Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Q Who spoke the word of God to me?
A Nathan Barrett and Rob and Bev Saunders.
Q What is the outcome of their way of life?
A Nathan was unashamed of the gospel, and he was not afraid to argue with me when my ideas about God were wrong. The outcome of this is that my heart was softened to hear the gospel from Rob and Bev. Rob faithfully taught from the Bible for years, and he kept evangelism front and foremost in his later ministry, using a program that explicitly explains the gospel. Bev supported him in all this, diligently working in the background (in particular, being hospitable) to enable him to work in the foreground without interruption. The outcome is that I am a Christian and Jeff is no longer a Christian-in-name-only. Also, Rob saw the importance of training young men to preach, and challenging them to take on responsibility in the church. The outcome is that Jeff is a pastor in a church now, and I am a pastor's wife.
Q How can I imitate their faith?
A Standing firm on what I have received. Not being afraid to tell people about their hope of peace with God and salvation unto eternal life through faith in the name of Jesus Christ, even if it means they might be angry at me! Keeping my focus on the importance of the gospel being openly proclaimed, not just assumed. Supporting my husband in the ministry he has. Persevering in ministry over decades. Remembering how important it is to support and train others so that they are able to be self-disciplined in their Christian life and responsible in the good works God has prepared in advance for them to do.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Acts 9:1-22
Main Lessons from Acts 9:1-22
~ Unless God reveals Jesus Christ to us as our Lord, we will not recognise Him. (See also 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:6.)
~ Paul's gospel of the crucified and resurrected Christ was given to him by God. Paul was appointed by God to be an apostle. (See also Galatians 1:1;11-17.)
~ Unless God reveals Jesus Christ to us as our Lord, we will not recognise Him. (See also 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:6.)
~ Paul's gospel of the crucified and resurrected Christ was given to him by God. Paul was appointed by God to be an apostle. (See also Galatians 1:1;11-17.)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Damascus
Damascus is “the oldest continually-inhabited city in the world and capital of Syria, located northeast of the Sea of Galilee.
“Damascus was situated on the border of the desert at the intersection of some of the most important highways in the ancient Near Eastern world. Three major caravan routes passed through Damascus. Major roads extended from the city to the southwest into Canaan and Egypt, straight south to Edom and the Red Sea, and east to Babylonia. Because of this ideal location, the city became a trade centre. Its major exports included a patterned cloth called ‘damask’. Egypt, Arabia, and Mesopotamia, as well as Canaan, were some of the trade neighbours that made Damascus the ‘heart of Syria’. Damascus owed its prosperity to two rivers, the Abana and the Pharpar. These rivers provided an abundant source of water for agriculture. …
“In 64BC, the Romans invaded Syria, making it a province with Damascus as the seat of government. … During [the time of Saul’s conversion and ministry], the city was part of the kingdom of Aretas, an Arabian prince who held his kingdom under the Romans.”
[From Youngblood, R.F. (ed) (1986) “Damascus” Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary.]
While Damascus is generally considered part of Syria, when Paul spoke of his three years in Arabia and Damascus before he went to Jerusalem and met with Peter (Galatians 1:17-18), this may have meant that he was in the region close to Damascus for the entire time, because Damascus was at the time part of a Roman-controlled Arabian principality.
Straight Street in Damascus, in modern times:
[Image from Youngblood, R.F. (ed) (1986) Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary p323.]
“Damascus was situated on the border of the desert at the intersection of some of the most important highways in the ancient Near Eastern world. Three major caravan routes passed through Damascus. Major roads extended from the city to the southwest into Canaan and Egypt, straight south to Edom and the Red Sea, and east to Babylonia. Because of this ideal location, the city became a trade centre. Its major exports included a patterned cloth called ‘damask’. Egypt, Arabia, and Mesopotamia, as well as Canaan, were some of the trade neighbours that made Damascus the ‘heart of Syria’. Damascus owed its prosperity to two rivers, the Abana and the Pharpar. These rivers provided an abundant source of water for agriculture. …
“In 64BC, the Romans invaded Syria, making it a province with Damascus as the seat of government. … During [the time of Saul’s conversion and ministry], the city was part of the kingdom of Aretas, an Arabian prince who held his kingdom under the Romans.”
[From Youngblood, R.F. (ed) (1986) “Damascus” Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary.]
While Damascus is generally considered part of Syria, when Paul spoke of his three years in Arabia and Damascus before he went to Jerusalem and met with Peter (Galatians 1:17-18), this may have meant that he was in the region close to Damascus for the entire time, because Damascus was at the time part of a Roman-controlled Arabian principality.
Straight Street in Damascus, in modern times:
[Image from Youngblood, R.F. (ed) (1986) Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary p323.]
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Map of the Near East in the First Century AD
This map shows many of the places mentioned in Acts. Click on the image to see it enlarged.
[Map source: Marshall, I.H. (1980) Acts pg 16.]
[Map source: Marshall, I.H. (1980) Acts pg 16.]
Significance of Ethiopia
"The Jews regarded Ethiopia as “the extreme boundary of the habitable world in the hot south”. … The Ethiopia of those days corresponded to what we call “the Upper Nile”, reaching approximately from Aswan to Khartoum. … Candace is known to have been not a personal name but a dynastic title for the Queen Mother who performed certain functions on behalf of the king. The Ethiopian eunuch to whom Philip was sent was her treasurer or chancellor of the exchequer, presumably a black African. [It is likely] that he was actually Jewish, either by birth or by conversion (cf the promise of Isaiah 56:3-7 with the prohibition of Deuteronomy 23:1), for the Jewish dispersion had penetrated at least into Egypt and probably beyond.”
[From Stott, J.R.W. (1991) The Message of Acts pg 160.]
[From Stott, J.R.W. (1991) The Message of Acts pg 160.]
Significance of the Samaritans
“The Jews regarded the Samaritans as heretical outsiders. … The hostility between Jews and Samaritans had lasted a thousand years. It began with the break-up of the monarchy in the tenth century BC when ten tribes defected, making Samaria their capital, and only two tribes remained loyal to Jerusalem. It began steadily worse when Samaria was captured by Assyria in 722 BC, thousands of its inhabitants were deported, and the country was re-populated by foreigners. In the sixth century BC, when the Jews returned to their land, they refused the help of the Samaritans in the rebuilding of the temple. Not till the fourth century BC, however, did the Samaritan schism harden, with the rebuilding of their rival temple on Mount Gerizim and their repudiation of all Old Testament Scripture except the Pentateuch. The Samaritans were despised by the Jews as hybrids in both race and religion, as both heretics and schismatics. John summed up the situation in his simple statement that “Jews do not associate with Samaritans” (John 4:9). Jesus’ sympathy for them, however, is already apparent in Luke’s Gospel (eg Luke 9:52-56; 10:30-37; 17:11-19).
[From Stott, J.R.W. (1991) The Message of Acts pp 144, 147-8.]
[From Stott, J.R.W. (1991) The Message of Acts pp 144, 147-8.]
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Persecution and the Apostles
Acts 5:17-42 tells the story of the second time the apostles were jailed for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not the only time such a circumstance occurred.
Acts 4:1-7 tells how the priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees arrested Peter and John, who spent a night in jail. The next day they were brought before the rulers, elders and teachers of the law to defend their healing of the crippled beggar at the temple gate.
Acts 6:8-8:1 tells how Stephen, one of the seven men chosen to administer the distribution of food, was seized by the elders and teachers of the law and brought to trial by the Sanhedrin, before being stoned to death for blasphemy.
Acts 12:1-2 briefly tells how James, the brother of John (not Jesus’ brother) was arrested by King Herod, and put to death by the sword (AD44).
Soon after, King Herod seized Peter. Acts 12:3-18 tells how Peter was kept in prison for a third time, under strict guard and bound in chains. The church prayed earnestly for Peter, and the Lord sent an angel to rescue him in the middle of the night.
Paul and Silas were also imprisoned. Acts 16:16-40 tells how they were brought to the magistrates by someone who objected to their actions in releasing a slave girl from demons. They were flogged and jailed, but during the night an earthquake shook the prison where they were held, and Paul was able to use the opportunity to speak to the jailer about Jesus. Paul and Silas were released the next day by magistrates bent on appeasing the wrath of Roman citizens who had been punished without the requisite trial.
Finally, Paul was arrested by the commander of the Roman troops in Jerusalem, Claudius Lysias. Paul was able to give a speech to the crowd present at his arrest, as well as the Sanhedrin (including Sadducees and Pharisees), Governor Felix of Caesarea and his wife Drusilla, Felix’s successor Governor Porcius Festus and King Agrippa and his wife Bernice, before being sent to Rome to present his case to Caesar, the Emperor of Rome. Acts 21-28 tells of these events, which are also attested to through details from Paul’s letters.
Extra-biblical sources and church tradition record that while Paul was probably released from his house arrest in Rome around AD63, both he and Peter were later martyred for their faith. Tradition has Peter put to death in Rome about AD64 by being crucified upside down (supposedly he requested this position because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus had been). Eusebius wrote that Paul was imprisoned a second time in Rome before Emperor Nero ordered his death, sometime during Nero’s persecution (AD64 until the emperor’s death in mid AD68). Dionysius (ca AD170) is quoted by Eusebius as saying that Peter and Paul were martyred at the same time, although this may not mean the same year. Tertullian wrote that Paul was beheaded, as would be typical for Roman citizens who were sentenced to death.
John was later exiled to the small, rocky Mediterannean island of Patmos, off the coast of modern-day Turkey (Revelation 1:9). This was possibly during the persecution of Christians by Roman emperor Domitian (AD81-96). John supposedly lived and worked in Ephesus during his later years, being the only apostle who died a natural death.
Acts 4:1-7 tells how the priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees arrested Peter and John, who spent a night in jail. The next day they were brought before the rulers, elders and teachers of the law to defend their healing of the crippled beggar at the temple gate.
Acts 6:8-8:1 tells how Stephen, one of the seven men chosen to administer the distribution of food, was seized by the elders and teachers of the law and brought to trial by the Sanhedrin, before being stoned to death for blasphemy.
Acts 12:1-2 briefly tells how James, the brother of John (not Jesus’ brother) was arrested by King Herod, and put to death by the sword (AD44).
Soon after, King Herod seized Peter. Acts 12:3-18 tells how Peter was kept in prison for a third time, under strict guard and bound in chains. The church prayed earnestly for Peter, and the Lord sent an angel to rescue him in the middle of the night.
Paul and Silas were also imprisoned. Acts 16:16-40 tells how they were brought to the magistrates by someone who objected to their actions in releasing a slave girl from demons. They were flogged and jailed, but during the night an earthquake shook the prison where they were held, and Paul was able to use the opportunity to speak to the jailer about Jesus. Paul and Silas were released the next day by magistrates bent on appeasing the wrath of Roman citizens who had been punished without the requisite trial.
Finally, Paul was arrested by the commander of the Roman troops in Jerusalem, Claudius Lysias. Paul was able to give a speech to the crowd present at his arrest, as well as the Sanhedrin (including Sadducees and Pharisees), Governor Felix of Caesarea and his wife Drusilla, Felix’s successor Governor Porcius Festus and King Agrippa and his wife Bernice, before being sent to Rome to present his case to Caesar, the Emperor of Rome. Acts 21-28 tells of these events, which are also attested to through details from Paul’s letters.
Extra-biblical sources and church tradition record that while Paul was probably released from his house arrest in Rome around AD63, both he and Peter were later martyred for their faith. Tradition has Peter put to death in Rome about AD64 by being crucified upside down (supposedly he requested this position because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus had been). Eusebius wrote that Paul was imprisoned a second time in Rome before Emperor Nero ordered his death, sometime during Nero’s persecution (AD64 until the emperor’s death in mid AD68). Dionysius (ca AD170) is quoted by Eusebius as saying that Peter and Paul were martyred at the same time, although this may not mean the same year. Tertullian wrote that Paul was beheaded, as would be typical for Roman citizens who were sentenced to death.
John was later exiled to the small, rocky Mediterannean island of Patmos, off the coast of modern-day Turkey (Revelation 1:9). This was possibly during the persecution of Christians by Roman emperor Domitian (AD81-96). John supposedly lived and worked in Ephesus during his later years, being the only apostle who died a natural death.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Hebraic Jews and Grecian Jews
God chose Abram and called him for a special purpose. God promised Abram [Genesis 12:1-3, see also Gen 15:4-5 and many other passages] that “I will make you a great nation” and changed his name to Abraham, which is what he is remembered by today. Abraham and his wife Sarai (whose name God changed to Sarah) had a son whom they named Isaac. Isaac married Rebekah and they had twin sons Esau and Jacob. Although the younger twin, Jacob was chosen by God to be the heir of God’s promises. Jacob, who was also known by a second, God-given name, Israel, married two women (Leah and Rachel) and they (and their two maid servants) bore him 12 sons and at least one daughter. The 12 sons of Jacob became the heads of the 12 tribes of the nation Israel. Thus the tribes of Israel were:
1 Reuben
2 Simeon
3 Levi (set apart for the LORD to serve as priests)
[Numbers 1:47-53, 3:5-13. Exodus 32 gives the story behind this, especially Exodus 32:25-29]
4 Judah
5 Dan
6 Naphtali
7 Gad
8 Asher
9 Zebulun
10 Issachar
11 The two half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (descended from the two sons of Joseph)
[Genesis 48 gives the story behind this, especially Genesis 48:5-6]
12 Benjamin
It was not until several generations later that the nation of Israel, led at the time by Joshua, claimed the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Each of the 12 tribes lived in a portion of the land, as decreed by God. The only exception was the Levites, who dwelled in cities among the other tribes but had no inheritable land of their own; they were supported by the tithes of the Israelites [Numbers 35:1-8, Numbers 18:21-32]. The nation of Israel was ruled for a while by a series of Judges, and then later by a king appointed by God.
The first king of Israel was Saul. The second was King David, who came from the tribe of Judah. David’s son, Solomon, became king of Israel after him. The rules of King David and King Solomon were prosperous and glorious days for Israel. However, shortly after Rehoboam succeeded Solomon as King [1Ki11:43], Jeroboam rebelled against Rehoboam and set up own northern kingdom, Israel, with ten of the tribes [1Ki12:16-20]. Rehoboam’s southern kingdom became known as Judah, although it was comprised of people from Judah and Benjamin. Jeroboam set up idols and appointed his own priests in Israel [1Ki12:26-33], and consequently Levites and others who sought God left Israel and were absorbed into Judah [2Ch11:13-17].
Later, both the northern kingdom Israel and then the southern kingdom Judah were exiled by invading nations. Only Judah returned from exile, although there were probably some people from each of the 12 original tribes of Israel absorbed into this new nation, called the Jews. In Jesus’ time, after the Return, the Jews mainly lived in Judea, but also in other areas of Roman-occupied Palestine, the ancient “Promised Land”. These Jews were Hebraic Jews, that is, they were Jews who were descended from Abraham.
There were also Greek converts to Judaism, who had been circumcised and thus they and their families were also legitimately recognised as Jews. These were the Grecian Jews, and they were often considered to be somewhat second-class Jews.
1 Reuben
2 Simeon
3 Levi (set apart for the LORD to serve as priests)
[Numbers 1:47-53, 3:5-13. Exodus 32 gives the story behind this, especially Exodus 32:25-29]
4 Judah
5 Dan
6 Naphtali
7 Gad
8 Asher
9 Zebulun
10 Issachar
11 The two half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (descended from the two sons of Joseph)
[Genesis 48 gives the story behind this, especially Genesis 48:5-6]
12 Benjamin
It was not until several generations later that the nation of Israel, led at the time by Joshua, claimed the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Each of the 12 tribes lived in a portion of the land, as decreed by God. The only exception was the Levites, who dwelled in cities among the other tribes but had no inheritable land of their own; they were supported by the tithes of the Israelites [Numbers 35:1-8, Numbers 18:21-32]. The nation of Israel was ruled for a while by a series of Judges, and then later by a king appointed by God.
The first king of Israel was Saul. The second was King David, who came from the tribe of Judah. David’s son, Solomon, became king of Israel after him. The rules of King David and King Solomon were prosperous and glorious days for Israel. However, shortly after Rehoboam succeeded Solomon as King [1Ki11:43], Jeroboam rebelled against Rehoboam and set up own northern kingdom, Israel, with ten of the tribes [1Ki12:16-20]. Rehoboam’s southern kingdom became known as Judah, although it was comprised of people from Judah and Benjamin. Jeroboam set up idols and appointed his own priests in Israel [1Ki12:26-33], and consequently Levites and others who sought God left Israel and were absorbed into Judah [2Ch11:13-17].
Later, both the northern kingdom Israel and then the southern kingdom Judah were exiled by invading nations. Only Judah returned from exile, although there were probably some people from each of the 12 original tribes of Israel absorbed into this new nation, called the Jews. In Jesus’ time, after the Return, the Jews mainly lived in Judea, but also in other areas of Roman-occupied Palestine, the ancient “Promised Land”. These Jews were Hebraic Jews, that is, they were Jews who were descended from Abraham.
There were also Greek converts to Judaism, who had been circumcised and thus they and their families were also legitimately recognised as Jews. These were the Grecian Jews, and they were often considered to be somewhat second-class Jews.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
The two married couples in Acts
There are only two married couples mentioned by name in Acts. The first is a couple called Ananias and Sapphira, who are only mentioned in Acts 5:1-10. The second is a Jewish couple called Aquila and Priscilla, who are first mentioned in Acts 18:2. Their attitudes and actions could not be more different. In contrast to the sad ending of Ananias and Sapphira, Aquilla and Priscilla opened their home for Paul to live with them, became fellow workers with Paul, and instructed another prominent evangelist, Apollos, as well as hosting a church in their home in Ephesus.
For more on Aquila and Priscilla, read the following passages:
Acts 18:1-3,18-28
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he met a Jew 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 went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. … 18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Romans 16:3
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16:19
19The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
2 Timothy 4:19
19Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
For more on Aquila and Priscilla, read the following passages:
Acts 18:1-3,18-28
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he met a Jew 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 went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. … 18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Romans 16:3
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16:19
19The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
2 Timothy 4:19
19Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Identifying some people from Acts 4:1,5-6
The captain of the temple guard was the leader of the temple police, the priest who ranked next to the high priest.
The Saducees were a political group supported by and supporting the priesthood.
The rulers were collectively known as the Sanhedrin or chief priests, a group of 71 men, led by the high priest. They administered the temple duties.
Elders were family (or clan) leaders in the Jewish community.
The teachers of the Law were the scribes whose job it was to copy, conserve and interpret Scripture. They mostly belonged to the party of the Pharisees.
Acts 4:6 gives more specific details of the rulers who were present. Annas was high priest from AD6-14, but was deposed by the Romans and succeeded by several members of his family. This included his son-in-law Caiaphas, who was high priest from AD18-36. Despite his deposition, Annas still had much influence and he kept his title. Annas and Caiaphas both interviewed Jesus during his trials before his crucifixion . Other members of the high priestly family were the men who help the official positions in the temple administration.
[Sources: I Howard Marshall, Acts (1980) Tyndale New Testament Commentary and John R W Stott, The Message of Acts (1990) The Bible Speaks Today series.]
The Saducees were a political group supported by and supporting the priesthood.
The rulers were collectively known as the Sanhedrin or chief priests, a group of 71 men, led by the high priest. They administered the temple duties.
Elders were family (or clan) leaders in the Jewish community.
The teachers of the Law were the scribes whose job it was to copy, conserve and interpret Scripture. They mostly belonged to the party of the Pharisees.
Acts 4:6 gives more specific details of the rulers who were present. Annas was high priest from AD6-14, but was deposed by the Romans and succeeded by several members of his family. This included his son-in-law Caiaphas, who was high priest from AD18-36. Despite his deposition, Annas still had much influence and he kept his title. Annas and Caiaphas both interviewed Jesus during his trials before his crucifixion . Other members of the high priestly family were the men who help the official positions in the temple administration.
[Sources: I Howard Marshall, Acts (1980) Tyndale New Testament Commentary and John R W Stott, The Message of Acts (1990) The Bible Speaks Today series.]
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A short history of Jerusalem and the temple
Before His ascension, Jesus told the apostles that they would be His witnesses “in Jerusalem”, and the events of Acts 3-4 describe one of these instances. King David established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and built his palace there. Later the temple was also built there. When the northern tribes split from Judah and Benjamin, Jerusalem remained the capital of Judah. After the Jews returned from exile, they rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall. In Jesus’ time, the Jews occupied the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding region of Judea, although it was then part of the Roman Empire.
The temple was the centre of Jewish religious practice. The first temple was built by King Solomon , but destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587BC when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. When the Exiles returned, they rebuilt the temple and it was known as Zerubbabel’s Temple. This temple was actually torn down by King Herod the Great, to make way for his own architectural masterpiece. Herod began work in 20BC and it was essentially completed within a decade, a few years before Jesus’ birth and Herod’s subsequent death in 4BC. However, the temple was still having finishing touches added until AD64. It was finally destroyed by the Romans in AD70.
[Image of 1:100 scale model of Herod's Temple, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4837608/Farmer-builds-model-of-Biblical-temple.html.]
The temple was the centre of Jewish religious practice. The first temple was built by King Solomon , but destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587BC when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. When the Exiles returned, they rebuilt the temple and it was known as Zerubbabel’s Temple. This temple was actually torn down by King Herod the Great, to make way for his own architectural masterpiece. Herod began work in 20BC and it was essentially completed within a decade, a few years before Jesus’ birth and Herod’s subsequent death in 4BC. However, the temple was still having finishing touches added until AD64. It was finally destroyed by the Romans in AD70.[Image of 1:100 scale model of Herod's Temple, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4837608/Farmer-builds-model-of-Biblical-temple.html.]
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Acts 2:42- 4:31
Main Lessons from Acts 2:42- 4:31
~ Miracles, signs and wonders are used by God to get our attention and bring it to His Son, Jesus Christ.
~ Healings are a miracle, and so is the change in behaviour that is seen in new Christians as a result of their indwelling by the Holy Spirit.
~ The name (identity) of Jesus Christ is central to salvation. There is no other way to be saved than to know who Jesus Christ really is, accept it and live one's life believing and trusting He is who He is.
~ The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a crucial element of who He is. Jesus Christ is not just the atoning Son of Man but also the risen Son of God, whose resurrection vindicates His claims of divinity and proves He has succeeded in assuaging the wrath of God for our sin.
~ A good model for prayer begins with a worshipful acknowledgement of who God is and ends with asking His help to become the people He wants us to be.
~ Miracles, signs and wonders are used by God to get our attention and bring it to His Son, Jesus Christ.
~ Healings are a miracle, and so is the change in behaviour that is seen in new Christians as a result of their indwelling by the Holy Spirit.
~ The name (identity) of Jesus Christ is central to salvation. There is no other way to be saved than to know who Jesus Christ really is, accept it and live one's life believing and trusting He is who He is.
~ The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a crucial element of who He is. Jesus Christ is not just the atoning Son of Man but also the risen Son of God, whose resurrection vindicates His claims of divinity and proves He has succeeded in assuaging the wrath of God for our sin.
~ A good model for prayer begins with a worshipful acknowledgement of who God is and ends with asking His help to become the people He wants us to be.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Acts 1:13b-2:41
Main Lessons from Acts 1:13b-2:41
~ Jesus called and chose the 12 apostles for a specific apostolic ministry: to be witnesses of Jesus' time with them and His death and resurrection.
~ The three dramatic signs of Pentecost (wind, fire and speaking in other languages) indicated the commissioning and equipping of the apostles by the Holy Spirit for this apostolic ministry.
~ God was in control of Jesus' death and resurrection, according to His own previous plan, and it was God who exalted Jesus to the judgement seat of heaven.
~ It is God who calls people to Christ, granting the gift of the Holy Spirit.
* The fourth sign of Pentecost - the ability to confidently and clearly state that Jesus is Lord (having authority over the believer's own life) and Jesus is Christ (aka Messiah, the promised Saviour, who has saved the believer from the consequences of their sins) is the defining evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence within all Christians, including those of today. (See also 1 Corinthians 12:3 and Romans 10:6-13.)
~ Jesus called and chose the 12 apostles for a specific apostolic ministry: to be witnesses of Jesus' time with them and His death and resurrection.
~ The three dramatic signs of Pentecost (wind, fire and speaking in other languages) indicated the commissioning and equipping of the apostles by the Holy Spirit for this apostolic ministry.
~ God was in control of Jesus' death and resurrection, according to His own previous plan, and it was God who exalted Jesus to the judgement seat of heaven.
~ It is God who calls people to Christ, granting the gift of the Holy Spirit.
* The fourth sign of Pentecost - the ability to confidently and clearly state that Jesus is Lord (having authority over the believer's own life) and Jesus is Christ (aka Messiah, the promised Saviour, who has saved the believer from the consequences of their sins) is the defining evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence within all Christians, including those of today. (See also 1 Corinthians 12:3 and Romans 10:6-13.)
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Author of Acts and his message
Since the second century, the book of Acts has sometimes been called by a longer name: “The Acts of the Apostles”. This is because it describes the actions of the closest followers of Jesus as they began to teach others about Him, soon after His death. As we read and study the book of Acts, we will learn about what it meant to be a Christian in the first years after Jesus rose to heaven, and also examine what being a Christian means today.
As a historian, Luke collected his information about the events he recorded in Acts from several sources. As he wrote in the introductory verses of Luke, he included information “handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses” (Luke 1:2). This would have included John Mark, who wrote the earliest gospel, Mark, and Barnabas his cousin, who had been in Jerusalem with Peter (Acts 4:36-37 & 11:22). Luke spent time with these men because all three were Paul’s co-workers, and they were together with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome (Colossians 4:10,14 & Philemon 1:24). Luke wrote, “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning” (Luke 1:3), and he was also involved in some of the action himself, having spent time with Paul as he travelled around the Mediterranean Sea (see, for example, Acts 16:10-17) and staying with him through his journey to Rome (Acts 27:1-2ff) and much of his imprisonment (Colossians 4:14,18).
Acts has also been described as “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”, because it shows who the Holy Spirit is and how He acted in the earliest days of the church. As we find out more about this third person of the Trinity, we will also learn to recognise and rely upon His work in our own lives.
As a theologian, Luke used history as a tool to explain deep truths about God. He did not write only a mere factual record. He was concerned that the events he chose to include should show clearly their significance for salvation. Luke will show us that salvation is prepared by God, given to us by Jesus Christ, and marked by the Holy Spirit (Stott, J.R.W. (1991) The Message of Acts). Luke was a Gentile, not a Jew (Colossians 4:10-11,14). He was the only Gentile to have his writings included in the New Testament. So it is significant that the events of Acts will reveal finally that, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39) We will be shown that the gospel (the good news of Jesus Christ) “is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, and then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
Acts was written to a person called Theophilus. From Luke’s courteous reference to him as “most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3), we can guess that he was probably an important government official. The name Theophilus is Greek, and it means “God-lover” or “God-beloved”. It has been suggested that this may even have been a carefully chosen pseudonym. Whoever he was, Theophilus had been taught something of Jesus, and Luke wrote his two books to help him to know and understand everything about Jesus with certainty. As we read the same words that Theophilus studied centuries ago, we will be learning the same lessons about Jesus, His people the church, and the Holy Spirit He sent to them.
As a historian, Luke collected his information about the events he recorded in Acts from several sources. As he wrote in the introductory verses of Luke, he included information “handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses” (Luke 1:2). This would have included John Mark, who wrote the earliest gospel, Mark, and Barnabas his cousin, who had been in Jerusalem with Peter (Acts 4:36-37 & 11:22). Luke spent time with these men because all three were Paul’s co-workers, and they were together with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome (Colossians 4:10,14 & Philemon 1:24). Luke wrote, “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning” (Luke 1:3), and he was also involved in some of the action himself, having spent time with Paul as he travelled around the Mediterranean Sea (see, for example, Acts 16:10-17) and staying with him through his journey to Rome (Acts 27:1-2ff) and much of his imprisonment (Colossians 4:14,18).
Acts has also been described as “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”, because it shows who the Holy Spirit is and how He acted in the earliest days of the church. As we find out more about this third person of the Trinity, we will also learn to recognise and rely upon His work in our own lives.
As a theologian, Luke used history as a tool to explain deep truths about God. He did not write only a mere factual record. He was concerned that the events he chose to include should show clearly their significance for salvation. Luke will show us that salvation is prepared by God, given to us by Jesus Christ, and marked by the Holy Spirit (Stott, J.R.W. (1991) The Message of Acts). Luke was a Gentile, not a Jew (Colossians 4:10-11,14). He was the only Gentile to have his writings included in the New Testament. So it is significant that the events of Acts will reveal finally that, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39) We will be shown that the gospel (the good news of Jesus Christ) “is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, and then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
Acts was written to a person called Theophilus. From Luke’s courteous reference to him as “most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3), we can guess that he was probably an important government official. The name Theophilus is Greek, and it means “God-lover” or “God-beloved”. It has been suggested that this may even have been a carefully chosen pseudonym. Whoever he was, Theophilus had been taught something of Jesus, and Luke wrote his two books to help him to know and understand everything about Jesus with certainty. As we read the same words that Theophilus studied centuries ago, we will be learning the same lessons about Jesus, His people the church, and the Holy Spirit He sent to them.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Acts 1:1-14
Main Lessons from Acts 1:1-14
~ Luke wrote Acts as the second volume of his "orderly account" for Theophilus, which began with The Gospel of Luke. (See also Luke 1:1-4.)
~ Jesus promised that His apostles would be baptised with the Holy Spirit, the gift of God the Father.
* Jesus told the apostles that with the power they would gain when the Holy Spirit came on them, they would go out to the world as His witnesses.
~ The angels explained that Jesus had gone to heaven and promised that Jesus would return again.
~ Luke wrote Acts as the second volume of his "orderly account" for Theophilus, which began with The Gospel of Luke. (See also Luke 1:1-4.)
~ Jesus promised that His apostles would be baptised with the Holy Spirit, the gift of God the Father.
* Jesus told the apostles that with the power they would gain when the Holy Spirit came on them, they would go out to the world as His witnesses.
~ The angels explained that Jesus had gone to heaven and promised that Jesus would return again.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Acts and it's place in the New Testament
The Bible is a collection of books. These books are divided into two main sections, called the Old Testament and the New Testament. The books are of many different types: there are books of history, although they are not necessarily written in the same style of today’s history works; there is also poetry, advice, prophecy (predicting and warning about future events); allegorical tales and letters. The New Testament is made up of 27 books written originally in Greek, most of which are actually letters.
The first four books of the New Testament, named after their authors Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are called Gospels. They give biographical accounts of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection from four different perspectives. Two of the writers, Matthew (also called Levi) and John, were among the twelve apostles that Jesus chose and taught during the time of his ministry. The other two, Mark (also called John Mark) and Luke, were active in the early Christian church and worked closely with Peter and Paul. We will read about John, Mark and Luke in Acts.
Acts, the fifth book of the New Testament, is the book we will be studying for the next fifteen weeks or so. It gives a historical account of the activities of the earliest Christians as they began to travel throughout the world, telling people the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the peace with God that comes from trusting and believing in Him.
The remainder of the New Testament, except the last book, is a collection of letters (also called epistles) written by the earliest followers of Jesus to teach and encourage each other in their Christian faith. The letters of Paul come first, not in the order they were written but in order from longest to shortest. The letters to churches were written to the Romans, two letters to the Corinthians, to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians and two letters to the Thessalonians. Paul also wrote letters to individual people, two to Timothy, to Titus and to Philemon. We will read about many of these churches and people in Acts as well.
One of the letters, addressed to the Hebrews, is of unknown authorship. The other letters are named after their senders, rather than their recipients: they are the two letters of Peter (one of the disciples), one by James (Jesus’ brother, who became leader of the church in Jerusalem), the three letters of John (who wrote the fourth gospel) and finally the letter of Jude (another brother of Jesus). The writers of these letters are also written about in Acts.
The disciple John also wrote the last book of the New Testament, Revelation, recounting a vision from Jesus.
The books of the New Testament, other than Revelation, which relates to the future, cover events from roughly 6BC to AD60. They were written between AD50 and AD90. They were collected together by the leaders of Christian churches and the authoritative canon (official list of NT books) was being defined from AD180.
The books of the Bible were originally written by hand on scrolls of parchment paper. By the 2nd century AD, the scrolls were being replaced with the “codex”, an early form of book with pages folded and sewn at one side. Chapter divisions were added to the Bible about a thousand years later. After the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in the 1450s, verse numbers were added. Titles were added at the same time as these forms were being introduced to other literature. Hence, my great-grandmother’s Bible has a brief summary at the beginning of each chapter in italics, while my Bible has headings added in a bold font throughout the text.
The first four books of the New Testament, named after their authors Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are called Gospels. They give biographical accounts of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection from four different perspectives. Two of the writers, Matthew (also called Levi) and John, were among the twelve apostles that Jesus chose and taught during the time of his ministry. The other two, Mark (also called John Mark) and Luke, were active in the early Christian church and worked closely with Peter and Paul. We will read about John, Mark and Luke in Acts.
Acts, the fifth book of the New Testament, is the book we will be studying for the next fifteen weeks or so. It gives a historical account of the activities of the earliest Christians as they began to travel throughout the world, telling people the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the peace with God that comes from trusting and believing in Him.
The remainder of the New Testament, except the last book, is a collection of letters (also called epistles) written by the earliest followers of Jesus to teach and encourage each other in their Christian faith. The letters of Paul come first, not in the order they were written but in order from longest to shortest. The letters to churches were written to the Romans, two letters to the Corinthians, to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians and two letters to the Thessalonians. Paul also wrote letters to individual people, two to Timothy, to Titus and to Philemon. We will read about many of these churches and people in Acts as well.
One of the letters, addressed to the Hebrews, is of unknown authorship. The other letters are named after their senders, rather than their recipients: they are the two letters of Peter (one of the disciples), one by James (Jesus’ brother, who became leader of the church in Jerusalem), the three letters of John (who wrote the fourth gospel) and finally the letter of Jude (another brother of Jesus). The writers of these letters are also written about in Acts.
The disciple John also wrote the last book of the New Testament, Revelation, recounting a vision from Jesus.
The books of the New Testament, other than Revelation, which relates to the future, cover events from roughly 6BC to AD60. They were written between AD50 and AD90. They were collected together by the leaders of Christian churches and the authoritative canon (official list of NT books) was being defined from AD180.
The books of the Bible were originally written by hand on scrolls of parchment paper. By the 2nd century AD, the scrolls were being replaced with the “codex”, an early form of book with pages folded and sewn at one side. Chapter divisions were added to the Bible about a thousand years later. After the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in the 1450s, verse numbers were added. Titles were added at the same time as these forms were being introduced to other literature. Hence, my great-grandmother’s Bible has a brief summary at the beginning of each chapter in italics, while my Bible has headings added in a bold font throughout the text.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
I'm studying Acts
In preparation for the Women's Gathering (for Bible Study, Prayer and Friendship) that will be starting at our church next week, I have been reading through Acts and have begun studying it more deeply than ever before. As I have prepared questions to discuss with the women, as well as optional extras for them to study further at home, I am seeing many things more clearly myself. It has been quite eye opening to realise that Acts isn't just a historical account of the actions of the apostles, it is also a detailed theological treatise based upon the actions of the Holy Spirit (without sacrificing historical accuracy). While there are specific passages in other places in the New Testament that teach explicitly about the Holy Spirit, Acts is the book where we can see Him most openly at work.
As well as reading the text of Acts several times and making my own connections, I have also begun reading the earlier chapters of a few commentaries on Acts. I began with The Communicator's Commentary series volume on Acts by Lloyd J Ogilvie (thinking it would be helpful for someone seeking to teach others) but found it had not enough substance and was a bit undisciplined for my taste. Then I tried the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries volume on Acts by I Howard Marshall and found it wonderfully rich but unfortunately just a bit too heavy for me at this time, although I would love to read through it another time if I can find enough of it! I have finally settled on The Message of Acts by John Stott, from the BIble Speaks Today commentary series. This is a great mix of explanation of the Biblical text and helpful connections to present-day Christian life, and matches well to my present needs for helpful teaching.
I am also getting help from Jeff as he reads my draft questions and helps me refine them. He has shown me where I have gaps in what I have brought out from the passages, or where I have missed the mark by a long way, going off on a tangent rather than focussing on the main emphasis of the text itself. It has also been helpful to have him giving me handy hints from his knowledge of the original Greek. Yesterday, for example, he explained to me that the word used for "other tongues" in Acts 2:4 is completely different from the word used later by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13:1) which speaks of "tongues of angels", so the two should not be confused.
As well as reading the text of Acts several times and making my own connections, I have also begun reading the earlier chapters of a few commentaries on Acts. I began with The Communicator's Commentary series volume on Acts by Lloyd J Ogilvie (thinking it would be helpful for someone seeking to teach others) but found it had not enough substance and was a bit undisciplined for my taste. Then I tried the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries volume on Acts by I Howard Marshall and found it wonderfully rich but unfortunately just a bit too heavy for me at this time, although I would love to read through it another time if I can find enough of it! I have finally settled on The Message of Acts by John Stott, from the BIble Speaks Today commentary series. This is a great mix of explanation of the Biblical text and helpful connections to present-day Christian life, and matches well to my present needs for helpful teaching.
I am also getting help from Jeff as he reads my draft questions and helps me refine them. He has shown me where I have gaps in what I have brought out from the passages, or where I have missed the mark by a long way, going off on a tangent rather than focussing on the main emphasis of the text itself. It has also been helpful to have him giving me handy hints from his knowledge of the original Greek. Yesterday, for example, he explained to me that the word used for "other tongues" in Acts 2:4 is completely different from the word used later by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13:1) which speaks of "tongues of angels", so the two should not be confused.
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