Holy Spirit

Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, "You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?"

—Acts 13:9-10 NLT

Key Thought


In today's world where it is common to question authority, we can often wonder if there is any true and trustworthy authority. The apostles' authority did not come from position...

 

Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus.

—Acts 13:4 MESSAGE

Key Thought


We can be run off. We can be sent out. But the real yearning on most of our hearts is to be propelled into the next phase of our lives by God's will and the Holy Spirit's power, as was the case for Barnabas and Saul. We don't want to strike out on our own, but we want to journey in the strength and power of the Lord...

 

While [the Christians in Antioch] were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

—Acts 13:2 NIV

Key Thought


Worship, whether individually in our daily lives or assembled with other Christians, should propel us to mission. That result was true for Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-8), and it was true for the church in Antioch. When we worship, the Holy Spirit of God is at work among us and...

 

Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

—Acts 11:27-30 ESV

Key Thought


Troubles were coming, yet...

 

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

—Acts 11:24 NLT

Key Thought


Earlier in the book of Acts, we met Stephen, who was described as being "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5). Now Barnabas is described in similar terms. Just as was the case for Barnabas, ministry must be based on the work of God through us as we are gifted and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our faith that...

 

"As I began to speak," Peter continued, "the Holy Spirit fell on [Cornelius and his household], just as he fell on us at the beginning. Then I thought of the Lord's words when he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God's way?"

—Acts 11:15-17 NLT

Key Thought


Breaking through prejudice and hatred is...

 

[Peter:] "The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with [Cornelius' messengers]. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house."

—Acts 11:12 NIV

Key Thought


To Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, the apostle Peter had to justify why he went to the house of Gentiles and ate with them (Acts 11:1-3). Clearly, Peter went to share the good news of Jesus, but the sticking point was table fellowship with Gentiles. While this objection...

 

Then Peter asked, "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that [Cornelius and his relatives and friends] have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

—Acts 10:46b-48 NLT

Key Thought


Can anyone properly object when the Holy Spirit has clearly been involved? "No!" So Gentiles were baptized, and Jewish and Gentile...

 

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message [on Cornelius and his relatives and friends]. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

—Acts 10:44-45 NIV

Key Thought


Jesus had promised his closest followers that the Holy Spirit would bring them power and enable them to be his witnesses to people all over the world (Acts...

 

[Peter, to Cornelius and his relatives and friends:] "This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel — that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."...