As we look at the second part of Jesus' first sign at the wedding in Cana, we see that at times Jesus' work is subtle and accomplished in faithful obedience, and that He is able to do much more than we can ever anticipate.

Stronger still. The message goes forth that the gospel is enough, and the new Gentile converts do not lead to keep the Old Testament law to be saved and live in a right relationship with God. Meanwhile, Paul and Barnabas hit a rut in the road as they seek to strengthen others in the faith. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 15:22-41 | LUKE 10:1 | ECCLESIASTES 4:9 | 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 | 1 PETER 4:19 | 1 CORINTHIANS 10:25-26 | LEVITICUS 17:14 | DEUTERONOMY 12:23 | 1 PETER 1:15 | 1 THESSALONIANS 4:3-7 | ROMANS 14:19 | 1 CORINTHIANS 10:23 | 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 | 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-7 | ACTS 13:13 | ACTS 11:25 | GALATIANS 6:1 | JAMES 3:17 |

What's it worth? The question arises in the early church as to whether Jesus' free gift of salvation is really free. Some begin preaching about adding to the work of the cross in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas journey to Jerusalem to seek God's will on the matter. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 15:1-21 | ROMANS 6:23 | EPHESIANS 2:8 | 2 TIMOTHY 2:23-24 | PROVERBS 26:21 | PROVERBS 27:15 | PSALM 51:12-13 | 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 | EPHESIANS 1:13 | ROMANS 8:9 | PROVERBS 11:14 |

It can be hard to bounce back after getting knocked down. But God's grace is sufficient. Paul and Barnabas press thru to the end on their first missionary journey, and the name of Jesus is magnified. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 14:1-28 | ROMANS 3:23 | TITUS 3:5 | JOHN 14:6 | MATTHEW 10:34-36 | MARK 6:17-29 | JOHN 15:18-20 | EZEKIEL 3:17-19 | JOHN 5:5-8 | ACTS 3:6 | ISAIAH 42:8 | GENESIS 3:5 | PROVERBS 22:2 | JAMES 4:10 | PSALM 138:3 | PSALM 34:4 | HEBREWS 12:2

Get back up again. Paul shares in the synagogue at Antioch that both the death and the resurrection of Jesus were foretold. Since Jesus was raised, we can be justified and saved. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 13:27-52 | MATTHEW 5:3 | ISAIAH 55:1 | ROMANS 3:12 | ROMANS 3:23 | JOB 2:9-10 | JAMES 5:11 | GENESIS 50:20 | JOHN 5:39-40 | JOHN 19:30-34 | MATTHEW 27:22-26 | MATTHEW 28:11-15 | LUKE 24:2 | JAMES 1:2-4 | 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-7 | ACTS 1:3 | HEBREWS 10:4 | JOHN 1:29 | MATTHEW 11:28-30 | EPHESIANS 2:8-9 | ROMANS 1:16-17

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Walking with Jesus well requires the art of listening. As Paul preaches in the synagogue at the next stop on their first missionary journey, he recalls Israel's history in which listening to God is a recurring theme. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 13:12-26 | PSALM 81:13 | ROMANS 14:4 | PSALM 103:7 | PROVERBS 3:5-6 | 1 CORINTHIANS 14:26 | ROMANS 10:17 | GENESIS 11:28 | ISAIAH 51:4 | EXODUS 2:23-25 | PSALM 78:27-31 | DEUTERONOMY 8:7-20 | ROMANS 2:5 | 1 SAMUEL 1-3 | 1 SAMUEL 8 | 2 SAMUEL 7:12-13 | LUKE 1:5-25 |

And they're off! Paul and Barnabas head out on the first recorded missionary journey. They step through the open doors presented to them, but not everyone welcomes them with open arms. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 13:4-14 | ECCLESIASTES 9:11 | 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24 | ROMANS 10:1 | LUKE 18:17 | JOHN 8:36 | 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14 | MATTHEW 7:13-14 | JOHN 8:44 | 2 JOHN 1:7 | ROMANS 10:3-4 | COLOSSIANS 1:13 | EPHESIANS 5:8 | 1 JOHN 3:8 | EXODUS 34:6 | HEBREWS 12:1 | 2 TIMOTHY 4:7-8 | HEBREWS 12:12-13 |

A new wave of reaching the world begins. The Lord calls upon those who are faithful. The Holy Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul away from Antioch, directing them to step out and take the gospel forward. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 13:1-4 | JOHN 3:3-7 | 1 PETER 2:2 | HEBREWS 10:24-25 | 1 CORINTHIANS 4:2 | COLOSSIANS 4:17 | 2 TIMOTHY 4:5 | MATTHEW 25:21 | JOHN 19:30 | LUKE 23:26 | EPHESIANS 4:11-13 | ROMANS 16:21 | MATTHEW 13:8 | JOHN 4:23 |

Somebody is watching. The Lord sees the threat to the Christians as Herod uses them as political pawns to gain influence in the region. But the praying church witnesses a miraculous answer to their intercession, and God has the final word with Herod. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 12:1-45 | 2 CHRONICLES 16:9 | HEBREWS 4:13 | PSALM 91:11-12 | ROMANS 8:29 | 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 | JOHN 15:18-19 | MATTHEW 2:16 | MARK 9:1-13 | ACTS 5:17-20 | LUKE 11:1 | ROMANS 8:26-27 | JOHN 14:27 | PHILIPPIANS 4:7 | PROVERBS 17:28 | EXODUS 2:23-25 | LUKE 22:42-44 | HEBREWS 12:2 | PHILIPPIANS 3:20 | COLOSSIANS 3:1-2 | JOHN 16:24 | COLOSSIANS 4:12 | JOHN 7:2-5 | ROMANS 2:4-6 |

Not every mission is impossible. The church in Jerusalem is shocked to find out that Peter ate with Gentiles when sharing the gospel. But the Holy Spirit is moving the believers to take the message of Jesus into new territory. Jesus calls his followers to have a missions mindset. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 11:1-30 | JOHN 1:1-2 | JOHN 1:14 | 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 | ROMANS 14:1-13 | PSALM 34:8 | 1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 | MATTHEW 3:11 | MARK 1:8 | ROMANS 8:14-18 | JAMES 1:5 | GENESIS 12:3 | PSALM 22:7 | 2 CORINTHIANS 2:14 | ROMANS 10:15 | 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27 | LUKE 10:2 | ROMANS 1:16 | HEBREWS 11:6 |

The work of Jesus knows no boundaries. Peter is divinely directed to go to the home of an unlikely candidate for the gospel. He observes that power of the message of the cross knows no prejudice. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 10:1-48 | ROMANS 1:18-32 | ROMANS 2:1-16 | EPHESIANS 2:12-13 | MARK 7:15 | ROMANS 14:14-18 | EXODUS 4:15 | MARK 13:11 | JOHN 5:24 | JOHN 6:29 | ACTS 15:11 | EPHESIANS 2:8-9 | LUKE 19:10 | JAMES 2:1-9 | JOHN 16:7-8 | MATTHEW 3:8 | 1 CORINTHIANS 6:11 | JOHN 8:11 | ROMANS 4:14 | REVELATIONS 5:9

Take a look around you. It's a sphere of influence the Lord has appointed to you. Peter makes the trek to Lydda then Joppa where he discovers Jesus has expanded his sphere for the gospel. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 9:20-32 | JOHN 1:35-42 | 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 | MATTHEW 18:20 | ACTS 3:6-10 | 1 KINGS 8:19 | 1 CHRONICLES 22:8 | 1 CHRONICLES 27:25-34 | 2 CORINTHIANS 10:12-18 | JOHN 15:2 | JOHN 3:30 |

Strong enough? Saul faces new challenges as he begins to follow Jesus. The Lord is gracious to offer strength in the moment and opportunities to grow stronger for what is to come. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 9:20-31 | 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10 | MATTHEW 6:26 | GENESIS 1:29 | PSALM 145:15-16 | HEBREWS 4:15 | LUKE 7:33-34 | 2 PETER 1:3 | LUKE 24:44-45 | 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5 | MATTHEW 25:14-30 | GALATIANS 1:13-17 | 1 SAMUEL 17:33-37 | ISAIAH 40:31 | EPHESIANS 6:12 | JAMES 4:6 | 1 PETER 5:5 | PHILIPPIANS 3:4-8 | ECCLESIASTES 4:12 | MARK 6:2-5 | REVELATION 3:7-11 | EPHESIANS 3:14-21

You want me to do what, Lord? Ananias is among the scared disciples in Damascus anticipating the impending persecution as Saul is headed their way. Instead, God calls upon him to be a gracious tool to be used in Saul's story of being called to serve Jesus. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 9:10-19 | MATTHEW 28:18-20 | JEREMIAH 1:5 | MATTHEW 10:20 | GENESIS 3:10 | ACTS 1:4 | ZECHARIAH 4:1-7 | GALATIANS 2:2-3 | LUKE 11:9-13 | 2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-4 |

Anyone can change. Saul approaches Damascus with great zeal to destroy the church, only to be met with a blinding light as he encounters Jesus, loud and clear. No one would have anticipated such a dramatic change of heart, but nothing is impossible with God. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 9:1-9 | MATTHEW 5:44 | JAMES 1:2-4 | 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-18 | ROMANS 5:8 | 1 PETER 4:3-7 | ROMANS 12:2 | JOHN 14:6 | PSALM 51:4 | ROMANS 10:9-10 |

In a sea of humanity, God sees each individual. Philip leaves Samaria for the desert, where God has an appointment for him to share Jesus with an Ethiopian. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 8:26-40 | GENESIS 6:8 | EZEKIEL 22:30 | MATTHEW 10:40 | LUKE 21:18 | REVELATION 20:12 | 1 SAMUEL 3:1-21 | COLOSSIANS 4:2-4 EPHESIANS 6:18-20 | ECCLESIASTES 3:7 | 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-20 | JOHN 15:16

Opportunity knocks. When great things happen in Samaria after the gospel comes to town, a man names Simon wants to get in on the action. A visit from the apostles exposes his ulterior motives. While opportunities may arise, God looks at the underlying motives those who seek them. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 8:9-25 | PROVERBS 31:16 | 1 SAMUEL 16:7 | MATTHEW 10:2-4 | MATTHEW 13:55 | JOHN 6:71 | MATTHEW 26:6 | LUKE 7:36-40 | MATTHEW 27:32 | HEBREWS 4:13 | EXODUS 7:11-13 | EPHESIANS 6:12 | LEVITICUS 19:26 | JAMES 4:7 | COLOSSIANS 1:13 | ISAIAH 14:12-14 | GENESIS 3:5 | MARK 16:16 | JEREMIAH 17:10 | JEREMIAH 20:12 | JAMES 2:19-20 | JOHN 14:6 | JOHN 4:4-41 | ACTS 1:5 | 1 CORINTHIANS 12:23-24 | PSALM 139:23-24 |

In the wake of Stephen's martyrdom, the first believers begin to scatter. God uses this new dynamic to direct the gospel into new areas where it is yet to be heard. Christians, likewise, may be moved strategically to share the message of Jesus in places where it will be fruitful. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 8:1-8 | ACTS 1:8 | JOHN 14:18 | 1 CORINTHIANS 15:9 | GALATIANS 1:13 | JOHN 15:8 | ACTS 2:42 | MARK 9:1-6 | ECCLESIASTES 3:11 | MATTHEW 28:19-20 | 2 CORINTHIANS 3:2-3 | JEREMIAH 1:7 | JOHN 12:23-26 | REVELATION 22:2 |

Looking out for #1. The religious leaders could only see the reality they had created and were ignoring all that God had done to point them to Jesus. Stephen seeks to glorify God with his life, even to the very end. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 7:37-60 | GENESIS 3:5 | 1 TIMOTHY 1:8 | GALATIANS 3:23-24 | MATTHEW 11:28-30 | EXODUS 32:1-24 | 1 SAMUEL 15:24 | AMOS 5:25-27 | PSALM 34:8 | JAMES 1:14-15 | JOHN 2:18-22 | JOHN 3:30 | GENESIS 1:31

A good neighbor is hard to find. Israel's history was peppered with visits to Egypt, their neighbor to the south. Stephen reminds his critics about their time as a nation in Egypt from the days of Joseph through the days of Moses. He draws parallels to their current actions in rejecting Jesus in hopes that they might instead turn to be saved. BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 7:9-36 | PROVERBS 27:10 | LEVITICUS 19:18 | JOHN 14:27 | EPHESIANS 1:3-6 | 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 | ROMANS 10:9 | NUMBERS 11:5 | ROMANS 6:6-7 | EXODUS 11:1-3 |