Today we read Acts 13 and learn about the first missionary journey of the apostles Barnabas and Saul. Note how from verse 13 on, Saul is called Paul, who would later go on to write most of the New Testament. It is astounding how the Lord turned a former enemy of Jesus into the most productive Apostle of all time! The regions in which they share the Good News of Jesus Christ are what we today know as Cyprus and Turkey.

Today we read Acts 12. Here, another follower of Jesus–a disciple!–is put to death for his faith in Jesus. It is James, the brother of John (who wrote the Gospel of John). Today as well, some of us are being persecuted for believing in Jesus. This is very difficult and we pray that the Lord would give us strength to remain faithful. But we also rejoice that we will someday all be reunited at the Feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem and that Jesus will be in our midst!

Today we read Acts 11 and meet the “circumcision party” (verse 2). These are men whose religion used to be Judaism but who converted to Christianity. They believe they must adhere to their old Jewish traditions *in addition to* believing in Jesus to be saved. This is a conflict that we will run into throughout Acts (and in other books of the New Testament as well). These men do not yet understand that we are saved by faith alone in Jesus, not by faith. As we read in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Today we read Acts 1. A main point in this chapter is that God is preparing Peter for the unexpected news (from Peter’s point of view) that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for the whole world–not just for the Israelites /Jews. In other words, Jesus died for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16!) and wants everyone on the planet to believe in Him! Praise God that you are receiving this message today, wherever you might be!