Description
Book SynopsisIn 30AD, Jesus of Nazareth looked to have been an utter failure. If you don’t understand that, then you will miss the message of the book of Acts. It is a record of survival through adversity, triumph against all odds, and victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. It is the story of a group of ordinary people who turned the tide of history through the power of their extraordinary God.
God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore’s devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.
Trade Review"Phil Moore has served us magnificently." - Terry Virgo "Most commentaries are dull. These are alive. Most commentaries are for scholars. These are for you!" - Michael Green "Think of these books as the Bible's message distilled for everyone." - Adrian Warnock
Table of ContentsContents
About the Straight to the Heart Series 11
Introduction: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God 13
THE GOSPEL TO JERUSALEM (30–33 ad)
The Promise (1:8) 20
Joseph Barsabbas (1:15–26) 25
Pentecost (2:1–13) 29
The Message of Jesus (2:14–41) 34
True and False Conversion (2:38) 38
How to Grow As a Christian (2:41–47) 42
Just the Way You Are (3:4, 12) 46
What I Have (3:6) 50
To Boldly Go (4:1–22) 54
Given Name (4:12) 59
Prayer Which Moves God (4:23–31) 63
Insider-Dealings (4:32–37) 67
The Fifth Column (5:1–11) 71
Primary Witness (5:12–16) 75
Betty Zane (6:1–7) 79
Jerusalem Rejects the Gospel (6:8 – 7:60) 83
THE GOSPEL TO JUDEA AND SAMARIA (33–37 ad)
Reproducing Lilies (8:1–8) 88
Grief and Hope (8:2) 92
Starting Points (8:35) 96
Baptism (8:36–40) 100
Saul of Tarsus (9:1–19) 104
Ordinary Ananias (9:10–19) 108
Knitting (9:22) 112
THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES (37–47 ad)
No Limits (10:1 – 11:18) 118
Visibly Different (10:44–48) 122
Antioch (11:19–30) 126
Barnabas (11:22–30) 130
Seven Names (11:26) 134
God’s Airlock (12:1–25) 138
THE GOSPEL TO ASIA MINOR (48–49 ad)
Paul’s First Missionary Journey, 48 ad (13:1 – 14:28) 144
Bridges and Walls (13:16–47; 14:15–18) 149
Grace is for Other People Too (13:43) 153
Glorify God’s Word (13:48) 157
Honest Truth (14:22) 161
Apostles and Elders (15:4) 165
When the Past Becomes a Problem (15:1–35) 169
THE GOSPEL TO EUROPE (50–57 ad)
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, 50–52 ad
(16:1 – 18:22) 174
God’s Satnav (16:6–10) 178
Chosen (16:14) 182
Tour Guides (17:22–34) 186
God Knows Where You Live (17:26–27) 191
Nine Tenths (18:2–3) 195
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey, 53–57 ad
(18:23 – 20:38) 199
Boulevards and Barricades (19:1–7) 204
How to Heal the Sick (19:11–20) 208
Magnified Vision (20:24) 212
Job Description (20:17–38) 216
THE GOSPEL TO ROME (57–62 ad)
Paul’s Journey to Rome (21:1 – 28:31) 222
Shut (21:30) 227
Heavenly Protection (22:23–29) 231
Credit Rating (23:11) 235
Religio Licita (24:14–17) 239
Mañana (24:25; 26:28) 244
Raised to Life (25:19) 248
Sanctified by Faith (26:18) 252
Actions Speak Louder Than Words (26:20) 256
God Wants You to Be Ignored (27:10–11) 260
Rome (28:11–31) 264
Conclusion: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God 268
