Judges 6:25–40, we get a definite picture of the religious landscape in Gideon’s day, as well as Gideon’s own personal lack of zeal for the Lord; Acts 15:6–21, the apostolic counsel deals with an immensely important theological question, a question that came to a boiling point as the number of gentiles coming into the church went from a trickle to a flood.

Judges 6:1–24, Gideon, the Midianites, the angel of the Lord, and a clear explanation of why all this is happening; Acts 14:19–15:5, the first missionary, journey concludes, and controversy arises in the church, and the matter is brought to the apostles at Jerusalem.

Judges 4:1–24, the prophetess, Deborah, and her somewhat timid, military commander Barak; Acts 14:1–18, the first missionary journey continues, to Iconium, then, to Lystra, where a priest of Zeus attempts to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas!

Judges 3:7–31, Othniel, Ehud, and the root sin of idolatry; Acts 13:42–52, the synagogue splits, Paul and Barnabas are thrown out and begin ministering to the Gentiles, and later flee to Iconium.

Judges 2:6–23, a new book, a new phase in God’s dealings with his people, and the basic pattern, repeated over and over again in the book of Judges: apostasy, punishment, repentance, redemption, apostasy; Acts 13:13–41, Paul and Barnabas preach at a Jewish synagogue in the city in Pisidian Antioch.

Joshua 24:1–31, the history of God’s dealings with Israel is recounted up to this point, and the people are called to renew their devotion to their Lord, who had done all this, for them; Acts 13:1–12, the church in Syrian Antioch, commissions Barnabas and Saul to begin the first missionary journey to the Gentiles, and the worldwide mission of the Church begins in earnest.

Joshua 23:1–16, Joshua, now old, warns the next generation of leaders to be faithful or suffer the consequences; Acts 12:1–25, before the gospel makes its first foray into Gentile missionary work, Luke returns our attention to Jerusalem, and what’s happening in the mother church.

Joshua 10:1–25, Israel, allied with a Canaanite city, fights with them against five other Canaanite cities – how did this happen? Acts 11:19–30, a new congregation, in Syrian Antioch, an entirely gentle affair, and a big step For the Christian faith.

Joshua 8:1–28, the fall of the city of Ai, the second city in Canaan to be captured by the Israelites; Acts 11:1–18, the aftermath of Peter’s visit to Cornelius, his baptizing of Gentiles, and his powerful defense of what he did there, before the other disciples in the church in Jerusalem.

Joshua 7:1–26, the sin of Achan and the difference between personal sin and forgiveness, and the nation’s failure to maintain the covenant; Acts 10:34–48, Peter learns the lesson well, and the Holy Spirit is poured out even on the Gentiles – but the story isn’t over yet!