September 23, 2023 - Acts 8-12

I’m thinking about stories. So many stories! What a story is that of Philip and his preaching! He preached and performed miracles, and this was in the context of persecution in which those who were persecuted and scattered shared the good news as they went. So much was happening! The sorcerer Simon believed. The Samaritans received the Holy Spirit. The church was cleansed. The Ethiopian official believed. Even Saul was converted and baptized and began to proclaim the gospel. Healings, the dead raised, Cornelius vision and salvation, Peter’s attitude adjustment, Gentiles saved, and the church established in Antioch. Just an amazing story made up of so many different stories! Of course, there were sufferings and challenges: James killed, Peter imprisoned, etc. But Luke writes, after the death of Herod, “Then God’s message flourished and multiplied” (12:24). It’s as if Luke wants to write, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun

does its successive journeys run,

his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

till moons shall wax and wane no more.

Let every creature rise and bring

the highest honors to our King,

angels descend with songs again,

and earth repeat the loud amen. --Isaac Watts (1719)