The Book of Acts: A Commentary/Workbook for Christian Workers doing Pioneer Work, Greg Livingstone, Secundrabad, OM Books, 2005.
Introduction to Acts
Called Acts of the Apostles since the fourth century….—p.11
…Luke is telling a story, not writing a “history”. His story gives highlights of the expansion of the church from Jerusalem to Rome via Samaria, Antioch, Asia, and Europe….—p.12
…the word “missionary” is a Latin substitution for the ministry gift God gives to His church to accomplish the apostolic mission, i.e. to establish His church where (or among whom) it still does not exist….—p.12
I suppose some early churchmen battling against false apostles who were creating new “gospels” felt it was better to eliminate the use of the Greek word “apostle”, so they switched to the Latin word, “missionary”….—p.13
Chapter One
1:3…. After a few years of service, many pioneer missionaries are tempted dwell more on where their career is going than on how to accomplish God’s rescue operation….—p.17
1:4. Most Westerners do not understand the biblical concepts of church because we think in terms of meetings or events. The Early Church had no deadening, passive experience of monologue sermons or Bible teaching to a silent audience checking their watches to see when the church service would finish. The Roman Catholic Church, borrowing from the OT priest making sacrifices for the people, “organized” the church in the pattern of Roman institutions. Everyone passively watched the priest mediate between them and God. The magnificent, god-intended experience of The Priesthood of the Believer was recovered doctrinally, but sadly not functionally by the Reformation.—p.18
1:4-5,8. We are constantly tempted to fall back into relying on our own gifts, ingenuity, hard work, etc. I, for one, must periodically repent of trying to change people (or myself) and come back again and again to perpetual dependence on God to enable me to labour in the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13).—p.19
1:4-6. …Having experienced the resurrection, they [apostles] now believe He has the power and authority to restore Israel! But knowing the Lord’s power and emulating His coming “not to be served but to serve” are two vastly different things.
…We are called to the apostolic mission not to gain positions but to gain disciples.—p.19
1:7 Why is your co-worker forced to return home to care for her mother just at the point when the new believing women need her most? Why would God allow your child to get a terminal disease forcing you to leave your field of calling? Why haven’t you and your colleagues been able to find adequate answers for your teenage children’s needs when failing to do so means leaving your work before the local disciples are ready to be shepherds and evangelists? We only see our little story; we don’t see the Big story. “Now we see in a mirror dimly (lit. “in a riddle”) then we shall know fully (I Cor. 13:12). Can you say with the Psalmist, “I have made The Lord my trust” (Ps. 40:4). If you are struggling with why difficult things are happening, meditate on Psalms 37-47.—p.20
1:16,20. The early disciples were Bible-centred. Unlike the religious leaders, they did not quote the famous Rabbis of the past or of their time. They were not pushing the latest trendy man-centred formulas for spiritual success. Like the Old Testament prophets, they realized that their only authority was “thus says the Lord”.—p. 27
–but where was the bible or the scripture for the early disciples to be bible-centred. Either they were quoting from the OT, that too rarely or some saying of Jesus or from the letters of apostles, which were not recognized as part of scripture yet. Even OT has no relevancy for non-Jew believers much.—db.
1:17. … Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find the concept of the “independent” believer. Even Elijah, who thought he was alone, had to be reminded that there were “seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Ball”.—p.27
1:21-26. ….Apparently, God allows people to act in ways which still work out for good to fulfil His purposes (and He often cooperates with human initiative). So relax if a new group moves into “your territory”. God can handle a lot of diversity, i.e. different ways, different groups seeking to carry out God’s work.—p.29
Chapter Two.
2:6. Contextualization is not a missiological concept to debate, but an incarnational lifestyle to live out….—p.33
2:47. It is interesting to note how conscious Luke is of numbers. Throughout the book of Acts, he registers how many responded to the message of eternal life. Obviously, both Peter and Paul (as we’ll see later) and his church-planting team were not satisfied simply “to be light”, or to “reach people”. They measured what God was doing by people being baptized and joining the community of believers. Is it possible that some of us who have been insisting that we “are not into numerical goals” are actually taking a stance contrary to what the Lord has in mind?—p.42
Chapter Four
4:10. …In your efforts to be sensitive to the culture, and non-offensive, how clear are your non-Christian friends on the basic points of the Gospel? Could your non-Christian friends explain back to you accurately what followers of the Messiah adhere to?—p.55
4:32-34. …How foolish we missionaries have been historically to claim we have established God’s kind of church when it is usually little more than a weekly meeting with semi-believers going through maybe two hours of religious rites (sometimes not all that different from when they were Buddhists, Hindus, or Muslims).—p.61
Chapter Five.
5:4. …The Bible does not teach uniformity among the servants of the Lord, but generosity in meeting one another’s needs….—p.68
Chapter Six.
6:1. …The twelve (Matthias replacing Judas) were sure they had to be good stewards of their calling to teach this multitude of baby believers. This was not a question of status, but function….—p.75
6:7. We are not obligated to call ourselves, or others, “Christians” if that word communicates something other than a “new creature in Christ Jesus”.—p.81
6:10. …How do close-minded Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists respond when we proclaim the Gospel in wisdom and in the Spirit?….—p.86
–Such words like ‘close minded’ should be avoided. Are they close minded or we are closing their mind? If we think they are close minded they too might think how ‘narrow minded are we’. Labeling others with some words only reflects our frame of mind and not their.—db
Chapter Eight.
8:4. …There are several words in the Greek New Testament translated “preach”. The two most common are used here with Philip: kerusso, the proclamation of a herald and evangelizo which was used of a declaration of “good news”.—p.106
Chapter Nine.
9:3. …If your disciples are not asking God for guidance and instructions (not simply blessings) then you can doubt their conversion.—p.123
9:22. …Saul very likely boldly preached in the strength of his own intense, forceful personality. Mostly likely, the Jews heard the same arrogance and superior attitude he had as a fanatical rabbi. How quickly did he realize that it wasn’t working?—p.128
9:25. …This proud Pharisee of the highest ranks who is accustomed to (and loves) deference must be rescued by “nobodies”. “His disciples” at this point are probably not key men of influence (Luke usually mentions rank or titles if they had any), but likely believers who were slaves, perhaps at the bottom of the social ranks?—p.131
9:27. Barnabas “took hold of him and brought him” are very strong Greek words indicating that Saul was probably offended and ready to leave. Barnabas had to almost literally drag him to the place where Saul would meet Peter and James, the Lord’s brother (Gal. 1:18-19)….—p.132
9:30. …That same word “brought” hints that Saul was ready to die like Stephen (note 19:30—this man doesn’t easily run away) but that the brethren more or less pulled him away, and whisked him out of town. They put him on the boat in Caesarea and sent him home to Tarsus; it probably wasn’t Saul’s idea.—p.133
9:39. …May be they are not your calling, but they should be your burden….—p.138
Chapter Ten.
10:4. The sincere reaching out to the one true God did not bring Cornelius forgiveness and reconciliation with God, but it did lead to getting further necessary light….—p.144
10:5. The angel was communicating well; why didn’t he just finish the job and explain the Gospel? Because the Lord Jesus is “building His church”, not simply saving individuals. God is creating His redeemed “show and tell” community among all peoples on the earth. It is God’s plan that God’s people shepherd and teach one another. Part of Cornelius’ and Peter’s growth process was to be God’s instruments in others’ lives.—p.144
10:9-20….God’s messengers need to be genuinely directed by the Holy Spirit to those God has prepared. That doesn’t usually happen if we fail to block out times away from people to be alone with our Father and listen as Peter was doing.—p.145
10:23. …What did they talk about over supper? New Testament ministry is eating, drinking, and abiding together, not 90-minute meetings once or twice a week.—p.146
Chapter Eleven.
11:2 …Sometimes one doesn’t argue doctrine, but simply tells one’s story.—p.153
11:12… As Watchman Nee said, “You can slow down your sanctification, but you can’t hurry it up”.—p.154
Acts. 11:26. …Disciples are usually identified or labeled by the name of the one they profess to follow. Therefore, although the new believers preferred to call themselves, “followers of the Way” (Acts 24:14,22) others derided them as “the sect of Nazarene, or “little Christ’s”. that is, “Christians”.
Peter writes later, “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (I Pet. 4:16). It may be used as a derogatory term, but being identified with the redeemer, Christ, is a great privilege.
However, in the centuries since 300 AD, the word “Christian” has been long associated with burning people at the stake, torturing heretics, the crusades, western countries exploiting conquered colonial peoples, selling indulgences, wars between Catholics and Protestants, and praying to Mary and other saints.
When we ministered in Beirut, Lebanon, we discovered that it was the “Christians” (Maronites) who were the “Mafia”. They ran the casinos, brothels, and drug trade, often murdering people who opposed them. Thus, the true followers of the Lord Jesus were forced to create a different identity—“renewed ones”. The word “Christian” had been ruined. In Turkey, “the Christians” are either the Westerners (including the Crusaders) or worse, the Greeks and Armenians who have been their enemies for centuries. Is it reasonable or wise, then, to ask Turks who “turn to the Lord Jesus” to call themselves “Christians”? Similar obstacles exist (p.164) in India, Indonesia, and even in Africa where the hated neighbouring tribe may be “Christians”.
Note that, although in verse 26 Luke mentions that the disciples were called “ Christians”, in verse 29, he reverts to calling them “disciples”. “Disciples” implies we are people who are pro-active in our lifestyles, following the orders of a certain person. We are followers of the Christ, not representatives of “Christendom”.—pp. 164-65
Chapter Thirteen
13:2. …You aren’t called to work for God, but with God ( Matt.28:20; Acts 18:10).—p.180
Even if they had no fruit, they were to be “busy” walking with God like Enoch of old (Gen. 5:22)….—p.180
13:5. Proclaiming is not simply parroting a speech to slave the evangelical conscience. Honouring the Lord means finding ways to make the message of the Gospel make sense to the listener until he/she can understand why it is good news!—p.183
Proclaiming means working hard to understand the background of the hearers, then being excited about who God is and what He has done, in the language of the listeners.—p.183
13:13. It has been said that we all want to be servants, until we are treated like one!….—p.187
13:15… Barnabas and Paul did not immediately reveal that they were any different from any other orthodox Jews. They fully participated in the service.—p.189
13:43 …Do not think simply conducting one meeting a week will change lives. Making disciples is about intimate involvement with families, especially in the context of their family and work lives.—p.192
Chapter Fourteen
14:3…They declared not dialogued. They didn’t “share” Christ; they pleaded with men “to escape the wrath to come” (Rom. 5:9; 1 Thes. 1:10, 2:16).—p.201
14:23… If we stop short of seeing communities of new believers who take care of one another seven days a week, we have missed what God has in mind in our obedience to the Great Commission.
…Muslims need to see a Kitabi Jamaat supernaturally functioning as a caring, supportive, extended family that takes responsibility for each others’ needs.—p.209
Chapter Fifteen.
15:7…. “A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still”….—p.218
15:10 If we exhort a new Muslim believer to do something that will bring the wrath of his family and community upon him, did we so act or face such consequences when we were new believers/ Are we asking them to break the 5th commandment and not honour their father and mother? Tae the Lord’s warning from matt. 15:6 and Mark 7:13 seriously.
Do we ask them to be bolder in proclaiming their faith then we have been? Do we expect them to sacrifice their business, inheritance and job, although following Christ made us a hero, not a traitor, and therefore cost us very little back home? “Do not cause unnecessary trouble to those who are turning to God from the Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and tribals” (15:19).
What about the “yoke” of demanding the believers be in the pews at all church meetings when they are working night and day (because they finally found a job!) to support their family?—p.220
15:8. Sometimes although we may teach grace, the older local believers trouble the new believers with legalism. In Bulgaria, newly-converted from the demands of Islam, some gypsies added more “thou shalt nots” to the other followers of Christ than they ever had when they were Muslims! The “elders” were yanking jewellery off the necks and arms of the converts and threatening hell for cigarette smoking;
Or the reverse, in Morocco, older believers condemned new MBBs for keeping the Ramadan fast schedule with their family. How can such a spirit be manifestation of the Holy Spirit? Are we brining “good tidings of great joy” or simple a new bondage?….—p.220
Chapter Sixteen
16:2… A mission agency must understand that the church, not the agency, sends the missionary. They are the church’s missionary, not the agency’s. The church delegates their authority over that member to the agency leaders. Paul would not have taken Timothy if the elders were not ready to send him.—p.235
16:12-13… At least 11 Jewish men were required to establish a synagogue….—p.237
Chapter Seventeen.
17:18. Love means being prepared to start at the common points of your audience whether they be Communist, Shia, Sunni, Sufi, Brahman, Buddhist or New Age and take them step by step towards seeing that only the bible sufficiently addresses the ultimate questions of mankind. Ask your adopted people if your articulation of the message of “Jesus and the resurrection” makes sense. Do they see how it is relevant to their needs?—p.254
17:22-23. An Arab friend of mine teaches that we must learn the local proverbs/sayings of our adopted people, and learn to express redemptive analogies through them. This method aims to make “strange teachings” sound no so strange, but show that we have what their traditions are hoping for.—p.256
Chapter Eighteen
18:5. Examine yourself. Are you attempting to appear clever with your listeners? Are you more concerned with them respecting you or not rejecting you, than with them being awakened to recognize “the one mediator between God and man—the man Christ Jesus”? (1 Tim. 2:5).
Chapter Nineteen.
19:1… There is no record in the New Testament that churches needed to “cal a pastor” from outside their own congregation.—p.276
19:5. The symbolism in baptism of death and resurrection (Rom.6) is why many missionaries prefer water baptism to be by immersion. Be careful, however, to baptize in such a way that the people of your adopted culture experience it as holy and reverent. Better to use less water than to disgust observers by using a bathtub near a toilet, or to go to ridiculous extremes to “get the person under”.—p.277
19:6… God is calling us to live lives that cannot be imitated by the “natural man” (2 Cor. 2:14). Nothing less than a lifestyle that brings praise and glory to the Son of God will do (2 Cor. 4:1-7).—p.278
19:15… In fact, it is interesting to note that exorcism or deliverance from demonic possession is not clearly listed as one of the gifts that Paul was recognizing as being operative among the Corinthians.—p.283
19:34… Let us always be gently clear that one can only know the one true God on His terms.—p.290
Chapter Twenty.
20:36… Look for opportunities to go on little trips together both with the one mentoring you and those you are mentoring. One of the reasons that church planting has gone slowly in many instances is that the missionary only spends time with the believers in meetings! Are you more than a teacher in meetings? Are you one that will be sorely missed when you leave? By whom?—p.311
Chapter Twenty One.
21:2-3. It is refreshing to note that Luke did not need to see a miracle or express everything in exciting religious language. They didn’t pray and fast, they called the “travel agent” to find an appropriate ship. It happened to land in Tyre, so they made some inquiries and found some believers—just as naturally as booking their passage.
If Satan cannot entice us to think completely naturalistically as do non-believers, he lures some into an addiction to spiritual sounding “hallelujahs”, incessant “praise the Lords”, almost-self hypnotic everything of God’s provisions was “awesome miracles”. They would do well to dwell a must be seen as little in depth in quiet appreciation of the majesty of our great God, our Heavenly Sustainer.—p.313
21:25. If they were God’s leading, what does it say to your team about contextualizing the Gospel where you are working? Should we encourage the Hindus, the Buddhists, and the Muslims to totally rely on the Lord Jesus alone but still keep those customs which are not forbidden but which will keep them within their community as a “light to the Gentiles”/–p.320
21:29. Here is some food for thought: sometimes we attempt to do two things at once and it may not work (humanly speaking). Trophimus was a missionary intern (20:4,21:29, 2Tim.4:20). Paul was spending time with him perhaps explaining the Jewish roots of the faith as they walked around Jerusalem.
But, as missionaries have discovered, if you try to mix Turks and Armenians, Copts and Muslim Egyptians, Bataks and Madurese prematurely, it usually doesn’t work well. Trophimus’ presence hindered Paul’s attempt to appear proJewish to the unconverted Jews.—p.323
Chapter Twenty Three
23:10… Nearly a third of the book of Acts reports Paul’s adventures with no one coming to the Lord! (Finally at the end, we hear of “some being persuaded” 28:24).—p.336
Luke, who is faithful to detail, never mentions one person coming to Christ through Paul in Jerusalem where his background should have made him ore effective than Peter, the country boy from Galilee. Hmmmm?—p.336
Chapter Twenty Seven.
27:4-20… But many weeks, and sometimes months, pass which are tedious, often seeming to be mostly survival with some opportunities to “be there” when God opens eyes.—p.372
27:24… Paul (little one)….—p.375
27:26…When you get government notices, landlord hassles, unfixable computers, cars, or plumbing problems, understand it is part of your identity with a suffering humanity. Much worse, when a precious believer turns his/her back on Christ, can you look up with confidence into the face of your wise sovereign God and trust Him that another “running aground” is going to open a new door to God using you in lives?—p.376
27:27-30… The Lord’s servants often suffer not (p.376) so much from direct intentional persecution as from getting caught in the crossfire of self-serving people.—pp. 376-77
Chapter Twenty Eight.
28:2 (barbaroi—i.e. non-Greeks…..)—p.379
28:4 We must study our group’s basic presuppositions on which we can build a case for the claims of Christ.—p.380
28:10. A clear message of the book of Acts is that there are no formulas, no summaries on how the Holy Spirit does things. Beware of those who claim they have it figured out.—p.381
28:15…Still, we wonder why Luke does not mention even one person become a Christ-follower after Acts 19.—p.383
28:17. Note Paul’s insistence, again, that he has not deserted his people, or their customs. Most of the peoples we minister among are persuaded that “becoming a Christian” means rejecting their own people and their people’s customs.—p.384
Leave a Reply