Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 301 to 325 of 797 results

Acts 2:1-13

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... the notes on v. 38). It may still remain, however, for the believer to become “full of the Spirit” (see disc. on 6:3), for we often “resist” the Spirit (cf. 5:3, 9; 7:51; Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 4:8; 5:19; Heb. 10:29) and must learn instead to trust and obey him (cf. 5:32; John 7:39; Gal. 3:1–5, 14). All of them … began to speak in other tongues: For those to whom this gift is given—and it is not given to all, nor should all Christians expect to receive it (cf ...

302. Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

Acts 4:1-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... had been in this particular case of healing (see note on 2:38 for “the name”). In Jewish thought the Messiah was never essential to the kingdom, which could be spoken of as coming either with or without him. But the Christians had learned that their Messiah was indispensable. One preposition is used twice in this verse (Gk. en, translated variously “through” and “by” but most characteristically meaning “in”). It gives the sense that Christ is both the agent and, as it were, the location of ...

303. Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5:1-11

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... lightly (cf. Jude 11). Notice that, in the story of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron and his family were forbidden to mourn those whom God had punished. This may have some bearing on the passage before us. In the early days of the church, the lesson had to be learned that sin among the saints is no trifling matter. And this was a sin that Jesus had often condemned, for theirs was hypocrisy of the worst kind. They had sought by deception to gain a name for godliness and good works. Once such a spirit gains a toehold ...

304. The Apostles Persecuted

Acts 5:17-42

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... now went with his men; the apostles were again taken into custody and brought at last to the council, but without harassment, for the guards were afraid of the crowd. For their part, the apostles offered no resistance. The lesson of Matthew 5:38ff. had been learned (cf. Luke 22:50f.). That the people were quite capable of becoming violent and hurling stones at anyone who met with their displeasure is well attested, and the guards were wise to tread cautiously (cf. 21:27ff.; John 8:59; 10:31; see also disc ...

305. The Choosing of the Seven

Acts 6:1-7

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... going on for some time, and for this the Hellenists blamed the “Hebrews” (NIV Hebraic Jews). But who were these Hellenists and Hebrews? The terms are most commonly understood in a linguistic sense, the Hellenists as Greek-speaking Jews (who had little incentive to learn Aramaic and so, for the most part, did not) and the Hebrews who spoke Aramaic in addition to Greek. By this definition Paul was a Hebrew, and so he calls himself in Philippians 3:5 (cf. 2 Cor. 11:22). In more recent discussions, these ...

306. Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin

Acts 7:1-53

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... confined there, and as Stephen had maintained throughout, that was simply not so. Had not God been found in Mesopotamia, in Egypt, in the desert? The Alexandrian philosophers had been developing the doctrine of the divine nature, and from them, perhaps, Stephen had learned how absurd it was to suppose that the creator could be confined with walls. But this truth had already been revealed in Scripture. Solomon himself had recognized it in his dedicatory prayer (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chron. 6:18; cf. also 2 Chron ...

307. Philip and the Ethiopian

Acts 8:26-40

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... in the Jewish treatment of Isaiah 53, but always separately. It was only in the teaching of Jesus that these ideas were first brought together and Isaiah 53 interpreted of a suffering Messiah. From Jesus (cf. Luke 22:37; 24:25–27, 44–47) the disciples learned to use this passage as the key to finding his death and resurrection elsewhere in the Scriptures, and so Philip, starting from this passage, told him the good news about Jesus (v. 35; see disc. on 10:34 for the expression, he began to speak). 8 ...

308. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Acts 9:19b-31

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... the apostles, whereas for Paul in Galatians it was important to assert his independence of them. He is at pains, therefore, to point out that of the Twelve he met only with Peter. James, the Lord’s brother, was also present (see note on 12:17). From Galatians we learn that his visit was only a brief one, two weeks in all. 9:28–30 Having won the confidence of Peter and James, Paul spent much of these two weeks “going in and out with them” (so the Greek), which probably means that he had a number of ...

309. Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison

Acts 12:1-19a

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... Jews to bear a Greek or Roman name in addition to their Hebrew name (cf. 1:23; 4:36; 9:33; 13:1, 9), the similarity of sound appearing to have sometimes guided the choice, for example, Joses / Jason, Joshua / Justus. From Col. 4:10 we learn that Mark was a kinsman of Barnabas, and this relationship explains why he accompanied Barnabas and Paul on their return to Antioch in 12:25 and became their companion in their missionary work. For his somewhat checkered association with Paul, see disc. on 13:5, 13 ...

310. In Iconium

Acts 14:1-7

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... Paul and Barnabas in Iconium longer than they would otherwise have stayed. In verse 4, for the first time, Paul and Barnabas are called apostles, and only again in verse 14. 14:5–7 A critical point was reached in an already tense situation when it was learned that the Jews and their leaders were planning, in concert with the Gentiles, to resort to physical violence (v. 5). So far, it seems, nothing more than abuse had been thrown at the apostles, and only the Jews had been involved (but see notes on vv ...

311. In Lystra and Derbe

Acts 14:8-20

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... visit, and archaeological evidence shows that the cults of the two gods flourished side by side throughout this region until as late as the third century A.D. The apostles, of course, would have understood nothing of what the Lycaonians were saying and would have learned only later of the names they had given them. We can only guess at some of the locations in this story and must assume certain lapses of time. Perhaps, then, Paul and Barnabas had returned to their lodging when news reached them that the ...

312. In Corinth

Acts 18:1-17

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... and found both lodging and work with them, because he was a tentmaker as they were (v. 3; they might be better described as leatherworkers; R. Hock, The Social Context of Paul’s Ministry: Tent Making and Apostleship [Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980], p. 21). Rabbis were expected to learn and practice a trade, and Paul must have been glad of this in later life as he worked to support his ministry (cf. 20:34; 1 Cor. 4:12; 9:3–19; 2 Cor. 11:7ff.; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8). Perhaps the shop became ...

313. Paul in Ephesus

Acts 19:1-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... ) openly confessing their evil deeds. Luke has no doubt that their faith prior to this had been genuine (for the perfect tense of the participle those who believed, see disc. on 14:23). But they were still “infants in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1) learning to live their new life—profession was only slowly followed by practice (cf. Eph. 4:22–24; 5:11). 19:19–20 The final test of repentance is amendment, and one notable instance is now mentioned of the Ephesians’ determination to bring their practice ...

314. The Riot in Ephesus

Acts 19:23-41

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... Galatian, not a Macedonian. We are not told whether the mob met these two by chance and seized them as well-known Christians, or whether they deliberately searched for the missionary team and took these two when they could not find Paul. 19:30–31 When Paul learned what had happened, he wanted to face “the demos” himself (so the Greek), though they were less like a citizens’ assembly than like a wild mob (cf. 1 Cor. 15:32). But the disciples would not let him (v. 30), and some of the officials of the ...

315. The Plot to Kill Paul

Acts 23:12-22

Understanding Series

David J. Williams

... eyewitness touch). The phrase Paul, the prisoner, used here for the first time in Acts, is employed by Paul five times of himself in his epistles (Eph. 3:1; 4:1; Phil. 1:13; Philem. 1, 9). 23:20–21 Paul’s nephew repeated his story, and we now learn that the attempt on Paul’s life was planned for the next day. The prefect may have already received the council’s request that the prisoner be brought to them again, for the boy spoke of them as waiting even then for the prefect’s decision (v. 21). He ...

316. Accusations

2 Corinthians 1:12--2:4, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... he could not have known whether the Corinthians would be obedient in punishing the offender. As Paul explains in 7:12, he wrote to them so “that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.” Since that time, Paul has learned from Titus that the church has indeed complied. As an apostle, Paul has the authority and goal of making the Corinthians obedient (10:5–6). Indeed, the reason for which Paul received apostleship was to bring about obedience of faith among the nations (cf. Rom ...

317. Body / Ambassador

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... , however, their critique of Paul’s lack of a gloried face like that of Moses is more to the point (cf. Thrall, Second Corinthians, vol. 1, p. 405). 5:13 A similar contrast of terms is found in Acts 26:24–25: Festus believed that Paul’s great learning had driven him mad, whereas Paul claims to be speaking “words of truth and mental soundness” (v. 25). The word “mental soundness” (sōphrosyne) here is a derivative of the verb used in 2 Cor. 5:13 (sōphronein, to be in one’s right mind). On ...

318. Paul's Hardships

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... for the weak, Paul could not help but be deeply agitated when the weak were “scandalized” (2 Cor. 11:29). In Rom. 16:17 Paul warns his readers to take note of those who create dissensions and skandala in opposition to the teaching they had learned. Paul’s strong language is strikingly similar to Jesus’ stern warning against “scandalizing” one of the little ones (Mark 9:42 par.), and to other dominical sayings about skandala (Matt. 18:7 par. Luke 17:1; Matt. 13:41–42; 16:23). Cf. Scott Hafemann ...

319. Paul's Concern for the Corinthians

2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... the help of three accomplices in order to persuade a woman of high rank who had become a Jewish proselyte to give her purple and gold to the Jerusalem temple. When the four embezzled the gifts, which was their intention from the start, Emperor Tiberius learned of the deed and banished the whole Jewish community from Rome. 12:19 By repeating his assertion that “we speak in Christ in the presence of God” (2:17; 12:19), the apostle provides a key indication of the fundamental, structural unity of the ...

320. The Credibility of the Gospel Paul Proclaims

Galatians 1:11-24

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... the Galatians to know that the contact between himself and the Jerusalem church was at his instigation and that he did not go there to be taught. The impression given is of a visit between two statesmen of equal stature who meet primarily to learn from each other. Paul presents the beginning stage of his relationship with the Jerusalem church as respectful and limited (he saw none of the other apostles except James). He seeks to convince his Galatian readers that he was never under the authority of the ...

321. Freedom In Christ

Galatians 5:1-15, Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

... expresses a similar understanding of the goal of the Christian life: “One must live without city or home; one must have nothing of one’s own—no friends, no possessions, no livelihood, no business, no company; one must renounce human learning and prepare the heart to receive the impressions of divine instructions” (Basil, Letter 2; quoted from Wiles and Santer, Documents in Early Christian Thought, p. 212). In distinction from Greco-Roman philosophical and Jewish approaches to the problem of desire ...

322. Life by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Understanding Series

L. Ann Jervis

323. Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... Col. 2:15). Ephesians continues these ideas by teaching that, because of Christ’s victory over these evil powers, he is exalted to God’s right hand “far above all rule and authority, powers and dominion” (1:20, 21). Furthermore, these powers are learning of God’s wisdom through the witness of the church (3:10). Ephesians teaches that believers are involved in a similar battle: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of ...

324. Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... . The apostle calls us to hold the two together.… There is no other route than this to a fully mature Christian unity” (p. 172). As with the apostle’s other exhortation, this one is directed toward the corporate life of the church as well. The individual must learn to live as a part of a greater whole—we, that is, the entire body, will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. The church is a living body, capable of manifesting such growth because of its relationship to Christ ...

325. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Colossians 1:1-14

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

... be the gospel that they have received. The gospel needs to bear fruit in order for it to be the gospel! 1:7 Another test is to consider the messenger. Although Paul did not bring the gospel to Colossae himself, he reminds his readers that they learned it from Epaphras, one of their own members whom Paul commends as a faithful minister of Christ (cf. 4:12). This brother, who also shared Paul’s imprisonment (Philem. 23), is singled out in 4:13 for his faithfulness and diligence on behalf of the Colossian ...

Showing results