It can be most profitable now and again to take time to review and sweep through something we may have been reading or studying.

Have you ever taken a moment to consider what all happened during these first three or four years of the Church of Jesus Christ to see how The Word of God has been spreading?

Recapitulation can be an important aspect of education and learning and understanding.

There had been this most violent wave of persecution against The Church of Jesus Christ, and this caused The Church to grow, in various dimensions.

In these verses we learn some important principles. Saul, being confronted by the risen Jesus, spends these first three days praying and fasting, and receives ministry from a new friend, brother Ananias, and is given the outline of the type of ministry he was to have, described by God. (Acts 9:16).

Saul is baptised in The Holy Spirit and baptised in water. He begins to preach and he also begins to suffer.

It is almost a principle - begin to preach, share, testify - and you also begin to suffer.

With his life under threat, his friends help him to escape from Damascus. When he arrives back in Jerusalem, he needs Barnabas to hear his testimony, so that he can be received by The Church in Jerusalem as a genuine disciple. He was for real.

His life is in danger again, and he is hustled off down to Caesarea and dispatched to his hometown of Tarsus.

Disciples of Jesus Christ had fled to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. They spoke to Jews to begin with, and then it opened up to Greeks, and they heard the good news about the Lord Jesus.

We do not come into all the truth right away. We are always learning - growing - developing - maturing. Some of these scattered disciples thought the message about Jesus was only for Jews - even though it was the Jews which had caused them to flee. Then, others came opening up the Gospel for all. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for you and for those around you. Graciously share it with them.

GOD was with these people. Many believed, and turned to the Lord. This HAS to happen in people's lives.

Then Dr Luke turns to write about Peter who visits the scattered wounded believers. A paralysed man is healed in Lydda. In Joppa, Tabitha is raised from the dead, and many come to believe.

Further north in Caesarea, Cornelius the Roman Centurion receives a vision from God, as does Peter in Joppa, when he goes to pray. Two men who are poles apart come together.

Cornelius, the Gentile officer in the army of Rome and those who were present on that occasion when Peter came to speak, turn from their sins and repent, believe in Jesus Christ and receive the gift of The Holy Spirit with the same consequences as everyone else. They are baptised in water.

Peter has to face various questions back in Jerusalem, but when he explains everything calmly and precisely, they too change, as prejudices disappear, and they have - NO FURTHER OBJECTIONS.

GOD had initiated all this. GOD was behind what was happening. Peter moved and ministered as GOD led - not according to his own wishes, good ideas, feelings, or dreams.

Doors were unlocked. Hearts were opened. Lives were changed and being changed.

People had to move and get out of Jerusalem. The Gospel of Jesus Christ having begun among the Jews was now reaching places out with Israel. Israel had been raised up to be a light to the Gentiles, and had NOT been so. Now, GOD was bringing in Gentiles from very early times.

Antioch is to become the second centre of The Christian Faith - 300 miles north of Israel - and Antioch was to become the local Church of Paul.

Yet, Antioch was a most immoral city. It was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, and a den of sin and wickedness. It would be like Amsterdam or Copenhagen or London today.

I'm sure many would have said, "You'll never get anywhere preaching The Gospel of Jesus Christ in Antioch. It is a hard place. Nobody will listen to you. That is THE LAST place where you can expect people to believe in Jesus Christ."

But our God surprises us. Jesus was with the preachers - those sharing how GOD had come into their lives - and people came to believe in Jesus.

Through preaching - speaking - being a witness - testifying - GOD moves right in.

News of what was happening reached the ears of The Church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Did some continue to have questions regarding Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus Christ? There is the suggestion that he was there to see if things were real and genuine.

We can be slow to learn at times. We can have NO FURTHER OBJECTIONS one month, and then a question can arise the following month. We can accept it from someone of the quality and calibre of Peter - but not from others.

All kinds of questions - fears - and insecurities - can arise - at times.

Allow God to deal with any of these matters which may still be lurking in the depths of your heart, and release you - setting you free to be the person He wants you to be in Christ Jesus.

Sandy Shaw