Lord was already orchestrating divine appointments and breaking down barriers that had long divided people. Sometimes God speaks in ways that require patience, discernment, and obedience before the full picture becomes clear. The important thing is that we remain sensitive and willing to respond when He speaks.

To be continued tomorrow…

This is a significant event, as it represents a transition from the message being preached primarily to the Jews to now including the Gentiles; although, as we will see in the coming days, Peter needed some convincing.

Cornelius, a Gentile Roman soldier, is the captain over 600 men. He is a devout man who loves God, as does his entire household, and God chooses him to be the first Gentile focus of the Gospel. Undoubtedly, because of his position of influence, the Gospel would spread dramatically. According to early Christian tradition, Cornelius later became the first Bishop of Caesarea.

Cornelius receives a vision in which an angel of God tells him that his prayers and offerings have been received by God. He is instructed to send for Simon Peter in Joppa, a town some 35 miles away—a day’s journey by foot. Remember, they didn’t have phones or GPS, yet the angel gives Cornelius specific names, a location, and even a vocation to help identify whom he is to contact.

Notice there is no doubt or second-guessing. Cornelius does not hesitate, but instead tells two of his servants and a devout soldier what happened and instructs them to go fetch Peter for him. This was not a little task just down the street, but rather a day’s journey on foot with only a couple of names to guide them.

Interestingly, the Scripture says that Cornelius stared at the angel in “terror.” Remember, this is an accomplished soldier who commands over 600 men and likely doesn’t get rattled by much. Angels are fearsome creatures. One angel in the Old Testament killed over 80,000 men—they are not what is often depicted as little cherubs playing harps while sitting on clouds. They are part of the host and army of heaven—not to be trifled with. That may also help explain Cornelius’ prompt response.

What stands out to me is Cornelius’ immediate obedience to God’s instruction, even though he did not fully understand what God was about to do. God was orchestrating divine appointments behind the scenes, bringing together people from completely different worlds in order to expand His Kingdom. Sometimes we only see a small piece of the puzzle, but God sees the whole picture. Our responsibility is not to have all the answers, but to respond in faith and obedience when He speaks. One act of obedience can open the door for countless lives to be impacted by the Gospel.

This is quite a miracle. Just imagine for a moment that this is your mother, your sister, or your daughter. She is dead. You are in mourning, and Peter is brought in to pray for her. It doesn’t say what they were expecting Peter to do, but obviously they had faith that he could do something.

Similarly to when Jesus prayed for the little girl, Peter asked everyone to leave the room. In moments like this, you don’t want to be surrounded by unbelief. There is an account of Smith Wigglesworth saying just that before he raised a man from the dead.

Peter simply knelt down and prayed. What he prayed, we do not know, but afterward, he turned to the woman and told her to “Get up!” He used the authority given to him by the Lord to raise her from the dead.
I keep coming around to this point: we do not fully understand the authority Jesus has given us to do miracles in His name. Jesus gave us these instructions:

“Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The message of the Kingdom spreads quickly when signs and wonders accompany the preaching of the Word. In fact, Mark 16:20 tells us that:

“And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”

Some would make the argument that this is only for the “apostles,” and yet we just read about Philip, who was simply a believer who took Jesus at His Word and performed many signs and wonders in Jesus’ name.
So much was accomplished for us at the Cross. We must learn to walk in the victory Jesus has given us and then teach others to do the same.

Consider the encouragement we find in James 5:

“Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The prayer offered by a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results!

And let us not forget our part in telling the world.

“For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s get busy and go tell the world!

There is a key here that we must not miss. Peter didn’t heal this man—Jesus did! Peter was simply the messenger. What prevents us from going up to someone and saying, “Jesus Christ heals you”? He paid for our healing and our salvation on the Cross. We are the recipients and bearers of this Good News.
What do you think Jesus meant when He said:

“Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is a second part to this story that I think we miss as well. Notice Peter tells him to do something: “Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat.” The moment Aeneas did this, he was healed instantly. The act of rolling up his mat was an act of faith on Aeneas’ part, which unlocked his healing.

I remember being at a service where the minister was calling out different ailments that Jesus was healing. One had to do with ears. I had “coincidentally” been dealing with a crackling sensation in my left ear that was especially noticeable when I put my pinky finger in it to see if I could get whatever it was out. I remember thinking to myself, “It really is no big deal, and he is probably referring to someone else.” He then made this statement: “I want you to do something you couldn’t do before. For instance, if you couldn’t raise your hand above your head, do it now. Or if you couldn’t lift your leg, do it now.”

Just being honest here, my thought was, “What do I have to lose?” I wasn’t exactly full of faith, but Jesus doesn’t need much—just the size of a mustard seed—to activate His miracles. So I put my pinky finger in my ear, moved it around, and the crackling was gone! It has been 10 years since that happened, and the crackling has not returned.

I learned something that day: faith isn’t faith until there is a corresponding action associated with it.
I think we often want to wait to feel something different before we step out, but it is the stepping out that allows it to happen. Faith unlocks the provision.

Notice the result of this miracle: “Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.” Miracles have a way of helping people see God.

What miracle are we waiting for? Maybe that is the problem—we are in a posture of waiting rather than receiving. Some things are already ours—like healing.

I will leave you with this Scripture to ponder this morning:

“and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Notice it says, “by His wounds you were healed”—past tense. It has already been paid for! We just need to pick it up ?

What a pickle Saul finds himself in. The believers understandably were hesitant about meeting Saul; for all they knew, it was a setup to get them all arrested. And Saul couldn’t really go back to the Sanhedrin with his newfound faith—he would be considered a traitor and a prime target for execution.

Thankfully, Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement,” took Saul under his wing and served as a liaison to get him an audience with the apostles. Saul’s life truly bore the fruit of genuine repentance and conversion, something the apostles would soon see in the coming days.

However, how many times are we reluctant to believe it when God gets ahold of a sinner and saves them by His grace? God is in the saving business, and yet we are often incredulous when it happens, needing proof before we believe. We say we believe in the transformational power of God, yet deny it when standing face to face with someone whose past we know, tending to have a “wait-and-see” attitude. Though conversion happens instantaneously, sanctification is an ongoing process. We need to give people time to grow in the things of the Lord and show them the same consideration—mercy—that others showed us when we came to the Lord. Will we be like Barnabas and take these new believers under our wings, welcoming them into the Kingdom of God?

Honestly, in some circles, believers can be the most unwelcoming if our belief system is not just like theirs. Why do you think there are so many denominations? It is not because we all get along. Skepticism seems to be the first hurdle newcomers and believers have to overcome. The Christian community, in an effort to protect its “purity,” often discards the messy, wanting them to clean up and prove themselves before they are welcomed in. Jesus never ostracized anyone, and the church as a whole must work at being more welcoming. The church is a place for sinners to find God, and in finding God, they change. That process gets thwarted if we do not even let them in the door.

Consider Jesus’ words found in John 13:34–35:

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.””

Our job is to welcome and love them. Jesus and the Holy Spirit will clean them up in His time.

It appears Saul had experienced a complete change of heart, for as boldly as he marched toward Damascus to arrest the followers of the Way, he was now wasting no time boldly proclaiming Jesus.

The believers in Damascus were understandably a bit skeptical, considering the reports coming out of Jerusalem. Saul was now preaching to the very people he had been sent to arrest! And his preaching was so compelling, given his acute knowledge of the Law now brought to life by the Spirit, that the Jews could not refute his arguments.

Yet the same murderous spirit that had been upon Saul before he met the Lord on the road to Damascus was now upon several of the Jews who sought to kill him. Saul was about to become the victim of the very spirit he once operated in.

The enemy indeed turns on you when you switch camps, so don’t be surprised when the attacks come.
So the believers took action and made a way for Saul to escape, and the fact that they had to lower him in a large basket through an opening in the wall shows just how dangerous the situation had become for him.

Welcome to ministry, Saul!!!

How would you like to be Ananias, given an assignment like this from the Lord? This required some serious trust on Ananias’ part. In fact, so much so that Ananias questioned whether the Lord really knew who this guy was—as if God didn’t know.

How ridiculous do we sound sometimes when we question God’s directives? It wouldn’t be faith if we didn’t have to use it, and I believe God has proven Himself more than trustworthy. It is still difficult at times, yet Ananias’ obedience to God’s directive paved the way for all of us to have the letters Saul, later known as Paul, wrote, which make up two-thirds of the New Testament.

And how about Saul? What was going through his mind during the three days he sat blind? God showed him a vision of Ananias coming to pray for him, but he was experiencing God’s mercy in real time as the realization set in that he had been on the wrong side of things. God extended His undeserved mercy, which God paid forward, for He knew His plans for Saul and the many lives that would be saved throughout the ages because of his witness. In fact, it is something Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians that was a key Scripture helping me see my need for salvation:

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I felt I had been a good person, but this Scripture showed me that what I did did not qualify me—what I believed did. I realized in that moment that, should I die, I had not sealed the deal, so to speak, by believing in Jesus and openly confessing Him as my Lord.

So you see, I am thankful to Ananias for being obedient to the Lord. My salvation, it could be said, is credited to his account, as well as the salvation of everyone who has come to know the Lord through Paul’s teachings.

There are no insignificant acts of obedience with the Lord. Lives often hang in the balance.

Imagine being so zealous for the Lord that in the name of God, you feel you are somehow commissioned to kill the very ones He came to save. Welcome to the dangers of religion. Unfortunately, religion breeds and “us and them” mentality that goes against everything God is.

Consider John 3:17:

“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

Yet how many people take it upon themselves to be judge, jury, and executioner. Saul, a Pharisee, felt so threatened by the message of Jesus, that he was “eager to kill” the Lord’s followers.  That is some bad theology there.

The Lord took this personally and decided to give Saul a visit that he would not soon forget and it changed the course of his life forever.

Imagine coming face to face, under the control of your “supposed” enemy. Jesus knocks Saul off his high horse and speaks directly to him by name. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Who are you, Lord?” Saul asks. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.”

What do you think was going through Saul mind at this moment? He probably thought he is going to die, because that was how he viewed God, as vengeful and full of retribution. Thankfully, Saul is about to become acquainted with the true Way; yet it seems the Lord put him in time out for a few days to reflect on this moment. He was blind from the Heavenly light that shown around him and very much at the mercy of those around him. I am sure the Lord was teaching him a message even in that.

I am reminded of a Scripture that certainly rings true in this case:

“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You never want to find yourself fighting against the purposes of God.

Interestingly, years later as Saul, who was later became known as Paul, gave his defense before King Agrippa and recounted this event in his life in Acts 26:12-18:

““One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’”
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“It is useless for you to fight against my will.” At some point, we all must come to grips with the fact that God runs the show and that He has a plan for each of us. We choose whether we do things His way or ours. Eventually, hopefully sooner, we realize that it is useless for us to fight against His will.