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The three temptations of Christ, plus the beginning of Christ's ministry in Matthew's Gospel (but there is a year missing, that is covered in John).

John the Baptist is introduced in this chapter, and he baptizes Jesus marking the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry. Great little chapter! 🤠✝

In Chapter 02 of the Gospel of Matthew, Levi tells the "famous" story of the three wise men (magi -- probably Zoroastrians from Persia). Great little Chapter! 🤠✝

Chapter 01 of the Gospel of Matthew introduces us to the supernatural nature of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the conflict that presented to Joseph, and outlines the royal lineage of Christ (as compared to the natural lineage we covered in the Gospel of Luke). ✝️😊

In this episode Paul and Silas preach to the Athenians, and debates with Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers. It's kind of fun! Great Episode!  🤠✝

Acts Chapter 16 introduces "Timothy," who will later become Paul's right-hand man. They meet Lydia, who works with purple cloth and after her conversion she invites them to stay for awhile. Paul and Silas are illegally beaten and jailed. ✝

Acts Chapter 15 is Awesome! 😎 Luke introduces the concept of "Judaizers," or basically new Jewish converts to "The Way" (or Christianity) near the time of Christ. Judaizers believed that to be a disciple of Christ, one must follow the Laws of Moses (Jewish Law) as well, including circumcision which Gentiles found repulsive. So a meeting of the Elders was convened in Jerusalem, and established the new Gentile converts need follow only four requirements, here is a quote from the NLT (Acts 15:28-29): "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell."

I explain each of these in great detail for you, and remember, Jews for generations had to learn and obey many laws, so having the new Gentiles file no laws "seemed unfair" to them. 🤠✝

Paul and Barnabas preach in Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, Paul is stoned by rebellious Jews and believed to be dead (though of course he was not, as his time had not yet come), then Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch of Syria to let the believers know of their good news. 🤠✝

Chapter 13 is a transition in Acts, where the first 12 chapters focus on Simon Peter, and the balance Saul who is Paul. Here Dr. Luke transitions Saul's name (his Jewish name) to Paul his Gentile name), as his ministry transitions to the Gentile world. In this chapter we meet the sorcerer who is punished by God, and we see Paul and Barnabus convert many Jews, who are then chased away to begin their Gentile ministry. Paul gives a great oratory on the history of our faith, and tying it together with how Jesus fulfills the prophecy of the Messiah. Great chapter!. 🤠✝

In Acts Chapter: 12 King Agrippa I (Grandson of Herod the Great) makes a brief appearance as he has James killed with a sword, and incarcerates Simon Peter. We then have an Angel of the Lord Rescue Simon Peter, and the death of Agrippa as he accepts worship from his people instead of extending that worship to God. Great Episode! 🤠✝

In Acts Chapter 11 we have one of the most shocking admissions in Jewish history, that Gentiles can now enter the eternal kingdom quote (verse 18): "We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life." Simon Peter relates the story of Cornelius and their respective visions, and Barnabas goes to Tarsus to find Saul (Paul) (who had been disinherited by his family for believing in Christ). Excellent Episode! 🤠✝

Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, receives a visit from an Angel, and Simon Peter is given a vision from Heaven that is a transitional period in our Faith from Judaism through the New Covenant in The Way.... It's a great story! 🤠✝

Acts Chapter 09 tells the story of Saul's conversion, when he eventually becomes Paul and writes 2/3 of the New Testament! Another beautiful story in Chapter 9 is Simon Peter's resurrection of Tabitha! Great Chapter! 🤠👽

Chapter 08 of Acts opens with Saul (who later becomes Paul) witnessing (and agreeing with) the murder of Stephen, who was stoned at the direction of the Sanhedrin (High Council) and other Jewish leaders. We then witness Simon the sorcerer showing his false faith and desiring to commercialize the Holy Spirit, then Phillip teaches and baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch and is miraculously transported away! Great Episode! 🤠✝

Chapter 07 in The Acts of the Apostles is a masterful defense by Stephen (the first Christian Martyr) of the Christian Faith from the Old Testament. Great Episode! 🤠✝

We see our first "disharmony" of new believers in Chapter 06 of Acts, and the establishment of an administration to deal with the problem. Stephen, one of the new chosen disciples is filled with the Holy Spirit and performs many miracles, which of course, results in the Sanhedrin arresting him. Teenie-tiny chapter! 🤠

Here we learn the punishment for hypocrisy in the early church, where Annanias and Saphira attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit 😲 Then we see Simon Peter and Paul hauled in front of the "High Council" again, and flogged. Why? For healing the sick, making the lame walk, the blind see, exorcising demons from the tormented, and teaching the Truth of Jesus Christ 🤠✝

In chapter 04 of Acts, Simon Peter and John are arrested and brought before the council of Sanhedrin. Of course, there is little the council could do to Peter and John for healing a lame man, so the council let them go. A wonderful episode of prayer and the Holy Spirit is presented, and the early Church lives for each other instead of material things... Great Episode! 🤠✝

In this chapter Simon Peter and John heal a man at the Temple that was lame from birth. Since this man was well known from years of being a beggar at the Temple, Peter used the opportunity to preach a sermon at the Temple. One important message within the sermon was that the Nation of Israel must “Repent, therefore, and turn to God.” Since they were sinners, and literally crucified their prophesied prophet and Savior, what were they to do about their sin? Simon Peter used scriptural proofs that God fulfilled the messianic prophecies, in Christ. Therefore, they must renounce their former life open their minds to a new way of thinking. They needed not to worship the law or their ceremonies, but hear the message of the Cross and salvation through Jesus Christ. True repentance affects the core of humanity by reaching into the inner depths of your soul and guiding you to loving relationships with others, even those that persecute you. To repent is to admit that you are a sinner and renounce your sinful ways. True Faith is having repented, you turn to God through the love and guidance of the gift of His spirit, and attempt to live a life of righteousness.

Acts Chapter Two is the day of Pentecost! The Holy Spirit flows from Heaven with the roar of a mighty wind, settling on the Apostles like tongues of fire 😎 Filled with the Spirit, Peter preaches to a crowd in the first sermon of Christianity where 3,000 are baptized in mikvahs (baptismal baths) at the temple, and the believers form a community selling all of their worldly possessions and sharing completely with one another. If only we lived in the same manner today! 🤠✝