The Early Church

The Early Church
Bible Reading: Acts 11
Focus Verse: Acts 11: 26 “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

What is your favorite book in the Bible? Your favorite probably changes as you do your Bible study. Right now, my favorite is the book of Acts. What an exciting book. There are some thrilling accounts and also some very sad happenings. Dr. Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote the book of Luke and the book of Acts. Of course he knew Jesus well. It is said that the book of Luke is the story of Jesus as lived by Him. The book of Acts is the story of Jesus as lived by others. Acts picks up where his Gospel left off. Before Jesus left the earth and went to heaven, He told His followers in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

 
Once the power of the Holy Spirit was with Jesus’ followers, there was the account of Peter’s powerful sermon which brought 3,000 conversions and launched the church (Acts:2). As Peter traveled to different areas telling the good news of Jesus, the new followers of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26. The witness of Peter to mainly Jews and later Paul who witnessed to Gentiles resulted in harsh persecution. Did it mean that they quit? No!
How much does the plan of salvation mean to you? Acts 16:31 is Paul’s message that you can share. Are you a missionary to those around you? Acts is the only unfinished book in the Bible. Notice how abruptly it closes in chapter 28. In Acts 17:6, Luke describes the heroes of Acts as “these who have turned the world upside down.” If the world ever needed to be turned upside down, it’s now. Does it seem like we are living in the 29th chapter of Acts? 

~Debbie Johnson