OPENING PRAYER
"Man Shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"- Matthew 4:4- "My mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it" - Mark 8:21
Having received this day as a gift, I (We) thank You Holy Trinity, for through Your goodness and patience You were not wrathful with me (Us), and idler (s) and sinner (s), neither have You cast me (Us) down in my (Our)sins...But You have shown Your love towards me (us) and have guided me (us) to keep my (our) daily watch to glorify Your power...Enlighten my (our) mind (minds) to study Your teachings in Scripture...Help me (us) to apply what I (we) learn and to praise You with all my (our) heart and glorify Your Holy Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
Shine within my (our) hearts, loving Master, the pure Light of Your Divine Knowledge, and open the eyes of my mind that I may understand Your teachings...Instill in me (us) also reverence for Your Blessed commandments, so having conquered sinful desires I (we) may pursue a spiritual way of life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You...For You, Christ my God, are my light, and to You I (we) give, glory, together with Your Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
CHANT PSALM 23
INTO YOUR HANDS LORD YESHUA (JESUS CHRIST) WE COMMIT OUR SOULS AND BODIES, BLESS US AND HAVE MERCY ON US AND GRANT US ETERNAL LIFE!!!
ACTS 11 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
THE APOSTLES IN JERUSALEM
ACTS 11:1-18
11:2: THOSE OF THE CIRUMCISION: were Jewish Christians who insisted that circumcision and the rest of the OT Law must continue to be observed even by Christians in order to receive salvation- (see- Acts 15:1; and Galatians 2:12): These Jewish Christians also advocated separation from Gentiles!!!
11:13: CALL FOR SIMON: the need to be received into the apostolic Church is indisputable: Even those who have direct revelations of Christ in the Holy Spirit are invariably directed to the apostolic Church-(see also Acts 9:6-18-notes and Acts 11:22- notes): For it is in the Church that the unity and fulness of Christ are experienced, and the words of salvation- (v. 14) are proclaimed without alteration!!!
11:17-19: THE GENTILES EVANGELIZATION: brought a significant amount of conflict to the early Church!!! Even though Christ had commanded the apostles to preach the gospel universally- (Acts 1:8), it took a while for this to be put into practice...Much debate would come over what requirements from the OT Law, if any, these Gentiles Christians would have to follow- (see- also Acts Chapter 15):
THE GENTILE CHURCH: ANTIOCH
ACTS 11:19-26
11:20: HELLENISTS: here refers to actual Greeks, not the Hellenistic Jews- (contrast Acts 6:1): THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH: was instrumental in bringing numerous Gentiles TO THE LORD JESUS!!!
11:22: TWO KEY TRUTHS: are revealed in BARNABAS being SENT OUT to ANTIOCH: (1): an apostle is sent, but does not work in isolation from the Church- (v. 23); AND (2): The Church of Antioch needed the seal of apostolic authority to be integrated into the universal Church- (see my notes at v. 13):
11:25: IN SEEKING HELP: Barnabas reveals humility, a recognition of his own limitations, and his communion with and dependence on the other apostles!!!
11:26: TWO KEY ELEMENTS: of the early Church practice included- (1): the eucharistic assembly and (2): The teaching of the gospel: THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS IN ANTIOCH: is more than just historical fact, instead demonstrates that Christ's command to preach the gospel, among the Gentiles- was first fully realized in Antioch:
AID TO JEWISH CHRISTIANS
ACTS 11:27-30
11:27: THESE PROPHETS: are Christians believers within the Church who have the gift of prophecy- (see 1 Corinthians 12:29; and 1 Corinthians 14:3, 29; and Ephesians 4:11):
11:28-29: THIS GREAT FAMINE: took place in 44-51 AD, beginning in Judea and spreading to Greece and Italy: The principle of giving, EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, is one that continues in the Church to this day!!!
11:30: THE ELDERS-( the bearded ones): are the priests they are the clergy ordained and put in charge of the local churches by the apostles who established them- (see Acts 14:23): as to the orders of ministry, bishops- (the apostles) are first mentioned in- (Acts 1:20): Deacons appear in (Acts 6:2-6): Here is the first reference to the priests!!!
ACTS 12 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
JERUSALEM SHAKEN
ACTS 12:1-19
12:1-9: HEROD AGRIPPA: is the grandson of Herod the Great, who tried to kill Yeshua (Jesus) as an infant- (Matthew 2:16): Herod Agrippa ruled as king in Palestine under Rome in AD 41-44: the dates of his reign determine the period in which JAMES WAS KILLED- (v. 2) and PETER WAS IMPRISONED- (v. 3): James was the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred: this event reveals that by the year AD 44, There was growing popular displeasure against Christians!!!
12:3: THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD: mark the Passover period, and so the commemoration of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ!!!
12:5: THE POWER: of intercessory prayer BY THE CHURCH on behalf of its leaders is evidenced by Peter's release from prison- (v . 10):
12:9-11: PETER'S: initial confusion- (v. 9) and subsequent understanding- (v .11) about his release from the prison show that God's works are not always clear to us while they are unfolding: But His purpose often than not becomes clear!!!
12:12: JOHN WHOSE SURNAME WAS MARK: is St. Mark the Evangelist, who would compose the Gospel of Mark: he would later become a coworker with Paul and Barnabas- (v. 25; Colossians 4:10) and still later with Peter- (1 Peter 5:13):
12:15: IT IS HIS ANGEL: shows not only that the early Christians believed in angels, but that each person is assigned one: To this day in the Liturgy of the Orthodox Church, we pray for an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies...- (see also Matthew 18:10-and my notes):
12:17: THIS JAMES: is the brother of the Lord- (Galatians 1:19; see also my notes at Matthew 12:46-50), not the apostle of the twelve, for James had already been martyred- (v. 2): By this time, James is the bishop of Jerusalem (see Acts 15:13; and Acts 21:18): THE BRETHREN: are Christians of the Jerusalem Church!!!
HEROD DIES
ACTS 12:20-25
12:21-23: THE DEATH OF HEROD: reveals a deeper spiritual meaning: all who seek or accept unworthy praise are taking that which rightly belongs to God alone...
12:24: THE ENEMIES OF GOD: cannot stop the spread of THE WORD OF GOD!!!
12:25: SEE: My Notes- (v. 12):
We have lost the world view of the prophets and apostles...We have lost the world view of the early Church and Saints, and we no longer help our communities like early Churches before us...Today only a select few Churches live by the true teachings of Yeshua (Jesus), and it's sad when struggling families turn to Churches for help only to be turned down for assistance for not being members!!! I see it this way if Churches stepped up and banned together helping with all the struggles in their communities this could lead to freeing up the load on all of
these government assistance programs that will eventually bankrupt our entire financial system!!! There are pockets of us that are trying our best to help the needy, JPCE Spiritual Talk makes little food and supply bags for the homeless in our areas...Here is an idea we love to use the Dollar store to find the food and hygiene-other supplies they might need and make little bags for them!!! Everyone have a good day, I continue to pray all is well- Peace be with you all- Love Jared W. Campbell
END WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER- LET'S DEPART IN PEACE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK
NEVER HOLD BACK
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
JEHOVAH SHALOM!!!