Commuter Bible NT

Our reading today begins with an event that is not described in detail, but which must have been another disheartening blow to the early church. Having recently endured the Sanhedrin’s execution of Stephen, they now find themselves at odds with Herod who has executed James the brother of John. James was not only one of the twelve, but one of three disciples who witnessed the transfiguration of Chr...

In our last episode, Peter received a vision from the Lord in which he was instructed to partake in food that was considered unclean by God’s law. He received this vision three times, thus meaning it was sure, holy, and trustworthy. When he came out of the vision, he was instructed by the Spirit to accompany men from Caesarea. In today’s text, Peter recounts this vision to men from the circumcisio...

Up until this chapter, the gospel has been preached mainly to the nation of Israel. You may recall, also, that Jesus Himself had taught and healed among God’s people, making an exception for the woman who, in response to Christ’s prioritization of Israel, said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. Today, Peter sees a vision in which the Lord simultaneou...

At the stoning of Stephen and at the beginning of chapter 8, we were introduced to a man named Saul and today we’ll return to his storyline in the book of Acts. In short, Saul is a religious terrorist who gets permission from his elders to capture people who profess Christ and throw them into jail. Jesus, however, as other plans for Saul. Stopping Saul in his tracks, Christ blinds Saul and introdu...

As Stephen was being stoned to death, a young man named Saul stood watch over the garments of those who killed him. A great persecution against the early church began that day and Saul was at the heart of it. We learn about the work of the Spirit through Philip in two parts, first in Samaria, and later in the conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch. After Philip baptizes this man, it seems that Holy Spi...

A deacon by the name of Stephen has been accused of blasphemy and now stands before the court of the Sanhedrin. False witnesses claimed that he had spoken against the law of God. Today, Stephen turns the tables on his accusers and puts them on trial for refusing to acknowledge Christ. Reciting a brief overview of Israel’s history, he plainly shows them that it is Israel who is guilty of rebelling...

Today’s episode is going to be incredibly short and tomorrow’s episode is going to be rather long. Chapter 6 is really just a preface leading into chapter 7, in which Stephen speaks to the Sanhedrin concerning the history of Israel and their resistance against God. Instead of breaking up that speech in smaller pieces, I thought it would be best to keep that sermon in one piece. Having said all tha...

The early church was unique and attractive for a number of reasons, not least of which were the signs and wonders performed by the apostles as they preached the gospel with power and authority. Another unique characteristic of the early church was having all things in common, as they freely used what possessions they had in order to support one another as any had need. This generosity and the afor...

Peter and John have just preached the gospel in Solomon’s Colonnade after healing a man who was lame from birth. The priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) were annoyed with their preaching, so they seized Peter and John and jailed them overnight. In today’s episode they will stand before the Sanhedrin, a counsel of Jewish religious leaders...

Luke reported in his gospel that the disciples were commissioned by Jesus to preach the coming kingdom, cast out demons, and heal diseases while Jesus was still alive, but today’s reading contains the first detailed eye-witness account of the apostles doing so and the first instance reported after Christ’s ascension. Their fellow Israelites are amazed, and Peter uses the opportunity to preach the...

The disciples of Jesus have been praying in the wake of their Lord’s ascension and departure, waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. In a magnificent display, the Holy Spirit arrives and the disciples begin to clearly speak different languages. Native-born peoples from various lands hear their own tongues being spoken by these Galileans and are simultaneously amazed and confused. Peter stands to ad...

The book of Acts is an account of the beginnings of God’s church written down by Luke; yes, the same Luke who wrote the gospel of Luke. In the first chapter, Jesus promises his disciples that they will be baptized in the Holy Spirit and then he ascends into the heavens where he can no longer be seen. The apostles and other disciples including the women who had followed Jesus spend the following da...

Among the many things that Luke illustrates in his record of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, is that all of it was in fulfillment of Scripture, including a number of references to Psalm 22. That psalm begins with “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” and when Jesus says this, he is knowingly quoting the psalm, pointing us to it as he endures the torture of the cross. Men mock him, s...

Among the many things that Luke illustrates in his record of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, is that all of it was in fulfillment of Scripture, including a number of references to Psalm 22. That psalm begins with “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” and when Jesus says this, he is knowingly quoting the psalm, pointing us to it as he endures the torture of the cross. Men mock him, s...

In our last episode, Judas Iscariot agreed to betray his teacher so that he might be handed over to the chief priests and scribes who were afraid of the people. When we last left Jesus and the apostles, they were celebrating the Passover, and it’s a historically significant celebration, for Jesus has come to be the greater fulfillment of the Passover. He is the perfect lamb who is slaughtered so t...

In his final days of teaching, Jesus takes time to teach his disciples the signs that point to the end of the age. Natural disasters will grow in frequency and the church will face persecution and prosecution. Jesus tells his followers that this will be an occasion to bear witness. The powers of the heavens will be shaken and the Son of Man will come in a cloud with power and great glory. He tells...

Jesus is now in Jerusalem, having been welcomed with honor and cries of Hosanna, befitting for the entry of a king. This welcome has not gone unnoticed by the chief priests scribes, and elders who live and work in Jerusalem and in the Scriptures. They are jealous of the attention Jesus gets and doubt that he is the Messiah. In their interactions, Jesus doesn’t cut them any slack, but instead, puts...

Looking back from our position in history, we have the advantage of considering the kingdom of God through all of the teachings of Jesus and through the lens of Scripture as a whole. During his time of ministry on earth, however, things weren’t so clear for His original audience. When the crowds thought about the Son of David, they assumed that he would be a king in the traditional sense. The Jews...

In the parable of the unjust judge, Jesus teaches his disciples to be persistent in prayer, arguing that if an unjust judge will grant justice through one woman’s persistence, how much more so will a perfect and infallible judge grant justice to those who ask? He also tells a parable to those who thought they were righteous, concluding the story with what would have been seen as a twist: the sinne...

In the first half of this chapter, the teachings of Jesus in this chapter are numerous and short. Luke transitions from one teaching to another, sometimes without any indication as such. Jesus warns against causing children to stumble, then tells his disciples to be on guard when it comes to the sins of a brother in Christ. Next he teaches about faith, swiftly transitioning to a comparison about w...

The first parable in today’s reading is quite different from the majority of parables that Christ tells, because in it, Jesus points to a sinful man to highlight that which is good, which is confusing on the face of it, but let me explain. In the parable of the dishonest manager, Christ’s goal is to show his disciples how to think about wealth and earthly possessions: namely, that we are to use th...

Today’s reading is one of the shorter chapters in Luke’s gospel, but it contains some Christ’s most well-known parables. When the Pharisees and scribes complain about Jesus welcoming sinners, he tells the parable of the lost sheep, emphasizing the joy in heaven that follows repentance. Similarly, a woman who loses one valuable coin among ten will look for the coin diligently until she finds it. Fi...

Among today’s teachings, Jesus says that one shouldn’t prioritize those who can pay you back. Rather, do good to those in need who cannot pay you back. He goes on to tell a parable about one who gives a banquet and invites others to join him. Those who are on the guest list give excuses for why they are unable to attend, but in the end, they are all distracted by things they deem more necessary or...

Jesus continues healing and teaching, focusing on fruitful labor for the Lord and the nature of the Sabbath. When Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath, the leader of the local synagogue scolds the crowd, but in the end his adversaries are humiliated by the teaching of Jesus. He tells His disciples to enter by the narrow way, because the door to God’s household will soon be shut and those outside wil...

In our last episode, Jesus encouraged his disciples to forget about storing up treasures in this life, but to store up treasures in heaven instead. With this in mind, he also teaches them to stop worrying about the future, for the future is in God’s hands. He is able to provide for all of creation, and if he is able to do that, he is also able to give the kingdom to his people. Later, he encourage...