Archive for February 2023

Exodus 38-40, Psalm 37:23-40, Matthew 16:13-28, Acts 23:1-11 Acts 23:1-11: Paul is now brought before the Sanhedrin, the leading religious court of the Jewish people at the time. What will he do? How will he defend himself? First, he starts with an unapologetic and carefully worded statement. “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all…

Exodus 35-37, Psalm 37:1-22, Matthew 16:1-12, Acts 22 Acts 22: Paul now gives his defense to his Jewish people in Jerusalem before the temple. He has been arrested by the Romans because a riot was going on as people protested his presence in the temple. What will Paul do? What will he say? He seizes this moment for…

Exodus 34, Psalm 36, Matthew 15:21-39, Acts 21:27-40 Acts 21:27-40: So Paul is now in Jerusalem, and his and the Jewish Christian leaders’ attempts to pacify his accusers fail—his presence in the temple area causes a riot. He is arrested and about to be taken off by the Romans when Paul asks to address the crowd. When he…

Exodus 32-33, Psalm 35, Matthew 15:1-20, Acts 21:1-26 Acts 21:1-26: Paul is determined to go to Jerusalem. And he continues in that journey despite clear warnings from the Spirit—and also from the Spirit through a prophet called Agabus—that if he went to Jerusalem he would be persecuted. Yet Paul still insists on going to Jerusalem. By contrast, when…

Exodus 30-31, Psalm 34, Matthew 14:22-36, Acts 20:13-38 Acts 20:13-38: Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians’ elders is worth studying closely for a number of different reasons. It shows that gospel ministry is to be both public and house to house. There is a public proclamation of God’s Word and then some sort of smaller gatherings that allow that…

Exodus 27-29, Psalm 33, Matthew 14:1-21, Acts 20:1-12 Acts 20:1-12: Here we first are told about Paul’s journeys encouraging and strengthening disciples, and then about a particular instance with a young man called Eutychus. What do we learn? First of all, Paul’s journeys in the first six verses open up for us a window of an apostle constantly…

Exodus 24-26, Psalm 32, Matthew 13:44-58, Acts 19:23-41 Acts 19:23-41: Paul’s ministry in Ephesus is having such a large impact that it is starting to impact the economy! What can we learn from this extraordinary story? First, when God brings revival, it not only causes excitement, it actually changes how people really live—and how they spend their money.…

Exodus 21-23, Psalm 31, Matthew 13:24-43, Acts 19:1-22 Acts 19:1-22: Paul’s work in Ephesus produced a significant bridgehead for the gospel into the province of Asia (see churches of Asia in Revelation chapters 2 to 3). What was that ministry like? What can we learn from the effectiveness of his witness in that city of Ephesus for our…

Exodus 19-20, Psalm 30, Matthew 13:1-23, Acts 18:18-28 Acts 18:18-28: The kingdom of God continues to advance and grow. Here in this part of Luke’s story of kingdom advancement from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, we learn some more good lessons that are applicable to our lives in the contemporary world. First, do not give up.…

Exodus 16-18, Psalm 29, Matthew 12:38-50, Acts 18:1-17 Acts 18:1-17: We come now to Paul’s ministry in Corinth. There are several things we can learn from his experience as described by Luke in this passage in Acts: Use the skills that you have to have an impact in evangelism and discipleship. Paul used his tent-making skills to provide…