John Piper, in a sermon from Acts 7, The Story of a Stiff-Necked People: So in Acts 7:1 the high priest gives Stephen a chance to defend himself, “Is this so?” he asks. And Stephen does a very strange thing. He tells a story—a condensed version of the history of Israel. He starts with Abraham … More Stephen’s defense: a history lesson
Nehemiah 6 tells of a tough situation in Nehemiah’s life. He and the people were just about finished building the wall, but his enemies were out to get him. they intended to do Nehemiah harm(v 2) they were spreading false rumors, “invented in their own mind” v8 (that Nehemiah and the people were intending to … More God acts. God gets the glory.
John Piper: “A snake bites Paul, so they think he’s a criminal. He doesn’t fall dead, so they think he’s a god. Beware of human polls.” (Twitter, February 21, 2011) After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a … More John Piper: Beware of human polls.
Bob Deffinbaugh comments on the ending of the book of Acts: One final word about the supposedly “sudden and abrupt” ending of the Book of Acts. Many have noted the unusual ending of Acts. Some have explained this ending by suggesting that Luke intended to write yet another volume. I think that the ending of … More Deffinbaugh: Gospel-centered ending to Acts
In recent years, BASE Institute has been involved in painstaking research into Luke’s amazingly detailed account of Paul’s voyage and shipwreck off the coast of Malta, as recorded in Acts 27-28 In approximately 60 A.D., a ship carrying 276 men and a cargo of grain shipwrecked off the coast of Malta. Two of the passengers on … More The Lost Shipwreck of Paul
Bob Deffinbaugh (Bible.org) comments on Paul and the shipwreck of Acts 27: Two full weeks had passed, and the storm showed no sign of weakening. No one had seen the sun, the moon, or the stars for many days (verse 20). Since ancient sailors navigated by the heavens, this meant they had no idea where … More Deffinbaugh: The stage is set for our omnipotent God to intervene.
Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Since … More Spurgeon: Paul had a secret Friend who kept his courage up.
Bob Deffinbaugh comments on Paul’s testimony before Agrippa: Paul did not describe his conversion as some kind of evolution, but rather as a radical transformation, a change from darkness to light, from death to life, a change from persecuting Christianity to practicing and promoting it. He was actively opposing the church when Jesus stopped him dead … More Paul describes his conversion to Agrippa: darkness to light, death to life
In our Bible reading passage for today, we come to Paul’s testimony before Agrippa in Acts 26. In a message, “Christ’s Purpose in Evangelism,” Dr. John Piper said: When Jesus looked into the future and predicted what would happen to his disciples, he said something very sobering, but also very encouraging. He said (in Luke 21:12–13), … More John Piper: Imprisonment will interrupt your evangelistic strategy, but it will not interrupt God’s evangelistic strategy.
Bob Deffinbaugh from Bible.org At the time of Paul’s conversion, God revealed that he would bear testimony of the gospel “before the Gentiles and kings” (Romans 9:15). Paul has already stood before Claudius Lysias, and Felix, and now Festus, and in the next chapter of Acts (26) he will stand before “king” Agrippa and Bernice. … More Acts 25: Promises, plans and the proclamation of the Gospel
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 