Episode 27 (July 8-14): "What Wilt Thou Have Me To Do?"
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SHOW NOTES: As always, they're stream of consciousness!!!
My heart needs to be “right in the sight of God.”
A growing church meant a growing need for disciples to serve in the kingdom. According to Acts 6:1–15, what qualities were the Twelve Apostles looking for in those who would serve with them? As you read Acts 6–8, note how these qualities, and others, were demonstrated in people like Stephen and Philip. What was lacking in Simon, and what can we learn from him about being willing to change?
Is there anything you feel inspired to change to ensure that your heart is “right in the sight of God”? (Acts 8:21–22). How might making this change bless you as you serve God?
A growing church meant a growing need for disciples to serve in the kingdom.
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their awidows were bneglected in the daily cministration.
Conflict between Greek Jews and Hebrew Jews
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
“A ‘table’ at that time meant a place where a money changer did his collecting or exchanging of money. The disciples were elected to oversee the distribution of monies and provisions to the needy among the fellowship.
According to Acts 6:1–15, what qualities were the Twelve Apostles looking for in those who would serve with them?
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of
ahonest breport,
full of the Holy Ghost
And cwisdom, whom we may appoint over this dbusiness.
5 ¶ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they achose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the bHoly Ghost, and cPhilip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Not Jewish/Aramaic names, but Greek names
As you read Acts 6–8, note how these qualities, and others, were demonstrated in people like Stephen and Philip.
Stephen - testified in a scary situation (used wisdom), was full of the Holy Ghost:
Acts 6:10 And they were not able to resist the awisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the aface of an bangel.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the aHoly Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the bglory of cGod, and dJesus estandingon the fright hand of God,
Phillip
Acts 8: 3 As for Saul, he made ahavoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to bprison.
4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of aSamaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Was brave- full of the Holy Ghost who directed his paths
Acts 8:12 Philip apreaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the bname of Jesus Christ, they
Had a good reputation, at least good enough that SImon took interest in him
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and awondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Let’s talk about Simon
What was lacking in Simon, and what can we learn from him about being willing to change?
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the aword of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then alaid they their hands on them, and they received the bHoly Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through alaying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this apower, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the agift of God may be bpurchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not aright in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy awickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the bthought of thine cheart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the agall of bitterness, and inthe bbond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
After this, we don’t know what really happens to Simon. Does he repent? Does he come back to Christ?
Is there anything you feel inspired to change to ensure that your heart is “right in the sight of God”? (Acts 8:21–22). How might making this change bless you as you serve God?
I learned I need to be authentic and wholly committed to my faith. As I make these changes, blessing others and serving others becomes less of a burden.
Acts 6–7
Resisting the Holy Ghost can lead to rejecting the Savior and His prophets.
The Jewish leaders, though charged with preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah, rejected Jesus Christ and demanded His Crucifixion because of his or her pride and quest for power. How did this happen? Stephen declared to them, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost” (Acts 7:51). What do you think it means to resist the Holy Ghost? Why does resisting the Holy Ghost lead to rejecting the Savior and His prophets?
Listening and following prompting from the Holy Ghost helps us tune into the Spirit. When we ignore it, the Spirit gets quieter and quieter.
As you read Acts 6–7, look for other messages that Stephen taught the Jews. What attitudes was he warning against?
Acts 7:51 ¶ Ye astiffnecked and buncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always cresist the dHoly Ghost: as your efathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers apersecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of aangels, and have not bkept it.
Do you detect any similar attitudes in yourself?
Anytime I disobey God, I’m not keeping the laws he has given me and I’m resisting the Holy Ghost
What do Stephen’s words teach you about the consequences of resisting the Holy Ghost? Become hardened like the Jewish Leaders
How can you be more sensitive and responsive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost in your life?
By listening to it and following it
Acts 7:54–60
Besides Stephen, who else was martyred for their testimony of Jesus Christ?
Stephen is the first known Christian martyr (someone who is killed because of their beliefs) after Jesus’s Resurrection. Many other Saints throughout history were also killed because they would not deny their faith in Jesus Christ. Some of these are mentioned in 2 Chronicles 24:20–21; Mark 6:17–29; Acts 12:1–2; Revelation 6:9–11; Mosiah 17:20; Alma 14:8–11; Helaman 13:24–26; Doctrine and Covenants 109:47–49; 135:1–7; and Abraham 1:11. It is likely that after the Savior’s Resurrection, all of the Apostles except John died as martyrs.
Acts 8:26–39
The Holy Ghost will help me guide others to Jesus Christ.
What do you learn about sharing the gospel from the account in Acts 8:26–39? How did the Holy Ghost help Philip? How is sharing the gospel with others like being a guide?
Follow the Holy Ghost, even when it seems crazy or hard.
Acts 8: 26 And the aangel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to aworship,
Ethiopia- not our Ethiopia maybe Sudan?
From Wikipedia: "Candace" was the name give to all the female rulers or consorts of the Kingdom of Kush (now part of Sudan) in Greco-Roman historiography. It derives from a Meroitic word, kdke, that referred to any royal woman.[21] "Ethiopian" was a Greek term for black people generally, often applied to Kush (which was well known to the Hebrews and often mentioned in the Hebrew Bible). The eunuch was not from the land today known as Ethiopia, which corresponds to the ancient Kingdom of Aksum, which conquered Kush in the fourth century. The first writer to call it Ethiopia was Philostorgius around 440.[22]
Frank M. Snowden, Jr., interpret the story as emphasizing that early Christian communities accepted members regardless of race: "Ethiopians were the yardstick by which antiquity measured there acceptingness."[23][24] Others, such as Clarice Martin, write that it is a commentary on the religion rather than on its adherents, showing Christianity's geographical extent; Gay L. Byron goes further, saying, "The Ethiopian eunuch was used by Luke to indicate that salvation could extend even to Ethiopians and Blacks."[25] David Tuesday Adamo suggests that the word used here (Αίθίοψ, aithiops) is best translated simply as "African."[26]
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the aSpirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a alamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him aJesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou abelievest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he abaptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the aSpirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
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