Bible Verse of the Day Sunday August 6th 2023

Acts 2:19-20 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

Paul's epistles were written to specific people or churches to teach Christian doctrine, give warning, impart correction, deliver reassurance, communicate teaching in righteousness, and counsel how Christians should conduct their lives. Many Biblical scholars and Christian historians believe that Luke wrote the letter that became the book of Acts to the Roman Emperor that would sit in the earthly Judgment of Paul. This remarkable book begins with the history of the birth of the Christian Church on the day of Pentecost and ends with Paul being under house arrest in Rome while awaiting his trial before Ceasar. In this extraordinary book, Doctor Luke writes in detail about the development of the early Christian growth through the continents of Asia and Europe and the perils and tribulations the early Christians faced. 

 

In the book, Luke gives precise details on Paul's missionary journeys and the many people who came to know Christ through Paul and his missionary partners. The Book of Acts has two sections, the "we" section, and the "they" section. In studying the Book of Acts, you will find specific areas where Luke uses the term "they did this, or they did that," while in other sections, Luke says, "We did this, or we did that." The difference between the “they” and “we” sections is that Luke traveled with Paul's missionary team on certain occasions and was absent from others. 

 

In today's verse (Acts 2:19-20), Luke is quoting Joel 2:29-31 to emphasize the coming of the Holy Spirit that leads, guides, and directs our every step. God's Holy Spirit carries out this mission if we surrender to Christ Jesus and the leading of His Holy Spirit. The quote from Joel 2 was part of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. This sermon was the first message ever preached at a Christian service, and it would do us all well to read it occasionally. There is no question that the power of that message came from Christ Jesus because about three thousand people surrendered their hearts and souls to Christ Jesus that day. This great miracle did not occur because of Peter's excellent oratory skills; it happened because everyone that day completely surrendered their hearts, minds, bodies, and souls to Christ Jesus and His last command to all Christians before He ascended to Heaven.

 

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."