acts-4:11

All that we know of Stephen is found in two chapters, and two more verses, in the book of the Acts, and yet he was among the most important of the Lord’s servants in the Bible. In many ways he is the Lord’s key witness in Acts, and the key to the book itself with its brief outline of the expansion o... Read More

The following is from a message given at the Heart-Cry for Revival Conference in April 2004 at The Cove, Asheville, North Carolina U.S.A. Most Americans know there were three Great Awakenings in America, but they do not know the history of them and what God did. I am going to start with a very brief... Read More

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). We see in Acts 4 that as Peter and John stood waiting for judgment to be pronounced, the man who had... Read More

The more someone is with Jesus, the more that person becomes like Christ, in purity, holiness and love. In turn, his pure walk produces in him a great boldness for God. Scripture says, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). The word for bold in ... Read More

In both the Old and New Testaments, the Holy Ghost fell upon people in the most unusual ways! He shook buildings. People’s tongues began to praise him—in new tongues. The Holy Ghost took full control! At Pentecost he came with a mighty, rushing wind! Fire fell! When the Holy Ghost comes down, things... Read More

Contemplated (2657) (katanoeo from kata = down [kata can be used to intensify the meaning] + noéo = to perceive or think) means literally to put the mind down on something and so to observe or consider carefully and attentively. It means to fix one’s eyes or mind upon and to perceive clearly. Katano... Read More

Deities (1140)(daimonion from daímon = demon) most often describes demons or evil spirits who have supernatural powers and are neither human nor divine (Mt 7:22). Acts 17:18 refers specifically to to heathen gods. In the context of a Jewish use it more often refers to a demon, evil spirit, devil, or... Read More

Elders (4245) (presbuteros the comparative form of présbus = an old man or an ambassador) (Click Vine's discussion) referred to men who were older or more senior with no negative connotations but rather a sense of venerability. Presbuteros is transliterated into English as “presbyter” (a leader in o... Read More

Gifts (1390) (doma from didomi) is a word that means present or gift but which lends greater emphasis to the character of the gift. For example, in secular Greek doma was used of a thing given, as in a medical dose. Doma can mean a gift as such without any benefit necessarily derived from it. Vine e... Read More

Mistreated (5195) (hubrizo from húbris = injury, insult, reproach, arrogance, insolence, ill-treatment. Our English word hubris refers to exaggerated pride or self-confidence) means act with insolence, wantonness, wicked violence, to treat injuriously. To act spitefully toward someone, treat shamefu... Read More