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Tag: God

He distinctly saw an angel of God
“Cornelius!” the angel said.

Cornelius stared at him in terror.

“What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.

ACTS 10:4 of angels

Sir, yes Sir!?!

ACTS 10: of an angel & a Roman warrior

What an unlikely scene in this new missionary journey of Twelve Jewish Apostles of JESUS the Messiah of Israel.

Luke records an encounter of a Roman soldier, Cornelius, with an angel of God!

Previously, we left Peter in Joppa, where the Apostle has just performed another resurrection.

We will get to Cornelius and then Peter; but TODAY I would like us to consider the role of an angel of God in the mission of the Church.

A missionary moment with a timeless messenger

Man, even a prophet or an Apostle, is mortal – spirit adorned in flesh with beating heart tirelessly churning the blood of life from limb to limb.

We know the nature of a fellow being of dust whom we meet in the street.

But what of an angel?

How would you and I react to such an encounter with that which is unlike us – an angel – a living being created of spirit without flesh and bone, an eternal messenger who may appear to mankind only once in many lifetimes?

What do we really know about angels?

Angels in art have blurred our view of truth, eternity and the messengers of the Lord our God.
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com
- What do YOU think?
We cannot take time here for an exhaustive quest for God-sent angels or an unveiling of messengers veiled in darkness, but let’s glance at the evidence of angels in the Bible.

What do you know about them?

Angels in a Biblical Context
- Question: What book of the Bible makes the most mentions of an angel (or angels)?
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If you guessed: The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John [51x in the KJV]
you would be correct. (But that's a scene somewhat challenging for any to get a clear picture of an angel in its usual mission for the Lord.)
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- What about all the angels in Luke’s Gospel announcing Jesus’ birth?
  - Pretty good guess. [15x KJV] But it comes in fifth.
  - Two Old Testament Books come in at #3 and #4.
    Any guesses? [hint: one is a Prophet]
    CLICK HERE for that answer [19x]
- TWO books of the Bible, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament, contain the most references (second only to Revelation) to an angel or angels).
- DO YOU KNOW WHAT THESE TWO BOOKS REFERRING TO ANGELS HAVE IN COMMON?
Answer:

History.
- #3 is Judges
  - & you have probably guessed..
- #2 is ACTS of the Apostles.
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So before we proceed with our look at an angel bringing messages to Cornelius, Peter and others, let's take a brief glance at what the Bible reveals about these messengers of God.
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מַלְאָךְ

mal’āḵ – From an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy
1. messenger
2. angel
3. the theophanic angel
a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher):—ambassador, angel, king, messenger.
Strong’s H4397 – mal’āḵ

An angel may be a heavenly being with a message from God.

BUT a man such as Zechariah (or the Apostle John) may also bring a commanded message and/or a prophetic message of the future from the Lord.

We see this many times:
- And the angel H4397 of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
- And Jacob went on his way, and the angels H4397 of God met him.
- And Jacob sent messengers H4397 before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
We needn’t debate if these angels of specific instances were men or heavenly beings; the point is that these angels bring a message of God to men and women for whom He cares.

וַיַּעַל מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָה מִן־הַגִּלְגָּל אֶל־הַבֹּכִים פ וַיֹּאמֶר אַעֲלֶה אֶתְכֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם וָאָבִיא אֶתְכֶם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם וָאֹמַר לֹֽא־אָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתְּכֶם לְעוֹלָֽם׃
CLICK FOR ENGLISH TRANSLATION FROM HEBREW: Shoftim (Judges) 2:1 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)
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Would you like to READ an encounter from the Old Testament between an angel and the parents of Samson?
CLICK HERE FOR JUDGES 13 CSB with ten references to this angel.
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Angel in the New Testament

ἄγγελος – angelos
- The KJV translates Strong’s G32 in the following manner:
  - angel (179x),
  - messenger (7x).
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

STRONGS G32:
ἄγγελος, -ου, ὁ,
1. a messenger, envoy, one who is sent: Matthew 11:10; Luke 7:24, 27; Luke 9:52; Mark 1:2; James 2:25. [From Homer down.]
2. In the Scriptures, both of the Old Testament and of the New Testament, one of that host of heavenly spirits that, according alike to Jewish and Christian opinion, wait upon the monarch of the universe, and are sent by him to earth, now to execute his purposes (Matthew 4:6, 11; Matthew 28:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 16:22; Luke 22:43
ἄγγελος θεός – angelos theos

AN ANGEL OF GOD

Acts 10:3 (and other passages) referenced by Thayer’s Greek Lexicon [above]

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
sent by him to earth, now to execute his purposes

hence, the frequent expressions ἄγγελος (angel, messenger of God, מַלְאָך) and ἄγγελοι κυρίου or ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ.

They are subject not only to God but also to Christ (Hebrews 1:4ff; 1 Peter 3:22, cf. Ephesians 1:21; Galatians 4:14), who is described as hereafter to return to judgment surrounded by a multitude of them as servants and attendants: Matthew 13:41, 49; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:31; Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7, cf. Jude 1:14.

Up until now, we have encountered an angel seven times in Acts of the Apostles.

What is your COMMENT about any similarities and differences between these seven angels we have met so far in ACTS of the Apostles?

NEXT: Cornelius and the Angel of God
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in ACTS 10: [click for NASB]
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March 30, 2022
INTRO to our Story of The Gardener, the Shepherd and the Hunter
INTRODUCTION: Once upon a time...

I love a story that begins, Once upon a time, don’t you?

Your parents may have used different names for stories like this:
- Fairy Tales, Fables, Adventures, Fantasies, Science fiction. (I think Disney has a ‘LAND‘ for every one of them.)
- Romances… (You know, “.. AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.”)
- SuperHERO stories, cartoons, comics, games, and movies.
As a parent if I were to tell you our secret about any ‘Once upon a time‘ STORY, then I must confess that even though we call them CHILDREN’S STORIES, almost EVERY parent loves these stories too.

‘Once upon a time‘ STORIES are FICTION.

That is to say, they are NOT TRUE. And even some grown-ups forget that.

BUT.. these stories may tell an important truth to us.

ANY STORY may include an illustration of times in life beyond the bounds of time and place – a picture of some person at some time in some place that we cannot see, hear or touch.

These stories may have men or women, boys or girls..

sometimes even animals we might like to be like.. or must be careful not to be..

or worse yet, those people, creatures and things we must stay away from altogether.

HEROES or VILLAINS (good or bad) may have been like someone we know (or don’t want to know). They may be just like real people who lived ‘once upon a time’ who we have never met.

THIS ‘once upon a time’ story, although it is FICTION, also includes some NON-FICTION characters at times – men and women who teach us good things for these times from their REAL lives a time long ago.. or even a time after any of us can imagine.

Parables, Allegories, Myths and more
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As part of my introduction to The Gardener, the Shepherd and the Hunter my intent is not to instruct you in literature, but rather to provoke additional thought about Scripture and my serial story which follows. - Roger Harned
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a Parable

You have read or heard many parables, especially those told by JESUS, written down for our instruction in the Gospels of the Bible.
- DID JESUS REALLY SEE THESE THINGS HAPPEN?
  - NO, I think. (I cannot be certain.)
- DO THE PARABLES OF JESUS illustrate TRUTH?
  - YES, Jesus paints pictures in His Words of absolute inviolable truths.
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I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will tell riddles of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not conceal them from their children,
But we will tell the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His power and His wondrous works that He has done. 
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CLICK HERE FOR ALL of Psalm 78 – A contemplative, moral instructive song of Asaph.
Listen, my people, to my instruction;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

an Allegory
- a story, play, picture, etc. in which each character or event is a symbol representing an idea or a quality, such as truth, evil, death, etc.
  - – source: the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
Some Bible Stories are allegories.

The Holy Bible also contains fictional truths told as allegories in addition to many oral (or verbal) histories — each told, then later recorded in writing, as accounts of TRUE history, i.e. non-fiction.
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I believe that Moses' creation narrative may be an allegory -- a most accurate illustration of the truths of God and creation, good and evil; 
a screenshot outside of time (to update his picture) of THAT WHICH NO MAN can see of life (eternal or otherwise) and death.
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Theologians have debated such truths of the Bible for millennia; but we must not dismiss God’s Truth by any misconception of man which debates the literal and symbolic of any of God’s Scripture. – RH
Your COMMENT is welcome about God, Creation, Moses, JESUS or the Bible.
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

The Gardener, the Shepherd and the Hunter

The story I introduce here today is neither parable or allegory, but quotes Biblical truth.

However, if you would like to sample a classic allegory from English literature, check out the best-loved Christian allegory of all time:

CLICK HERE to READ this classic English allegory,

“The Pilgrim’s Progress”

Myths and Fables
- myth –
- a story from ancient times, especially one that was told to explain natural events or to describe the early history of a people; this type of story; SYNONYM legend
  - ancient Greek myths
  - a creation myth (= that explains how the world began)
  - the heroes of myth and legend
    source: the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
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Permit me just one comment on this widely accepted definition of myth:  

Ancient Greek, Roman and eastern religion myths include gods (idols), legendary heroes (often gods or early icons of the faith), and a creation myth which includes one or more of the above. 

Many will attempt to dismiss ALL explanations of creation as false BECAUSE THESE ARE 'CREATION MYTHS;' however one explanation of creation must be TRUE (for the heavens and earth exist). 
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The stories of the LORD GOD and creation describe life beyond the bounds of time and place;
therefore creatures that we are, man can neither prove nor refute the eternal and immeasurable beyond this brief mortal life.
Roger@TalkofJESUS.com
- fables
- a fictitious narrative or statement: such as
  - a legendary story of supernatural happenings
  - a narration intended to enforce a useful truth
    especially : one in which animals speak and act like human beings
  - FALSEHOOD, LIE
  - source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary,
Fantasies

Many will know of or have read a famous Christian fantasy:

visit Narnia.com

C.S. Lewis also tells a favorite of mine appropriate for teens and especially adults, a story about two devils: Screwtape and his bumbling apprentice, Wormwood.
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C.S. Lewis delves into moral questions about good v. evil, temptation, repentance and grace. - source:
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A TIMELESS CLASSIC ON ‘HELL’S LATEST NOVELTIES AND HEAVEN’S UNANSWERABLE ANSWER’.

our Story of Three Characters
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It's up to you to solve the mystery of each to learn who they are.
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The Gardener, the Shepherd and the Hunter

NEXT: ACT 1: The Gardener
March 26, 2022
Philip: Preaching to Good and Bad Samaritans
ACTS of Philip the Evangelist

Φίλιππος Philip who?
Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod [Antipas] was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis ..

(No, not that Philip, whose wife Herodias his brother Herod Antipas took as his own wife.)
Jesus chose Twelve Apostles at the beginning His ministry in Galilee. The Apostle Philip was one of the Twelve.
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Philip has been an Apostle for about five years now.
The year c. A.D. 32 or 33.
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- (But it’s not that Philip, either. Don’t get confused like I did.)
When Simon Peter healed a lame man and spoke at Solomon’s Portico just two years ago, Philip would have observed the entire miracle. (Actually, two men named Philip may have been present.)

Our other brother Philip 🙂

As we learned in An Apostolic Model: Administration of a Growing Church from Acts 6:

As the church grew rapidly, the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples, asking them to choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to lead in ministering to the Church: Steven, Philip and five others.
- (Yes, this other brother Philip, a leading deacon of the Church, second in the list of seven, is known as Philip the Evangelist.)
So now after Stephen’s trial, the Church in Jerusalem faces imminent persecution.

Philip heads back north through the mountains of Judea, traveling one of their usual routes to Galilee through Samaria.

Samaria was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, and again by the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus in 108 B.C. The city was rebuilt by Herod the Great between the years 30–27 B.C. According to Josephus, Herod expanded and renovated the city, bringing in 6,000 new inhabitants, and renamed it “Sebastia” in the emperor’s honor (translating the Latin epithet Augustus to Greek Sebastos, “venerable”). – Source: Wikipedia

Acts 8:
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We will return to Luke's chronology shortly, but lets begin with a parallel timeline from his account of events in *Sebastia from the perspective of its people.
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The ‘not so good’ *Samaritan

..there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery [μαγεύω] in the city and astonished the people of *Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”

μάγος – magus
- the name given by the Babylonians (Chaldeans), Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augers, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.
- the oriental wise men (astrologers) who, having discovered by the rising of a remarkable star that the Messiah had just been born, came to Jerusalem to worship him
- a false prophet and sorcerer
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Luke had begun his account with Philip's departure from Jerusalem following the execution of Stephen.
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Philip went down to the city of Samaria
and began proclaiming the [Messiah] Christ to them.
ACTS of the Apostles 8:5 NASB20
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Philip leaves for *Samaria fully aware its reputation. He's been there before and passed through the town many times. And Jesus had illustrated general Jewish thought about this city and these northern tribes in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
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Miracles and Signs by Philip

6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed;

Philip, along with the Apostles and many other disciples following the Lord had witnessed Jesus’ power to command evil spirits. Peter healed a lame man in Jerusalem, just one of several Apostolic signs of power. Now we learn of Philip’s miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit.

and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
ACTS (of the Apostle philip) 8:7b – NKJV

GOOD vs. EVIL!

Scripture records several contests similar to Philip’s opposition. Some of these contests between God (good) and evil have taken place on this very mountain where Philip encounters Simon Magus.

False prophets and idolaters deceive others by spirits (i.e. demons, devils, angels) from all that is evil.

Our 21st century Christian minds easily dismiss powers we cannot explain.
- Do you really believe in such powers of the spiritual realms?
Acts reveals the Power of the Holy Spirit [πνεῦμα].
- “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit G4151; you are doing just as your fathers did. – Acts 7:51
- But he, being full of the Holy Spirit G4151, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God – Acts 7:55
- They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit G4151!” – Acts 7:59
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The HOLY SPIRIT of the ONE GOD, WHO IS One with God the Father and the One begotten Son Christ Jesus, works for good in the hearts and lives of sinful men and women like us once we turn to Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
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- Acts of the Apostles is a first century account of a continuing battle between Good and Evil.
- The Good News (Gospel) of the Lord’s death and resurrection is that JESUS will win this war.
Simon Covets Philip’s Power
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Of course this power is not from Philip, but from the Holy Spirit.
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11 They [the Samaritans] were attentive to him {Simon] because he had amazed them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip, as he proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

13 Even Simon himself believed. And after he was baptized, he followed Philip everywhere and was amazed as he observed the signs and great miracles that were being performed.
- Philip’s signs are more powerful than the power of Simon Magus, who the Samaritans called, ‘the great power of God!’
  - Was Simon’s baptism a complete turning from evil and a permanent cleansing?
  - Did Simon receive the Holy Spirit
    
    (even as Ananias and Saphira had claimed, yet sought to deceive the Holy Spirit and other believers)?
  - Luke tell us: 16 ‘They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
    
    Baptism alone does not make you any more faithful to Jesus than Ananias and Saphira OR Judas.
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Philip continues teaching of new believers in Samaria with great success.
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Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem..

14 When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

Why Peter and John?

About eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
Luke 9:28 NASB20

Peter, James and John know the Person of Jesus more intimately than the other nine Apostles.
1. These three comprised an inner-circle of leadership for the Lord Jesus.
2. The Twelve in turn lead other disciples (hundreds of them at times), so that now these Apostles lead a growing Church.
The Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven! (At the conclusion of Luke’s Gospel and opening of ACTS of the Apostles, leadership passes to them.)

Simon Peter leads this inner circle of the Apostles, all of the Twelve (including Mathias), Jerusalem’s seven deacons (including Stephen and Philip); and NOW [c. A.D. 33] many disciples of Jesus beyond Jerusalem as they, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel.’

Peter and John join Philip in Samaria

ACTS 8:15 After they went down there, they prayed for them so that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit because he had not yet come down on any of them..

Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- Apparently Simon is not of one accord with these new believers in Samaria. So the magician has missed out on the blessings of the Holy Spirit;
  - But the powerful always covet more power.
18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying,
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“Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
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If Simon’s story had ended here
- Would you recognize this false prophet, a teacher with power?
  - Do you realize that such a man must bow down to the LORD God or face judgment with eternal consequence?
- Does Scripture not warn us how to handle such sheep in the designer clothing of wolves?
ACTS of the First Century Church

Stephen had just called out such false leaders in Jerusalem! For two years now the Apostles have demonstrated signs from God to Jerusalem’s leaders. Revenge and persecution fill its political streets.

These leaders of the Great City of religion misused Scripture. AND false accusation meant to silence opposition to the Truth of the Gospel, resulted in their false leadership condemning Stephen to death!

The Lord Jesus Christ had warned of others to come. Simon Magnus could have been one of the first.

“And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people.

Gospel of Matthew 24:11 NASB20

Peter’s Reaction to Simon

YOU want such power, right? To make a lame man stand? Heal someone’s cancer? Help someone paralyzed with pain to get up and walk once more? Even to save a young man or woman from death? (Stephen was just thirty years old)

So did Simon, who like so many just offered to pay Peter for such POWER.

“Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
ACTS 8:19 NIV – Simon’s request to Peter

PETER would have none of it.

20 But Peter replied,

“May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God.
Acts of the Apostles 8:20-21 NLT

Is YOUR heart right with God?

8:21 οὐκ ἔστιν σοι μερὶς οὐδὲ κλῆρος ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ ἡ γὰρ καρδία σου οὐκ ἔστιν εὐθεῖα ἔναντι τοῦ θεοῦ

²¹وَلَيْسَ لَكَ حِصَّةٌ أوْ نَصِيبٌ فِي هَذَا الأمْرِ، لِأنَّ قَلْبَكَ لَيْسَ سَلِيمًا أمَامَ اللهِ. ²²فَتُبْ عَنْ شَرِّكَ هَذَا وَصَلِّ إلَى الرَّبِّ، لَعَلَّهُ يُسَامِحُكَ عَلَى الفِكرَةِ الآثِمَةِ الَّتِي فِي قَلْبِكَ. ²³فَأنَا أرَاكَ مُمتَلِئًا مَرَارَةً وَعَبدًا لِلخَطِيَّةِ.»

ACTS of Repentance

“Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours,
and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you.
Acts of the Apostles 8:22 NASB20 – Peter’s admonition to Simon Magnus

23 for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”

24 “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”

Returning to the scene of the crimes against Christ and His Church:

25 After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.
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ACTS of Philip (the Deacon Evangelist): TO BE CONTINUED...
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February 1, 2022