Acts 2:42-47 (AD 30) “THEY [emphasis mine] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (v.42). Who is the “They”? A group of very mature Christians? The apostles? Nerdy types? Do-gooders? Unusually keen Christians with plenty of time on their hands? No. The “They” refers to … More Day 145: Christian Family Life
Acts 2:14-41 (spring AD 30) I can’t off-hand think of a bolder or more potentially self-destructive way to conclude an evangelistic sermon than by telling everyone that they killed God. But that’s what Peter did. He was in front of at least 3,000 people, possibly many thousands, preaching from the Old Testament to prove that … More Day 144: Evangelising Murderers
Acts 2:1-13; spring AD 30 God spoke in a “still, small voice” to Elijah (1 Kings 19:2), helping him to be assured that he wasn’t alone, that God was with him and intervening in events. On the Day of Pentecost, a millennium later and only days after Jesus returned to heaven, God made his presence … More Day 143: The Advocate Arrives
Acts 1:12-26 (spring, AD 30) “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem…they went upstairs to the room where they were [all] staying…They all joined constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (1:12-14) So much was going on for the disciples (now termed ‘apostles’ as Jesus was … More Day 142: Constantly in Prayer
Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11 (AD 30: during the 40 days after resurrection) After his resurrection, Jesus was on earth for forty days before he returned to heaven. He made a number of appearances, including the following, more or less in chronological order (we don’t know when all of them were): Mary Magdalene Peter … More Day 141: The things that Jesus began to do
John 21:1-25 (spring AD 30: during the 40 days after resurrection) Peter denied – three times – that he was a friend of Jesus. The third time he was asked, Peter got agitated and swore angrily. Jesus asked Peter – three times – whether Peter loved him. The third time he was asked, Peter got … More Day 140: Like a dog greeting its owner
John 20:29-31 (spring AD 30, a week after the resurrection) “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his … More Day 139: The reason for the Bible
John 20:24-29 (spring AD 30, Sunday – the final evening of Passion Week, and one week later) Thomas is a great example of the stubbornness of unbelief, even among those who claim to have faith. His ten fellow-disciples, none of whom thought Jesus was going to rise from the dead, said they had seen Jesus, … More Day 138: Stubborn Thomas
Day 137: John 20:19-23 (spring AD 30, Sunday – the final evening of Passion Week, and one week later) “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (verse 23) This verse has led to much confusion, being leveraged by those who seek an unbiblical … More Day 137: God’s forgiveness is granted by God
Luke 24:13-35 (spring AD 30, Sunday afternoon of Passion Week) Jesus was famous, and the events surrounding his killing were widely known. So much so that it was bewildering to Cleopas and his friend that their conversation could have been about anyone or anything else (v.17-18). “[Jesus] said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and … More Day 136: Jesus through the Old Testament
Paul T Reynolds 