Thematic Bible: A city


Thematic Bible
















Embarking in an Andramyttian ship which was bound for the Asiatic seaports, we set sail, accompanied by a Macedonian from Thessalonica called Aristarchus. Verse ConceptsShipsThe NavySea Travel

















Some of those who belonged to the so-called synagogue of the Libyans, the Cyrenians, and the Alexandrians, as well as to that of the Cilicians and Asiatics, started a dispute with Stephen, Verse ConceptsAlexandria The CityConfrontationMissionaries, Support ForSynagogueGod, Impartiality OfFalse Teachers, Examples OfDisputes



Travelling on through Amphipolis and Apollonia they reached Thessalonica. Here there was a Jewish synagogue, Verse Conceptsevangelism, kinds ofPaul, Life Of




he reached Caesarea, went up to the capital to salute the church, and travelled down to Antioch. Verse ConceptsGreetingsMissionary WorkChurch, Examples Of

but they passed on from Perga and arrived at Pisidian Antioch. On the sabbath they went into the synagogue and sat down; and, after the reading of the Law and the prophets, the presidents of the synagogue sent to tell them, "Brothers, if you have any word of counsel for the people, say it." So Paul stood up and motioning with his hand said, "Listen, men of Israel and you who reverence God. read more.
The God of this People Israel chose our fathers; he multiplied the people as they sojourned in the land of Egypt and with arm uplifted led them out of it. For about forty years he bore with them in the desert, and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then it was that they begged for a king, and God gave them forty years of Saul, the son of Kish, who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. After deposing him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he bore this testimony that 'In David, the son of Jessai, I have found a man after my own heart, who will obey all my will.' From his offspring God brought to Israel, as he had promised, a saviour in Jesus, before whose coming John had already preached a baptism of repentance for all the people of Israel. And as John was closing his career he said, 'What do you take me for? I am not He; no, he is coming after me, and I am not fit to untie the sandals on his feet!' Brothers, sons of Abraham's race and all among you who reverence God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers, by condemning him in their ignorance, fulfilled the words of the prophets which are read every sabbath; though they could find him guilty of no crime that deserved death, they begged Pilate to have him put to death, and, after carrying out all that had been predicted of him in scripture, they lowered him from the gibbet and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead. For many days he was seen by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem; they are now his witnesses to the People. So we now preach to you the glad news that the promise made to the fathers has been fulfilled by God for us their children, when he raised Jesus. As it is written in the second psalm, thou art my son, to-day have I become thy father. And as a proof that he has raised him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has said this: I will give you the holiness of David that fails not. Hence in another psalm he says, thou wilt not let thy holy One suffer decay. Of course David, after serving God's purpose in his own generation, died and was laid beside his fathers; he suffered decay, but He whom God raised did not suffer decay. So you must understand, my brothers, that remission of sins is proclaimed to you through him, and that by him everyone who believes is absolved from all that the law of Moses never could absolve you from. Beware then in case the prophetic saying applies to you: Look, you disdainful folk, wonder at this and perish for in your days I do a deed, a deed you will never believe, not though one were to explain it to you." As Paul and Barnabas went out, the people begged to have all this repeated to them on the following sabbath. After the synagogue broke up, a number of the Jews and the devout proselytes followed them; Paul and Barnabas talked to them and encouraged them to hold by the grace of God. And on the next sabbath nearly all the town gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with jealousy; they began to contradict what Paul said and to abuse him. So Paul and Barnabas spoke out fearlessly. "The word of God," they said, "had to be spoken to you in the first instance; but as you push it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, well, here we turn to the Gentiles! For these are the Lord's orders to us: I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the end of the earth." When the Gentiles heard this they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord and believed, that is, all who had been ordained to eternal life; and the word of the Lord went far and wide over the whole country. But the Jews incited the devout women of high rank and the leading men in the town, who stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their territory. They shook the dust off their feet as a protest and went to Iconium. As for the disciples, they were filled with joy and the holy Spirit.

my persecutions, my sufferings ??all that befell me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, all the persecutions I had to undergo, from which the Lord rescued me. Verse ConceptsFreedom, Through Jesus ChristAfflictions, In Christian LivingDeliverance, Types OfRescuePersecution Of The Apostle PaulPersecution

But Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived, who won over the crowds, and after pelting Paul with stones they dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. However, as the disciples gathered round him, he got up and went into the town. Next day he went off with Barnabas to Derbe, and after preaching the gospel to that town and making a number of disciples, they turned back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, read more.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold by the faith, and telling them that "we have to get into the Realm of God through many a trouble."

Then the apostles and the presbyters, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their number and send them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The men selected were Judas (called Bar-Sabbas) and Silas, prominent members of the brotherhood. Verse ConceptsVisitingChoosing PeoplePeople Sending PeopleThe Apostles In Action

But certain individuals came down from Jerusalem and taught the brothers that "unless you get circumcised after the custom of Moses you cannot be saved." As a sharp dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas, along with some others of their number, should go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem about this question. The church sped them on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Syria informing the brothers, to the great joy of all, that the Gentiles were turning to God. read more.
On arriving at Jerusalem they were received by the church, the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported how God had been with them and what he had done. But some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisaic party got up and said, "Gentiles must be circumcised and told to observe the law of Moses." The apostles and the presbyters met to investigate this question, and a keen controversy sprang up; but Peter rose and said to them, "Brothers, you are well aware that from the earliest days God chose that of you all I should be the one by whom the Gentiles were to hear the word of the gospel and believe it. The God who reads the hearts of all attested this by giving them the holy Spirit just as he gave it to us; in cleansing their hearts by faith he made not the slightest distinction between us and them. Well now, why are you trying to impose a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we ourselves could bear? No, it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we believe and are saved, in the same way as they are." So the whole meeting was quieted and listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting the signs and wonders God had performed by them among the Gentiles. When they had finished speaking, James spoke. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. Symeon has explained how it was God's original concern to secure a People from among the Gentiles to bear his Name. This agrees with the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent, its ruins I will rebuild and erect it anew, that the rest of men may seek for the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, saith the Lord, who makes this known from of old. Hence, in my opinion, we ought not to put fresh difficulties in the way of those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but write them injunctions to abstain from whatever is contaminated by idols, from sexual vice, from the flesh of animals that have been strangled, and from tasting blood; for Moses has had his preachers from the earliest ages in every town, where he is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath." Then the apostles and the presbyters, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their number and send them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The men selected were Judas (called Bar-Sabbas) and Silas, prominent members of the brotherhood. They conveyed the following letter. "The apostles and the presbyters of the brotherhood to the brothers who belong to the Gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: greeting. Having learned that some of our number, quite unauthorized by us, have unsettled you with their teaching and upset your souls, we have decided unanimously to select some of our number and send them to you along with our beloved Paul and Barnabas who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We therefore send Judas and Silas with the following message, which they will also give to you orally. The holy Spirit and we have decided not to impose any extra burden on you, apart from these essential requirements: abstain from food that has been offered to idols, from tasting blood, from the flesh of animals that have been strangled, and from sexual vice. Keep clear of all this and you will prosper. Goodbye." When the messengers were despatched, they went down to Antioch and after gathering the whole body they handed them the letter. On reading it the people rejoiced at the encouragement it brought; and as Judas and Silas were themselves prophets, they encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a counsel. Then after some time had passed the brothers let them go with a greeting of peace to those who had sent them. -- Paul and Barnabas, however, stayed on in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord along with a number of others.

Now in the local church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Symeon (called Niger) and Lucius the Cyrenian, besides Manaen (a foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. Verse ConceptsAfrican AmericansDoctrine, CommunicatedTeachersTetrarchChristian TeachersAnonymityRulers Of A FourthMissionaries

thence they sailed for Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On their arrival they gathered the church together and reported how God had been with them, what he had done, and how he had opened a door into faith for the Gentiles.

Now those who had been scattered by the trouble which arose over Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but they preached the word to none except Jews. Some of them, however, were Cypriotes and Cyrenians, who on reaching Antioch told the Greeks also the gospel of the Lord Jesus; the strong hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number believed and turned to the Lord. read more.
The news of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they despatched Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God he rejoiced, and encouraged them all to hold by the Lord with heartfelt purpose (for he was a good man, full of the holy Spirit and faith). Considerable numbers of people were brought in for the Lord. So Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul, and on finding him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church and taught considerable numbers. It was at Antioch too that the disciples were originally called "Christians." During these days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, one of whom, named Agabus, showed by the Spirit that a severe famine was about to visit the whole world (the famine which occurred in the reign of Claudius). So the disciples put aside money, as each of them was able to afford it, for a contribution to be sent to the brothers in Judaea. This they carried out, sending their contribution to the presbyters by Barnabas and Saul.

thence they sailed for Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On their arrival they gathered the church together and reported how God had been with them, what he had done, and how he had opened a door into faith for the Gentiles. They spent a considerable time with the disciples there.

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face. The man stood self-condemned. Before certain emissaries of James arrived, he ate along with the Gentile Christians; but when they arrived, he began to draw back and hold aloof, because he was afraid of the circumcision party. The rest of the Jewish Christians also played false along with him, so much so that even Barnabas was carried away by their false play. read more.
But I saw they were swerving from the true line of the gospel; so I said to Cephas in presence of them all, "If you live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, though you are a Jew yourself, why do you oblige the Gentiles to become Jews?" ??15 We may be Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners,'

The soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. Verse ConceptsDuring One Night








Travelling on through Amphipolis and Apollonia they reached Thessalonica. Here there was a Jewish synagogue, Verse Conceptsevangelism, kinds ofPaul, Life Of
































Paul's escort brought him as far as Athens and left with instructions that Silas and Timotheus were to join him as soon as possible. While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his soul was irritated at the sight of the idols that filled the city. He argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout proselytes and also in the marketplace daily with those who chanced to be present. read more.
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also came across him. Some said, "Whatever does the fellow mean with his scraps of learning'?" Others said, "He looks like a herald of foreign deities" (this was because he preached 'Jesus' and 'the Resurrection'). Then taking him to the Areopagus they asked, "May we know what is this novel teaching of yours? You talk of some things that sound strange to us; so we want to know what they mean." (For all the Athenians and the foreign visitors to Athens occupied themselves with nothing else than repeating or listening to the latest novelty.) So Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe at every turn that you are a most religious people. Why, as I passed along and scanned your objects of worship, I actually came upon an altar with the inscription TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Well, I proclaim to you what you worship in your ignorance. The God who made the world and all things in it, he, as Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in shrines that are made by human hands; he is not served by human hands as if he needed anything, for it is he who gives life and breath and all things to all men. All nations he has created from a common origin, to dwell all over the earth, fixing their allotted periods and the boundaries of their abodes, meaning them to seek for God on the chance of finding him in their groping for him. Though indeed he is close to each one of us, for it is in him that we live and move and exist ??as some of your own poets have said, 'We too belong to His race.' Well, as the race of God, we ought not to imagine that the divine nature resembles gold or silver or stone, the product of human art and invention. Such ages of ignorance God overlooked, but he now charges men that they are all everywhere to repent, inasmuch as he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world justly by a man whom he has destined for this. And he has given proof of this to all by raising him from the dead." But on hearing of a 'resurrection of dead men,' some sneered, while others said, "We will hear you again on that subject." So Paul withdrew from them. Some men, however, did join him and believe, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman called Damaris, and some others.

So, unable to bear it any longer, I made up my mind to be left behind at Athens all alone; Verse ConceptsIsolated PersonsPeople Abandoning People
































His company as far as Asia consisted of Sopater of Beroea (the son of Pyrrhus), Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timotheus, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.

Then the brothers at once sent off Paul and Silas by night to Beroea. When they arrived there, they betook themselves to the Jewish synagogue, Verse Conceptsevangelism, kinds ofDuring One Night

But when the Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was proclaiming the word of God at Beroea as well, they came to create a disturbance and a riot among the crowds at Beroea too. Verse ConceptsGospel, Responses ToPreaching, Effects OfInciting To EvilSpiritual Warfare, Causes OfUnbelief, As Response To GodIsrael Hardened



























































and as Joseph belonged to the house and family of David he went up from Galilee to Judaea, from the town of Nazaret to David's town called Bethlehem, Verse ConceptsCity Of DavidGod Shows Loving KindnessRelativesNativity of Jesus ChristJesus Birth

Now when the angels had left them and gone away to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us be off to Bethlehem to see this thing that the Lord has told us of." Verse ConceptseagernessLeavingLooking And SeeingTelling Of Jesus







and as Joseph belonged to the house and family of David he went up from Galilee to Judaea, from the town of Nazaret to David's town called Bethlehem, Verse ConceptsCity Of DavidGod Shows Loving KindnessRelativesNativity of Jesus ChristJesus Birth

They told him, "In Bethlehem belonging to Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet: And you Bethlehem, in Judah's land, You are not least among the rulers of Judah: For a ruler will come from you, Who will shepherd Israel my people."




Then Herod saw the magicians had trifled with him, and he was furiously angry; he sent and slew all the male children in Bethlehem and in all the neighbourhood who were two years old or under, calculating by the time he had ascertained from the magicians. Then the saying was fulfilled which had been uttered by the prophet Jeremiah: A cry was heard in Rama, weeping and sore lamentation ??Rachel weeping for her children, and inconsolable because they are no more.







"Woe to you, Khorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Had the miracles performed in you been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Verse ConceptsGesturesAshesSackcloth And AshesDenunciationsAshes Of HumiliationSigns Of RepentanceWoe To The WickedPerspective

Woe to you, Khorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! Had the miracles performed in you been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have been sitting penitent in sackcloth and ashes. Verse ConceptsGesturesAshesSackcloth And AshesAshes Of HumiliationSigns Of RepentanceWoe To The Wicked

Now Philip belonged to Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter; Verse ConceptsPeter, The Disciple

they came to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee and appealed to him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." Verse ConceptsLordship, Human And DivineSeeking ChristThe First Sight Of Christ

Then he made the disciples at once embark in the boat and cross before him towards Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd; Verse ConceptsCrowdsCrowds AvoidedBoatsCrossing To The Other SideDisciples' Movements

Then they reached Bethsaida. A blind man was brought to him with the request that he would touch him. Verse ConceptsdisabilitiesTouching For Healing



















Now when Jesus came to the district of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of man is?" Verse ConceptsJesus As Son Of ManChrist EnquiringWho Is Jesus?Ministry Of The Son Of Man

Then Jesus and his disciples set off for the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road he inquired of his disciples, "Who do people say I am?" Verse ConceptsTravelChrist EnquiringWho Is Jesus?Christ Speaking To DisciplesDisciples' Movements

Now it happened that while he was praying by himself his disciples were beside him. So he inquired of them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" Verse ConceptsHabitsPrivacySecret PrayerActing AloneChrist EnquiringWho Is Jesus?Christ Speaking To DisciplesJesus PrayingPraying Behind Closed DoorsPraying For Others






After waiting on for a number of days Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. (As the latter was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchreae.) Verse ConceptsBaldness, UnnaturalBarbersBaldnessHairsSeafaringVowsAquilaCutting HairSea Travelsyriagoodbyes









For a number of days we made a slow passage and had great difficulty in arriving off Cnidus; then, as the wind checked our progress, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Cape Salmone, Verse ConceptsSlownessHard Tasks


You got that lesson from our beloved fellow-servant Epaphras, a minister of Christ who is faithful to your interests; and it is he who has informed us of your love in the Spirit.

in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the districts of Libya round Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Verse ConceptsLanguages Mentioned In ScriptureProselytes




































Accordingly Jesus no longer appeared in public among the Jews, but withdrew to the country adjoining the desert, to a town called Ephraim; there he stayed with the disciples. Verse ConceptsActing In SecretDisciples' MovementsTemporary Stay In The Wilderness













































































































































As they were leaving Jericho a crowd followed him, and when two blind men who were sitting beside the road heard Jesus was passing, they shouted, "O Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!" The crowd checked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "O Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!" read more.
So Jesus stopped and called them. He said, "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord," they said, "we want our eyes opened." Then Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and they regained their sight at once and followed him.

Then they reached Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a considerable crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who sat beside the road, Verse ConceptsBeggarsLargenessBeggingCrowds Around JesusUsing RoadsDisciples' Movements

As he approached Jericho, it chanced that a blind man was seated beside the road begging. Verse ConceptsBeggingBeggarsRoadsUsing RoadsBlindness






It was by faith that Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, as she had welcomed the scouts peaceably. Verse ConceptsExamples Of FaithProstitutionSpiesUnbelief, Nature And Effects OfUnbelief, Examples OfWelcoming Other PeopleNot DyingSpyingExploits Of FaithDeath AvertedUnbelief Toward God








Then he entered Jericho. And as he passed through it, there was a man called Zacchaeus, the head of the taxgatherers, a wealthy man, who tried to see what Jesus was like; but he could not, on account of the crowd ??for he was small of stature. read more.
So he ran forward and climbed into a sycomore tree to get a sight of him, as he was to pass that road. But when Jesus reached the spot he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down at once, for I must stay at your house to-day." He came down at once and welcomed him gladly. But when they saw this, everyone began to mutter that he had gone to be the guest of a sinner. So Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, "I will give the half of all I have, Lord, to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will give him back four times as much." And Jesus said of him, "To-day salvation has come to this house, since Zacchaeus here is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man has come to seek and save the lost."





















































and coasting along it with great difficulty we reached a place called Fair Havens, not far from the town of Lasea. Verse ConceptsHarborssailinghugs


































































then, sailing over the Cilician and Pamphylian waters, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the officer found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy, and put us on board of her.
































Accordingly Jesus no longer appeared in public among the Jews, but withdrew to the country adjoining the desert, to a town called Ephraim; there he stayed with the disciples. Verse ConceptsActing In SecretDisciples' MovementsTemporary Stay In The Wilderness



































John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, as there was plenty of water there, and people came to him and were baptized Verse ConceptsJohn's BaptismJohn The BaptistWater For BaptismBaptised By JohnBaptism













































Going away from there Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a woman of Canaan came out of these parts and wailed, "Have pity on me, Lord, O Son of David! My daughter is cruelly possessed by a daemon." But he made no answer to her. Then his disciples came up and pressed him, saying, "Send her away, she is wailing behind us." read more.
He replied, "It was only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel that I was sent." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, do help me." He replied, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." "No, sir," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." At that Jesus replied, "O woman, you have great faith; your prayer is granted as you wish." And from that hour her daughter was cured.

Leaving there, he went away to the territory of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house and wished no one to know of it, but he could not escape notice; a woman heard of him, whose daughter had an unclean spirit, and she came in and fell at his feet (the woman was a pagan, of Syrophoenician birth) begging him to cast the daemon out of her daughter. read more.
He said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first of all; it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She answered him, "No, sir, but under the table the dogs do pick up the children's crumbs." He said to her, "Well, go your way; the daemon has left your daughter, since you have said that." So she went home and found the child lying in bed and the daemon gone from her. He left the territory of Tyre again and passed through Sidon to the sea of Galilee, crossing the territory of Decapolis.



Jerusalem, Idumaea, the other side of the Jordan, and the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon, as they had heard of his doings. Verse ConceptsCrowds SeekingDrawing Near To ChristHearing About ChristBeyond Jordan

With them he came down the hill and stood on a level spot. There was a great company of his disciples with him, and a large multitude of people from all Judaea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to get cured of their diseases. Verse ConceptsSermon On The MountCoastlandsChrist Going DownHearing ChristJesus HealingOther References To The Disciples






As there was a bitter feud between him and the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, they waited on him unanimously, and after conciliating the royal chamberlain Blastus they made overtures for peace, as their country depended for its food-supply upon the royal territory. On a stated day Herod arrayed himself in royal robes, took his seat on the dais, and proceeded to harangue them. The populace shouted, "It is a god's voice, not a man's!" read more.
and in a moment an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given due glory to God; he was eaten up by worms and so expired.







Next day we put in at Sidon, where Julius very kindly allowed Paul to visit his friends and be looked after. Verse ConceptsKindnessCourtesyShipsThe Next DayChristians Are Called Friends





































So, as some boats from Tiberias had put in near the spot where they had eaten bread after the Lord's thanksgiving, Verse ConceptsShipsBoatsPeople EatingThanking God For Food