May 17th
23: And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24: And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? 26: The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27: For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28: For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29: And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30: By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32: And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33: And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34: Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35: And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36: And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37: Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
The apostles having been released went back to the company and reported all that was said and done and the burst forth in praise to the Lord. They addressed the Lord as creator of heaven and earth. And they quoted Psalm 2 which describes the persecution of the kings of the earth of the Christ of God. Then they declared this to be true in their case and applied it to the rejection of Jesus of Nazareth. But they recognized that though wicked men did these things yet they only did what God had prophesied would happen. Then they prayed for courage to continue to preach the word. They also asked for more Messianic signs to be done by Christ in their ministry. At this moment the whole house was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit to enable them to testify.
Then Luke describes the church at this time. They shared everything holding their possessions for common use. Their hearts and minds were like one person and the testimony of the Apostles to the resurrection was with great power. No-one had lack and when there was a need those who had houses or possessions sold them and brought the money and gave it to the Apostles who distributed it to the poor among them. Barnabas having land sold it and gave the money to the Apostles for the poor.
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment