Acts 25:1 - 28:31

Nine: It was amazing that Paul was bitten by the viper and did not die. It shows that Jesus is with us, although I doubt that if a viper bites me I will not die (I think that works only for prophets.) [Note from mom: Caesar read cashier.]

Twelve: Paul wanted to go to Rome even though he didn't have to so he could preach to Caesar. People should listen to Paul.

Forty-seven: Paul's trust and confidence in God is astounding. It is so easy to be weak and faithless in even the mildest of tough times. Paul's confidence is inspiring and a clear sign post to the source of his strength. 

Acts 16:1 - 20:38

Nine: It was really cool that Paul raised that guy from the dead. Paul was right proclaiming about the idols: they were just statues.

Twelve: When somebody tells you something about Christianity, you should check it in the Bible before believing it. Even today there are people who oppose Jesus like the silversmiths in this passage. We can stand up to them.

Forty-seven: Paul singing in prison is an astounding thing to think about. It's dark. He's chained; it's midnight; and he's up singing, praising God. The other prisoners are listening to him. What a witness! The rest of the story is icing on the cake: earthquake, repentance, baptism, release. 

Acts 15:1 - 41

Nine: Paul was right about the circumcision thing. You don't have to be special or perfect to be a Christan. Paul and Barnabas shouldn't have argued, but I think Paul was right.

Twelve: We don't have to obey rituals to be Christian. Jesus came down from heaven to save us. Now we don't have to do any of that because we are saved through Jesus. Even some of the best Christians of all time can fight amongst themselves.

Forty-seven: I can't decide if it is sad to see that Paul and Barnabas fought about Mark or a relief to know that they did. 

Acts 13:1 - 14:28

Nine: It was amazing that Paul was stoned by those people and was able to get up from it. I think Paul may have been dead and God raised him.

Twelve: You can preach to people who are not like you. We should be able to withstand adversity by God's help.

Forty-seven: Today's reading just raises a bunch of questions for me: Why did Paul change his name? What happened with John Mark? How long was the period between the desire to worship Paul and stone him? 

Acts 9:1 - 31

Nine: I thought that it was amazing that the bright light came down from heaven and converted Saul into a Christian. I was surprised that Barnabas trusted him.

Twelve: God can even change the worst people to be great leaders of Christianity like Saul.

Forty-seven: Praise God! All can come to Him through Jesus and He will pursue us.

Acts 10:1 - 11:18

Nine: It was amazing that blanket descending from heaven. Peter should have killed and eaten as the Lord commanded him. this taught him he should eat with people who weren't circumcised. We should apply this to our lives and eat with people who aren't clean like people who lost their jobs and have to live on the street.

Twelve: We should treat people nicely and tell them about Jesus.

Forty-seven: My kids have the right idea, but I think after we are done with the e100 I might spend some time explaining the difference between ritual and physical uncleanness. 

Acts 8: 26 - 40

Nine: If you tell one person an entire country could believe. That man may have told the queen about Jesus. Then the entire place would believe.

Twelve: If you tell one person about Jesus, a lot of people will know about Him in the end.

Forty-seven: This is a both amazing and mysterious story. I want to know what happen to this man. Guess I'll have to wait.  

Acts 6:8 - 8:8

Nine: It was very merciful of Stephen to ask God not to punish them for stoning him. The reason they gnashed their teeth and covered their ears was they didn't believe Jesus was the son of God. 

Twelve: We should do anything God tells us even if we get killed because of it. We should forgive our enemies whatever they do to us.

Forty-seven: It's easy to think I'm persecuted while living my plush life, but when I read of Stephen I pray that if faced with what he was faced with I could be so firm and so forgiving. 

Acts 3:1 - 4:37

Nine: The high priest shouldn't have punished them for speaking the word of God and healing that guy's leg. We should be like Peter and keep doing what is right even if a person in charge of us will punish us.

Twelve: God will protect us from all dangers and help us in our trials. We should give to the needy because we will be rewarded in heaven.

Forty-seven: Imagine this man's joy. The Bible tells us he was leaping after he was healed. I also imagine the early church where each shared with all the rest. What trust!

Acts 2:1 - 47

Nine: We should trust Jesus like the disciples did. They believed and the Holy Spirit came upon them. It was amazing so many believed that day.

Twelve: The disciples even after Jesus left were given the Holy Spirit to testify in His name. Even without Jesus being here in person, He is still with us in Spirit. We can do anything through Him. 

Forty-seven: The atmosphere in the first church is such a desired goal and yet so hard to grasp onto. 

Acts 1:1 - 11

Nine: We should wait for the Lord as He commands us. In the apostles' case, they waited, were baptized with fire, and became great preachers of the word of God.

Twelve: We should go out and preach to others who don't know God when God tells us like the disciples.

Forty-seven: Our advocate is still sitting at the right hand of His father in heaven.