COMMENTARY:
: 1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. (“saved” [sozo] means heal, preserve, be whole, or to rescue from danger or destruction.)
DEVOTION: The early church had doctrinal issues from the beginning. This … Read More
COMMENTARY:
: 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. (2559 “evil affected” [kakow] means oppress, afflict, harm, embittered, poisoned, cause to dislike, vex or maltreat.)
DEVOTION: People who didn’t like the message of Paul weren’t tolerant of it. The liberals in Paul’s days wanted … Read More
COMMENTARY:
: 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (3522 “fasted” [nesteuo] means abstinence, lack of food, a religious exercise to abstain from food and drink for a day or a number of days.)
DEVOTION: Fasting was a practice of the Pharisees. They fasted … Read More
COMMENTARY:
: 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. (1618 “without ceasing” [ektenes] means to stretch out, urgent, fervent, intent, more earnestly, constantly, unceasing intense activity or continuously.)
DEVOTION: Have you ever been involved in an all-night prayer meeting? One of the … Read More
COMMENTARY:
: 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him. (1252 “contended” [diakrino] means doubt, judge, discriminate, to separate one’s self in a hostile spirit, strive with dispute, evaluate carefully, argue, or express disapproval.)
DEVOTION: You would think that at the beginning of the church … Read More
COMMENTARY:
: 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. (2152 “devout” [eusebes] means godly, pious, dutiful, religious, or well-reverent.)
DEVOTION: One of the problems with many people is they think that if they are well-behavior and religious … Read More
COMMENTARY:
: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes you me? (1377 “persecutes” [dioko] means to run after, trouble, to pursue in a hostile manner, harass, follow in haste, seek after, or to chase.)
DEVOTION: One of the facts that most people … Read More
COMMENTARY:
: 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. (1289 “scattered” [diaspeiro] means disperse, to sow throughout, to spread about, or distribute in foreign lands.
DEVOTION: The church was seeing a lot of growth in Jerusalem. The people were working with the apostles to reach people throughout the city. … Read More
COMMENTARY:
: 1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. (1248 “ministration” [diakonon] means service, contributions, provision, aid, support, relief, ministry of the ministration of those who render to others the … Read More