After two years, we have concluded our study through the book of Acts, the second part of Luke’s two-volume account of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its impact in the world. Our goal throughout this sermon series has been to keep the spotlight where it needs to be: on our sovereign, faithful, and gracious […]
Luke concludes the book of Acts with Paul a prisoner in Rome, yet still “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:31). Though he was held captive by Rome, and many of his hearers were held captive by unbelief, he knew that God’s […]
One of the questions that comes to mind when reading the final section of Acts is: “Why does Luke take so much time to get Paul to Rome?” Yet while we may not know every reason why certain passages are included in Scripture, we can know many of them. Knowing that the Bible is all […]
In Acts 25-26, the story of Paul as witness on trial for the gospel comes to an epic conclusion before he reaches Rome. Everything has been building up to this moment where, in the providence of God, he gives the reason for his hope before the rulers of all Judea. Paul bears witness that King […]
When Paul stood before the high priest and the Jewish council, he said: “It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial” (Acts 23:6). Over and over, Paul makes this same assertion in his defense speeches in Acts. But why did he understand his all his […]
All of Scripture testifies to the fact that behind every circumstance—behind every action and even the smallest of our daily activities—our God is working to unite all things in Jesus Christ, all for the good of his people and the glory of his holy name. This is the doctrine of providence, a work of love […]
In the last major section of the book of Acts, from chapters 21-28, Luke devotes a significant amount of space to the imprisonment, court appearances, and defense speeches of the Apostle Paul. Why? Because Scripture is not only concerned with showing us Paul as missionary, church planter, and encourager of the saints, but also as […]
One of the greatest difficulties that the early church faced was the sharp division that existed between Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). When we read our Bibles, it’s often hard for us to grasp just how serious this separation was. We certainly know what division looks like and estrangement feels like, however; just consider the year […]
It’s safe to say that most of us are drawn to the more exciting and extraordinary parts of the Bible. If we’re honest, there are some parts of Scripture that seem rather ordinary, that don’t grab our attention. The final major section of Acts, from chapters 21-28, is often neglected for these reasons. But while […]
