God is preparing an opening for the gospel to reach out to the Gentiles. Peter is the first ‘instrument’ put into action. We left yesterday with Cornelius receiving a great vision. He is told exactly what to do, where to go, and whom to see. Men are on their way to Peter in Joppa to […]
The Church in Jerusalem has branched out as persecution entered. It isn’t too long before God gives the Gentiles a beginning. With Saul and Peter. We left Saul on the way to Jerusalem after escaping a plot to kill him in Damascus. His disciples let him down in a basket through a breech in the […]
Saul has been persecuting the Christians in Jerusalem. He asks to go to Damascus and do the same. Saul sees THE Light on the way, and his life will never be the same again. I almost named this post; “Saul’s About Face” but I don’t know if everyone knows this term. It is a marching […]
After watching the stoning of Stephen Saul becomes a weapon in the Pharisees hand. He becomes the Christian’s biggest persecutors. We are told, by Saul/Paul himself that he was a “Pharisee of Pharisees.” In other words, he grew up under the teachings of the Pharisees, as his own father was one as well. He learned […]
We have reached the first of Jesus followers to be killed for his faith, Stephen. He dies only after delivering Jesus’ message of redemption. The Christian faith considers Stephen to be the first martyr for the faith. AFTER Jesus he was, but scores of people died before him defending the message of the Lord. Most […]