Category: Acts

June 28, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 19:1-22. The Apostle Paul took the land route to Ephesus, where he met believers that had not even heard of the Holy Spirit. For two years Paul did many miracles there and did defeat evil Spirits, all to glorify Christ.

2 Chronicles 18. The prophet Micaiah warned Ahab of Israel,but Ahab listened to false prophets instead. The result was that Ahab died in battle.

2 Chronicles 19. King Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem and instituted a number of reforms.

2 Chronicles 20. Because Jehoshaphat turned to God, Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir were defeated and there was peace until the end of Jehoshaphat’s reign, but he made an alliance with Israel to build trading ships, and they were destroyed.

June 27, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 18:9-28. The Apostle Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he stayed a year and a half, teaching many in the city, among them Priscilla and Acquila. The three of them went to Ephesus, where Paul left  Priscilla and Acquila and went to Antioch. Priscilla and Acquila met Apollos, a learned man preaching the baptism of John. “When Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.  And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:  For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

2 Chronicles 14 tells of Asa’s reign in Judah.

2 Chronicles 15. Asa threw out the idols and repaired the altar before the Temple. People from Israel joined, and thanks to following the LORD Judah had peace until the 35th year of Asa’s reign.

2 Chronicles 16. Asa’s made a treaty with Syria. That was a mistake. Hannai’s Message to Asa was that Asa had not relied on the LORD. Four years later Asa died.

2 Chronicles 17. Jehoshaphat reigned in Judah, they took the Book of the Law around the country and taught the people. The fear of the LORD fell on the surrounding countries, so Judah had peace for years.

Psalm 47, of the Sons of Korah. “Sing praises to God, sing praises“.

June 26, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 18:1-8. Paul left Athens and went to Corinth where he stayed a year and a half; teaching many in the city, and some believed. When the Jews opposed him Paul decided that he from then on would go to the Gentiles.

2 Chronicles 11. The LORD warned against going to war with Israel, so instead Rehoboam fortified the cities, the priests and Levites left Israel and moved to Judah. The family tree of Rehoboam is recorded.

2 Chronicles 12. Egypt Attacked Jerusalem and Judah paid the ransom. The reign of Rehoboam ended.

2 Chronicles 13 tells of Abijah’s reign in Judah.

Psalm 46. Of the Sons of Korah. “Let us sing the forty-sixth psalm in concert; and then let the devil do his worst.” (Martin Luther)

June 25, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 17:16-34. Paul was escorted to Athens. Waiting for Timothy and Silas to arrive Paul reasoned with the Greeks about Jesus and the resurrection. Being Greeks they thought the resurrection was the female counterpart to Jesus, so they took him to Areopagus (or Mars Hill), where Paul gave his famous “Athens discourse”. Read it and reflect.

2 Chronicles 9. The Queen of Sheba praised Solomon,” the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.” The chapter continues listing Solomon’s wealth and splendor, ending with a record of his death.

2 Chronicles 10. Israel rebelled against Rehoboam, and nothing good came out of that.

June 24, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 17:1-15. Paul and Silas arrived in Thessalonica, preached in the Synagogue, many people were converted, the Jews didn’t like it and a crowd attacked Jason’s home. But in Berea they were welcomed: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” The net result though was similar to what happened in Thessalonica, so Paul was escorted to Athens.

2 Chronicles 6 records Solomon’s speech when the work was completed and Solomon’s prayer of dedication.

2 Chronicles 7. Solomon dedicated the Temple, and God appeared to Solomon a second time, promising “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 8 lists more of Solomon’s achievements.

June 23, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 16:16-40. In Philippi Paul and Silas were put in prison, but while singing praises to God their chains fell off, the Philippian Jailer, rather than killing himself asked “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Since Paul and Silas were Roman citizens they were asked to leave secretly, but they went to Lydia’s house instead. After that they departed.

2 Chronicles 3. Solomon did build the temple to man’s standard, six hands to a cubit. He even used gold nails instead of iron nails in the ceiling, far more gold than was called for in the tabernacle.

2 Chronicles 4 contains a listing of the temple furnishings.

2 Chronicles 5. The ark was brought into the Temple, and the glory of the LORD filled the Temple.

June 22, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 16:1-15. Timothy joined Paul and Silas in Lystra and in Troas Paul received “the Macedonian Call”. Lydia, a new convert was baptized at Philippi.

2 Chronicles 1. Solomon asked for wisdom, he received it and more, God also gave him economic and military power.

2 Chronicles 2. Solomon Prepared to build the temple, took inventory of all things collected and tallied the number of constricted aliens to do the work.

Psalm 45, of the Sons of Korah, a Wedding Song. C.S. Lewis saw this psalm pointing to Christmas: “The birth of Christ is the arrival of the great warrior and the great king. Also of the Lover, the Bridegroom, whose beauty surpasses that of man. But not only the Bridegroom as the lover, the desired; the Bridegroom also who makes fruitful, the Father of children still to be begotten and born.” (C.S. Lewis, as cited in Willem VanGemeren)

June 21, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 15. There was much ado about circumcision, and the believers decided to settle the issue at the Council at Jerusalem, which led to the Jerusalem decree, (in short: Abstain from fornication and from blood). Barnabas and Paul argued about Mark, so they split up, and Paul took Silas and embarked on the second missionary journey.

Proverbs 7. Keep the Law, Seek wisdom and above all, stay away from harlots! They will use every trick to get you!

Psalm 44. Of the sons of Korah. It is a Psalm recounting the great victories God gave the Israelites when they followed God, and the humiliating defeats they suffered when they did not. Yet the psalmists were trusting God and claimed they had not forgotten the Lord and ended with an urgent plea for help.

June 20, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 14. The Apostle Paul went to Iconium, preached the Gospel and the Jews and some Gentiles threatened to stone him, so he fled to Lystra and they did. He and Barnabas then escaped to Derbe. From there they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Pisidian Antioch where Paul strengthened the converts, after which they went back to Attalia and sailed back to Antioch where they gave a report on their first missionary journey.

1 Chronicles 28. David instructed Solomon how to build the Temple, complete with promises and warnings for the future.

1 Chronicles 29 begins with a long list of offerings for building the temple, then is recorded David’s praise to God, after which Solomon was anointed King and finally recorded is the close of David’s reign.

June 19, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

Acts 13:13-52. From Cyprus, Barnabus and Paul went to the Pisidian Antioch. Paul preached Jesus powerfully, almost the whole city wanted to listen, the Jews got jealous and expelled them from the region. As a consequence Paul and Barnabas continued on their journey to Iconium.

1 Chronicles 26 lists the gatekeepers, the treasurers and other officials.

1 Chronicles 27 lists the military divisions, the leaders of the Israeli tribes and other officials.