The apostles figured it out as they went. Don't we all. (Acts 10-15)

10:11-15, 17, 19

We all have preconceived biases. These biases are based on our experience and we have a hard time identifying them - let alone controlling them. Peter needed a vision. "And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Just to be clear, this vision was "done thrice" to Peter.

Of course, Peter knew exactly what this vision meant. Just kidding. He didn't. "...Peter doubted in himself what this vision which had seen should mean." The Spirit also gave him some direction. "While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee." Sometimes, we need a vision and a message. At that moment, three men showed up to take Peter to Cornelius the Centurion.

Would Peter have gone without the vision and message from the Holy Ghost? I think not. I don't think God does a lot of extraneous actions. He does only what is needed. Peter needed to hear that those whom the Lord brings to him are worthy. No person is unclean! Peter says as much after he arrives in Cæsarea. "And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."

We can learn from this. I find myself sometimes considering people common. I'm talking about homeless people or customer service providers who are bad at it. If we can look at every person we meet as a son or daughter of God, it would affect whether we are treating people poorly. If we see divine potential in every human, we will be better at treating people with respect, understanding, empathy.

10:25-26

When Peter arrived in Cæsarea, Cornelius greets him warmly. "And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man." I love the humility of the followers of Christ. It would have been really cool to have a Centurion fall down at my feet. I think I would have succumbed to pride in that moment. Impressive that Peter didn't.

I think this humility comes from having a very good relationship with Jesus Christ. The more that we understand that all good things come from him and we are simply tools, the easier it is to be humble.

10:33-35

Peter asks Cornelius to explain why he asked for Peter to come. Cornelius explains his fasting, prayer and vision. (I should note that Cornelius is clearly a righteous man who desired to be close to God. He is fasting until the 9th hour). "Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God."

I love that Cornelius has gathered who he knows. Some people might have been embarrassed that people might think he is hosting a Jew. It is clear that Cornelius understands that this is all from God so it must be good to listen to Peter. Not just himself but who he cares about.

"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." It does not matter where we live. It does not matter how much money we make. It does not matter our race. It does not matter what calling we have. The only thing that matters is if we have a broken heart and contrite spirit and follow Jesus.

Peter is a quick study.

10:38, 42

Peter then, of course, begins to talk about Jesus. "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Peter tells them of the crucifixion and resurrection.

He then tells about his and the apostles' mission to preach the gospel. "And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead." It's important to note that Peter's entire message centers on Jesus Christ. He could have taught about a million things that these Romans would have related to. Instead, his message was on the Savior.

10:44-48

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." This was a big deal. This was the first time that the Holy Ghost had descended on Gentiles. It was a shock to the Israelites who were there. "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." This was new for them but reinforces the idea that God is no respecter of persons.

Peter takes this to the logical conclusion. "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." These are considered the first Gentiles to join the church.

I'd love to know the entire story of Cornelius and his family/friends. Obviously, this was an import convert for the Holy Ghost to personally arrange a meeting! I'm sure that these people went on to do substantial work for the kingdom.

11:2-3, 15-18

When Peter returned to Jerusalem, the Jews didn't like hearing that he was hanging out with a Centurion. "And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them." It's astounding to me that these religious men didn't consider all men to be sons and daughters of God. I'm sure I'd be thinking the same thing but it's odd to me that they would view their "chosen" nature as a source of pride rather than a responsibility. Benefit of hindsight I guess.

Peter gives them the rundown on what happened. The key part being the Holy Ghost descending on these Gentiles. "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" It's a question that is hard to debate. As always, I think it's difficult to argue against a testimony. If we attempt to convince people with facts, it'll never work. But, if we rely on the Spirit and our testimonies - hearts may soften.

As it appears that it did here. "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

11:29

What is expected of each of us? Simply to do what we can. This is what was happening in Antioch. "Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa." We aren't expected to run faster than we have strength. We just simply need to try to help each other when we can.

People who are looking for opportunities to help each other is a community. It is a congregation. If those people are united in being like Christ, it truly is beautiful.

12:21-23

"And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." Yikes. I really need to focus on giving God credit when it's due...

13:8-10, 12

There are some, for whatever reason, who want to turn others from Christ. This is what Elymas wanted. "But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith." Why do people want to do this ever? I can think of a couple of reasons.

1. It's in someone's self-interest that others don't believe. That may be income or power and influence.

2. Misery loves company. Someone who isn't a believer naturally doesn't want other people to be believers. For every person who converts, it makes the non-believer appear stupid. On the other hand, if others join Elymas, then his wisdom is reinforced.

Pride and self-centeredness are at the heart of someone's desire to convince others to turn away from Christ.

Fortunately, Paul was ready. "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" The phrase "pervert the right ways of the Lord" perfectly describes what wicked men and women do in attempting to mislead others. They don't teach novel truths, they take the truths of the gospel and pervert and twist them. There is some truth in their deceptions.

This way, their lies are more convincing. For example, I could say that "love is always good." This is generally true. But, if I pervert that truth and extend it to "loving the same sex or loving multiple partners at one time is good," the truth is now twisted into something that is not true.

Paul then pronounces blindness on Elymas. I think it's interesting that the deputy, who was interested in the gospel, is converted by "being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord." He wasn't converted because Elymas became suddenly blind - it was the doctrine that made him believe. It does to show that this doctrine is true and that we each can recognize it. We've all heard this plan of salvation in the premortal realm - it's very familiar to us. Those who are in tune will recognize it as true.

13:27

"For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him." It's very ironic that those, who should have recognized Jesus immediately based on the writings of the prophets they revered, were the ones to condemn Jesus.

The problem for the Jewish leaders was pride. They loved feeling pride. I lived on it. Anything that was a threat to their pride was their enemy - even the Messiah. Their pride kept them from seeing the reality right in front of them. Their pride prevented them from recognizing that Jesus was fulfilling ever prophecy ever uttered by any prophet. Because of pride, they were literally blind to reality.

13:38-39

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." The primary message of Jesus Christ's gospel is repentance. We all must focus on repentance every day of our life. Repentance is improvement. This life's purpose is to improve to be like God. The way that we become damned is cease to repent. When we cease to repent, we cease to improve. This is a gospel of repentance.

What justifies us? Faith in Jesus Christ. It isn't the law of Moses. It isn't through our obedience that we are justified. We cannot earn our way to heaven through righteousness. No one (except for Jesus) can be righteous enough to qualify to be perfect like God. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we are finally justified. We must all understand that deeply to be pointed in the right direction throughout our entire lives.

13:45-46

"But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." When the apostles were focusing on the Gentiles, the Jews became jealous. What is this about human nature that doesn't like to see others progress and succeed?

We think that, if God smiles on someone, he must be frowning at us! It isn't that way. It isn't a zero-sum-game where there is a winner and a loser. We can all be winners. If we witness someone doing well, we should just feel good for them. It is part of seeing each other as sons and daughters of God.

Their reaction to seeing others being preached to was to feel envy. They put their envy into action through "contradicting and blaspheming." I'm sure they reasoned that, if the Gentiles were responding to this preaching, the preaching must be faulty.

Let learn from this and take advantage of every opportunity to progress in the gospel and not feel envy if someone takes the opportunity that we passed on.

13:50, 14:2

"But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts." It's interesting that it first mentions the "honorable women." If you are wanting to get a movement started, you should begin with the women. Their social game is much better than men's.

Wicked people, who want others to join them, have a bad habit of "stirring people up." We'll read in the next chapter of Acts that this is a common tactic with those who figure out a way to win when they can't win the argument. "But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren."

14:11, 14-15

After the apostles healed the cripple, the people said, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." How many of us would enjoy someone saying something like that about us? It would be very flattering. It would feel good. Our natural pride would be stroked for sure.

Rather than soak this praise up, the apostles reacted differently. "Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein." Their whole point was that they shouldn't look at other mortals as an object of worship. They wanted people to be humble and worship God. Just like the Savior, they were pointing upward to God when the people were ready to heap affection onto them.

We can learn from this and use them as examples of how to react to praise from others. Let's give glory to God.

14:19

This is crazy! These people who were ready to worship Paul and Barnabas turned on them. I'm not sure how long the time period is but it's amazing that they can move from one end of the spectrum to the other! They went from worship to murder! "And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead."

I guess these Jews were persuasive! How could people witness a healing miracle and then kill the person who did the miracle? I think it shows how fickle we can be as humans. We care about what is right in front of us. We have an attention deficit! I heard once that character is the ability to follow through after the emotion is passed. That seems to apply here.

It also illustrates the principle that people are not actually converted through miracles. An amazing act doesn't do the work needed to convert someone - in most cases. Obviously, it worked for Paul. It just doesn't work for most. These people's worship was very temporary. It evaporated after someone else made a convincing argument.

I think we are witnessing a version of this right now. There are many members of the church that are being convinced by others that what the members believe isn't true. the people are believing the people who are currently talking to them. They are forgetting the compelling testimony that they've acquired over many years.

We should work hard to build a sufficient "testimony foundation" that can withstand a clever argument from a detractor.

14:22

"Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." The apostles were determined to strengthen the members of the church.

Part of this strengthening process was to inform them that they would experience "tribulations." Once we are members of the church, our problems don't go away. We are still faced with all of the temporal suffering that is part of this world. Every new member must understand this and bolster themselves to withstand the challenges.

Of course, the gospel strengthens people to endure the trials they experience. Being obedient to the laws of the gospel will prevent some of the suffering from happening. But, it doesn't make us immune.

Understanding the nature of this fallen world and our place in it is important to keeping the trails and tribulations in perspective. There is no secret path around the tribulation that will come to each of us. It is meant to be this way. It is the tribulation that will refine and prove us and help us take a large step in becoming like Heavenly Father.

15:1-11

There is no life in the law on its own. There is only life through Jesus Christ. Period. This is what is going on with the first eleven verses of chapter 15. "And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." So, these are Gentile men who are adults who have converted to the Lord. They believe in Jesus Christ. They feel reborn. Now, there are Jews telling them that they need to cut their foreskins off to be saved. When, they were told that they must simply believe in Jesus Christ to be saved.

Thankfully, the apostles had something to say about this. "When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question." They disagreed with what the Jews were saying. I don't judge the Jews too harshly. They had believed in circumcision since Moses. What would give them reason to change? Who would change it?

So, Paul and Barnabas went to confer with the apostles. "And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter." It sounds like these Pharisees might have been those who had converted since it appears that they were members of the church.

They had a hard time shedding their old ways - like we all do. They had lived by these standards for a long time and had a hard time changing. This caused an argument - even between the "apostles and elders."

Thankfully, Peter took charge. "And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." He was attempting to help them shed their long-held beliefs that they were the chosen people - above all others. There was no difference between them and the Gentiles as the Lord sees them.

"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." Peter is saying that we need to leave the law of Moses. He considers the 613 laws a heavy yoke that they, and these new converts, would not be able to bear.

He reminds them that it is "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved." Sometimes, I think we all need a reminder about this. The commandments cannot save us. Our obedience to the commandments isn't going to redeem us. It is only Jesus Christ that saves. He is the ONLY way, truth and life. Peter is teaching them this and it's a good reminder for us.

15:28-29

James agrees with Peter. They decide to not expect circumcision for Gentile converts. "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."

Instead of requiring circumcision, they gave four commandments. It's interesting that they gave commandments. I think we, as humans, have a desire for rules. It gives us comfort that we are living the way God wants us to live. Commandments help us:

• Learn to submit to the will of God.

• Know the path forward.

• Protect us from doing things that will make our lives unnecessarily harder.

Again, salvation is not about commandments. Salvation is about submitting to God's will and living in Christ. The commandments help us to do this. Consider the commandments as a harmmer that helps you build your house of Christ. The hammer is a tool. You're never going to live inside of the hammer. The hammer is a means to an end.

Apparently, these new church members needed a hammer.

15:39

Paul and Barnabas were "missionary companions." Barnabas wants to take Mark. Paul didn't want Mark to come along. "And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God." So, the missionary companionship of Paul and Barnabas was broken up. Barnabas took Mark and Paul took Silas.

It's interesting that there was contention between them. It's a reminder that these men were men of God but were still men with human failings. As disciples of Christ, there shouldn't have been contention between them. Christ told them that "by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if ye have love one for another." They weren't living up to that in that moment.

We are all human.