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The Pharisaical Jews did everything in their power to cancel the gospel message. Today, Paul and Barnabas would get shadowbanned on Twitter, canceled on YouTube, mocked on TikTok, and thrown in Facebook jail. But Paul and Barnabas weren’t dissuaded by the persecution. They “shook the dust from their feet against them” and moved on to the next town. And they were “filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (v.51-52) May we follow their example!

Jesus’ life and death were foretold repeatedly in the Old Testament, down to the smallest details. But the Jews had not understood that these ancient prophecies, predictions they had learned as children, were actually coming true when Jesus walked the earth. They did not recognize the Christ and so he was executed for blasphemy. But even in executing Him, they were fulfilling prophecy.

The early Christians sought the Holy Spirit and He spoke to them. They listened and obeyed. They did not try to bend God’s message to fit their own agendas. They didn’t try to use God’s name for personal gain. They submitted and surrendered to God’s Holy guidance. And He responded in miraculous ways. That very same Holy Spirit inhabits us today. If we would also seek God earnestly, spend extended time in prayer and fasting, listen to and obey the Holy Spirit, He will speak to us today too.

Nicky Gumbel says about today’s reading  in Acts 12 that “God’s answer involved visions, angels, and chains falling off.” He can do it again TODAY. He IS doing it again today… appointing His prophets, sending His angels, giving people visions and dreams… All across the world today spiritual chains are falling off! Hallelujah!

In Peter’s message to Cornelius, he again explained that Christ “is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Throughout the book of Acts, Peter explains over and over again that Jesus Christ is THE pathway to God and the way to salvation.

The Holy Spirit can be so much more powerful in our lives than many of us have ever experienced. The apostles had witnessed amazing miracles. Their faith in the power of God was so strong. They KNEW that nothing was too difficult for God. They were also completely sold out to Jesus Christ, willing to follow Him unto death. When we have such strong faith, such complete commitment to Jesus, such passion for God far surpassing our love for anything else, we can expect the Holy Spirit to do mighty things!

Sometimes God pursues certain people relentlessly. He did that with me. All the years I was running away from Him, God pursued me in a thousand different miraculous ways. He even sent four angels to save me when I died from a drug overdose many years ago. Through their divine help I was brought back to life in the hospital. God’s relentless pursuit is the most precious gift and I am so grateful. Not everyone get blinding light or angelic visitations. But in truth, God pursues EVERYONE. He has imprinted a message of His existence upon His glorious creation for all to see.

I recently had an interested conversation with a man of faith about the “fear of the LORD.” I’ve been meditating on it ever since. He said that people today try to explain away this bothersome Old Testament phrase… they argue that it means “to have awe and respect for God” rather than to be scared (like you would feel if you encountered something dangerous like a bear in the woods or someone who wanted to hurt you). I have made this very same argument in this very blog on multiple occasions… But no, he said, it really does mean FEAR, terrified, heart racing, pee in your pants FEAR (okay I added the “pee in your pants” part; the gentleman I was speaking to was way too polite to say that).