In the Way
Acts 19:8-10 (HCSB) 8 Then he entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, engaging in discussion and trying to persuade them about the things related to the kingdom of God.9 But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from […]
Baptism in the Spirit
Acts 19:1-7 (HCSB) While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then with what ⌊baptism⌋ were you baptized?” he asked […]
The Death of Discipleship
Acts 18:24-28 (HCSB) 24 A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John’s baptism.26 He […]
Saying Goodbye
Acts 18:18-22 (HCSB) 18 So Paul, having stayed on for many days, said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He shaved his head at Cenchreae, because he had taken a vow.19 When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and […]
Kicking the Dog
Acts 18:12-17 (NLT) 12 But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment.13 They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”14 But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to […]
The Bible and Disaster
Like you, I am heartbroken in prayer for our neighbors in Moore – perhaps intensified by the close call we had in North Texas yesterday. As I had a conversation with my son about the tornado, I realized that we (the American church) have some pretty shallow thinking and poor theology when it comes to […]
God’s Word for You
Acts 18:7-11 (HCSB) 7 So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed the Lord, along with his whole household; and many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed […]
When Good News and Hubris Meet
Acts 18:5-6 (HCSB) 5 When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with preaching the message and solemnly testified to the Jews that the Messiah is Jesus.6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his clothes and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads! I am clean. From […]
Footnotes in History
Acts 18:1-4 (HCSB) 1 After this, he left from Athens and went to Corinth,2 where he found a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them,3 and being of the same […]
A Reasonable Faith
Acts 17:16-17 (NIV) 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. […]
The Gospel According to Wikipedia
Acts 17:10-12 (NIV) 10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to […]
Mobs, riots, and the Truth
Acts 17:5-9 (NIV) 5 But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not […]
