This week we will look at one of the most important chapters in the book of Acts, chapter 10. This chapter marks a major changing point in the life of the early church, one that makes it possible for world at large become part of the family of God.

This week we will look at Acts 9:32-43 and follow Peter as an example of personal ministry. Peter is likely the head of the original Apostles, and probably seen as the head of Christendom in general. The exact leadership structure of the church at this time is not spelled out anywhere, but it appears to be run by the twelve that were closest to Jesus when Jesus walked on the Earth. If that is true, the Peter does appear to be like a chairman to that group. Whatever his actual position was, what we should see here is that Peter was a very important man, and would have had a lot of demands on his time.

Last week we looked at Saul and his zeal to serve God by crushing His church. Through his example we learned that there are some absolute truths and one of those is that the path to heaven can only be through Jesus. This week we will shift our focus to Philip, and his efforts to evangelize an unreached people group.

Last week we looked at Stephens defense before the Sanhedrin. Stephen used the history of the Jewish people, which the members of the Sanhedrin were so proud of to convict them of the very crime he was on trial for. He caps off this attack with cutting accusation that they did not keep the Law that was so precious to them.

Stephen is the first great Christian apologist that we see in the Bible, and as such his style of addressing the Jews is much different then Peter’s. Peter was much more evangelistic in his approach, and his sermons focused more on presenting the Gospel and the need of the hearers to convert and be saved. Stephen will take a more aggressive approach and speak in defense of Jesus and the faith.