Podcasts about Herod

#373>  Sponsored by the Men's Division of Sara Schenirer.They will help you figure out your yeshiva credits, financial aid, and help you choose a degree program that leads to a successful career.They offer degrees in Accounting, Business, ABA, Psychology, Health Science, Pre-Med, Paralegal, Special Education, and Social Work. All degrees are offered through their prestigious partner colleges and their student support is first-rate.Applications are open now for the fall semester. Visit their website https://shorturl.at/YXy7i, call 917-209-8204, or email rpelberg@sarasch.com to connect with a helpful advisor today. > To purchase "Herod the Great: Jewish King in a Roman World": https://amzn.to/3GDdyji> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp status: https://wa.me/message/TI343XQHHMHPN1>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)Support the show

Up tothis point Jesus had three unfair trials before the Jews; before Annas, thefather-in-law of the high priest Caiaphas, and also Caiaphas at his house, andthen before the Sanhedrin. Now, in the early morning hours between six and nineo'clock on Friday morning, Jesus is taken before Pilate. Pilate has his firsttrial with Jesus and finds no fault in Him after questioning Him personally inthe Praetorium. Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod Antipas where Jesus is againquestioned, mock and ridiculed. Jesus is silent and does not respond to Herod whothen sends Him back to Pilate (v. 11). Inthese verses, 13-25, Pilate proves to be a coward. It is interesting to note thatmany Christian sources describe Pilate as “the model of a coward” who knew thecrucifixion was wrong but acted out of fear of political repercussions, such aslosing favor with Emperor Tiberius or inciting a riot. C.S. Lewis is referencedin these sources, suggesting Pilate represents “men without chests”—peopleunwilling to pursue truth, leading to cowardice and injustice. The fact thatHerod backed Pilate's decision would not have impressed the Jews very much,because they despised Herod almost as much as they despised the Romans. WhenJesus is returned to Pilate he again meets with the Jewish leaders andannounced for the second time that he did not find Jesus guilty of the chargesthey had made against Him (vv. 13-15). Since it was customary at Passover forthe governor to release a prisoner, Pilate offered the Jews a compromise: hewould chastise Jesus and let Him go. He had another prisoner on hand, Barabbas,but Pilate was sure the Jews would not want him to be released. After all,Barabbas was a robber (John 18:40), a murderer, and an insurrectionist (Luke23:19). He may have been a leader of the Jewish Zealots who at that time wasworking for the overthrow of Rome. Severaltimes Luke notes that it is the chief priest and rulers of the people that aredemanding that Christ is guilty and should be crucified. We must not think thatthe general populace of the city was gathered before Pilate and crying out forthe blood of Jesus, though a curious crowd no doubt gathered. It was primarilythe official religious leaders of the nation, the chief priests in particular(Luke 23:23), who shouted Pilate down and told him to crucify Jesus. To saythat the same people who cried "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday ended upcrying "Crucify Him!" on Good Friday is not completely accurate. Finally,after vacillating back and forth and at least three times proclaiming Jesus tobe innocence, Pilate realized that his mishandling of the situation had almostcaused a riot, and a Jewish uprising was the last thing he wanted duringPassover. So, he called for water and washed his hands before the crowd,affirming his innocence (Matt. 27:24-25). Pilate proves to be a compromiser anda coward, who was "willing to content the people" (Mark 15:15).Barabbas was released and Jesus was condemned to die on a Roman cross. Pilatewas a complex character. He openly said that Jesus was innocent, yet hepermitted Him to be beaten and condemned Him to die. He carefully questionedJesus and even trembled at His answers, but the truth of the Word did not makea difference in his decisions. He wanted to be popular and not right; he wasmore concerned about reputation than he was character. What a sad state to bein! We must be careful that we don't follow in his footsteps.  Itwould also be good for us to remember what Jesus said in Mark 8:35-38, “Forwhoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life forMy sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if hegains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give inexchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in thisadulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamedwhen He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." 

Welcometo Pastor's Chat today. We're continuing to look at Luke 23, and today we'refocusing on verses 6-12. Jesus had three unfair trials before the Jews; beforeAnnas, the father-in-law of the high priest Caiaphas, and also Caiaphas at hishouse, and then before the Sanhedrin. Now, in the early morning hours betweensix and nine o'clock on Friday morning, Jesus is taken before Pilate. Pilatehas his first trial with Jesus and finds no fault in Him after questioning Himpersonally in the praetorium.  WhenPilate hears that Jesus is from the region of Galilee, he knows that's Herod,King Herod's jurisdiction. King Herod Antipas, who murdered John the Baptist,had longed to see Jesus because he had heard of the miracles Jesus had done andwanted to see Him perform a miracle, like a trick. When Pilate heard ofGalilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. I love the scripture here becauseit capitalizes the "M" in the Man Christ Jesus. Yes, there was no manlike this Man, the Man Christ Jesus.  Assoon as Pilate knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him toHerod, who was also in Jerusalem at the time. When Herod saw Jesus, he wasexceedingly glad, for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he hadheard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Thenhe questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.  Thechief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. You can imaginethis crowd of chief priests, scribes, and Sanhedrin following Jesus to whereHerod was in Jerusalem. I can imagine Herod waking up this morning, having hisbreakfast, and suddenly all this is going on. Here comes this crowd ofPharisees, chief priests, and Sanhedrin, bringing Jesus with them. Herod,with his men of war, treated Him with contempt, mocked Him, arrayed Him in agorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day, Pilate and Herodbecame friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity witheach other. Both Pilate and Herod had the opportunity to try Jesus. What'sinteresting is that Jesus was not truly on trial before Pilate and Herod;rather, Pilate and Herod were on trial before Jesus. Obviously, they failed thetest. They did not receive Jesus as the Christ. Neither did they find Himguilty, as Pilate later said that even Herod found no fault in Him (v. 15).  Eventhough Herod mistreated Jesus and had his men mock Him as a the King of the Jews,Jesus the Man did not respond to them. I believe they did this because Herodand his crowd hated the religious hypocrites, the Pharisees. Even the lostworld doesn't like religious hypocrites. They mocked Jesus because He wassupposedly the King of the Jews, putting a beautiful robe on Him to make Himlook like a king.That day two men became friends because they had a commonenemy, the Jews, and a common purpose: Jesus needed to be condemned, and theJews wanted Him condemned and it was an opportunity to show distain for thereligious hypocrites.  Today,what stands out to me the most is that Jesus is the Man, the Christ Man, theGod Man. Oh, my friend, He's the Man who took on flesh so that through death Hecould become our sin on an old rugged cross. Romans 8:3 tells us: “For whatthe law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sendingHis own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemnedsin in the flesh.” I love how Hebrews 2:14 puts it: “Inasmuch then asthe children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared inthe same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death,that is, the devil”.  Iinvite you today to trust Jesus, to put your hope in this Man. There's no manlike this Man, the Man Christ Jesus. “For there is one God and one Mediatorbetween God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all,to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Godbless!

Have you given much thought to the legacy you'll leave behind? Discover how one man's legacy was turned upside-down in an instant, when he came face-to-face with the Son of God.

John 6:14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” So far in John, Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and now the crowd in Galilee recognize Jesus is sent from God into the world as a prophet because of the signs He performed or the authority with which He spoke. We will see this repeated in later verses. But when I read this verse, I was struck by Jesus' greatest sign to Israel that He is THE prophet who is come into the world and has authority over life and death. The sign Jesus performed for the world to see that should absolutely give us unshakable courage and confidence as we live to love with Jesus is prophesied in John 2:18-22. The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Romans, and the Jews were gathered together against Jesus as the Scripture says in Acts 4:28, “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” Jesus prophesied the sign. Then God performed the first phase of the sign as Pilate condemned Him and His body was destroyed in a few hours by whip and crucifixion. Then three days later, Jesus raised that body to life. Notice, Jesus said, “I will raise it up.” The one who can create bread for 15,000 can create life in His own dead body. That sign is the first in a series of signs where He creates His own life in our dead bodies. Our living to love with Jesus is a sign to the world that Jesus is the Prophet of God sent for the salvation of the world. We embody His greatest prophetic sign because when He died, we died to our lives in this world. When He was raised, we were raised with Him to live with Him forever. In this world, we live with Him to reveal His love and the power of His presence. The reason for this podcast is to plant that seed in the hearts of God's people so that it will grow into a movement of His love in this world. The world is looking for signs that give their lives meaning and purpose. Most don't even know they are longing for a savior, but do know they are longing for love. Our purpose is to help them identify their longing for love and connect it to Jesus, their savior. Did you get it? That occurs as we live to love with Jesus. Love is the sign God has given us to perform in this world. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

Welcometo Pastor's Chat today. It's hard to smile as we begin this chat, thinkingabout what took place this past Friday in Texas with the death of so manychildren and others as those devastating floods hit that state. First, let mejust say I was raised in Texas. I was born in Dallas and lived my first tenyears of life in Texas. All my cousins, aunts, and uncles on both my mother'sand father's sides of the family, which were large families, dozens and dozensof cousins, aunts, and uncles, still live in Texas. It's a dear state. It's awonderful place, and our hearts go out to those who have lost these precious,precious children and other loved ones that have died in this flood. Now,I know we all ask that question: Why would a loving God allow anything likethis to take place? The devil gets on our shoulder and gives us the wronganswers to that question and tells us God doesn't love us. God doesn't care.But that's the furthest thing from the truth. There are so many things wecannot understand. I can't understand when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, andafter He and His parents fled to Egypt, Herod the Great went to the same areaand killed all the male children up to the age of two years old, trying hisbest to make sure he killed the next potential king of Israel. It says thatRachel wailed; all the parents there, great wailing took place as this despotkilled all these children (Matthew 2:16-18). I don't understand that this isallowed to take place and be associated with the birth of Jesus Christ comingto earth to save us from our sins, to give us eternal life.  AsI sat in church on Sunday and thought about what has happened this weekend, Ijust wanted to cry. It affects us. I have four granddaughters who have beenwith us the last several days, and they're precious girls. I can't imaginelosing one of them. And yet, with this tragedy in Texas, so many have beenlost, and we wonder why this would happen. Well, let me just answer thequestion by saying we might not understand why. We might not understand why Godwould allow it, but I can tell you this: God has proven His love to us. For Godso loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Romans 5:8 reminds us ofthis: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for uswhile we were still sinners.” Thepassage before us today shows us what love God has given us through His Son,Jesus Christ. "Now the men who heldJesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him onthe face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy, who is the one who struckyou?" You can imagine this. Here's the Son of God. Here's the perfect Lambof God. Here is a man who never sinned, neither was there any guile in Hismouth. One who loved the people, cared for the children, healed the sick, raisedthe dead, gave sight to the blind, fed the hungry. Someone who laid down Hislife, came from the glories of heaven, became a human being, lived as aservant, washed His disciples' feet, and they're doing this to Him. They'remocking Him and saying, if you're the Son of God, you should know what my nameis. They mocked Him asking “who struck you”, and many other things that wedon't even know about.  Thenthey all said, "Are you then the Son of God?" So He said to them,"You rightly say that I am." Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. So whenyou hear these cults and others tell you Jesus never claimed to be the Son ofGod, they must be overlooking these verses.Jesusis the Son of God. God loves us. Christ died for us. He went through tremendoussuffering because of His love for us. Don't ever question that. Yes, we canquestion why things happen we might not understand, but we can believe and beassured that God loves us today (John 3:16).  Let'sbelieve this and let's be praying for these families that are going throughthis terrible tragedy in Texas. Godbless!

Title: Be ReadySpeaker: Pastor Darryl WilliamsDate: 16th April 2023Location: Melbourne, Australia In this reflection on Matthew 24, we walk with Jesus as he predicts the fall of Herod’s magnificent temple and, more profoundly, the end of the age. Drawing on vivid parables - the eagles circling a carcass, the budding fig tree, even the changing skies - he shows us how to read the warnings and signs pointing to Christ’s final return. Key takeaways: Matthew 24’s prophecy has a dual fulfilment: Jerusalem’s destruction in AD 70 and the ultimate end of the age. Natural parables (eagles, fig tree, weather) equip us to discern God’s unfolding timeline. Believers are called to endure, remain watchful, and uphold holiness in anticipation of Christ’s coming. Listen to the entire Podcast Revival library by visiting https://podcastrevival.com The Revival Fellowship is a Bible-directed, Spirit-filled Church and we welcome visitors to our meetings at any of our locations worldwide. To find your nearest venue visit https://therevivalfellowship.com © 2025 The Revival Fellowship. All Rights Reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Pastor Mike Burchfield as he continues his series, Jesus Christ: Perfect Man - Mighty God. This Sunday he will be discussing: The Protection of Providence Matthew 2:13-23 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

The Everyday Bible Study | July 7 | Herod Feared John Had Come Back from the Dead

Acts 12:20–24 records a brief but striking narrative about a man who, in his pride, opposed the church, only to find himself opposed by God. Herod was a man who suffered deeply from delusions of grandeur: ideas and visions of one's self worth and importance that are out of step with reality. This malady is a temptation for all who are not clearly fixing their gaze on the mission of Jesus. When we seek the flattery and praise of others, we are at risk of deluding ourselves. We consider three things from this text: 1. ⁠God's Purpose on Stage (vv. 1–19) 2. ⁠Herod's Pride on Stage (vv. 20–22) 3. ⁠God's Power on Stage (vv. 23–25)

The Everyday Bible Study | July 5 | Herod: Afraid of John?

Happy Fourth of July! Quinn comes to you LIVE to discuss the Big, Beautiful Bill, shortening, and Herod or Harold, unclear.

He is one of the most reviled and hated men in history. He was the king of the Holy Land during the time of Jesus and is best known for ordering the massacre in Bethlehem of all male children under 2 years old. His name? Herod the GreatBut Herod's cruel reputation has always hidden another side of one of the Bible's greatest villains. He was a prolific builder and architectural mastermind of breathtaking proportions. He built new cities, fortresses, palaces, harbours, aqueducts, theatres, and other public buildings. His most grandiose creation was the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, which he wholly rebuilt. Herod built more and larger monuments than virtually anyone in ancient times, perhaps in all time.Herod the Great, also known as Herod 1, was the Roman-appointed Jewish king of Judea, who was referred to at the time as the Herodian Kingdom. He reigned for 33 years between 37 to 4 BC. Join Gary on a journey back through time as we follow the footsteps of Herod the Great and discover what made him tick, and what made him crazy, and in doing so we'll discover one of the simplest and most successful ways to find lasting inner-peace and happiness. 

Today we're continuing in Luke 22:54-62. In verse 54 it says,"Having arrested Him, they led Him, Jesus, and brought Him into thehigh priest's house, but Peter followed at a distance." So, we'regoing to look at this passage of Scripture over the next several days and talkabout how Peter fell into the temptation of denying the Lord at a time whenJesus crucially needed him to stand up for Him. And we're going to find out whywe, you and I, so often with all the determination of our heart to stand up forJesus, to love Him, to live for Him, yet we still fail. And we're going to seethese steps that led to Peter's failure as we look at this passage ofScripture.  Firstan overview of the next events. Jesus has been arrested in the garden. AfterHis arrest over the next several hours, Jesus actually endured six differenttrials before He was condemned to be crucified: three before the Jews and threebefore the Roman authorities. First, He was taken to Annas, the former highpriest who was an influential man in the nation and who still retained hisformer title (John 18:12-13). Then Annas sent Him to Caiaphas, who was hisson-in-law and the official high priest (Matthew 26:57). Finally, at daybreakon Friday morning, He was tried before the Sanhedrin and found guilty (Luke22:66-71).  TheJews didn't have the right for capital punishment (John 18:31-32). So they thentook Jesus to the Roman authorities to get Him crucified. First, they took Himto Pilate (Luke 23:1-4), who tried to avoid a decision by sending Him to Herod(Luke 23:6-12). Herod sent Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:13-25). When Pilate sawthat he could not escape making a decision, he gave the Sanhedrin what theyasked for and condemned Jesus to die on a Roman cross. Now,it was during the second Jewish trial, the one before Caiaphas, that Peter inthe courtyard denied the Lord three times. So how did it happen? Where did itbegin? How did Peter come to a place where after he had boastfully said,"I will die with You. Though everyone else fails, I won't fail. I'llfollow You even to death. I will not stumble"? (Matthew 26:33). First, letme just tell you, the first step for you and me to go in the wrong directionwith the Lord is to get a heart of pride. Can you imagine Peter amongst the elevenother disciples at this time, making the statement that though all these otherguys around here forsake You and leave You and stumble, I will not stumble?  Myfriend, the first step to falling into temptation and to following the worldand leaving the Lord is pride. The Bible says, "Let a man take heed whenhe thinks he stands, lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Pride enters ourheart. We think we're stronger than we are. We think we can do it ourselves,and we then we start comparing ourselves to others and think we're better thanthem. That is a terrible condition to get in. It all started with pride. So, wesee Peter's first step of pride.  Secondly,Peter didn't take the word of Jesus seriously when He said, "Watch andpray." Peter failed to pray. He failed to watch. The hour oftemptation would come and Jesus had warned him that, "The spirit iswilling, but the flesh is weak." The spirit will say, "Oh, I'llnever leave church. I'll never quit reading my Bible. I'll always be the bestChristian ever. I know all these other people, they're not disciplined like Iam. They don't have the commitment and surrender I have to Jesus."  Whenwe have this attitude, we are headed for big failure. Jesus says, "Watchand pray." But instead of watching and praying, we find in theScripture here that Peter was sleeping. Three times the Lord came and woke himup. Yet He continued to sleep. We tend to sometimes forget we can't make itwithout the Lord helping us.  Tomorrowwe will continue to look at the other steps that led to Peter's stumbling anddenying Jesus. May the Lord help us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus all thetime.

Andrew Wilson and Alastair Roberts explore the Book of Daniel, moving from familiar stories to complex apocalyptic visions. They discuss interpretive keys including Babel connections, chiastic structure, and Christological fulfillment, helping you understand this unique prophetic book's unity and contemporary relevance. Chapters [00:00 - 03:00] Introduction & topic pivot to Daniel [03:00 - 07:00] How understanding of Daniel evolved over time [07:00 - 12:00] Key #1: Babel connection and empire themes [12:00 - 16:00] Key #2: Chiastic structure of chapters 2-7 [16:00 - 20:00] Key #3: Joseph parallels and typology [20:00 - 28:00] Four empires framework across chapters [28:00 - 34:00] Symbolic interpretation and multiple fulfillments [34:00 - 40:00] Three perspectives on empire; Christological reading [40:00 - 45:00] Daniel 11 and the Herod theory [45:00 - 46:00] Connections to Revelation; conclusion

I. Introduction: The Book of Haggai matters because the Temple matters. The Temple matters because worship matters. Worship matters because God is a holy God and commands those who worship Him to be holy as well. The Temple is primarily about God's presence, but is also about God's place. Don't make the place more important than the presence. The pride of the Temple was a problem in Solomon's day and in Jesus' day. II. Read Haggai 1 & 2 (Matthew 6:33-34) III. The History of True Worship -• False worship -• Vain worship -• True worship - 1. The altars in Genesis: a. Genesis 8:20-22, Noah at Mount Ararat b. Genesis 12:5-7, Abram at Shechem c. Genesis 12:8-9, Abram at Bethel d. Genesis 13:14-18, Abram at Hebron e. Genesis 22:9-14, Abraham at Mount Moriah (a father offered a son) f. Isaac would build altars to worship the LORD g. Jacob would build altars to worship the LORD 2. The altars in Exodus: a. Exodus 3:1-6, Moses was in the presence of God b. Exodus 12 - The doorposts were the “altars” c. Exodus 17:8-16, Israel defeats Amalek then Moses builds an altar (Jehovah-Nissi) 3. The Tabernacle in Exodus - 24:15-18 a. Exodus 25-40 (incredible detail of the mobile sanctuary) b. Joshua 22:19-29 (The eastern tribes' altar of witness) 4. The Temple with David & Solomon - a. I Chronicles 15:1; 16:1; 17:1-15, 16-27; 22:1-19; 28:1-21; 29:1-22 5. The Temples in the Old & New Testaments: a. Solomon's Temple - b. Zerubabbel's Temple (Haggai) - c. Herod's Temple (46 years) - John d. Tribulation Temple rebuilt - Ezekiel 40-48; (Abomination of Desolation) -

Reading IActs 12:1-11In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jewshe proceeded to arrest Peter also.–It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.–He had him taken into custody and put in prisonunder the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.Peter thus was being kept in prison,but prayer by the Church was fervently being madeto God on his behalf.On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,Peter, secured by double chains,was sleeping between two soldiers,while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by himand a light shone in the cell.He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,“Get up quickly.”The chains fell from his wrists.The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.”He did so.Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”So he followed him out,not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;he thought he was seeing a vision.They passed the first guard, then the second,and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,which opened for them by itself.They emerged and made their way down an alley,and suddenly the angel left him.Then Peter recovered his senses and said,            “Now I know for certain            that the Lord sent his angel            and rescued me from the hand of Herod            and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.”Reading II2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,and the time of my departure is at hand.I have competed well; I have finished the race;I have kept the faith.From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,which the Lord, the just judge,will award to me on that day, and not only to me,but to all who have longed for his appearance.The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,so that through me the proclamation might be completedand all the Gentiles might hear it.And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.The Lord will rescue me from every evil threatand will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.To him be glory forever and ever.  Amen.GospelMatthew 16:13-19When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippihe asked his disciples,“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter said in reply,“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.And so I say to you, you are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my Church,and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Acts 12:1-11 (Now I am sure that the Lord has rescued me from the hand of Herod) 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 (There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness)

Study 29-Luke 23:26–24:12 The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. All history pivots on the events described in these verses. The story is told with striking simplicity and absence of comment. We read Luke 23:26 – 43. Many people play a part in the judicial murder of Jesus. In order from Luke 22:47 on we read about:Judas, the arresting squad, Peter, the men guarding Jesus, the council of the elders, Pilate, Herod, the soldiers, the crowd in front of Pilate’s house, the soldiers leading Jesus to his death, the watchers and rulers at the place called a Skull and the criminals on their crosses. For each of these we might: Consider what their motives, if any, were for what they did. Think of a present day situation where the same motives might be apparent. Wonder which of these motives we might sometimes have ourselves. Question 1: Select 3 people or groups of people from that list and consider the motive, present day equivalent and personal reflection for each of them. The arresting squad, the men guarding Jesus and the soldiers were all obeying orders so motive doesn’t really come into it except for those who mocked Jesus rather more vigorously than they might have done. The problem of when to disobey orders is still with us. No one has ever been able to explain why Judas did what he did completely satisfactorily. Peter acted from a desire for self preservation, something we have probably all been guilty of in some small or large way at some time in our lives. The elders, Pilate, Herod and the rulers watching the crucifixion allowed political aims to dominate their thinking. They thought their ideas more important then the life of the most important man who ever lived. Some people still allow purely political aims to lead them to dreadful acts of wickedness. Only the friends watching beside the Cross, of whom the most important, according to John, were women and just one disciple, come out of the story with any credit at all. They had seen something in this man that transcended the danger of being associated with him. May we have the strength and courage to do the same. Question 2: Paul talks about sharing Jesus’ sufferings (Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Philippians 3:10). For some of us those statements may be reflected in our own lives. What would we achieve by such suffering? Would any such sufferings be in any way redemptive? f course sufferings, by definition, are not pleasant. Such things give us a great sense of solidarity – these would give us a much enhanced sense of solidarity with Christ, of fellowship with him. And apart from our feelings there would be the practical experience of His glory that Paul also mentions. We read Luke 23:44–56. The tearing of the temple curtain symbolises the opening of the way to God to everybody – you and me included. Each and every attempt by men to re-erect a barrier to God by saying that only they have full access, or only in their way is it possible to approach God, is sadly mistaken. After the death of Jesus the action moves to the apparent outsiders:Joseph of Arimathea was not one of the leading disciples and the women were second rate citizens in the thinking of those days. Question 3: Which one sentence of the story of the crucifixion will you take away as the most memorable for you? Different people would give different answers to this. For me, I think it is that brief comment “the centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God” because that mirrors my thoughts as I read about what happened. And so we come to the resurrection. We read Luke 24:1 – 12. This is one of the four accounts of what happened that we have. They do not exactly agree about what happened, differing in the way that eye-witness accounts of any surprising, unexpected, event will do. The women set out to do the obvious, necessary things, for a dead person. They did not agonize in prayer about what they should do (did they leave that to the male apostles?). They were hugely blessed as a result of undertaking the obvious tasks. Is this a lesson for us? Question 4: Why was it women (in those days considered unreliable witnesses to anything!) who were there first? What are we expected to learn from the fact that they were first to meet the risen Lord (according to Matthew and John)? The New Testament challenges the way women were thought of and treated in those days. It does this obliquely, rather than directly in gospel stories like this, in the way Paul refers to women particularly in the last chapter of Romans where Priscilla has a dominant role in what she does with her husband, in what is said of Phoebe, in that Junias, a woman, is called an apostle, and many other women are mentioned and commended, all in this same chapter. The church, like the societies in which it has existed for most of its history has been male dominated. We need to be careful to think about the balance we see in scripture. The most important event in the history of the world was the death of Jesus on the Cross, for that act alone atoned for the rebellion of all men and women, including you and me, against God. That we know this is the correct understanding of what happened is because of what followed – the resurrection of Jesus to the new life of the ages. Had he not risen he would have been just one more of the many failed would-be Messiahs of those days. There would have been no church, no Christian movement. Many people have tried to argue that it did not happen. None of them have given a satisfactory explanation of what did happen. We know without the slightest doubt that there was a Jewish nation there when Jesus was born and that a remarkable movement of people known as Christians started very soon after his death. Something happened in between to cause the move from one to the other. What was it? Only the Biblical account recorded in the four gospels makes any sense of the gap. We – you – have to come to terms with what happened and decide how we – you – are going to respond to it. The next, and last, study in this series considers the two episodes describing what happened when disciples met the risen Christ. These are clearly written to challenge any and every reader or hearer to faith. So, if you are not already a follower of Jesus, you are going to be challenged to think deeply about what you have heard. Will you be prepared to follow Him, whatever the cost may be? Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this as a MP3 audio file

When persecution strikes, the faith of the early believers is tested—will they stand firm as James is executed, and Peter faces impossible odds in Herod's prison?In this powerful episode, we witness the brutal persecution of James by King Herod and the miraculous escape of Peter from prison through divine intervention. As the early church faces trials, they are reminded that even in the face of death, God's hand of deliverance is ever-present.Today's Bible verse is Matthew 5:10, from the King James Version.Download the Pray.com app for more Christian content including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Pray.com is the digital destination for 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is amazing what we as humans will do to preserve ourselves. Herod, in an attempt to ensure his kingship won't be taken from him after news of the King of the Jews born in Bethlehem, killed all young boys 2 and under in the same and surrounding areas.In this day and age, we're seeing something very similar.Tune in this week as Pastor Thomas continues our series "A Study Through Matthew," and exhorts the listener to take a stand for the Kingdom of God.If you would like to partner with BLVD Church and what we are doing in the community, you can make an investment of support at https://blvd.church/give

The wonderful story of the Forerunner's conception and birth is told in the first chapter of the Gospel according to Luke. Together with the Most Holy Theotokos and Christ Himself, both his conception and his birth are commemorated as Feasts of the Church. His name, Johanan in Hebrew, means "The Lord is Gracious."   The Prologue adds: "The news of the angel's appearing to Zacharias, of his dumbness and of the loosening of his tongue at the exact moment that he wrote 'John', was carried throughout all Israel, coming to Herod's ears. So, when he sent men to kill all the infants around Bethlehem, he sent men off to Zacharias' family house in the hills, to slay John also. But Elisabeth hid the child in good time. The king was enraged at this, and sent an executioner to the Temple to kill Zacharias (for it was then his turn to serve in the Temple again). Zacharias was killed between the court and the Temple, and his blood clotted and solidified on the paving slabs, and remained as an enduring witness against Herod. Elisabeth hid herself and the child in a cave, where she soon died. The young John remained in the wilderness alone, in the care of God and His angels." See September 5

Gospel  Luke 1:5-17 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division's turn before God, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. John will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn their hearts toward their children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Reflection God makes promises to all of us. He made a promise to Zechariah and Elizabeth that they would have a son one day, and when the time pass for it to happen in this ordinary way, he lost sight of the promise, and gave up on it. And yet, when an angel appeared to him to tell him that this was going to happen, but it was going to happen in a way that was beyond anything that would have been normal, it was an extraordinary event, a woman far into her old age having a baby. But what the lesson seems to me to be that no matter how long it takes, no matter what form it takes, the promises that God makes to us will take place. We have to believe. We have to trust, or we are not going to be open to when it does happen. Closing Prayer Father, bless us with an ability to trust beyond what is logical. What is practical. You've made a promise to all of us that we will know you, we will live with you, you will dwell in us, and we will do things that are your work in others. Bless us with the faith that we need that never do we lose the hope that that will happen. Then we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we examine the biblical and historical data, it's very clear that December 25th is not Christ's birthday.  While we're not obliged to give an exact date, we can narrow it down to a window and a time: more likely a September date between 7 and 6 B.C., fitting into the set times of God. VF-2483 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

In the days of Herod, King of Judea,there was a priest named Zechariahof the priestly division of Abijah;his wife was from the daughters of Aaron,and her name was Elizabeth.Both were righteous in the eyes of God,observing all the commandmentsand ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barrenand both were advanced in years.Once when he was servingas priest in his division's turn before God,according to the practice of the priestly service,he was chosen by lotto enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outsideat the hour of the incense offering,the angel of the Lord appeared to him,standing at the right of the altar of incense.Zechariah was troubled by what he saw, and fear came upon him.But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah,because your prayer has been heard.Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,and you shall name him John.And you will have joy and gladness,and many will rejoice at his birth,for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.John will drink neither wine nor strong drink.He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,and he will turn many of the children of Israelto the Lord their God.He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijahto turn their hearts toward their childrenand the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Jim Travato from Brentwood, CA. Jim, your partnership with us through Project 23 is helping us and others remember what God has done in the past and will do in the future. This study is for you. Our text today is Mark 8:14-21: Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” — Mark 8:14-21 The disciples forget bread. Again. And as they're grumbling about lunch, Jesus gives them a deeper warning: “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.” But they miss the point. They think Jesus is mad because they forgot the food. Jesus isn't talking about carbs. He's talking about corruption. Leaven was a metaphor. Just a pinch of it affects the whole loaf. And just a pinch of pride, hypocrisy, and unbelief—like that of the Pharisees and Herod—can corrupt the soul. But the disciples are stuck in their heads on bread. So Jesus hits them with a list of questions: Don't you understand? Are your hearts hardened? Didn't you see the miracles? Don't you remember what I did with five loaves? With seven? They had seen the power of Jesus multiply what little they had. But somehow—they still worried there wouldn't be enough. The danger wasn't the lack of bread—it was the lack of belief. And that's the same danger we face today. You've seen Jesus provide—but you still stress about tomorrow. You've seen Jesus' power—but still act like it's all up to you. You've watched Jesus move—but forget by the time the next challenge hits. That's spiritual amnesia. And Jesus calls it out in the lives of his disciples and ours. But Jesus is not frustrated by your questions. He's grieved by your forgetfulness. Because when you forget what God has done, you start depending on yourself again. So, pause today. Remember the baskets in your life. Remember the miracles he has done in the past. Remember what he did with your “not enough.” And let that memory build your trust today. Then, keep believing and moving forward. #RememberGod, #FaithNotFear, #Mark8 ASK THIS: What “basket moments” have you forgotten? How does forgetting God's past provision affect today's faith? What does “leaven” look like in your life today? How can you train your heart to remember? DO THIS: Write down three things God has provided for you this year—and thank him for each one. PRAY THIS: Jesus, forgive me for forgetting Your past faithfulness. Help me remember who You are—and trust You with what's next. Amen. PLAY THIS: “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship.

Father Edward Looney reads and comments on The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich.Day 40Volume 1THE MOST HOLY INCARNATIONChapter 13: The Kings Before HerodLEARN MORE - USE COUPON CODE ACE25 FOR 25% OFFThe Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations: From the Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Four-Book Set - https://bit.ly/3QVreIsThe Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/4bPsxRmThe Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich Two-Book Set - https://bit.ly/3yxaLE5The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich - https://bit.ly/3wTRsULMary Magdalen in the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich -https://bit.ly/4brYEXbThe Mystical City of God Four-Book Set - https://bit.ly/44Q9nZbOur Lady of Good Help: Prayer Book for Pilgrims - https://bit.ly/3Ke6O9SThe Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich is a podcast from TAN that takes you through one of the most extraordinary books ever published. Follow along daily as Father Edward Looney works his way through the classic four-volume set, The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, by reading a passage from the book and then giving his commentary. Discover the visions of the famous 19th-century Catholic mystic, Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, a nun who was privileged by God to behold innumerable events of biblical times.Anne Catherine's visions included the birth, life, public ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the founding of His Church. Besides describing persons, places, events, and traditions in intimate detail, she also sets forth the mystical significance of these visible realities. Here is the infinite love of God incarnate and made manifest for all to see, made all the more striking and vivid by the accounts Blessed Anne has relayed.Listen and subscribe to The Life of Jesus Christ in a Year: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich on your favorite podcast platform or at EmmerichPodcast.com.And for more great ways to deepen your faith, check out all the spiritual resources available at TANBooks.com and use Coupon Code ACE25 for 25% off your next order.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide different details about the birth and early childhood of Christ.  By looking to evidence from the Bible and a variety of external sources, we can begin to learn the truth about His birth.  The accounts tell us where He was born and if you read carefully, what time of the year it was.  Jesus was not born at Christmas and the Magi did not visit Him at birth, but later when He was a young child. Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2 VF-2482 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

"How do I get rid of fear?" What if that's the wrong question? God's answer isn't to eliminate fear, but to replace it with something more powerful. Featuring a raw, real look at Mark 6 and the devastating consequences of Herod's cowardice, this video uncovers the spiritual roots of fear—and God's beautiful, life-changing solution. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, insecurity, or paralyzing fear, this message will point you to true freedom.

 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judaeae, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth. 6 And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela. 7 And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis. 8 And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suae ante Deum, 9 According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini : 10 And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi. 12 And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum. 13 But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:Ait autem ad illum angelus : Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua : et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem : 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity.et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt : 15 For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.erit enim magnus coram Domino : et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suae : 16 And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.et multos filiorum Israel convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum : 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.et ipse praecedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliae : ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam.

The Holy Spirit is not silent — He speaks, convicts, and guides. This spirit invites us to cultivate listening hearts, discerning the Spirit's voice through Scripture, prayer, and community. Explore the Spirit's ongoing role in shaping our daily direction and decisions. Acts 13:1–4Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.Romans 8:14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.John 16:12–15; 17:20-23“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Friday, 20 June 2025   And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples... Matthew 11:2   “And John, having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, having sent two of his disciples” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus departed to teach and preach in their cities. It now says, “And John, having heard in the prison.”   The word desmótérion, prison, is introduced. It is derived from desmon, a bond, chain, or fetter. As such, it speaks of a place of bondage, such as a dungeon or prison. The reason for his imprisonment is not recorded until Matthew 14 –   “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.' 3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4 Because John had said to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.' 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.” Matthew 14:1-5   John is in prison, but it is apparent that he had freedoms while there. In Mark 6, during his time in prison, it says –   “Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” Mark 6:19, 20   It is during this time in prison that John heard about “the works of the Christ.” Including the article before Christ changes the tone of the narrative –   John heard about the works of Christ. John heard about the works of the Christ.   What appears to be the intent is that while in prison, John has heard about the things the Christ (the Messiah) had been doing. But one of the things the Messiah was prophesied to do would have affected him personally –   “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” Isaiah 61:1   Because of his imprisonment and because of the promises stated in Isaiah, John may have been wondering where the disconnect was. Therefore, it says, “having sent two of his disciples.”    This continues to tell us that John had freedoms while in prison. He was allowed to be visited by his disciples and give word to them to go on a mission. As for the words, some texts say dia, through, instead of duo, two. In other words, it would mean he sent a message by his disciples rather than he sent two disciples. Luke 7:19 says duo, two.   Life application: Concerning the difference between through and two above, a few commentaries give their thoughts –   “For ‘two of his disciples' read, on the best MS. authority, by means of his disciples.” Cambridge   “Possibly the slight difference between διά, the true reading here, and δύο, which is genuine in Luke, points to the common source (observe here a Greek source) having been written, but with the close similarity in sound this need not have been the case. Observe that the true reading lays slightly more emphasis on the fact of the inquiry coming from John himself.” Pulpit Commentary   “Two of his disciples (δύο) But the correct reading is διά, by. He sent by his disciples. So Rev.” Vincent's Word Studies   Cambridge says the text which says dia is “the best.” Pulpit says it is “the true reading.” Vincent's says it is “the correct reading.” Did you accept their thoughts? Did you ask yourself, “How do they know this?” Did you consider that “best” is a subjective word in the manner in which it is being used?   Luke clearly says two. We have ancient witnesses that do not agree, and because one of them is older, it is assumed to be the better, even though it was found later. Why is it necessary to say dia, through, and meaning “by,” when the initiator is already identified? The Pulpit Commentary says that by saying dia, it “lays more emphasis on the fact of the inquiry coming from John himself.” Does it?   And John, having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, having sent two of his disciples... And John, having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, having sent by his disciples...   Maybe the focus is on the two, not that they were merely his disciples.   As always , be careful not to merely accept some scholar's words without questioning how they came to their conclusions. Seemingly strong arguments will often not seem as strong when an alternate and opposing evaluation is suggested. You will only get out of your time in the word what you put into it. Take commentaries with a grain of salt, but don't hesitate to read and consider them, even when they come to different conclusions.   Lord God, thank You for challenging us with Your word. It is a treasure trove of delight. But You have allowed man to transmit it from its originals. Men are faulty, and so help us to identify where things may have been incorrectly copied or intentionally manipulated. Give us wisdom in Your precious word. Amen.  

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Acts 12 6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. 9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn't realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. 11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It's really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” 12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!” 15 “You're out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.” 16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place. 18 At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn't be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.   Gods ways are not our ways…   Peter is out cold waiting to be executed…   It took a group of people praying… how is your church at that? How are your friends at that?   God broke the law by breaking Peter out of Jail.   Rhoda was so awestruck that she left Peter in the dark.   Peter though freed was wise enough to tell everyone to be quiet…    He was free, but also smart enough to get out of town.   God's plan does not seem fair or make much sense and even might seem cruel. Herod had the guards all executed for their role in this… fair, unfair.. its up to God to decide… we just follow orders of the Holy Spirit.    Did you ever think that maybe we limit God moving in our life because we want answers that are supernatural, but safe and in order?  God is not like that.

Daily Dose of Hope June 19, 2025   Scripture – Matthew 14   Prayer:  Abba Father, We come to you today in awe of your love for us.  Thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice.  Thank you for sitting high and looking low.  We give you all the glory and praise, Lord Jesus.  Help us to be less selfish and more like you.  On our own, we mess it up.  We need you, Jesus.  We need you minute by minute.  Guide our thoughts today, Lord.  Guide our words and guide our actions.  May we look more like you today, Lord, than we did yesterday.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are diving into Matthew 14.  We start with the murder of John the Baptist.  We read about this in Mark as well.  Herod was an evil guy.  We can see there is little value placed on human life in the Roman Empire. Herod is far more concerned about how he looks in front of his guests than how he looks in front of God.  Then, we have the feeding of the 5,000.  This miracle is in all four Gospels so we need to lean in and really pay attention here.  After Jesus heard about his cousin John being killed, he decided to get away.  You can't blame him; I'm sure he needed time to grieve and he just needed some solitude.  But the crowds followed him.  You would think he might get annoyed but he doesn't. Verse 14 says, When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Jesus really doesn't miss a beat.  No matter how physically tired he is, he keeps taking care of the people, giving them what he knows they need.  Some people today might suggest that Jesus had poor boundaries.  He could have said, “You guys, we really need a break.  I'm off today.”  But that isn't what he did.  He had compassion on the people.  He tolerated and even welcomed interruptions.  He would frequently be planning to do this one thing but pulled away in a different direction.  But it was in those interruptions, those distractions that Jesus did amazing work, that we get to see God at work in amazing, miraculous ways.  He heals the woman who had been bleeding for many years because she “interrupts” him on his way to the Roman official's home.  Think of the man whose friends created a hole in the roof to lower their friend in front of Jesus and “interrupt” his teaching.  He was interrupted by a demon-possessed man at the synagogue and he heals him.  I counted something like 35 “interruptions” and it was in those interruptions that Jesus healed, taught, loved, and demonstrated God's glory.  Back to the miracle. There were roughly 5000 men there, which doesn't include the women and children because at that time, women and children would not be in the official count.  So we are talking probably 10-15,000 people being present.  When the disciples wanted to send the people away, they were simply being practical, right?  They were on the outskirts of Bethsaida, and the closest village would have been a several hour walk.  It makes sense that they would immediately think to send them away.  And they were tired.  And they were probably a bit annoyed and wanted them to just go away.  But that isn't what Jesus decided to do.  Jesus tells the disciples “You give them something to eat.”  This is so interesting to me because Jesus is putting the responsibility on the disciples to solve the problem.  You do it.  In Mark, the disciples complain “but that would take half a year's wages to feed all these people.”  So Jesus talks them through it.  What do you have?  Well, we have five loaves of bread and two fish.  Jesus takes the food multiplies it.  I often wonder if Jesus knew he was going to do this all along or it just kind of happened in the moment.  Exactly how it happened, we don't know.  What we know is that it happened.  Jesus took a little and turned it into a lot.  In that moment, we see God's Kingdom in all it's fullness.  In God's Kingdom, there is no sickness so Jesus healed.  In God's Kingdom, there is no hunger so Jesus fed.  Most of us are pretty well fed but that was not the norm in first century Palestine.  People did not get enough to eat.  Those 10-15K people that Jesus was caring for in Bethsaida, these were peasants.  They were hungry people.  The social structures of the day ensured that these people were always a little hungry, always a little desperate.  That way the Roman government could stay in control.  It was quite effective. But Jesus was demonstrating a different way of life, one in which “God” is on the throne, one in which all people are valued and cared for and fed.  I love that line in verse 20, “they all ate and were satisfied.”  That would have been very unusual for that group of people, to eat and be satisfied.  And there were 12 baskets left over, a basket for each disciple to carry.  I wonder if Jesus did that so that as they were carrying these baskets home, they would continually be reminded that God is so much bigger than they ever could imagine, that Jesus will find a way no matter how impossible the situation might seem.  Jesus can take five loaves of bread and two fish and feed 15,000 people.  He can defy the laws of nature.  I mean, he created the laws of nature.  I'm not sure how many of you are currently dealing with something that seems impossible, that seems like there is no solution – a health crisis, a broken relationship, a financial mess.  If you hear nothing else today, I want you to hear that NOTHING, no problem, is too big for our God.  God can and will make a way but we have to release it to him.  We have to allow him to take care of it the way he sees fit.  It might not be, it probably won't be, the way we would do it.  But there is always a way.  Finally, the chapter closes with Jesus walking on water and this fascinating interaction with Peter.  Jesus had been off praying, as he was apt to do, and he goes to find the disciples. They see him walking on water and at first, think he is a ghost. Peter, in his normal partly bold, partly impulsive way, asks Jesus if he can walk on the water too. Specifically, he says, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” So Jesus says to come and Peter steps out on the water. Can you even imagine what must have been going through Peter's head at the time? For a while, Peter does fine. He is actually walking on water. But as soon as he takes his eyes off Jesus, he sinks. Think about that–the very minute he looks away, gets distracted, and begins to doubt–he starts to sink. Think about your own life. How often have you taken your eyes off Jesus and begun to sink? The author of Hebrews tells us in chapter 12 to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we have confidence that we aren't alone, that God is present, and that there is a purpose to all of this. The very minute we begin to look away, the sinking begins. We become stalled. We falter. We forget who and whose we are.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Send us a textActs 13:1-3Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.Support the show

Welcome to the Christmas series! Herod, boiling in a jealous rage, commits the same act as Pharaoh did long ago. In a chaotic and fiery frenzy, children are taken from their homes and killed, all because of the pride of one man. Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com. As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel. They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history. For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.  To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textActs 12:20-25Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.But the word of God increased and multiplied.And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.Support the show

Send us a textActs 12:13-19When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time therSupport the show

Herod's compromised conscience and Heriodias' desire for revenge results in the death of John the Baptist.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --“Your earthly father may have shaped your past, but your Heavenly Father defines your future.”-if you let meRomans 3:23 and 24 says - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. - We all fall Short, But Jesus stands in the gap1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”Ultimate security comes from knowing we are loved and chosen by our heavenly father.A Godly Father is a Protector and ProviderMatthew 2:13 tells us this- an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”A Godly father takes responsibility for his family's safety, needs, and well-being.“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives… has denied the faith.” – 1 Timothy 5:8Provision isn't just about money — it includes emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.2. Loving and Present“The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does.”— John 5:20Love does not = Influence- separate slides for these equationsLove + Relationship = Influence “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17- 3. Teacher and Discipler“Fathers… bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”— Ephesians 6:4“We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God.”— 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12We are called to teach our children not just how to exist, but how to live — as humans and as children of God. That means we train them in both practical life and spiritual truth.“If your kid does something that annoys you or feels out of line — it's your job to correct it. If you don't like that behavior, chances are the world won't either.” - Unknown Discipline isn't punishment — it's Preparation. When we fail to correct, we do our kids a disservice.Teaching and discipling is not just a Sunday activity — it's a daily, intentional lifestyle. A good father trains, corrects, encourages, and walks alongside his children. He doesn't just talk about truth, he lives it out.4. Spiritual Leader: -Fatherhood Is Spiritual LeadershipGenesis 18:19 (NIV)“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord…”Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (NIV)“These commandments... impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, walk along the road, lie down, and get up.”Discipleship doesn't just happen in church — it happens in the car, at the dinner table, during bedtime.You are not just raising kids — you are stewarding souls.Joshua 24:15 (NIV)“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”The best thing you could ever do for your family is to fully pursue your relationship with Jesus. Not perfection — but consistent pursuit. When your kids see you walk with God, they learn how to follow Him too.Psalm 112:1–2 (NIV)“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

This week Coleton guided the congregation through Jesus' teaching on marriage and divorce, helping listeners understand not just the law, but God's heart. 1. The Context Behind the Question (vv. 1–4) The Pharisees weren't genuinely interested in truth—they were trying to trap Jesus, either in conflict with Moses' law or in political danger (like John the Baptist, who spoke against Herod's divorce).
 Their question: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
Jesus' counter: “What did Moses command you?” They referenced Deuteronomy 24, where Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce due to “uncleanness.” But that term was debated. Rabbi Shammai: interpreted it as sexual immorality. Rabbi Hillel: made it overly broad—even burning dinner qualified. Rabbi Akiba: said divorce was valid if a man simply found someone more attractive. The takeaway: People were more focused on when they could exit a marriage than how they could honor it. 2. Jesus' First Hard Truth: There Is No Godly Reason for Divorce (vv. 5–9) Jesus said divorce was never God's idea—it was permitted due to the hardness of people's hearts. God doesn't celebrate divorce; He allows it in certain circumstances (sexual immorality – Matt. 19; abandonment – 1 Cor. 7). But no one is being godly by divorcing. God remains faithful even when we are faithless (2 Tim. 2:13). Jesus is calling us to a higher view of marriage: “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” 3. Jesus' Second Hard Truth: Marriage Was Designed to Be Permanent (vv. 6–9) Jesus brings it back to Genesis: marriage is one man and one woman, united by God to become one flesh. Not just a legal contract or emotional connection—it's a covenant. Jesus says: If you're not ready for that kind of permanence, don't get married. Coleton used a powerful analogy: If you could only live in one house forever, you'd be incredibly picky. You'd inspect it. You'd ask questions. You'd think about the future.
That's how we should approach marriage—slowly, wisely, and with deep respect for the lifelong nature of the covenant. Key Insight for Singles:
Go slow. Be picky. Don't marry because of pressure, fear, or impatience. Culture says marriage is everything—Jesus says it's weighty and sacred. 4. How the Disciples Responded (Matthew 19 parallel) The disciples said, “If this is how serious marriage is, maybe it's better not to marry.”
Jesus agreed: singleness can be a gift. Some are called to it. Others choose it for the sake of the Kingdom. Either way: marriage isn't the only path to purpose and joy. 5. What This Means for Married People (vv. 10–12) Jesus challenges the popular belief that divorce was fine as long as you remarried “legally.”
But He says plainly: Divorcing and remarrying without biblical cause is adultery. Jesus was confronting a culture of easy outs. Instead of working on marriages, people were walking away. Instead of staying faithful, they found loopholes. Coleton gave a stinging but important critique: People say they don't have money or time for counseling—but they find the money and time for lawyers and mediation in their divorce.
If the same effort and energy put into divorce was invested in the marriage, many could thrive. Just like we care for our own permanent bodies—seeking healing, not amputation—we should treat marriage the same. You don't discard your body when it's weak. You work on it. That's how we treat our “one flesh” partner. Final Word: Hope for the Broken (Romans 3:22–25) Coleton closed by acknowledging the reality: many in the room have been through divorce, some in ways Scripture would call sin.
But he declared the good news of the gospel: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.”
Jesus calls sin what it is, but He also took our punishment on the cross for our sin.
For those who believe, we are judged not by our brokenness, but by Christ's faithfulness.
He will never divorce His bride. He is always faithful. Discussion Questions for Personal or Group Reflection Understanding the Message Why do you think Jesus pointed the Pharisees back to the creation account rather than simply debating Mosaic law? What are some common ways our culture treats marriage more like a contract than a covenant? Reflecting Personally If you are single, how does Jesus' teaching on the permanence of marriage shape the way you view dating or engagement? If you're married, what is one way you can invest in your marriage this week—time, money, energy, or attention? Living It Out Are you currently placing more effort into avoiding marital difficulty or addressing it? What step can you take—counseling, prayer, a conversation—to move toward healing and strength in your marriage? Quoted Authors and Sources Søren Kierkegaard:
“Everything essentially Christian needs to be presented in a way similar to the way a physician speaks to someone on their sickbed.”
 David Guzik on Deuteronomy 24:1:
“Rabbi Shammai said that uncleanness meant sexual immorality… Rabbi Hillel understood uncleanness to mean any sort of discretion, even burning breakfast.”
 William Barclay:
“Rabbi Akiba said uncleanness meant ‘if a man found a woman who was fairer in his eyes than his wife was.'” Verses: The Apostle Paul (Romans 3:22–25):
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.”
 The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:13):
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful.”  

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --“Your earthly father may have shaped your past, but your Heavenly Father defines your future.”-if you let meRomans 3:23 and 24 says - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. - We all fall Short, But Jesus stands in the gap1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.”Ultimate security comes from knowing we are loved and chosen by our heavenly father.A Godly Father is a Protector and ProviderMatthew 2:13 tells us this- an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”A Godly father takes responsibility for his family's safety, needs, and well-being.“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives… has denied the faith.” – 1 Timothy 5:8Provision isn't just about money — it includes emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.2. Loving and Present“The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does.”— John 5:20Love does not = Influence- separate slides for these equationsLove + Relationship = Influence “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17- 3. Teacher and Discipler“Fathers… bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”— Ephesians 6:4“We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God.”— 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12We are called to teach our children not just how to exist, but how to live — as humans and as children of God. That means we train them in both practical life and spiritual truth.“If your kid does something that annoys you or feels out of line — it's your job to correct it. If you don't like that behavior, chances are the world won't either.” - Unknown Discipline isn't punishment — it's Preparation. When we fail to correct, we do our kids a disservice.Teaching and discipling is not just a Sunday activity — it's a daily, intentional lifestyle. A good father trains, corrects, encourages, and walks alongside his children. He doesn't just talk about truth, he lives it out.4. Spiritual Leader: -Fatherhood Is Spiritual LeadershipGenesis 18:19 (NIV)“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord…”Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (NIV)“These commandments... impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, walk along the road, lie down, and get up.”Discipleship doesn't just happen in church — it happens in the car, at the dinner table, during bedtime.You are not just raising kids — you are stewarding souls.Joshua 24:15 (NIV)“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”The best thing you could ever do for your family is to fully pursue your relationship with Jesus. Not perfection — but consistent pursuit. When your kids see you walk with God, they learn how to follow Him too.Psalm 112:1–2 (NIV)“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Welcome to the Christmas series! The magi arrive at the palace of King Herod, looking for the King of the Jews. Herod welcomes them with false-humility, smiling through his gritted teeth. Something isn't right. Sign up for special devotionals at StoriesoftheMessiah.com. As we dive deeply into iconic Bible heroes' enthralling narratives, we find more than just stories of faith and miracles. We discover a recurrent theme, a spiritual undertone that connects each tale to the grandeur of the Gospel. They're not just standalone legends; they're threads in a divine tapestry, weaving a story that foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero, the promised Messiah who brings light to the darkest corners of history. For more Bible stories download the Pray.com app.  To learn more about Rabbi Schneider visit https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textActs 12:6-12Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”Support the show

Send us a textActs 12:1-5About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.Support the show

Reading Luke 13:31-35 where some Pharisees confront Jesus with a threat from Herod, and Jesus expresses that He cannot be stopped but will accomplish what He came to do. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." God t: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:14–21 - [14] Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. [15] And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” [16] And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. [17] And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? [18] Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? [19] When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” [20] “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” [21] And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate. To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ⇒ BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER: (not tax-deductible) You can find out how to become a monthly partner including how to receive your "thank you" gift - our bonus podcast called "Digging Deeper." God t: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:14–21 - [14] Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. [15] And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” [16] And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. [17] And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? [18] Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? [19] When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” [20] “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” [21] And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.