eugene h peterson

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message [on Cornelius and his relatives and friends]. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. —Acts 10:44-45 NIV...

[Peter, to Cornelius and his relatives and friends:] "This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel — that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of...

Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men have come looking for you." —Acts 10:19 NLT Key Thought Peter wants to know the meaning of his vision — read Acts 10 for the details of that vision. What he learns about the vision is shocking for him...

When [Paul's] friends learned of the plot [to kill him], they got him out of [Jerusalem], took him to Caesarea, and then shipped him off to Tarsus. Things calmed down after that and the church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country — Judea, Samaria, Galilee — the church grew. They...

So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, "Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." —Acts 9:17 MESSAGE Key Thought Acts 9 tells the story of one of the...

Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the...

The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot [carrying an Ethiopian official] and stay near it." —Acts 8:29 NIV Key Thought As in a previous Key Thought section, we are reminded again that reaching the ends of the earth with the good news of Jesus is the Holy Spirit's work. Throughout the book...

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy...

When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn't yet fallen on them. Then the...

[Just before Stephen was stoned:] But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand. —Acts 7:55 NLT Key Thought Stephen had been chosen to serve widows because he was full of the...

[Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin:] "You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you!" —Acts 7:51 NLT Key Thought Stephen was empowered by the Holy Spirit and spoke with...

None of [the people arguing with Stephen] could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. —Acts 6:10 NLT Key Thought Stephen had been selected as one of the seven special servants of the church in Jerusalem to help make sure the widows were given the proper care. He...

[The apostles to the church in Jerusalem concerning ministering to the widows:] "Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty." ... And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose...

[The apostles to the church in Jerusalem concerning ministering to the widows:] "And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility." —Acts 6:3 NLT Key Thought Almost every religion defines spirituality a...

[Peter and the apostles before the Sanhedrin:] "The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be...

And Peter said [to Sapphira, concerning Ananias and her], "How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too." —Acts 5:9 NLT Key Thought There is no...

Peter said, "Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field?" —Acts 5:3 MESSAGE Key Thought This verse comes from the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). They sold their land and gave some of the proceeds to the apostles...

After [the disciples'] prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. —Acts 4:31 NLT Key Thought I am touched by several things in the prayer of these early followers of Jesus when they were threatened (Acts...

[Disciples praying to the LORD after Peter and John were released from jail:] "You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?'" —Acts 4:25 NIV Key Thought The disciples proclaimed that what was happening...

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!" —Acts 4:8 NIV Key Thought Not only did Jesus pour out the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:32-33), but the Spirit continued to inspire Peter and others to speak the message of God's grace and...