Devotional Hours Within the Bible

Romans 12:9-21

Our love should be sincere, "without hypocrisy," as Paul says. A hypocrite is an actor. He pretends to be what he is not. We are not to live in this way - merely pretending to love people, speaking to them kindly words - while bitterness is in our heart. Our life must be as good as our speech, our heart as...

Romans 8:1-14

Someone says that if the Bible is compared to a ring, and the Epistle to the Romans be it precious stone, the eighth chapter would be the sparkling point of the jewel. It is one of the most precious chapters in all the Scriptures. It begins with no condemnation, and ends with no separation...

Romans 5:1-11

Justification by faith is the starting point in the Christian life. There can be no tree without a root ; no stream without a fountain. The careless, unsaved ones may read about the blessings of redemption, as we have them here in our lesson, and may say, "Yes, they are very...

Paul had been eager to go to Rome. His eagerness was not that of a tourist or explorer - but that of one constrained by the love of Christ, desiring to carry the gospel to the world's great capital. At last his longing is being realized. He is going to Rome - but in a strange way. He is going as a prisoner. The remarkable providence in this, is that he is carried on his great missionary errand - at the cost of Rome itself!

Paul was the only...

Acts 26:1-30

Acts 15:1-5 Acts 15:22-29

It is easy to start quarrels. There are some people who make trouble wherever they go. They seem always to be watching for something to find fault with. Instead of being peacemakers, seeking ever to allay strife and bring together those who are in danger of falling apart - they go about sowing seeds of dissension and starting quarrels.

We have an illustration...

Acts 13:1-13

We are told that "there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers." There were many of these more than were needed for the work at home. That was the reason some of them were sent out to work elsewhere. There are a great many churches nowadays that contain more Christian men and women, capable of effective service, than can possibly find work in their own parish. There are churches many of whose...

Acts 12:1-17

Acts 11:19-26

After the death of Stephen, the believers in Christ were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. And as they traveled - they preached. Some of the scattered Christians - men of Cyprus and Cyrene - when they reached Antioch, began to tell of Jesus to the Greeks. These men do not seem to have been ministers or men set apart as preachers. They were what we call laymen. But they were...

Acts 10:1-20

It was not easy for Peter to go to the house of Cornelius. All his life he had been trained to Jewish exclusiveness as part of his religion. It was hard for him to forget all this - and to regard the Gentiles as having as much right to receive the gospel as his own people. Yet Peter accepted the teaching when it was made plain to him, and went promptly on his errand. We should keep our minds free...

Acts 9:1-30

Before conversion Saul was as intense in his zeal for the destroying of Christianity, as he was after his conversion in his efforts to extend the kingdom of Christ. From place to place he went, from house to house, seizing men and women, casting them into prison and punishing them. This was the sort of man Saul was, the morning of the day of his conversion.

Why was...

Acts 8:26-40

Stephen was gone; his voice was hushed - but another worker rose up and took his place. "God buries his workmen - but carries on his work ." It is instructive to study the character of Philip, as it comes out of this story.

He must have lived near the heart of Christ, for we see him here in communication...

Acts 8:1-17

The first glimpse we have of Saul is in the martyrdom of Stephen. The record is that he was consenting unto Stephen's death. He was present, not merely as a spectator - but as one who approved of what was done and was instrumental in it. Yet this is the man who afterwards became a glorious apostle, the most influential of all, who wrought in the founding and extension of Christianity. We know it was Paul's conscience that made...

Acts 6:1-8 Acts 7:54 to Acts 8:2

Stephen is one of the most interesting characters in the New Testament. His story is short - but intense. His work belongs to a few days, and he makes but one speech - but his influence belongs to all after...