Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created …
Background Gems
Bible Gem 2021 – Beginning Hebrews: Do You Notice What’s Missing?
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created …
Bible Gem 1900 – Another Kind of Background Reading Task For You (Phil 1:1-4:23; Acts 16:11-40. 17:1)
A number of you told me how good and useful it was to read the whole of Paul’s letter to the Philippians at once. Then others told me how much better it was to read the Philippian letter over and over on consecutive days in …
Bible Gem 762 – More Historical Setting (Luke 3:1-2)
It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the …
Bible Gem 760 – A Naughty Boy / or Incompetent Parents? (Luke 2:43-52)
After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss Him at first, because they assumed He was among the other travellers. But when He didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for Him …
Bible Gem 757 – Anna (Luke 2:36-38)
Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age …
Bible Gem 742 – Jewish Betrothal (Luke 1:27)
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, …
Bible Gem 736 – Zech’s Big Moment (Luke 1:8-17)
One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. While the incense was being burned, …
Bible Gem 732 – Luke’s Accuracy Questioned (Luke 1:5-2:52)
The Aramaic Infancy Narrative (Luke 1:5 through 2:52) has sparked much debate. Some have dropped these two chapters as not worthy of consideration. However it seems that Luke’s information for these two chapters was private. In Matthew the narrative of the birth of Jesus is …
Bible Gem 726 – Starting Luke – My Christmas Present to you (Luke 1:5-2:52)
Originally I started the Bible Gems on Luke on January 6th 2012, so this was my Christmas – New Year present to you all back then, hence the setting and comments along the way. Where to start the Gospel of Luke? that is the question. …