Acts 10:34–Acts 10:48 — God makes it clear through Peter’s teaching that the Good News of Christ is for everyone (vv. 34-35). We should never allow culture, prejudice, geography, economic situations or educational levels keep us from telling others about Christ. In every nation there are people who are … Read more
Acts 22:6–Acts 22:16 — Paul gives his personal testimony of the appearance of the Lord to him on the road to Damascus (vv. 6-7). So far as we know he had never known Jesus in the flesh. His first glimpse of Him was a blinding vision from heaven, and this became the driving, motivating force of his life …
'; cmtry[1232012] = 'Acts 10:23–Acts 10:33 — As we read this passage we must remember that the Jews believed that other nations were outside the mercy of God. The really strict Jew would have no contact with a Gentile, or even with a Jew, who did not observe the Law. In particular he would never have a guest nor ever be the … Read more
'; cmtry[1132012] = 'Acts 10:9–Acts 10:22 — Before Cornelius could be welcomed into the Church, Peter had to learn a lesson. Strict Jews believed that God had no use for the Gentiles. Sometimes they even said that help must not be given to a Gentile woman in childbirth, because that would only bring another Gentile into th … Read more
'; cmtry[1032012] = 'Acts 10:1–Acts 10:8 — The tenth chapter of Acts tells a story that is one of the great turning points in the history of the Church. For the first time a Gentile is to be admitted into its fellowship. Since Cornelius is so important in church history, let us gather together what we can learn about him. … Read more
'; cmtry[932012] = 'Acts 9:32–Acts 9:43 — The scene now shifts to Peter, who was visiting the churches in Palestine. He comes to Lydia, a predominately Gentile city about 25 miles from Jerusalem (v. 32). Possibly the church in Lydia had been founded by disciples fleeing from Jerusalem at the time of fierce persecution wh … Read more
'; cmtry[832012] = 'Acts 9:19b–Acts 9:31 — Soon after Paul’s conversion and his arrival in Damascus, he stayed with the Lord’s followers and began to preach in the synagogues (vv. 19-20). They found it difficult to believe that the man who had been the chief persecutor of Christians was now preaching the faith that … Read more
'; cmtry[732012] = 'Acts 9:10–Acts 9:19a — Without a doubt Ananias is one of the forgotten heroes of the Christian Church. If it is true that the Church owes Paul’s conversion to the prayer of Stephen, it is also true that the Church owes Paul’s spiritual growth to the brotherliness of Ananias. In this pa … Read more
'; cmtry[632012] = 'Acts 9:1–Acts 9:9 — In this passage we have the most famous conversion story in history. We have reached a turning point in the Book of Acts. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who was the leading persecutor of Christians, was perhaps the greatest event in Church history after Pentecost. Here we find … Read more
'; cmtry[432012] = 'Acts 8:9–Acts 8:25 — Wherever God sows His true believers, Satan sows his counterfeits. Satan’s tool in this passage was a sorcerer named Simon. He practiced witchcraft, and because of his ability to exercise control over nature and people through his demonic power, many people thought he was great ( … Read more
'; cmtry[332012] = 'Acts 8:1–Acts 8:8 — The death of Stephen was the signal for an outbreak of persecution which compelled the Christians to scatter and to seek safety in the remoter districts of the country. However the apostles stood fast. They braved whatever perils might come; and this was for two reasons: &n … Read more
'; cmtry[232012] = 'Acts 7:44–Acts 7:53 — In this closing section of his defense, what Stephen has been implying now becomes explicit:He insists on the continued disobedience of the people. He insists that they have had the most amazing privileges.He insists that they have wrongly limited God.He insists that they ha … Read more
Acts 7:54–Acts 7:60 — As Stephen laid the blame for the slaying of Christ squarely on them, the members of the council began to murmur. Finally under heavy conviction, they interrupted his sermon and rushed on him in preparation to stone him. They were so angry at him that they literally gnashed their …
'; cmtry[132012] = 'Acts 7:30–Acts 7:43 — In these verses we can see what Moses gave up. He actually gave up a kingdom, in order to lead his people out into the desert on a great adventure for God. This great man is not the man who, like the Jews, is thrilled about the past and jealous of his privileges; he is the man wh … Read more
'; cmtry[2922012] = 'Acts 7:20–Acts 7:29 — Stephen summed up the characteristics of Joseph in two words—grace and wisdom. Grace in its simplest form means beauty. Its nearest English equivalent is charm. It would have been extremely easy for him to become embittered. But he dealt faithfully with each dut … Read more
'; cmtry[2822012] = 'Acts 7:1–Acts 7:8 — This chapter contains the longest sermon recorded in the book of Acts. In these first eight verses Stephen gives the history of Abraham. The Jews greatly admired Abraham and prided themselves in being his “children.” Furthermore, they depended on their nation’s heritage … Read more
Acts 7:9–Acts 7:19 — The picture of Abraham is followed by the picture of Joseph. As the Sanhedrin rejected Jesus, the sons of Jacob united to get rid of Joseph. Both were motivated because of envy (v. 9). Joseph was rejected by his brethren, sold for the price of a slave, handed over to Gentil …
'; cmtry[2722012] = 'Acts 6:1–Acts 6:7 — We find this early church faced with a big problem, and it was over money (sound familiar?) (v. 1). There were two groups; the Hellenistic Jews (Greek speaking) and the Hebrew Jews (Aramaic speaking). They charged that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution o … Read more
'; cmtry[2622012] = 'Acts 1:15–Acts 1:26 — After the Lord Jesus ascended Peter became the recognized leader of the disciples. He was bothered by the empty space left by the treachery and suicide of Judas, and had decided that someone must replace the missing member of the Apostolic ranks. With this mind a prayer meeting w … Read more
Acts 5:33–Acts 5:42 — On their second appearance before the Sanhedrin the apostles found an unexpected helper - Gamaliel, who was a Pharisee (vv. 33-34). He was more than respected; he was loved. He was a kindly man with a far wider tolerance than his fellows. When the Sanhedrin seemed likely to resor …
'; cmtry[2522012] = 'Acts 5:17–Acts 5:32 — Again we find the Sadducees angry because of the Apostle’s preaching of the Resurrection, and the fact that these untrained and unauthorized men were having such great success in their ministry(v. 17). The apostles were risking their very lives to share the living Word of G … Read more
'; cmtry[2422012] = 'Acts 5:12–Acts 5:16 — This passage gives a run down of what went on in the early Church: It tells us where the Church met (v. 12). It was in an open space on Solomon’s Porch,It tells us how the Church met (v. 12). They assembled where everyone could see them. It was on one of the two … Read more
'; cmtry[2322012] = 'Acts 5:1–Acts 5:11 — In the last few verses of chapter 4 we are told about the church members selling their possessions and bringing the money to the church. No doubt the people were praising God for the generous offering Barnabas had given. Ananias and Sapphira decided they would like to have t … Read more
'; cmtry[2222012] = 'Acts 4:32–Acts 4:37 — Some have referred to this portion of Scripture as the origin of today’s communism. It is nothing of the kind. It didn’t involve all private property, but only as much as was needed and there was no membership requirement. The spiritual unity and generosity of these e … Read more
Acts 4:23–Acts 4:31 — After being threatened, the disciples returned to their own group to pray, and they told them all that the chief priests and elders had said to them (v. 23). When they had heard the story, with one accord, they lifted up their voice to God. This is truly one of the great prayers …
'; cmtry[2122012] = 'Acts 4:13–Acts 4:22 — Here we see very vividly both the enemy’s attack and the Christian defense. It says that the Sanhedrin regarded Peter and John as unlearned and ignorant men (v. 13). The word translated “unlearned” means that they had no kind of technical education. The word tra … Read more
'; cmtry[2022012] = 'Acts 4:1–Acts 4:12 — This chapter records the first persecutions of the early church. In the Gospels we find great opposition coming from the Pharisees. However as Peter and John were speaking to the people they were confronted by a group of Sadducees and arrested (vv. 1-4). In Acts it is the Sadduce … Read more
'; cmtry[1922012] = 'Acts 3:11–Acts 3:16 — God’s supernatural healing, of the man that was crippled, brought amazement from those at the temple, and soon a crowd had gathered (v. 11). Peter took this opportunity to direct everyone’s attention to Christ and give God the glory (vv 12-13). In lifting up Jesus, he … Read more
Acts 3:17–Acts 3:26 — Peter exhorted the people and the leaders by telling them they had acted in ignorance because they didn’t recognize who Jesus is. However, Christ being crucified was a fulfillment of prophecies. Peter’s message: It begins with a note of mercy and warning c …
'; cmtry[1822012] = 'Acts 3:1–Acts 3:10 — It was three o’clock in the afternoon and a prayer meeting was held at the temple. Peter and John were going into the Temple to observe it (v. 1). A new faith had come to them, but they did not use that as an excuse for a license which broke all law. They were aware that th … Read more
'; cmtry[1622012] = 'Acts 2:22–Acts 2:28 — Peter has just finished the introduction of his sermon to this large crowd at Pentecost. He now tells this doubting crowd that Jesus is Messiah (vv. 22). This is the theme of his message. It insists that the Cross was no accident. It belonged to the eternal plan of God (v. 2 … Read more
Acts 2:29–Acts 2:36 — These verses include four proofs of the Lord’s Resurrection and Ascension: The empty tomb (vv. 29-31)The witness of the Resurrection (v. 32) The witness of the believers (v. 33) The presence of the Holy Spirit (vv. 34-36)If the Holy Spirit is in the world, then God mu …
'; cmtry[1522012] = 'Acts 2:14–Acts 2:21 — 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 all time into two ages. There was The Present Age, which w … Read more
'; cmtry[1422012] = 'Acts 2:1–Acts 2:13 — There were three great Jewish festivals to which every male Jew living within twenty miles of Jerusalem was legally bound to come—the Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. Pentecost was so called because it fell on the fiftieth day, a week of weeks, after the Pa … Read more
'; cmtry[1322012] = 'Acts 1:12–Acts 1:14 — After the Lord ascended the disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem from nearby Mount Olivet and had a prayer meeting (vv. 12-13). When we face a difficult task or an important decision we shouldn’t rush into the work and hope it will turn out the way we think it should … Read more
'; cmtry[1222012] = 'Acts 1:1–Acts 1:5 — Luke starts out by building a bridge between his Gospel and the book of Acts (vv. 1-2). At the close of the Gospel according to Luke, he had left the believers in the temple praising God. Now he picks up the story and explains what happened next. He explains to Theophilus wh … Read more
Acts 1:6–Acts 1:11 — “Witness” is a key word in the book of Acts, and is used 29 times as either a verb or a noun. Instead of knowing the times or dates, the Apostles were to be Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth (v. 8). A witness is someone who tells what he has seen and h …
'; cmtry[1122012] = 'Jeremiah 50:1–Jeremiah 50:10 — This passage has to do with God’s Judgements against Babylon (vv. 1-10). Jeremiah is God’s prophet declaring God’s truth that the heathen Babylonians will be captured and punished for their sins of pride and corruption. Their God Bel (also known as Marduk) who was the chi … Read more
Jeremiah 50:11–Jeremiah 50:29 — Jeremiah now focuses on Judah’s enemy, the empire of Babylon. Babylon sinned in proudly destroying Judah. God is not pleased with those who rejoice in destroying others and brag about it. Because of this he vowed to disgrace Babylon by destroying it so completely that thos …
'; cmtry[1022012] = 'Jeremiah 39:1–Jeremiah 39:10 — Zedekiah, son on Josiah was the last king of Judah. His two older brothers Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim and his nephew Jehoiachin ruled before him. When Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon and Zedekiah was 21 years of age he was made king (v. 1). A year and a half after the Babyloni … Read more
Jeremiah 39:11–Jeremiah 39:18 — Babylon had a strange foreign policy toward conquered lands. They deported the rich and powerful, leaving only the very poor in charge, thus making them grateful to their conquerors. (v. 10). This policy helped to assure them conquered populations would not revolt. God h …
'; cmtry[922012] = 'Jeremiah 38:1–Jeremiah 38:13 — The princes became angry, because Jeremiah continually counseled surrender to the Babylonians (vv. 1-3). Then the princes said to the king, “Let this man be put to death,” because he is undermining the morale of the few fighting men we have left (v. 4). Th … Read more
'; cmtry[822012] = 'Jeremiah 35:1–Jeremiah 35:11 — As background for this passage the “Rechabites” were a tribe of people who lived during the reign of Ahab, were staunch resisters to the worship of fertility gods and were somewhat related to Israel by marriage. They were descendants of the Kenites, the tribe of J … Read more
Jeremiah 35:12–Jeremiah 35:19 — While the Rechabites obeyed and followed the teachings of Jonadab their father, Israel had neither obeyed the Lord nor followed His instructions. The Rechabites were more loyal to their earthly father and his human judgments than the people of Israel were to their Creator …
'; cmtry[722012] = 'Jeremiah 33:14–Jeremiah 33:26 — The second section of this chapter is introduced the phrase “the days are coming” (v. 14). This refers to both the first and second comings of Christ. At his first coming He would set up His reign in the hearts of believers, at His second coming He would execute … Read more
'; cmtry[622012] = 'Jeremiah 33:1–Jeremiah 33:13 — Jeremiah was imprisoned, yet God gave him instruction in prayer. What can we do in difficult times? God invites us to call on Him. Like Jeremiah we can respond to God’s invitation to prayer. 1. His prompting - “Call on me” (v. 33a). 2. His promise - (v. 33b). ( … Read more
'; cmtry[522012] = 'Jeremiah 32:28–Jeremiah 32:44 — Today’s passage refers to the practice of child sacrifice. Jeremiah warns of impending judgment because as little babies would die, the people did nothing to end this horrible practice. Judgment was on the way (vv. 28-29).People had turned away from God (vv. 30-33).Peop … Read more
'; cmtry[422012] = 'Jeremiah 32:16–Jeremiah 32:27 — After making everything official and the papers are notarized concerning the land he just purchased (v. 16), Jeremiah breaks out into prayer and praise (v. 17): “Ah Lord God! behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. And … Read more
'; cmtry[322012] = 'Jeremiah 32:1–Jeremiah 32:15 — In the 32nd chapter of Jeremiah’s prophecy we find that what got him thrown in jail was his insistence that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, would conquer Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s king Zedekiah didn’t like that! While in prison, Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanameel offers the pr … Read more
'; cmtry[222012] = 'Jeremiah 31:31–Jeremiah 31:40 — In addition to a new beginning God promised to make a New Covenant with His people (vv. 31-37). Here is the promise of a “New Covenant.” This is the only mention of a “New Covenant” in the OT (v. 31). There are some differences between the old and new … Read more
'; cmtry[122012] = 'Jeremiah 31:1–Jeremiah 31:14 — God promises all the tribes of Israel that He will restore them (vv. 1-2). Despite Judah’s rejection and apostasy, God loved them (v. 3). “Loving kindness” refers to God condescending in goodness to the needs of His people. He says that I will restore your joy (v … Read more
'; cmtry[3112012] = 'Jeremiah 30:1–Jeremiah 30:11 — God told Jeremiah to write His promises of comfort in a book so they would be available to the exiles after Jerusalem fell (vv. 1-3). This book would declare a note of hope that the days are coming when God will restore His people. Jeremiah pointed to a day of restoration w … Read more
'; cmtry[3012012] = 'Jeremiah 29:1–Jeremiah 29:14 — Jeremiah writes a letter to all the priests, prophets and people that Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon (vv. 1-2). The setting is probably after the fall of Judah in 597 b.c., following the deportation of Jeconiah (Jehoiachin). The couriers were … Read more
'; cmtry[2912012] = 'Jeremiah 28:1–Jeremiah 28:17 — Hananiah was one of the false prophets who confronted Jeremiah (vv. 1-4). Hananiah’s home, Gibeon, was in Benjamin, about 6 miles northwest of Jerusalem. The Gibeonites deceived Joshua into making a treaty with them (Josh. 9:1-15). It was at Gibeon that Joab killed … Read more
'; cmtry[2812012] = 'Jeremiah 27:1–Jeremiah 27:22 — The events of chapter 27 took place early in the reign of Zedekiah (v. 1). Nebuchadnezzar had already invaded Judah once and had taken many captives. Jeremiah was commanded by God to wear a yoke, like those used to hitch a team of oxen together (v. 2), as a symbol of bondag … Read more
'; cmtry[2712012] = 'Jeremiah 26:1–Jeremiah 26:24 — This chapter gives a historical background of Jeremiah’s temple message given in chapters 7-10. In those chapters he focused on the content of the message while in this chapter he focuses on the response to the message. It describes how and why Jeremiah was on trial for … Read more
'; cmtry[2612012] = 'Jeremiah 25:1–Jeremiah 25:14 — This message was given by Jeremiah during the fourth year of King Jehoiakim, the year Nebuchadnezar came to power (v. 1). Jeremiah had been prophesying for 25 years. He had spoken to the people again and again but they had not listened to his warnings to repent (vv. 2-3). G … Read more
'; cmtry[2512012] = 'Jeremiah 24:1–Jeremiah 24:10 — The prophet is shown a vision of two baskets of figs (v. 1). One was a basket of good figs, the other of rotten, stinking and smelly figs (vv. 2-3). God said “These figs are like the people.” The good figs represented those who are going to be carried captive to … Read more
'; cmtry[2412012] = 'Jeremiah 23:25–Jeremiah 23:40 — God used dreams to reveal His will, and yet not every dream is God’s revelation, nor is everyone who dreams a prophet (v. 25). The dreams in this passage were designed to make Judah forget God’s name much as earlier prophets did through Baal worship (cf. v. 13). False doc … Read more
'; cmtry[2312012] = 'Jeremiah 22:24–Jeremiah 22:30 — Jehoiachin (who was only 23 years old) followed his father Jehoiakim to the throne (v. 24). After a three-month reign Jehoiachin surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar and he and his mother Nehushta (the widow of King Jehoikim (2 Kings 24:8) was deported to Babylon where they both … Read more
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