Anthem Hayden

This week’s passage outlined Paul’s interactions with Felix, the corrupt Governor of Judea. Paul was not given his rightful freedom, but was instead imprisoned wrongfully for over two years because Felix needed to appease Paul’s Jewish accusers and because Felix wanted Paul to pay a bribe for his freedom. Despite Felix controlling whether Paul lived or died, Paul had the courage to not only share...

This week’s passage details the continued threats that Paul experienced from the Jews. Instead of facing a mob or the Sanhedrin, Paul is threatened by 40 men who have vowed to assassinate him. Thankfully the plot is found out and foiled by the Roman tribune. This week’s passage is a classic example of historical (or narrative) scripture. The point of which is to give a factual retelling of events,...

As the murderous mob cried for the extermination of Paul, the Roman soldiers quickly whisked him away. The order was then given to flog him. However, as the Roman soldiers bound and stretched him out, Paul claimed Roman citizenship. If he indeed held the coveted position of legal citizen, Paul had rights and privileges that would protect him from such violence and secure him a fair and legal trial...

In this week’s passage, Paul remains in the custody of the Romans. In an attempt to find out what the ruckus was all about, the tribune demanded that Paul stand before the Jewish Sanhedrin. Paul, unintimidated, declared to them that he had lived his life (“citizened”) before God in good conscience. As we covered last week, citizenship (both as a Roman and citizen of Heaven) seemed to remain on the...

As Paul’s third missionary trip drew to a close, he and his ministry partners visited believers in Tyre, Ptolemais, and Caesarea. At each stop, the Holy Spirit spoke and clearly warned Paul that affliction and persecution awaited him in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, Paul remained steadfast in his conviction that the Spirit was using these warnings to prepare him for persecution, not to spare him from i...

In this week’s text, Paul is tenderhearted and loving as he informs the Ephesian elders that they will never again see him in this lifetime. This passage gives us a unique picture of Paul’s heart for people he loves, as well as a beautiful picture of what Godly leadership can and should look like in the local church. While Paul’s address was specifically to elders, his words of exhortation and enc...

This week’s text tells the story of a young man named Eutychus, who attended a church service in Troas to listen to Paul preach. Unfortunately, this young man positioned himself on a window ledge. While he was technically in the service, he was also right on the edge, right between the light of the room and the darkness of the night outside. During the marathon service, Eutychus grew drowsy and ev...

From before Roman times, Ephesus was home to a local false goddess who became known as Artemis (known to the Romans as Diana). In this week’s passage a group of Ephesian craftsmen who fashioned idols of this false deity began a riot against the believers who were threatening their culture, religion, and livelihood. Soon a massive crowd formed as numerous other Ephesians joined in the tumult, even...

During Paul’s time in Ephesus, God poured out His Spirit in numerous exciting ways: people heard the Gospel, God performed extraordinary miracles, the sick were healed, those under spiritual oppression were liberated through the power of Christ, the fear of the Lord fell upon all, the name of Jesus was extolled, people confessed their sins and renounced their sinful behavior, and the Word of the L...

This week’s passage finds Paul returning to Ephesus at the beginning of his third missionary journey. Upon arrival, he encounters 12 men who claim to be disciples, but who have only heard the message of John the Baptist. Paul then shares the Gospel with them, and they gladly respond in faith to Jesus Christ. They are then baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Although there are clear differenc...

This week’s passage focuses on an Egyptian Jew named Apollos. He was highly educated, passionate, and articulate. He was the poster child for religion, and he boldly proclaimed his message in Ephesus. The only problem with Apollos was that he was lacking in one critical area: a complete understanding of the Gospel of Jesus. He was well-versed in the Old Testament and instructed in John the Baptist...

In this week's lesson there are several areas that we examined. We first looked at Priscilla and Aquila and what it means to use our everyday lives for the Kingdom. We also pondered what it means to trust God in the midst of uncertain trials, and finally the importance of Paul's passion for the church.

This week’s passage details Paul’s address to the Greek philosophers in Athens, Greece. Upon hearing the Gospel, the philosophers brought Paul to the Areopagus where he was asked to explain his message. Taking this wonderful opportunity, Paul confronted their idolatry and false beliefs as he shared with them the hope of the Gospel.

After being released from the Philippi prison, the travelersjourneyed to Thessalonica, where they were accused of "turning the world upside down" with the Gospel. From there Paul and Silas travelled to Berea and continued to preach. The Bereansdemonstrated more noble behavior by receiving the Gospel with eager and open hearts, and byverifying it through a thorough examination of the Word...

In this week’s passage, Paul and Silas inadvertently cause an uproar by casting out a demon. The Philippians responded by beating and imprisoning them. At about midnight, as they were praying and praising in their cell, a supernatural earthquake freed the prisoners, opened all the doors, and loosed their chains. Despite their chance at freedom, they stuck around to bring the Gospel to the jailer a...

God is at work expanding the church from Asia minor into Macedonia (modern day Greece). We see the Spirit direct Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke to know where to go, guide them in winsome evangelism, and give them words to speak. We also see the Spirit open the eyes of Lydia to truly see the beauty of the Gospel!

Jesus Christ conquered death... He is risen! As 1 Peter 2:24-25 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Resurrection Sunday celebrates our Lord’s victory over death and the grave. The resurrecti...

This week’s passage of scripture details the final portions of Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary trip. During this time the missionary team preached the gospel in numerous destinations with varying results. At various times they were welcomed, mistreated, run off, believed, stoned, and even worshiped. When we share the Good News of Jesus, we never know how others may respond. Nevertheless, we a...