Acts Daily Devotional Podcast

Day 51 — The Messengers Arrive (Acts 10:17-23) | June 15

Grace Church — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

While Peter stood on the rooftop trying to make sense of the vision, three men knocked at the gate below. Cornelius's messengers had been delayed, stopping to ask directions through the streets of Joppa. Had they arrived a few minutes earlier, Peter would have had no framework for why Gentile strangers were on his porch. Providence doesn't always look like a miracle. Sometimes it looks like getting a little lost on the way. In this episode, we watch God coordinate two men in two cities thirty miles apart, threading every piece together with precision. Peter went downstairs, welcomed the strangers, and took one more step toward a door he'd never planned to open.

Day 50 — Peter's Vision (Acts 10:9-16) | June 14

Grace Church — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Peter was hungry, praying on a rooftop in Joppa, when a sheet descended from heaven filled with animals no devout Jew would ever touch. A voice commanded: "Kill and eat." Peter refused. Three times the vision repeated. Three times God replied: "What I have made clean, do not call impure." But this was never really about food. In this episode, we discover that God was dismantling something Peter had carried his whole life: the assumption that some people are beyond the reach of grace. The last time Joppa appeared in Scripture, another reluctant prophet named Jonah tried to run from God's call to the outsiders. History was repeating itself. Only this time, the Spirit wasn't letting go.

Day 49 — Cornelius' Vision (Acts 10:1-8) | June 13

Derek Sanford — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Thirty miles up the coast from Joppa, a Roman centurion named Cornelius was praying when an angel appeared with specific instructions: send for a man named Peter. Cornelius was devout, generous, and God-fearing, but he wasn't yet a follower of Jesus. His conversion would open the floodgates of the gospel to the entire Gentile world. In this episode, we see God orchestrating events in two cities simultaneously, preparing both the messenger and the audience for a collision that will reshape the church forever. God is always ahead of his people. Our job isn't to make things happen. It's to show up where God is already moving.

Day 48 — Peter Raises Dorcas (Acts 9:36-43) | June 12

Derek Sanford — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Dorcas never preached a sermon, but her funeral became one. She was known for one thing: making clothes for widows. When she died, a room full of grieving women held up the robes she had stitched for them, displaying evidence of love. Peter knelt, prayed, and spoke two words: "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes. In this episode, we encounter a woman whose quiet faithfulness shook a city and a miracle that echoes Jesus' own ministry. And tucked into the final verse is a detail that seems insignificant but changes everything: Peter stayed with Simon, a leather tanner. God was already stretching Peter's categories for what comes next.

Day 47 — Peter Heals Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35) | June 11

Derek Sanford — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A man named Aeneas had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 2,920 days of waking up unable to move. Then Peter walked in and said six words: "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you." Not "I heal you." Jesus Christ. The source of the power was never in question. In this episode, we watch one healing turn into a regional awakening as the entire Sharon plain turned to the Lord. God often works through small beginnings to achieve large outcomes. One divine appointment became a tipping point. The person you pray for, the neighbor you serve, you have no idea what God might do through that single encounter.

Day 46 — Escape and Acceptance (Acts 9:23-31) | June 10

Derek Sanford — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The hunter became the hunted. Saul's powerful preaching made him a marked man, and he escaped Damascus in the middle of the night, lowered through a wall in a basket like a smuggled fugitive. When he reached Jerusalem, the believers wouldn't accept him. The wounds were too fresh. Enter Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement, who risked his own credibility to vouch for a man nobody else would trust. In this episode, we see that conversion doesn't automatically erase memory, that trust takes time to rebuild, and that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is loan someone your trust when theirs has run out.

Day 45 — Saul Is Baptized and Preaches (Acts 9:17-22) | June 9

Derek Sanford — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Ananias walked through the door and spoke the most unexpected word Saul had ever heard: "Brother." Three days earlier, Saul was hunting Christians. Now a Christian was calling him family. Scales fell from his eyes, and almost immediately the former persecutor began proving in the synagogues that Jesus is the Messiah. The same intellectual firepower that had driven his persecution was now deployed for the gospel. In this episode, we see the most dramatic transformation in the New Testament unfold in real time. A changed life is one of the most powerful evidences for the gospel. How do you argue with a terrorist who became a preacher?

Day 44 — Ananias' Mission (Acts 9:10-16) | June 8

Derek Sanford — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

God's next assignment for an ordinary disciple named Ananias sounded like a death wish: go find the man who's been arresting and killing Christians, lay hands on him, and welcome him into the family. Ananias pushed back. He had every reason to be afraid. But he brought his fear to God instead of letting it make the decision for him. In this episode, we meet one of the unsung heroes of the New Testament, a man whose courage changed the trajectory of the entire church. Without Ananias, the most prolific missionary in Christian history might have been sidelined by suspicion. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is show up when God's assignment terrifies you.

Day 43 — The Road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9) | June 7

Derek Sanford — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Saul was breathing threats like a dragon exhaling fire, hunting Christians all the way to Damascus. Then heaven interrupted. A light brighter than the midday sun knocked him to the ground, and a voice asked the question that would rewrite the rest of his life: "Why are you persecuting me?" In this episode, we watch the most dangerous enemy of the early church come face to face with the risen Jesus on a dusty road outside Damascus. Everything Saul believed collapsed in a single moment. His blindness became the beginning of his sight. And the story of the gospel's most unlikely convert reminds us that no one is too far gone for God's relentless grace.

Day 42 — Philip and the Ethiopian: Baptism (Acts 8:32-40) | June 6

Derek Sanford — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53. Who is the prophet talking about? Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with that Scripture, told him the good news about Jesus. The suffering servant. The Lamb led to slaughter. Isaiah was pointing to Christ, and Philip connected the dots. They came to water and the Ethiopian said, Look, there is water. What would keep me from being baptized? As a eunuch, he had faced barriers his whole life. Now? Nothing kept him from belonging. They went down into the water together. When they came up, the Spirit carried Philip away. The Ethiopian looked up, his teacher was gone, but he went on his way rejoicing. Church tradition says he became a missionary to Ethiopia. One divine appointment on a desert road, and an entire continent begins to be reached.

Day 41 — Philip and the Ethiopian: The Encounter (Acts 8:26-31) | June 5

Derek Sanford — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Samaria was exploding with new believers. Then an angel showed up with strange instructions. Leave this thriving city and go to a desert road. No explanation. Philip got up and went. He found a divine appointment. An Ethiopian official, treasurer to the queen, traveling home from Jerusalem. As a eunuch, he couldn't fully participate in temple worship. Yet there he sat, still reading Isaiah, still hungry for God. The Spirit whispered to Philip: go and join that chariot. Philip ran. He arrived at exactly the right moment and heard the man reading Isaiah aloud. Do you understand what you are reading? How can I, unless someone guides me? A divine setup. One person willing to be interrupted. Another ready to receive truth.

Day 40 — Peter and John in Samaria (Acts 8:14-25) | June 4

Derek Sanford — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

News reached Jerusalem that Samaria had received the word of God. The apostles sent Peter and John to investigate. The Samaritans had believed and been baptized, but the Spirit had not yet visibly fallen on them. When Peter and John laid hands on them, something visible happened. Simon the magician saw it and made an offer. He wanted to buy the power to give the Spirit through laying on of hands. Peter's response was fierce. May your silver be destroyed with you. Simon's heart was wrong before God, poisoned by bitterness, bound by wickedness. Simon asked Peter to pray so that nothing bad would happen to him. Afraid of consequences but never convicted of sin. Grace cannot be purchased. It can only be received.

Day 39 — Simon the Magician Believes (Acts 8:9-13) | June 3

Derek Sanford — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Before Philip arrived in Samaria, a magician named Simon held the city captive with sorcery. Everyone paid attention to him, calling him the Great Power of God. When Philip showed up with genuine power, the crowds shifted. To everyone's surprise, Simon himself believed and was baptized. But what exactly did he believe? Luke gives a clue. Simon followed Philip everywhere, amazed as he observed the signs and great miracles. He wasn't amazed at Jesus. He was amazed at the power. Simon saw better magic tricks, an upgrade to his business model. You can be impressed with Christianity without being transformed by Christ. You can want what Jesus offers without wanting Jesus himself.

Day 38 — Philip GOSSIPS the Gospel in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) | June 2

Derek Sanford — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The scattered believers kept talking. Everywhere they went, they gossiped the gospel. Philip headed to Samaria, crossing a centuries-old boundary of hatred. Jews and Samaritans had despised each other for over a thousand years. Most Jews would add an extra day to their journey just to avoid Samaritan soil. Philip walked right in and proclaimed Jesus as Messiah. The crowds paid attention. They listened, watched signs, saw demons cast out and paralyzed people healed. The gospel broke through a millennium of distrust. The result? Great joy in that city. When the gospel crosses barriers and enemies become family, joy follows. The scattering that began with Stephen's death was already bearing fruit in unlikely soil.

Day 37 — Saul Ravages the Church (Acts 8:1-3) | June 1

Derek Sanford — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen's execution opened the floodgates. Occasional opposition became full-scale assault. Saul ravaged the church, a word meaning a wild animal tearing through a vineyard. House to house, dragging men and women to prison. Believers scattered throughout Judea and Samaria, but the apostles stayed in Jerusalem. Ordinary Christians carried the gospel into new territory, fleeing for their lives and arriving as missionaries. Jesus had commanded them to go to Judea and Samaria in Acts 1:8. They stayed comfortable in Jerusalem for seven chapters. God allowed an Acts 8:1 persecution to accomplish what they wouldn't do voluntarily. Saul thought he was destroying the church. He was scattering the embers.

Day 36 — Stephen's Martyrdom (Acts 7:51-60) | May 31

Derek Sandford — Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen stopped teaching and started confronting. Stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts. The same accusation God leveled at their ancestors in Exodus. The Sanhedrin erupted, gnashing teeth, an angry mob replacing a dignified court. And in that chaos, Stephen looked up. Heaven opened. He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. They dragged him outside and stoned him while a young man named Saul watched and held the coats. Stephen's final prayers echoed his Master. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Then Luke uses the gentlest word possible. Stephen fell asleep. The stones were violent, but for Stephen, death became a peaceful crossing into the arms of the One waiting for him.

Day 35 — Stephen's Defense: The Temple (Acts 7:44-50) | May 30

Derek Sanford — Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen addressed the charge that hurt most: that he'd spoken against the temple. He honored its history, tracing the tabernacle from Moses through Solomon. Then he quoted Isaiah, letting God speak: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?' Stephen called the temple what it was: made with hands. The phrase Jews used for pagan idols. When a symbol of God's presence gets treated as the source of God's presence, something has gone wrong. The temple was always meant to point somewhere, never to be the destination. God met Abraham before there was a promised land. God was with Joseph before there was a tabernacle. The story was always bigger than the setting.

Day 34 — Stephen's Defense: Moses Part 2 (Acts 7:30-43) | May 29

Derek Sanford — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

After forty years in the wilderness, God appeared to Moses at a burning bush on Mount Sinai. Not in Jerusalem. Not at a temple. At a random thorn bush in the desert, and God declared the ground holy. The man Israel rejected became their deliverer, performing wonders at the Red Sea, receiving living oracles on the mountain. And still, the people pushed Moses aside. While he was on Sinai receiving God's word, they built a golden calf and celebrated what their own hands had made. Stephen quoted Amos: God gave them over. When people persistently reject what God offers, eventually He lets them have what they've chosen. Another deliverer now stood before the Sanhedrin. Would they repeat the pattern?

Day 33 — Stephen's Defense: Moses Part 1 (Acts 7:17-29) | May 28

Derek Sanford — Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Moses was born under a death sentence, raised in Pharaoh's palace, educated in all the wisdom of Egypt. At forty, he saw an Israelite being beaten and intervened, killing the Egyptian. He assumed his people would recognize that God was giving them deliverance through him. They didn't. The next day, he tried to make peace between two fighting Israelites, and one turned on him: 'Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us?' Moses fled to Midian and spent the next forty years as a shepherd, wondering if he'd completely misread his calling. He hadn't. God was still writing the story. Rejection by people is never the final word when God is the one who sent you.

Day 32 — Stephen's Defense: Joseph (Acts 7:9-16) | May 27

Derek Sanford — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen's history lesson moved to Joseph, and the parallels became impossible to ignore. The patriarchs, jealous of their brother, sold him into slavery. They thought they were getting rid of him. God was positioning him to save them. 'God was with him.' Four words that reframe everything. The pit didn't end Joseph's story. Neither did the prison. God gave him favor before Pharaoh and elevated him to power in Egypt. When famine struck, the brothers who betrayed him had nowhere else to turn. On the second visit, Joseph revealed himself. Stephen was building an argument: Israel's deliverers always come in two movements. First rejected, then revealed. Joseph. Moses. And now, Jesus.

Day 31 — Stephen's Defense: Abraham (Acts 7:1-8) | May 26

Derek Sanford — Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The high priest asked Stephen one question: 'Are these things true?' Most would have defended themselves or apologized. Stephen told a story. He started with Abraham, the father everyone in that room revered. And the first detail he highlighted was devastating: God appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia, pagan territory, nowhere near Jerusalem or the promised land. Before the temple existed, before sacred geography mattered, God was already moving. Abraham spent his entire life as a wanderer in the land he'd been promised, never owning a foot of ground, holding only to God's word. Stephen's point cut deep: God has never been confined to a location. Faith follows Him wherever He goes.

Day 30 — Stephen Accused (Acts 6:8-15) | May 25

Derek Sanford — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen was chosen to serve tables. He ended up debating scholars in the synagogue and getting dragged before the Sanhedrin. Full of grace and power, he performed signs and wonders that drew opposition from the Synagogue of the Freedmen. When they couldn't win the argument, they changed the rules. False witnesses were bribed to accuse him of blasphemy against Moses, God, and the temple. The charges echoed the ones leveled at Jesus. Public opinion began to shift. And in the middle of the chaos, everyone in the courtroom looked at Stephen and saw something they couldn't explain: his face glowed like an angel. Faithfulness attracts opposition, and peace under pressure tells a story words can't.

Day 29 — Seven Servants Chosen (Acts 6:1-7) | May 24

Derek Sanford — Sun, 24 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The church was exploding with growth, but cracks were starting to show. Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked in the daily food distribution, and a complaint rose that threatened to divide the movement from within. The apostles faced a critical choice: abandon their calling to fix the problem themselves, or empower others to step up. They chose wisely. Seven Spirit-filled servants were selected, all with Greek names, uniquely positioned to serve the overlooked community. The result? The word of God spread even faster, disciples multiplied, and even priests started coming to faith. When everyone plays their part, the mission accelerates.

Day 28 — Gamaliel's Wisdom (Acts 5:33-42) | May 23

Derek Sanford — Sat, 23 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The Sanhedrin is enraged and ready to kill the apostles. Then Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee who would later teach Paul, stands and offers wisdom. He cites two failed movements, Theudas and Judas the Galilean, that dissolved when their leaders died because they were merely human efforts. His point: if this Jesus movement is human, it will fail on its own. But if it's from God, you can't stop it and may find yourselves fighting against God. The council is persuaded but can't let the apostles go unpunished, so they have them flogged, thirty-nine brutal lashes. Then they order them not to speak in Jesus' name and release them. The apostles walk out rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name. They go right back to teaching and proclaiming Jesus daily. Nothing could stop them. God's unstoppable mission continues through ordinary, faithful people.

Day 27 — Obey God, Not People (Acts 5:27-32) | May 22

Derek Sanford — Fri, 22 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The apostles stand before the Sanhedrin again. The high priest reminds them they were ordered not to teach in Jesus' name, yet they've filled Jerusalem with their teaching. What really bothers him slips out: "You're determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter's response is direct: "We must obey God rather than people." This principle is crucial, we respect authority until it conflicts with God's commands, then we obey God instead. Peter doesn't soften the gospel. He declares they murdered Jesus by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him as ruler and Savior to offer repentance and forgiveness, even to them. That's scandalous grace. The apostles choose calm civil disobedience, simply declaring good news. They're witnesses along with the Holy Spirit, and the evidence is undeniable. Truth is worth dying for when you've seen Jesus alive.

Day 26 — Imprisoned and Freed (Acts 5:17-26) | May 21

Derek Sanford — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The Sadducees, filled with jealousy over the apostles' influence, arrest all of them and throw them in public jail. But during the night, an angel opens the doors, leads them out, and instructs them to go stand in the temple courts and tell people the full message of this new life. At daybreak, they're back at the temple teaching as if nothing happened. Meanwhile, the Sanhedrin assembles for the trial and sends for the prisoners, only to discover the jail locked and guarded but completely empty. When someone reports the apostles are teaching at the temple, the captain brings them back without force, fearing the crowd might stone them for arresting such popular figures. God's mission can't be contained by human locks. When God opens a door, chains become irrelevant.

Day 25 — Signs and Wonders (Acts 5:12-16) | May 20

Derek Sanford — Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

After the sobering deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, the apostles continue performing signs and wonders at Solomon's Colonnade. The church meets together in unity while outsiders keep their distance, highly regarding them but respecting the seriousness of what God is doing. Yet believers continue joining in large numbers as people witness authentic faith with real power. They carry the sick into the streets hoping even Peter's shadow might heal them, not because shadows have magic but because they're desperate for any contact with God's power. Crowds from surrounding towns bring the sick and demon-possessed, and everyone is healed. The Holy Spirit validates the gospel message with undeniable demonstrations. God still moves in miraculous ways today, and the early church shows us what happens when the Spirit has room to work.

Day 24 — Sapphira Falls (Acts 5:7-11) | May 19

Derek Sanford — Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Three hours later, Sapphira arrives unaware her husband is dead. Peter gives her a chance to come clean, asking if they sold the land for the stated amount. She confirms the lie, doubling down on the deception. Peter confronts her: how could you agree to test the Spirit? The men who buried your husband are at the door. She falls dead instantly. Great fear seizes the whole church and everyone who hears. This wasn't random divine anger, it was surgical protection of the church's integrity at its most vulnerable moment. God showed that the community he's building operates on truth, not performance. The severity of the judgment matched the critical nature of the moment. Sapphira had agency, a chance to confess, but chose the cover-up. The church learned: God sees what we hide, and his mission is too important for games.

Day 23 — Ananias Falls (Acts 5:1-6) | May 18

Derek Sanford — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The story takes a dark turn. Ananias and Sapphira sell property but keep part of the proceeds while pretending they gave everything, like Barnabas. Peter confronts Ananias: the property was his to keep or sell as he wished, the sin wasn't holding back money but lying about it. They wanted the glory without the sacrifice, manipulating perception to look more devoted than they were. Peter calls this what it is: lying to the Holy Spirit, which is lying to God himself. When Ananias hears these words, he drops dead. This sobering judgment protects the integrity of the newborn church. Like Achan hiding stolen goods in Joshua, deception at a critical moment threatens to corrupt everything. God wasn't being harsh, he was protecting the mission from poison at its root.

Day 22 — All Things in Common (Acts 4:32-37) | May 17

Derek Sanford — Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

After praying for boldness and being filled with the Spirit, the church overflows with radical generosity. They're of one heart and mind, sharing everything, ensuring no one has any need. This isn't socialism or forced redistribution, it's the Spirit-empowered response of people who truly believe Jesus conquered death. When you believe resurrection is real, your stuff becomes just temporary tools for the mission. The apostles testify to the resurrection with great power, and great grace rests on the whole community. Luke introduces Barnabas, whose nickname means "Son of Encouragement," who sells a field and lays the money at the apostles' feet with no strings attached. This generosity isn't obligation, it's overflow. Throughout church history, whenever the gospel spreads with power, radical giving follows.

Day 21 — The Church Prays for Boldness (Acts 4:23-31) | May 16

Derek Sanford — Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Released from the council's threats, Peter and John return to the church and report everything. The church's response is prayer, together, corporate, powerful. They start with God's sovereignty, reminding themselves who's actually in charge, then quote Psalm 2 about kings raging against the Lord and his Messiah. The opposition isn't new or surprising; even the crucifixion fulfilled God's predetermined plan. But notice what they don't pray for: they don't ask God to remove the threats or make life comfortable. Instead, they pray for more boldness to keep speaking God's word, and for signs and wonders to continue validating the message. God answers immediately, the place shakes, they're filled with the Holy Spirit, and they speak boldly. Courage is contagious. When brave people take a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.

Day 20 — Boldness Recognized (Acts 4:13-22) | May 15

Derek Sanford — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The Sanhedrin is astonished by Peter and John's boldness. These are ordinary men, fishermen with no formal training, no credentials, no pedigree. Yet they speak with unexplainable confidence. The council recognizes they'd been with Jesus. Radical faith that takes kingdom risks demonstrates to others that Jesus has rubbed off on us. The officials are stuck: the healed man stands right there as undeniable proof, and public opinion runs too strong to punish them. So they threaten the apostles to stop teaching in Jesus' name. Peter and John respond with one of Acts' most important statements: whether it's right to listen to you rather than God, you decide, we can't stop speaking about what we've seen and heard. Boldness meets obedience when faithfulness matters more than approval.

Day 19 — Before the Council (Acts 4:5-12) | May 14

Derek Sanford — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Peter and John stand trial before the Sanhedrin, the same council that condemned Jesus. When asked by what power they healed the lame man, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, turns a defensive moment into gospel proclamation. He declares that the healing happened through Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the stone the builders rejected that God made the cornerstone. Then Peter delivers one of Scripture's most exclusive claims: salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. The healed man stands right there as undeniable evidence. This is bold, articulate, unapologetic witness under pressure, exactly what Jesus promised the Spirit would produce when his followers faced authorities.

Day 18 — Arrested for Preaching (Acts 4:1-4) | May 13

Derek Sanford — Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As Peter preaches about resurrection, the Sadducees, who don't believe in resurrection, show up annoyed. They arrest Peter and John, throwing them in jail overnight because it's too late for a trial. What bothers the religious leaders isn't the healing but the teaching that Jesus rose from the dead, threatening their theological system and power structure. Yet even opposition can't stop God's mission: about five thousand men come to faith, meaning the church has exploded from three thousand at Pentecost to around eight thousand in just weeks. The apostles land in prison, but the word spreads like wildfire. This pattern becomes the rhythm of Acts, proclaim Jesus, face resistance, watch God multiply the harvest anyway. Opposition reveals what we really believe about God's sovereignty.

Day 17 — Peter's Second Sermon (Acts 3:17-26) | May 12

Derek Sanford — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

After confronting the crowd with their role in Jesus' death, Peter pivots to grace: they acted in ignorance, and God used their worst moment to fulfill his plan. The prophets foretold the Messiah's suffering, and now repentance opens the door to refreshment from God's presence. Peter connects Jesus to Moses' prophecy of a prophet like him, one whom Israel must listen to or face being cut off from God's people. This sermon weaves judgment and invitation together: the promises to Abraham are being fulfilled right now, and Jesus came first to the Jews to bless them by turning them from wickedness. Peter presents repentance not as shame management but as the pathway to times of refreshing and participation in God's unstoppable rescue plan for all nations.

Day 16 — Peter Explains the Healing (Acts 3:11-16) | May 11

Derek Sanford — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The healed man clings to Peter and John while a crowd gathers at Solomon's Colonnade. Peter immediately deflects their amazement, refusing to let people's awe stick to him instead of passing through to God. He connects this miracle to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the same God they claim to worship, and confronts them with uncomfortable truth: they handed over the Holy and Righteous One and chose a murderer instead. This healing proves Jesus is alive, raised by God as the source of life. Peter emphasizes that faith in Jesus' name made this man strong, demonstrating that the resurrection wasn't just historical fact but present power. The miracle becomes a sermon pointing people beyond the spectacle to the risen Christ.

Day 15 — Healing at the Gate (Acts 3:1-10) | May 10

Derek Sanford — Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Peter and John head to afternoon prayer at the temple, keeping their old rhythms even after Pentecost. At the Beautiful Gate, they encounter a man lame from birth, someone Jesus himself had walked past multiple times. When the beggar asks for money, Peter does something unexpected: he looks him in the eye and offers dignity before the miracle. What Peter gives is something far greater than silver or gold, the name of Jesus and the power that raised him from death. The man's feet become strong, and he leaps into the temple praising God, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that when God comes to save, the lame will leap like deer. This healing reveals that the kingdom has arrived and the Spirit fills everyday moments with divine appointments.

Day 14 — The First Community (Acts 2:42-47) | May 9

Derek Sanford — Sat, 09 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Three thousand brand-new Christians woke up the morning after Pentecost with no playbook, no church building, and no idea what came next. What they did have was each other. In today's episode, we look at the four rhythms that shaped the earliest church -- teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer -- and why Luke says God kept adding to their number daily. The early church didn't grow because they had a good strategy. They grew because they were genuinely devoted. And devotion like that is still the most contagious thing in the world.

Day 13 — Three Thousand Respond (Acts 2:37-41) | May 8

Derek Sanford — Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Peter finished his sermon and the crowd was cut to the heart. "What do we do?" they asked. And Peter had a clear answer: repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit. In today's episode, we look at what happened when the gospel landed on a crowd that was actually listening -- three thousand people baptized in a single afternoon. Peter preached one sermon. One. And by sundown, the church had multiplied twenty-five times over. God does the heavy lifting. Ordinary people just have to show up and say yes.

Day 12 — Peter's Sermon: David's Prophecy Fulfilled (Acts 2:29-36) | May 7

Derek Sanford — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Peter's sermon has been building toward one moment. He's proven Jesus rose. Now he answers the question everyone had to be thinking: if Jesus is alive, where is he and what is he doing? Today we follow Peter's argument through David's prophecy to one of the most important verses in Acts -- the chain of events that explains Pentecost and names Jesus as Lord and Messiah. This is the sermon that changed the world. And it was preached by a fisherman who had failed spectacularly weeks before.

Day 11 — Peter's Sermon: Jesus' Death and Resurrection (Acts 2:22-28) | May 6

Derek Sanford — Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Peter's sermon turns a corner in today's passage. He moves from explanation to accusation: you handed Jesus over, and God raised him from the dead. It's one of the boldest things any person has ever said to any crowd. In this episode, we look at how Peter builds his case for the resurrection and why the faith we carry isn't a philosophy -- it's a verdict. The tomb was empty. And an empty tomb changes the terms on everything else in your life.

Day 10 — Peter's Sermon: Joel's Prophecy Fulfilled (Acts 2:14-21) | May 5

Derek Sanford — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Weeks earlier, Peter denied Jesus to a servant girl and ran. Now he's standing in front of thousands, raising his voice, preaching the first Christian sermon in history. Today we dig into how Peter connects what's happening at Pentecost to an 800-year-old prophecy from Joel -- and what it means that we're still living in those "last days" right now. The Spirit doesn't visit anymore. He moves in. And that changes everything about how you and I are supposed to live.

Day 9 — Speaking in Tongues (Acts 2:5-13) | May 4

Derek Sanford — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The Spirit's first act was to speak -- and he chose to do it in every language of the known world. In today's episode, we look at what happened when the crowds heard a group of Galilean fishermen declaring the mighty acts of God in their native tongues. The miracle at Pentecost

was the beginning of a reversal that started at Babel. God scattered humanity through language. Now, through the Spirit, he was gathering it back. And he was doing it through the people nobody would have chosen.

Day 8 — The Spirit Comes (Acts 2:1-4) | May 3

Derek Sanford — Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Ten days of waiting. One hundred and twenty ordinary people in an upper room. And then the day of Pentecost arrived and heaven broke through. Wind. Fire. Languages nobody had learned. In this episode, we slow down to take in the three signs Luke describes at the Spirit's arrival and why each one matters. This was a new era beginning -- not with impressive people or powerful institutions, but with a room full of nobodies who had simply been obedient enough to wait. The Spirit who filled that room hasn't left. He's still filling people today.

Day 7 — Matthias Chosen (Acts 1:21-26) | May 2

Derek Sanford — Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The disciples needed a replacement for Judas -- someone who had walked with Jesus from his baptism through the resurrection. Two men were nominated. They prayed. They cast lots. And Matthias was chosen. Today's episode asks the question underneath the story: what does it look like to be qualified for God's mission? The answer might be simpler than you think. And the process might look a lot less dramatic than you'd hope. Faithfulness in the unseen seasons always precedes visibility in the significant ones.

Day 6 — Peter Addresses the Gap (Acts 1:15-20) | May 1

Derek Sanford — Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Judas was gone. His seat was empty. And in the middle of a ten-day prayer meeting, Peter stands up and says something needs to be done about it. Today we look at a passage most people skim past -- the ugly aftermath of Judas's betrayal -- and discover something unexpected: even grief has a task inside it. Peter doesn't let the wound fester. He leads through it. God's purposes don't stall when people fail. They find a way forward.

Day 5 — The Upper Room Prayer Meeting (Acts 1:12-14) | April 30

Derek Sanford — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

After the ascension, the disciples walked back to Jerusalem and did something quietly radical: they prayed. Together. Continuously. In today's episode, we look at the unlikely group gathered in that upper room -- eleven disciples, the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers -- and what their shared prayer reveals about how God moves. Prayer isn't the warmup before the real work begins. For the early church, it was the work.

Day 4 — The Ascension (Acts 1:9-11) | April 29

Derek Sanford — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Jesus rose into the sky until a cloud received him out of their sight. And the disciples just stood there, staring upward, until two angels essentially told them to get moving. In this episode, we sit with the stunning reality of the ascension -- not as an exit, but as an enthronement. Jesus didn't leave. He was crowned. And two angels asked the question we still need to hear: why are you standing here looking at the sky?

Day 3 — The Mission Outlined (Acts 1:6-8) | April 28

Derek Sanford — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The disciples had a burning question for the risen Jesus: "Are you restoring the kingdom to Israel now?" It was an understandable question. And Jesus redirected it entirely. Today we unpack one of the most mission-shaping verses in the entire Bible -- Acts 1:8 -- and why the Spirit's power isn't given for our comfort or our curiosity. It's given for witness. Jerusalem. Judea. Samaria. The ends of the earth. That's not just a geographic outline. It's a calling.

Day 2 — Wait for the Promise (Acts 1:4-5) | April 27

Derek Sanford — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Jesus had just spent forty days appearing alive to his disciples. They were ready to go. And he told them to wait. In a culture wired for action, "wait" feels like the worst possible command. But in today's episode, we dig into why Jesus gave it -- and why activity without the Spirit's power is just noise. The disciples didn't need more information. They needed to be filled. And the same Spirit promised to them is available to you right now.

Day 1 — Jesus' Resurrection Appearances (Acts 1:1-3) | April 26

Derek Sanford — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The book of Acts opens not with a dramatic new beginning but with a deliberate continuation. Luke tells his patron Theophilus that his Gospel covered everything Jesus began to do and teach. That word "began" is everything. The resurrection wasn't the finish line -- it was the starting gun. In this first episode of our 141-day journey through Acts, we explore why this ancient letter written to one man was always meant for all of us, and why the story of Jesus is still being written today -- through ordinary people like you.

Acts Daily Devotional Podcast: A 141-day Bible journey through the book of Acts (Intro)

Derek Sanford — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:32:20 -0400

What if the story of the early church isn’t just history, but a blueprint for following Jesus today? The Acts Daily Devotional Podcast is a 141-day journey through the book of Acts in the Bible, hosted by Pastor Derek. Each short episode combines Scripture and practical teaching to help inspire your daily chair time with God, whether at home or on your drive to work. Starting April 26, discover how the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to advance the mission of Jesus from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.