Becoming even more fearful and realizing that Jesus is innocent, Pilate again attempted to release Him (v. 12). With this, the crowd started to accuse Pilate of being a traitor to Caesar. He knew that if the Jews contacted Caesar and told him that Pilate had released a man who threatened Roman …
In this chapter Paul sends greeting to at least 26 people by name, as well as two unnamed saints, and to the people in several churches who were meeting in homes. It shows that Paul was a real “people person.” His great heart embraced all the people of God, and his love for them provoked …
The Scribes and Pharisees had fooled themselves into believing they were righteous and others were sinful. They believed they were righteous on account of their race and their circumcision. Jesus used three pictures to help demonstrate the choice between His kingdom and the world …
Nothing is told us in any of the Gospels of Jesus’ character and work from his infancy until the age of thirty, except here. This incident is recorded to teach us about the developing ministry and wisdom of the Lord in his youth. At Passover time every year each Jewish family …
On the way down from the mountaintop experience, Jesus commands these three disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen “till the Son of Man be risen from the dead” (v. 9). It would not really be understood until after the resurrection, which would be proof that J …
This chapter starts to reveal Saul’s true nature. After reigning two years his army consisted of 2,000 troops under his command at Michmash (to the north of Jerusalem (vv. 1-3) and an additional 1,000 troops with his …
Not wanting to cause further trouble for Jason and the other Christians, Paul and Silas left Thessalonica by night and traveled southwest to Berea (v. 10), about 45 miles away. One might have expected Paul to switch up his tactics in Berea, but as usual they went right to the synagogue …
The death of Zimri did not automatically place the throne of the Northern Kingdom in Omri’s hands. Half the population, including the army, followed Omri but the other half sided with Tibni (v. 21). For over three years civil war ravaged Israel and threatened to split it …
In today’s passage James teaches that Christians are to be patient and long-suffering in the hardships and injustices which they may experience. He simply suggests that suffering is to be expected by Christians in this hostile world. When it comes it should be borne val …
The description of Solomon’s palace in this portion of scripture raises a question as to whether one building or several were constructed as it refers to the forest of Lebanon (v. 2). Most scholars think this reference is to the extensive use of Lebanese cedar rather than …