Monday, June 2 – Acts 8 and 9 – Additional Reading, The Acts of the Apostles, Chapters 11 and 12

1. How did Simon try to obtain the Holy Spirit? Acts 8:18–19

2. How did the disciples initially receive Paul in Jerusalem? Acts 9:26

3. How did the Holy Spirit use Dorcas? Acts 9:39

The Book of Acts explains how, after Jesus’ departure, the Holy Spirit directs the Church’s course. In today’s chapters, we observe how He guides and positions the Church for a mission that reaches beyond Jerusalem and Judea, extending from Jews to Gentiles. Jesus had said, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

After Stephen’s execution, the enemy unleashed his fury against the early church. He sought to destroy it, silence it, and stop it. However, his plan was thwarted as persecution pushed the church out of the comfort of Jerusalem and beyond its inward focus, scattering the believers to other lands.

God’s messenger comments on the purpose of this persecution: “Forgetting that strength to resist evil is best gained by aggressive service, they began to think that they had no work so important as that of shielding the church in Jerusalem from the attacks of the enemy. Instead of educating the new converts to carry the gospel to those who had not heard it, they were in danger of taking a course that would lead all to be satisfied with what had been accomplished. To scatter His representatives abroad, where they could work for others, God permitted persecution to come upon them. Driven from Jerusalem, the believers “went everywhere preaching the word.”” — AA, p. 105

Philip was one of the deacons and also an evangelist. He was a Hellenistic Jew who was forced to go to Samaria, where he began preaching enthusiastically. His ministry was highly successful: “And when His disciples were driven from Jerusalem, some found in Samaria a safe asylum. The Samaritans welcomed these messengers of the gospel, and the Jewish converts gathered a precious harvest from among those who had once been their bitterest enemies.” AA, p. 106

Then, the Holy Spirit led Philip to meet an Ethiopian man, a finance official for an African queen. This man was reading the prophet Isaiah, specifically chapter 53, which speaks of the Messiah’s suffering. Philip approached the chariot and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” In other words, “Do you know who the prophet is speaking about?” The Ethiopian’s answer represents the cry of those moved by the Holy Spirit who long to understand God’s Word: “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:31)

After explaining the Gospel beginning with that very passage, the Ethiopian asked to be baptized. Thus, the Holy Spirit commissioned this man to become a representative of Jesus in North Africa, confirming the church’s international nature and the global scope of its mission. It fulfilled Jesus’ promise that the testimony of believers would reach the ends of the earth.

Chapter 9 shifts the narrative to the conversion of a young Pharisee who was once a fierce church persecutor and would become a champion of the Gospel among the Gentiles. The disciple Ananias was fearful and intimidated by Saul’s reputation and even dared to argue with the Lord.

Jesus’ response reveals God’s plan for Paul and His intent to extend the Church beyond Judaism to all people and the entire world: “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15). Now the persecutor becomes the persecuted: “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16)

Jesus had already chosen and trained the twelve apostles, using them powerfully. However, He also needed Paul, so He called him. God used Paul to move the church beyond Judaism, liberating it from legalism and Pharisaic influence, explaining the fulfillment and meaning of the sanctuary services in a unique and powerful way, revealing the beauty and depth of the message of the cross, and clarifying how the Holy Spirit works in and through the Church. The revelation of the Bible would not be complete without Paul’s letters.

“He is a chosen vessel of Mine,” the Lord told Ananias. The fearful servant, limited by his humanity and unaware of Paul’s future writings and mission, could not fully grasp the weight of these words. He simply obeyed, went, prayed for Saul, and baptized him. Today, we can fully appreciate the meaning of the Lord’s words.

Let us thank God for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, for the history in the Book of Acts, and for Philip, the Ethiopian, Saul, Ananias, Peter, and Dorcas. The Holy Spirit used them, and He is still in charge of the Church. He intends to use us to fulfill His plan: to spread the Gospel to the world through His Church.

I pray that today you are open to being used by Him. May God bless you with a wonderful day.