Verses 1-4
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All of the believers were involved in spreading the gospel to others, and they did this no matter where they were scattered.
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In fact, Saul's persecution against them, which caused them to scatter, made the gospel spread even further. Persecution is good for the church.
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If you are a believer, you are tasked with sharing your faith. You should be able to talk about Jesus with anyone that you must. Practice this.
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You can try street evangelism, you can talk to your coworkers more intentionally, and you can reach out to unbelieving family members or friends to build more intentional relationship with them...Do whatever you can to conquer any fear you have of sharing your faith.
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Verses 5-13
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Miracles do help to make the spread of the gospel more effective. You can bring more people to be healed by spreading the gospel to more.
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If you have the opportunity, pray for the sick. This will build your faith, and if you see healings, it will be effective for influencing people toward Christ.
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Verses 14-18
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After a person is saved and baptized, the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon them is something separate, and it happens after salvation (Acts 2:1-4, 19:1-6).
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Verse 17. The power of the Holy Spirit is sometimes given at the same time that another believer lays hands on them in prayer.
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If you are teaching a new believer about the Holy Spirit, it is also good to lay hands on them, and ask God for them to receive it. They might receive it at that moment, and they might not.
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Ultimately, God decides when the power of the Spirit is given (Acts 15:8). It is not in your own power to give the Spirit, nor was it in the apostle's power; that's why they prayed and asked God to give the Holy Spirit. God alone gives the Spirit. You can pray that God would grant people the Spirit's power.
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Verses 19-25
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Simon thought that the apostles had power in themselves and that he could buy this power from them, rather than receiving it from God.
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Simon was formerly a sorcerer who made his money from astonishing people with his magic. This made him greedy and power-hungry in his attitude.
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Even after he believed in Jesus, he did not repent of this attitude. He wanted God's power for himself and his own fame.
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Do not seek after power for yourself. If this is your attitude, you will never receive it.
Verses 26-29
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The Spirit brings tasks to believers. It can speak to a person to lead them to specific locations where they will need to reach certain people.
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Learn to hear from the Spirit, and you too, in time, will be given tasks.
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Verses 30-34
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People who are new to the Bible will need help to understand it.
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If you know new believers or unbelievers who are interested in the Bible, it is good work to read it with them and help them understand it. Serve people this way.
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Verses 35-38
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Before baptizing a person, make sure that they want to because of their own understanding of the gospel and their own belief in Jesus.
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Do not force a person to be baptized.
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Verses 39-40
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It is in the Spirit's power to teleport a person from one place to another. Believe that this is possible! It could make you more effective.
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For now, do your best to work diligently to help others, and maybe God will give you miraculous speed in the future!
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