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We have seen in the previous chapter how prominent angels, Satan and demons were during the time Jesus was on earth in a human body. From his birth to his death there was spiritual warfare going on behind the scenes. That warfare continues as the Apostles begin to do as Jesus prophesied, that is preach the gospel throughout the world, beginning at Jerusalem.


(Acts 1:6-8 NCV)  When the apostles were all together, they asked Jesus, "Lord, are you now going to give the kingdom back to Israel?" Jesus said to them, "The Father is the only One who has the authority to decide dates and times. These things are not for you to know. But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses--in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world."

(Luke 24:47 NIV)  and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

(Acts 1:9-11 NCV)  After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud hid him from their sight. As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus, whom you saw taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go."

Satan and his minions were unsuccessful in preventing Jesus from paying the price for mankind’s sins. Now the only course of action left to them is to try to prevent people from finding out about it in order to prevent them from hearing the good news and being saved. When they cannot prevent someone from hearing the gospel then they attempt to prevent the person from making a decision for Christ.

That Satan and his followers are a beaten foe is a foregone conclusion, but they still have a little time to deceive as many of the sons of men as is possible for them into rejecting the free gift of salvation offered through faith in Jesus Christ.

The rest of this study of angels will primarily show us what happened in this continuing battle at the beginning of the church age and how it will all end. On an optimistic note so you can start rejoicing now I will tell you, we win! (Those of us who have received Christ as our Lord and Savior)


(Acts 2:1-4 NIV)  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

(Acts 2:12-18 & 21 NIV)  Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine." Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

(Acts 2:37-39 NIV)  When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

(Acts 3:1-8 NIV)  One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

(Acts 4:36-37 NIV)  Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.


(Acts 5:1-11 NIV)  Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.


(Acts 5:12 NIV)  The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.

(Acts 5:15-16 NIV)  As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.


(Acts 5:17-18 NIV)  Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

(Acts 5:19-20 NIV)  But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."

Their release from jail by an angel was not just for their personal benefit. They were released by God’s command to preach the gospel.


(Acts 6:8 NIV)  Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

(Acts 6:15 NIV)  All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.


The Sanhedrin was questioning Stephen about the message he was preaching and Stephen mentioned Moses and the angel at the burning bush.

(Acts 7:30-34 NIV)  "After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai.  When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord's voice: 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. "Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.'

(Acts 7:35 NIV)  "This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, 'Who made you ruler and judge?' He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

(Acts 7:37-38 NIV)  "This is that Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.' He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.

(Acts 7:39 NIV)  "But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.


(Acts 7:51-53 NIV)  "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him--you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

(Acts 7:54-56 NIV)  When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

(Acts 7:57-60 NIV)  At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.


(Acts 8:1-3 NIV)  And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.


(Acts 9:1-2 NIV)  Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

(Acts 9:3-6 NIV)  As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

(Acts 9:7-9 NIV)  The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

(Acts 9:10-16 NIV)  In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

(Acts 9:17-19 NIV)  Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

(Acts 9:20-22 NIV)  At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.


(Acts 26:12-18 NIV)  "On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' "'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'


(Rom 16:20 NCV)  The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

(James 4:7 NCV)  So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you.

Even Though Satan has been defeated through Christ we do not se the full results of it yet. It is similar to a man from the United States who has received an inheritance of a mansion in England. He has received the papers stating that he is now the owner of it but has not actually went to England and physically took possession of it yet. The defeat of Satan is a fact, but is still prowling about until he is cast into the lake of fire at the end of the millennium.


(Jude 1:9 NIV)  But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"


(1 Cor 5:5 NCV)  then hand this man over to Satan. So his sinful self will be destroyed, and his spirit will be saved on the day of the Lord.

(1 Tim 1:20 NCV)  Hymenaeus and Alexander have done that, and I have given them to Satan so they will learn not to speak against God.

How it must irritate Satan to have God thwart his evil plans and work good out of them. If Satan had known that inciting the Jewish leaders to crucify the Lord was going to result in the salvation of mankind he never would have done it.

Even today God uses Satan’s attacks on Christians to drive those that have fallen into sin to repentance.


(2 Cor 12:7-9 NIV)  To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

(2 Cor 12:7 NCV)  So that I would not become too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me, a painful physical problem was given to me. This problem was a messenger from Satan, sent to beat me and keep me from being too proud.


(1 Cor 7:5 NCV)  Do not refuse to give your bodies to each other, unless you both agree to stay away from sexual relations for a time so you can give your time to prayer. Then come together again so Satan cannot tempt you because of a lack of self-control.

(Eph 4:27 & 6:11 NCV)  Do not give the devil a way to defeat you. Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil's evil tricks.

(2 Cor 2:11 NIV)  in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

(James 4:7 NIV)  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you


(1 Th 2:17-18 NKJV)  But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you; even I, Paul, time and again; but Satan hindered us.

 
(2 Cor 4:4 NCV)  The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News--the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is exactly like God.

(1 Tim 5:15 NCV)  But some have already turned away to follow Satan.


(1 Th 3:5 NCV)  Because of this, when I could wait no longer, I sent Timothy to you so I could learn about your faith. I was afraid the devil had tempted you, and then our hard work would have been wasted.

(1 Pet 5:8 NKJV)  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.


(1 Tim 3:6-7 NCV)  But an elder must not be a new believer, or he might be too proud of himself and be judged guilty just as the devil was. An elder must also have the respect of people who are not in the church so he will not be criticized by others and caught in the devil's trap.


(2 Tim 2:24-26 NIV)  And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.


(1 John 4:4 NCV)  My dear children, you belong to God and have defeated them; because God's Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.


(Heb 2:14 NCV)  Since these children are people with physical bodies, Jesus himself became like them. He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death--the devil--

(1 John 3:8 NCV)  The devil has been sinning since the beginning, so anyone who continues to sin belongs to the devil. The Son of God came for this purpose: to destroy the devil's work.


The Epistle of Barnabas
18:1-5 But let us pass on to another lesson and teaching. There are two ways of teaching and of power, the one of light and the other of darkness; and there is a great difference between the two ways. For on the one are stationed the light-giving angels of God, on the other the angels of Satan. And the one is Lord from all eternity and unto all eternity, whereas the other is Lord of the season of iniquity that now is.

(1 Cor 10:21 NCV)  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons also. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons.

(2 Cor 6:15 NCV)  How can Christ and Belial, the devil, have any agreement? What can a believer have together with a nonbeliever?

(1 Tim 4:1 NCV)  Now the Holy Spirit clearly says that in the later times some people will stop believing the faith. They will follow spirits that lie and teachings of demons.

(1 John 3:10 NCV)  So we can see who God's children are and who the devil's children are: Those who do not do what is right are not God's children, and those who do not love their brothers and sisters are not God's children.


(2 Tim 3:8-9 NCV)  Just as Jannes and Jambres were against Moses, these people are against the truth. Their thinking has been ruined, and they have failed in trying to follow the faith. But they will not be successful in what they do, because as with Jannes and Jambres, everyone will see that they are foolish.

(James 3:15 NCV)  That kind of "wisdom" does not come from God but from the world. It is not spiritual; it is from the devil.

Nicodemus 5:5-6  Thus Moses, when he was sent by God into Egypt, wrought the miracles which God commanded him, before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and though the magicians of that country, Jannes and Jambres, wrought by their magic the same miracles which Moses did , yet they could not work all which he did; And the miracles which the magicians wrought, were not of God, as ye know, O Scribes and Pharisees; but they who wrought them perished, and all who believed them. And now let this man go; because the very miracles for which ye accuse him, are from God; and he is not worthy of death.


In the times of the Apostles sorcery was still popular, just as it was in old testament times and is yet today.

(Acts 8:9-11 NIV)  Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power." They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

(Acts 8:12-13 NIV)  But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

(Acts 8:14-19 NIV)  When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

Even though Simon believed the gospel, like Balaam, he was more concerned with making money from it than serving Christ out of a pure heart. The term “simony” meaning being involved in religion for the purpose of making money comes from this mans name.

(Acts 8:20-23 NIV)  Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."

(Acts 8:24 NIV)  Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me."


(Acts 12:25 NIV)  When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

(Acts 13:1-4 NIV)  In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

(Acts 13:6-7 NIV)  They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.


(Acts 13:8-11 NIV)  But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

(Acts 13:12 NIV)  When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Although the scriptures do not specifically say so, the blindness of the sorcerer was probably inflicted upon Elymas by an angel, as was the case with Lot and the men of Sodom. Once again the power of God is shown to be superior to the power of Satan, his fallen angels and his demons.


(Acts 8:5-8 NIV)  Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

Paul Casts Out Evil Spirits And Performs Miracles Through The Power Of God

(Acts 19:11-12 NIV)  God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.


(Acts 19:13-16 NIV)  Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

(Acts 19:17-18 NIV)  When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.

(Acts 19:19 NIV)  A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

(Acts 19:20 NIV)  In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.


(Acts 8:26 NIV)  Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."

(Acts 8:27-31 NIV)  So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

(Acts 8:32-35 NIV)  The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

(Acts 8:37-40 NKJV)  Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.


(Acts 10:1-2 NIV)  At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

(Acts 10:3-4 NIV)  One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

(Acts 10:5-8 NIV)  Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea." When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

(Acts 10:9-16 NIV)  About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

(Acts 10:17-21 NIV)  While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"

(Acts 10:22 NIV)  The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say."

(Acts 11:13 NIV)  He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.

(Acts 10:24 & 27-29 NIV)  The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.  He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

(Acts 10:30-35 NIV)  Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.


(Acts 12:1-5 NIV)  It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.


(Acts 12:6-10 NIV)  The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists. Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

(Acts 12:11-15 NIV)  Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."

Those who were praying for Peter thought that he had been killed and that his spirit was appearing at the door to the servant girl after his death. In this case they are using the term angel to mean the spirit of the departed. In Jewish tradition the spirit of the deceased roams the earth for three days before going to the abode of the dead.

(Acts 12:16-19 NIV)  But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place. In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while.


(Acts 12:20-24 NIV)  He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to increase and spread.


(Acts 16:13-15 NIV)  On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.

(Acts 16:16-18 NIV)  Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.


(James 2:19 NCV)  You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too, and they tremble with fear.


(Acts 16:19-24 NIV)  When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

(Acts 16:25-28 NIV)  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

(Acts 16:29-34 NIV)  The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.

We are not told whether or not the earthquake was caused by angels or it God used some other means to open the jail cells. What we do know is that this whole episode began with Paul casting out a demon and evil men inspired by Satan had both Paul and Silas jailed for it. In the end result though God worked out all things for the good with the result being the salvation of the jailer and all of his household.

(Acts 16:40 NIV)  After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.

(Acts 17:1-4 NIV)  When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, " he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.


(Acts 27:10-11 NIV)  "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.

(Acts 27:14-15 NIV)  Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.

(Acts 27:19-22 NIV)  On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.

(Acts 27:23-25 NIV)  Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

(Acts 27:27-29 NIV)  On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.

(Acts 27:33-36 NIV)  Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food--you haven't eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.

(Acts 27:38-39 NIV)  When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.

(Acts 28:1-6 NIV)  Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live." But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

(Acts 28:7-10 NIV)  There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Wherever Paul went he healed the sick, cast out demons and received angelic help. Eventually he made it to Rome and tradition has it that he was put to death by the emperor Nero. Paul fought the good fight of faith and went on to receive his eternal reward.

Nero was a type of the Antichrist and we Christians who are alive today may someday be called upon to follow in Paul’s’ footsteps. Let us all make sure we are read if that should happen.


(Rom 8:38-39 NIV)  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As powerful as angels and demons are, neither one has the power to separate us from the love of God. At the last judgment no one will be excused for their sin and failure to accept the grace of god and be saved by saying “The Devil Made Me Do It.” While the devil may test humans and at times torment us like he did to Job, he cannot separate us from God’s love and saving grace. Only we can do that with our free will by rejecting Jesus Christ.


(Heb 1:14 NIV)  Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?


(1 Cor 4:9 NIV)  For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.


(1 Cor 6:3 NIV)  Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

The scripture doesn’t give us any more information on this subject but it is fairly certain that we will judge the fallen angels and Satan and perhaps even the good angels for their performance in assisting us in our salvation and work for Christ.


(1 Cor 10:10 NIV)  And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.


(1 Cor 11:10 NIV)  For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.

A woman should either have long enough hair to cover her head or wear a hat to church. It is not a sin for a woman to be bald from illness or wear a short haircut, but if she does she should cover her head in spiritual meetings. This shows humility and acceptance of God’s order of creation, man first, and then woman.

(1 Tim 5:21 NIV)  I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.


(1 Cor 13:1 NIV)  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

It is not clear if angels speak in only one language or if there are different dialects in heaven, but apparently when they converse with each other they speak in a language unknown to man.


(Heb 1:7 NIV)  In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire."


(2 Cor 11:13-15 NIV)  For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

(2 Cor 11:14 NCV)  This does not surprise us. Even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.


(Gal 3:19 NIV)  What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.

(Gal 1:8 NIV)  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

Much of the behind the scenes work in giving the law and the gospel to mankind was done by angels. But, now that the gospel has been given and written in the new testament it is unchangeable, even by an angel. Many religions have been started since that time by people claiming to have had an angelic vision. If what was revealed them does not agree with the bible then they should have rejected it rather than promoting a new religion. God’s angels do nothing against his word or his will. If the word of an angel does not conform to the bible then that word is from a fallen angel of a demon and is to be rejected.

(Heb 2:2-4 NCV)  The teaching God spoke through angels was shown to be true, and anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment that was earned. So surely we also will be punished if we ignore this great salvation. The Lord himself first told about this salvation, and it was proven true to us by those who heard him. God also proved it by using wonders, great signs, many kinds of miracles, and by giving people gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as he wanted.


(Col 2:18 NIV)  Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.

Not only are we not to accept anti biblical information from angels but we are not to worship them as some do. Angels are just created beings like we are, but they are of a higher order and have not sinned as we have. We must worship God alone. Anything else is idolatry.


(1 Tim 3:16 NIV)  Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.


While in a human body Jesus Christ, the creator temporarily inhabited a form lower than the angelic beings he created. But, after the resurrection he regained his former glory and more.

(Heb 1:4-6 NIV)  So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father " ? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

(Heb 1:13 & 8 NIV)  To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.


(Heb 2:5 NCV)  God did not choose angels to be the rulers of the new world that was coming, which is what we have been talking about.

(Heb 2:6-8 NCV)  It is written in the Scriptures, "Why are people important to you? Why do you take care of human beings? You made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You put all things under their control." When God put everything under their control, there was nothing left that they did not rule. Still, we do not yet see them ruling over everything.

Heb 2:9 & 16 NCV)  But we see Jesus, who for a short time was made lower than the angels. And now he is wearing a crown of glory and honor because he suffered and died. And by God's grace, he died for everyone. Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps, but the people who are from Abraham.


(Heb 12:22 NKJV)  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,


(Heb 13:2 NIV)  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.


(1 Pet 1:12 NIV)  It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.


(1 Th 3:13 NCV)  May your hearts be made strong so that you will be holy and without fault before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

The scripture above is a good verse to end this chapter on because in the next chapter we will see how angels will be involved in the return of Christ.