Bible Matters 415: The Brick 

As you study God’s word, you’ll read his word many times.  As you read the testimony of the witnesses, one or several testimonies may influence your understanding of another.   Three times in Acts, the sanctification of Saul into Paul on the way to Damascus were presented (See Bible Matters 278 Saul Saul POE.)  Three testimonies of the sanctification of Saul are similar but different.  From the testimony of these three witnesses, you shall know the truth. 

1)      God wanted all three of these testimonies in Acts.

2)      Jesus spoke to Saul by the means of a bright light.

3)      Jesus did not speak to Saul by means of a body.

4)      First and second witnesses, said that Saul was led by the hand into Damascus.  Saul as also the third witness did not report this fact.  Saul may have deemed this fact insignificant and did not report it to King Agrippa. 

5)      The first testimony said the associates heard the voice, with no body.  The second testimony said his associates did not hear a voice.  The third testimony doesn’t address the associates hearing a voice.  Thus, it is not clear if the associates heard the voice or not.  If the first testimony was of one of the associates, then from the first-hand reporting standard, then the associates heard the voice of Jesus.

6)      Jesus gave simple instructions in the first and second testimonies. Saul appears to expand on the instructions in the third testimony.

You can see from this example that you must use two or three witness to establish God’s Will in the New Testament.

My friend Bill had read over these verses for over forty years.  God’s word was clear.  Share God’s word, freely. 

Matthew 10:7-14 –  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.  Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Mark 6:6-9 – And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.  And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;  And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:  But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

Luke 9:3 – And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

It then dawned on Bill that the fourth time Jesus gave the instruction for the Apostles to buy a sword. 

Luke 22:35-36 – And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing.  Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Recently, while studying the bible, God’s word hit me like a brick.  Over the past several months, I had completed several Bible Matters on God including, Bible Matters 373: God Is, 382:True God, 391: One God, 401: One Lord God and 405:God is King.  You also know that Jesus is a man sent by God. (See Bible Matters 377: Jesus Is POE).   Jesus never declared himself to be a god or equal to God.  He loved God, his Father, and did all things to please him.  Jesus performed miracles as his apostles did, after they received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  As I was reading Acts, two chapters reinforced the lessons presented on God and Jesus.  Both Peter and John spoke these testimonies.  It is clear that all things are directed by the Lord God, the Father.  God sent his Son as told by Moses, as a prophet, to turn everyone from his iniquities. 

Acts 3:1-2,4-6,8-10,13-15,18-22,25-26 – Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God:  And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.  The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.  But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.  Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

 Peter and John testified that God raised Jesus from the dead.  Jesus is the Christ, sent by God.  The same God which had made heaven, earth, and the sea, and all that are in them.  Once filled with the Holy Ghost, they spoke the word of God with boldness.    

Acts 4:1-2,7-10,13-14,18-21,24-27,29-31 – And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.  And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.  So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.  And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:  Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

God anointed Jesus as the Holy One with the Holy Ghost and he did the will of God.  Do not be offended by the truth in God’s word.  When God anoints you with the Holy Ghost, you speak the word of God with boldness.  In this year of 2025, plan on living in the spirit, doing the will of God and serving the Lord!  To spread the gospel and the love of God. 

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.