A Coptic Orthodox Journey through the Bible

A Coptic Orthodox Journey through the Bible

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A Coptic Orthodox Journey through the Bible episodes

  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 23
    In the last chapter, we see St. Paul's first defense against the Jews. In this chapter, St. Paul defends himself a second time; but this time it is before the Sanhedrin. While the last few chapters of Acts covers approximately 4 years of St. Paul’s life, it feels like things are moving fast. However, this chapter is pretty straightforward. Paul meets the Jewish leaders, we learn of a plot to kill him, and the Roman commander sends St Paul away to the governor of the area for Paul’s protection.
    45 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 22

    in this chapter, we see St. Paul's defense to the Jewish accusations against him. Paul addressed the crowds in their own language and told them his story. He told them of coming from Tarsus to study with Gamaliel. He told them of being radicalized and going from synagogue to synagogue seeking to oppress and end the Christian movement. He told them what happened on the road to Damascus and about his baptism. He concluded by speaking of something that had happened during his first visit to Jerusalem after his baptism. At which point, the mob’s patience ended, and the Roman tribune had him brought into the barracks.

    47 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 21
    In the current chapter St. Paul journeys to Jerusalem which marks the end of his 3rd missionary trip. Before arriving in Jerusalem we see warnings about what will happen to him there and people trying to convince him to not go. We also see what happens to him after he arrives in Jerusalem.
    48 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 20

    In this chapter, St. Luke, the author of Acts, rejoins St. Paul. God glorified as a young man falls from the third story and was taken up dead, but God raised him up by St. Paul’s hand. Later in the chapter, St. Paul delivers a farewell address to the elders (priests/bishops) of the church, revealing the practical concept of shepherding.

    48 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 19
    The last chapter ended with the story of Apollos. He went to Ephesus to preach but only knew the baptism of John. We do not see Apollos backtrack after being instructed more in the faith by Priscila and Aquila. This may be why in this chapter, we will see Paul meeting people who believed in the baptism of John, most likely they are disciples of Apollos. Also, in this chapter we see the work of God through St. Paul, such as doing unusual miracles (Acts 19.11). In this chapter we see evidence of the battle between the Lord Christ and the forces of darkness.
    48 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 18
    We have been spending time with St. Paul during his second missionary journey, most of which has been in Greece. In this chapter St. Paul completes his second missionary journey and begins his third missionary trip.St. Paul set forth from Athens, the stronghold of philosophy, to Corinth, the center of commerce; as though going from a scientific academy that focuses on philosophy and other academic pursuits to a crowded market that focuses on entertainment and corrupting people. He entrusted the care for the believers in Athens to other believers. His work in Corinth will eventually lead to an important well-established Church.
    37 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17
    In this chapter, St. Luke tells about St. Paul traveling to Athens, his interactions with people in Athens and his preaching at the Areopagus to the philosophers. We will notice that St. Paul is now entering areas that have fewer Jews and more and more pagan Gentiles, not even God-fearers. One highlight of this chapter is seeing how St. Paul finds ways to connect with the pagan philosophers to show them that they already believe in God.
    49 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16
    The last chapter ended with the beginning of St. Paul's second missionary journey, accompanied by Silas. Additionally, Barnabas and Paul separated with Mark going with Barnabas. They went on two separate journeys. The present chapter tells about a part of St. Paul’s journey. The most important events in this chapter include St. Paul's choice of Timothy; St. Paul and St. Silas being put in prison in Philippi, where the two saints, while suffering from painful wounds, enjoyed praising God, as though they were in heaven, and what happened afterwards. We also see the Gospel be carried to Europe and the first known baptism in Europe.


    54 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15

    By chapter 15, the Gospel has spread among the Jews and Gentiles, so there are Christians from Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds. Some started to say that the non-Jewish Christians should follow all the commandments of the Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament today. Commandments that the Jews followed at that time. The decision was made to send Barnabas and Paul from Antioch where the controversy was growing to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles. Also, we are down to 11 because James the son of Zebedee, John’s brother, was already martyred (Acts 12:1-2). Some estimate the interval between the previous visit by the apostles Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, and the one mentioned in this chapter, is about five years.

    51 min
  • Acts of the Apostles Chapter 14
    In Chapter 13 we saw during a liturgy that the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). Hands were laid upon them and they were sent away. This was the beginning of what we now call St. Paul’s First Missionary Journey. St. Mark accompanied them for a portion of the journey but left for reasons unknown to us early into the journey. The last chapter ends with what we will see is a common theme: the Jews who did not believe in Christ became upset with Paul’s preaching, got a mob upset with Paul & Barnabas and drove them out of that city. We also see that what we would call setbacks in our own ministry if they happened to us did not stop the two apostles from continuing their journey. Additionally, the last verse of the previous chapter gives us a hint of the power of Christ that is left behind in the city where they were expelled, “ And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52)The current chapter continues and concludes the first missionary trip of St. Paul. The rest of the Book of Acts, for the most part, is a series of journeys that St. Paul takes.
    42 min

About A Coptic Orthodox Journey through the Bible

From the publisher's feed

A verse-by-verse Bible Study from the Coptic Orthodox Christian perspective. Geared for those who want to understand the Bible from the perspective of one of the most ancient churches in the world.…