Commuter Bible NT

At the stoning of Stephen and at the beginning of chapter 8, we were introduced to a man named Saul and today we’ll return to his storyline in the book of Acts. In short, Saul is a religious terrorist who gets permission from his elders to capture people who profess Christ and throw them into jail. Jesus, however, as other plans for Saul. Stopping Saul in his tracks, Christ blinds Saul and introduces himself, commanding Saul to visit Ananias in Damascus. His dramatic conversion and profession of Christ is so startling that everyone has trouble believing it be true, including the disciples in Jerusalem. Saul the persecutor becomes Paul the persecuted, preaching Christ to Jews and Gentiles alike.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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As Stephen was being stoned to death, a young man named Saul stood watch over the garments of those who killed him. A great persecution against the early church began that day and Saul was at the heart of it. We learn about the work of the Spirit through Philip in two parts, first in Samaria, and later in the conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch. After Philip baptizes this man, it seems that Holy Spirit teleports Philip to Azotus where he continues to preach the gospel. The accounts of Philip are broken up by an account of Peter and his interactions with a sorcerer named Simon.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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A deacon by the name of Stephen has been accused of blasphemy and now stands before the court of the Sanhedrin. False witnesses claimed that he had spoken against the law of God. Today, Stephen turns the tables on his accusers and puts them on trial for refusing to acknowledge Christ. Reciting a brief overview of Israel’s history, he plainly shows them that it is Israel who is guilty of rebelling against God and resisting the Holy Spirit. In a rage, they rush to kill him, and Stephen becomes the first known Christian martyr, and as Tertullian later said, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.”

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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Today’s episode is going to be incredibly short and tomorrow’s episode is going to be rather long. Chapter 6 is really just a preface leading into chapter 7, in which Stephen speaks to the Sanhedrin concerning the history of Israel and their resistance against God. Instead of breaking up that speech in smaller pieces, I thought it would be best to keep that sermon in one piece. Having said all that, today’s reading includes the introduction of deacons in the life of the church, whose role is to serve the church and to lead in doing so. Because of their faithful service, those who were called to teach are free to fulfill their role. Stephen is among those mentioned as being chosen as a deacon.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The early church was unique and attractive for a number of reasons, not least of which were the signs and wonders performed by the apostles as they preached the gospel with power and authority. Another unique characteristic of the early church was having all things in common, as they freely used what possessions they had in order to support one another as any had need. This generosity and the afore-mentioned signs and wonders meet when a couple tries to lie to the church about a donation they were making. When they do so, Peter says that they’ve not only lied to the local church, they’ve lied to the Holy Spirit. What happens next would’ve struck fear in the hearts of the church and the watching world.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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Peter and John have just preached the gospel in Solomon’s Colonnade after healing a man who was lame from birth. The priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) were annoyed with their preaching, so they seized Peter and John and jailed them overnight. In today’s episode they will stand before the Sanhedrin, a counsel of Jewish religious leaders who held court concerning religious matters. Seeing the healed man, the simply threaten them not to preach in the name Jesus. After they are let go, they only request to preach Christ with greater boldness.

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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Luke reported in his gospel that the disciples were commissioned by Jesus to preach the coming kingdom, cast out demons, and heal diseases while Jesus was still alive, but today’s reading contains the first detailed eye-witness account of the apostles doing so and the first instance reported after Christ’s ascension. Their fellow Israelites are amazed, and Peter uses the opportunity to preach the gospel, calling them to repent and trust in Christ. By the time they’re finished, they earn the ire of the priests, temple police, and Sadducees, who don’t want the name of Jesus to be proclaimed. The number of those converted included 5,000 men, which may represent only half of those converted.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The disciples of Jesus have been praying in the wake of their Lord’s ascension and departure, waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. In a magnificent display, the Holy Spirit arrives and the disciples begin to clearly speak different languages. Native-born peoples from various lands hear their own tongues being spoken by these Galileans and are simultaneously amazed and confused. Peter stands to address this crowd of Jews, quoting Scripture and explaining what happened to Christ, God’s Messiah. He calls them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and about 3,000 are added to the number of those following Christ.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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The book of Acts is an account of the beginnings of God’s church written down by Luke; yes, the same Luke who wrote the gospel of Luke. In the first chapter, Jesus promises his disciples that they will be baptized in the Holy Spirit and then he ascends into the heavens where he can no longer be seen. The apostles and other disciples including the women who had followed Jesus spend the following days in prayer. Since Judas Iscariot had betrayed Jesus and died, they elect a new 12th apostle to fill the vacancy. When they have two finalists to choose between, they pray, then cast lots, asking the Lord show them who should be chosen.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

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We have reached the final chapter of the book of Luke, and in our last episode Christ was crucified and buried. In an effort to prepare the body of Jesus for a proper burial, some of the women among Jesus’s disciples approach the tomb with spices in hand. Much to their surprise, they meet an angel who announces that he is no longer there. Jesus has risen from the dead just as He had prophesied way back in Galilee. Reappearing to his disciples at different times and in different places, Christ opens their eyes to the many things they had not previously understood, and the kingdom of heaven begins to spread in the hearts and minds of Christ’s disciples.

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible

facebook.com/commuterbible

instagram.com/commuter_bible

twitter.com/CommuterPod

patreon.com/commuterbible

[email protected]