Acts
Paul Preaches in Athens
As we read through Paul’s sermon in Athens, keep in mind the beliefs held by those to whom he was addressing and observe how Paul interacted with those beliefs. The Epicureans in the crowd were more materialistic and non-religious, believing that life was for pursuing pleasure, while the …
Comfort in Times of Trial
Chapter 23 opens with Paul standing before the Sanhedrin presenting his case. Gazing earnestly at the council, he told them he had lived before God, doing his duty with a perfectly good conscience (v. 1). Ananias, a corrupt high priest, order that Paul should be slapped across the mouth to forcibly …
The Jerusalem Council
The idea of salvation through faith in Christ alone, apart from works, is not an easy one to grasp. It’s tempting to add regulations onto faith. This is what the Jerusalem Council sought to address. The inciting incident was the arrival of some well-meaning but legalistic Jewish teachers in …
When, Where, How & How Long to Worship
I find a very interesting story in today’s passage. After Paul arrived in Troas he met with believers on Sunday to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and after that he spoke to them until midnight because he was leaving the next morning (v.7). It was only gradually that Sunday to …
Stephen Stoned to Death for His Faith
The Tabernacle was built to divine specification by God and was an object of great beauty and cost. Stephen pointed out how it was forever on the move (vv. 44-45). It was put up and taken down as it was carted from place to place. In all the wanderings of the Hebrews in the wilderness …
Gentiles are Receptive to Paul’s Message
The Gentiles were very receptive to Paul’s message and wanted him to tell them more (vv. 42-43). The next Sabbath a great crowd, which probably was made up of mostly Gentiles, gathered to hear Paul (v. 44). This made the Jews very envious and angry (v. 45). The Jewish leaders started to …
Paul arrives in Jerusalem
Paul finally arrived in Jerusalem and went before the church leaders to give a missionary report of what God had done in his journeys (vv. 17-19). They listened very politely but when he was finished, they told him they had a local situation that perhaps he could help them settle …
Mistaken Identity in Lystra
Paul and Barnabas did not go to Lystra simply to escape persecution; they also went to preach the Gospel. Apparently, there was no Jewish synagogue in Lystra, so God used a different way to bring the Gospel to these people. This passage is especially interesting because it gives us Paul’s …
Peter Preaches On Prophecy
This passage brings us face to face with The Day of the Lord. In both the Old and New Testaments there is much that is not fully understood unless we know the basic principles underlying this time period. The Jews divided time into two ages. There was The Present Age, which was utterly evil …
The Urgency of Giving the Gospel
Paul had a burning desire to preach the gospel in Rome. He knew that God had blessed him greatly and had given him the opportunity to be there and preach the gospel to both Jew and Gentiles. As had been his custom in city after city, he began witnessing to the Jews first (v. 17). He thought it …