Jerusalem’s leading men – the Sanhedrin – want Jesus condemned to death, but the evidence is severely lacking. So the High Priest demands to know if he claims to be God’s Son. Yet the man will not name God in
Cat among the pigeons
The tower of Babel is the Bible’s true story of a very ancient and very arrogant human empire, which God pulled apart through a confusion of language (Ge 11:1-9). Later, the Bible records other sinful societies brought down by God,
Belt up!
Church leaders should be open to Christians raising concerns with them. Paul has shown himself to be like that on the way to Jerusalem (Ac 21:4). But if the leaders feel they must continue with a path despite advice, then
A new adventure
First there was one church, launched in Jerusalem and expanded until it stretched across the ancient land of Israel (Ac 9:31). Then a second church was founded in the city of Antioch in the land of Syria: an independent church
A brush with danger
For many of us there have been points in our lives when danger has come very near but we’ve not seen it. In these verses that happens to the group of important men who form the main Jewish council in
Unexpected hero
God loves truth (Jo 17:17). But we, at times, twist or corrupt it through lies, half-truths or in other ways. This results in us deceiving others and, even, ourselves. Such self-deceit may leave both individuals and groups with false ideas
Crisis? What crisis?
A crisis is growing in first century Jerusalem as the 12 apostles play a dangerous game. Having already been arrested and threatened by the authorities (Ac 4:3, 5:18), they provoke them further by returning to the temple to preach (Ac