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Acts 12:18-23 meaningNovember 24, 2023
The next day, Herod and his men cannot find Peter. The king orders Peter's guards to be executed. Herod departs Jerusalem for Caesarea. Later, while standing before a crowd in his kingliest clothing, the people shout that he is a god. Herod welcomes their praise. God sends an angel to strike Herod dead soon after.
Acts 12:12-17 meaningNovember 24, 2023
Peter goes to a woman named Mary’s house, where a prayer meeting is taking place. Believers have stayed awake praying for him all night. Peter knocks at the gate and a servant-girl hears his voice.
Acts 12:6-11 meaningNovember 24, 2023
While in prison, Peter is chained to two guards and has many more standing watch over him in his cell. While he is sleeping, an angel arrives in the cell and wakes him. The chains fall from Peter's wrists and the angel leads him out of the prison. Peter thinks he is dreaming, until he finds that he is genuinely free and standing in the street.
Acts 12:1-5 meaningNovember 24, 2023
Herod Agrippa I begins persecuting the believers in Jerusalem. He executes James, one of the twelve Apostles. This violence makes the Pharisees and Sadducees happy, so Herod arrests Peter with the intention of executing him after Passover. The believers pray for Peter diligently.
Acts 11:27-30 meaningNovember 22, 2023
The Charity of the Gentile Believers: Prophets from Jerusalem visit Antioch, and one named Agabus prophesies a global famine during Claudius Caesar's reign. Moved by this warning, the Antiochian disciples decide to send relief money in preparation for the famine to their Judean brethren, according to their wealth. Barnabas and Saul are entrusted to deliver these contributions to the Judean elders.
Acts 11:19-26 meaningNovember 22, 2023
Gentiles in Antioch Believe in Jesus: At the murder of Stephen years prior, a persecution against the church began. Due to the persecution, believing Jews spread out to regions like Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, initially preaching about Jesus only to Jews. However, some began preaching to Greeks in Antioch. A significant number of Greeks believed in Jesus. Hearing this, the Jerusalem church sends Barnabas to Antioch, who, seeing God at work among the Antiochians, further encourages the believers in their faith. Barnabas then seeks Saul (Paul) to join him in teaching the rapidly growing community. Paul ministers there for a year.
Acts 11:11-18 meaningNovember 22, 2023
Peter's Defense to the Skeptical Jews continues: The Spirit Fell on the Gentiles. After Peter's vision in Joppa, three men sent from Caesarea arrived at his location. Commanded by the Holy Spirit, Peter went with them to meet the centurion Cornelius who had been instructed by an angel to seek Peter. Peter preaches the gospel to Cornelius, his friends, and his family—Gentiles all. The Holy Spirit falls upon the Gentiles as they believe in Jesus. After hearing this account, the Jerusalem believers realize that God had granted Gentiles the opportunity to be saved from sin to eternal life.
Acts 11:4-10 meaningNovember 22, 2023
Peter's Defense, The Vision: Peter teaches his critics in detail of the vision he had in Joppa. During a trance, he saw a large sheet descending from the sky, filled with various unclean animals according to the Mosaic Law. A voice from Heaven instructed him to eat these animals, but Peter refused, attesting that he had never eaten anything unholy or unclean. The voice rebuked Peter that what God has cleansed should not be considered unholy. This conversation repeated two times before the sheet was drawn back into the heavens.
Acts 11:1-3 meaningNovember 22, 2023
Critics of Peter: The apostles and believers in Judea learn that Gentiles in Caesarea received the gospel from Peter. When Peter returns to Jerusalem, some confront him for doing wrong (in their minds). They criticize him for associating with the uncircumcised, specifically for eating with them.
John 18:33-38 meaningOctober 30, 2023
Pilate's First Interview with Jesus and his First Declaration of Innocence: Pilate enters the Praetorium and summons Jesus to investigate the charges brought against Him by the Jewish leaders. He focuses on the charge of insurrection, asking "Are You the King of the Jews?" Before He answers, Jesus asks a probing question to see Pilate's intent. After Pilate responds, Jesus elaborates that His kingdom is not of this world. Pilate, a bit confused, asks Jesus to clarify. Jesus states His purpose and that He is the king of truth. Pilate scoffs: "What is truth?", before exiting the Praetorium and announcing his verdict to the Jews outside. Jesus is not guilty of insurrection. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus's Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus's Arraignment before Pilate.
John 18:28-32 meaningOctober 30, 2023
The Priests bring and accuse Jesus to Pilate: Not permitted by Roman law to execute Jesus themselves, the Jews bring Jesus to the Roman governor Pilate early in the morning for His Roman (or Civil) Trial. Pilate begins the proceedings asking them what accusation they bring against the Man. When they have none, Pilate appears to dismiss the case and tells them to judge Him according to their own customs. They complain they are unable to judge Him because Rome won't permit them to put Him to death. This fulfills Jesus's prophecies predicting He would be crucified. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus's Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus's Arraignment before Pilate.
Matthew 27:11-14 meaningOctober 30, 2023
Pilate's First Interview with Jesus and his First Declaration of Innocence: Not permitted to execute Jesus themselves, the Sanhedrin brings Jesus to Pilate early in the morning for His Roman (or Civil) Trial. Pilate investigates whether or not Jesus is guilty of insurrection. When Pilate askes Him, if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus answers "It is as you say." The Jews continue to press charges, which Jesus does not respond to. Jesus's silence amazes Pilate. This event is part of the first phase of Jesus's Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus's Arraignment before Pilate.
Jude 1:24-25 meaningOctober 28, 2023
Jude praises God, for it is God who can keep us from falling away from His fellowship, so that we can stand before Him one day without blame and with deep happiness, rather than shame. It is God who has saved us, through His Son Jesus. He deserves all glory forever, He is sovereign over all things throughout all of time. This we believe is so.
Jude 1:17-23 meaningOctober 28, 2023
Bearing in mind that God will punish sin, Jude urges his readers to remember what the apostles teach. It is not unexpected that mocking, lustful men will come to cause divisions in the church. But believers can stand firm in the faith, pray under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and thus can maintain their fellowship with God. In doing so, believers can help other stumbling believers avoid losing their rewards and right themselves in their faith-walk with God.
Jude 1:14-16 meaningOctober 28, 2023
Jude quotes a prophecy from Enoch, detailing how God will judge the ungodly for their sinful deeds. Sins like grumbling, fault-finding, acting upon lust, arrogance, manipulating people to gain power over them—God will punish such behaviors.
Jude 1:8-13 meaningOctober 28, 2023
Just as the examples of sin and faithlessness previously described, the men who are corrupting Jude's readers will be judged by God. The false teachers will be punished for their deceptions, and to follow them will only lead to loss of reward and fellowship with God.
Jude 1:5-7 meaningOctober 27, 2023
Jude appeals to examples from the Old Testament as proof to what he is urging his readers to do. God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, but He did not allow the unbelieving Israelites to receive the reward of the Promise Land. Likewise, He has punished demons by chaining them in darkness. Further, He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their sinfulness. These are each examples that God judges sin and faithlessness.
Jude 1:3-4 meaningOctober 27, 2023
Jude felt this letter was necessary to write to encourage his readers to fight for the faith. There are certain unnamed false teachers who have come into their assembly who are using God's forgiveness as an excuse to sin and to reject Jesus as Lord.
Jude 1:1-2 meaningOctober 27, 2023
Jude, the servant and half-brother of Jesus, greets his readers, who are also believers in Jesus, loved by God the Father, called to live a life of faith. Jude extends a blessing of mercy, peace, and love to his audience.
Luke 23:8-12 meaningOctober 20, 2023
Herod Antipas judges Jesus: When Jesus first arrives in Herod Antipas's court, the tetrarch is greatly pleased because he has been wanting to see the miracle worker perform a sign. When Jesus remains completely silent, Herod's demeanor shifts to contempt and he leads his court in mocking Jesus, dressing him in a fine robe as a joke, and then returns Him to Pilate. This is the second phase of Jesus's Civil Trial. It is known as Jesus's Audience before Herod Antipas.
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