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W O W - T H E B I G P I C T U R E
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
Peter Grasps the Wideness of God's Mercy
-- Acts 10:34-43; 11:19-26; 12:1-25; Psalm 118:1-4; Proverbs 20:25
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the
children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ-He is Lord of
all-that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and
began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who
went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did
both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by
hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him
openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God,
even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And
He commanded us to preach to the people,and to testify that it is He
who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him
all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in
Him will receive remission of sins."
Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over
Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching
the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from
Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the
Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with
them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem,
and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and
had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that
with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a
good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people
were added to the Lord.
Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found
him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they
assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the
disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass
some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the
sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded
further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened
Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered
him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him
before the people after Passover.
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to
God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out,
that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two
soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now
behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the
prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying,
"Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said
to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he
said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." So he went out and
followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was
real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first
and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to
the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and
went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain
that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of
Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people."
So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the
mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered
together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl
named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter's voice, because
of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced
that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, "You are beside
yourself!" Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, "It is
his angel."
Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw
him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep
silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the
prison. And he said, "Go, tell these things to James and to the
brethren." And he departed and went to another place.
Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers
about what had become of Peter. But when Herod had searched for him and
not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be
put to death.
And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but
they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's
personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country
was supplied with food by the king's country.
So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and
gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a
god and not of a man!" Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck
him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms
and died.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled
their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was
Mark.
Acts 10:34-43; 11:19-26; 12:1-25
WORSHIP:
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Let Israel now say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron now say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD now say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Psalm 118:1-4
WISDOM:
It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.
Proverbs 20:25
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