The Apostle Paul has arrived in Jerusalem bearing a controversy that has been stirred up by Jewish converts to Christianity. The controversy, as was introduced in chapter 15, concerned 1) CIRCUMCISION and 2) THE SACRIFICIAL LAW relative to Gentile converts. Keep in mind that God forced the sacrificial/ceremonial law upon Israel because they would not obey the Ten Commandments. […]

The Apostle Paul, having the aura of death hanging over him at all times, has traveled to more than 20 cities on his second missionary journey, preaching in their synagogues and encouraging all who had determined to worship, believe and obey the Lord to fight the good fight of faith and to be prepared to suffer […]

Having celebrated Passover in Philippi, the Apostle Paul and his companions met later in Troas in order to share a meal. Following an extended message by Paul, they split up, agreeing to meet a few days later in Assos. Verses thirteen through thirty-eight: Paul was in a hurry for he wanted to celebrate Pentecost in Jerusalem. […]

The Apostle Paul is continuing his evangelistic schedule, never staying in one place more than a couple of months. Verses one through six: After leaving Ephesus Paul journeyed to Troas where a group of believers were waiting for him. In verse 6 we are told that the group had remained in Philippi until “after the days of unleavened bread” (Passover–this […]

The Apostle Paul has sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia while he remained in Ephesus. Verses twenty-one through forty-one: Through his preaching Paul has convinced many of the Ephesians that the female deity called Diana that they and their ancestors had worshiped was in fact a false god. Paul’s success proved that many people of that day were open to the […]

Paul has been led of the Lord to settle down for a while in Ephesus, a city known for its deadly treatment of anyone who did not adhere to its religious rules. Verses eight through twelve: For the past three months Paul preached to the Jews who attended the Ephesus synagogue. His message–the Kingdom of God and the dead […]

The Apostle Paul is in full evangelistic mode, traveling from city to city preaching to the Jews in the synagogues every Sabbath (Gentiles were not allowed inside synagogues). Verses one through seventeen: Paul has arrived in Corinth where he has found a married couple named Aquilla and Priscilla who have been expelled from Italy because they are […]

An overview of the Apostle Paul’s message to the religious leaders of Athens was presented in the previous posting. Now let us revisit 17:26 which will place us on the path of knowledge concerning the subject of racial integration. Here Paul is telling the Athenians that, though God had made all men of one blood, He had dispatched each of the sons […]

The Apostle Paul has traveled to Athens where finds the people worshiping several gods. Verses sixteen through thirty-four:  Having preached to the local Jews in their synagogue, Paul then walks through the city where he finds the local populace openly practicing polytheism. One of the gods they worship is unknown to them. Taking the opportunity available to him, Paul introduces […]

The apostles Paul and Silas have cast a demon out of a girl whose occultic skills had made much money for her handlers by forecasting the future. Verses nineteen through thirty-four: Angered that she could no longer make money for them, her handlers had the apostles arrested, beaten and thrown into jail. At around midnight as they sang […]