Words Of Life

Paul and Silas had been beaten with rods and thrown into prison. At midnight, they started singing. In Acts 16, Paul’s second missionary journey takes a major turn. Timothy joins the team, the Holy Spirit directs them toward Macedonia, Lydia hears the gospel in Philippi, and Paul and Silas eventually find themselves behind bars. Then the prison shakes. The doors open. The chains come loose. And a...

Paul was driven from city to city, mistaken for a god, stoned, dragged outside Lystra, and left for dead. Then he got up and went back. In Acts 14–15, Adam and Kevin follow Paul and Barnabas through the end of their first missionary journey and into one of the most important doctrinal debates in the early church. Do Gentile Christians need to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be saved? P...

Acts 12–13 takes us from Peter’s miraculous prison escape to the beginning of Paul and Barnabas’ missionary work. Peter is heavily guarded and facing execution when an angel leads him out of prison. Meanwhile, the church is gathered together in fervent prayer for him. Herod’s story comes to an abrupt end, but the Word of God continues to increase and multiply. Then in Acts 13, the Holy Spirit sets...

Acts 10–11 marks a huge turning point in the story of the early church. Cornelius receives a message from God. Peter receives a vision that challenges the way he has understood clean and unclean. Then God brings the two men together and makes one thing unmistakably clear: the gospel is for the Gentiles too. Adam and Kevin discuss Peter’s changing understanding, the conversion of Cornelius, the rol...

Acts 8–9 takes us from the spreading gospel in Samaria to one of the most dramatic conversions in Scripture. Adam and Kevin discuss Philip, Simon the magician, the Ethiopian eunuch and baptism, Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Ananias, Barnabas, and the story of Tabitha. Along the way, we ask some important questions: What does Acts teach us about baptism? Why did Simon struggl...

Paul has survived the storm, the shipwreck, and now even a viper bite. At last, he reaches Rome, but he arrives as a prisoner chained to a Roman soldier. Those chains do not silence him. From his rented home, Paul welcomes everyone who comes to him. He teaches about Jesus, proclaims the kingdom of God, and speaks with complete boldness. Luke ends the Book of Acts with a declaration that perfectly...

Stephen entered the council chamber as the accused, but before his sermon ended, the Sanhedrin found itself on trial. In Acts 7, Stephen walks through the history of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, the Law, and the Temple. His message reveals a painful pattern: God repeatedly sent deliverers and prophets, but the people repeatedly rejected them. That pattern reached its peak when they betrayed and murdere...

Paul is sailing toward Rome when a violent storm overtakes the ship. The crew loses its cargo, its direction, and eventually all hope of survival. But Paul has received a promise from God. Although the ship will be destroyed, every one of the 276 people aboard will make it safely to shore. In Acts 27, the prisoner becomes the leader, fear gives way to courage, and God proves faithful in the middle...

Paul stands before King Agrippa and shares the story of how Jesus transformed him from a persecutor of Christians into a preacher of the gospel. In Acts 26, Paul explains his conversion on the road to Damascus, his mission to Jews and Gentiles, and his unwavering belief in the resurrection. Festus calls him crazy, but Paul responds with clarity, courage, and truth. Paul then turns the conversation...

Paul stands before Governor Festus as his accusers bring serious charges they cannot prove. When Festus suggests returning the trial to Jerusalem, Paul exercises his right as a Roman citizen and appeals directly to Caesar. Later, Festus explains the case to King Agrippa. Beneath all the accusations and political maneuvering is one central issue: Paul continues to proclaim that Jesus, though crucif...

Paul is brought before Governor Felix, where the religious leaders accuse him of stirring up riots and profaning the temple. Paul calmly answers their charges and explains that he is truly on trial because of his hope in the resurrection. Later, Paul speaks directly to Felix about faith in Jesus Christ, righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. Felix becomes alarmed, but rather than re...

Paul is struck, threatened, nearly torn apart by an angry council, and targeted by more than forty men who vow to kill him. Yet in the middle of the danger, Jesus stands beside Paul and tells him, “Take courage.” In Acts 23, Paul’s declaration about the resurrection divides the Sanhedrin. Later, his nephew discovers an assassination plot and reports it to the Roman commander. Paul is then moved to...

Paul stands before an angry crowd and tells the story of how Jesus changed his life. The people listen as Paul explains his past, his encounter with Jesus, and his baptism. But everything changes when he says that Jesus sent him to the Gentiles. One word sends the crowd into a rage. Then, as the Romans prepare to flog Paul, he reveals something they did not expect. He is a Roman citizen by birth....

Paul is warned that imprisonment awaits him in Jerusalem, but he refuses to turn back. In Acts 21, Agabus gives a vivid prophecy about Paul’s arrest. Paul’s friends plead with him not to continue, but Paul is ready to suffer, and even die, for the name of Jesus. After arriving in Jerusalem, Paul meets with James and the elders. He agrees to take part in a purification ceremony, but false accusatio...

A lie ends in judgment. Prison doors open in the night. The apostles are beaten, threatened, and sent right back out to preach. In this episode, Adam and Kevin slow down and explore Acts chapters 5 and 6. They discuss Ananias and Sapphira, the purpose of signs and wonders, the apostles’ angelic jailbreak, Gamaliel’s surprising advice, and Peter’s bold statement: “We must obey God rather than men.”...

In Acts 20, Paul continues strengthening the churches, Eutychus survives a deadly fall, and Paul shares an emotional final message with the Ephesian elders. Paul reflects on his ministry, warns the elders about dangers that will threaten the church, and urges them to care faithfully for God’s people. His words offer a powerful picture of humble leadership, sacrificial service, and finishing the wo...

Paul arrives in Ephesus and finds a city filled with spiritual confusion, magic, idols, and false religion. After teaching about Jesus, Paul baptizes a group of disciples who had only known the baptism of John. He then spends more than two years teaching daily, allowing the word of the Lord to spread throughout the region. When the seven sons of Sceva attempt to use the name of Jesus like a magica...

Paul arrives in Corinth and begins one of the longest stays of his missionary journeys. He meets Aquila and Priscilla, works beside them as a tentmaker, and continues teaching that Jesus is the Christ. When opposition rises, the Lord tells Paul not to be afraid or remain silent. God is with him, and there are still many people in the city who need to hear the message. Later, Priscilla and Aquila m...

In Acts 17, Paul and Silas preach in Thessalonica, the Bereans examine the Scriptures each day, and Paul speaks about the “unknown god” at the Areopagus in Athens. Some people believe. Others fight against the message. Still others want to hear more. Through every response, Paul continues to proclaim Jesus and the resurrection. Join us for Day 41 of the 52 Day Challenge: Luke/Acts as we read Acts...

Paul and Silas obey God’s call into Macedonia, but their obedience leads them into conflict, suffering, and prison. Yet at midnight, while their feet are locked in the stocks, they pray and sing hymns to God. Then an earthquake opens the prison doors, and a terrified jailer asks, “What must I do to be saved?” In Acts 16, God redirects plans, opens Lydia’s heart, breaks spiritual chains, shakes a p...

Today we read Acts 15, where the early church gathers in Jerusalem to answer a major question: must Gentile believers be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved? The answer points straight to the heart of the gospel. Salvation is through the grace of the Lord Jesus. Acts 15 also shows us that even strong servants of God can disagree. Paul and Barnabas part ways over John Mark, but the mi...

Today in Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas continue their missionary journey. They preach in Iconium, flee from danger, heal a man in Lystra, get mistaken for gods, and then Paul is stoned and left for dead. But instead of quitting, they continue the work and return to encourage the churches. Acts 14 reminds us that faithfulness is not always safe, easy, or popular. But the gospel keeps moving.

In this episode, Adam and Kevin slow down in the book of Acts and spend time in Acts 3 and Acts 4. Peter and John go up to the temple and meet a man who had been lame from birth. He asks for money, but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, he is healed. The miracle creates a public moment that no one can deny. But it also brings pressure. The religious leaders arrest Peter and John and command...

Today we read Acts 13, where the Holy Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul out from Antioch and the mission of the gospel begins to expand in a major way. In this chapter, Paul preaches in Pisidian Antioch and shows how the story of Israel points to Jesus. He proclaims forgiveness through Christ, warns against rejecting the message, and then turns toward the Gentiles when opposition rises. Acts 13 remin...

In Acts 12, the church faces serious persecution. James is killed, Peter is thrown into prison, and Herod looks like he is in control. But the church prays, God sends an angel, and Peter is delivered in a way nobody expected. Even the praying church struggles to believe their prayer has been answered. Then Herod receives the judgment of God after accepting praise that belongs only to the Lord. Act...