What does Acts chapter 11 mean?Acts 11 continues the story of how the good news about Jesus came to the Gentiles and how the work of the apostle Paul begins. It's a difficult transition. Hundreds of years before, the Jewish exiles in Babylon had managed to return with their religion and cultural identity mostly intact. Since that time, their land h

What does Acts chapter 12 mean?Acts 12 is the last chapter of the book of Acts that places the apostles, specifically Peter, in the center of the narrative. The church is well-established in Jerusalem and deepening its base in Judea and Samaria. Already, Gentiles are coming to Christ on the coastal city of Caesarea Maritima and far north in Syrian

What does Acts chapter 9 mean?Acts 9 records perhaps the most significant event in the history of the church since the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Jesus has ascended (Acts 1:6–11). The Jesus-followers have received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–12). The apostles' teaching that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah has horrified and infuriate

What does Acts chapter 8 mean?In Acts 6:1–6, the church chooses the first deacons, giving them the responsibility to make sure the benevolence funds are distributed fairly. But these men are more than accountants. Stephen is a powerful apologist. His arguments explaining how Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the prophecies of the Messiah frustrate d

What does Acts chapter 6 mean?Acts 6 is an introduction to the first Christian martyr and the start of real persecution against the church. Well over five thousand men, not to mention women and children, have chosen to follow Jesus (Acts 4:4; 5:14). The Jewish leadership take notice; they arrest the apostles, command they stop teaching in Jesus' na

What does Acts chapter 7 mean?In Acts 6:12–14, Jews accused a Jesus-follower named Stephen of speaking against the temple, Moses, and the Law. Acts 7 is Stephen's defense. It can be difficult for modern readers to follow because he intermingles truth about the Mosaic law, the prophets of Israel, and the role of the temple in and around Old Te

What does Acts chapter 5 mean?The book of Acts is the story of submission, by Jesus' witnesses, to the Holy Spirit and the work He accomplishes as a result. In very short order, the Holy Spirit used two apostles to join well over five thousand people into the church (Acts 4:4). The church will grow as members obediently take the good news about Jes

What does Acts chapter 3 mean?Jesus has ascended (Acts 1:9) and His followers have received the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). They are in the beginning stages of their mission: being Jesus' witnesses in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). They have already spoken to a group of Jews from around the Roman Empire (Acts 2:14–41). Their group of 120

What does Acts chapter 4 mean?Acts 4 continues the story of the spread of the gospel in Jerusalem after Jesus' ascension into heaven (Acts 1:8–9). It directly continues the story of Acts 3. John and Peter had gone to the temple to pray. They passed a man who was lame from birth sitting at the gate. Peter healed him, the man started leaping ar

What does Acts chapter 1 mean?The book of the Acts of the Apostles is the second letter Luke wrote to his friend Theophilus (Acts 1:1). This work continues with the same purpose stated in Luke 1:1–4:Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning

What does Acts chapter 2 mean?Acts 2 presents the end of the age of the Mosaic law and the beginning of the church age. Ever since the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt, God had dealt with His creation primarily through the law He gave Moses. As the Israelites abided by the law, God blessed them. When they broke the law, God judged them. Hundreds

What does John chapter 20 mean?The last time Jesus was seen in public, He was a mangled corpse being hastily buried in a sealed cave (John 19:1–4, 30, 38–42; Matthew 27:59–66). Despite His predictions (John 2:19–22; Mark 9:31; Luke 18:33) and prior miracles (John 11:43–44), His followers will be hesitant to understand,

What does John chapter 21 mean?When Jesus was first resurrected, He passed along instructions for the disciples to meet Him in Galilee (Matthew 28:5–10). He then appeared to groups of the disciples at least twice (John 20:19, 26). Eventually, the men made their way back to Galilee and are waiting for Jesus there. John refers to the body of wa

What does John chapter 18 mean?The events of this chapter fulfill several predictions made by Jesus earlier in His ministry (Matthew 20:18; John 12:32–33; 13:26–27). First is His betrayal by a close associate (John 13:21). The traitor is Judas, who has already conspired with Jesus' enemies (Mark 14:10–11). Since John is writing we

What does John chapter 19 mean?Despite Jesus' obvious innocence (John 18:36–38) and the personal vendetta of His enemies (Matthew 27:18), the Roman governor continues to try and appease the mob. What should have been an obvious prisoner exchange failed (John 18:39–40). Pilate tries to satisfy the crowd's blood lust by having Jesus vicio

What does John chapter 17 mean?The last several chapters detailed Jesus' teachings during the Last Supper (John 13—16). Those statements warned about persecution, predicted the arrival of the Holy Spirit, encouraged Christian love, and even predicted the impending betrayal orchestrated by Judas. In this passage, John records an extended prayer from

What does John chapter 15 mean?John chapter 15 is a unique section of the Bible. Chapter and verse divisions were not original to the text; they were added centuries later to make it easier to find certain statements. Still, this is one of the few chapters composed entirely of words ascribed to Jesus Christ. Some, like John chapters 14, 16, and 17,

What does John chapter 16 mean?At the end of chapter 15, Jesus was predicting both persecution (John 15:18–21) and the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 15:26–27). As He closes out His final teaching of the Last Supper (John 13:15), Christ both begins and ends with a call to endure hardships, knowing that in Him we are ultimately victorio

What does John chapter 14 mean?During the last supper, Jesus made dire predictions. He noted that one of the inner circle would become a traitor (John 13:21), and said Peter would deny Him three times that very evening (John 13:38). This chapter begins a long address from Jesus: other than five moments where the disciples ask a question, Scripture

What does John chapter 12 mean?When John wrote this gospel, the other three accounts of Jesus' life—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—had already been established and distributed. Partly for that reason, it seems, he focuses on details which the other Gospels do not include. That's especially true of meanings behind Jesus' miracles and parables. It's also wh