By Dr. Kerry Knight, Emerald Beach Church of Christ
I love history, especially Bible history. The Book of Acts in your Bible is a record of the events that took place from the ascension of Christ through the preaching ministry of the Apostle Paul. All along the way we are introduced to extraordinary characters who upon hearing the gospel preached were converted to Christ. The converts would include Jews, Romans, proselytes, and Greeks. Some were men, others were women. The Greek word, convert, involves turning away from the past and turning to the Savior. The past of many of them was either Judaism or Paganism. Joy seemed to prevail around every conversion. For example, in Acts 2 verse 41, it says, “those who GLADLY received his word were baptized.” In Acts 8 verse 39, the text follows Philipp as he teaches a man from Ethiopia. “Now when they came up out of the water; the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way REJOICING. In the 16th chapter of Acts we witness the salvation of a Roman jailer. In verse 25 we read, “but at midnight Paul and Silas were PRAYING AND SINGING PRAISES to God…”. The Jailer would ask these men of God, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Then in verse 31 and 33: “So they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and immediately he and all his family were baptized.”
These are just a few examples in the New Testament of those who gave their lives to Christ and it was always associated with Rejoicing. I want to challenge you to read through this wonderful book called the Acts of the Apostles. It also gives you the history behind the beginning of the Lord’s church. It will truly bless your life.
