If you do what you know then you will know what to do. Don’t sit around doing nothing. What are the results when you do preach Christ?

1 – The exposition (vs. 14-38)

Paul had one of the greatest minds ever known. There have been churches that have been known for their devotion to the Word of God but then they went away from it and lost their power. Why do people go to Church on a Sunday morning? It should be to hear the Word of God.

• Israel’s mission (vs. 16-25) – God himself chose the children of Israel. They were only a small nation. God loved Israel and kept his promises to them. Israel is God’s chosen people. We are also God’s chosen people. See Ephesians 1:4-5. They had God’s protection. The strong arm of God speaks of God’s power. God has infinite power. See Isaiah 40:12. The Pacific Ocean is like a drop of water in the hands of God. He can take Mount Everest and put it on a scale to measure. Oh the power of God! All the nations of the world are like a drop in the bucket for God. They had God’s patience. God was patient with them. He put up with them for 40 years in the wilderness. They had God’s promise. A Saviour was coming of the lineage of David. They would have a prophet who prepares them for the Messiah to come. His name was John the Baptist. Israel’s mission was to tell the world of the Messiah.
• Israel’s mistake (vs. 26-37) – They had woeful ignorance. They should have known him. The prophets had prophesied it. It had been read to them every week in the synagogue. They had seen his miracles and still they did not know him. In the Bible not all of the miracles that Jesus performed are mentioned. See John 21:25. There are people today who have this same woeful ignorance. They should know him but they don’t. They go to Church every week but it falls on deaf ears. You can see their woeful insistence. Pilate tried to let Jesus go but the people insisted that he be killed. They even allowed a thief to go free, rather than Jesus. God raised Jesus from the dead as he promised. He is alive forever more. God has kept his promises.
• Israel’s moment (vs. 38) – Through Jesus Christ you can preach the forgiveness of sins. The Law cannot save. The Law condemns you and convicts you. But the Law will never convert you.

2 – The expectation (vs. 39)

There are two things mentioned here:-

• The request (vs. 42) – The Gentiles wanted to hear some more. The reason why the Word of God is preached is to reach those who are lost and to edify those who are saved.
• The revival (vs. 43) – They encouraged Paul to keep preaching and the next week the whole city came to hear the Word of God. It was the preaching of God’s Word that brought revival. God has called us to be different from the world.

Categories: Acts