Study Desk

Now because it was cold the servants and the police had lighted a charcoal fire, and were standing and warming themselves; and Peter too remained with them, standing and warming himself.

Meanwhile the Jews, because it was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and in order that the bodies might not remain on the crosses during the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was one of special solemnity), requested Pilate to have the legs of the dying men broken, and the bodies removed.

Therefore, because it was the day of Preparation for the Jewish Passover, and the tomb was close at hand, they put Jesus there.

They spoke to her. "Why are you weeping?" they asked. "Because," she replied, "they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him."

"Because you have seen me," replied Jesus, "you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

So when this noise was heard, they came crowding together, and were amazed because everyone heard his own language spoken.

For David says in reference to Him, "`I constantly fixed my eyes upon the Lord, because He is at my right hand in order that I may continue unshaken.

The Court added further threats and then let them go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them on account of the people, because all gave God the glory for the thing that had happened.

About this time, as the number of disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were habitually overlooked in the daily ministration.

"Perish your money and yourself," replied Peter, "because you have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!

Now the people of Tyre and Sidon had incurred Herod's violent displeasure. So they sent a large deputation to wait on him; and having secured the good will of Blastus, his treasurer, they begged the king to be friendly with them again, because their country was dependent on his for its food supply.

Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the glory to God, and being eaten up by worms, he died.

Because in another Psalm also He says, `Thou wilt not give up Thy Holy One to undergo decay.'

`Behold, you despisers, be astonished and perish, because I am carrying on a work in your time--a work which you will utterly refuse to believe, though it be fully declared to you.'"

A few of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also encountered him. Some of them asked, "What has this beggarly babbler to say?" "His business," said others, "seems to be to cry up some foreign gods." This was because he had been telling the Good News of Jesus and the Resurrection.

Here he found a Jew, a native of Pontus, of the name of Aquila. He and his wife Priscilla had recently come from Italy because of Claudius's edict expelling all the Jews from Rome. So Paul paid them a visit;

and because he was of the same trade--that of tent-maker--he lodged with them and worked with them.

After remaining a considerable time longer in Corinth, Paul took leave of the brethren and set sail for Syria; and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had shaved his head at Cenchreae, because he was bound by a vow.

When Paul was going up the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;

"And as I could not see because the light had been so dazzling, those who were with me had to lead me by the arm, and so I came to Damascus.