Acts (7)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.  Luke 24.27
Be sure to view the video introducing our study of Acts 8 (Lesson 7) by clicking here.

Read and meditate on Acts 8.35-40.
We note that baptism must have been intimately connected with believing in Jesus, because the eunuch was eager for it at the earliest opportunity. Not that baptism saves, but we are commanded to baptize – and, by implication, to be baptized – as a first act of obedience to the Lord (Matt. 28.18-20). First acts of obedience are more likely to lead to next steps of obedience.

For reflection
1. Philip’s work done, the Lord “carried” him away to Azotus and beyond for whatever He had next in mind. The eunuch continued south to his native land, a new person, filled with joy. He would obviously have many opportunities to explain what was different in his life. Put yourself in his shoes for a moment: How would he have explained what he learned in Jerusalem and Gaza?

2.  Luke leaves the eunuch’s homecoming to our imaginations. We can believe that what happened in the home of Cornelius (Acts 10) happened in the home of that Ethiopian as well. Like Jesus in Samaria, this eunuch may have helped pave the way for the Gospel in Africa. Luke can’t tell us everything, but he can point to it, and he does. In what ways might God use you to pave the way for the Gospel in the lives of the people you see each week?

3.  Luke wants us to understand that the power of God is at large in the world, that Christ is pursuing His ongoing work, and that no place is off limits, no person is beyond reach, and no power on earth can resist the power of God’s Spirit as He carries out the ongoing work of Christ. He is telling a true and thrilling story, brilliantly. Does your church see itself as part of this story? In what specific ways?

4.  How can you see that Acts 8 is a kind of reprise and reminder of Jesus’ promise in Acts 1.8? How would you describe the work of the Spirit and the work of Jesus’ followers in extending the ongoing work of the Lord throughout Acts 1-8?

5.  Launch, establishment, dispersal, replication: Here is a pattern of the ongoing work of Christ with respect to His Kingdom and the communities that are its signs and outposts. Where does your church need to improve its “fit” with this pattern?

Summary
The Gospel goes on, not because of the clever programs, charismatic people, or the plentiful budgets and exertions of the Christians, but because of the power of God in His Spirit. Just as Jesus had promised in Acts 1.8, the Kingdom, in spite of violent opposition, huge cultural barriers, and great distances, is overflowing and flowing right on cue and precisely as the Lord had planned. Pray for your church, that it might become more consciously and actively involved with the ongoing work of Christ.

Closing Prayer
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Psalm 46.4-11

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies in Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. For more insight into His work in our here and now, order the book, The Kingship of Jesus, from our online store by clicking here.

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