Evidence of the Gospel’s Far-Reaching Power
To the ends of the earth - Acts 9:32-43 (esv) - Pastor Tim Kroeker
Psalm 106:8:
“Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.”
In Sicilian dialect, buddaci refers to the painted comber, a common fish species found in the Strait of Messina. It’s a type of sea bass with a small body and disproportionately large mouth. Buddaci is also a denigrating nickname used to describe the people of Messina. Like the fish with a small body but big mouth, it refers to someone who talks a lot, often making big claims but taking very little actual action.
After telling of Saul’s conversion and calling, Luke concluded with the third of seven progress reports in the book of Acts, informing his readers that the church continued to grow and multiply throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Luke wasn’t just blowing smoke. He was no buddaci.
Here at the end of chapter 9, he provides evidence of the gospel’s reach. Wherever Peter went, he found churches made up of real people with real stories of life change. In Lydda he met Aeneas, who was instantly healed. And in Joppa, a disciple named Dorcas. There was evidence of the gospel’s power both in her life and even more dramatically in her death. When people saw the power of the resurrection displayed, many more believed and turned to the Lord.
So too the gospel’s influence should run deep and wide in our own lives. Not making big blustery claims while taking very little actual action, but rather producing tangible evidence of substantive change.
