The key fact is that as Peter presented the word of the gospel and called Gentiles to faith, the Spirit was given to them just as it had been given to Jewish believers at the beginning, an allusion to Acts 2 (11:17). This gift comes from God, who knows the heart. It was an act by which God bore witness to their genuine response and God's acceptance

If Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 4:18; 10:38) and is opposed, then Ps. 2 applies to his opponents, whoever they may be. It was this combination of kings (Herod) and rulers (Pilate and the council, see Acts 4:5, 8), as well as those they represented, who gathered together (ovvíxenoav, synechthesan) to oppose God's way. The occurrence of this verb in ve

In a sense, the reaction here is like that of another city's to the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20). Despite the man's healing, the townspeople ask Jesus to leave because of the disturbing loss of pigs that resulted from the exorcism. In both cases, the point is that larger monetary interests outweigh concerns for the person benefited. It also illu

The term for God's plan (Bovλń, boule) appears twelve times in the NT, with the bulk of occurrences in Luke-Acts

He had the option to keep the proceeds or dispose of only some of it. So the deceitful act was completely premeditated, apparently motivated by the desire of Ananias and Sapphira to appear more generous than they truly are. The desire for human praise is more important to them than being faithful to God.

Timothy poses a special problem because he is the child of a mixed marriage. His mother, Eunice, is a Jewish believer (2 Tim. 1:5) whereas his father is Greek. His grandmother Lois also is Jewish (2 Tim. 1:5).

Paul takes him on the journey but circumcises him first (v. 3). This act prevents Timothy from becoming an issue to the Jews to whom he would

Peter is led to comment on what should be done next. He calls for immediate baptism, since the Gentiles have received the Spirit just as those present at Pentecost had in Acts 2 (also 11:15, 17; 15:8, 11). Peter understands the significance of the Spirit's distribution. The Spirit is the sign of the eschaton's presence and shows that God is blessin

Barnabas will be well qualified for a mission to Gentiles, since he came from one of these Gentile areas. Part of the function of the unit is to introduce him to Luke's audience. He surely is one of Luke's heroes.

In sum, here it is not human planning but what God wills that drives well have had a plan to go to Asia, to take the response. Paul may gospel to the end of the earth. Stott (1990: 261) speaks of the elements that often characterize divine guidance here: God's use of a period of time, the circumstances of open and closed doors, pondering what was t