Acts Chapter 18

Acts Chapter 18

After all of that Paul left Athens and came to Corinth.  He found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus coming form Italy with his wife Pricilla (Claudius had kicked all of the Jews out of Rome) and came to them.  Apparently they were on the same craft, and he stayed with them, they were tentmakers by trade.


Paul went and talked in the synagogue every Sabbath to persuade the Greeks and Jews. When Silas and Timotheus came from Macedonia, Paul was preaching in the spirit and trying to convert the Jews to be new little Christians.  But when the people didn’t want to be converted, and they blasphemed, and he shook his clothes and told them their blood was on their own heads.  Way to show compassion Paulie!  I am clean and from now on I am going to the gentiles.  So the Jew’s may be God’s chosen people but the gentiles are Paul’s chosen people.


So he left and went to a certain man named Justus’s house.  He  worshipped God and his house was closely joined to the synagogue. Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue believed in the lord along with his house and many of the Corinthians believed after hearing and were baptized.


The Lord spoke to Paul that night in a vision, saying “Don’t be afraid, but don’t hold your piece either.   I am with you, so no one can hurt you, because I’ve got a lot of people in this city.” Wow great important message from God there. So Paul stayed there for six months teaching the word of God.


When Gallio was the deputy o Achaia, the Jews formed an insurrection against Paul and brought him to the Judgment seat saying Paul persuades people to worship God contrary to the law.  Which is true, he does that. Paul tells him “If it were a matter of wrong, or wicked lewdness, O you Jews, then I would agree with you, but if it’s a matter o words and name, and your laws, then I won’t judge.”  And he drove them from the judgment seat.


Then all of the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue beat him before the judgment seat. Sheesh folks violence isn’t always the answer.  Maybe you should try talking ot the guy. And by the way Paul’s vision of God totally lied they just beat him I would say that hurts.  Gallio didn’t care for any of it.


After Paul stayed there a good while, he left his brethren and sailed to Syria with Pricilla and Aquila.  He cut his hair short in Cenchrea because he had a vow.  Then he went to Ephesus and let them there.   But he entered the synagogue and resoned with the Jews.  When they wanted him to stay with them, he decided to go and bid them farewell saying he must go to the feast in Jerusalem  But he’d come back to them if it was god’s will.  Then he sailed from Ephesus.


When he landed at Caesarea he went and saluted the church, and he went down to Antioch.  After he stayed there a while he left and went all over the country of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen the disciples.


A certain Jew named Apollos born in Alexandria who was an eloquent man and strongly versed in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.  This guy was instructed in the way of the Lord, being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught the things of the Lord diligently, but he only knew the baptism of John.  He began speaking boldly in the synagogue, when Aquila and Pricilla heard they took to him and showed him the way of God more perfectly.  When he went to Achaia the brethren wrote so to encourage, the disciples to receive him, and he helped them with what they has believed through grace.  Because he was good at convincing the Jews and publicly showing the scriptures that proved Jesus was the Christ.

John Chapter 18

John Chapter 18

JC heads to a garden just over a brook called Cedron and his disciples followed him. But, Judas knew he was going to be there because Jesus had often taken his disciples to this same garden. From the chief priest and Pharisees Judas had obtained a contingent of men and officers and they descended on Jesus with lanterns, torches and weapons.

Jesus, of course, knew they were coming, but he still politely asked them who they were seeking. They told him that it was Jesus of Nazareth that they wanted and JC answered that he was this man. Judas stood by.

For some reason when they heard his answer they fell to the ground. So, Jesus asked them again, and again they answered the same.

JC said again that it was him and if they were after they should let the others go so that the prophesy could be fulfilled.

Simon Peter drew a sword and swung it at the high priest’s servant and managed to cut off an ear of a man named Malchus.

Jesus turned to Peter and told him to put his sword back in its sheath because his father had given him this cup and he would drink from it.

The officers took JC and bound him, leading him away to Annas who was father in law to Caiaphas who was the high priest that year (you may recall).

Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple (this is the imaginary disciple that doesn’t exist in any of the other gospels). The disciple was known to the high priest and he went in with Jesus to the palace, but Peter did not. He stood outside the door, but not for long because the imaginary disciple who is said to have written this horrendous gospel talked to the person who was guarding the door and brought Peter in.

The girl who was standing at the door asked Peter if he was one of JC’s disciples and he said that he was not. The servants and officers stood by the fire and warmed themselves and Peter stood with them.

The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine. JC told him that he had always spoken openly to the world and taught in the synagogues and temples where the people were, in secret he had nothing to say. He asked the high priest why he would bother asking him when he should be asking the people that heard him because they would know what he had said.

One of the officers slapped Jesus and told him not to talk to the high priest like that.

Jesus said that if he had spoken evil then fine, but if he’d spoken well, why did this guy hit him?

Annas decided to bind him up again and send him over to Caiaphas.

Simon Peter was still warming himself while this was going on and one of the people standing around the fire with him asked if he wasn’t one of JC’s disciples. Again he denied it and told him that he wasn’t. One of the servants was related to Machus whose ear had been shorn. He said that he was pretty sure he’d seen Peter in the garden with JC.

Pete denied it again and immediately the cock crowed. (Oops!)

They led JC from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment, but they didn’t go (who are they? I have no idea) because they didn’t want to be defiled, they wanted to eat Passover afterall.

Pilate went out and asked why an accusation was brought against this man.

They answered that if he wasn’t a bad dude they certainly wouldn’t have brought him.

Pilate told them to take him and judge him according to their law, but the Jews argued that it wasn’t lawful for them to put anyone to death (I think it goes) because then the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled.

Pilate went into the judgment hall again and asked if he was the king of the Jews?

Jesus asked if he was saying that of his own accord or if someone gave Pilate that information.

Pilate asked if he (Pilate) was a Jew. (He was not, he was a Roman). Pilate continued, your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me. What have you done?

Jesus told him that his kingdom wasn’t of this world, if it were then his servants would fight and he would not be delivered to the Jews, but alas his kingdom was not from here.

Pilate asked if that meant that he was a king. Jesus responded that Pilate was the one saying that. He was born for this end and for this cause he came into the world so he could share the truth. Every one that recognizes truth hears his voice.

Pilate asked what the truth was. After saying this he went back to the Jews and told them that he didn’t find any fault with this man. But, no big deal because there was a custom that he would release on prisoner every Passover. So, he asks, would you like me to release the king of the Jews?

No, they screamed, they’d take Barabbas the robber.

Well, at least this chapter had more action and less prattle, but I’m not too fond of having Pete’s role relegated to buffoon in favor of some unnamed apparition.

Luke Chapter 18

Luke Chapter 18

JC told them… another… parable! Men ought to always pray but don’t faint!  I think that is faint more of a shy away.  There was a city judge, who didn’t fear God or hold men in high regard.  A widow came to him asking him to avenge her of her adversary.  The judge wouldn’t do it but eventually the widow wore him down with her requests.  This unjust Judge told her; shouldn’t God take care of his people, who cry day and night to him?

I tell you he will avenge them quickly.  When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?

He spoke a parable, to some people with thought they were righteous but despised others.  Two men went to the temple to pray one was a Pharisee and the other was a publican.   The Pharisee prayed to God thank you, I’m not like other men, not the extortionists, unjust, adulterers or even like this publican.  I fast twice a week, and I tithe. 

So the publican standing far off wouldn’t even ift his eyes up to heaven.  He beat his breast and said, God be merciful to this sinner! 

I’m telling you the publican was more justified, because if you brag about yourseif you’ll be brought down, and if you humble yourself you will be exalted. 

Some people would bring their babies for JC to touch but his disciples didn’t love this practice.   JC told them to put up with the little kids that come to him, such is the kingdom of God.  Really I’m telling you if you don’t receive God like a child you won’t enter the kingdom of God. 

A certain ruler asked JC, what should I do to earn eternal life?  Oh man, I feel like we’ve covered this before.  JC answers, Would you call me good?  No one is good except God.  You know the commandments, don’t commit adultery, don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t lie, and honor your parents.  The certain ruler tells him he’s done those things since he was a kid.  JC tells him he lacks one thing.  He should sell all of his stuff and the money to the poor and follow him.  Then he will have treasure in heaven.   That made him sad because he was really rich.  JC saw that he was sad and told him, it’s hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven.  It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

The other folks listening asked who can be saved.  JC tells them that things that are impossible for men, are possible for God.  Peter mentions that they have left everything behind to follow him.

JC tells them truly, there is no man who left his house, parents, brethren, wife, or children for the kingdom of God’s sake, who will not receive even more in the world to come, of life everlasting.  Which as we all know isn’t always the best deal.   I wouldn’t give up my one super awesome sister just to get five other sisters. 

 Looked at his chosen dozen and told them we are off to Jerusalem, and all the prophecies are about the Son of man will be accomplished.  And I like that he says accomplished rather than fulfilled.  JC seems to go about accomplishing prophecies rather than fulfilling them.  For he will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and treated spitefully and spit on, and they will scourge him and put him to death and on the third day he will rise again.  

Of course the they didn’t understand any of this, mostly because no one told them any of this. 

When they came to Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging. He heard the ruckus of everyone passing, and asked about what was going on.   They told him Jesus of Nazareth passed by.  He cried Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!  The folks scolded him but he just kept crying for the Son of David to have mercy on him. 

JC commands them to bring him over and asked what he should do for the man.  The blind man asked to return his sight.  JC does it and tells him his faith has saved him.  He immediately gets his sight back and started glorifying god and every one praised God.  Hurray!

Matthew Chapter 18

Matthew Chapter 18

The disciples came to Jesus and asked him who the greatest is in the kingdom of heaven.  I’d venture a guess that it’s god but that’s just me.  So JC calls a little kid over and puts him in the middle of the group.  He says to get into the kingdom of heaven you have to be converted and become like little children.   Whoever humbles themselves as this little kid is the same as the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   And whoever collects one of these children in my name, receives me.   But if you offend one of these little ones who believe in me, you would better off if he had a millstone around his neck or was drown in the sea. Woe to the world because of your offenses!  Because although offences must come, woe to the man who brings the offences.  

Yikes.  I always hate the we should be as children metaphors, as if kids are all innocent and perfect.  But really the children in that story end up being his followers and we have to be careful not to offend them?  Sigh…

If your hand or foot offends them, cut them odd and cast them away, it’s better to be maimed than have two hands or two feet and be case into the everlasting fire!  And if you eye has offended them, pluck it out, it’s better to go through life with one eye than have two in hells fires!   But don’t despise these little ones, for I’m telling you that in heaven their angels always observe the face of my father in heaven.   

Really, I don’t know how we can’t despise these folks a little bit, we have to worry about offending them all the time, and they can send us to hell even if we are only a little evil.  

I come to save what is lost.  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, doesn’t the man leave the ninety nine sheep and go look for the stray sheep.  If he finds the sheep he’s lost he’s happier to see that sheep than the other sheep that never strayed. 

It’s not God’s will that these little ones should perish.   If your brother trespasses against you, let him know the fault is between the two of you alone, if hears you, you‘ve gained a brother.   But if he doesn’t hear you, bring a couple of people with you so he might be persuaded.  If he doesn’t hear them, tell it to the church, if he doesn’t listen to the church well then let him be a heathen or a publican.  Publicans are the lowest of the low.  

Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be lost heaven.  And then there is a confusing line about if two of you agree on earth touching anything that you ask, it shall be done in heaven.   If there are two or three of you then I’m in the middle of you.

Peter need quantification here and asks How many time can my brother sin against me that I still forgive him?   Maybe seven times?  JC answers, not seven times but seventy seven times!  

The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who takes account of his servants.  One of these servants owed him ten thousand talents, but he didn’t have enough money to pay him back.  So the king commanded him to be sold along with his wife and kids.  Well the servant fell down and worshipped him and begged him to have patience, he would pay him back.  The lord was moved and forgave him the debt.   So that servant left and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence, and he took him the throat and said pay me what you owe me!  So his fellow servant fell on his knees and begged for him to have patience, and that little hypocrite sends his coworker there to jail!  What a jerk!  His fellow servants saw what he did and told their lord what happened.  The king called his wicked servant over and yelled him.  I forgave you for your debt, how could you not have compassion for your coworker?  I’ll have to turn you over to your tormentors for this.   I’m not sure if that means he sold the wife and kids too.

And that’s how God will treat you if you don’t forgive your brother’s trespasses.