Participants: Kelly Mowrer
Series Code: HWAL
Program Code: HWAL000392
00:17 Hi, and welcome again to His Words Are Life.
00:19 I'm Kelly Mowrer, and we'll be reading together today from the 00:23 book of Acts, in the King James Version. 00:25 But before we read let's pray together. 00:27 Dear Jesus, thank You so much for Your love and for sending us 00:33 this word that we can know more of You. 00:36 And may that be the desire of our hearts; not just to read it 00:40 but to have it become a part of us, so that we become more 00:43 and more like You, and bring glory to You. 00:45 We love You so much. 00:46 Thank You. 00:47 Amen. 00:48 Again, I'm reading today from the book of Acts in the 00:52 King James Version, Chapter 4. 00:54 And when we were last together we were reading about 00:56 Peter and John. 00:58 They had been led by God to do some miracles 01:01 to testify for Him. 01:03 They had reported to the believers there all that God had 01:06 done for them. 01:07 And with one accord the believers began to pray to God, 01:11 the creator of heaven and earth. 01:12 And we'll pick up now in verse 27. 01:15 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast 01:21 anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, 01:24 with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered 01:26 together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel 01:30 determined before to be done. 01:33 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto 01:38 thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy 01:41 word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs 01:46 and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 01:51 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were 01:56 assembled together; and they were all filled with the 01:59 Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 02:04 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart 02:09 and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the 02:14 things which he possessed was his own; but they had 02:17 all things in common. 02:19 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the 02:23 resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace 02:26 was upon them all. 02:28 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many 02:32 as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought 02:37 the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down 02:40 at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every 02:44 man according as he had need. 02:46 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, 02:55 a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, 03:01 and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 03:04 (Again, we're reading from the King James Version in the book 03:07 of Acts, and we're beginning now Chapter 5.) 03:10 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, 03:15 sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also 03:21 being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at 03:26 the apostles' feet. 03:27 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to 03:34 lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price 03:38 of the land? 03:40 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was 03:44 sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived 03:49 this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, 03:53 but unto God. 03:55 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up 04:00 the ghost: and great fear came on all them that 04:04 heard these things. 04:05 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, 04:10 and buried him. 04:11 And it was about the space of three hours after, 04:14 when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 04:17 and Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land 04:22 for so much? 04:23 And she said, Yea, for so much. 04:27 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together 04:33 to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which 04:38 have buried thy husband are at the door, 04:40 and shall carry thee out. 04:43 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the 04:47 ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, 04:50 and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 04:55 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as 05:00 heard these things. 05:01 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders 05:05 wrought among the people; (and they were all with one 05:08 accord in Solomon's porch. 05:10 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: 05:13 but the people magnified them. 05:16 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes 05:21 both of men and women.) 05:23 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, 05:28 and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the 05:31 shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 05:35 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto 05:40 Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with 05:44 unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 05:48 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, 05:53 and were filled with 05:57 indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put 06:00 them in the common prison. 06:02 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, 06:08 and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the 06:14 temple to the people all the words of this life. 06:18 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early 06:23 in the morning, and taught. 06:25 But the high priest came, and they that were with him, 06:28 and called the council together, and all the senate of the 06:31 children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 06:35 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, 06:38 they returned, and told, saying, The prison truly found we shut 06:43 with all safety, and the keepers standing without before 06:46 the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 06:52 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the 06:56 chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them 06:59 whereunto this would grow. 07:01 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye 07:08 put in prison are standing in the temple, 07:11 and teaching the people. 07:12 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them 07:16 without violence: for they feared the people, 07:18 lest they should have been stoned. 07:20 And when they had brought them, they set them before the 07:22 council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we 07:27 straightly command you that ye should not teach in this name? 07:30 and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, 07:34 and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 07:37 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, 07:42 We ought to obey God rather than men. 07:45 The God of our fathers, raised up Jesus, whom ye slew 07:50 and hanged on a tree. 07:51 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a 07:57 Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, 08:00 and forgiveness of sins. 08:01 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the 08:07 Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 08:11 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, 08:15 and took counsel to slay them. 08:18 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, 08:23 named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among 08:29 all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little 08:32 space; and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to 08:38 yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 08:42 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be 08:47 somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, 08:50 joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as 08:55 obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 08:58 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the 09:04 taxing, and drew away much people after him: 09:06 he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, 09:11 were dispersed. 09:12 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them 09:16 alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, 09:20 it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot 09:26 overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 09:32 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the 09:36 apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not 09:40 speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 09:42 And they departed from the presence of the council, 09:45 rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame 09:49 for his name. 09:50 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to 09:56 teach and preach Jesus Christ. 09:59 (Again, we're reading today from the King James Version 10:01 the book of Acts, and we're beginning now with Chapter 6.) 10:04 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was 10:10 multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians 10:13 against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected 10:16 in the daily ministration. 10:18 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto 10:22 them and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of 10:26 God, and serve tables. 10:27 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest 10:32 report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint 10:37 over this business. 10:38 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, 10:41 and to the ministry of the word. 10:43 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose 10:47 Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, 10:51 and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas 10:57 a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles: 11:01 and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 11:04 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples 11:09 multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the 11:13 priests were obedient to the faith. 11:15 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and 11:19 miracles among the people. 11:21 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, with is called 11:26 the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, 11:31 and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 11:36 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit 11:40 by which he spake. 11:42 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak 11:45 blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 11:49 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, 11:52 and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the 11:55 council, and set up false witnesses, which said, This man 12:00 ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, 12:04 and the law: for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of 12:09 Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the 12:12 customs which Moses delivered us. 12:14 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, 12:19 saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. 12:25 (Again, we're reading together from the book of Acts, 12:28 the King James Version, beginning now with Chapter 7.) 12:31 Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 12:36 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, harken; 12:41 the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was 12:46 in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said unto him, 12:50 Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into 12:53 the land which I shall show thee. 12:55 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in 12:59 Haran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed 13:04 him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 13:06 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set 13:12 his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him 13:16 for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet 13:21 he had no child. 13:22 And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn 13:28 in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, 13:32 and entreat them evil four hundred years. 13:35 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I 13:38 judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve 13:43 me in this place. 13:44 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham 13:49 begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac 13:53 begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. 13:57 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: 14:02 but God was with him, 14:04 (As we've read the Bible here today, and as we leave this time 14:09 together in His word, we can know that whether we are 14:13 on the mountain or in the valley, God is with each of us 14:17 the same way that He was with Joseph in Egypt; 14:19 as He was with Stephen before that council. 14:21 In our everyday lives God is with us. 14:24 He's watching over us. 14:26 And until we meet again, may you know His love in a new way; 14:30 in a fresh way. 14:32 And may He bless you continuously. 14:34 Goodbye.) |
Revised 2014-12-17