Paul’s missionary journeys take him throughout the Hellenistic world, and everywhere the pattern is the same: great success, followed by jealousy, hatred, lies, and violence by those who will not believe. What is Luke hoping to accomplish through these stories?

Peter’s vision of the vessel from heaven opens a new era in the Church of Christ, foretold for centuries: the extending of the Gospel to all nations. Paul is the quintessential missionary in this new mold, a Jew among Gentiles.

Through his stories of the martyrdom of Stephen and the conversion of Paul, Luke teaches the importance of hearing the living prophet, and the capacity of Jesus to turn even our worst faults into powerful strengths.

At the feast of Pentecost, God sent the Spirit not only as a Comforter, but as an agent of transformation, molding his people into one body, from which would flow the blessings of Abraham to all the world.

On the road to Emmaus, the resurrected Jesus to his mourning disciples in disguise, and taught them from the scriptures rather than revealing his identity. Why did he choose to testify of himself this way, and what scriptures might he have cited to help them see the necessity of his suffering, death, and resurrection?

We discuss the final events of the Gospels, and several important questions raised by the Biblical account of the resurrection, including “How does Jesus’ resurgence affect me?” and “How can I know I worship a living God?”

There were several categories of reaction to Jesus on the day of his crucifixion. Most were examples of people trying to deny their guilt, the blood guilt of causing suffering to the most innocent ever accused, the Savior of Mankind.

Jesus fulfills the promise of the prophet Jeremiah by instituting the New Covenant of the Sacrament, takes upon himself the sins of the world in the Garden, and is unrighteously judged by the Jewish elders.

Jesus gives his final briefing to his disciples, reminding them of four truths: 1) he could only send the Spirit to them if he dies and ascends to the Father, 2) they were to show their love through their obedience, as he had, 3) they should expect life to be difficult, even when (or especially when) they were following his path, and 4) he had made it possible for them to be one with him.

The final sermon of Jesus included both an urgency to watch, and an admonition to patience. How do we reconcile the need to think about the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord with our need to be aware of the daily suffering and needs of God’s children?