And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
**** Christmas is coming soon – I wonder how long before the census was to be held in Bethlehem that Joseph and Mary heard about it? The trip would take some planning.
Comment: Continuing on from yesterday’s prayer, claiming that the Easter event was all in God’s plan, the church prays for courage and God’s blessing as they lived where they were. There was again a visible display of the Spirit of God being with them and they continued, against the authority’s orders, to preach the risen Jesus. For some reason they all shared what they had. That sharing, we know, didn’t continue forever but was obviously a blessing at the beginning when they were a despised minority. However, the principle of generosity is meant to continue.
Prayer: You are generous, Father. Teach me to be the same.
As I read it! 