This is now Paul's Fifth Defense to the masses and Seventh Overall, if You are Keeping Score. Acts 26:1-23 And Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense: “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by … Continue reading The Divine Defense
Category: Matthew
The Retelling of Much Ado About Nothing Doing: According to Festus
Acts 25:13-27 Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and paid their respects to Festus. And while they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief … Continue reading The Retelling of Much Ado About Nothing Doing: According to Festus
The Appeal to the Emperor
Acts 24:24-25:12 But some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find … Continue reading The Appeal to the Emperor
The Covenant of Conspiracy
Acts 23:12-22 And when it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. And there were more than forty who formed this plot. And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have … Continue reading The Covenant of Conspiracy
The Sarcastic Citizen of Citizens, Tried by Brethren, Rescued by Romans
Acts 23:1-11 And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you … Continue reading The Sarcastic Citizen of Citizens, Tried by Brethren, Rescued by Romans
The Citizen of Citizens
Acts 22:22-30 "And they listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!' And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, the commander ordered … Continue reading The Citizen of Citizens
The Start of the Speech on the Steps
Acts 21:37-22:7 And as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out … Continue reading The Start of the Speech on the Steps
The Altar-cation
Acts 21:27-36 And when the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the multitude and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people, and … Continue reading The Altar-cation
The Symbolic Cessation of Significant Signs
Acts 20:1-12 And after the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he departed to go to Macedonia. And when he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. And there he spent three months, … Continue reading The Symbolic Cessation of Significant Signs
The Pet Project?
Acts 18:24-28+Acts 19:1-8 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only … Continue reading The Pet Project?
The Departure and The Dwelling
Acts 18:1-11 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, … Continue reading The Departure and The Dwelling
The Mission Through Macedonia
Acts 17:1-15 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again … Continue reading The Mission Through Macedonia
The Path of Paul to More Peoples Than Peter
Acts 16:14-30 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged … Continue reading The Path of Paul to More Peoples Than Peter
The Superfluous Circumcision
Acts 15:40+41-Acts 16:5 But Paul chose Silas and departed, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman … Continue reading The Superfluous Circumcision
The Persistent Persecution and Prevalence of Prosperity
Acts 14:19-28 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he arose and entered the city. And the next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. And … Continue reading The Persistent Persecution and Prevalence of Prosperity
The Persecution Push
Acts 14:8-13 And at Lystra there was sitting a certain man, without strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze upon him, and had seen that he had faith to be made well, said … Continue reading The Persecution Push
The Persecution Prescription
Acts 14:1-7 And it came about that in Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a great multitude believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles, and embittered them against the brethren. Therefore they spent … Continue reading The Persecution Prescription
The Road to Ruin
Acts 13:42-52 And as Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them … Continue reading The Road to Ruin
The Great Famine
Acts 11:27-30 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. And in the proportion that … Continue reading The Great Famine
The Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized on a Desert Road
Acts 8:26-40 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) And he arose and went; and behold, there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge … Continue reading The Ethiopian Eunuch Baptized on a Desert Road
The Short Sight of Simon
Acts 8:14-24 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name … Continue reading The Short Sight of Simon
The Small Step Forward; Samaria
Acts 8:4-13 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For … Continue reading The Small Step Forward; Samaria
The Persecution Primer
Acts 8:1-3 And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul … Continue reading The Persecution Primer
The Scripture Summation of Stephan, Part 3; The Prophets Vs The People
Acts 7:44-53 Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. “And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations whom God drove out before … Continue reading The Scripture Summation of Stephan, Part 3; The Prophets Vs The People
The Great Escape and Another Stabbing Sermon
Acts 5:17-32 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy; and they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in a public jail. But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, … Continue reading The Great Escape and Another Stabbing Sermon
The Hands and Shadows of the Apostles
Acts 5:12-16 And at the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, … Continue reading The Hands and Shadows of the Apostles
The CONGREGATION
Acts 4:32-37 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant … Continue reading The CONGREGATION
The Collapsing Council’s Confirmation
Acts 4:13-22 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But when they … Continue reading The Collapsing Council’s Confirmation
The Cornerstone Confession
Acts 4:5-12 And it came about on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. And when they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, … Continue reading The Cornerstone Confession
The Ingathering
Acts 2:37-47 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you … Continue reading The Ingathering
