Coppertop Sermons

Acts 8

Acts 8:1b-3: The killing of Stephen becomes the occasion for a mass persecution of the Christians. Christians become scattered. Saul, who was present at Stephen’s stoning, becomes a primary persecutor. Ironically, the action which scatters the disciples leads to the spread of the gospel.

Acts 8:4-25:
Philip now takes center stage. Philip,

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Acts 7

Acts 7:1-53: Luke has shared with us a number of early Christian “sermons,” and this will be the longest in the Book of Acts. Stephen, one of those chosen to serve, was also one who had done great wonders and signs, and was preaching. For his efforts he had been arrested and now

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Acts 5

Acts 5:1-11: These verses really comprise a section along with the closing verses of chapter 4. chapter divisions were added to the New Testament in the 13th century, and sometimes they broke up what should have been together. The positive picture of the early Jesus community in Jerusalem, where all shared their possessions

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Acts 3

Acts 3:1-11: We have just had a picture of the inner life of the Jesus community in Jerusalem. Now we will get a picture of its outreach. Peter and John (only Luke pairs these two in this way) are going to the Temple to pray. The early Christians who were also Jewish

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Acts 2

Acts 2:1-13: The New Testament writers in general affirm that after the death of Jesus his followers were united, guided and empowered by the experience of the risen Christ, who empowered them by the Holy Spirit to carry on his work. All agree that the church began not by human initiative, but in

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