The Sunday School Lesson The Expanding Church by David McGee
Jul 10, 2022
The Expanding Church (39:20)
Referenced Scriptures: Acts 8:1-40; Acts 9:32-43; Acts 10:1-48
Audio
Click To View Notes & Scriptures
-
The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Acts 8:1-40
1) Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
2) Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.
3) But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
4) Therefore those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word.
5) Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
6) The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did.
7) For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
8) There was great joy in that city.
9) But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who had used sorcery in the city before, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,
10) to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is that great power of God."
11) They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
12) But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13) Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles done, he was amazed.
14) Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15) who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
16) for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17) Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18) Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles‘ hands, he offered them money,
19) saying, "Give me also this power, that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit."
20) But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21) You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn‘t right before God.
22) Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23) For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity."
24) Simon answered, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken come on me."
25) They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
26) But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert."
27) He arose and went. Behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
28) He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29) The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot."
30) Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand you what you are reading?"
31) He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
32) Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, So he doesn‘t open his mouth.
33) In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generations? For his life is taken from the earth."
34) The eunuch answered Philip, "Please tell who the prophet is talking about: about himself, or about some other?"
35) Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
36) As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?"
37)
38) He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
39) When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn‘t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.
40) But Philip was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 9:32-43
32) It happened, as Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33) There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed.
34) Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!" Immediately he arose.
35) All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36) Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
37) It happened in those days that she fell sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38) As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
39) Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.
40) Peter put them all out, and kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41) He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42) It became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43) It happened, that he stayed many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
Acts 10:1-48
1) Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2) a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave alms generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
3) At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, "Cornelius!"
4) He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it, Lord?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have gone up for a memorial before God.
5) Now send men to Joppa, and get one Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
6) He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside."
7) When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.
8) Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9) Now on the next day, as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, at about noon.
10) He became hungry, and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.
11) He saw heaven opened, and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet, let down by four corners on the earth,
12) in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.
13) A voice came to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat!"
14) But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
15) A voice came to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, you must not make unholy."
16) This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.
17) Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon‘s house, stood before the gate,
18) and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.
19) While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek you.
20) But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
21) Peter went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?"
22) They said, "Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.
23) So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
24) On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.
25) When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26) But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man."
27) As he talked with him, he went in, and found many come together.
28) He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn‘t call any man unholy or unclean.
29) Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?"
30) Cornelius said, "Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31) and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.
32) Send therefore to Joppa, and call to you Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.‘
33) Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God."
34) Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that God doesn‘t show favoritism,
35) but in every nation he who fears him, and works righteousness, is acceptable to him.
36) The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all):
37) that spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38) even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.
39) We are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.
40) God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,
41) not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42) He charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.
43) All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins."
44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
45) They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
46) For they heard them speak with other languages, and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47) "Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized,?"
48) He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.
The WEB Bible is provided by Public Domain.