Tag: Friends and Foes of Jesus

After Paul and Silas’s encounter with Lydia, the fortune-teller, and the jailer, they leave Philippi and head for Thessalonica. As is Paul’s practice, he heads to the local synagogue. For three Sabbaths, he tells the Jews about Jesus. Some decide to follow Jesus, including some God-fearing Greeks and women of influence.

But as is the case during a time of spiritual revival, not everyone is happy. Other Jews grow jealous of Paul and Silas’s success in getting people to turn to Jesus. Instead of seeing God at work, they see this as opposition to their religious status quo. They must stop Paul and Silas before they lose any more of their followers and any more of their influence.

So what do they do? 

They hire some slackers to form a mob and start a riot. Then the frenzied horde rushes into Jason’s house looking for Paul and Silas. It’s likely the local followers of Jesus were meeting in Jason’s home, and the mob assumed Paul and Silas would be there.

Nonetheless, when the rioters can’t find Paul or Silas, they grab Jason and the other believers who are there. They drag them before the authorities. There they make accusations against Team Jesus and condemn Jason for opening his home to them. They also charge the believers for opposing Roman rule by serving a different king—Jesus.

The city officials and the crowd freak out when they hear this, so they make Jason and the believers post bail before letting them go. Then, as soon as it gets dark, Paul and Silas sneak out of town. 

Much later, as Paul wraps up his letter to the church in Rome, he adds greetings from Timothy, Lucius, Sosipater, and Jason. Assuming this is the same Jason, we see that despite his ordeal in Thessalonica, he continues to help Paul in his ministry.

Sometimes there’s a risk for following Jesus. Are we willing to take those risks?

[Discover more about Jason in Acts 17:5–9 and Romans 16:21.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

After casting the fortune-telling spirit out of the slave girl, freeing her from possession in the spiritual realm and exploitation in the physical realm, Paul and Silas end up in trouble.

Though this is Paul’s doing—when he commanded the spirit to come out of the fortune-teller—Silas is guilty by association. Dragged before the authorities, Paul and Silas are stripped, flogged, and thrown into prison.

Instead of feeling sorry for their predicament, they spend their time in jail praying and singing about God. They have a captive audience. All the other prisoners hear their impromptu concert.

This goes on until midnight. I wonder if the prisoners are inspired by the praise music or angry about having their sleep interrupted.

Suddenly an earthquake shakes the prison, the doors fly open, and everyone’s chains fall off. They’re free! 

The jailer awakes and assumes all his prisoners have escaped. He prepares to kill himself because he faces an even worse fate from his Roman boss. But Paul intervenes, “Wait, don’t do it! We’re still here.”

The jailer calls for a torch, rushes to Paul and Silas, and falls before them, shaking in fear. He asks, “How can I get right with God?” Paul and Silas explain Jesus to him.

After he treats their wounds, Paul and Silas baptize him and his family. Then, full of joy, he brings them into his home, and they share a meal.

The Philippian jailer made a wrong assumption and almost killed himself. Fortunately, he didn’t, and was able to receive the saving goodness of Jesus.

Do we ever jump to the wrong conclusions and get in the way of what Jesus is trying to do?

[Discover more about the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:22–40.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Paul mentors many leaders in the church, and Timothy is one of them. Timothy later becomes a pastor, and Paul writes two letters of encouragement and instruction to him.

But we first encounter Timothy in the city of Lystra. He is a disciple of Jesus. And he has a mixed heritage. His mother, a Jew, is also a believer, but his father is Greek.

Paul affirms Timothy’s sincere faith, which started with his grandma Lois, moved to his mother Eunice, and now lives in him. What a godly legacy. The church in Lystra also speaks well of him. 

Paul develops a real affinity for Timothy, referring to him as “a true son in the faith.” Since there’s nothing to indicate that Timothy’s Greek father shares his faith, it’s not surprising that Paul emerges as a father figure for the young man.

Throughout the book of Acts, we often see Timothy working in a key role as part of Paul’s ministry. Paul calls him a coworker. Sometimes Timothy travels with Paul and other times Paul sends Timothy on special missions.

Timothy’s name also pops up in Paul’s two letters to the churches in Corinth and Thessalonica, as well as his letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

Timothy’s inclusion in each of these letters confirm his role in helping the church grow and advance the cause of Jesus.

Is there someone we can mentor, just like Paul mentored Timothy?

[Discover more about Timothy in Acts 16:1–2, Acts 17:14–15, Acts 18:5, Acts 19:22, Romans 16:21, 1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Timothy 1:1–5, and 2 Timothy 1:5.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

When Paul and Barnabas end their missionary partnership, each one selects a new mentee and heads in different directions. Barnabas takes his cousin, John Mark, while Paul picks Silas.

But even before Paul picks Silas to mentor, Silas is a leader in the church. He was part of the special delegation to Antioch. The group carried an important message to squelch misinformation and give essential direction to that local church.

Having already proven himself, it’s not surprising that Paul picks Silas for his new missionary partner.

Paul and Silas travel to the various churches in the area to encourage and teach them. Among the places they go to are Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. In Philippi they meet Lydia, the fortune-teller, and the Philippian jailer. We’ll learn about them in upcoming chapters.

Later, Silas is with Paul (and Timothy) when Paul writes his two letters to the church in Thessalonica. But Silas doesn’t just work with Paul, he also helps Peter. Peter affirms this in his second letter, where he regards Silas as a faithful brother.

We don’t see Silas taking a lead role in any of this, but he does serve in a loyal support position to both Paul and Peter.

Are we willing to serve God if we can’t play a lead role? God places us where he wants us, but do we do all we can to serve him in the best way possible? 

[Discover more about Silas in Acts 15:22–Acts 18:5, 2 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:1, and 1 Peter 5:12.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Barnabas and Paul/Saul sail to Cyprus and travel the island telling people about Jesus. When they get to Paphos, they meet Bar-Jesus, a Jewish sorcerer (in this case, a magician who practices witchcraft) and false prophet. His Greek name is Elymas.

He’s also an aide to the Roman governor, Sergius Paulus. Sergius wants to learn more about Jesus, but Elymas opposes Barnabas and Paul and tries to thwart their influence over his boss.

Paul will have none of it. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he glares at Elymas. “You’re the devil’s spawn and the enemy of all that’s good. You’re full of lies and tricks. Why do you persist in perverting God’s ways?” Then Paul adds the kicker: “God’s had enough of you and will strike you blind.”

At that moment, Elymas loses his sight. In a panic, he gropes around, seeking someone to take his hand and guide him.

This gets Sergius’s attention. He’s amazed and believes in Jesus.

But we don’t know what happens to Elymas. Is his blindness temporary? Maybe Paul heals him. If so, does Paul heal him right away? Or maybe God, through Paul, is content to leave Elymas blind for a while.

After all, when Paul first encountered Jesus, he remained blind for three days until Ananias (2), led by the Holy Spirit, healed Paul and restored his sight.

I’m glad that Sergius believes in Jesus, and I hope that Elymas will soon see again. But more importantly, I hope that Elymas will believe in Jesus too.

What might we unintentionally do to stand in the way of others who want to learn more about Jesus?

[Discover more about Elymas in Acts 13:6–12.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

We’ve already covered the conversion of Saul (2) on the road to Damascus. Three days later, when Ananias (2) lays hands on Saul, he receives his sight and Holy Spirit power.

Then Saul breaks his fast and is baptized. From there, he grows as a follower of Jesus. He begins traveling to tell others about Jesus, being used powerfully by God to do so.

As he journeys with Barnabas to Cyprus, we read a subtle shift in his name. Luke simply writes, “Saul, also called Paul.”

Though we don’t know why Luke chooses this time to mark his change of names, we do see Saul transition to Paul, just as he had a faith transition from being a Pharisee to a follower of Jesus.

The name Saul appears twenty-nine times in the first part of the book of Acts, whereas the name Paul occurs 183 times in the remainder of the book and 239 times in the New Testament, altogether.

Paul goes on several missionary trips to tell people about Jesus. He starts churches in various cities, and mentors many people to move into leadership roles.

In his travels he also suffers much for his faith. He’s imprisoned, flogged, beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked, among other afflictions. Through all this, Paul presses on.

A prolific writer, Paul pens several letters to various churches and people. This is to encourage them and offer correction when needed.

These make up about half the books of the New Testament and about one third of its content. Paul writes Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Toward the end of his life, Paul writes to his protégé Timothy. Paul says that he fought well, finished his race, and stayed true to his faith. 

Despite many hardships and reasons to quit, Paul perseveres to the end.

What must we do to fight well, finish our race, and stay true to our faith?

[Discover more about Paul in Acts 13:9, 2 Corinthians 11:16–28, and 2 Timothy 4:7.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Cornelius emerges as a bit of an enigma. 

On one hand he’s part of the Roman military, a force known for its brutality and absolute power. He’s part of this machine, a centurion with one hundred soldiers under his command. 

Yet Cornelius is also a religious guy. His family is a devout, God-fearing clan. He helps those in need and prays often. 

One day while in prayer, he has a supernatural vision. As clear as can be, he sees an angel from God who calls him by name.

Shocked and afraid, Cornelius answers, “What do you want Lord?”

The angel answers that God has heard Cornelius’s prayers and received his gifts to the poor as a memorial offering. “Now send for Simon Peter. He’s in Joppa staying at Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.” Then the angel disappears. Cornelius sends his staff and a soldier to fetch Peter.

The next day, Peter has a vision of his own. It’s a bit confusing, commanding him to do something he was taught he should never do. The vision repeats two more times.

As he’s trying to make sense of this, Cornelius’s delegation shows up. At the same time God’s Spirit tells Peter, “Three men are looking for you. I sent them. Go with them. Don’t hesitate.”

Peter goes.

His strange vision now makes sense. Though he was taught to not enter the home of a foreigner, God is turning things upside down. He will no longer favor the Jews, instead accepting all people who want to follow him.

Peter goes with Cornelius’s messengers and enters his home, even though it’s contrary to proper Jewish behavior. They hang out and talk about Jesus.

As Peter speaks, the Holy Spirit comes upon Cornelius, his family, and his friends. Peter baptizes them in Jesus’s name and spends a couple of days with them.

God is doing a new thing, providing salvation to all people.

How do we react when a new thing God does confronts our religious training or practices?

[Discover more about Cornelius in Acts 10.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

After the Jewish leaders martyr Stephen for his faith, the Pharisee Saul goes on a rampage. He seeks to arrest Jesus’s followers and threatens to kill them. To avoid persecution, Jesus’s squad scatters. Saul chases them. He goes to Damascus with authorization to seek out people who follow Jesus, both men and women, and drag them as prisoners back to Jerusalem.

On the way there, Saul encounters Jesus and is blinded as a result. Unable to see for three days, Saul fasts.

During this time, Jesus appears in a vision to the disciple Ananias. “Go find Saul, for he is praying. He’s expecting you to come and heal him, so he can see again.”

Ananias isn’t so sure. “I’ve heard about this guy and all the damage he’s caused to your people in Jerusalem. Now he’s come here to do the same thing.”

“Go!” God says. “It’s all part of my plan.”

Ananias goes, places his hands on Saul, and says, “Jesus who appeared to you on the road has sent me, so you can see again—and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

As if a blindfold is removed, Saul can see again. He gets up and is baptized.

Despite facing arrest and the possibility of execution if Saul captures him, Ananias obeys God and does what seems foolish.

Are we willing to risk death to obey what God tells us to do?

[Discover more about Ananias in Acts 9:10–19 and Acts 22:12.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

Saul is a young Jew. He’s also a Pharisee to the extreme, pursuing righteous actions with legalistic fervor. He kills in the name of his religion.

Saul sees Jesus’s followers as a threat to his beliefs and the Jewish religious institution. When a Jewish mob stones Stephen, Saul stands as a witness, giving his approval.

Stephen’s death sends Jesus’s followers scattering in all directions and sends Saul on a crusade to stop this growing movement. He seeks to imprison those who follow the Way of Jesus, even threatening to kill them.

Planning another string of arrests, Saul travels to Damascus with a group of friends. 

On the way there, he encounters Jesus in the form of a heavenly flash of light and hears his voice from heaven. Jesus tells Saul to go to Damascus and wait for further instructions. 

Saul’s friends don’t know what to say or think. Though they hear Jesus speak, they see nothing. 

After he’s blinded by the light, Saul’s friends guide him to Damascus. He fasts for three days and prays. God sends a vision to Saul of a man, Ananias (2), coming to lay hands on him, so he can see again.

Ananias shows up and confirms that Saul did indeed encounter Jesus. Ananias heals Saul and fills him with the Holy Spirit.

In an instant Saul can see again. He’s baptized and breaks his fast. Then he hangs out with Jesus’s disciples in Damascus for several days. From now on Saul will follow Jesus.

What lengths will God go through to get our attention? Does he have to use drastic measures or are we open to listen?

[Discover more about Saul in Acts 7:58, Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1–19, Acts 22:3–20, and Philippians 3:4–6. Read part 2 of this story in the upcoming chapter about Paul.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

In the city of Samaria, lives Simon. He’s a sorcerer, a wizard of sorts who amazes people with his supernatural power. He thinks he’s all that. People reinforce his misguided arrogance, calling him “the Great Power of God.” Some people even follow Simon because of his amazing abilities.

But when Philip, likely Philip (3), shows up and tells everyone about Jesus, they believe and are baptized. Even Simon believes and is baptized too. He follows Philip everywhere, astonished by the godly supernatural power that Philip wields.

When the leaders in Jerusalem hear about Philip’s work in Samaria, they send Peter and John to check things out. Once there, Peter and John place their hands on the believers, and they receive Holy Spirit power.

Simon is beside himself. He wants the ability to impart Holy Spirit power too. He offers to buy this skill. “I want to do this too. I can pay.”

Peter is quick to condemn Simon. “You can’t buy God’s gift. Change your selfish ideas now. Pray that God will forgive you for this wickedness in you.” Then Peter adds that he perceives Simon has a bitter heart and is a slave to evil.

Simon freaks out. “Please! Pray to God so that nothing bad happens to me.”

But that’s where the story ends. We don’t know what happens next to Simon. Does he repent and correct his wrong thinking, or does he persist in trying to follow Jesus and be a sorcerer at the same time?

Do we ever try to mix wrong practices and beliefs along with our faith in Jesus?

[Discover more about Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8:9–24.]

Read more about other biblical characters in The Friends and Foes of Jesus, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.