Acts 19:23-41 And about that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends … Continue reading The Counter Culture of Christianity
Tag: Bible
The Copy Cats
Acts 19:6-22 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. And there were in all about twelve men. And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. … Continue reading The Copy Cats
The (Feigned) Worship War and The Haircut Heard ‘Round the World
Acts 18:12-23 But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a … Continue reading The (Feigned) Worship War and The Haircut Heard ‘Round the World
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 Global Gospel
Acts 17:16-34 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. … Continue reading The Global Gospel
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 Prison Problems
Acts 16:31-40 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was … Continue reading The Prison Problems
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 Forbidden Cities, The Macedonian Vision and the Entrance of the Beloved Physician into the Fray
Acts 16:6-13 And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to … Continue reading The Forbidden Cities, The Macedonian Vision and the Entrance of the Beloved Physician into the Fray
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 Disagreement
Acts 15:30-41 So, when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. And Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. And after they … Continue reading The Disagreement
The Letter Alleviating Levitical Laws
Acts 15:1-29 And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up … Continue reading The Letter Alleviating Levitical Laws
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 Devastating Blow
Acts 13:13-40 (Yes, it's long, I will let Paul and the prophets do most of the talking) Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John left them and returned to Jerusalem. But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the … Continue reading The Devastating Blow
The Spirit’s Selection
Acts 13:1-12 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set … Continue reading The Spirit’s Selection
The Seat of Judgment
Acts 12:20-25 Now he [Herod Agrippa] was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. And on an appointed day Herod, having put on … Continue reading The Seat of Judgment
The Bittersweet Jailbreak
Acts 12:1-19 Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was … Continue reading The Bittersweet Jailbreak
The Reckoning; With Reason and Recapitulation
Acts 11:1-18 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. Let me stop here for dramatic effect. Don't you think that John, James, Andrew--maybe not Thomas because he is a doubter--would all be thrilled that the gentiles were receiving Christ? We will … Continue reading The Reckoning; With Reason and Recapitulation
The Path of Peter to All Peoples; Part 3, No Partiality
Acts 10:23-48 And on the next day he [Peter] arose and went away with them [the servants of Cornelius] and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. And when it came … Continue reading The Path of Peter to All Peoples; Part 3, No Partiality
The Path of Peter to all Peoples; Part 2, The Prayer of Cornelius
Acts 10:1-23 Now there was a certain man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly … Continue reading The Path of Peter to all Peoples; Part 2, The Prayer of Cornelius
The Path of Peter to all Peoples; Part 1
Acts 9:32-43 Now it came about that as Peter was traveling through all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; … Continue reading The Path of Peter to all Peoples; Part 1
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 Stoning of Stephan
Acts 7:54-60 + 8:1 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I … Continue reading The Stoning of Stephan
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 Scripture Summation of Stephan, Part 2; Moses
Acts 7:20-44 And it was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God; and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. “And after he had been exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away, and nurtured him as her own son. “And Moses was educated in all … Continue reading The Scripture Summation of Stephan, Part 2; Moses
