On Sunday evenings we have been discussing the conversion accounts in Acts. Luke, the only Gentile author of Scripture, records the rapid spread of Christianity in the first century from Pentecost until Paul reaches Rome. He records the establishment of the church on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Three thousand souls were added to the church on that occasion. (Acts 2:41.) Afterwards, thousands of others were redeemed by the blood of Christ when they obeyed the Gospel. As early as Acts 4:4, Luke says that the number of men which believed were about five thousand.

One valuable thing that we learn from Luke’s history of the early church is what lost people did to have their sins washed away. There are seven major accounts of conversions (Acts 2, 8a, 8b, 9, 10, 16, 19) and others told with less detail (like Acts 18:8, 16:14-15). We have clear, simple accounts of what we should do in order to become God’s people. No one can say that they did not understand what to do or believe. Listen to the clarity of this statement: "The Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized." (Acts 18:8.) Or, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38.) Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16.) See also John 3:1-10.

Here are some things that I have noticed in reading again this material in Acts about conversion and obedience to the Gospel.

From the beginning of Acts to the end, the apostles preached and sinners obeyed the Gospel in the midst of a raging storm. It was not always as peaceful as the setting outside Philippi down by the river where Lydia and the women met for prayer. (Acts 16:12-15.) Lydia and her household were baptized. The most common setting was one of controversy.

Recall these examples of difficulty and a raging storm whirling about the spread of the Gospel. Early after the church was established, the Jewish leaders commanded the apostles not to preach in Jesus’ name any longer in Jerusalem. (Acts 4:18.) When many from both the Jews and Greeks obeyed the Gospel, the Greeks murmured about their widows being neglected in the distribution of food. This was primarily a racial conflict between Jews and Greeks. (Acts 6:1.) A storm of controversy arose around Stephen, one of the seven appointed to take care of the widows, because he spoke the Gospel with such boldness and wisdom. The audience was so outraged at Stephen that they stoned him to death. (Acts 7:59-60.) Saul was an accomplice to this crime of stoning an innocent man. (Acts 8:1.) This young radical Jewish intellectual bound believers and cast them into prison. Saul was breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord. (Acts 9:1.) There was constant debate over the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees believed it; the Sadducees did not. (Acts 23:8.) This doctrine was a prominent part of the proclamation of the Gospel. In order to be justified, one must believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. (Acts 2:32, 10:39-41.) After Saul’s conversion, the Jews followed him everywhere making it difficult for him to preach and for others to obey the Gospel. In addition, conflicts over the conversion of Gentiles disrupted their work and sought to confuse what was required. A counsel of the apostles and elders was held in Jerusalem to discuss the question. (Acts 15.)

Some Jews at Thessalonica remarked, "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also." (Acts 17:6.) The Gospel caused a storm of controversy. We should not be surprised when that happens. The Gospel is like a hammer, a two-edged sword, and a fire. It is contrary to sin, rebellion and all evil.

Paul and Barnabas returned to some of the cities "confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22.)

This description of the difficulties facing both the preachers and those desiring to obey the Gospel is helpful for us. We too face controversies and difficulties in making that monumental decision to become a follower of Christ. What we face today will not be exactly like those in the first century, but they will be similar. You may face:

1. An internal conflict between the flesh and the spirit. (Gal. 5:17.) A storm may rage within your mind. I have observed it happening. Sometimes the person is able to settle the conflict in favor of the spirit, but others choose to follow the flesh.
2. A storm of controversy may rage intellectually within you. You may find it difficult to be a believer based upon the testimony of others. You may find the arguments of unbelieving scientists to be persuasive. Young college and university students get caught up in this storm. Faith makes them look stupid; unbelief seems to agree with those who are intellectual. One man who wrote brother Bert Thompson said that he did not want to be a fool. (Psalm 53:1, 1 Cor. 1:18.)
3. You may have conflicts with your family. Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be those of his own household. He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt. 10:34-37.)
4. There will be many religious decisions to make. Like the dispute over the resurrection and the Law of Moses, you too must make some important choices in religious debates. Is baptism non-essential or essential? Which church should I embrace in our divided religious world? Should I seek after miraculous spiritual gifts? Should I honor the Pope as Christ’s representative on earth? Should I become a Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jew or Christian? Is Jesus of Nazareth the Son of God? Did He live without sin? How devoted or religious should I be?

We live in this kind of complex world. In the midst of storms raging all around you, you must make your choice about salvation. No one can make it for you. It is about your eternal destiny. You will be judged. Your family and friends will not be judged for you.

In reading the account of the work of the apostles and the early church, people made a decision rather quickly about their salvation. They did not understand everything that was involved, but they launched out into the deep by faith in God. There would be many other decisions that they would make later, but for now this one about obeying the Gospel was important.

Luke recorded that the Jews on Pentecost upon hearing Peter obeyed the Gospel that day. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41.) Concerning the Philippian jailor, Luke recorded that Paul "took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and they were baptized, he and all his, straightway." (Acts 16:33.) The Hebrew writer wrote about another day, not the Sabbath Day. This other day when people would not linger and harden their hearts is Today. "Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Heb. 4:7.) Paul wrote, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee. Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2, Isa. 49:8.) Jesus told a story about planting seeds on four different kinds of hearts. On one kind, the seed could not sink down into the soil because it was wayside soil. Satan came and took the seed away. (Luke 8:12.) The same will happen to you if you linger and disobey.

Some are like Lot in the city of Sodom. When told by angels to flee the city, the Bible says that he lingered. The angels had to drag him and his family outside the city to keep them from being destroyed in the destruction of the city. If sinners today linger, they too will be destroyed in the city of sin. The only explanation for why people today do not hasten to obey the Gospel and be made free from sin is because of unbelief and a love for sin. You must choose between sin and righteousness, being lost or saved, living with God or being separated from him eternally.

It naturally follows that when the great spiritual conflict is resolved in the right way and one receives the forgiveness of sins, there is a great peace and calm that will follow. Here are some expressions of that peace:

"And they continuing daily and one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:46-47.)

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. And they knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13.)

"And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face (Stephen’s) as it had been the face of an angel." (Acts 6:15.) Stephen cried with a loud voice when he was being stoned to death, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (7:60.)

"The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that the eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing." (Acts 8:39.)

"And the multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. When they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them." (Acts 16:22-25.) Isn’t it interesting that the prisoners were the ones bound in his heart, but Paul and Silas were free?

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36.)

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:21.)

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Eph. 4:14-15.)

"Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7.) Those still in sin cannot know this peace.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27.)

Someone described the peace that Christians can have as a contented bird in its nest. But the tree in which the nest is built is being blown back and forth with a violent wind. The bird is at peace in the midst of the storm.