Romans 6 - What Shall We Say Then?

At the end of chapter 5 Paul leaves us with the idea that where "sin increases, grace increases all the more," which naturally leads to the question of whether or not sin can be desirable, in an effort to make grace abound.  Paul deals with this immediately and decisively at the beginning of chapter 6.

Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! (v. 1-2)

Our old self was crucified with Christ (v. 6) so that the body of sin is dead.  We have been set free from sin (v. 7).  We must not offer our bodies to wickedness, but rather as servants to God and slaves to righteousness (v.13).  We are reminded that sin = death (v. 23).  

OK, so sin is bad and never to be embraced.  Got it.  Simple as that seems, why does it get more complicated as we live out our lives?  Why does sin hold appeal?  How do we become slaves of righteousness?  I'll be reading the next few chapters with those questions in mind.

Romans 5 -- So Much to Talk About

Continuing on the theme of chapter 4, that our right standing God comes only through faith in Christ, we see in the first couple verses of chapter 5 that we are "at peace with God" and that we have "gained access" to Him and His grace by faith. 

Then we took at two issues that become major themes in Paul's writing and the rest of the New Testament:

1.  Struggles and trials are to be embraced and celebrated.
2.  Our Heavenly Father's love for us must be absolutely off the charts amazing for Him to send His Son to be punished for our justification.  Verse 8 is a well-known, often quoted verse to that effect.

In verse 10 we are described as God's enemies.  And yet, the Son of God is offered as a sacrifice to save those enemies.  I picture a battlefield, and some soldier laying down his life and taking a bullet for someone on the other side of the battle lines.  But not just for someone on the other side, but actually EVERYONE across enemy lines.  It's crazy if you think about it.  But that's just it -- God's love for us is totally crazy from our worldly perspective, where we really have no idea how to love the way He does. 

Finally, Paul positions Jesus as the new Adam.  Jesus is the one through whom all can be made righteous, since through Adam all are born sinful.  And in verse 20, we see that where sin increases, the grace of God through Christ increases "all the more".  That's something of a controversial statement that Paul will address in chapter 6.

Romans 4 -- Justified by Faith

Paul makes it pretty clear that our right standing with God -- our righteousness and justification is a result of faith rather than actions/works on our part.  Using Genesis 15 and Abraham's story as a proof text, we see that "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 

So the teaching of the New Testament is that Abraham's righteousness came through faith (Romans 4:14), and interestingly, so does ours (v. 23-24).  Seems like good news to me.  So what's the catch?  Faith costs nothing, so right standing with God apparently is free.  So why doesn't it feel that way sometimes?  Why do I try to earn my way toward Him?  Why is my obvious unworthiness so discouraging? 

Where will Paul lead us from here? 

Romans 3 -- The Gospel Coming Into Focus

Paul's letter to the Romans is heavy, deep theology.  No doubt about that.  But sometimes I think it helps to simplify the message.  Here's what I see in chapter 3.

God is inherently good.  Men are inherently sinful.  No one can be declared righteous, or in right standing with God as a result of following His law, mostly since "all have sinned".  This is for Jews and Gentiles alike.  Finally, God provided an atoning sacrifice in the person of Jesus Christ, and we are justified only by faith in Him. 

Not too complicated.  See you next week.

Romans 2 -- Glory, Honor and Peace

Lots in this chapter about judgment, wrath, and God giving "to each person according to what he has done."  Verse 9 tells us "there will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil."  Unfortunately, that includes all of us, at least at some level. 

The chapter also gives us glimpses of hope as we see there will be "glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good".  I don't know about you but I'm interested in reaping glory, honor and peace as opposed to trouble and distress.  But I do evil.  I am selfish.  And the end of the chapter we see that the transformation in my life that God desires happens on the inside.  He's not impressed by outward appearances.  He is moving us toward integrity; when my inner and outer lives are congruent with each other.  I can be so far from that sometimes, but in this chapter we begin to understand that despite the severity of our human condition, God is working to make things new as He circumcises my heart (v. 29).

Romans 1 -- A New Beginning

Straight from the Men's Devotional Bible..."Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome isn't his first correspondence with a church.  However, this letter perhaps represents the most complete expression of his message."

So there you have it.  Romans is a big deal in the scheme of New Testament teaching and understanding of the gospel.  And chapter one gets right into it.  We have a weighty introduction in verses 1-7 (check out v. 2-5 in particular).  Paul then spends a few verses encouraging the Roman believers:

"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you."
"I long to see you...that you and I may be mutually encouraged."

A brief but powerful declaration of the power of the gospel in verses 16-17 is followed by a vivid description of man's current state in v. 18-32.  It's not a pretty picture.  Fortunately, good news is on the way.

Acts 28 -- Pressing On to an Anticlimactic Ending

With this being the final chapter in Acts, I'm going to take a week off and then keep going through the New Testament.  Romans chapter 1 will be posted on 11/18.

The last chapter in Acts continues the adventures of this group, including Paul, making their way to Rome so that Paul can stand trial there.  We have a shipwreck, a horribly poinsonous snakebite that has no effect, kind islanders, miraculous healing, and finally the arrival at Rome. 

Paul is permitted to call together the leaders of the Jews in Rome and shares Jesus with them, as he "From morning till evening explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets." (v. 23)  As usual, some are convinced, "but others would not believe".  Paul brings the truth down on them when he quotes Isaiah in verses 26-27.

After all his travels and adventures over many years, we get no conclusion to the story of Paul other than he stayed in Rome for two years in his rented house, presumably under guard, and preached the kingdom of God to all who visited.  Then it ends.  We know from history that Paul ends up being executed in Rome, that he never leaves Rome, but in Acts we get none of that.  If nothing else, that's powerful evidence that the account is reliable.  Who would make up a story like this and not finish it?

Acts 27 -- Keep Up Your Courage

If you read the chapter, (click here to check it out) you get the story.  Paul's on his way to Rome with his co-laborers, some soldiers, and other prisoners.  They run into some troubles and adventures along the way, and the part that jumped out at me is Paul's admonition to the others on the boat to "keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me" (verse 25). 

The lesson here is something I can apply across all areas of my life.  I may never have an angel visit me in the night, but God has made me plenty of promises.  I need not worry or be anxious about anything.  He will never leave me or forsake me.  He is with me always, to the very end of the age.  If I believe in him I will not perish but have eternal life.  All these and more make it possible to keep up my courage when the storms of life come my way.  There is nothing that can separate me from his love.  Nothing.

Acts 26 -- Paul before King Agrippa

As I read through Acts, one thing that's a little difficult to wrap my brain around is the political structure of the era.  We have an Emperor in Rome (aka Caesar), some governors spread throughout the empire, and now,  we meet a king named Agrippa.  Agrippa is the last in the line of the various King Herods that we read about in the New Testament.  We don't learn this in the biblical account, but history tells us that Agrippa was also the brother of Drusilla, Felix's wife at the time.  Although at this point, Felix has been replaced by Festus as governor or procurator of the region. 

Paul is given permission to state his case and plead his innocence, and in verses 2-23 he tells his story, going all the way back to his childhood.  He acknowledges the evil he's done in persecuting the church (v. 10), and tells the story of his conversion and mission since "seeing the light" (v. 12-17).  Finally, after an interruption from Festus, Paul appeals to Agrippa's knowledge of the Old Testament and prophecy about the coming of Christ.  After Agrippa's question in verse 28, Paul's answer is just awesome.  "Short time or long -- I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, apart for these chains."  You have to love Paul...a man who exhibits humility in all he does, and yet understands that God has made him something special.  And what's more, rather than bask in his specialness, he earnestly desires and labors so that all might become what God's grace has enabled him to become.

The chapter ends with the ominous quote, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."

Acts 25 - Paul and Festus

Not sure what to say about this chapter; we get more of the "Paul on Trial" storyline.  Appearing before the new governor, Paul reaffirms his innocence, finally appealing to the Emperor.  Festus plans to send Paul to Rome, but first puts him in front of King Agrippa, and we see the first part of that encounter.

Through all this, I can't help but remember Paul has just spent the past two years sitting and patiently waiting as a prisoner.  I wonder what was on his mind.  And then I think about all the amazing writing Paul did from prison at different points of his life and I marvel at how this man is able to remain focused on others despite his own personal hardships.  I also marvel at how God allows us to experience situations and circumstances that, while often amazingly difficult personally, wind up becoming an incredible blessing to countless people.  The work did while Paul was imprisoned was absolutely used by God to change the world.

Acts 24 - Paul on Trial (sort of)

Paul's adventure continues, as he has the opportunity to meet his accusers and testify to his innocence before  Governor Felix.  The accusations are familiar, basically troublemaking, and it would be only too convenient for the powers that be in Jerusalem to be rid of Paul, just as they were able to rid themselves of Jesus.  Apparently they haven't considered that "eliminating" Jesus didn't really end their trouble with his followers, or maybe they just don't care.  They speak, Paul provides his defense, including the line "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man".  (Good advice to anyone).

Felix then begins spending a little time with Paul, and we're told he's hoping for a bribe.  Good luck with that one.  At the end of the chapter we learn that Felix keeps Paul imprisoned in Caesarea for some two years without much happening, and we are briefly introduced to Festus, Felix's successor.

Acts 23 -- Paul Causes More of a Stir

In school they teach you about the building action of a plot, leading to the climax.  Chapter 23 clearly provides a significant portion of that building action.  First, Paul stands before the Sanhedrin, a religious supreme court of sorts.  It was made up of 70 men and led by the High Priest.  I found it interesting that Paul speaks so aggressively in verse 3, then backpedals so quickly when he is informed that he got mouthy with the High Priest.  I'm not sure quite what to make of that...we didn't see Jesus back off like that.  On the other hand, Paul and Jesus are not apples to apples.

I also wonder what happened to the forty involved in the murder plot against Paul.  They vowed not to eat or drink until he was killed.  So when we learn their plot fails, did they go back on their word, or did they starve to death?  Thank God for Paul's brave nephew who I have to assume risks his life to save Paul's. 

Lastly, how about the size of the caravan that transports Paul to Caesarea.  200 soldiers and 200 spearmen, with 70 horsemen?  Paul is not simply some under the radar troublemaker.  He and his cause are a big deal.  Big enough to put 470 Romans on the march.  That alone makes it seem pretty unlikely that the events in Acts could have been fabricated much at all.  These events were the kind that had people's attention to the point they would remember them for many years to come. 

Next week....Paul on trial.

Acts 22 - Another Cliffhanger Ending

Previously in the book of Acts....when we left Paul he was about to deliver a speech to the assembled crowd in Jerusalem.  As he lays out his story of how Jesus spoke to him and grabbed hold of his life, the mob listens, apparently fairly quietly, until he talks of being sent to the Gentiles.  It's still hard for me to wrap my brain around the venom these people had for the Gentiles and anyone who would associate with them.  "Rid the earth of him!  He's not fit to live!"  (verse 22).  Unbelievable.

So naturally, they begin shouting, throwing off cloaks and "flinging dust into the air" to the point where the the commander gets Paul out of there.  And naturally, rather than simply questioning Paul, he is to be flogged and then questioned. It's the imminent flogging that provides Paul the opportunity to reveal his status as a Roman citizen (due to his birth in the city of Tarsus, which provided for automatic citizenship), which was an alarming revelation for the commander who got the report from his centurion.  At that point the flogging plans go out the window, and there is a realization that the Romans better do their homework and figure out who this man is.  Paul is brought before the chief priests and religious leaders and ordered to stand before them.  And chapter 22 ends there, with another cliffhanger ending.  Can't wait to read more next week.

Acts 21 - Trouble in Jerusalem

First observation: Bible translations tend to be pretty conservative when it comes to figurative language so when it reads "After we had torn ourselves away from them" at the beginning of verse 1, that tells me there's a pretty serious bond that's formed between the Ephesian leaders and Paul and his assistants.  Pretty serious indeed.

Next: we've mentioned this before, but the inclusion of extraneous details like, "he had four unmarried daughters who prophesied"  (v. 9) is pretty compelling evidence for the accuracy of the historical account.  That detail doesn't seem to add much to the story -- certainly not the kind of item that someone would have included if the story was a fabrication made up many years later.

Finally: as Paul makes his way to Jerusalem, the trouble that he encounters there is eerily reminscent of the scene as Jesus is arrested and taken into custody.  Mobs of people, mass confusion, accusations of blasphemy or false teaching, etc.  And the chapter ending with Paul about the address the people has me on the edge of my seat.  This book of Acts really does read like a great adventure story.

Acts 20 - Man on a Mission

Paul gets out of Ephesus and winds up spending three months in Greece before winding up in Troas.  In Troas, we see Paul's preaching come into question as a young man falls asleep as Paul goes "on and on".  Sounds amusing until young Eutychus falls out the window and dies, before being brought back miraculously by Paul.  I bet that bought him some credibility with the audience for sure.

Determined and "in a hurry" to get to Jerusalem, Paul heads that way but desires to say goodbye to the church leaders from Ephesus, whom he knows he'll never see again.  He sends for them, and delivers a stirring farewell.  He encourages them, warns them, thanks them, and reminds them of the supreme importance of living out one's calling.  "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me -- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

Amen. 

Next time, on to Jerusalem.

Acts 19: Preaching, persecution and a bizarre riot

Reading chapter 19 this week, one thing that jumped out at me was the opening phrase, "While Apollos was at Corinth...".  It's these types of seemingly insignificant details that help convince me that this account is reliable.  The original readers might say, "Oh yeah, I remember when Apollos was in Corinth", and it provides context for them.  I look at it and think that if the book were unreliable, it would do the author no good to include details like, "While Apollos was at Corinth". 

Moving on, we see Paul again suffering persecution at the hands of the synagogue leaders, and consequently setting up daily lectures elsewhere in Ephesus for two years.  I've covered this in other posts, but I have always tended to think of Paul as a traveler, which he certainly was.  But I don't often picture him setting up and spending 2 years anywhere.  That's a long time to shut down one's travels and invest in one particular group of people.  I marvel at the way Paul is led by the Spirit from place to place for such varying lengths of time. 

Finally, Demetrius the silversmith gets his mention in Scripture, albeit not an especially flattering one as he stirs up his fellow craftsmen with the fear of losing their livelihood.  "Soon the whole city was in an uproar" (v. 29).  The riot builds from there, "Some were shouting one thing, some another.  Most of the people did not even know why they were there" (v. 33). 
And for two hours the people shouted "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"  Two hours is a very long time to chant anything.  I can't even imagine.  Apparently the riot leads to not much due to some quick thinking by the city clerk (v. 35-41).  Good job, city clerk.  Way to diffuse the situation.

Acts 18 - Continued Travels and New Friends

"Do not be afraid; keep on speaking and do not be silent.  For I am with you and no one is going to attack and harm you." (verses 9-10)
That must have been a pretty cool message for Paul to receive, particularly with all he's gone through to this point.  Staying in Corinth for 18 months is hardly the picture I usually have when I think of Paul's many travels.  While 1 1/2 years isn't a lifetime, it hardly matches the wandering, always on the move man I think of when I read about Paul's life.  He was willing to settle in and put down some roots when he knew that was the calling. 

The courtroom scene in verses 12-17 is better than anything I've ever seen on TV.  Crazy stuff.

Then in verses 18-27 we learn a little bit about Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos.  While we don't get to see them really at all after chapter 18, we learn from Paul's letters (mostly 1 Corinthians) that these were significant partners with him in the sharing of the Good News.

Acts 17 - Paul Keeps Rocking

Paul continues to travel, and with plenty of help from his friends, he's continuing to spread the Gospel.  Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica, Berea and Athens are the stops in this chapter.  Similar to previous chapters, he is playing to mixed crowds.  Some of the people are persuaded and join Paul and Silas.  Some of the people are jealous, round up some "bad characters", and start riots in the city to be blamed on Paul.  Not content with driving them out of Thessalonica, they chase them to Berea, "agitating the crowds and stirring them up."

Through all of this, I keep being impressed by Paul's attitude.  He takes everything as it comes.  There is no hint of discontent, even as people as doing everything they can do to undermine his life's work.  He goes where God leads, shares the message, and deals with whatever comes as a result. 

On another note, an understanding of the events in Acts 17 makes reading through 1 Thessalonians 2-3 much more meaningful.  You can understand the disappointment Paul felt that he was forced to leave them before he was ready.  You can celebrate with him when he receives the report that despite his premature exit, they are flourishing as a church.  The next two chapters in Acts have Paul visiting Corinth and Ephesus.  I look forward to taking a fresh look at the letters to the Corinthians and Ephesians after taking a much closer look at the events in Acts 18-19.

Finally, it's fun to read about Paul's time in Athens.  I don't know about you, to me this feels like worlds colliding.  I think about all the Ancient Greece stuff you learn in school (philosophy, mythology, etc.), and don't really associate it with any of the characters from the Biblical narrative.  It's wild to think about Paul wandering around Athens, all by himself, drinking it all in and wondering, "How do I share the Gospel here?  I've never seen anything quite like it."  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians about becoming all things to all people, and I wonder how much experiences like he had in Athens inspired that kind of thinking.

Acts 16 : Paul -- The Model of Consistency

In Acts 16 we get a look at some of what makes Paul so outstanding.  First, traveling to visit believers in various towns, things are going pretty well.  "The churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers". (v. 5).  Later we see some of Paul's sensitivity to the Spirit.  Somehow kept by the Spirit from entering a place called Bithynia, Paul and his colleagues continue on, perhaps a bit puzzled, but otherwise undeterred.  When Paul has a vision that calls him to nearby Macedonia, he goes immediately. 

Trouble comes their way in the Macedonian city of Philippi, as Paul and his assistant Silas wind up jailed for driving an evil spirit out of a slave girl.  Paul's attitude throughout -- through beating and imprisonment, is unreal.  His focus on the message he exists to proclaim is unwavering.  And no hint of self-pity or fear of any kind. 

Paul's reaction when his release is announced is interesting.  His "don't you know who I am?" speech (vs. 37)  even seems a little out of character, at least to me. 

Can't wait to dive into chapter 17 next week.

Acts 15 -- The Heart of the Matter

The Council at Jerusalem must have been an incredible scene.  It has a similar feel to the American Constitutional Convention or something like that -- with even more at stake.  I can't imagine how cool it must have been to hear James speak up and deliver the eloquent and to the point speech that we read in verses 13-21.  Keeping it as simple as possible, a letter to the new Gentile believers gets delivered and they are instructed on four points.  Bam.  There it is.  "You will do well to avoid these things.  Farewell." (verse 29)

The chapter ends on a seemingly ugly note as the missionary dream team of Paul and Barnabas is split up.  I believe it's clear that God's design is never that relationships be fractured and that Christian friends go their separate ways (Paul writes of the need for harmony in the Body of Christ), and yet God is going to use this for His glory.  Nothing that happens in our lives is useless...God can use any difficulty or hardship to accomplish something lasting and beautiful.

Acts 14 - The Adventure Continues

Chapter 14 starts predictably enough - Paul and Barnabas go to the synagogue and speak effectively, such that a number of Jews and Gentiles come to faith in Christ (v. 1).  Beginning in verse 2, things begin to get wild as opponents rise up and bring trouble for our heroes. 

In a new city, Lystra (v. 8), a miraculous and kind act of healing ends up with Paul and Barnabas first having to passionately work to convince a mob they are not gods worthy of worship, followed by the crowd being turned against them and dragging Paul out of the city to be stoned to death.  The same crowd that was bent on worshiping Paul is now pelting him with rocks.  Crazy.  Paul survives and the group moves on, ending back where they started in Antioch of Syria, but stopping along the way to encourage and appoint church leaders in other towns they had visited earlier on the journey (including Lystra, the site of the stoning!).  Back in Antioch the chapter ends with the apostles reporting on their travels and presumably getting some well deserved rest.

I heard a sermon once by Nathan Miller of Christ Community Church in which he talked some about how the Book of Acts, while absolutely the inspired Word of God, at the same time reads like a great adventure story.  The past two chapters 13 and 14 are a great example of that.  In fact, I'd love for someone to make this stuff into a movie.  I remember when I was probably 9 years old, that NBC made a miniseries about some of Acts, called "A.D".  I had no idea what I was watching at the time so I have no idea if it was any good or not.  I wonder if you can find it on DVD.

Chapter 13 - A Dynamic Duo is Born

A few observations from Acts 13:
- While the group was worshiping and fasting, the Holy Spirit said "set apart Barnabas and Saul".  How does that work?  What does it looks like when a group of people are so united in worship that the Holy Spirit speaks so clearly?
- Paul's speech from verses 16-41 is beautiful, using Old Testament prophecy to point the audience to Christ.  And it works really well, since the next week "almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord" (v. 44), and "the word of the Lord spread through the whole region" (v. 49).  And yet...
- Persecution comes.  "They were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying". (v. 45).  "They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their region" (v. 51).

Acts 12 - A Miraculous Escape (and an overlooked martyr)

Chapter 12 of Acts is mostly about Peter - his arrest, imprisonment, escape and reunion his friends.  It's a clear picture of how God works, miraculously at times, to accomplish his purpose.  He obviously wasn't ready for Peter to join James, who was martyred in verse 2.  As I read, it struck me how quickly I glossed over the one verse that described the death of James, the brother of John (not to be confused with the other James mentioned in verse 17).  James, the brother of John, walked with Jesus throughout his ministry.  He was instrumental in the growth of the early church.  Then, at the whim of an evil king, he gets put to death by the sword.  And as I read about it, I barely even notice. 

I thank God for James, those who went before him, and the millions who have died for their faith since.  I thank God for their courage, their commitment to Him, and the legacy their lives have created. 

Acts 11 - Peter's Explanation and More Church Growth

Apparently the idea that Peter would associate with a Gentile is a problem for the apostles and brothers throughout Judea.  It's hard to understand the depth of this prejudice, remembering the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman in John 4.  Fortunately, Peter's explanation opens the door for widespread acceptance of the idea that Gentiles are welcome in the family of God. 

But that takes me back to Acts 10 - Cornelius is described as devout and God-fearing.  I assume the God he fears is the God of the Jewish people he lives among, but why would a Gentile desire to worship a God whose people consider outsiders to be unclean and whose law forbids them to associate with him?  That's the part I don't get. 

I'm glad we have a record of the events in Acts 11 to eliminate the separation of Jews and Gentiles within the church, a necessary step in God's plan to redeem the whole world.

Acts 10 - Peter and Cornelius

As I read through Acts 10 this week some questions came to mind.

- How did Cornelius, a "pagan" Gentile, come to be devout and God-fearing?  Who taught him about God?

- How difficult would we find a world in which two towns that are 30 miles apart, Caesarea and Joppa, constitutes a full day's journey?  It's hard to imagine all the implications of the time it took to get from place to place.

- Why did Peter's vision have to happen three times?  Was God concerned that he might dismiss it otherwise?

- What about Peter's speech in verses 28-29 about how he is rising above tradition by associating with Cornelius?  Is he trying to impress Cornelius?  Is he trying to convince his own companions, or even himself, that he's doing the right thing?  It seems an odd way to enter a house.

- When Peter lays out the Gospel so clearly and beautifully with "God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him" and "everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name", why is it that Peter's friends are "astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles"?  Wasn't that part of the point Peter just went out of his way to make?  What does that tell us about the prejudices that existed?  What does that tell us about the gift of the Holy Spirit?

Amen and amen.  God bless you.

Acts 9 - Saul Sees the Light and Peter Heals Two More

Out of all the miraculous happenings that we read about in Acts 9, and there are many, I think what strikes me most is the willingness of Ananias to receive Saul into his home.  A notorious persecutor of the Church is in town, and Ananias is commissioned with healing, baptizing and nourishing his former enemy.  I want that kind of faith and trust in the Lord - to do things that make no sense to the masses simply because it's so clear that it's what God is telling me to do.

Acts 8 - The Message Goes Out

How does God do what He does?  So often His ways are a mystery or counterintuitive to our finite, human minds.  It shouldn't surprise us when we read that He chooses to spread the Gospel of Jesus like this: "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria."

We witness Saul beginning to "destroy the church" by "going from house to house".  Philip goes to Samaria, followed by Peter and John, and we see men and women believing and being baptized. 

We see a strange encounter between Peter and Simon the Sorcerer.  Simon seems sincere; himself believing and being baptized as well.  He then experiences a misstep, offering money in return for the ability to lay hands and give the Holy Spirit.  Peter's response is intense!  Simon appears to be sincerely sorry and then he disappears from the scene.  I wonder what his life was like after that. 

I also wonder what the life of the Ethiopian eunuch was like after his conversion on the road to Gaza.  How did God use him in the lives of others?  His position as an official of the queen would have provided him great opportunities to be influential, to share what he had learned and experienced.  And yet we are left to wonder.

What about us?  Can we learn the lessons of Acts 8?  Can we recognize hardship as a God-ordained condition used to accomplish His divine purpose in the lives of people?  Can we obey God's voice as Philip did when he began working his way down a road toward nothing in particular, simply because the Lord's angel told him to?  Can we respond to the Good News of Christ with the enthusiasm and sincerity of the Ethiopian eunuch, and help others to do the same?

Can we forgive and trust God like some of the early believers are going to need to do in Chapter 9?

Acts 7 - A Long Answer to a Short Question and the Church's First Martyr

Read the chapter here.

We learned in Acts chapter 6 that Stephen was known to be filled with the Holy Spirit, a phrase that is repeated in chapter 7 verse 55.  We see this in his speech that goes from 7:2-50 that passionately recaps the history of the Israelites, and leads into Stephen turning on his accusers.  "And now you have betrayed and murdered him (Jesus) - you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." 
We see how being filled with the Spirit results in Stephen's incredible courage, as well as giving him a window into heaven, as he looks up and is able to see "the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."  I've heard a couple people comment on how notable it is that Jesus was standing rather than seated as Stephen looked up....perhaps we get a glimpse of the Lord's passion for us.  He is not content to sit while His beloved suffer on His behalf.  Stephen provides one final act of courage as he begs God to pardon those who are murdering him. 
Finally, we get our first look at Saul, who will go on to become the most prominent figure in the remainder of the book of Acts.

Acts 6 - Stephen's debut on the scene

Just 13 short verses in this week's chapter, but plenty to discuss.  I hope you have a Bible nearby, but remember, you can always visit biblegateway.com to find whatever you're looking for in God's Word.

Unless I missed something from earlier chapters, verse 1 gives us the first taste of the young church failing its people, as the Hellenistic widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.  I wonder what was behind all that, but I'm glad the solution to the problem was handled quickly and apparently satisfactorily.  We see a great example of the 'one body, many parts' theme, as seven men who were known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom were chosen to handle the food.  How cool is it that being full of the Spirit was a requirement to serve food?  Would church leaders today take that much care in choosing people to do such a seemingly mundane task?  Do we value those who do that type of work in the Body of Christ?

Here we meet Stephen, one of the seven chosen to handle the food service issues, and apparently a guy who made the powers that be uncomfortable; reminiscent of Peter and John from a few chapters earlier.  We'll see how Stephen's story turns out next week, but do you notice how his accusations remind us of those that were thrown not only at Jesus, but also the accusations of Daniel from the Old Testament?  It seems, that there's something about righteousness that can make evil really, really nervous.

Acts 5 - Two Bizarre Deaths, Healing and Persecution

This chapter starts with one of the most difficult stories to stomach in the entire New Testament.  A married couple pulls some treachery and winds up dead for it.  There's so much to comment on and wonder about - I'm not sure where to begin.  Why did they do what they did?  Why was it punishable by death?  How did Peter know Sapphira would die too?  Who were the young men who had the job of wrapping up and carrying out dead bodies, and how did they get that gig?  What is the significance of the 'great fear' that seized the whole church, and what, if any, are our modern parallels to this great fear?

How wild is it that Peter, he of the denial and subsequent restoration from the end of John's Gospel account, is now so Spirit-filled that his shadow has healing powers?

Finally, as Peter and the other apostles continue to obey God rather than men (v. 17-32), we can see the storm continuing to brew.  The leaders of the young church are forcing the hands of those in charge, and the confrontation is coming to a head.

Comment below with your thoughts and impressions on chapter 5, and we'll see you next week for chapter 6.

Acts 4 - No Other Name

The story continues and the action intensifies.  Peter and John rocking the boat and being tossed in jail.  The rulers and elders use their best intimidation tactics, but Peter, again "filled with the Holy Spirit" refuses to back down.  Verse 19-20 -  "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Why were the leaders so adamant that Peter and the others needed to be stopped?  I believe the answer is found in verse 12, as Peter's speech includes the line about Jesus, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."  That's the issue isn't it?  The exclusive claims of Jesus.  It's not much different today.  I heard a Pastor say this once:  In our society we can talk about God, we can talk about Jesus, just don't you dare suggest that He's the only way to heaven.  That will certainly cause a stir. 

It's too bad really.  If Jesus is the only way to God, doesn't it make sense to be grateful that there is a way to God? 

Next week the action takes a bizarre turn as we read Acts chapter 5.

Acts 3 - A Brewing Storm

Acts chapter 3 gets right to the point, short and sweet.  Peter, with John in tow, continues to amaze as he heals a man who was "crippled from birth".  This act of love gets them all kinds of attention and provides Peter another opportunity to deliver a killer speech, as he proceeds to explain how their faith in the name of Jesus is responsible for the healing.

I especially like verse 19, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord".  That sounds like a good deal to me - I like having my sins wiped out while enjoying times of refreshing.  Sign me up for that.

I wonder if Peter knew what would go down when he made the decision to heal that beggar.  We'll pick up the story in chapter 4 next week.

Acts 2 - "Brothers, what shall we do?"

The long-promised Holy Spirit, looking like tongues of fire (wow, there's a picture), comes to rest on the disciples gathered together in one place and immediately things are different.  A few things jump out as the narrative continues:

1.  Peter continues to take the lead, addressing the befuddled crowd.  He boldly and clearly explains what's happening and makes the case for Jesus as Savior.  He references newly fulfilled Old Testament prophecy from Joel and David, and his Spirit-led speech is convincing enough to beg the question from the people, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

2.  Peter's reply? "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  Peter pleaded with those gathered, and we learn about 3000 were added to their number that day.  That is exponential growth.  From 120 to 3120 in one day.  Not bad.  (Although I've always wondered how many were nearby who chose to ignore the appeal of Peter.)

3.  The new believers lived in community right away, selling their possessions and giving to anyone as he had need.  They demonstrated the kind of love that Jesus spoke of in John 13, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  Obviously the life the new believers shared had an impact since "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

May our lives similarly impact those around us.

Acts 1 - A New Hope

Luke the Gospel writer decided to add another volume to his work and penned the Book of Acts - the story of the early church after the resurrection of Jesus.

In chapter one we begin by encountering the resurrected Christ and witnessing his ascension into heaven.  In his final words, Jesus reminds those present that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes, echoing his promise from John chapter 16. 

Two other notes from the rest of chapter 1.  How about Peter, fresh from his reinstatement/restoration in John 21, taking the lead and standing up among the group of 120 believers?

And, do you ever wonder how Barsabbas known as Justus felt about losing the coin toss when Matthias was selected to become the new 12th apostle?  Was he cool with it since they had prayed for God's will to be done?  Was he bitter and angry because of his bad luck, and did his hypothetical bitterness/anger reveal that he wasn't fit to be the 12th apostle after all?  Interesting to think about it.

John 21 - fish for all and restoration for Peter

Peter has fallen hard (chapter 18), and he knows it.  Yet we read in chapter 21, "As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, 'It is the Lord,' he...jumped into the water".  In Peter we see a man who understands his need for Jesus, or at least is eager to be with Him.  Then we see this encounter:

"Do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
"Feed my lambs."

"Do you truly love me?"
"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
"Take care of my sheep."

"Do you love me?"
"Lord you know all things; you know that I love you."
"Feed my sheep.."

In this encounter, Jesus makes Peter whole again, demonstrating His infinite mercy and power to forgive.  Peter's denial of Jesus ranks with the most heinous of acts, and yet Jesus very intentionally and thoroughly enables Peter to leave it in the past.  Peter is given the responsibility to feed lambs and take care of sheep, a role that the Good Shepherd (chapter 10) would never carelessly entrust to anybody.

The final verse of the book is pretty cool - "Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (v. 25)

If you have journeyed through John, whether for the first time or the 1001st time, congratulations!  Read, studied, digested and applied to our lives, God uses His Word to transform us and change our lives forever. 

And I hope you'll plan to continue on to the next book in the New Testament - Acts chapter 1 for next week!

John 20 - An empty tomb and face to face encounters with the Risen Lord

We're almost finished with the Book of John.  In two weeks, we'll begin reading through Acts, and continue on through the rest of the New Testament. 

Chapter 20 of John is the part of the story that the entire Bible and its validity hinges on.  In his book, The Reason for God, Pastor Tim Keller wrote something to the effect of "If Jesus rose from the dead, we have to accept everything He said.  If He didn't, why worry about anything he said?"

There is considerable evidence for the bodily resurrection from the dead of Jesus, and some of the most convincing pieces of evidence are found in John 20.  First, there would be no reason to make up a story of a resurrection and then report that a woman was the first person to discover the empty tomb and see the resurrected Jesus.  This was a time when women were not considered trustworthy sources, and their testimony wasn't even admissable in court.  The only logical reason for having a woman revealed as the discoverer of the empty tomb would be if that's how it actually happened.  Secondly, every time I read the last part of verse 7, "The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen", I think, wow, who cares?  This detail adds nothing to the story, it's basically useless information.  The kind of useless information that would be mentioned by an eyewitness giving a detailed account some event. 

I also love verses 30-31, in which John gives us an explanation of his rationale for writing this account of the life of Jesus, "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

May you believe and have life in his name as well.

John 19 - Sentenced and Crucified

But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him.  As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him." v. 6

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." v. 11

"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews....."We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. v. 14-15

Here they crucified him, and with him two others - one on each side and Jesus in the middle. v. 18

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished."  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. v. 30

These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled:  v. 36

At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb...they laid Jesus there.  v. 41-42

John 18 - Two betrayals and a sham of a trial

So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
   He replied, “I am not.”

When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
   Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!”

John 17 - Jesus prays

Jesus prays just prior to His arrest.  He prays for Himself, His disciples, and then, for "all who will believe" in Him.  He prays for our unity, that we may be "one" as He and the Father are one.  He also indicates that His work is both nearly complete and yet ongoing (v. 26) as He enables us to experience the love of the Father as He dwells in us.  Amen to that!

Memory verse: "I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17:26

John 16 - "You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy"

Chapter 16 is certainly a mixed bag.  We begin by reading Jesus say, "a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God".  He follows that by reminding the disciples of the promised arrival of the Holy Spirit, who will guide them into truth and make things known.  The final section, from verses 17-33, is the ultimate bad news/good news scenario.  Jesus promises grief - weeping, mourning and pain.  He then promises that grief will turn to joy, and the word joy (or rejoice) is used five times in that one paragraph.  Sounds like the dominant theme is that they must remain hopeful, because joy is coming. 

The verse I've memorized is the last verse of the chapter, 16:33, a pretty good summary of the entire coversation - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

Amen to that.

John 15 - A Powerful Analogy

Regardless of how well you understand agriculture, the image of the vine connected to the branches makes sense to everyone.  Apart from the vine, the branch will die.  Period.  It will die, certainly, but it will also shrivel up and become waste. 

Knowing that, and being able to grasp that, why do we find it a struggle to 'remain in his love' sometimes?

John 14 "Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled"

On the heels of the dramatic prediction of Peter's betrayal/denial at the end of chapter 13, the first words out of the mouth of Jesus in chapter 14 are "Do not let your hearts be troubled".  The theme continues:

v. 2 "I am going to prepare a place for you"
v. 3 "that you also may be where I am"
v. 4 "You know the way"
v. 6 "I am the way, the truth and the life"
v. 12 "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these"
v. 14 "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it"
v. 19 "Because I live, you also will live"
v. 26 "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
v. 27 "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid"

Start to finish - an entire chapter of reassurance, love, acceptance and hope.  Incredible.

John 13 - Washing feet and predicting betrayal

Sorry for missing a week.  My sincerest apologies.

John 13 rocks my world.  We begin by reading about the King of kings washing feet.  Doing the most disgusting, lowly task that existed in that society.  And as if that isn't enough, He follows this amazing act of service by predicting that His time is running out and that betrayal is soon to come.  He will be betrayed in different ways - by Judas handing Him over, and by Peter, who will disown the Lord three times.  I can't get over how Jesus, knowing these men were on the brink of such incredibly hurtful failure, washes their feet anyway.

I've memorized verse 34, which is a nice sounding verse.  "A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have love you, so you must love on another."  That verse would sound nice if spoken at a picnic on a warm, spring day.  But to speak those words in the midst of all that was happening and about to happen, Jesus shows us a kind of focus and calm in the midst of turmoil that desperately makes me want to be like Him.

John chapter 12

In this chapter, we enter the final phase of Jesus's life, as He is anointed at Bethany then "triumphantly" enters Jerusalem.  He predicts His death and summarizes His mission.  He has come to save the world (v. 47). 

What stands out to you?  What verse or verses will you memorize this week?  Can we live as Jesus did, hearing from the Father and speaking what the Father commands us to speak (v. 49)?

John 11

Well known for a few reasons, the 11th chapter of John continues the building action toward the execution of Jesus, as He continues to upset the establishment.  It contains the shortest verse in the Bible, and also the story of a man who being raised from the dead in dramatic fashion.  Incredible stuff!

Read it a bunch and pick a verse to memorize.

John 10

It's not uncommon to hear Jesus referred to as the Good Shepherd, and John 10 is where He gives Himself this title.  You can read the chapter by clicking here. 

Remember, the idea of this chapter a week study is to be reading each chapter at least 4-5 times each week.  It would appear there's nothing magical about the numbers 4 or 5, and that's true.  At the same time, there are studies that I wish I could properly credit, but I can't remember where I've seen them, that indicate that Bible reading three times a week results in virtually no discernible life change, while those who read 4 or more times are far less likely to get arrested, etc.  Why would that be?  It's because God's Word is alive.  It's been called the "raw material of life change".  Encouraging people to spend time reading and learning God's Word is why this simple blog Bible study exists. 

As you study John 10, imagine the care Jesus provides you as your Good Shepherd.  Check out verses 27-28 and ask yourself if you are better able to recognize His voice than you were a year or two ago.

John 9

As always, you can read the chapter here.

In Chapter 9, we get at least somewhat of an answer to the unanswerable question, "Why do tragic things happen to innocent people, particularly children?"  And as we track along through chapters 7,8 and now 9, we begin to see things coming to a head.  The leaders are not going to be able to continue to allow Jesus to keep doing what He's doing without dramatically changing their way of doing things.

Verse 41 is one that I've worked to memorize.  "Since you claim you can see, your guilt remains".  What a great call to humility.

Enjoy the chapter and post your comments, questions, etc. below!

John chapter 8

Read chapter 8 by clicking here.

Like most chapters in John, there is a ton here to discuss. First, Jesus deals with a woman caught in adultery.  Later, we see Him explaining the freedom He offers vs. a life of "slavery to sin".  Finally, we see the Lord really ruffling some feathers (verse 48 and 57-59).

What jumps out at you?