John 14

In John 14, Jesus reassures his disciples that he’ll be back, even though the world might not believe it.

Outline of Acts 8

1. The Church persecuted

2a. Philip performs miracles

3. Peter and John take on Simon the Sorcerer

2b. Philip and the Ethiopian

Peter and John’s Release

In verses 23-31, we read about the reaction to Peter and John’s release from custody.

Their people quoted scripture and were visited by the Holy Spirit.

Actions and Words

In verses 5-22, we read that the ruling authorities were stymied by both Peter and John’s words and miraculous actions.

When your actions and words align into a cohesive, powerful message, it is much more difficult to be harmed by spin.

5,000

In verses 1-4, we read that even though Peter and John were arrested, the number of believers grew to about 5,000 people.

Healing

In verses 1-10, Peter and John encounter a well-known beggar.

The panhandler asks for money, but Peter gives him something much better, the ability to walk.

When can we offer the people around us better than they ask?  Have we ever received better than we were expecting?

One Pattern of Powerful Prayer

In Acts 4, Peter and John are arrested by the religious leaders because they are caught preaching about Jesus publicly.

Upon their release, they went back to share their story with other followers of Christ.

During their prayer, they begin with a description of God’s power, then quote scripture, and finally connect it to their personal experiences.

If I took God’s power more seriously and connected scripture to my personal experiences, I’d have a richer prayer life, too.

Go Team!

In Galatians 2:8-9, Paul writes that he and Barnabas were encouraged to teach Gentiles about Jesus while James and Peter and John went to the Jews with this message.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

In John 20:19-22, on the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection, we read that he breathes on his followers and gives them the Holy Spirit.

This event supports the idea that the Holy Spirit is specifically a gift given to Christians after Jesus’ return to heaven.

But we encounter the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and earlier in the gospels as well.

John the Baptist’s Prediction

In Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, and John 1:33, we read that John the Baptist drew an important distinction between his own ministry and Jesus’.

John says that he baptizes with water, but Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit.