“A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus” (Acts 24:24 NLT). Paul was held prisoner by the Roman procurator of Judea, Marcus Antonius Felix for two years. Felix understood the religious culture of Judea better
“I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.” (Psalm 3:5 NLT). David wrote this psalm after he had to flee from his son, Absalom, who sought to overthrow him and take his crown. Surely he was overcome by grief from this betrayal. Sleep had no
‘So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied. “I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!” Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”’ (Acts 22:27-28 NLT). Paul’s Roman citizenship was often a help to him as he
“When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair” (2 Kings 22:11 NLT). Josiah was crowned King of Judah at age eight after his father, Amon, was murdered by conspirators. Both his father and his grandfather, Manasseh, were unrighteous kings who had led the people
“The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah” (2 Kings 20:20 NLT). King Hezekiah was one of the greatest kings
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.” (Psalm 149:1 NLT). The Scripture often instructs that a “new song” be sung to the Lord. In fact, this command is in the Bible a total of nine times: six in the Psalms, once in Isaiah,
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 NLT). The apostle Paul reminded his friends from Ephesus of the calling he had on his life from
“The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” (Acts 19:17,20 NLT). The preaching of Paul and the apostles
“So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.” (Acts 19:9-10 NLT). Ephesus was one of the largest
‘One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.”’ (Acts 18:9-10 NLT). Paul preached Jesus Christ to the members of the