Reflection on Acts - They Spoke the Word of the Lord to Him

It is good to read Acts carefully time and again to study what the apostles preached in the days after Jesus' ascension. 

Acts 16:32 summed it all up perfectly - they spoke the word of the Lord. 


Acts recorded numerous accounts of the apostles' "sermon" - some records being more detailed than the others. 

Some of the detailed accounts, where what was spoken was recorded, includes: 

  1. Of course, the famous sermons by Apostle Peter in Acts 2 (in response to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit) and in Acts 3 (in response to the miraculous healing of the lame man)
  2. Stephen's address when he was accused in Acts 7
  3. Philip beginning at this Scripture (Isa 53), preached Jesus (Acts 8:35) to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. 
  4. Peter speaking to Cornelius and all those who were present with him before God, to hear all the things commanded Peter by God (Acts 10:33) in Acts 10
  5. Paul's word of exhortation for the people (Acts 13:15) at Antioch in Pisidia in Acts 13
  6. Paul and Silas' word of the Lord (Acts 16:32) to the Philippian jailer in Acts 16
  7. Paul's reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jews at Thessalonica, explaining and demonstrating (Acts 17:2-3) in Acts 17
  8. Paul's address to the men of Athens in the midst of the Areopagus in Acts 17
  9. Paul's conversation with the disciples in Ephesus in Acts 19


My favorite description, though, has to be the "sermon" in Acts 17. 

Let's take a look at this short sermon record (Acts 17:2-3) from two bible translations: NKJV and TPT. 

NKJV Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”

TPT As they customarily did, they went to the synagogue to speak to the Jews from the Torah scrolls. For three weeks Paul challenged them by explaining the truth and proving to them the reality of the gospel—that the Messiah had to suffer and die, then rise again from among the dead. He made it clear to them, saying, “I come to announce to you that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah!”


When I read this, I picture Apostle Paul holding the Scriptures (in the form of scrolls nonetheless). Going from verse to verse, this was what he did - reasoning, explaining, demonstrating and proving the truth of the gospel. 

And THIS is preaching in its simplest form - I come to announce and preach Jesus. And this Jesus whom I preach is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ! 


As we know, we are all called to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). 

And we have good examples of what this preaching should look like from the book of Acts. 


1) One good reference is the words of the Apostle Paul to the believers in Antioch in Acts 13:32. 

And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers.

Source: Internet

In NLT, it is translated And now we are here to bring you this Good News. Indeed, we are here in this world to bring to those around us this Good News - that the promises in the Scriptures have been fulfilled. 


2) Another good reference is what the Apostle Paul did when he was wrongly accused. 

The Apostle Paul simply recounted his life. From his early life in the beginning to his miraculous conversion to what he was doing at the time. 

As he explained to Festus, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason." (Acts 26:25). 

In the TPT, the Apostle Paul continued on to say: "...none of these things have escaped your notice. After all, it’s not like it was a secret!" (Acts 26:26) He simply told the people what had happened. 


Beloved in Christ, speaking the word of the Lord to those around us doesn't have to be difficult or intimidating. Simply start by sharing the good news of Jesus (Who, What, When, Why and How) and by testifying of what He has done for you and to you in your life. 

Let us bring glad tidings to our world! 

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