Lesson 1.32: The Kingdom Of God Spreads

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LESSON 1.32: THE KINGDOM OF GOD SPREADS

Loved one, the apostles continued telling people the good news about Jesus the King (Acts 5:42). They did this every day in the temple area and in people's homes. The word of God was reaching more and more people (Acts 6:1). The group of followers in Jerusalem became larger and larger. Even a big group of Jewish priests believed and obeyed (v. 7).

Finally the Jewish leaders began to mistreat the believers in Jerusalem. They threw stones at a preacher named Stephen until he died (Acts 7:54-60).

A Jewish leader named Saul was trying to destroy the group of believers. He went into their houses, dragged out men and women, and put them in jail. This mistreatment became so bad that all the believers left Jerusalem. Only the apostles stayed. The believers went to different places in Judea and Samaria. They were scattered everywhere, and in every place they went, they told people the good news about Jesus (Acts 8:1-4).

People In Samaria Become Followers Of Jesus

A follower of Jesus named Philip went to the city of Samaria and told people about the King. He told them the good news about God's kingdom and the power of Jesus Christ. Men and women believed Philip and were baptized (vs. 5-12).

Philip Teaches An Official From Ethiopia

Then Philip went south to the road between Jerusalem and Gaza (vs. 26-28). There he saw a man riding in a chariot. This man was an important officer in the service of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia. He was responsible for taking care of all her money.

He had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was now on his way home. He was reading from the book of Isaiah the prophet.

The Spirit said to Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it" (vs. 29-35). So Philip went toward the chariot, and he heard the man reading from Isaiah the prophet... Philip said to him, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

The man answered, "How can I understand? I need someone to explain it to me!" Then he invited Philip to climb up into the chariot and sit with him. The scripture he was reading was this: "He was like a sheep being led to the butcher. He was like a lamb that makes no sound as its wool is being cut off. He was shamed, and all his rights were taken away. His life on earth has ended; there will be no story about his descendants" (Isaiah 53:7-8).

The officer said to Philip, "Please tell me, who is the prophet talking about? Is he talking about himself or about someone else?" Philip began with the same scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus.

The Ethiopian Official Is Baptized

While they were traveling down the road to Gaza, they came to some water (vs. 36-39). The official said, "Look! Here is water! What is stopping me from being baptized?"

NOTICE: When Jesus is preached in truth, the first question a penitent believing sinner who wants to be saved should ask is, "What is stopping me from being baptized?" (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21).

Then the officer ordered the chariot to stop. Both Philip and the officer went down into the water, and Philip baptized (immersed) him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the officer never saw him again. The official continued on his way home. He was happy.

Saul Is Chosen To Teach Other Nations

In Jerusalem, Saul was still trying to scare the followers of the Lord, even saying he would kill them. He went to the high priest and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted the authority to find believers in Damascus, to arrest them, and to bring them back to Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2).

So Saul went to Damascus. When he came near the city, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shined around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?"

Saul said, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice answered, "I am Jesus. I am the One you are persecuting." Saul said, "What shall I do, Lord?" The Lord answered, "Get up and go into Damascus. Someone there will tell you what you must do" (vs. 3-6).

Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he could not see. So the men with him held his hand and led him into Damascus. For three days Saul could not see, and he did not eat or drink (vs. 8-9).

Jesus Sends Ananias To Saul

There was a follower of Jesus in Damascus whose name was Ananias (vs. 10-16). In a vision Jesus said to him, "Ananias!"

Ananias answered, "Here I am, Lord."

The Lord said to Ananias, "Get up and go to the street called Straight Street. Find the house of Judas, and ask for a man named Saul. He is there now, praying."

But Ananias answered, "Lord, many people have told me about this man. He has done many bad things to your people in Jerusalem. Now he has come here to Damascus with power to arrest all people who trust in you."

But Jesus said to Ananias, "Go! I have chosen Saul for an important work. He must tell about me to other nations and their rulers and to the people of Israel. I will show him all that he must suffer for me."

Saul Is Baptized By Ananias

So Ananias went to the house of Judas. He laid his hands on Saul saying, "Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus has sent me so that you can see again and can be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell off Saul's eyes, and he was able to see (vs. 17-19).

Then Ananias said to Saul, "Now, don't wait any longer. Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, trusting in Jesus to save you" (Acts 22:16). Then, Saul got up and was baptized. After he ate, he began to feel strong again.

Saul's Greek name was "Paul." Saul the killer became Paul, the great apostle of Christ.

An Angel Appears To Cornelius In Caesarea

In the city of Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a Roman army officer in the Italian Unit (Read Acts chapter 10). Cornelius was a religious man. He and those who lived in his house were worshipers of the true God. He gave much of his money to poor people and always prayed to God (vs. 1-2).

One afternoon about three o'clock, Cornelius had a vision. He saw an angel from God coming to him and saying, "Cornelius!" Staring at the angel and feeling afraid, Cornelius said, "What do you want, sir?"

The angel said, "God has heard your prayers and seen your gifts to the poor. Send some men to the city of Joppa to get a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. He will tell you things that will save you and everyone living in your house. He is staying with Simon, the leather worker who has a house beside the sea" (vs. 3-6).

When the angel left, Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier and explained everything to them. Then he sent them to Joppa (vs. 7-8).

Peter Sees A Vision In Joppa

The next day, these men were coming into Joppa about noon while Peter was on the roof praying (vs. 9-20). He was hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the food for him, he had a vision. He saw something coming down through the open sky. It looked like a big sheet being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to Peter, "Get up, Peter, kill one of these animals, and eat it."

Peter said, "I can't do that, Lord! I have never eaten food that is not pure or fit to be used for food."

But the voice said to him again, "God has made these things pure. Don't say they are unfit to eat." This happened three times.

While Peter was wondering what this vision meant, the men that Cornelius had sent found Simon's house. They stood at the door and asked, "Is Simon Peter staying here?" The Spirit said to Peter, "Three men are looking for you. Get up and go downstairs. Go with these men without wondering if it's all right, because I have sent them."

Peter Preaches To Cornelius And His Family In Caesarea

The next day Peter and six Jewish believers got ready and went with the three men (Acts 11:11-12). When they arrived in Caesarea, Cornelius was waiting for them and had already gathered his relatives and close friends at his house (Acts 10:21-24).

Cornelius fell down at Peter's feet and worshiped him. Peter said, "Stand up. I am only a man like you." Then Peter went inside and saw a large group of people gathered there (vs. 25-27).

Peter said to the people, "It is against our law for a Jew to associate with anyone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not consider anyone unfit or say they are not pure" (v. 28).

Then Peter said, "I really understand now that God does not consider some people to be better than others. He accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It is not important what nation they come from.

Jesus is the Lord of all people! God made him the King by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went everywhere doing good for people. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, showing that God was with him" (vs. 34-38).

Peter continued, "We saw all that Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem. But Jesus was killed. They put him on a cross made of wood.

But, on the third day after his death, God raised him to life and let him be seen openly. We are witnesses! We ate and drank with Jesus after he was raised from death. Jesus told us to go and speak to the people and to tell them that he is the one whom God chose to be the Judge of all who are living and all who have died. Everyone who trusts in Jesus will be forgiven" (vs. 39-43).

Cornelius And His Family Are Baptized

Then Peter asked, "How can anyone object to these people being baptized in water?" So Peter told them to baptize Cornelius and his relatives and friends in the name of Jesus Christ (vs. 47-48).

The Kingdom Spreads To Europe

Later, the apostle Paul and others traveled throughout the Roman Empire preaching the Good News about Jesus the King (Acts 13–15).

At Troas, Paul saw a vision in which a man said to him, "Come across to Macedonia and help us!" Immediately Paul and his friends left Troas and went to Philippi, an important Roman city in Macedonia (Acts 16:8-12). Thus, the Good News spread to a major city in Europe.

Lydia And Her Household Are Baptized

At Philippi, Paul and his companions found a special place of prayer near the river outside the city gate. There they instructed some women who had gathered for worship. A business woman named Lydia listened to Paul, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying. She and all the people living in her house were baptized (vs. 13-15).

Paul Drives An Evil Spirit Out Of A Girl In Philippi

While Paul and his friends were going to the place of prayer, a servant girl met them. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell what would happen in the future.

By doing this, she earned a lot of money for the men who owned her. This girl followed Paul and his companions shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how you can be saved!"

She did this for many days. This bothered Paul, so he turned and said to the spirit, "By the power of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!" Immediately, the spirit came out (vs. 16-18).

Paul And Silas Are Put In Jail

When the men who owned the servant girl saw this, they realized that they could no longer use her to make money. So they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square to meet with the authorities. Paul and Silas were severely beaten with rods and put in jail (vs. 20-24).

About midnight they were praying and singing songs to God. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake. The Jailer woke up and saw that the jail doors were open. He thought that the prisoners had escaped, so he got his sword and was ready to kill himself. But Paul shouted, "Don't hurt yourself! We are all here!" (vs. 25-28).

The Jailer Is Baptized In Philippi

The jailer told someone to bring a light. Then he ran inside and, shaking with fear, fell down in front of Paul and Silas. Then, he brought them outside and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?"

They said to him, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all who live in your house." So Paul and Silas told the message of the Lord to the jailer and all the people who lived in his house. It was late at night, but the jailer and all the people in his house were baptized. They were all happy because they now believed in God (vs. 29-34).

Christians Burn Their Magic Books In Ephesus

In Ephesus, the seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to make evil spirits go out of people (Acts 19:13-16). They said, "By the name of Jesus that Paul talks about, I order you to come out!"

The evil spirit in one man said to these Jews, "I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit inside him jumped on these Jews, beat them up, and tore their clothes off. They all ran away from that house bruised and bleeding.

All the people in Ephesus heard about this. They were all filled with fear and gave great honor to the Lord Jesus. Many of the believers began to confess about all the evil things they had done. Some of them had used magic. These believers brought their magic books and burned them before everyone (vs. 17-19).

The Christian Faith Spreads Throughout The Roman Empire

Jesus' teachings about the growth of the kingdom were coming true. Like a mustard seed, the Christian faith was small in the beginning, but it grew larger and larger. The ONE faith spread throughout the world like a forest fire on a hot, windy day.

From Jerusalem, the Good News spread to Judea, Samaria, Ethiopia, Caesarea, Antioch, Asia Minor, and Europe. Wherever the Good News was preached, the word of the Lord spread in a powerful way causing more and more people to believe.

Jesus was the offspring (seed) of Abraham through whom all nations of the earth are blessed (Genesis 22:18; Acts 3:25-26; Galatians 3:16).

Conclusion

Now we understand what the kingdom of God is. The Messiah's kingdom is spiritual, unlike the kingdoms of men. Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). The church and the kingdom began together and are inseparably interdependent, but they are not the same, much as the mind and a person began together and are inseparably interdependent, but they are not the same. The original word translated kingdom means government, rule, or reign. The kingdom is the government of the church (Colossians 1:13). The church members are the subjects of the kingdom.

The easiest verse to see this distinction is: Luke 17:21: "Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." The kingdom is invisible; government (rule) is invisible; it is the reign of law over subjects. The church members are people who are NOT invisible, the subjects of the kingdom, the body of Christ (Matthew 16:18-19; 1 Corinthians 12:27). "The kingdom is within you." The government of God enters the heart of each believing person when they repent and are baptized into Christ.

God accepts anyone, in any nation, who worships Him and does what is right. You can become a follower of the King. God is calling you by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14). It doesn't matter who you are or where you live. To God, every person is important. Please answer His call and become just a Christian (Acts 11:26).