RUSSJONES.US

This chapter is a major event in the future of the church.  But to understand why this is happening, you have to know the story about Peter and some Gentiles.  The Jewish Christians were still practicing the law of Moses.  Many of them, because they had come from strict J udaistic  practices, believed that you should follow Christ and obey the Laws of Moses too.  Peter, who was at a Gentiles residence eating nonkosher food was challenged by some of these believers.  As a result Peter withdrew from the Gentiles and other Jewish believers followed suit.  Paul took issue to this and confronted Peter concerning it.    You can find the story in Galatians 2. 1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elder

Acts 14: 1 - 29 1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel. We now enter Iconium and we repeat the story.  Paul and Barnabas go to the local synagogue.  Both Jews and Gentiles believer.  Local Jewish leaders are not happy and try to start some trouble.  But unlike previous

Acts 13:29-52 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,  “‘You are my Son,  today I have begotten you.’  34 And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,  “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’  35 Therefore he says also in another psalm,  “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’  36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption

Acts 13:1-28 1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. The church in Antioch has grown to the point that it has prophets (those who preach and edify the Church) and teachers (those gifted to help others comprehend the Word of God.)  A few of them are named here, but notice  Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch.  This is the Herod that had John the  Baptist beheaded.  Manaen would have grown up with Herod and been like a brother to him.  He quite possibly served Herod in some capacity in the palace.  He very well could have been influenced by John the Baptist.   During a worship service the Holy Spirit

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword,  Politics is brutal.  This king is Herod Agrippa I.  He is a  descendent  of another King Herod (this one who killed John the Baptist).  Apparently this king w anted to be a friend to the people he ruled over, therefore he  practiced  Judaism.  It wouldn't be a very big  stretch  to see that the religious leaders of that complaining about these "Christians" and their leaders.  So the king, being the king, arrested some of those who were a part of the church and had them put to death.  No trial, no witness.  Just a sword.  James the apostle, brother to John was among them.   3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after t

Acts 11: 1 - 30 1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the

Acts 10:23-48 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.   The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”   30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your