Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris talk about a few leftovers from Acts 8, including the presence of the Holy Spirit in believers, forgiveness, and a "Pastor's React" segment to a John Crist comedy sketch.

*** SHOW NOTES***

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/acts-8/

Acts 8:22 Commentaries

Matthew Henry Commentary

When tempted with money to do evil, see what a perishing thing money is, and scorn it. Think not that Christianity is a trade to live by in this world. There is much wickedness in the thought of the heart, its false notions, and corrupt affections, and wicked projects, which must be repented of, or we are undone. But it shall be forgiven, upon our repentance. The doubt here is of the sincerity of Simon's repentance, not of his pardon, if his repentance was sincere. Grant us, Lord, another sort of faith than that which made Simon wonder only, and did not sanctify his heart. May we abhor all thoughts of making religion serve the purposes of pride or ambition. And keep us from that subtle poison of spiritual pride, which seeks glory to itself even from humility. May we seek only the honour which cometh from God

Benson Commentary

If perhaps, the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee — Without all doubt, if Simon had repented he would have been forgiven; and this dubious manner in which Peter speaks of his obtaining forgiveness, intimates, not that his repentance, if sincere, might possibly fail of acceptance, for that would have been contrary to the whole tenor of the gospel; but the doubt was, whether he would sincerely repent; whether, after the commission of a sin so nearly approaching the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, he could ever be brought to true repentance.

Ellicott’s Commentary

The “if perhaps,” in the Greek, as in the English, implies a latent doubt. Did the thought come across the mind of the Apostle that the sin of Simon came very near that “sin against the Holy Ghost which hath never forgiveness” (Matthew 12:31)? The use of such words by the chief of the Apostles, after the apparent concession of a plenary power in John 20:23, are terribly suggestive. He neither forgives nor condemns, but bids the offender turn to the Searcher of hearts and pray for forgiveness. Had he seen repentance, he might have said, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” Had he seen a conscience utterly dead, he might have closed the door of hope. As it is, he stands midway between hope and fear, and, keeping silence, leaves judgment to the Judge.

Expositor’s Commentary

“if perhaps … may be forgiven thee”. St. Peter does not throw doubt on forgiveness after sincere repentance, but the doubt is expressed, because Simon so long as he was what he was (see the probable reading of the next verse and the connecting γάρ) could not repent, and therefore could not be forgiven, cf. Genesis 18:3. “If now I have found favour in thine eyes,” εἰ ἄρα (אִם־נָא), which I hope rather than venture to assume;

Pastor Matt walks through Acts 8 and teaches on the faith of Philip, Simon, and the Ethiopian, ending with a call to be baptized for those who believe.

Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris examine some other storylines and early Christians not covered in the sermon series in Acts, including Barnabas, Ananias & Sapphira, and Stephen.

Pastor Chris preaches on the martyrdom of Stephen, and the new level of threat facing the young, multiplying church.

Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris debate on whether they could better deal with the feeling of tiredness or the feeling of hunger, some word pronunciations and accents, and walkthrough Chapters 3 and 4 in Acts.

Enduring Word Commentary:

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/acts-3/

Pastor Matt walks ERC through the early Church's "Prayer for Boldness" in Acts Chapter 4.

Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris debate a conversational "Would You Rather" and talk about the finer points contained at the end of Peter's sermon in Acts 2.

***SHOW NOTES***

Four Activities of the church, Tyndale Commentary

Luke records what happened to the new converts. Four activities are listed in which they took part. These are generally regarded as four separate things, but a case can be made out that they are in fact the four elements which characterized a Christian gathering in the early church, and on the whole this is the preferable view.

First, there was the teaching given by the apostles, who were qualified for this task by their companionship with Jesus. They may have been regarded as in a special sense the guardians of the traditions about Jesus as the church grew and developed.

Secondly, there was fellowship; the word means ‘sharing’, and, while it could refer to the sharing of goods described in verses 44f., it is more likely that here it refers to the holding of a common meal or to a common religious experience.

Thirdly, there was the breaking of bread. This is Luke’s term for what Paul calls the Lord’s Supper. It refers to the act with which a Jewish meal opened, and which had gained peculiar significance for Christians in view of Jesus’ action at the Last Supper and also when he fed the multitudes (Luke 9:16; 22:19; 24:30; Acts 20:7, 11). It has been claimed that the thought is simply of a fellowship meal, perhaps a continuation of the meals held with the risen Lord, without any specific relation to the Last Supper or the Pauline form of the Lord’s Supper which celebrated his death, but it is much more likely that Luke is simply using an early Palestinian name for the Lord’s Supper in the proper sense.

Finally, there is mention of prayers. If the reference is not to part of a Christian meeting, it will be to the way the Christians observed the set Jewish hours of prayer (3:1). Here are the four essential elements in the religious practice of the Christian church.

Was the first Church Communist?

(Jay W. Richards via equip.org)

Calvin On the topic of “Fear” verse 43

the Jews would never have suffered the Church of Christ to stand one minute of an hour, unless the Lord had restrained them with fear as with a bridle. Furthermore, Luke noteth the manner of fear, that it was no such fear as bringeth men unto the obedience of Christ, but such as causeth men to stand in a doubt, and so, consequently, doth, as it were, so bind them hand and foot, that they dare not hinder the Lord’s work.

Like as there be some at this day who will willingly be ignorant of the gospel; or, at least, are so holden with the cares of this world, that they cannot thoroughly join themselves unto Christ; and yet they are not so hard-hearted but that they confess that the truth is on our side; and, therefore, they rest, as it were, in the middle way, neither do they favor the cruelty of the wicked, because they are afraid to strive against God. And whereas he saith, Every soul, he speaketh thus by synecdoche. For it is certain that many did contemn the hand of God, and that other some were stricken with no great fear, but that they did furiously rage together against the Church. But Luke’s meaning was this, that there appeared such power of God in the Church, that the people for the most part had not one word to say.

And many wonders. This member serveth also to the showing of the cause. For the miracles served to make them afraid, together with other works of God, although this was not the only reason, but one of many, why they were afraid to set themselves against God, who was on that side, as they did gather by the miracles; whence we gather that they are not only profitable for this to bring men to God, but also to make the wicked somewhat more gentle, and that they may tame their furiousness.

Pastor Chris teaches on the 4 essential practices that multiplied the early church, and how we should engage with these habits today.