Romans Introduction Paul’s “epistle” to the members of the church in Rome is the first of his fourteen epistles in the King James Bible. His epistles are ordered according to length, from the longest to the shortest (with the exception of Hebrews, which is last...
read moreActs 16 Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Paul’s second missionary journey began about 15 to 20 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, lasted about three years, and is recounted in Acts 15:36, 40-41; Acts 16-17; and Acts 18:1-22: Verses 1-3 Paul chose...
read moreActs 6 Additional Leadership In Acts 6:1 we are introduced to a new challenge in the church: Grecian church members (former gentiles) murmured against the Hebrew church members (converts from Judaism) because widows were being “neglected in the daily ministration” of...
read moreMark 16:1; Matthew 27:52-53; 28:1-10; Luke 24:9-11; John 20:1-18 Death Is Conquered Have you ever received such magnificent news that you were reluctant to believe it? In Jerusalem, the cruel and dreadful events have passed and it is now early “Sunday” morning,...
read moreNOTE: Luke 22 and John 18 are mostly about the same events we studied two weeks ago in Matthew 26; Mark 14; and John 13. Thus, the following portions of Luke 22 and John 18 are being skipped this week: Luke 22:1-6 The betrayal is planned by Judas and the Jewish...
read moreMatthew 26:1-5, 14-20 Conspiracy Against the Lord (see also Mark 14:1-2, 10-17; Luke 22:1-18) First, we will continue with the events of “Tuesday,” three days before Jesus’s death. Read Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16, about the plot to destroy the Savior. Then read verses...
read moreLuke 19:1-11 Conversion of Zacchaeus, the Chief Publican This week’s chapters contain many movements and teachings of our Savior, and take us into the beginning of the last week of His life. His travels (from Luke 19:1 to John 12:43) take Him from Jericho to...
read moreLuke 12 Teachings As the time draws nearer for the Savior’s atoning sacrifice and death, the anticipation strikes Him sharply, as He expressed in Luke 12:50: “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” But He continued on:...
read moreMatthew 18:1-6, 10-14 “Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom?” (see also Mark 9:33-37, 42; Luke 9:46-48) Read Mark 9:33-34, which is the setting and prelude to this story. Then, in Matthew 18:1, the Lord’s disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of...
read moreMatthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6-7 “He Is Risen” Perhaps the greatest news of all time was expressed in three short words: “He is risen” (Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6). These words were spoken by angels, and there was also an invitation added: “Come, see the place where the Lord...
read moreActs 22 Paul Before an Angry Mob In Acts 21:27-40, the Apostle Paul was taken from the temple by the Jews, beaten, rescued by Roman officials, arrested, and then allowed to speak to the multitude of people who were clamoring for his death: Read Paul’s opening...
read moreActs 10 Taking the Gospel to the Gentiles Throughout Acts 10-15, look for the many gifts of the Spirit that were bestowed upon the leaders and other members of the Lord’s church, including His compensatory blessings upon them, as they suffered opposition. It has been...
read moreThe Book of Acts An Introduction The full name of this book is “The Acts of the Apostles,” and it is notable that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has suggested his own title: “The Acts of the Resurrected Christ Working through the Holy Spirit in the Lives and Ministries of...
read moreMatthew 27:3-10 Judas’s Death After Jesus’s third trial appearance, Judas took his own life. After seeing that Jesus was condemned to die, Judas “repented himself” and tried to return the thirty pieces of ransom coin, but they rejected him (Matthew 27:3-4). Read...
read moreJohn 14 The Two Comforters Note: Jesus gave the teachings in this chapter while He and the apostles were still in the Upper Room, after the departure of Judas and before they left for Gethsemane. On this night of terrors the Savior speaks comfort to His disciples:...
read moreMark 12:28-34 The Two Great Commandments (see also Matthew 22:34-40) It is still “Tuesday” of the last week of Jesus’s life, three days before the Passover and His death. A scribe (or a Pharisee, according to Matthew 22:35) approaches Jesus and asks, “Which is the...
read moreLuke 18:1-14 Prayer Jesus teaches a short parable about prayer. Read verses 2-5 and identify a principle or lesson you learn. Then read verses 1, 5-8 to see what Matthew, and then Jesus, said about this parable. Let us persevere in prayer. Read Jesus’s next prayer...
read moreJohn 7:1-53 “This Is the Very Christ” In addition to all else the Savior had to bear throughout His mortal life, He also suffered through the lack of support from his half-brothers, whose mocking is recorded in verses 2-5. In verses 1, 6-10 we see that Jesus delayed...
read moreMark 7:1-23 Conflict about Cleanliness (see also Matthew 15:1-20) Mark 7:1-5 highlights religious nit-picking about things that matter less. Read Jesus’s succinct answer to the Pharisees and scribes in verses 6-7. What did Jesus then teach to “all the people” in...
read moreMark 6:14-29 The Death of John the Baptist (see also Matthew 14:1-12) Note: The events in Mark 6:1-13 were covered three weeks ago, using or referencing the versions in Matthew 9:35-38; Matthew 10:1-42; Matthew 13:54-58; and Luke 9:1-6. Thus, we begin with the account...
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