You Can Read the Bible Guided Podcast

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  Luke 5:10

As we read narratives it brings the story to life when we retrace the steps that our characters have taken.  Remember how Simon Peter confessed that he was “a sinful man,” when he was the first to recognize Jesus as the Christ, when he blustered “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”   You’ll recall that at the end of Luke’s gospel, we watched Peter deny that he knew Jesus, then rise and run to the tomb, marvel at what happened, and fade into the background, seemingly without any resolution. 

But yesterday he emerges as a leader of the Apostles, citing Scripture regarding Judas, and professing the fulfilled promise of Pentecost.  Apparently Jesus’ insistence that “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men…” had finally sunk into his ears.  Today we see how much of an impact the resurrection and the events of Pentecost had on Peter.  In the opening scene of chapter 3, Peter is asked for alms by a man who had been lame since birth.  He gives the man more than he expected, which leads to a sermon, which leads to an arrest and a hasty arraignment. 

Pay attention to the setting: this all happens in the Temple where Jesus had essentially sealed His fate…. to Peter’s bold proclamation “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”…  to how Luke affirms the public, irrefutable nature of the miracle that follows… to Peter’s direct, second-person call to conviction… to the charges, and the confounded response, of the Sanhedrin.

Pay attention to how Luke frames the answer Peter and John give to their accusers.  And remember, if you will, the promise that Jesus had made to them, long before their eyes were opened, in Luke chapter 12:  And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” 

Our verse for this week is Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Acts 3 and 4.  Now let’s read it!

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”  Luke 5:10

As we read narratives it brings the story to life when we retrace the steps that our characters have taken.  Remember how Simon Peter confessed that he was “a sinful man,” when he was the first to recognize Jesus as the Christ, when he blustered “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”   You’ll recall that at the end of Luke’s gospel, we watched Peter deny that he knew Jesus, then rise and run to the tomb, marvel at what happened, and fade into the background, seemingly without any resolution. 

But yesterday he emerges as a leader of the Apostles, citing Scripture regarding Judas, and professing the fulfilled promise of Pentecost.  Apparently Jesus’ insistence that “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men…” had finally sunk into his ears.  Today we see how much of an impact the resurrection and the events of Pentecost had on Peter.  In the opening scene of chapter 3, Peter is asked for alms by a man who had been lame since birth.  He gives the man more than he expected, which leads to a sermon, which leads to an arrest and a hasty arraignment. 

Pay attention to the setting: this all happens in the Temple where Jesus had essentially sealed His fate…. to Peter’s bold proclamation “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”…  to how Luke affirms the public, irrefutable nature of the miracle that follows… to Peter’s direct, second-person call to conviction… to the charges, and the confounded response, of the Sanhedrin.

Pay attention to how Luke frames the answer Peter and John give to their accusers.  And remember, if you will, the promise that Jesus had made to them, long before their eyes were opened, in Luke chapter 12:  And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” 

Our verse for this week is Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Acts 3 and 4.  Now let’s read it!

“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen…”

Luke begins his second book to the unknown Theophilus by recounting his own priorities through those of Jesus, who presented Himself alive to [the apostles] after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking about the Kingdom of God. 

These themes are consistent with those that were evident in Luke’s Gospel: the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God, the reality of the resurrection, as well as the fulfillment of Scripture and inevitable expansion of the Gospel.  He uses Jesus’ own words to make his closing statement: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.” 

But the Acts prologue goes even further, for as they were speaking with Jesus on Mount Olivet, asking about the kingdom of Israel, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.  The apostles keep gazing into heaven until two men stood beside them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?  This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” 

In all great stories, you can assume that the prologue matters.  Think of the possible themes here: the apostles gazing upward in wonder… the Lord’s messengers asking “What are you looking for?”… the assurance of Jesus’ return… the promise that the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses…

Allow Luke, the master storyteller, to guide us through the days following Jesus’ ascension.  We’ll witness the interaction between Apostle and Spirit as a replacement for Judas is chosen.  Later, when the Apostles are assembled for Pentecost, a promise is fulfilled for them that even causes the crowd to marvel.  And Peter – who’s been silent since the crucifixion – finds his voice. 

Our verse for this week is Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Acts 1 and 2.  Now let’s read it!

“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen…”

Luke begins his second book to the unknown Theophilus by recounting his own priorities through those of Jesus, who presented Himself alive to [the apostles] after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking about the Kingdom of God. 

These themes are consistent with those that were evident in Luke’s Gospel: the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God, the reality of the resurrection, as well as the fulfillment of Scripture and inevitable expansion of the Gospel.  He uses Jesus’ own words to make his closing statement: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.” 

But the Acts prologue goes even further, for as they were speaking with Jesus on Mount Olivet, asking about the kingdom of Israel, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.  The apostles keep gazing into heaven until two men stood beside them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?  This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” 

In all great stories, you can assume that the prologue matters.  Think of the possible themes here: the apostles gazing upward in wonder… the Lord’s messengers asking “What are you looking for?”… the assurance of Jesus’ return… the promise that the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses…

Allow Luke, the master storyteller, to guide us through the days following Jesus’ ascension.  We’ll witness the interaction between Apostle and Spirit as a replacement for Judas is chosen.  Later, when the Apostles are assembled for Pentecost, a promise is fulfilled for them that even causes the crowd to marvel.  And Peter – who’s been silent since the crucifixion – finds his voice. 

Our verse for this week is Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Acts 1 and 2.  Now let’s read it!

The author of Lamentations – quite possibly Jeremiah, or maybe Baruch – is under no illusions about why this calamity has befallen them, for “Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore, she became filthy.”  Therefore, “The LORD has done what He purposed.”   Yet the author pours forth lament.  This is not contradictory: sit at the author’s feet and let him teach us of repentance and grief.

In the original Hebrew, chapters 3 and 4 are again acrostic poems.  In chapter 3, the lines are in series of three: the first three lines begin with aleph, the second three begin with bet, etc., for a total of 66 lines, or 22 sets of 3.  In chapter 4 each line begins with the next letter in the alphabet.  Chapter 5 is simply a 22-line oracle that culminates with a plea: “Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored!  Renew our days of old – unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us. 

But I want to highlight the very center of the book, where the author’s own steadfast faith is revealed.  Consider when and where and how this is written:

Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!

My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in Him.”

Our verse for this week is Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Lamentations 3 through 5.  Now let’s read it!

The author of Lamentations – quite possibly Jeremiah, or maybe Baruch – is under no illusions about why this calamity has befallen them, for “Jerusalem sinned grievously; therefore, she became filthy.”  Therefore, “The LORD has done what He purposed.”   Yet the author pours forth lament.  This is not contradictory: sit at the author’s feet and let him teach us of repentance and grief.

In the original Hebrew, chapters 3 and 4 are again acrostic poems.  In chapter 3, the lines are in series of three: the first three lines begin with aleph, the second three begin with bet, etc., for a total of 66 lines, or 22 sets of 3.  In chapter 4 each line begins with the next letter in the alphabet.  Chapter 5 is simply a 22-line oracle that culminates with a plea: “Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored!  Renew our days of old – unless you have utterly rejected us, and you remain exceedingly angry with us. 

But I want to highlight the very center of the book, where the author’s own steadfast faith is revealed.  Consider when and where and how this is written:

Remember my affliction and my wanderings,
the wormwood and the gall!

My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.

But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in Him.”

Our verse for this week is Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Lamentations 3 through 5.  Now let’s read it!