From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/13:

After Derbe, Paul and Barnabas return to the churches they previously visited, “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”

Paul and Barnabas report back to the church that sent them out at Antioch in Syria all that the Lord has done, “and that He had opened the doors of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.”

During their stay at their home church in Antioch, shortly before the apostolic council in Jerusalem in 49 AD, Paul writes a letter to the churches of Galatia. Since Paul has left the church in Galatia, the church has been infiltrated by men teaching a false doctrine which was troubling the new believers. These legalistic Jews are teaching that you have to be circumcised in order to be saved, trying to convert the Gentile believers to adhere to Jewish laws. Paul’s main purpose in writing the letter is to confirm that we are justified by faith alone, apart from works of the law. Paul wants to preserve the true Gospel that was revealed to him by Christ, that we are saved by grace through faith alone, and stop this false gospel which states that first you have to do these works, such as circumcision, in order to be saved.

Paul talks about the time he confronted Peter for not eating with the Gentiles in front of certain Jewish Christians, threatening the teaching that we are all one in Christ, Jews and Gentiles. Paul says, “And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ‘If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

Paul explains that he has died to his old way of life, which was seeking justification through the impossible obedience of the burdensome Jewish law, so that he might live to God. Therefore, Paul now lives a joyful life that is pleasing to the Lord, not by relying on his works but by faith in Christ. Paul says, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Paul illustrates our salvation by faith versus works by taking them back to the first Patriarch, Abraham. Abraham was declared righteous in Genesis 15:6 because of his belief, thirteen years before the rite of circumcision was introduced and four hundred and thirty years before the Law of Moses was given. So Paul makes the point that “only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”

The law was given as part of God’s plan, and God knew that no man could perfectly obey the law because of our sinful nature. The law exposes our sinful nature and our need for a Savior. Therefore, also as part of God’s plan, God sent His Son, Who lived a perfect life in perfect obedience to the law, to die for us so that we may be justified through faith in Him, Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow, Paul further explains the freedom in Christ in his letter to the Galatians. Keep reading. (Acts 14:21-28, Galatians 1:1-3:23)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/12:

An angel of the Lord rescues Peter from prison. Then Peter goes to the house of Mary, Mark’s mother, where people are gathered to pray. When Rhoda hears that it’s Peter at the door, she runs to tell the others, but they respond saying, “You are beside yourself!” They can’t believe that the prayers they have been praying for Peter were actually heard and answered. “Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” Peter says to go and tell James, Jesus’ brother, and the others that the Lord delivered him from Herod. James, who once was not a believer, came to faith when he saw his brother Jesus resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:7); he will go on to become a leader in the Jerusalem church.

While Herod sat on his throne he received glory from the people instead of giving glory to God. Therefore, the Lord strikes him “because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied.” Herod had his own plans for his own political gain of persecuting Christians and stopping the growth of the church to increase his popularity. However, nothing will stop the plans of the Lord as written in Proverbs 19:21 – “Many are the plans in the mind of man, but the purpose of the Lord will stand.” In spite of Herod’s attempts to shut down Christianity, the word of God grew and multiplied, which is often the case when Christians come under persecution.

Over in the church at Antioch, we see the process the Lord uses for selecting missionaries. The leaders pray and fast, and the Holy Spirit separates Barnabas and Saul, also called Paul, “for the work to which I have called them… Then having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”

So Barnabas and Paul go out, and everywhere they go they preach the word of God in the synagogues until they are run out by unbelieving Jews. When the rulers in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia ask them if they have a word of exhortation for the people, Paul stands up and shares Jesus the same way Jesus revealed Himself to the men on the road to Emmaus, the same way Stephen defended his faith before the Jewish council, and the same way Philip explained Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch. Paul tells the story of the Bible beginning with their fathers, who dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, to the Exodus Era with their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, to the Conquest Era where they conquered and settled into the promised land, to the Judges Era where for roughly four hundred and fifty years the Israelites lived out seven sin cycles, and Paul lands on the Kingdom Era with King David – “From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus— after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.”

Paul teaches of Jesus’ death and resurrection and says— “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

On the next sabbath at Antioch in Pisidia, practically the entire city shows up to hear the word of God. “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.’…Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

Once again we see when people hear the story of Jesus, hearts are set on fire. Some burn in love and repentance, and some burn in jealousy and anger. And depending on how your heart burns for Christ, in love and repentance or in jealousy and anger, He either saves you or condemns you. The ones with hearts burning in anger try to attack and kill Paul and Barnabas, so they leave, and wherever they go they preach in the synagogues. While in Lystria, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium track them down and stone Paul, leaving him for dead. However, Paul does not die. “And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.”

[Summary of Paul’s missionary journeys from the book 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders:

1 – Galatia for 2 years (Acts 13-14)

2 – Greece for 3 years (Acts 15-17)

3 – Asia for 4 years (Acts 18-21)

4 – Roman prison for 2 years (Acts 22-28)]

Tomorrow concludes the first missionary journey, and Paul writes a letter to the churches of Galatia. Keep reading. (Acts 12:6-14:20)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/11:

Cornelius, a Gentile commander of the Roman army who is “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always”, receives a vision from the Lord, telling him to send men to Joppa where Peter is staying.

The next day, Peter also receives a vision from the Lord. In his vision are all sorts of animals which the Lord instructs Peter to kill and eat. Peter responds, “Not so Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” But God responds, “‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ This was done three times.”

According to the ESV Study Bible, “God was overturning the old clean/unclean distinctions and dietary laws in general, along with all other ‘ceremonial’ laws in the Mosaic covenant (including laws about sacrifices, festivals and special days, and circumcision). Nothing like this was to get in the way of fellowship with Gentiles, as Galatians 2 also shows.”

Therefore, when Cornelius’ men arrive and ask Peter to come to the home of a Gentile, Peter goes. When Peter arrives, Cornelius falls to his feet to worship him. Peter responds, “‘Stand up; I myself am also a man.’ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, ‘You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.’”

Then Peter preaches the Good News of Jesus Christ. ”While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also… And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”

“Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, ‘You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!’” Peter explains to his brethren what happened and concludes saying, “‘If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?’ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.’”

The church in Jerusalem receives news of the great number of people, both Jews and Gentiles, who were coming to faith in Antioch. So they send Barnabas to Antioch where he encourages “them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”

“Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

However, many hate the Christians and Herod knows this. So for his own personal and political gain he kills “James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also.”

Although Herod is killing Christians and is trying to stop the growth of the church and the spread of the word of God for self-serving political purposes, nothing can stop the plans of the Lord. Tomorrow we will see the Lord’s plans prevail. Keep reading. (Acts 10:1-12:5)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/10:

“At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles… As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”

The Lord uses persecution to scatter his disciples and to further the spread of the gospel. Philip, one of the seven selected to serve in the church in Jerusalem, goes to Samaria where he preaches Christ to them. Multitudes receive Christ and are baptized resulting in great joy in the city. When Peter and John hear the good news, they come to Samaria to pray over the people that they may receive the Holy Spirit. One man, Simon a sorcerer, offers them cash for the Holy Spirit. Peter rebukes him saying, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.” So Simon asks Peter to pray for him.

Then an angel tells Philip to go south on a road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip, prompted by the Holy Spirit, leaves the masses who are coming to Christ and goes out into the desert for a divine appointment with an individual. There Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch returning from worshiping in Jerusalem. When Philip comes near his chariot, he finds the man reading the words of Isaiah and he asks him if he understands. The Ethiopian responds, “‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’… Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” And the Ethiopian eunuch receives Jesus Christ as his Savior and is baptized by Philip.

While all these wonderful things in the name of Jesus are happening, Saul is still “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” That is until he encounters Jesus on a road to Damascus. Jesus calls out, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Then Saul asks two important questions: 1) “Who are you Lord?” 2) “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

So Jesus gives Saul the next step. He says, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Jesus blinds him for three days. “And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

The Lord appears to Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, and tells him to go to Saul and lay hands on him so that he may receive his sight. However, this disciple is afraid because he has heard reports of Saul persecuting Christians. “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.’”

Ananias obeys the Lord, and Saul receives his sight, is filled with the Holy Spirit, and is baptized. Once Saul receives food and is strengthened, “Immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” And when the Jews try to kill Saul for preaching Jesus, his new brothers in Christ hide him.

Saul flees to Jerusalem where he meets Barnabas and the apostles. Saul shares his story with them and begins preaching Jesus in Jerusalem. “And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.” Saul will remain in his hometown of Tarsus for about ten years before Barnabas will go and get him to join him in ministry. Tomorrow Peter receives a vision from the Lord, resulting in more Gentiles joining the kingdom of God. Keep reading. (Acts 8:1b-9:43)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/9:

Today a complaint arises about widows in the church being neglected. So the disciples select seven men to oversee the care of the widows, allowing the twelve disciples to stay focused on prayer and ministry of the word of God. Stephen, a man of faith and full of the Holy Spirit, and who did great wonders and signs among the people, is selected as one of the seven. Philip is also selected, and we will hear more about him tomorrow.

There arose men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen who argued with Stephen. “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’” So Stephen is brought before the Jewish council where his face shines like an angel. When Stephen is asked to defend himself, he explains who Jesus is the same way Jesus revealed Himself to the men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) — he tells the story of the Bible. Stephen begins with the forefathers:

Patriarch Era:

God called Abraham and promised land and descendants to him. The promises were passed down to Isaac and Jacob, who begot the twelve patriarchs.
Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt. The Lord elevated Joseph in Egypt as a ruler who saved the nations from famine.
Jacob and his family of seventy-five moved to Egypt.
Jacob’s family grew so much that they became a threat to Pharaoh. So Pharaoh oppressed them and killed their babies.

Exodus Era:

God saved Moses and raised him up to deliver His people. – “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’”
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years where God gave them the law which they did not obey.

Conquest Era:

Joshua brought them into the promised land.

Kingdom Era:

God found favor with King David, but Solomon, David’s son, built the house for the Lord.

Then Stephen turns his attention to the council – “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

When they hear the story of Jesus, their hearts burn too, like the hearts of the men on the road to Emmaus. However, instead of burning in love and hope, their hearts burn in anger because people either love Jesus or hate Him; and depending on how your heart burns for Jesus you will either receive eternal salvation or condemnation – “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

“Now Saul was consenting to his death.”

Tomorrow, the Mission Era begins as persecution scatters the believer, and Saul has a change of heart when he personally encounters Jesus. Keep reading. (Acts 6:1-8:1a)

14 Eras:

Creation Era (Gen 1:1-11:26) ✔️

Patriarch Era (Gen 11:27-50:26 and Job) ✔️

Exodus Era (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) ✔️

Conquest Era (Joshua) ✔️

Judges Era (Judges, Ruth) ✔️

Kingdom Era (1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles 1-9, 1 Kings 1-11, various Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) ✔️

Divided Kingdom Era (2 Chronicles 10-36, 1 Kings 11-22, 2 Kings, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and some of Jeremiah) ✔️

Captivity Era (the rest of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) ✔️

Return Era (Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi) ✔️

Silent Era (Inter-Testament period) ✔️

Gospel Era (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) ✔️

Church Era (Acts, the Epistles, Hebrews) ✔️

Mission Era (Acts, the Epistles, Hebrews) up next!

Era to follow:

End Times/New Beginnings

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/8:

Today Peter and John go to the temple and Peter heals a lame man, who lies each day at the gate of the temple. When the people see that the man is healed, they are filled with wonder and amazement.

Peter responds to the crowd asking why they marvel. He tells them that this man wasn’t healed by their power but by the power of Jesus Christ, the man they killed. Paul says, “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

But the Jewish leaders aren’t too fond of this message, so they grab Peter and John and put them in custody. “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”

When Peter and John stand before the Jewish Council, Peter tells them that the lame man was healed by the power of Jesus Christ. He goes on to say, ”Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” However, the Jewish leaders do not want this message to spread among the people. Therefore they tell Peter and John not to teach anymore about Jesus Christ. But Peter and John respond saying, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

When Peter and John are released, they report back to their companions all that happened. Then they all pray – “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” This is when we meet Barnabas, Paul’s future missionary partner. He sells all of his land and gives the money to the apostles to distribute. Then we also meet Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who say they too sold all of their possessions to give to the church. However, they were lying to receive public glory from man and God knew it, as God knows all things. So instead of receiving respect from the church, they are rebuked by Peter and the Lord strikes them dead. The Lord is not going to allow anything to taint the purity of the newly formed church. “So great fear came upon the church and upon all who heard these things.”

The apostles continue doing many signs and wonders and the church continues to grow. “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.’”

When the Jewish leaders find them in the temple, they question why they are teaching about Jesus Christ when they were told to stop. “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”

The leaders now want to kill the apostles. So Gamaliel, a Pharisee, intervenes saying, “Keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

Tomorrow the first disciple is martyred. Keep reading. (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-2:47)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/7:

Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus blesses His disciples and then is taken up to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God, bringing an end to the Gospel Era and launching us into the Church and Missions Eras.

Before Jesus went to be with His Father, He commanded His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem “but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’”

So the disciples return to Jerusalem and go into the upper room where they are staying. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

Peter organizes the selection of another disciple to replace Judas the betrayer. “And they prayed and said, ‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’ And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, on the day of Pentecost, “suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.” The people say, “we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” But some mock them by saying they are drunk.

Peter addresses the crowd, telling them that they are not drunk but that the Scriptures which were spoken by the prophet Joel have been fulfilled. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy… And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:28,32).

Peter explains that God has raised Jesus, whom they crucified, from the grave and has given His people the power of the Holy Spirit as He promised. These words cut to the heart of the people and they ask what they must do. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them… So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Welcome to the Church Era! The church will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. However, many are going to oppose the growth of the church as we will begin to see in tomorrow’s reading, so keep reading. (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-2:47)

14 Eras:

Creation Era (Gen 1:1-11:26) ✔️

Patriarch Era (Gen 11:27-50:26 and Job) ✔️

Exodus Era (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) ✔️

Conquest Era (Joshua) ✔️

Judges Era (Judges, Ruth) ✔️

Kingdom Era (1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles 1-9, 1 Kings 1-11, various Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) ✔️

Divided Kingdom Era (2 Chronicles 10-36, 1 Kings 11-22, 2 Kings, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and some of Jeremiah) ✔️

Captivity Era (the rest of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) ✔️

Return Era (Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi) ✔️

Silent Era (Inter-Testament period) ✔️

Gospel Era (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) ✔️

Church Era (Acts, the Epistles, Hebrews) up now!

Era to follow:

Missions & End Times/New Beginnings

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/6:

The same day as Jesus’ resurrection, two men are walking to a village called Emmaus when Jesus appears to them and asks them why they are sad. The men’s eyes are restrained, so they don’t recognize Jesus. Therefore, they tell Jesus all that has happened the last couple of days regarding His crucifixion and the report of His resurrection by the women.

“Then He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” So we see how Jesus gives hope to the hopeless! He reveals who He is and what he came to do by sharing His story, the story of the Bible!

Later the men say, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” This is what happens when people hear the story of Jesus, who came on a rescue mission to save the hopeless — hearts are set on fire. So the men, with burning hearts, go and tell the other disciples, who were hiding in fear of the Jews, that Jesus is alive. While they are sharing the Good News, Jesus appears and says, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

Since doubting Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared, he says he will not believe unless he sees and touches Jesus’ wounds for himself. Eight days later, Jesus gives Thomas what he thinks he needs in order to believe. Then Jesus says, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus is saying, blessed are the ones who hear an eye witness of the risen Christ and believe. That is why John writes, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Jesus appears again to a few disciples that have been unsuccessfully fishing all night. Jesus tells them to cast the net again, and when they do the net becomes so full of fish that they can’t even drag it into their boat. Then John recognizes it is Jesus and says, “It is the Lord!” When Peter realizes it is Jesus, he jumps out of the boat and swims to shore to be reunited with his friend and his Savior whom he previously denied three times. However, Jesus still loves Peter despite any past or future failures. So Jesus restores Peter and commissions him to care for His people. Then Jesus tells Peter what it is going to cost to love Him and care for His people – “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’”

Peter will never again deny Jesus as Lord and Savior. He will spend the rest of His life sharing the story of Jesus with the world, even until they crucify him upside down since Peter will deem himself unworthy of dying the same death as Jesus Christ.

But you have to love Peter. Because after the news of his certain persecution, Peter responds regarding John, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus tells Peter not to worry about John and the plans He has for him. He says to Peter, “As for you, follow me.” Jesus has specific plans for John, like He has specific plans for Peter, and like He has specific plans for all those who follow Him. Paul will later explain this in a letter the Ephesians – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

However, there is one thing all Christ followers are called to do, and that is to make disciples. Jesus says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Then He instructs His disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive the “Promise of My Father upon you”, which is the Holy Spirit. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the disciples will be emboldened to go and make disciples of all the nations, fulfilling the commandment given by Jesus.

Tomorrow, the Gospel Era ends, leading us into the Church and Missions Eras. Keep reading. (Luke 24:13-43, Mark 16:12-13, John 20:19-23, Mark 16:14, John 20:24-21:25, Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:44-49)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/5:

That evening, the day before the Sabbath, a prominent man named Joseph asks Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph and Nicodemus, the Pharisee who visited Jesus at night (John 3:1-22), prepare Jesus’ body for burial and place Him in an empty tomb. “And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.” The chief priests and Pharisees place guards out front of the tomb to secure the stone at the entrance of the tomb and to stand watch so no one will steal Jesus’ body and claim that He has risen.

“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.” There they find the stone rolled away, the guards frozen like dead men, and the tomb empty. Then an angel asks the women, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

“And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest… And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” But Peter and John race to the tomb with John winning the race, as he makes sure to note, and all they find are linen cloths and the handkerchief that was on Jesus’ head folded together in a place by itself. Then they believe that Christ has risen and return home.

Mary stays outside the tomb weeping and Jesus appears to her, calling her by name and says, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” So Mary, commissioned by Jesus to deliver the news of His resurrection to the disciples, goes and tells them that she has seen the resurrected Christ and shares all the words He has spoken.

Meanwhile, the chief priests bribe some soldiers into lying, saying that His disciples took Jesus’ body during the night. “So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”

Tomorrow Jesus appears to the disciples. Keep reading. (Mark 15:42-47, Matthew 27:57-61, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42, Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1-8, Matthew 28:1-7, Luke 24:1-12, Mark 16:9-11, John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:8-15)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/4:

Jesus, being so badly wounded during the scourging, is unable to carry the cross for His crucifixion. So the Roman officers grab a man named Simon from Cyrene in North Africa who is visiting Jerusalem for the Passover, and force him to pick up Jesus’ cross and carry it as the crowds watch. Jesus tells the women weeping not to weep for Him but for themselves, knowing the fate that was to come upon Jerusalem and ultimately all who reject Him. When they arrive at Golgotha the soldiers give Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he tastes it, he refuses to drink it fulfilling Scripture that was prophesied a thousand years before (Psalms 69:21).

Gotquestions.org explains why Jesus refused the wine mixed with gall – “Jesus refused this gall-laced concoction after He tasted it and realized what it was (Mark 15:23; John 19:29). In a supernatural display of courage, the Son of Man rejected anything that would numb the suffering He endured for our salvation. Sin against a holy God required extreme punishment, and, in order to completely fulfill His position as our substitute, Jesus wanted nothing that took away from that punishment. On the cross, Jesus became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). To accept wine with gall would lessen sin’s punishment, and Jesus had come to bear the full brunt of God’s wrath against sin, not to take an easier way out (Isaiah 53:10).”

Jesus is hung on a cross between two thieves and a sign is placed over His head that says, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Then the officers divide His garments and cast lots for them, fulfilling Scripture (Psalm 22:18). And while Jesus is hanging on the cross, insult after insult is hurled at Him, but Jesus responds, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

One of the thieves being crucified taunts Jesus by saying, “‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” And just like that one of the criminals receives eternal salvation by grace through faith just moments before his death.

Before Jesus dies, He ensures that His mother, probably widowed, will be cared for by His beloved disciple, John. “And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” As the eldest son, Jesus entrusts his mother to John because His brothers were not believers at this time nor were they present at His crucifixion.

”Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

”Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, ‘Truly this Man was the Son of God!’” The Lord tearing the veil of the temple signifies that man now has direct access to the throne of God through the works of Jesus Christ as the final sacrificial Lamb. Jesus bore the full weight of our sins on that cross, providing a way for man to be restored into a right relationship with His Father, where we are deemed righteous based on faith in His Son.

”And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”

“Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken’ (Psalm 34:20, Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12). And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced’” (Zechariah 12:10, Revelation 1:7).

Tomorrow, Jesus rises from the dead. Keep reading. (Mark 15:21-24, Matthew 27:32-34, Luke 23:26-31, John 19:17-18, Mark 15:25-32, Matthew 27:35-44, Luke 23:32-43, John 19:19-27, Mark 15:33-41, Matthew 27:45-56, Luke 23:44-49, John 19:28-37)