Today we read Acts 5. Verse 29 is very important: “We must obey God rather than men.” This means that we must obey the authorities, even the evil ones (for example, even in such a country, a red stoplight still means “stop” and so we must stop). However, if the authorities were to command us to break one of the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:1-17), then we must disobey, even if they threaten to punish us. Lord Jesus, please give us the courage to do this!

Today we read Acts 4. Look how boldly the believers in Jesus Christ confess their faith–even in the face of hostility. May the Holy Spirit grant us that same kind of boldness!

Today we read Acts 3. Here, Peter castigates the people of Jerusalem (especially the Pharisees), of whom most had rejected Jesus as the coming Messiah and had Him crucified. That many of the Jews would do this had been prophesied in the Old Testament (see verse 22). Sadly, they chose to ignore the fact that the risen Lord brings to light our hidden guilt and lifts the burden that crushes every sinner. That is why the apostles would later move beyond the Jews–and spread the Gospel among the Gentiles (to whom you, dear friends in Muslim countries, belong). *** Praise God, though Jesus’ Word points out your shame, His grace will wipe away your sin.

Today we read Acts 2 and learn about one of the most important days in Christianity, when the Holy Spirit came onto and into three thousand people in Jerusalem at the same time. We call that day Pentecost. Take a close look at verse 9: one of the languages that the people are suddenly able to speak is Parthian–the mother language of Farsi! Why did they suddenly receive this gift of languages? So they could travel to Persia (and other places) and tell the people living there about Jesus Christ and His Forgiveness. When people are baptized today–also tens of thousands of Iranians and Afghans–they receive the same Holy Spirit that the people received back then on Pentecost. Isn’t that wonderful?