By the author: "In writing the commentary on Acts, I came to see a powerful and compelling story of the early church. After Jesus's death, his followers did not engage in violent behaviour or protest in the streets. Instead, they grieved, gathered in a room, and waited. When the Holy Spirit came upon them, its power was directed toward unity and overcoming differences. This theme resonates throughout Acts, and I have learned to carry it forward in my life. 

So little of the early church's focus was on statements of belief or doctrinal debates. Instead, it was about mutual support and helping people in need. Even when the ekklesia (the assembly or church) in Jerusalem debated what spiritual principles the Gentiles might follow, the discussion was directed toward practical issues. They did not require them to believe certain things about Jesus's life and death, but simply to follow his Way as the key to a liberated life. What truly impressed me was the way the church received Saul after he had persecuted them. Barnabus vouched for the genuineness of his conversion, and he was welcomed, becoming a powerful voice for Jesus. This commitment to living in peace is the defining nature of the Gospel as I have come to understand it. 

The apostles held to the belief that Jesus rose from the dead, and I believe Paul got to experience the fruits of this in his own life. The old life he lived, committed to the way of violence and death, was completely renewed in Christ. Paul experienced a resurrected life, and this is why he became such a committed missionary. He knew the power of Christ to transform lives and invited people to experience this for themselves. I have learned that when we make following Jesus only about subscribing to a set of beliefs, we miss the opportunity to experience these things in our lives. I have come to see this in my own relationships, as I've seen lives transformed by the opportunity to experience resurrection. People who have been abused and experienced trauma come to know the freedom of letting these old stories go and allowing the Spirit of Christ to reveal new truths about them. Being willing to let ourselves no longer be defined by the things we have said and done, or had said and done to us, is powerful and opens us up to living in a way we might never have deemed possible. 

I have increasingly come to see that Jesus operated according to an attraction model. We are called to live in a way that is attractive to others and leads them to be curious about what we believe. Look at Paul, who was initially treated with suspicion because of his reputation for violence, yet became known as a beloved brother. By the end of Acts, people are crying because Paul is about to leave them. This is truly what we are called to become in the world, and why Jesus says the fruits of our faith matter." 

Published: October 23, 2025