Latest Commentaries

Matthew lists three groups of people who mock Jesus while He is on the cross. These groups are those passing by, the religious leaders, and the robbers who were crucified with Him. Matthew records some of the things they say as they mock Him. Some of these things are in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

“The Parable of the Children in the Marketplace” Jesus illustrates Judea’s rejection of both John the Baptizer as Elijah and Himself as the Messiah through a brief parable about children playing different kinds of music for people who refuse to respond appropriately.

Luke tells us the two reactions to Jesus’s message about John the Baptizer and Himself. The people and tax collectors responded positively and aligned themselves with God’s standards of justice. But the religious leaders rejected it and God’s purpose for their lives.

Jesus continues to affirm the role of John the Baptizer as the forerunner to the Messiah. In doing so, He is testifying to the crowds that He Himself is the Messiah.

After the disciples of John the Baptizer departed, Jesus seized the moment to speak to the surrounding crowds regarding John’s role and the expectations people held for him. Yet, as Jesus speaks, He unveils His own Messianic identity for those who have ears to hear.

John the Baptizer sends two of his disciples to Jesus asking whether He claims Himself to be the Messiah. Jesus’s answer is clear yet coded.

In Capernaum, Jesus heals the slave of a Roman centurion of great faith.

The inscription over Jesus’s head cited the official crime for which he was crucified. It read “King of the Jews.” On either side of Jesus were two robbers who were crucified with Him. This was in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

After they had crucified Jesus and were waiting for him to die, the Roman soldiers divide His garments among themselves by casting lots. This was in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

The Roman soldiers bring Jesus to Golgotha, which means “Place of a Skull,” where they will crucify Him. To help numb the pain of the nails, they offer Him wine mixed with gall to drink. Jesus refuses to drink it. The offered drink of wine mixed with gall was in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.

Jesus is stripped of the mocking robe and dressed again in His own clothes. He is led away to be crucified. After exiting the Praetorium, Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service to carry His cross.

Paul decides to visit the churches he and Barnabas planted in Cyprus and Galatia. Barnabas agrees, but wants to take John Mark with them again. Paul is completely opposed to this idea. John Mark abandoned them in the middle of the first mission trip. Because of this intense disagreement, Barnabas and John Mark go to Cyprus, and Paul sets out for Galatia. Paul travels by land, visiting churches in Syria and Cilicia along the way. Silas goes with him. This is Paul’s second missionary journey. 

The apostles and elders choose two men, Judas and Silas, to accompany Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with a letter written to Gentile believers. The letter summarizes the conclusion of the Council: “The men teaching you to become circumcised and follow the Law were not sent by us. You do not need to do that. We agree with Paul and Barnabas and have sent our own men who will confirm this. As long as you stay away from idolatry, things sacrificed to idols, and immoral sex, you will do well.”

James, the half-brother of Jesus and elder in the Jerusalem church, quotes the Old Testament to show that God had foretold that He would call Gentiles to Himself. And now the Jews are seeing this come true. Gentiles are believing in God and the Son of God. That being the case, there is no need to bother Gentiles with following Jewish Law. However, the least they should do is stay away from anything associated with pagan idolatry, and they should be sexually pure in order that they might not be estranged from fellowship with their Jewish brethren.

There is further debate with the Pharisees who want Gentiles to become circumcised and follow the Law in order to be saved. Peter gives his rebuttal. He preached to the Gentiles first. He saw the Holy Spirit fill them when they believed without them having to be circumcised or follow any religious rules. Peter poses the question, “Why would we add the Law to the Gentiles? They are saved just as we are, through faith in Jesus.”

False teachers from Judea arrive in Antioch. They claim that Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved. Paul and Barnabas dispute this claim. The church of Antioch sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders. On the journey, the pair visit churches in Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the believers about their missionary journey. In Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas give report on the Gentiles in Galatia who believed in Jesus. In response, some Pharisees demand that these Gentiles be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law.

The following morning, the chief magistrates send for Paul and Silas to be released. Paul refuses to leave the prison. He tells the magistrates’ messengers to inform them that he and Silas are Roman citizens, and that they were unlawfully beaten and jailed. If the magistrates want to release them, they have to come to the prison in person and bring them out. The magistrates are terrified at this news, and personally bring Paul and Silas out of the jail. They beg the preachers to leave Philippi. Paul complies, but first he goes to Lydia’s house and encourages the new church of Philippian believers.

Paul and Silas sing hymns and pray to God while in prison. God sends an earthquake that opens the cell doors and throws the chains off of the prisoners. The jailer rushes in, thinking his prisoners have escaped, and draws his sword to kill himself to avoid punishment. Paul tells him not to harm himself; all the prisoners are accounted for. The jailer asks Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved. He takes Paul and Silas into his house. They preach the gospel to the jailer and the members of his house. All believe, and are baptized. Paul and Silas’s wounds are cleaned, and they are given food. The jailer rejoices.

There is a slave-girl in Philippi who is demon-possessed. The owners of the girl make money off of her possession, because the demon in her speaks fortunes. She follows Paul and his team, shouting that they serve God and preach about how to be saved. The possessed slave does this for multiple days, until Paul, fed up, casts the demon out of her. The girl’s masters are outraged at the damage this will do to their income. They drag Paul and Silas to the chief magistrates of the city. These men accuse Paul and Silas of teaching the Roman populace to do things that are against Roman law. Egged on by the crowd, the magistrates have Paul and Silas stripped, beaten, and imprisoned.

Having received a vision telling him to go to Macedonia, Paul and his team sail across the Aegean Sea from Troas to Neapolis. They journey on foot to Philippi, an important city in that part of Macedonia. They go to a river where women are praying and worshipping God. Paul and the others preach the gospel to these women. One of the women, Lydia, a purple fabrics merchant, believes in the gospel, along with her household. She and her household are baptized. Lydia insists that Paul and the others stay in her house while in Philippi.