We are slowly walking through our overview of the book of Acts, using the four great questions asked, first by the Jews at Pentecost, in Acts 2, then by the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8, and by Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9, then finally, which we will cover this Sunday, the question asked by the Philippian jailor in Acts 16. As we are walking through the overview, we are also seeing that no two events of receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit are the same, helping us to understand the principle of progressive revelation.
God is moving through this book of history, setting aside the Jews / Israel, due to their final rejection of the offer of the kingdom by Stephen, and the focus of the apostles and the church at Jerusalem, to a focus on the apostle to the Gentiles – Paul, and the church at Antioch being the mission sending station.
Chapter 8 revealed a move by God to offer the gospel to the people of Samaria, through Philip the evangelist. They gladly believed his message, as well as the Ethiopian Eunuch. The message of the gospel is transforming from a focus on repentance for killing the messiah and being baptized – a Jewish message, to believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation – a Gentile message. “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!” Chapter 9 is the lynchpin chapter of Acts, with the salvation of Saul / Paul. His obedience to the Lord’s command, proves out the repentant heart attitude of a believer. He is the singular person that the Lord chose to reach the Gentile world!
Acts 9:13-18: Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Galatians 2:7-9: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
We will continue our overview of Acts with chapter 10 and following this coming Sunday.