Category: Acts

July 8, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 27:1-12 starts with the Apostle Paul’s voyage to Rome, how the winds were contrary and made the journey last into the stormy season. Paul’s warning was ignored, so the ship sailed on.

Ezra 8 starts with a list of the heads of families who returned with Ezra. Ezra separated twelve priests to be temple servants and led in fasting and prayer for protection. The people came with gifts for the temple as they returned to Jerusalem.

Ezra 9. Ezra prayed about Intermarriage with pagans and called it a sin according to the Law.

Ezra 10. The returning exiles made confession of improper marriages, and their pagan wives were put away.

July 7, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 26. The Apostle Paul gave his testimony, recounted his early life, his conversion and  his life as a Christian. Festus  shouted “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad” but Agrippa said  “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

Ezra 5. The restoration of the Temple resumed.

Ezra 6 records the Decree of Darius and the Temple’s completion and dedication, after which the Passover was celebrated.

Ezra 7. Finally Ezra arrived in Jerusalem and the letter from Artaxerxes to Ezra is recorded .

July 6, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 25. The Apostle Paul stood trial before Festus, and Festus found that the charges were all religious, so he suggested sending Paul to Jerusalem, but Paul Appealed to Caesar. To finalize the charges Paul then went before King Agrippa and client Queen Bernice (Festus could find nothing chargeable according to Roman Law on his own).

Ezra 1 begins with the end of the Babylonian captivity and Cyrus decree to rebuild the Temple. The people prepared to return to Jerusalem.

Ezra 2 lists the captives who returned to Jerusalem.

Ezra 3. Worship was restored in Jerusalem and the restoration of the Temple began to great rejoicing, but also weeping.

Ezra 4. The resistance to building the Temple was great, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem was successfully opposed (for a while).

July 5, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 24. The Apostle Paul was on trial before Felix. He put up a vigorous defense, but at no avail. Felix adjourned the trial until Lysias would come back. Two years passed and Felix kept Paul in prison, hoping for a bribe so he could release him. None came and Felix was replaced by Justus, but Paul was still kept in prison past the time allowed, in order to keep the Jews pacified.

Proverbs 8 praises the excellence of Wisdom.

Psalm 49, of the Sons of Korah. This psalm is more of a teaching Psalm and give instruction on how to live and gives hope of salvation “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,For He shall receive me”

Psalm 50, of Asaph. God says: “for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.” and “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

July 4, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 23. The Apostle Paul gave his message in Jerusalem before the Sanhedrin, which led to the plot to kill Paul. Paul was then sent to Felix under heavy guard.

2 Chronicles 34. King Josiah tore down the altars to the idols, but not before he had their priests killed and burned. Then he took up offerings to restore the temple. Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law. Josiah then restored the temple and the temple worship and the people followed as long as Josiah lived.

2 Chronicles 35. Josiah celebrated Passover lavishly but after that he foolishly engaged king Neco of Egypt, who intended to fight somebody else. The result was that Josiah died in battle. One of the mourners was the Prophet Jeremiah who then wrote the book of Lamentations as a result.

2 Chronicles 36 tells a sad story, the reign and captivity of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin. Zedekiah was granted king by Nebuchadnezzar but rebelled. This led to the fall of Jerusalem and seventy years of captivity. 2 Chronicles ends with Cyrus’ Proclamation.

July 3, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 22. The Apostle Paul gave his salvation testimony to the Jerusalem crowd in the Aramaic language. When Paul mentioned the stoning of Stephen and that he preached to the Gentiles as well, the crowd wanted him killed right away. Paul claimed Roman citizenship, so the next day he was ordered to stand before the Sanhedrin.

2 Chronicles 31 tells of the Reforms of Hezekiah. “He did it with all his heart, and prospered.”

2 Chronicles 32. Sennacherib boasted against the LORD but was defeated and died. Hezekiah humbled himself, so the LORD sent an angel to deliver Judah. Hezekiah grew in wealth and honor, but he too finally died.

Chronicles 33. Manasseh, king of Judah became a sorcerer, repented and was restored but eventually died and was replaced by Amon , who reigned for two years, did evil, was killed and his son Josiah became king.

July 2, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 21. On the way to Jerusalem the Apostle Paul was warned everywhere by the Holy Spirit not to go, but Paul continued unmoved, and people finally gave up, saying ‘The Lord’s will be done’. Paul was urged to make peace and purify himself with four other Jews that had taken a vow, which he did. A mob was stirred up anyway and Paul was arrested in the Temple. Because Paul was a Roman citizen he was allowed to address the Jerusalem mob.

2 Chronicles 30. Hezekiah celebrated the Passover and there was great joy in Jerusalem.

Psalm 49, of the Sons of Korah. This psalm is a teaching Psalm and gives instruction on how to live and about our hope of salvation “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,For He shall receive me”

July 1, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 20:17-38. From Miletus the Apostle Paul called the Ephesian Elders and when they arrived he exhorted them, said farewell and told them he would never see them again.

2 Chronicles 27. Jotham, king of Judah followed God, became mighty, reigned sixteen years and died.

2 Chronicles 28. Ahaz, king of Judah did not follow God, was defeated by Syria and Israel. Israel returned the captives taken. After Ahaz committed apostasy, he shut down the temple and died.

2 Chronicles 29. Hezekiah became king of Judah, cleansed the Temple and restored temple worship.

June 30, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 20:1-16. The Apostle Paul left Ephesus and ministered in Greece for 3 months, left Greece and ministered at Troas, where he on the last day there preached on and on and a young man fell down from a third floor window and died, but was revived by Paul. Undaunted Paul continued preaching until daybreak, after which he left and went to Miletus.

2 Chronicles 24. Joash repaired the Temple but then committed his apostasy and was finally executed.

2 Chronicles 25. Amaziah reigned in Judah and went to war against Edom. Israel routed Judah and finally Amaziah was killed and buried.

Chronicles 26. Uzziah became the next king of Judah, young and successful and made Judah powerful again, but his pride got the best of him and he became a leper, an outcast. Jotham, his son became de facto regent until Uzziah’s death.

June 29, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 19:23-41. The tradesmen of Ephesus, who made souvenirs in the form of shrines and idols of silver considered the Apostle Paul and the many believers bad for business. After all, Ephesus was the idol worship center of Artemis (Diana). This led to the riot at Ephesus.

2 Chronicles 21. The reign of Jehoram in Judah.

2 Chronicles 22. The reigns of Ahaziah and Athaliah in Judah.

2 Chronicles 23. Joash was crowned king of Judah and Athaliah was slain.

Psalm 48, of the Sons of Korah. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.”