WEEK ONE: THE MINISTRY OF PETER
PETER AND SIMON THE MAGICIAN (ACTS 15:1,8:14-25)
With the persecution in Jerusalem, the believers ran away from Jerusalem to other surrounding cities. One of the deacons called Philip went to Samaria and continued preaching the word of God. He performed many miracles and healing. Many people were converted and were baptized. When the apostles heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God ,they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they laid hands on them and prayed for then so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. They had only been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. They received the Holy Spirit. When a magician named Simon who had been in the city and had been baptised saw that the Spirit was given at the laying of the apostles hands, he offered them money so that he too can get the power of laying hands. Peter answered. "May your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money." Peter further told him that he does not belong to them because his heart is not right before God. He asked him to repent of his evil ways and pray to the Lord will forgive him. Immediately Simon heard this, he became repentant and asked Peter to pray for him so that the calamity which Peter had said may not befall him. Peter and John testified and preached the word of God in many Samaritan villages and later returned to Jerusalem.
MORAL LESSONS
1. We should learn to be repentant of our sins and ask for forgiveness.
2. We should always think of others and not be selfish as Simon who wanted to get power and prestige.
WEEK TWO: HEALING MIRACLE OF PETER: RAISING OF DORCAS FROM THE DEAD.
In Joppa, there was a disciple named Tabitha(Dorcas) who has been doing good and helping the poor. She became sick and died. After preparing her body by washing, they kept her in an up stair room. The disciples knowing that Peter was in Lydda, and that it is near to Joppa sent two men to go and call him urgently. Peter Immediately went with them. When he got to the place where the corpse was laid, he saw widows crying. They showed Peter the robes and clothing that Dorcas had made for them while she was alive . Peter sent them out of the room. He knelt down and prayed. He turned to the Dead woman and commanded her to get up. She opened her eyes and sat up. Peter took her by the hand and helped her to stand up. He then called in the disciples and widows and presented her to them alive. This news spread all over Joppa and many people were converted to the Lord.
MORAL LESSONS
1. We should learn from Tabitha's behavior. We should endeavor to be generous to the needy in our society like she did.
2. As Christians, we must learn to trust in the power of God and not ascribe powers to ourselves.
3. The disciples faith in Jesus through Peter raised Dorcas. We should have faith in God because he can do all things.
WEEK THREE: PETER CONVERTS CORNELIUS
(Acts 10:1–4, 8; 12:1–24)
Cornelius was a Roman officer, a Captain of the Italian band. He was also a Roman by birth and he was serving under the Italian military forces in Israel during the time of the apostles. The nation of Israel then was one of the colonies of Italy.
Cornelius was a lover of God of Israel, a serious minded man, fearing God with all his family. He also gave much money to the poor, and made prayer to God at all time.
As Cornelius was praying to God one day afternoon about 3 O' clock, he had a vision and in the vision, an angel of God came to him. Cornelius was afraid, but the angel said to him that his prayers and offering have come up to God and he was kept in mind.
The angel then asked him to send some of his men to Joppa to call a man named Peter who was living in the house of one Simeon, a tanner of leather whose house was by the sea side.
After this vision, Cornelius called two of his servants and another faithful and God fearing servant of his who waited on him daily and sent these three men to Joppa to call Peter.
The next day, as these three men were near to the town of Joppa, Peter was at the top of the house for prayers. Peter was hungry but while food was been prepared for him, he fell into a deep sleep.
In a trance, he saw the heaven opened and a great sheet on which there were all kinds of animals and birds. A voice spoke to him saying:
“Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” (Act 10:13)
But in the trance Peter replied:
“No, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” (Act 10:14)
The voice came to him the second time,
“what God has cleansed, you must not call common”. (Act 10:25)
This was done three times and the vessel was taken back into heaven.
When Peter woke up he was confused because he could not understand the meaning of this revelation.
As Peter was trying to reason out the meaning of this revelation, the three men had arrived at the gate of the house asking for Peter. Immediately, the spirit of God spoke to him and said:
“Behold, three men are looking for you, rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation for I have sent them”.(Acts 10:19–20)
Peter went down immediately to meet the men and after they had greeted one another, the men narrated to Peter how an angel of the Lord appeared to their master Cornelius and had asked him to send to Joppa to fetch a man named Peter who would tell them what to do.
So, Peter accommodated them for the night and the following day, he went with them, taking some of the brothers from Joppa with him.
Cornelius had called his family members and his friends and they were all waiting for the arrival of Peter.
When they got to his house, he was so glad that when he saw Peter he fell down at Peter's feet to greet him. But Peter, lifting him up, said, “Get up, for I am a man as you are”.
The people who were waiting for him were many, Peter was so surprised and told them that though it was not lawful for a Jew like himself to mix or be in the company of people from another nation but God had made it clear to him that no man may be named common or unclean.
When Peter asked the purpose behind Cornelius searching for him, Cornelius then narrated how he had a vision of an angel of God who asked him to send for Peter in Joppa.
Afterward, Peter confessed that he had realised that God is not a respecter of persons but in any nation an individual who fear him and does righteousness is pleasing to him.
Peter then preached to them the good news of Jesus Christ and they all believed and were filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with new tongues. They were all baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and Peter remained with them for some days.
WEEK FOUR: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS
God is interested in the salvation of human race and not the Jewish nation alone.
The conversion of Cornelius shows that God is not partial and that all men are equal before him. No man is beyond redemption irrespective of race, nationality, tribes, etc.
God reveals his mind to us through visions, trance, dreams, and other forms of revelations.
Obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit is essential in our walk with God.
MORAL LESSONS LEARNT FROM MINISTRY OF PETER
1. God does not discriminate between Jews and the gentiles.
2. God is ready to give the Holy Spirit to as many as surrender his/her life to Jesus Christ.
3. God is a God of all possibility.
4. God rewards good works such as alms giving, showing mercy and so on.
5. God answers prayers of the faithful ones.
WEEK FIVE: PETER'S MIRACULOUS RELEASE FROM THE PRISON
Herod the King made cruel attacks on the Christians and killed James, the brother of John by beheading him.
When Herod saw that the Jews were pleased by this evil action, he proceeded to arrest Peter and kill him also but the church in Jerusalem rose up to the
occasion and prayed earnestly for Peter. God answered the prayers of his people by sending an angel to deliver Peter from the prison. The angel led Peter out of the prison while the keepers were unaware of what was going on. Peter thought he was dreaming until the angel led him outside and disappeared. Peter then went to the house of Mary, the mother of John where other Christians were praying.
As Peter knocked on the door, a maid named Rhoda came to open the door but when she heard the voice of Peter, she ran back inside to inform the others about what she saw. They all thought she was mad but she insisted that it was Peter knocking on the door.
When Peter entered the house, they thought it was his angel and were greatly surprised to see him. Peter narrated how God delivered him through the angel and immediately left the town and traveled to another place.
In the morning, when Peter was to be executed, he was not found. The soldiers were interrogated and summarily executed. Herod was also killed by an angel of God some days after when he placed himself in the place of God and did not give glory due unto him. This was regarded as divine judgment on Herod for all his atrocities committed against the church.
WEEK SIX: THE MINISTRY OF APOSTLE PAUL
PAUL'S NATIVITY AND EDUCATION (Acts 22:1-5; 26-30)
Paul was born in Tarsus into a Jewish family, sometimes after the birth of Jesus Christ. Tarsus was a small town in the region of Cilicia in Asia Minor.
Paul enjoyed dual citizenship, that is, he was a Jew by birth and a Roman citizen through naturalization. His Romans name was Paul while his Jewish name was Saul.
Paul could speak Hebrew language of the Jew and Greek. He also understood Aramaic the language spoken by Jesus Christ.
Paul's father was a member of the Pharisees one of the strictest religious set in Israel. Paul was, however, trained to be a Pharisee like his father who was. zealous in the observance of the Law of Moses and also motivated people to do the same. He celebrated the important Jewish festivals such as the Passover and Pentecost.
When Paul was twelve years old, he attended the synagogue school where he was taught the history and religion of the Jews. He graduated from the school of synagogue, with a title “Son of the laws” which qualified him to be a full member of the synagogue.
Paul later proceeded to Jerusalem to further his studies. He studied the Jewish religion and law under the great Rabbi (teacher) Gamaliel. Paul, however, became a lawyer but his family business was tent making.
Paul hated Christianity because he thought the disciples were only deceiving people. He believed that God would send messiah of Israel one day who would liberate them from the hand of their enemies.
He, therefore, persecuted Christians everywhere in order to stop the spread of the gospel.
PAUL PERSECUTION OF THE EARLY CHURCH (Acts 7:57-58, 8:1-3; 9:1-3)
Paul became a sworn enemy of the early church because he believed that Christianity was not genuine.
He believed that God would soon send the Messiah of the Jew to them as flee promised. He, however, tried all he could to stop the spread of gospel.
When Stephen was being stoned to death, Paul was there instigating people to kill Stephen. The people who killed Stephen even kept their clothes at the feet of Paul while committing their murderous act. He even went from house to house arresting Christians and committing them to prison.
When Paul realized that some Christians had escaped from Jerusalem to Damascus, he obtained permission from the high priest to go to Damascus in Syria to get them arrested ‘and bring them to Jerusalem for punishment.
Paul, himself left Jerusalem for Damascus in a company of some men and soldiers who would help him to effect the arrest of the Christians in Damascus.
WEEK EIGHT: PAUL'S CONVERSION
(Act 9:1-19)
Paul with his company set out for Damascus with a letter of permission from the high-priest to the synagogue in Damascus.
When they got very close to Damascus something dramatic happened that anger the course of Paul's life for er. At about midday as he rode on his horse, suddenly a bright light from heaven shone around him and he fell to the ground and became blind. Paul heard the voice of the risen Christ Speaking to him saying:
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me” Saul asked, Who are you Lord?”
Jesus Christ answered him that,
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, but rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do”.
(Act 9:4-6)
The people that were with him became afraid and were confused. They heard the voice of somebody speaking with him but could not see anybody.
His companion, however, led him by the hand to the city of Damascus where Paul stayed for three days without food and water. There, he realised all the atrocities he had committed against the Christians therefore he, asked for forgiveness and decided to serve the Lord.
Also, the Lord appeared to one of the disciples living in Damascus name Ananias in a vision and said:
“Ananias, rise and go to the street called straight and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, behold, he is praying and has seen a man named Ananias came in and lay his hand on him that he might regain his sight”.
(Acts 9:11-12)
Ananias initially protested to the Lord and said this man had done a lot of havoc to the Christians and even he had gotten permission from the high priest to get them arrested and sent them back to Jerusalem.
The Lord, however, allayed Ananias fear and said:
“Go for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel, for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name"
(Act 9:15-16)
Ananias obeyed the Lord and went to the house of Judas as he was directed. He met Paul prayed for him and something like a scale fell from Paul eyes and he regained his sight. He was baptized immediately and became a follower of Christ.
After all these, Paul began to preach the gospel to the Jews living in Damascus.
PAUL'S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY (Act 13 and 14)
Upon the persecution of the disciples at Jerusalem, many of them left Jerusalem and traveled to cities such as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch in Syria. As they traveled to every town and city, they preached Christ Jesus which led to the conversion of many especially . the Jews and Greeks to Christianity.
At Antioch the number of the believers increased to the point that they needed some apostles from Jerusalem for teaching, exhortation and encouragement.
Upon this, Paul and Barnabas came to Antioch to assist the elders there. It was in Antioch that believers were first called Christians because they were seen to behave like Jesus Christ.
The elders of the church including some prophets gathered to pray and minister to the Lord at a particular day when the Holy Spirit said:
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them.”
They laid hands on Barnabas and Saul after fasting and praying and commission them for the Mission to the gentiles.
Barnabas and Paul traveled as far as Seleucia, Cyprus, Salami's, At Salamis, they preached the word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews and John was with them, helping them as an assistant. preacher. They .afterward sailed to Paphos, where they preached to many people.
They eventually preached to the ruler of the Island and Sergius Paulus but there was at Paphos a Jews, named Elymas a false prophet who used magical power to work wonders among the people there and he had thought this to deceive many.
This man rose against the apostles and discouraged the ruler Sergius Paulus from embracing Christianity.
He spoke against the gospel because he knew that if Sergius Paulus received Christianity, his own means of livelihood would be lost and his influence over the people would ¥ destroyed. But Paul being moved with the Holy Spirit condemned Elymas who was also known as Bar-Jesus and said:
“You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind and unable to see the sun for a time”.
Act 13:10-11
And immediately, Elymas became blind and was groping in the ‘dark looking for someone to lead him away. When Sergius Paulus saw what had happen and how Elymas was disgraced, he quickly accepted the gospel and became a Christian.
Then Paul and those who were with him went by Ship from Paphos sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, and the John went away from them and came back to Jerusalem.
From Perga, they traveled to Antioch in Pisidia where they taught in the synagogue on a Sabbath day. Paul narrated the operation of God in the lives of the Jews starting from Egypt and their eventually settlement in the Promised Land.
He narrowed down his teaching to the coming of the Saviour Jesus Christ whom the Jews killed out of ignorance, but he is the Messiah. Upon hearing this, Paul and the others with him were asked to come back the following Sabbath for their message.
Many gentiles eventually accepted the gospel and turned to the Lord while some Jews out of envy stirred up the heart of some eminent people against the apostles, driving them out of the town.
They finally arrived at Iconium and went together to the synagogue of the Jews and gave such teachings that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews turned the heart of the Greeks against the apostles and there as great division in _ the town, some people on the side of the . apostles while other on the side of the unbelieving Jews.
Then the unbelievers made attempt to attack the apostles but the apostles quickly fled the town and traveled to Lystra and Derbe and the country round about preaching the gospel.
At Lystra as they were preaching on a certain day, they saw a man listening attentively to them. This man was a cripple who could not use his feet from his birth. As Paul looked at the man, he discovered the man had faith to be healed.
Paul said to the man: “Stand up on your feet”.
Immediately, this man received strength in his feet, stood up and began to walk. When the people saw this wonder done through the hand of Paul, they thought that it was their gods who had come in the form of men to perform this wonder. for they immediately named Barnabas Zeus or Jupiter and Paul, they named mercury or Hermes because he was the chief speaker. .
Also, the priest of the image of Jupiter which was before the town, took oxen and flowers to the gates of the town and was about to make sacrifice to these gods. But when Paul and Barnabas had knowledge of this, they quickly ran among the people to the place and tearing their clothes stopped the people from sacrificing to them saying they were human beings and not gods.
Paul then preached to them and asked them to turn away from these foolish things they were doing unto the living God who created heaven and earth, and everything in them.
However, the Jews who persecuted the apostles in Antioch of Pisidia and Iconium came to Lystra to oppose the apostles. They however turned the heart of the people against the apostles who later stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city with the hope that he had died.
Paul converts in Lystra stood around him and Paul rose to his feet and went back to the town. The following day Paul and Barnabas left Lystra for Derbe where they also preached. They finally went back to Antioch in Syria.
