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The book of Acts is the Holy Spirit’s record of the establishment and growth of the church. Penned by Luke as an inspired “sequel” to the gospel record that bears his name, Acts illustrates how the apostles fulfilled Jesus’ instruction to spread the gospel message throughout the ancient world; “…ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The people, places, doctrines and…

The one passage of scripture nearly every sinner knows is found in Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” In the mind of every rebellious, self-willed individual, these words from Jesus should protect them from any censure or correction by those who seek their repentance – “Don’t you judge me! It’s a sin to judge!” John 7:24, however, puts our Lord’s instruction into its proper setting, however, noting that His disciples are to “judge” (select, choose, evaluate)…

Our Lord’s interview with Nicodemus in John 3 is truly a “highlight” of scripture because it is where Jesus first broaches the concept of “salvation by conversion.” Nicodemus was a “ruler” (ar-kon, a chief or prince – one of the Sanhedrin, John 7:50, the council who governed Judah under the high priest’s leadership) and a “teacher” (John 3:10) among the Pharisees (note Acts 23:8). For him, his physical birth was synonymous with his spiritual birth and identity. In his thinking,…

Unlike the synoptic (“same view”) gospel records of Matthew, Mark and Luke, John’s record of Jesus’ life focuses mainly on His ministry; there is no mention of His birth or infancy, and both Jesus and John the baptizer are presented as adults. John’s inspired account of the gospel is generally considered to have been written many years after Matthew, Mark and Luke, and is thought by many bible scholars to have been intended mainly for those who were already Christians.…