Page 11 - October 2024 - Truth & Tidings

also forget to give Him a drink? She left authorities opposing Peter and John and
her waterpot behind and hurried into the holding them in custody overnight, an
city to testify concerning Christ. As a re- even greater number believed, some five
sult of the woman’s witness to the people thousand men (Act 4:4). The spreading
of her city, many were saved. The interest flame could not be extinguished.
of others was stirred so that they came to
Christ to hear Him for themselves, and The Conversion of Gentiles
they too were saved (Joh 4:39-41). Further Afield
The Conversion of Jews in Although many Jews were saved at the
Jerusalem beginning, Jewish opposition was soon

When the risen Lord appeared to the mobilised to vigorously oppose the new
eleven disciples, He promised them that movement. This became so intense and
He would send the Holy Spirit who would virulent on the first missionary journey
give them power to be His witnesses (Act that Paul declared to the Jews of Pisidian
1:8). Beginning in Jerusalem, the good Antioch that “we turn to the Gentiles” (Act
news would be spread much further 13:46). This was a fulfilment of the word
afield. And so, on the day of Pentecost, brought to him by Ananias soon after his
and after the descent of the Holy Spirit, conversion (9:15). In Iconium, the bless-
Peter stood up and boldly proclaimed ing continued when “a great multitude
the truth before a large gathering of his both of the Jews and also of the Greeks
Jewish countrymen: they had crucified the believed” (14:1).
Messiah, but God had raised Him from By the end of the book of the Acts, the
the dead. This was a new and fearless gospel had spread from Jerusalem to the
Peter, not the old one who drew back and farther outreaches of the Roman Empire. It
cowered in the shadows. had penetrated to the very heart of the em-
Three thousand souls believed that day pire following Paul’s first imprisonment
(Act 2:41). They obeyed the Lord by being in Rome. Members of Caesar’s household
baptised and added to the company of had come to faith in Christ (Php 4:22).
Christians. How did the leaders organise Will there ever be such revivals again?
the baptism of so many new believers?
And how would they have conducted We do not know, but God is able. Mean-
their meeting when they broke bread to while, we still require compassion, faith-
remember the Lord? We can only sur- fulness, boldness and eagerness in gospel
mise how these logistical challenges were activity. In the 18th and 19th centuries,
resolved. large revivals affected thousands of
Following the miraculous healing of people in New England, in the province
the lame man who was laid at the temple of Ulster, and elsewhere. However meagre
gate every day and Peter’s proclama- the harvest might seem in our generation,
tion of the risen Christ, opposition arose one day when we get home to heaven,
from the religious leaders of the day. we will surely see the bountiful fruit, the
They were disturbed and felt threatened “travail of his soul” (Isa 53:11). He shall
by the new movement that seemed to be satisfied and, if so, we shall surely be
be gaining ground rapidly. Despite the satisfied as well.

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