Acts 19 – 20

Verse 19:2 is a dialogue between John the Baptist’s disciples and Paul:

Paul: ² Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?

John’s Disciples: We’ve never heard about the Holy Spirit.

 

Now as you read they experienced something I still have yet to truly witness, but once they did “they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (v19:6) I often read and hear of accounts like this and wonder if I “got it” since it wasn’t how I imagined it was with these men. Unfortunately in reading stories like this we can second guess ourselves over and over again. I think of a time I was arguing with some friends and they suddenly felt pity for me since they believed I was unsaved.  I wasn’t flopping around like a fish or babbling in an unknown language so therefore I was wrong. I know many others who have had the same experience at “charismatic” churches. Are they right since this was the early churches documented response or are they judgmental and missing the actual truth?

If you compare the book of Acts to Revelations, which we will start soon, you will notice a mirror image. Acts is from Jerusalem and the Jewish people to the world where Revelations is from the world to Jerusalem and the Jewish people. For those of us who are not Jewish, we get a great ride!! Now that the grace God gave us.

Verse 19:11 is simple but profound:

Meanwhile, God did amazing miracles through Paul.

Just a handkerchief that touched Paul healed people, amazing. Again I ponder back to the words Jesus spoke when He said we “will do even greater things” like raise the dead!! As I continue to talk about my “event” back in May I get a stronger understanding that I was part of a miracle. I should not have survived based on the time down, so again thank you God!!

Verse 20:10 is my story from Paul’s view:

Paul joins us downstairs, bends over, and takes Eutychus in his arms.

Paul: It’s OK. He’s alive again.

 

That’s about the way it was for me. I was dead, getting cold and turning grey yet the EMT’s never gave up and brought me back after 50 minutes. I was put into an induced coma for 3 days and when I came to I was cracking smart ass jokes. No one expected that except for my prayer warriors. Scriptures like these come to life literally for me.