These two chapters are the prophecy concerning the destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. God gave this message to Isaiah about two hundred years before the events actually happened. It’s interesting to note that the Medes, who were the main instrument that God used to accomplish Babylon’s destruction, were not a great power…
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We started the reading today where we left off the last time we were in Acts. Stephen had been stoned to death because of his plain truth speaking to the religious leaders. Present at that stoning was Saul, and we’re told that he approved of Stephen’s punishment. Isn’t amazing how Jesus can change a person…
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There are several prophecies about the Messiah in the book of Isaiah, and chapter 11, verses 1 through 5 is one example of that. Verse one says, “The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will…
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Remember that I told you a few episodes back that we should be bold and strong, and that we should follow the leading of the Holy Spirit when He tells us to speak up? Well, that’s what Stephen did, and he became the first Christian martyr. He spoke the truth. In answering the religious leaders,…
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Ok, I’m all for modern English translations as long as the new translation makes the text easy to understand. But in the beginning of chapter 8 we have, what is to me, an excellent example of why we need to keep the older translations around. At the beginning of chapter 8, God tells Isaiah to…
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In chapter five, after the apostles had been locked up for preaching about Jesus, and after the angel of the Lord had released them during the night and had told them, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life”, they went right back to the temple to…
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Chapter six begins with the words, “In the year of King Uzziah’s death…” It’s interesting how our memories work. Momentous events cement themselves into our consciousness in such a way that we never forget them. I’m old enough to remember where I was and how I learned of the assassination of President Kennedy. If you’re…
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Oh my goodness. So much I could say about what we read today. Where to begin? In chapter 4, after Peter and John were arrested for talking about Jesus after the lame beggar was healed, and they were standing before the religious leaders, they were asked, “By what power, or in what name, have you…
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In these chapters we read of the calamity that will come, and then in chapter five God is likened to a farmer who plants a vineyard. He prepares the soil and does everything possible to provide the very best conditions, and plants the very best vine available. But instead of good grapes, he gets worthless…
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The book of Acts is about the dawning days of the Christian church. How it began. It’s about the empowerment of the seemingly defeated followers of Jesus after His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus knew that his disciples would need encouragement and courage and ability from God to be able to take the message of the…
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