Acts Lesson 28 Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net e-mail: [email protected] Introduction: In Chapter 27, Paul and his fellow crew members faced the horrible storm Euroclydon which threatened the lives of every one aboard the ship. But the angel of the Lord came to Paul, and he told the captain and the men that all of them would be delivered if they all stayed in the ship. They did so, and the ship ran aground and came apart as we closed last week. Those that could swim swam to shore, while those who could not got on boards of the ship and floated in. All 276 men escaped to the island of Melita. That is where we pick up this week as we conclude our study on the book of Acts. The final chapter of Acts details the remaining portion of Paul’s journey to Rome. Included is a brief description of Paul’s ministry in Rome while he awaited his hearing before the emperor. I. Landing on Melita Acts 28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. Acts 28:2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. The island upon which the ship ran to ground and began to break up is noted here as Melita. Geographically, Malta, a small island between Sicily and north Africa. The reference “barbarous people” is an expression of that era in which all non-Greek speaking cultures were referred to. The were no doubt secluded and may have seemed strange to the ship’s crew and passengers. It is thought the Maltese people were originally Phoenicians whose native language was Punic (North African). In any event, they were hospitable to the survivors of the ship that wrecked on their island. It obviously was still winter. The persistent rain and northerly winds made the damp conditions quite miserable. The islanders helped the survivors simply by building a fire allowing them to warm themselves and dry out. Continue Reading in PDF:
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Acts Chapter 15 Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net e-mail: [email protected] Introduction: In Chapter 14, we saw Paul and Barnabas complete the work that they set out to do on their missionary journey. At the end of the chapter, they returned to their home church and reported what God had accomplished in their efforts. This week we see some men coming in from Judea and attempting to teach false doctrine concerning salvation. The first portion of Acts chapter 15 presents a major crisis which was coming to a head in the early church. The question at hand was whether Judaism, its rituals, rites, and ceremonial-ism should have any part in the early church and if so to what extent. A church council was convened in Jerusalem to deal with these matters. The leaders of the local New Testament Churches met to discuss the controversy. The latter portion of the chapter deals with the council at Jerusalem. It concludes with the churches, by acclamation, agreeing to send a delegation out with a letter clarifying the controversy. At the end of the chapter is the historic parting of the ways between Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Silas begin the second missionary journey. I. Men from Judea come to church in Antioch Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Word reached the church at Jerusalem how the gospel had not only flourished among the gentiles at Antioch, but also continued through the missionary work of Paul and Barnabas. It is noteworthy that Paul and Barnabas did not report to the church at Jerusalem upon their return from their missionary journey. Though the church at Antioch likely had no pretense of becoming the leader of the churches, perhaps some in the Jerusalem church were nervous seeing that it might. It would seem that a question was looming, particularly for those in Judaea. Was Christianity to become primarily a gentile movement with some Jewish believers? Or would it remain as it originally had been constituted as a Jewish movement with a few gentile believers? It is clear there was a distinct party within the Jerusalem church who thought the latter. Recall the suspicion and reluctance of many in the Jerusalem church to accept the preaching of the gospel to the gentiles at Cornelius’ household at Caesarea. In Acts 11:2, reference is made to “they that were of the circumcision” contending with Peter on the matter. In chapter 15, this same party is referred to as “Pharisees which believed” (verse 5). These were people in the early church who evidently had been Pharisees prior to their conversion to Christ. They maintained that believers ought still follow the Jewish mandates detailed in the Law of Moses. Notable amongst those commands was that all Jewish men were to be circumcised. Certain representatives of this segment of the Jerusalem church traveled to the church at Antioch and taught, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Continue Reading in PDF:
Genesis Chapter 1 Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net e-mail: [email protected] Introduction: We begin a new study on the book of Genesis this week. This is going to be one of our longer studies with a great amount of time going into the first chapters in particular. We are going to explore the verses in depth, and take into consideration some of the numerology of the bible. I pray the lessons will be a help and blessing to you. These are in a slightly different format as they are based off of a study outline by E.L. Bynum of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock Texas. GENESIS - THE CREATION AND THE CREATOR
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 1. Moses was the human writer. Jesus spoke to the two men on the road to Emmaus after coming forth from the grave. Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Luk 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. … Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Continue reading in PDF:
Matthew Chapter 1Distributed by: KJV Bible Studies Email: [email protected] Website: www.KjvBibleStudies.net Introduction: We begin a new study this week on the book of Matthew. The Gospel According to St. Matthew was written by the Apostle Matthew, also called Levi. The date of its writing is uncertain, though some have suggested it was as early as A.D. 37. Matthew was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples and was also a publican (a tax collector for the Romans) before coming to Christ. The Gospel of Matthew is unique among the four gospels in that it presents the ministry of Christ from the perspective of the Jewish nation. He writes from a Jewish point of view and provides numerous details to which a Jewish mind will readily relate. The prominent characterization of Christ in Matthew is that of the King and ultimately of His coming kingdom. You'll find that much of the book will be presented from the perspective of the kingdom of God. That kingdom is what Jews of that day longed for in throwing off the tyranny of the Roman yoke and reestablishing their own historical kingdom, long gone since the Babylon captivity. Jesus described and defined that coming kingdom in spiritual terms. The kingdom will be found in the person of its King. He presented Himself to His people throughout His ministry. However, official Israel rejected Him. Matthew is particularly the gospel for Israel. Notwithstanding that, as it flows from the death and resurrection of Christ, it is a gospel for the whole world When these men wrote these books of the bible, they were guided by the Holy Spirit to pen the very words of God. While the writings of course included their view and happenings that surrounded them, a greater writer (the Holy Spirit) guided the hands of each man as God allowed us to have four separate and unique accounts of the gospel. Some things are mentioned in all four accounts, while some are contained in only one of the accounts. God had a reason for every word that was penned. 2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. I. The Genealogy in Matthew Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. The Apostle Matthew begins his gospel with the introduction, “the book of the generation of Jesus Christ.” The word translated as generation is (genesiv) genesis. What is recorded here is the lineage and genealogy (i.e., origins) of Jesus Christ. On the natural level, it is His human lineage. It should be noted that Matthew goes to great effort to establish the Jewish lineage of Jesus Christ through David and back to Abraham. Matthew notes that our Lord was “the son of David, the son of Abraham.” In as much as Matthew’s target audience is Jewish people, he goes to the heart of the lineage of Jesus Christ. He is ultimately the son of David and therefore a descendant of the Davidic Covenant which God made with Israel. He is of that royal dynasty and therefore heir to the throne of Israel. Moreover, Jesus is the son of Abraham and hence a descendant of the Abrahamic Covenant. As the seed of Abraham, He held a unity with all Jews who would someday hear of Him. He was one of them. Hence, He was not only a Jew, but of the royal lineage of Israel. Continue Reading in PDF:
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