Commuter Bible

The book of Leviticus continues to give instruction on how to conduct different kinds of sacrifices. As you listen to these instructions, I encourage you to imagine what it would be like to experience these sacrifices. The warmth of a live animal and the feel of coarse hair under your hand as the animal is slaughtered for your sin, the smell of incense and roasting meat, the blood splattered tunics of the priest making atonement. It all communicates something deeper about the gravity of sin and the graciousness of God toward those who seek forgiveness.

The title "Leviticus" basically means, “pertaining to the Levites,” as this book dives deeper into the divine-human relationship codified on Mount Sinai. These are instructions on how an impure people can be made holy by obedience to a perfect God. We’ll look at four kinds of offering today. The burnt offering is given with prayer or praise to seek God’s face and favor. The grain offering is generally offered along with another offering. The peace offering emphasizes fellowship with the Lord by having a communion meal. Finally, the sin offering is given to atone for sin that has been committed.

This is our last episode in the book of Acts, and as the book concludes, we see Paul continue to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. He presents his position to kings and noblemen, respectfully arguing that his position is valid and worthy of consideration. We also see that his Jewish audience is willing to listen to him up until a certain point, and sadly, they turn on him as soon as he suggests that this good news is not just for Israelites, but for believing Gentiles as well.

This is Commuter Bible, the audio Bible podcast to match your weekly schedule; I’m your host, John Ross.

As Paul’s group says farewell to the Ephesians, a Judean prophet predicts that Paul will be taken into custody if he goes to Jerusalem, but Paul is determined to go. Though he and other fellow believers try to show the Jews that Paul is not a blasphemer, it seems to be of little use. A riot ensues and Paul is attacked. Officials step in to help, finding out later that Paul is a Roman citizen. When Paul is taken into custody by the state, a mob forms and secretly plots to kill him.

Paul continues to preach the good news of Jesus from city to city, and the Jews continue to be jealous of the attention he is getting by preaching Jesus. Riots ensue, often because Jewish leaders conspire to work up crowds against the apostles. Both Jews and Greeks come to faith in Christ, and new churches are planted. Finally, Paul says goodbye to the Ephesian church elders, knowing he will never see them again.

Today we’ll look at the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabus, as well as Paul’s second journey accompanied in part by Luke, the writer of the book of Acts. Men and women from different backgrounds, cultures, and occupations are hearing the message of Christ and turning to Him in faith. We’ll witness a convention of church leaders meeting together to discuss how to best direct their new Gentile brothers and sisters in the faith. And finally, the apostles continue to trust in the Lord through persecution, winning converts to Christ even while imprisoned.

In the chapters ahead of us we’ll see that the young Jewish leader named Saul has his heart set on persecuting all those who belong to the Way of Jesus, but the Lord interrupts him and creates drastic change in his heart and life. Peter receives a vision from the Lord, communicating to him that the Way of Jesus is not reserved only for Israelites, but is open to Gentiles as well.

It’s another action packed episode in the book of Acts. The apostles continue to preach, the crowds continue to turn to Jesus, and leaders of the Israelites continue to rage against Christ’s followers. The section ahead of us covers the first installation of deacons and the testimony of Stephen, the church’s first recorded martyr. But first, we see what happens when a couple conspires to lie to the congregation for personal gain.

The book of Acts is an account of the inception of God’s church written down by Luke. Yes, the same Luke who wrote the gospel of Luke. Here we see how the church began, how it spread throughout God’s people, and continued on to redeem those who were outside God’s covenant with Israel. The signs and wonders performed by the apostles proved to the world that although they were ordinary men, this was no ordinary teaching.

Have you ever talked to someone who’s really into their work, and they’re so excited about it that it seems they just can’t stop talking about it? Maybe you’ve done that with your own work, with a hobby you enjoy, or with player stats in your favorite league. To our ears it may seem like the book of Exodus is simply repeating itself, but in actuality it’s communicating the excitement, the gravity, and the importance of the tabernacle. God Himself gave instruction to build it, and God Himself would occupy it. By the end of today’s episode, work on the tabernacle reaches its conclusion and the Lord shows up in power.