The 66 verses devoted to the visit of Peter to Centurion Cornelius tells us that God's orchestration of the start of Gentile evangelism with the sealing of the ceremonial law, was an epochal event. No wonder it required authenticating angels and visions.

Steeped in mistaken Jewish culture, early converts shunned the Gentiles, but God amazingly transformed them to embrace Gentile salvation. The Word still trains believers to think, saving them from conforming to the unreasoned opinion-culture of social media, and rooting them in obedience to Christ.

Only inspired history could provide this view of the war between fallen human nature (driven by Satan), and the work of the Spirit. Here is Herod Agrippa's attempt to crush the church, and the power of prayer in keeping Gospel mercy flowing.

At Antioch the Lord established an autonomous church, and here He begins the Gentile mission. Paul is soon endorsed by a God-given miraculous deed as His apostle. But young Mark fails to grasp the historic moment, and leaves. What about us?

Here is the first sermon of the Gentile mission, and the first of Paul's to be reported in detail. Preached in a synagogue to Jews, and yet made understandable to Gentiles, we see the apostle's method, his emphasis on Christ, and his urgings and warnings.

As the Gentile mission reaches Iconium and Lystra, great lessons emerge about times of soul winning and blessing, especially how persecution is provoked, the tenacity of God's people is increased, and any form of accommodation with the culture and religions of the world is shunned.

The independent Church of Antioch protests to Jerusalem about false teachers from there who have visited them. Wrongly called a 'Church Council', here are the facts of what took place and how apostles asserted divine revelation as the only source of doctrine and directions.

The beginning of Paul's second missionary journey is full of unexpected events – a key helper appears, the Spirit blocks progress, redirection to Europe takes place, Luke amazingly coincides with the mission – all events reflecting the sovereign hand of God in the Christian life.

At Philippi on the second missionary journey Paul and Silas are falsely charged, flogged and flung bleeding into jail. But their deportment and witness manifests sincerity, steadfastness, and sympathy for individuals to a degree that commends them and challenges us as believers today.