LUKE’S SECOND BOOK Luke’s second book, The Acts of the Apostles, picks up where his gospel left off. Luke was a physician and a traveling companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote an “orderly account” (Luke 1:3) of what Jesus “began to do and teach” in his first book. In his second book, he wrote
THE LAST LIVING APOSTLE After Jesus told Peter the manner in which he would someday die for his witness, he asked about John’s future. Peter asked, “What about him, Lord?” The Lord responded that he shouldn’t worry about the plan God had for John’s future. He should focus on following Jesus, not on what happens
THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE As the apostle John closed his gospel, he gave its purpose statement, namely, that his gospel was written that its readers might believe. Believe what? First, believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem humanity. He is the Son of
THE FIRST JUDAS The story of David’s betrayal by Ahithophel foreshadows that of Jesus by Judas. For just as David was betrayed by a trusted member of his inner court, who later hung himself; so was Jesus betrayed by one of his own disciples, who later hung himself. Along with Judas Iscariot (Matt. 27:5), Zimri
BEHOLD THE MAN! The Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, brought Jesus out to stand before the accusing crowd. He had been scourged, beaten, mocked, and spit upon. A crown of thorns was pressed down upon his bruised brow and a purple robe thrown across his torn and bleeding shoulders. He stood silently before his
HOW MUCH DID JESUS KNOW ABOUT WHAT HE FACED? When the soldiers came in the cover of darkness with torches blazing and swords clanging, Jesus and his disciples might’ve easily escaped. Instead, Jesus fully realized that this was the moment for which he had come, so he stepped into the open to meet them. What
BEWARE THE “JONADABS” IN YOUR LIFE Jonadab was the son of Jesse’s third son, David’s brother, Shimeah. He was David’s nephew and a supposed “friend” to David’s firstborn son, Amnon. Yet, on this occasion his true identity was revealed, for as the serpent in the garden of Eden was described as “crafty” (Gen. 3:1), so
DON’T LET TROUBLE CAUSE YOU TO STUMBLE IN YOUR FAITH The NLT translates the Greek word, “skandalizo,” as “abandon your faith.” It’s not a bad dynamic interpretation of the word. The word’s literal meaning is to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another might trip and fall. But what
Who is Mephibosheth? Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul. He was five years old when the news came about his father and grandfather having died in battle. His nurse was fleeing with him to hide when “he fell and became disabled” (2 Sam. 4:4). Now, perhaps 16 years later,
ANOTHER ADVOCATE Jesus sought to comfort His disciples by explaining that although He must return to the Father, He would send “another Advocate” to be with them always. The Greek word translated, “Advocate,” is “Paraklētos,” which literally means, “one called alongside.” It might also be translated, “Helper” or “Comforter.” Jesus identified this “Advocate” as the