Podcasts about Gamaliel

The apostles are arrested, freed by an angel during the night, and found the next morning right back in the temple, preaching, which is the last thing their jailers expected. As the authorities scramble, a respected teacher named Gamaliel cools the room with a shrewd warning: if this movement is merely human, it will collapse on its own, but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop it, and you may find yourselves fighting against God. The apostles are flogged and released, and they leave rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name. This chapter puts a hard question to all of us: are we willing and worthy to suffer for the faith?  The Rev. Dr. William Knippa, pastor emeritus in Austin, Texas, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 5:12-42. The book of Acts picks up where the Gospels leave off. Jesus has risen. He has ascended. And now what? Acts answers that question. Luke tells the story of how the Holy Spirit built the Church from a handful of frightened disciples in Jerusalem into a movement that reached Rome itself. Along the way, you get Pentecost, the first sermons, the first martyrs, the conversion of Paul, the first church councils, shipwrecks, riots, and the persistent, stubborn work of God through Word and Sacrament even when His people didn't have a plan. If you've ever wondered how we got from Easter morning to the Church you sit in today, this is the book. Tune in for this new series on Thy Strong Word with Pastor Phil Booe and guest pastors as we open up the Book of Acts.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Pastor focuses in on Gamaliel's Speech found in Acts 5:34-39.   We know about Gamliel from the Bible, the writings of Josephus and rabbinical writings: Grandson of the Jewish teacher Hillel Especially influential ca 25-50 A.D. President of the Sanhedrin A devout and respected Pharisee Teacher of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 22:3)   In comparing Josephus' writings with the Bible we find an issue with Acts 5:36-37 "Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered."   The Controversy is the dating of the two men as this is what we know about them from Josephus:  Theudas - revolt at the time of the Roman procurator, Cuspius Faus (44-46 A.D.)  Judas the Galilean - rebellion in 6 A.D.    According to the Acts verses written by Luke, he quotes Gamaliel as saying that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came AFTER Theudas' revolt, but what we know about these two men  from Josephus, shows us that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came BEFORE Theudas' revolt.   The Alternatives we can consider: Josephus was correct, Luke was wrong Luke was correct, Josephus was wrong Both Luke and Josephus were correct.   Pastor leans toward "Both Luke and Josephus being correct."    In Josephus' writings we read of Judas the Galilean as having led a band of people in revolt in 6 A.D.    In Josephus' writings we also read that after the death of King Herod the Great (about 4 B.C.) many revolted. Josephus does not name them.but clearly these rebellions were BEFORE Judas' revolt. Consider this: Is it possible that one of those individuals was named Theudas? Then the writings of Josephus and the Bible align.   Additionally, Luke gives this insight, he tells us that Gamaliel said the following, "Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered."  Note that Gamaliel said ALL Judas' followers were scattered." But history shows us that Gamaliel saw Judas' rebellion as having come to nothing. However, about 25-30 years after Gamaliel spoke these words, those followers of Judas the Galilean not only were around, but had grown in number and ultimately triggered the revolt against Rome in 66 A.D.    What we see is an accurate account by Luke of what took place on the day the Apostles were flogged for speaking the name of Jesus and rejoiced for being worthy to suffer for His name.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams       Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Pastor Jordan Boyce is preaching on If It Is of God.

In Chapter 5 we see three types of individuals. Hypocrites Disciples Religionists   Scene 1 - (Acts 5:1-11)  Hypocrites - ("an actor" appearances matter most)   Then:  Ananias and Sapphira sold property to give to the group and made it look like they gave it all to the apostles'. But without letting the group know Ananias and Sapphira held back a portion of the sale for themselves. (This wasn't wrong - but what was wrong was making everyone thing they had given it all) Somehow Peter knew Ananias and his wife had lied about giving it all to the group and Peter tells Ananias that he has lied not just to the group but to the Holy Spirit, which is the same as lying to God. And then suddenly Ananias dies.   Three hours later…   Peter asks Sapphira if she and Ananias had given all precedes to the group and she says yes and she dies too. Great fear seized the whole "church" (the people of God) when they heard about Ananias and Sapphira.    Now: God is saying we are to take Him seriously. Not that we are perfect, but that we walk with Him. We see the danger of hypocrisy from this story. God is asking us to be genuine in our faith, to be humble before Him, to focus on Him and not in how we appear to others.    Scene 2 - (Acts 5:12-16) Disciples - (followers of Jesus - following Jesus matters most)   Then: The apostles performed many signs and wonders and the believers met together in Solomon's Colonnade. More and more men and women believed and were added to their numbers. People brought the sick into the streets for healing.   Now: We see there is power in the name of Jesus, there is power in the Jesus movement and power in the Holy Spirit. We are to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, to be committed to the Lord Jesus.   Scene 3 - (Acts 5:17-42) Religionists - what matters most is power and position regardless of what God says.   Then: We see the Sadducees are filled with jealousy and arrested the apostles. Then during the night an angel of the Lord opens the doors of the jail and tells the apostles to go and stand in the temple courts and tell the people all about new life in Christ. They go to the temple courts and began to teach the people and that set in motion a series of events: People reported that the apostles had escaped The captain of the temple guard and his officers did not use force to re-arrest the apostles as they didn't want to anger the crowds. All 12 apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin to be questioned.  The Sanhedrin had told them earlier they could not teach in the name of Jesus Peter and others respond that they must obey God rather than human beings and that God raised Jesus from the dead - who they had killed by putting Him on a cross. They told that God's plan was repentance and forgiveness of sin. They tell how they were witnesses just as the Holy Spirit is, and that the Spirit was given by God to those who obey Him.  Then when the Sanhedrin hear all this they want to put the apostles to death. But Gamaliel (Pharisee who was respected by the people) speaks up - giving an impassioned address encouraging the Sanhedrin not to act precipitously, giving previous examples of rebels and outcomes. Gamaliel's speech persuades the Sanhedrin.  Instead of being killed the apostles were flogged (this is a brutal beating) and were told to no longer speak in Jesus' name. Yet they left the beatings rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering for the Name of Jesus. They continued day after day to preach in the temple courts and homes and never stopped proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.   Now:   This tells us the importance of following Jesus. Pastor gives a personal testimony of great opposition that he experienced and how he and others were told to stop talking about the Holy Spirit. He concludes with sharing that the group resigned their positions, and were more concerned about obeying God than obeying people. The result was Awake Us Now and God's blessing is reaching more people than ever thought possible from around the world. He share how he and the ministry continue to rejoice as we see the incredible power of the risen Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit and the amazing love of the Father. Pastor ends with stating God's desire Is that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth in Christ Jesus.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 5-6 (read and reflect on these two chapters together     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ApwakeUsNow/streams   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Discover the profound legacy of Gamaliel, the influential Pharisee and respected teacher who stood at a pivotal crossroads of history. In this enlightening episode of Who's Who in the Bible, Fr. Geo Tom, C.Ss.R., explores how this master of the Law mentored the Apostle Paul and exercised remarkable wisdom to protect the early disciples from the Sanhedrin's wrath.Learn the ten key character traits that defined his leadership, from his tactful diplomacy to his deep, historical reasoning. This series offers timeless lessons on defending truth, mentoring others, and remaining firm in the face of opposition. Join us to unlock the wisdom of biblical figures—watch the full series today and deepen your own journey of faith and discernment!

We begin a short series about men who were influential in the life of Paul the apostle. Most were positive, but some were negative, Gamaliel included. What was so bad about Gamaliel? Please take a listen to this message.

Be Careful That You Don't Get Comfortable In Your Worldly Position Acts 5:33-35 33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.

Saint Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles, a Galilean; the Gospel accounts say little more about him. It is said that, after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he traveled in the service of the Gospel to Arabia and Persia, and brought to India a translation of the Gospel according to Matthew. Eusebius writes that one hundred years later Pantaenus, an illustrious Alexandrian scholar, found this gospel when he traveled in India. By most accounts Bartholomew ended his life in Armenia, where he met his martyrdom by crucifixion. According to many, he and Nathaniel are the same person: the Gospel accounts that speak of Bartholomew do not mention Nathaniel; and St John's Gospel,which mentions Nathanael as one of the Twelve, does not mention Bartholomew. But according to the Greek Synaxarion, Bartholomew and Simon the Zealot are one and the same.   Saint Barnabas was one of the Seventy, from Cyprus, a Levite and at one time a fellow-student with St Paul under Gamaliel. After Christ's Ascension, he led the Seventy until the Apostle Paul's conversion. He is mentioned often in the Acts of the Apostles, which describes some of his travels as a companion of St Paul. By all accounts, he was the first to preach the Gospel of Christ in Rome and in Milan. His wonder-working relics were discovered on the island of Cyprus in the time of the Emperor Zeno; on this basis the Church of Cyprus was established as an independent Church, since it had an apostolic foundation.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 9th of June, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Acts 22:1-3: “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.” He had to convince the people he was one of them before he met Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Paul used his background and his heritage to convince the mob and to try and win them over. You and I need to do that. Don't take your background lightly. If you come from a certain people group and you are trying to convince people in that group to turn to Jesus, tell them where you come from. Tell them what you did. Paul told them he was taught by the great teacher, Gamaliel. Now, if we look at Gamaliel in Acts 5:38-39, we will see that this man was a great teacher of the law and obviously a man of God. He says: "And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” Now, that is good counsel. Now, when you want to go to the doctor, the first thing you find out is, who is this man or woman? Where did they study? What reputation do they have? Have they got a good name? Yes, they have helped many people, then you feel secure. It might also be that if you want to find out something very important about the word of God, you don't just go to anybody. You must find a person who has walked the road, knows what he is talking about before you start to trust him. That is exactly what Paul was doing with the mob. He was trying to show them that he was not somebody who had just arrived, he is a man of standing, he has a good reputation, comes from a good background, a good home and has also been taught by the best.Today, go out and use every opportunity and qualification that you have to bring people to Jesus.God bless you and have a wonderful day.Goodbye.

Send us a message!Please welcome our guest reader on the podcast today, Rachel Eernisse! Rachel is a speaker and author specializing in Scripture recitation and Scripture memory. She is passionate to encourage the average, ordinary believer in Christ to love the Bible deeply and share it effectively. You can learn more about her ministry at scripturespeakers.com. You can also follow along with a new podcast series she is launching with Scripture Memory Fellowship that will be all about Scripture recitation. scripturespeakers.comhttps://scripturememorypodcast.com/In today's reading:• Why deception in a worshiping community is treated as deadly serious • Miraculous signs and wonders drawing crowds to the apostles • The apostles freed from jail and sent back to preach • “We must obey God rather than people” as a clear line in the sand • Gamaliel's warning about fighting against God • Rejoicing after suffering dishonor for Jesus' name • A real complaint about overlooked widows and a wise solution • The choosing of seven leaders to handle daily distribution • Stephen's bold ministry and the start of fierce opposition please go check out scripturespeakers.com  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

VIERNES, 5 DE JUNIO DE 2026, TU DOSIS DIARIA DE ESPERANZA "Y ahora os digo: Apartaos de estos hombres, y dejadlos; porque si este consejo o esta obra es de los hombres, se desvanecerá; mas si es de Dios, no la podréis destruir; no seáis tal vez hallados luchando contra Dios." (Hechos 5:38-39) Tan importante es lo que se enseña en las clases acerca de un tema, como lo que se enseña en momentos de crisis con el ejemplo. Gamaliel, rabino judío que fue maestro de Pablo, dio una "clase magistral" ante los líderes religiosos que, por celos (5:17), procuraban la muerte de los apóstoles. Esa es la sabiduría que hace a un maestro ser cauteloso en sus decisiones. El ejemplo era la lección más necesaria para aquellos discípulos, y para los celosos líderes judíos que en esas circunstancias aprendieron cuán necesarias son la paciencia, la fe en Dios y las buenas formas. Para producir "buenos discípulos" se necesitan "buenos maestros". (Gina Sánchez) -- Te damos la bienvenida a nuestras reflexiones diarias. Cada día leemos y meditamos en una porción bíblica, para encontrar revelación de Dios que encamine nuestros pasos y haga próspero nuestro camino. Esto es… DE DIOS, PARA TI, HOY. ....... http://www.findnewhope.com/nueva-esperanza ....... www.facebook.com/PastoresRobertoyYamiley Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tu-dosis-diaria-de-esperanza-new-hope-en-espa%C3%B1ol/id1503374265 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dC8BmYXC77tIaReY6JI6y?si=adf3392aa15e45c7 iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-tu-dosis-diaria-de-esperan-211298038/ ....... Pastores Roberto y Yamiley, De Dios Para Ti Hoy - New Hope en Español , Brandon, FL (813) 689-4161

A spiritual desert doesn't mean ministry stops; it means we discover what really carries us. We sat down with Pastor Cody Mayo to unpack a striking image that reframes leadership for a noisy, skeptical age: camels. Camels aren't pretty, but they are built for sandstorms. In the same way, prayer, fasting, Scripture, and Spirit-led love look ordinary from a distance, yet they are the load-bearing practices that move people through harsh seasons and toward hope.We trace the theme across Scripture. Paul learned at the feet of Gamaliel—“the camel of God”—a reminder that mentorship and formation matter when the road gets rough. Joseph's lowest moment meets a caravan bearing the balm of Gilead, revealing ministry as healing on the move. Then Rebekah steps to the well, eyes open to the cost, and makes trip after trip to water ten camels. That steady service becomes her road to destiny; the very burdens she lifted end up carrying her to her bridegroom. Along the way, we explore a core warning from Leviticus: never consume what carries you. Don't cut the disciplines that sustain your calling just because the desert feels long.If you've wondered how to lead faithfully amid social media noise, post-pandemic fatigue, and cultural fragmentation, this conversation offers a clear path: tend to the carriers first. Kneel the camels at the well before you reach for the meal. Measure a church not by platform shine but by the ministry it sustains day after day. You were made for this moment, equipped to breathe in the storm and keep moving with healing in hand.If this resonated, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review with one takeaway you're carrying into the week.We love to hear from our listeners! Thank you! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1639030158?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_VZBSV9T4GT4AMRWEWXJE&skipTwisterOG=1 Support the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@charlesgrobinettehttps://www.instagram.com/charles.g.robinette/https://author.amazon.com/bookshttps://charlesgrobinette.com/

This sermon from Acts 5:33-42 focuses on how to minister to people who respond to truth with rage and anger. Pastor Jim shares his personal experience of being confronted about his own anger issues and uses the example of Gamaliel's wise intervention when the Sanhedrin wanted to kill the apostles. The message emphasizes that some people don't want to hear the truth and react with rage, but we can learn from Gamaliel's approach: establishing credibility, showing respect, appealing for righteousness, stating caution, presenting reasons, and offering wise counsel. The sermon concludes with the apostles rejoicing after being flogged, demonstrating how believers can maintain joy even when facing unjust treatment because their conscience is clear before God.New here or need prayer?We would love to connect with you. Visit: https://form.church/connectionGive online: https://subsplash.com/u/-QJD4RD/give

Paul's life emerges as a study in formation, mission, and theological clarity. Born in Tarsus as a Roman citizen, Paul carried legal privileges and cultural breadth that shaped his later ministry and mobility. Rigorous rabbinic training under Gamaliel grounded his scriptural knowledge and fueled his initial zeal against the early followers of Jesus. A violent conversion on the road to Damascus redirected that zeal, and a prolonged season of reflection and study—rather than immediate public prominence—prepared him to preach with both conviction and learned care.Ministry unfolded through relentless travel: multiple missionary journeys carried the gospel across Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and beyond. Encounters ranged from miraculous healings and dramatic conversions to false accusations, beatings, and repeated plots on his life. Imprisonments, shipwreck, and house arrest did not silence proclamation; confinement often expanded the reach of his witness. Letters to churches and leaders evolved from robust theological exposition to pastoral instruction, aiming to preserve doctrine and train the next generation.The central theological claim advanced across those letters insists that righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not ethnic status or law. Paul frames the gospel as a mystery now revealed: Gentiles share full standing with Jewish heirs in the promises of God. That conviction drove cross-cultural strategy and sustained endurance in suffering. Life and death both serve the same purpose in Paul's view: Christ magnified. The shape of his final days remains uncertain, but his lived testimony and written legacy continue to instruct communities on gospel faithfulness, doctrinal integrity, and sacrificial mission.

The wisdom of Gamaliel guides the Sanhedrin and reveals a spiritual insight: when we embrace our faith in Jesus Christ we are vibrant and authentic witnesses of the Lord. (Lectionary #271) April 17, 2026 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

En estos días de Pascua, la Primera Lectura vuelve a poner el dedo en una herida real: la misión incomoda. Los apóstoles son amenazados, perseguidos… y aun así siguen enseñando. El criterio de Gamaliel es tu brújula semanal: si es de Dios, permanecerá; si es humano, se deshará. Y por eso, en abril, cuando hablamos de Eucaristía y Pascua, no hablamos solo de emoción: hablamos de vida que Cristo comunica a su Iglesia por los sacramentos. 

Dibawakan oleh Charlene Mahadi dari Paroki Bunda Maria Kusumah Karmel di Keuskupan Agung Jakarta, Indonesia. Kisah Para Rasul 5: 34-42; Mazmur tg 27: 1.4.13-14; Yohanes 6: 1-15.MENJADI ALATNYATUHAN Renungan kita pada hari ini bertema: Menjadi AlatnyaTuhan. Pengalaman dan hidup beriman dalam semangat Paskah, tidak hanya dalammasa Paskah ini tetapi selama hidup kita di dunia ini. Kebangkitan YesusKristus menjiwai seluruh hidup kita. Dalam periode ini Yesus tidak hadir secarafisik di tengah-tengah kita, tidak seperti pernah dahulu Ia bersama denganorang-orang sezaman-Nya. Ia sudah berada di sisi kanan Bapa di surga, dan untukmenyertai kita setiap saat, Roh-Nya yang hidup bersama kita di dalam Gereja danmasyarakat. Apakah yang mesti kita perbuat untuk membuat iman kitamenjadi mantap dan bertahan dalam semangat Paskah ini? Inspirasi bacaan-bacaanpada hari ini memberikan jawabannya, yaitu supaya kita menjadi alat-alat-nyaTuhan. Pelayanan Yesus Kristus melalui Gereja sebagai institusi tetapberlangsung hingga saat ini, yang sasaran utamanya ialah kawanan umat manusiayang ada di sekeliling kita. Boleh jadi mereka itu adalah saudara dan temansendiri. Boleh jadi mereka adalah banyak orang yang kurang kita kenal. Boleh jadimereka ialah orang-orang yang dipercayakan Tuhan kepada kita untuk dididik dandibina. Menjadi alat-Nya Tuhan merupakan suatu panggilan Kristianiyang mendasar, seperti kata Pemazmur: Inilah aku Tuhan, untuk melakukankehendak-Mu (Mz. 40). Hidup dengan menghayati panggilan untuk menjadi alatTuhan, ialah membuat Tuhan sungguh hadir secara nyata dan pribadi dengantugas-tugas pelayanan Yesus Kristus yang adalah penyelamat, penyembuh,pengajar, pembawa kebenaran, penghibur, dan pengampun. Panggilan ini tertujukepada setiap dari kita sebagai imam, biarawan, dan awam. Menjalankan panggilanini berarti kita berbuat atas nama Tuhan Yesus Kristus dan membuat Dia bekerjasecara nyata. Contoh nyatanya ialah seperti para rasul yang bertahandalam kebenaran Injil yang diwartakannya, meski mereka dipenjara dan diadiliMahkamah Agama Yahudi. Seorang imam Yahudi terkenal, Gamaliel, juga berbicaraatas nama kebenaran dan sekaligus membela perbuatan-perbuatan para rasul.Mereka adalah instrumen-instrumen ajaran dan pengetahuan iman yang benar.Kemudian pada suatu kesempatan yang lain, para rasul yang menjadi jembatan bagipemberian makanan kepada ribuan orang yang kelaparan setelah lelah mendengarkanpengajaran Yesus Kristus. Seorang anak yang menyediakan seporsi kecil roti danikan juga tampil sebagai alat-Nya Tuhan bagi terciptanya mujizat perbanyakanroti dan ikan. Mereka adalah instrumen-instrumen kemurahan Tuhan bagi kebutuhanragawi manusia. Kita dapat menjadi alat-alat Tuhan dalam kondisi dankemampuan setiap pribadi atau kelompok masing-masing. Semua itu bergantung padakesediaan kita. Marilahkita berdoa. Dalam nama Bapa... Ya Allah maha murah, perkuatkan kami supayakami dapat menjadi alat-alat-Mu yang benar dan berguna, terutama bagi sesamakami yang membutuhkan. Salam Maria, penuh rahmat ... Dalam nama Bapa...

Delivered by Enge Kristina from the Parish of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 5: 34-42; Rs psalm 27: 1.4.13-14; John 6: 1-15.BECOME THE INSTRUMENT OF GOD Our meditation today has the theme: Become theInstrument of God. Our Christian life as expected to be in the spirit of Easteris not only a true practice during this Easter season but also during our lifetime on earth. The resurrection of Jesus Christ indeed animates all our life.The period after resurrection is a period when Jesus Christ is not physicallypresent with all His followers, unlike when He was still living and walkingwith His disciples and people of His time. After resurrection, He went up toheaven to be with the heavenly Father. But as He had promised, He is foreverwith us at all times, because His Spirit lives with us in the Church and in thesociety as well. What must we do to ensure that our faith aligned withthe spirit of Easter? The inspiration from our readings today can give us theanswer, and it is true to say that we need to become the instruments of God. Theministry of Jesus Christ carried out by the Holy Church as a community of thePeople of God continues to occur to this day, with her main mission is to servethe humanity and the world. Who are those human beings to be ministered by theChurch? It maybe each one of us, our brothers or sisters and friends. It maybepeople we don't know who they are or where they are from. It maybe persons Godhas entrusted to us to be educated and cared for. Becoming the instrument God for us is a basicChristian vocation, as the Psalmist says: Here I am Lord, to do Your will (Ps.40). The goal of this vocation is to make the Lord truly present in a real anda personal way through the ministry of Jesus Christ Himself, who saves, heals,teaches, speaks of truth, comforts, and forgives. This vocation is given toevery one of us who chooses the way of life as priest, religious and lay person.To carry out well this vocation means each of us acts in the name of the LordJesus Christ and makes His works realized.  We are given an example of the apostles who bravelydefended the truth of the Gospel preached, even though they were tried andimprisoned by the Jewish Religious Court. A famous Jewish priest, Gamaliel,also spoke in the name of truth and at the same time defended what the apostlesfearlessly did. Both the apostles and Gamaliel had proved to be the realinstruments of God in preaching and teaching the true faith. Then anotheroccasion also shows us the practice of this truth. The apostles became the instrumentsfor the feeding of thousands of people who were hungry after a full dayfollowing and listening to Jesus away from the city. A child who provided asmall portion of bread and fish also proved to be the instrument of God for themiracle of multiplication of bread and fish. They were the instruments of God'smercy for the urgent needs of people at that moment. We can be the instruments of God in any givencondition in our lives today, especially the conditions that really needsurgent solution or treatment. It all depends on our willingness and commitmentto do. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O generous and merciful Lord, strengthen usin every step and work that we take, so that we can be your true and usefulinstruments, especially for the benefit of our needy brothers and sisters. HailMary, full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...

Domingo 29 de marzo, 2026.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Monday morning, the 30th of March, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Isaiah 8:10: “…God is with us.” Isn't that a beautiful comfort to know? And then we go to Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Isn't that a beautiful reassurance? Lastly, we go to Acts 5:39. You see, what had happened was that the High Priest and his people were trying to persecute Peter and the apostles, and there was a tremendous fight going on. Then there was a wise man amongst the elders. His name was Gamaliel. When they were arguing about whether we should put them to death or put them in jail? And of course, the jail couldn't hold them! Gamaliel said to them, to all the elders and the High Priest in Acts 5:39: ‘…if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” We need to give people a chance. We need to give them an opportunity to prove themselves. If it is of God, it will work. If it is not of God, it will fail anyway. You see, I am a farmer. We'll have a newborn calf. It may not be the prettiest of all the calves, but give it a chance to grow, and it will surprise you. If you are a fruit farmer, doesn't the Bible say leave that tree for the fourth year before you start to reap it for commercial use. We have a little school that is part of us here, this school has a headmaster, not so young anymore, but he has been with us for many, many years and sometimes I would go to him and say, “I really believe we need to give this young man an opportunity. He has failed, but we need to give him a chance.” And the headmaster would say to me, “Just leave him for a couple of years and let's see the kind of fruit that he produces.” Wise man!I want to say to you today, maybe it is your son, maybe it is your daughter and you don't know what to do because you are trusting that they are going to change, but they don't seem to be changing, give them an opportunity. That employee, don't just write him off. Give him a chance to prove himself and he might end up as your best worker. Let's be like Gamaliel today. Let us not be so quick to cut the tree down, to sell the calf, to write that child off. Let us give them an opportunity to prove themselves and you know something, nine times out of ten, with lots of prayer and love, they will surprise us.Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

I. The Obituary: Paul was born by the name Saul in the great city of Tarsus in Cilicia around 5 AD. Paul was executed for his faith in the city of Rome as a martyr under Emperor Nero (circa 67 AD). Paul was born a Roman citizen and trained as a strict Pharisee under the leadership of Gamaliel. He was a skilled tent maker, follower of the risen Christ, Apostle, Missionary, and human author of at least 13 New Testament books (Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and possibly Hebrews). Prior to his conversion to Christ on a Damascus road he was an aggressive persecutor of the early church. Paul became the most influential proponent of Christianity, preaching the gospel of grace through faith, not by the works of the law. He endured severe hardships, including physical beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecked, and hunger. Paul's tireless missionary journeys established churches in Asia Minor and Europe, fostering a unified community of Jewish and Gentile Christians. Paul spoke of his death in his final days from prison in his last letter, saying, I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH (II Timothy 4:7). He is not survived by a family of his own, but by thousands of spiritual children in the churches he founded. He is preceded in death by the Apostle James and the Deacon Stephen. Funeral arrangements are unknown. PRAY!II. The 3 Perspectives of Paul's life:•What would Paul say about himself?•I Timothy 1:12-15•Phil. 1:21; 3:1-9•What would others say about Paul?•Galatians 1:18-24•What would the Lord say about Paul?•Acts 9:10-16; Acts 18:9-11: II Cor 12:8-10III. We Remember Paul today based on his last words in Acts 20.•A life of serving - vv. 17-19•A life of sharing - vv. 20-21•A life of sacrificing - vv. 22-24•A life of shepherding - vv. 25-31•A life of strengthening - vv. 31-35•A life of sorrow - vv. 36-38•Jesus ends in Jerusalem (Calvary) then begins in Jerusalem (Pentecost)•Acts opens in Jerusalem and ends in Rome - take note of that, my friends.

What do we do when faithfulness brings legal pressure? // How should we respond when we're criticized for our faith? Why is Gamaliel important? Who was Polycarp? In this episode, Emma Dotter unpacks Acts 5:17-42, the legal pressure the apostles faced, and how God used a Jewish official named Gamaliel to protect the gospel. Then she tells the story of Polycarp, a disciple of John who refused to deny Jesus and was martyred for his faith. When we face public criticism for the gospel, we can be bold and courageous in a way that honors God. Image 1: 11 Luther nails up the 95 Theses" by fz1844 is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. Image 2: Mishnah Berurah, first edition, Warsaw" by Charlie Smith FDTB is marked with CC0 1.0. Image 3: Saint Polycarpe au bûcher" by Octave 444 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: Acts 22:3 John 16:13 Colossians 3:23-24 Romans 1:16 Ephesians 6:19-20 Ephesians 3:20 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  S4:265 – Acts 5-6 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-265-acts-5-6/id1600151923?i=1000735373170) // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY:  // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we're studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week's passage. Then, for the next six days, we'll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we'll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years' print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org  

Reading Acts 5:33-42 where a teacher named Gamaliel presents this test, saying that if the ministry of the apostles really is from God, then there will be no way to stop it. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

Sermon from Pastor Jim Stultz on March 8, 2026

Was the Apostle Paul a Slave? | Dr. Mark Fairchild on Paul's Early Life as Saul the ZealotWas Paul once a slave? If so, how did his early life shape his theology, mission, and message? In this compelling episode of the Bible and Theology Matters podcast, Dr. Paul Weaver sits down with Dr. Mark Fairchild to discuss his groundbreaking book, Paul's Enslavement: The Early Life of Saul the Zealot. Together, they explore the provocative thesis that the Apostle Paul may have been a former slave—and how that possibility sheds powerful new light on his language of slavery, freedom, adoption, redemption, and identity in Christ.Dr. Fairchild draws from the Book of Acts, Paul's letters (especially Galatians), early church tradition from Jerome, and the historical writings of Josephus to examine:-Paul's Roman citizenship and how slaves could receive citizenship through-manumission -The “Synagogue of the Freedmen” in Acts 6-The meaning of stigmata in Galatians 6:17-Honor, shame, and status in the first-century Mediterranean world-How slavery differed from modern conceptions of 16th–19th century chattel slavery-Why does Paul use slavery and adoption language more than any other New Testament writer -How Saul's zealotry transformed after his encounter with Christ on the Damascus RoadThis conversation also explores Paul's rabbinic training under Gamaliel, his intense persecution of the early church, and how his radical conversion reshaped his understanding of identity, freedom, and gospel ministry.If you want deeper insight into:-The historical Paul: First-century slavery in the Roman world-The background of Galatians: Paul's theology of freedom and redemption-How archaeology and ancient sources illuminate Scripture…you won't want to miss this episode. Dr. Fairchild also discusses his extensive research in Turkey (ancient Asia Minor) and his work on Paul's “unknown years” in Cilicia. This episode is hosted by Dr. Paul Weaver, Associate Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary and host of the Bible and Theology Matters podcast.

Where do we draw the real borders of the Christian faith—and how do we stop calling every disagreement “heresy”? We open with a simple map: some doctrines are state lines where family can differ, while others are national borders that define the gospel itself. From there, we get practical about discernment, separating theological essentials from ministry methods so we stop breaking fellowship over style and start uniting around mission.We walk through classic flashpoints with clarity and care. Calvinism and Arminianism? Both sit within historic orthodoxy, even as they debate God's sovereignty and human responsibility. Mormonism's familiar vocabulary with foreign definitions? That crosses the border by redefining Jesus and salvation. Catholicism's complex system? Many trust Christ and are saved, yet its most consistent soteriology clashes with the finished work of Christ. The goal isn't scoring points; it's identifying when the foundation shifts from grace through faith in Christ to something else.We also tackle the messy middle where most people live: biblical illiteracy, borrowed talking points, and sincere but misguided convictions. That's where patient correction matters. Like Priscilla and Aquila with Apollos, we open the Bible, strengthen what's weak, and watch for fruit over time. Jesus told us to test teachers by their fruit, not their flair. So we address spiritual malpractice—manufactured “prophecy,” platform-driven hype—and explain why public wolves require public rebuke, while confused brothers need fatherly guidance, community, and discipleship.Finally, we caution against rushing to endorse celebrity conversions. Hope is good; haste is not. The Gamaliel test—wait and see—keeps us anchored while we pray for lasting repentance and steady obedience. Our charge is simple: be Bereans, surround yourself with wise mentors, keep the Bible as final authority, repent quickly when corrected, and draw strong borders around the gospel while keeping generous state lines where Scripture allows faithful disagreement.If this conversation helped you think more clearly about truth and charity, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who loves theology and hates hot takes.Send a textSupport the show

A Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent Ephesians 2:1-10 by The Rev'd Dr. Matthew Colvin             Week after week, I see Pastor Bill preaching the Bible to you on Sundays, and I want to commend him to you. I'm not sure you are aware how rare it is to have a pastor who does his own translation work in the Hebrew and Greek, and who attempts, with diligence and great effort, to read the text of the Bible anew, divide it up properly, and serve it to you. What matters to Pastor Bill in his preaching to you is what the Bible actually says — the actual point of the gospels' stories, or the actual meaning of the prophecies of the prophets, or the actual meaning of Paul's arguments in his letters — not what famous theologians have used the Bible to say, or what scholastic medieval philosophy says it can and cannot mean, or the way modern self-help gurus can use Bible verses out of context to tell a very different story. If you attend to the words delivered from this pulpit, you are being trained to understand the Bible on its own terms, rather than watching as a slick speaker uses the Bible to express his own ideas. The story needs to be your story; you are to think of yourself as a child of Abraham, as a sharer in Israel's Messiah, as someone in covenant with Israel's God. Since it is the first Sunday in Lent, we are confronted with the very first episode of Jesus' public ministry after his baptism by John the Baptist. This story has much to teach us about Jesus' work as the Messiah, the nature of his sufferings, and ultimately, the way we ought to think about God Himself. I want to start by thinking about what it means when the Messiah goes into the desert. In Acts 21, when Paul is arrested in Jerusalem, the Roman centurion is surprised that he knows Greek: “Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?" -Acts 21:38 (I joke to my Greek students that knowing Greek is handy if you are ever suspected of being a terrorist.) In Acts 5, Gamaliel mentioned Judas of Galilee and Theudas, false messiahs who also started their rebellions against Rome by going out into the wilderness. Why do so many messiahs begin this way? Because they are attempting recapitulate of Israel's story. And the true Messiah also relives the story of Israel, embodying it in the events that happen to him: he has already gone down to Egypt to escape a tyrannical attempt to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem, much as Pharaoh tried to kill all the male Hebrew babies; he has already been baptized in the Jordan, as Paul says Israel was “baptized in the cloud and in the sea” of the Exodus; and now he goes into the Wilderness to be tempted for 40 days, as Israel was tempted for 40 years. Covenant history rhymes, as the saying goes. So that is why Jesus is in the desert. There remains explain why he is being tested, and how he resists that temptation, and what these things tell us about the Messiah and about God. We must recognize that Jesus resisted Satan's temptation as true man, as a matter of his messianic office. Jesus' self-understanding as the Messiah was in terms of the latter chapters of Isaiah, i.e. the suffering servant. This understanding of his calling is why he girded himself with a towel and washed his disciples' feet at the Last Supper; it is why he set his face like flint to go to Jerusalem; it is why he undertakes to drink the cup of suffering, and sheds sweat like drops of blood falling to the ground during his agonized prayer in Gethsemane. Being this kind of Messiah involved contradicting the expectations that other men had about what the Messiah would be like. When Jesus is on trial, the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, for instance, asks him — in a question whose statement-like word order indicates incredulity — “You are the king of the Jews?” (that is the word order, sarcastic or incredulous), and then puts over his head a sign reading “Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews,” in three languages, so that everyone could get the joke. Pilate mocks Jewish pretensions to even have a king. That is why he refused to change the sign to say only “He claimed to be the king of the Jews.”  It is also why he also brings out Barabbas and asks the Jews, “Whom do you want me to give to you? Barabbas, or the king of the Jews?” Pilate is operating with the standard pagan understanding of kingship: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28) Pontius Pilate and the Romans were expecting someone taller, perhaps. Of course, Jesus could have met those expectations, as he told the soldiers who arrested him in Gethsemane: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) It isn't that he couldn't just blow the Romans away with fire from heaven. But that is not his agenda. That is not what the Messiah has come to do. He has come “not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus also has to correct the expectation of the Jews about what the Messiah is to be like — even the expectation of his own disciples! It is this self-understanding that makes Jesus tell his disciples in Mt 16:22-23 that “he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Peter's suggestion that Jesus could be the Mesiah without suffering and dying is so inimical to Jesus' self-understanding and his mission that he calls Peter “Satan.” And rightly so, because what Peter is suggesting is pretty much of the same spirit as what Satan himself suggests in our gospel lesson this morning. So that is the background: Jesus as the true Israelite, the Messiah, is in the desert, not to lead a rebellion or a gang of terrorists, but to be tested as Israel was tested. Against all this background, we are ready to hear the words, both of Satan tempting, and of Jesus answering, and hear them with richer and fuller meaning — meaning not from Greek philosophy or self-help gurus or even systematic theologians, but rather, from the story of Israel. With his first temptation, Satan seeks to exploit Jesus' hunger: “The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written,  "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:3-4) Any of you who have ever been hangry know exactly why Satan is doing this. Jesus, no less than we, lived his earthly incarnate life in a body, and that body was subject to weakness. Jesus is not like Superman, so that bullets or nails would bounce off his skin. He was capable of suffering, and he did suffer. Satan is suggesting that Jesus should exploit his Messianic status — for that is what is meant by “If you are the Son of God” — and use it to avoid this suffering. Take your authority over all creation and use it to transform stones into bread. This is not a ridiculous suggestion. It is similar to Jesus' first miracle in John's gospel, where he turned water into wine for the wedding at Cana. But the aim of the action here would be quite different. Satan's meaning is basically the same as Peter's suggestion: “Suffer from hunger? Why put up with that? This shall never happen to you!” Jesus' answer is a quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3. (In fact, all three of Jesus' answers to Satan are from Deuteronomy. (Dt. 8:3, 6:16, and 6:13). That is, they are taken from Moses' instructions to Israel about how to live with the Lord. Jesus is the one who follows Deuteronomy's description of the faithful Israelite perfectly.) As so often, however, Jesus' quotations of the Old Testament are metaleptic —a fancy Greek word that means “takes along with it.” The idea here is that if I say, “We stand on guard for thee,” it would be a mistake for someone to try to understand that utterance merely by using a dictionary to look up “stand” and “guard” and so forth. The meaning of that phrase is rather to be found in the larger context of the Canadian national anthem as a whole, because that is how everyone who hears it will immediately start thinking in their minds: all the other verses will come flooding into your minds; you will perhaps recall occasions when you sang it: in school, or at sporting events; or watching a Olympic medal ceremony. Just so, when Jesus quotes the Old Testament, every Israelite hearer will not just think of the words he quotes; he will think also of the surrounding context, the story in which those words first occurred. So when we look at Deuteronomy 8:3, we should also think about the immediately preceding verse: "The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers. And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” (Deuteronomy 8:1-2) And then it goes on to say, in the very next verse, “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) This is what Jesus has in mind: he has been in the wilderness for forty days, being humbled, being tested. He answers Satan from the very passage of Deuteronomy that has to do with his situation: it is about testing in the wilderness. He has been thinking about this verse for a while now. The tempter's second try is with a more showy possibility: Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,  "'He will command his angels concerning you,'  and  "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" -Matthew 4:6 This would be an impressive display! Who could fail to follow a Messiah who had made such a proof of divine power? Jesus had answered the first temptation by quoting Scripture. But the devil can quote Scripture for his purposes, so Satan appeals to lines from Psalm 91:11-12. And again, he knows what he is doing: at a time when Jesus feels alone, when he is in the desert, Satan tempts him with lines from that most comforting song: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” It is full of promises of God's protection and deliverance: in battle, from wild animals, from dangerous diseases. And yet it is singularly inappropriate for Jesus' messianic vocation: He has come to suffer and die. To avail himself of divine protection against these sufferings would be to deny his messiahship. So Jesus replies with words from Deuteronomy again. "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" -Matthew 4:7 This is from Deuteronomy 6, that chapter which contains the Shema, the single verse of the Torah that could be called the creed of Israel: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” It is the core chapter of the Torah about Israel's relationship with God. He has rescued her from Egypt and taken her to Himself to be His bride; at Mount Sinai, he has married her. But Israel was not faithful. She tested the Lord like a wife acting up to trying to make her husband angry. When there was no water to drink, Exodus 17 says, “Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." And Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" (Exodus 17:2) The verb used here, and also by Jesus in Matthew 4:7, is πειράζω. Note well: Who was doing the testing in the wilderness for 40 years? Exodus and Deuteronomy say it clearly: Israel was testing YHWH. And thus, we may perceive some clever irony in Jesus' answer to Satan here. For Satan is called “the tempter,” and in Greek, that is nothing other than a participle form of this same verb πειράζω, literally, “the testing one.” So on the one hand, Jesus' quotation of Deuteronomy 6:16 could mean, “You are asking me to test God by throwing myself down from the Temple. I am not going to do it, because Moses warned Israel not to test God.” But it could also mean, “You are testing God, Satan.” Satan doesn't take the hint. He keeps on testing Jesus. There will be more attempts later, but the last temptation that Satan tries on Jesus in the wilderness is narrated like this: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." -Matthew 4:8-9 Why does Satan take him to a very high mountain? In the Bible, mountaintop scenes are real estate transactions. If I sell you this pen, it's simple enough: you put money in my hand, and I put the pen in yours, and you carry it away with you. But houses and land don't fit in your pocket. So we have other procedures. In our day, we get banks and notaries involved and sign a lot of documents. But in the ancient world, you took possession by inspecting the property after the transfer.  This is done in the case of Abram in Genesis 13:17: “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” The same thing happens when Moses is about to die; in one sense, Moses doesn't get the promised land, because he dies before he can enter into it; but in another sense, God actually gives him the land, because he takes him up on a mountain and shows it to him, and this is the formal transfer of the land: “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession..” (Deuteronomy 32:49) Satan is attempting to use the same convention in Matthew 4:8. He is trying to get Jesus to make a deal, offering the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. But Jesus has no need to make such a bargain, for God had already promised to give the Messiah everything Satan is offering, and Jesus, whose self-understanding as the Messiah is shaped by Isaiah's description of the suffering servant, knows it very well from Isaiah 49: The Lord says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6) He knows it also from Psalm 2: I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. Ask of God. Not of Satan. The nations belong to the Lord, not to Satan. Jesus has no intention of making a bargain to purchase what Satan wrongly claims to own. In Matthew 12, after the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan, Jesus replies that, How can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. (Matthew 12:29) And he does plunder it. We see the result in Revelation 20: “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer...” -Revelation 20:3 And as for the real estate deal Satan was trying to make, well, we see the end of that at the very end of Matthew's gospel. For the Great Commission too takes place on a mountain, and this setting seems significant, especially in light of Jesus' declaration that “all authority in heaven and earth” has been given to Him. This is a pointed contrast with Satan's lying statement, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.” (Luke 4:6 NKJV) Quite the contrary, Jesus, having refused Satan's bargain, and having bound him and plundered his goods, now bestows the kingdom on His disciples and takes possession of the nations by sending his disciples to teach and baptize them. I want to end by correcting three misapprehensions that some people might have about this story, which may prevent them from grasping what it teaches us about God. One mistake some have is that Jesus didn't really suffer in the wilderness; that His divine nature was smirking and unbothered by Satan's temptations aimed at his human nature; that all these things just rolled off of Jesus like water off a duck's back. We know this was not the case. Recall Gethsemane again, where Jesus begged the Father to “take this cup from me,” and his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood — drops of blood, not water off a duck's back. A second mistake would be to think that, yes, Jesus suffered, but that's only because He is human. But that is not what the Bible says. It says that Jesus revealed the Father by his sufferings; that if you want to know what the Father is like, you should look at Jesus, for He who has seen Him has seen the Father. Greek philosophers say that God is an unmoved mover, and that God cannot suffer because he is perfect; but the Bible tells us that Jesus was “made perfect by sufferings.” (Heb. 5:9) Greek philosophers tell us that God cannot be afflicted; the Bible says that “in all their afflictions, He was afflicted.” (Isaiah 63:9) Greeks and Romans thought that suffering was miserable and degrading, and that if you are suffering, you must not have any glory or power; the Bible says that Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore — not in spite of his sufferings, but because of them! — God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:8) There is no clearer picture of Israel's God than the cross of Jesus Christ. That is where we finally see God fully revealed. Finally, a third mistake would be to think that, yes, Jesus' sufferings were powerful and important, but ours are not. The truth is exactly the opposite. As George MacDonald put it, “The Son of God suffered, not that we might not suffer, but that our sufferings might be like His.” And they are. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory...” (2 Corinthians 4:17) We are in the Messiah. His story, Israel's story, is our story. In Him, we are faithful Israelites, true to Deuteronomy 6. In Him, we are the suffering servant of Isaiah's prophecies. In Him, the kingdoms of the world belong to us. In Him, we too are victorious over Satan. Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, for our sake you fasted forty days and forty nights: give us grace so to discipline ourselves that our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may always obey your will in righteousness and true holiness, to the honour and glory of your name; for you live and reign with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

"There is an ancient tradition that the holy, righteous elder Symeon, who came from Egypt, was one of the Seventy learned Jews chosen in the days of the Pharoah Ptolemy Philadelphus (285-246 BC) for the task of rendering the Hebrew Bible into Greek, and that to Symeon was assigned the translation of the book of the Prophet Isaiah. When he reached the famous passage where the Prophet foretells the virgin birth of Christ, saying: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Is. 7:14), he was so perplexed that he took a penknife to erase the word 'virgin' in order to replace it by 'young woman'. At that moment, an angel of God appeared and prevented him from altering the sacred text, explaining that what seemed impossible to him was, in fact, a prophecy of the coming into this world of the Son of God. To confirm the truth of this, he promised that Symeon would not see death until he had seen and touched the Messiah born of the Virgin. When, after many long years, Christ was brought into the Temple at Jerusalem by the All-Holy Mother of God, the Holy Spirit revealed to the Elder Symeon that the time of fulfilment of the promise had come. He hurried to the Temple and, taking the Child in his arms, he was able to say wholeheartedly to God: Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (Luke 2:29). For indeed, the Elder Symeon was the living image of the ancient Israel of the Old Testament, which having awaited the coming of the Messiah was ready to fade away and give place to the light and truth of the Gospel. The relics of the holy and righteous Symeon were venerated at Constantinople in the church of St James, built at the time of the Emperor Justin.   "The prophetess Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, was eighty-four years old. Since the early death of her husband, she had spent her whole life in the Temple in hope of the coming of the Saviour. She is the pattern for holy widows, virgins and monks, who have freed themselves of worldly cares in order to dwell always in the Temple, offering their fasts, hymns and prayers in eager expectation of the Lord's coming. And when, like Anna and Symeon, they have seen the indwelling Christ with the eyes of their heart and touched Him through their spiritual senses, they proclaim with joy and assurance to all mankind that the Saviour is still coming into the world: A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of His people Israel (Luke 2:32)." (Synaxarion)   The Synaxarion notes that the tradition that St Symeon was one of the Seventy is by no means universal among the Fathers. According to some, Symeon was the son of Hillel and father of Gamaliel, St Paul's teacher. According to others, he was a righteous and devout Jew aged 112, neither a priest nor a Pharisee.

After the apostles are freed from prison by divine intervention, the Sanhedrin summons them, highlighting the apostles' disobedience and accusing them of intending to bring Jesus' blood upon them. Peter responds that they must obey God rather than men, proclaiming Jesus as leader and savior, infuriating the council. Gamaliel advises caution, suggesting if their work is of God, it cannot be overthrown. The apostles are beaten and ordered to stop preaching in Jesus' name, but they rejoice in suffering for His name and continue to teach daily in the temple and homes. The church must expect opposition from all fronts, pray for boldness, maintain a warlike posture, and not be distracted from the gospel.

After the apostles are freed from prison by divine intervention, the Sanhedrin summons them, highlighting the apostles' disobedience and accusing them of intending to bring Jesus' blood upon them. Peter responds that they must obey God rather than men, proclaiming Jesus as leader and savior, infuriating the council. Gamaliel advises caution, suggesting if their work is of God, it cannot be overthrown. The apostles are beaten and ordered to stop preaching in Jesus' name, but they rejoice in suffering for His name and continue to teach daily in the temple and homes. The church must expect opposition from all fronts, pray for boldness, maintain a warlike posture, and not be distracted from the gospel.

Acts 21:37-22:21  As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?" 39 Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people." 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: 22 "Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you." 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 "As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 8 And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. 12 "And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.' 17 "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' 19 And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.' 21 And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"   Key Words: Defense, Persecute, Light, Lord, Sight, Witness, Righteous One, Baptize, Sins Keystone Verses: For you will be a witness for Him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name. (Acts 22:15-16) Download Bulletin

Packinghouse's Sunday morning worship service from January 4, 2026. Acts 5:27–42 | Pastor Greg: Enraging the Religious Mafia Hauled before the Sanhedrin, the apostles declare they must obey God rather than men and preach the simple gospel: Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, rose on the third day, and was seen. Though the council rages, Gamaliel urges caution; the apostles are beaten and released, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name, and they keep teaching daily that Jesus is the Christ. This chapter calls us to fearless, Spirit-filled witness, to discern truth amid counterfeits, and to let Jesus—Lord of all—have our ear. - Greg Opean - Sunday, January 4, 2026

Packinghouse's Sunday morning worship service from January 4, 2026. Acts 5:27–42 | Pastor Greg: Enraging the Religious Mafia Hauled before the Sanhedrin, the apostles declare they must obey God rather than men and preach the simple gospel: Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, rose on the third day, and was seen. Though the council rages, Gamaliel urges caution; the apostles are beaten and released, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name, and they keep teaching daily that Jesus is the Christ. This chapter calls us to fearless, Spirit-filled witness, to discern truth amid counterfeits, and to let Jesus—Lord of all—have our ear. - Greg Opean - Sunday, January 4, 2026

Acts 21:37-22:24 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: 22:1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they be- came even more quiet. And he said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and deliver- ing to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed to- ward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. 12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.' 917 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.' 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'” 22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.

Pastor Sam Houston's message reminded the church that while some entered 2026 easily and others through great difficulty, opposition has always been a reality for followers of Christ. Drawing from Acts 5, he demonstrated that opposition to Christianity has taken many forms throughout history; yet, two truths remain constant: the gospel of Jesus Christ is unstoppable, and God empowers His people to carry out His mission. Even when the apostles were imprisoned, beaten, and threatened, God used an unlikely voice—Gamaliel—to protect them and advance His purposes. Rather than being silenced by suffering, the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' name. Their response revealed a supernatural joy rooted in Christ's death and resurrection. The sermon concluded with a challenge for believers to reject fear and complacency, live boldly for Christ, and trust that nothing can hinder the power of the gospel. That the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly unstoppable. 

Pastor Sam Houston's message reminded the church that while some entered 2026 easily and others through great difficulty, opposition has always been a reality for followers of Christ. Drawing from Acts 5, he demonstrated that opposition to Christianity has taken many forms throughout history; yet, two truths remain constant: the gospel of Jesus Christ is unstoppable, and God empowers His people to carry out His mission. Even when the apostles were imprisoned, beaten, and threatened, God used an unlikely voice—Gamaliel—to protect them and advance His purposes. Rather than being silenced by suffering, the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' name. Their response revealed a supernatural joy rooted in Christ's death and resurrection. The sermon concluded with a challenge for believers to reject fear and complacency, live boldly for Christ, and trust that nothing can hinder the power of the gospel. That the gospel of Jesus Christ is truly unstoppable. 

A kinsman of the Apostle Paul, the Holy Stephen was one of the seven deacons (with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas) first appointed by the Church to minister to the people; and it pleased God to receive him as the Church's first Martyr for Christ. Read the long, beautiful and edifying account of his witness in the Acts of the Apostles, chapters 6-8. When Stephen, "full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people," (Acts 6:8), some members of a synagogue in Jerusalem came to dispute with him and, enraged by his proclamation of Christ, stoned him to death. In his death St Stephen revealed Christ's erasure of the boundary between heaven and earth, and the new communion between man and God: his face shone with the light of the Transfiguration, and he was granted a vision of Christ enthroned at the Father's right hand. His dying words were "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60).   According to holy tradition, the martyrdom of St Stephen occurred exactly a year after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. His body was taken and secretly buried by Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhendrin and secretly a Christian.   Saint Stephen's relics were discovered by the priest Lucian in 415 following a vision. They were translated to the church built for them in Jerusalem by the Empress Eudocia, and later taken to Constantinople.   The Saint's missionary speech before his death (like that of the deacon St Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch) reminds us that those appointed to serve the Church materially are not barred, or even excused, from proclaiming the glorious Gospel of Christ.

====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1==================================================== DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA JÓVENES 2025“HOY ES TENDENCIA”Narrado por: Daniel RamosDesde: Connecticut, USAUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church===================|| www.drministries.org ||===================01 de DiciembreTermina la carrera«He terminado la carrera y he permanecido fiel». 2 Timoteo 4: 7, NTVLance Armstrong nació en Texas, Estados Unidos, el 18 de septiembre de 1971. Desde muy joven se destacó por su talento en el ciclismo. Gano numerosas carreras a finales de la década de 1980 y principios de la década de 1990. Sin embargo, con apenas 25 años le detectaron cáncer testicular y tuvo que someterse a numerosos tratamientos. ¿Te imaginas lo duro que debió haber sido? No obstante, en 1998, y ya recuperado, regresó con gran ímpetu a las carreras y de 1999 a 2005 ganó el Tour de Francia, la carrera de ciclismo más importante del mundo, ¡siete veces consecutivas! Además de obtener una medalla de bronce en los Juegos Olímpicos Sídney 2000Sin embargo, todos los éxitos de Armstrong se derrumbaron como un castillo de naipes cuando se comprobó que se había dopado para mejorar su rendimiento. Como resultado, se anularon todas sus victorias a partir del 1 de agosto de 1998. Eso incluyó sus siete victorias al Tour de Francia; también tuvo que devolver la medalla de bronce y el diploma olímpico. Hoy, Lance Armstrong es una vergüenza para el deporte. Comenzó bien, pero no pudo terminar la carrera de su vida.Historias como las de Armstrong me recuerdan que, muchas veces, lo más importante no es cómo comenzamos, sino cómo terminamos nuestras carreras. Tomemos como ejemplo al apóstol Pablo. Comenzó su carrera como discípulo de Gamaliel y perseguidor de la iglesia. Además, él mismo confiesa que fue «blasfemo, perseguidor e injuriador» (1 Timoteo 1: 13, RV95). Sin embargo, al final de su vida pudo decir con la frente en alto: «He llegado al término de la carrera, me he mantenido fiel. Ahora me espera la corona merecida que el Señor, el Juez justo, me dará en aquel día» (2 Timoteo 4:7-8).Estoy seguro de que para más de un lector este año ha traído grandes victorias y quizás para otros trajo pruebas y caídas. Pero ya el pasado no importa. La pregunta que hemos de hacernos en este día es: ¿Cómo voy a terminar este año? ¿Acabaré esta carrera de 365 días con la frente en alto o derrotado? Todavía estás a tiempo de levantarte, darle un giro a tu vida y finalizar este año como un gran campeón. ¡Ánimo! ¡Termina bien la carrera! 

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Five and Verse Forty

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Five and Verse Thirty Four

In this Friday Thinking Talmudist episode on Talmud Bava Metzia 84b, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the extraordinary life and legacy of Rebbe Elazar ben Rebbe Shimon, a sage whose body remained undecayed in his attic for 18–22 years after death due to his unparalleled righteousness—his vessel solely for Torah and mitzvot, not worldly indulgence. The Talmud recounts how his absence as community marshal prevented women from receiving halachic rulings on purity, halting procreation, echoing stories like Rav Moshe Feinstein's eight-year childless period without a mikvah. Rebbe Elazar's wife observed blood when hairs fell and a worm from his ear, which he explained in a dream as minor punishment for once failing to protest slander against Torah scholars, teaching the grave obligation to defend the righteous and halt lashon hara—worse for the listener who enables its spread than the speaker.The narrative highlights Rebbe Elazar's posthumous miracles: a heavenly voice from the attic resolved disputes, interpreted as divine inspiration guiding just settlements; his unburied body protected the city from wild animals; and a serpent guarded his father's cave until burial. Parallels include the Gaon of Vilna's perfectly preserved body and the Chafetz Chaim's gravesite preventing miscarriages, underscoring burial's sanctity over cremation, which denies body-soul reunion at resurrection. Rabbi Wolbe passionately advocates for tahara (purification rites) by the Chevra Kadisha as a profound mitzvah, preparing the deceased for heavenly judgment, and recommends Rabbi Doron Kornbluth's book Cremation or Burial? for spiritual and environmental insights.Ultimately, the Gemara contrasts Rebbe Elazar's humility and self-imposed suffering to spare Jewish pain with Rebbe Shimon ben Gamaliel's self-description as a "lion son of a fox," proving true anavah (humility) among greats like the Bnei Beteira and Yonatan ben Shaul. Rabbi Wolbe ties this to defending Torah scholars amid Israel's yeshiva draft debates—spiritual pillars merit protection like Pharaoh exempted learners—urging pride in Judaism as Rosh Hashanah approaches, crowning Hashem as eternal King with majesty far surpassing earthly royalty._____________The Thinking Talmudist Podcast shares select teachings of Talmud in a fresh, insightful and meaningful way. Many claim that they cannot learn Talmud because it is in ancient Aramaic or the concepts are too difficult. Well, no more excuses. In this podcast you will experience the refreshing and eye-opening teachings while gaining an amazing appreciation for the divine wisdom of the Torah and the depths of the Talmud._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by David & Susan MarbinRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios to a live audience on September 19, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on November 7, 2025_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-talmudist-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1648951154Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0cZ7q9bGYSBYSPQfJvwgzmShare your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content._____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Talmud, #RebElazer, #Jewishvalues, #righteousness, #burial, #slander, #LashonHara, #negativespeech, #ChafetzChaim, #humility, #Jewishidentity, #pride, #Jewishburialprocess, #divineprotection, #IDF, #Torah, #RabbiYochanan, #evileye, #Teshuvah, #Hillel, #Shabbos ★ Support this podcast ★

In this Friday Thinking Talmudist episode on Talmud Bava Metzia 84b, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the extraordinary life and legacy of Rebbe Elazar ben Rebbe Shimon, a sage whose body remained undecayed in his attic for 18–22 years after death due to his unparalleled righteousness—his vessel solely for Torah and mitzvot, not worldly indulgence. The Talmud recounts how his absence as community marshal prevented women from receiving halachic rulings on purity, halting procreation, echoing stories like Rav Moshe Feinstein's eight-year childless period without a mikvah. Rebbe Elazar's wife observed blood when hairs fell and a worm from his ear, which he explained in a dream as minor punishment for once failing to protest slander against Torah scholars, teaching the grave obligation to defend the righteous and halt lashon hara—worse for the listener who enables its spread than the speaker.The narrative highlights Rebbe Elazar's posthumous miracles: a heavenly voice from the attic resolved disputes, interpreted as divine inspiration guiding just settlements; his unburied body protected the city from wild animals; and a serpent guarded his father's cave until burial. Parallels include the Gaon of Vilna's perfectly preserved body and the Chafetz Chaim's gravesite preventing miscarriages, underscoring burial's sanctity over cremation, which denies body-soul reunion at resurrection. Rabbi Wolbe passionately advocates for tahara (purification rites) by the Chevra Kadisha as a profound mitzvah, preparing the deceased for heavenly judgment, and recommends Rabbi Doron Kornbluth's book Cremation or Burial? for spiritual and environmental insights.Ultimately, the Gemara contrasts Rebbe Elazar's humility and self-imposed suffering to spare Jewish pain with Rebbe Shimon ben Gamaliel's self-description as a "lion son of a fox," proving true anavah (humility) among greats like the Bnei Beteira and Yonatan ben Shaul. Rabbi Wolbe ties this to defending Torah scholars amid Israel's yeshiva draft debates—spiritual pillars merit protection like Pharaoh exempted learners—urging pride in Judaism as Rosh Hashanah approaches, crowning Hashem as eternal King with majesty far surpassing earthly royalty._____________The Thinking Talmudist Podcast shares select teachings of Talmud in a fresh, insightful and meaningful way. Many claim that they cannot learn Talmud because it is in ancient Aramaic or the concepts are too difficult. Well, no more excuses. In this podcast you will experience the refreshing and eye-opening teachings while gaining an amazing appreciation for the divine wisdom of the Torah and the depths of the Talmud._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by David & Susan MarbinRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios to a live audience on September 19, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on November 7, 2025_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-talmudist-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1648951154Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0cZ7q9bGYSBYSPQfJvwgzmShare your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content._____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Talmud, #RebElazer, #Jewishvalues, #righteousness, #burial, #slander, #LashonHara, #negativespeech, #ChafetzChaim, #humility, #Jewishidentity, #pride, #Jewishburialprocess, #divineprotection, #IDF, #Torah, #RabbiYochanan, #evileye, #Teshuvah, #Hillel, #Shabbos ★ Support this podcast ★

After 70 years of exile in Babylon Cyrus, the king of Persia, who had recently conquered the city of Babylon, decreed that the exiled Jews be allowed to return to Judea and to rebuild Jerusalem. The decree was made in BC 537. Read it aloud in verses 2-4 of Ezra 1. Two thousand five hundred and twenty years later the Embassy of the USA is relocated from Tel Aviv of Jerusalem and a coin is minted showing Cyrus on one side and the then American president, Donald Trump. The uncirculated coin - meaning the coin is not legal tender - is inscribed with the words from Ezra 1verses2. The gold and silver vessels of the former temple at Jerusalem which had been stored in the treasure house in Babylon are returned to the new temple that is to be built in Jerusalem. Chapter 2 of Ezra gives us an inventory of the vessels and speaks the faithful remnant who with Ezra the scribe. King Cyrus makes a generous donation towards the cost of rebuilding Jerusalem. The vessels represent the saintsverses Isaiah 22verses24; 2 Timothy 2verses20-21.Hosea 5 deals with the judgment to come upon faithless Israel and Judah. Yahweh would, like a lion, tear His people because of their rebellious ways firstly through the Assyrian lion who would carry Israel captive; and then Judah would experience a similar fate 120 years later at the hands of the Babylonians.Acts 21 records Paul's journey to Jerusalem. The Apostle comforts and encourages many groups of disciples as he heads to Jerusalem. An old prophet, named Agabus, attempts to persuade Paul to go no further. Paul will not, like his lord, be dissuaded from going. The first thing Paul does on his arrival is to see James who advises him of the best course of action to be taken so as to avoid trouble. The Apostle is advised to complete his Nazarite vow and to cover the expenses of four other brothers who are completing their vows. James reiterates to Paul that the only binding requirements on Gentile believers are the keeping of the four matters agreed upon at the Jerusalem Conference. However, Paul cannot peacefully complete his vow since he is arrested in the temple by Asian Jews. These hostile Jews mistakenly believe that Paul has profaned the temple by bringing Trophimus, a Gentile Ephesian into the temple. A Tribune from the Roman fort of Antonia rescues Paul and commands that he be chained. The crowd clamours for the Apostle's blood, just as they had for his Lord's some three and a half decades earlier. In the barracks Paul speaks with the Tribune dismissing many of the fanciful thoughts as to who Paul might be. Paul asks for permission to address the crowd from the steps of the fort and his speech is recorded in chapter 22. Paul gives his defence in Hebrew and initially the crowd pays close attention. The aged Apostle describes his own education in the Pharisaic tradition under Gamaliel and his zeal for the Law. After this he tells of his experiences on the Damascus road, his conversion to a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says that he is warned by Jesus his Lord to immediately leave Jerusalem since his testimony will not be accepted. The Jews attentively listen until Paul speaks of being sent to the Gentiles. Once again uproar follows and the Tribune commands that Paul be scourged that the Tribune might understand why the multitude were so angry with the Apostle. Paul, on this occasion, uses his Roman citizenship to avoid a pointless flogging. The chapter concludes with the Tribune intending to have Paul examined by the Jewish Sanhedrin on the next day.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

In this Bible Story, the apostles are beaten and imprisoned for preaching the name of Jesus, healing the sick, and feeding the poor. Just as their Lord before them, the apostles find themselves suffering for the sake of restoration. This story is inspired by Acts 5:17-6:7. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 5:18 from the King James Version.Episode 220: As Peter, John, and some of the other disciples were sitting arrested in a dungeon, an angel of God came and rescued them. The angel commissioned them to go back into the temple and preach to the people. They obeyed and were arrested again. Just as the Sanhedrin were getting ready to put the men to death, a Pharisee named Gamaliel spoke up and reasoned with them again, rescuing the disciples. Though the disciples were beaten again and again, they rejoiced in getting to share the good news of God with the people.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Message from Mark Montgomery on October 16, 2025

Acts 4:1-31The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ the stone you builders rejected,      which has become the cornerstone.Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage     and the peoples plot in vain?   The kings of the earth rise up     and the rulers band together   against the Lord     and against his anointed one. ' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.Acts 5:17-42Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

In this Bible Story, the baby Jesus is visited by three wise men. Herod, the evil king of the Jews, gets word that there was a new child born by prophecy. Seeing Jesus as a threat to his power, he has every child under the age of two killed. But Joseph had his family flee just in time. This story is inspired by Matthew 2. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Matthew 2:11 from the King James Version.Episode 174: In search of the Messiah, three wise men from the south made their way up to Judea. They went to the palace of King Herod to ask if he knew where this newborn King was. When they finally made it to Bethlehem, they found Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. They worshiped Him, presenting Him with gifts that would both assist them and proclaim what His life would be about. Meanwhile, King Herod, ordered that all boys under two years old be killed in an effort to root out this new “king”. But God was with Joseph and revealed to him in a dream that he should flee immediately with Mary and Jesus to Egypt to be protected from Herod's massacre.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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