Guide Through the Bible has finished the first part of our Acts series, but we are continuing with Part 2 as we enter summer! Join us as we welcome a new guest teacher who will teach Part 2.
As we discussed in this blog post, in this series, we look at the record of Jesus’ continuing work as his kingdom spreads from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, turning the world upside down with Jesus. This follows the pattern established by Jesus in Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In Part 1 of the Acts Series, we looked at Jesus’ ongoing work and the spread of the Gospel in Jerusalem. We studied many powerful events, such as Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost. As the Gospel was being spread in Jerusalem, the religious leaders began to be threatened by this powerful movement and began to persecute the believers. The believers were forced to spread out, which led to the Gospel spreading to the surrounding regions of Judea and Samaria.
In Part 2, we see Jesus breaking down the walls of separation. His plan for redemption for not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles is revealed.
We focus on the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles in and around Israel, particularly in the regions of Judea and Samaria, which happened around 35-48 AD. In chapters 8-12, we see Peter and Philip emerge as the primary figures in this section.
In this episode, the big idea is that Jesus came to break down the walls that separate us. Before this time, the Gospel was mainly being proclaimed to the Jews, but through persecution, we see the church scattered and the Gospel proclaimed to the Gentiles in the regions of Judea and Samaria.
In this episode, we teach on the amazing conversion of Paul. A man who persecuted Christians faced the reality of Jesus. This reveals that the Gospel invites: God calls whom He chooses, based not on how deserving they are, but on His divine purpose.
Trulan teaches how God’s redemption plan involves the Gentiles. The Gospel reveals that Jesus came not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles. This is exemplified in Peter’s vision in Acts 10. Cornelius, a Roman centurion, receives salvation, and this is a seismic shift for the Jews.
We discuss the imprisonment of Peter, and his miraculous release. This episode shows the need for prayer, and the power that can be displayed through a church that is united in prayer.
Trulan Martin is the Bible teacher for Part 2 of the Acts series. Trulan is a brother-in-law to our host, Anthony High, and is an associate pastor at Womelsdorf Mennonite Church. He has been in this role for 14 years, and he is a husband and father to 8 children. He enjoys music, particularly singing and playing acoustic guitar.
Trulan is passionate about Bible teaching because he sees God’s word like a living organism in the natural world. He says, “The closer you examine it, the more beautiful it becomes. Not only that, but I have also found that God meets me and speaks to me most often and most clearly when I study the Bible deeply.” This love for God’s word has led him to be fascinated by the history and stories of the church’s beginnings, particularly Paul’s early ministry and the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles.
