In Acts 6 we read that as the young church in Jerusalem was growing, they had a problem – nothing earth-shaking about that.  The problem was a complaint that non-Palestinian, Greek-speaking widows were being neglected at the expense of Hebrew widows in the daily serving of food.  Caring for widows was evidently a significant ministry […]

Acts 6:1 begins: “Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number…”  This is the first use of the term disciples in Acts.  The word translated disciple is the same Greek root used in Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19 to his apostles to make disciples (of Jesus).  Like the twelve, a disciple of Jesus was a learner from and follower of Jesus.  The command to make […]

Contrary to our human wisdom, the fallout from the tragic account of Ananias and Sapphira at the beginning of Acts Chapter 5 was that the church actually grew deeper and wider, as it caused people within and outside of the church to fear the Lord.  The believers grew in such numbers that the Jewish religious […]

One of the things that attracted me to the Bible as a source of truth, even as an unbeliever, was how the Word of God did not hide the faults of those men and women who professed belief in Him.  I could read about their failures right alongside their victories.  The story of Ananias and […]