Acts 9 - CEVUS06 & MB

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Giving is a powerful act that reflects the heart of God and His desire for us to live generously. Throughout the Bible, we find numerous teachings that emphasize the importance and impact of giving. Whether it’s through offering our time, resources, or love, the act of giving not only blesses others but also enriches our own lives. Here are seven Bible verses that highlight the power of giving and encourage us to embrace a life of generosity.

1. Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When we give to others, especially those in need, we are not only helping them but also experiencing the joy and fulfillment that comes from generosity. It reminds us that true happiness is found in selflessness.

2. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

The emphasis on giving cheerfully reminds us that our attitude matters. God values a heart that gives freely and joyfully, knowing that our contributions can lead to abundant blessings.

3. Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Generosity is not just about meeting the needs of others; it also brings personal renewal and prosperity. When we give, we often receive in return, not necessarily in material wealth, but in spiritual and emotional well-being. The act of giving refreshes both the giver and the recipient.

4. Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Jesus emphasizes the abundance that comes from giving. The imagery of a generous measure being returned to us illustrates that our giving will not go unnoticed or unrewarded. When we give with an open heart, we can expect God’s blessings to overflow in our lives.

5. Matthew 6:3-4 “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

We should give quietly and humbly, without seeking recognition or praise. The focus is on the sincerity and purity of our giving. God sees our acts of kindness, even when they are done in secret, and He will reward us accordingly. It reminds us that true giving is done for the benefit of others, not for personal glory.

6. Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Sharing what we have with others is a sacrifice that pleases God. This verse highlights the importance of being mindful of others’ needs and taking action to meet them. It serves as a reminder that our acts of generosity are not just good deeds; they are expressions of our faith and love for God.

7. James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

All we have comes from God. Recognizing that every gift we receive is from Him encourages us to be generous in sharing those gifts with others. When we give, we are participating in God’s work, distributing His blessings to those around us.

Conclusion

The Bible teaches that giving is a powerful way to express our faith, love, and gratitude. These verses reveal that generosity not only impacts those we help but also enriches our own lives, bringing us closer to God and His purposes. Whether through our resources, time, or compassion, giving allows us to reflect God’s love in a tangible way, creating a ripple effect of blessings that extend far beyond what we can see. By embracing a spirit of generosity, we open ourselves up to experience the fullness of life that God desires for us.

Saul Becomes a Follower of the Lord

(Acts 22.6-16Acts 26.12-18)

1 Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest 2 and asked for letters to the leaders of the synagogues in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord's Way. 3 When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?”

5 “Who are you?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus,” the Lord answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. 6 Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.”

7 The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing. Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, 9 and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink.

10 A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.”

11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, 12 and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so he could see again.”

13 Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. 14 Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.”

15 The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.”

17 Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. 19 Then he ate and felt much better.

Saul Preaches in Damascus

For several days Saul stayed with the Lord's followers in Damascus. 20 Soon he went to the synagogues and started telling people that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 Everyone who heard Saul was amazed and said, “Isn't this the man who caused so much trouble for those people in Jerusalem who worship in the name of Jesus? Didn't he come here to arrest them and take them to the chief priests?”

22 Saul preached with such power that he completely confused the Jewish people in Damascus, as he tried to show them that Jesus is the Messiah.

23 Later some of them made plans to kill Saul, 24 but he found out about it. He learned that they were guarding the gates of the city day and night in order to kill him. 25 Then one night his followers let him down over the city wall in a large basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a true follower. 27 Then Barnabas helped him by taking him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also said when Saul was in Damascus, he had spoken bravely in the name of Jesus.

28 Saul moved about freely with the followers in Jerusalem and told everyone about the Lord. 29 He was always arguing with the Jews who spoke Greek, and so they tried to kill him. 30 But the followers found out about this and took Saul to Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of Tarsus.

31 The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now had a time of peace and kept on worshiping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow.

Peter Heals Aeneas

32 While Peter was traveling from place to place, he visited the Lord's followers who lived in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who for eight years had been sick in bed and could not move. 34 Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ has healed you! Get up and make up your bed.” At once he stood up.

35 Many people in the towns of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas and became followers of the Lord.

Peter Brings Dorcas Back to Life

36 In Joppa there was a follower named Tabitha. Her Greek name was Dorcas, which means “deer.” She was always doing good things for people and had given much to the poor. 37 But she got sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Joppa wasn't far from Lydda, and the followers heard that Peter was there. They sent two men to say to him, “Please come with us as quickly as you can!” 39 At once, Peter went with them.

The men took Peter upstairs into the room. Many widows were there crying. They showed him the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was still alive.

40 After Peter had sent everyone out of the room, he knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body of Dorcas and said, “Tabitha, get up!” The woman opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.

Peter called in the widows and the other followers and showed them that Dorcas had been raised from death. 42 Everyone in Joppa heard what had happened, and many of them put their faith in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed on for a while in Joppa in the house of a man named Simon, who made leather.

Saulo A'dote Kristo'ba ro

(Losi Lazo'bai ro 22:6-16Losi 26:12-18)

1 Tu gi ono si Saulo ugu kyila ndaro ozi 'diufu ro onyana te oso'bai Opi vo lomvo. Nda oyite Kohani Fopara re, 2 ago ejitate taegyi 'dika'daro ta zoitaeriro Damaseka ya ri, tana ondro nda kusu oso'bai Liti Opi ro vo te oko, nda ka'do robe mbara be ànya urune, mànoago ndi 'ditoko be, ago kezi ànya robe kovole Yerusalema ya. 3 Ondro Saulo kate esa loto 'bakici Damaseka ro lomvo oko dori ŋgaeyi ni vokuru yasi lekote gbikyi nda lomvosi. 4 Nda 'dete gyinidri ago eri atate kugu ata nda ri ekye: “Saulo, Saulo! Nya ma eza etaya?”

5 Nda ejitate ekye: “Mi a'di owo ya, Opi?” Nda atate ekye: “Ma Yesu, se nyabe ezana ono owo. 6 Oko miŋga kuru ago nyoyi 'bakici ya, ago itina tase beṛo oyene miri 'da lau.” 7 Lidri se kayi ugu aba Saulo be edreyite, atayi ta kote; ànya eriyi ata te oko niyi kote 'dina 'do ondrene. 8 Saulo ŋgate kuru ni gyini drisi ago pi mi ndaro te, oko ni kote ŋga ondrene. Ago ànya ruyi nda te drí si ago lepeyi nda te Damaseka ya. 9 Nda rite u'duna nätu voondreako, ago tu gi ana si nda nya ago mvu ŋga aza kote.

10 Oso'ba aza Yesu vo orivoya Damaseka ya äzite Anania. Nda ndre rulofo te, se Opi atate ndäri ekye: “Anania!”

Nda zatadrite ekye: “Ma begi ono, Opi.” 11 Opi atate ndäri ekye: “Miŋga ago nyoyi liti se äzi ävuruna Ŋgyero ana drisi, ago zo Yuda ro ya nyeji ta mano aza ni Taresusi yasi äzite Saulo rota. Nda kugu mätu, 12 ago rulofo ya nda ndre mano aza äzite Anania ka eci ago 'ba drí ndaro te nda dri tana nda kogo kondrevo robe.”

13 Anania zatadrite ekye: “Opi, lidri amba ititate märi ta mano ono rota ndi ŋgase cini koziro nda koyebe lidri miro ri Yerusalema ya robe. 14 Ago nda ikyite Damaseka ya drikaca be ni kohanii 'desi resi 'dise cini kabe mi mätu urune.”

15 Opi atate ndäri ekye: “Nyoyi, tana manji nda te ruindune märi, ävuru maro o'bane unine atrai ndi 'bädri'bai ndi lidri Yisaraele robe ri. 16 Ago andivo maro maka'dana ta 'da ndäri anjioko beṛo ndäri ruezane ta maro ta.”

17 Ago Anania oyite, cite zo se Saulo be kigye ana ya, ago 'ba drí ndaro te nda dri, nda atate ekye: “Ädrupi Saulo, Opi Yesu andivona, se ka'darube miri liti dri ikyivoya noŋwa ono ezo ma ni. Nda ezo ma te tana migo mindrevo robe ago nya'do robe twi Tori Alokado be.” 18 Dori ŋga aza laba oso kyiri kä'bägä ti'bi ro ronye e'dete ni mi Saulo ro yasi, ago nda go ndrevote. Nda ŋgate kuru ago abapatisi nda te; 19 ago ŋgaonya onya ndaro vosi oko, mbara ndaro go egote.

Taope Saulo ro Damaseka ya

Saulo rite u'duna fere Taoma'bai Damaseka ya be. 20 Nda oyite dori zoitaeriro ya ago eto taope te ekye Yesu orivoya Ŋgwa Lu ro.

21 'Dise cini keriyi ta ndaro be laroyite ago ejiyitate ekye: “Inye'do nda ṛo ko ni se Yerusalema ya kabe ànya se kabe mano se Yesu ono mätuna ugu tufuna owo ya? Ago nda ikyi ṛo ko noŋwa ta ono ro ugu lidri se kai urune kamba'bai ro ago ànya logone kohanii 'desi re ya?”

22 Oko taope Saulo ro a'dote mbara be ndra, ago nda ka'date ekye Yesu orivoya Mesiya owo ago 'ba Yudai se koribe Damaseka ya te orine titiro ago niyi kote tadri ndaro ozane. 23 U'du amba lävuna vosi oko, Yudai otoyikalate voaloya, ago rayitate Saulo ufune, 24 oko tavoora ànyaro iti tana te ndäri. Kitu ndi ŋgäkyi be si ànya kwayi dereŋwà 'bakici rote tana äfu nda robe. 25 Oko ŋgäkyi alo aza si oso'bai Saulo vo ruyi nda te ago e'bayi nda te vuru koṛiga si vouŋbo tiṛi ro yasi.

Saulo Yerusalema ya

26 Saulo oyite Yerusalema ya ago ojote rudro'bene taeri'bai be. Oko ànya leko taomane ekye nda orivoya taeri'ba yi ago ànya cini te orivoya turituri ro ni ndäri. 27 'Dooko Baranaba ikyite nda opane ago ugu nda te lazo'bai re, nda edre tase Saulo ndre Opi te liti dri ago Opi atate ndäri ana tana te ànyari. Nda iti tase Saulo petate turiako si Damaseka ya ävuru Yesu ro ya ana tana kpate ànyari. 28 Ago 'dooko Saulo rite ànya be ago oyite gbikyi Yerusalema yasi, ugu taope te turiako ävuru Opi roya. 29 Nda atate ago diṛikalate Yudai se kabe ugu Giriki ata ana be, oko ànya ojoyite nda ufune. 30 Ondro taoma'bai kusuyi tase ono tana te oko, ànya uguyi Saulo te Kaisaria ya ago zoyi nda te le Taresusi ya.

31 Ago 'dooko Känisa Yuda ya, Galilaya ya, ndi Samaria ya be a'dote liatokpe. Ŋgaopa Tori Alokado rosi otombate ago otina litite amba, ago rite taoro si Opi ri.

Petero Oyite Luda ndi Yopa be ya

32 Petero abate vo cini yasi, ago tu alo aza si nda oyite lidri Lu ro se rite Luda ya täkyine. 33 Ago lau nda ta mano aza äzite Aenea, se orivoya ciṛiciṛiro ago a'dote mbaraako oŋgane ni kitapara drisi ndroa na te njidriena. 34 Petero atate ndäri ekye: “Aenea, Yesu Kristo ka mi ede. Miŋga kuru nyede kitapara miro.” Dori Aenea ŋgate kuru. 35 Lidri cini se kabe ugu ori Luda ya ndi Saroma ya be ndreyi nda te, ago ànya etayidrite Opi re.

36 Yopa ya lau toko aza äzite Tabita, se orivoya taoma'ba yi. (Ävuru anyaro Giriki si ni Doroka, takacina anjioko kaliŋga.) Anya ozo tu cini anyaro te ugu takado oyevoya ndi ugu ati'ba opa be. 37 Tu gi ana si anya a'dote adravo ro ndi drate. Alasa avo anyaro te ago alalate zo kurusi ya. 38 Yopa ko lozo ni Luda lomvosi, ondro taoma'bai se Yopa ya keriyite ekye Petero orivoya Luda ya oko, ànya zoyi lidri ritu te nda re lazo be ekye: “Rägu nyikyi ndrindri amare.” 39 Ago Petero ŋgate ago oyite ànya yibe. Ondro nda kesate oko, ugu nda te zo kurusi ya, ävuzii cini otokalate nda lomvo lau, kayi ugu liyi ago ka'dayi boŋgoi osoro ndi dhudhui se Doroka ko'dibe 'dooko anya dri lidriidriro ana te ndäri. 40 Petero lofo ànya cini te tesi ni zo yasi, ago sokayate vuru ndi mätute; 'dooko nda zarute avo re ago atate ekye: “Tabita, miŋga kuru!” Anya pi mi anyaro te, ago ondro kondre Petero te oko, anya rite kurusi. 41 Petero ru drí anyaro te ago pa anya te oŋgane kuru. 'Dooko nda zi taoma'bai cini te, tro ävuzii be, ago ozo anya te lidriidriro ànyari. 42 Lazo ta ono ro larirute Yopa cini yasi, ago lidri amba matate Opi ya. 43 Petero rite Yopa ya u'duna amba kyiniede'ba se äzibe Simona ana be.