Interesting Facts from Scripture

The 66 books of the Bible were written on 3 continents, in 3 languages, by 40 different people over a period of 1500 years, on the most controversial subjects, by authors whose education and background varied greatly (kings, shepherds, scientists, attorneys, a tax collector, an army general, fishermen, priests, and a physician). And there are no contradictions between them!

The Old Testament has 39 books. How can you remember that? There are 3 letters in Old; 9 letters in Testament. 3 and 9 is 39! The New Testament has 27 books. How can you remember that? There are 3 letters in New, 9 letters in Testament. 3 times 9 equals 27!

God called both Adam and Eve, "Adam". (Genesis 5:2). This is the Law of coverture, and the reason why women take their husbands’ name. They are considered "one flesh" (Matthew 19:5-6, Mark.10:8, Ephesians 5:31).

God wrote the Ten Commandments a second time (Exodus 34:1), because Moses broke the first set of stones (Exodus 32:19; 34:1). This 2nd set was placed into the wooden ark (Deuteronomy 10:1-5). The Ten Commandments were written on both front and back (Exodus 32:15).

The law of Moses was copied upon stones also (Joshua 8:32; 24:26).

The story of Joseph accounts for the Israelites coming into Egypt (Genesis 37-50), while that of the Exodus accounts for their going out of it (Exodus 1-20).

Man’s time on earth is appointed (Job 7:1, Ecclesiastes 7:17). It’s appointed to men once to die, then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

The scripture does not say, "Money is the root of all evil". Money is the root of no evil, nor is it an evil of any kind. But, "the love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). Only the love of it is evil. To love it is to covet it (Exodus 20:17 - the 10th Commandment).

Enoch was the first prophet to utter a prophesy about the 2nd coming of Christ, this was before the flood of Noah (Jude 1:14-15).

It is a shame for a man to have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14). It is a glory for women to have long hair (1 Cor.11:15).

Tattoos are forbidden (Leviticus 19:28).

The rainbow was created to remember the covenant between God and every living creature (Genesis 9:14-16) after the flood.

What did Jesus eat? Clean Meats - Jesus ate Lamb at the Passover supper. (Luke 22:15). Fish - Jesus fed thousands of people with fish. (Matthew 14:19). Eggs - Jesus called eggs "good" (Luke 11:12,13). Butter - Jesus ate butter and honey (Isaiah 7:15).

The oldest book in scripture, the book of Job, records people sprinkling salt on eggs. Job 6:6, "Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?"

The apostle Peter fished naked (John 21:7). Saul "stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel" (1 Samuel 19:24). Isaiah "walked naked and barefoot for three years" (Isa.20:2-4).

Believers in Christ are suppose to greet each other with a kiss (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, 1 Peter 5:14). And we are to kiss in other situations also (Proverbs 24:26, Solomon 1:5). Even Moses greeted his brother Aaron with a kiss (Exodus 4:27), and his father-in-law with a kiss (Exodus 18:7).

The tree of life, from the Garden of Eden, is now in the midst of the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7).

The purpose of marriage is not only for procreation, but to prevent fornication (1 Corinthians 7:2).

The scripture says that homosexuality is caused by a willful choice of a depraved person (Romans 1:26–27).

2 Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." This is one of the great promises in Scripture.

Paul was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) and Jesus was a carpenter (Mark 6:3).

The earth was created in six days. However, the third day completed the fundamentals of creation work, and the fourth, fifth, and sixth days are the counterpart and repetition of the first, second, and third days, and correspond respectively.

1st day - God divides light from darkness 4th day - God makes lights in the heaven (Sun, moon, stars)

2nd day - God divides the waters 5th day - God creates life in the waters

3rd day - God creates land and vegetation 6th day - God creates life on land

There’s only one Archangel, named Michael (Jude 1:9). Gabriel is not an archangel (Daniel 8:16; 9:21, Luke 1:19,26). The Archangel Michael might be Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16, John 5:28-29, Daniel 12:1, Revelation 12:7). Daniel 10:13,21 refers to Michael as being "one of the chief princes". Jesus is a Prince (Isaiah 9:6, Acts 3:15; 5:31, Revelation 1:5).

Ezekiel 37:12-14 speaks of God causing Israel to come up out of her graves, and giving them their own land, and how God will put his spirit in them and make them live. Which shows how death means spiritual death, not just physical death. They were referred to as "dead men," (Isaiah 26:19) and their restoration to Palestine was spoken of as a resurrection. The graves were opened when Cyrus gave them release from Babylon in order to return home. This captivity was symbolic of the captive state of the New Testament saints during the last days of fleshly Israel. They were oppressed and persecuted until the very end of that second Babylon (I Thessalonians 2:14-16). The fall of Babylon (Israel) and the resurrection of the saints to their homeland, the new heaven and earth, are the basic theme of God's final revelation to man. As with national Israel in ancient Babylon, the release or deliverance of the saints from Israel (Babylon) was the opening of the graves and the bringing forth of all into judgment (John 5:28-29).

Jesus was obviously talking about spiritually dead men burying a physically dead man in Matthew 8:21-22 and Luke 9:59-60. Also read Romans 6:13, Ephesians 2:1,4-5, Colossians 2:13; 3:3, 1 Timothy 5:6, James 5:20. The whole point of these passages is to explain that, "the body without the spirit is dead" (James 2:26).

Jesus taught the apostles to only preach to Jews (Matthew 10:5-6). It wasn’t until many years after his death that they were commanded to preach to the Gentiles as well (Acts 11:30; 14:27, Romans 1:6). The apostles explain why in Acts 13:46,47.

Adam and Eve attempted to cover their nakedness with fig leaves which represented their own works to cover their sin (Genesis 3:7). But God demonstrated acceptable sacrifice by covering Adam and Eve with the skin of an innocent animal (Genesis 3:21). Because without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin (Numbers 35:33, Hebrews 9:22).

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8; 146:3). God wants us to trust Him alone (Psalms 40:4; 56:11; Proverbs 29:25). God is no respecter of persons (2 Samuel 14:14, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, Galatians 2:6, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25, 1 Peter 1:17).

Matthew 7:12 is the Golden Rule.

The teaching of Jesus, that we should love our enemies (Matthew 5:39,44), is not a new commandment. It was a quote from the Old Testament (Exodus 23:4-5, Proverbs 24:17-18, Proverbs 25:21-22).

Eighty year old Moses sought permission from his father-in-law before beginning his divinely-commanded return to Egypt (Exodus 4:18). Ruth pledged total obedience to the mother of her dead husband; seeking her leave before doing the simplest, most logical thing (Ruth 3:5). Most Old Testament prophets looked like failures. Jeremiah was branded a traitor (Jeremiah 38:4-5). Elijah was a fugitive (1 Kings 18:10; 19:2-3). Many were ridiculed. Few managed to slow the moral landslide (Isaiah 6:9-13). Some may not have understood their own prophecies (Daniel 8:26; 12:8-9, 1 Peter 1:10-12, compare John 11:51). But their heavenly assignment touched none of these things. They were simply God’s mouth-pieces. Results were not their responsibility.

Methuselah, the son of Enoch, and grandfather of Noah, was the oldest man of whom we have any record, dying at the age of nine hundred and sixty-nine years, in the year of the Flood (Genesis 5:21-27; 1 Chronicles 1:3).

Chastisement is a token of love (Hebrews 12:6).

When "Solomon's Temple" was being built, there was never any sound of neither hammer, axe, nor any tool heard in the Temple, because the stones were made ready before it was brought in the temple (1 Kings 6:7).

Isaac, Israel, Samson, Samuel and John the Baptist were all born to women who had been barren. (Genesis 18:11; 25:21-26; Judges 13:3; 1 Samuel 1:20; Luke 1:7, 13).

Wisdom and knowledge is the fear of the Lord (Job 28:28, Proverbs 1:7,29). The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13), and by the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil (Proverbs 16:6).

In biblical times, fishermen fished with nets and hooks, called angles (Isaiah 19:8, Amos 4:2, Habakkuk 1:15, Matthew 17:27). They also broiled fish (Luke 24:42).

Scripture says the glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is their gray hair (Proverbs 20:29). Also, there is nothing wrong with a bald head: Leviticus 13:40-41, "And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean. And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean."

In Genesis 11, the people said, "let us make a name for ourselves and build a tower." And God said, "If they are unified in language and able to accomplish this, nothing will be impossible for them." So God confounded their language.
When people are trying to build a name for themselves and are communicating as one, unity is disastrous. When stupidity is the motive, unity is catastrophic. When self-grandiosement is the motive, unity is devastating. A group of proud men and women united in evil can accomplish hell on earth.

"To serve me," Jesus declared, "you must deny yourself and take up your cross" (Luke 9:23-26; 14:27). Carrying one’s cross involves nothing less than anguish and devastating humiliation. It is suffering inflicted as a direct result of serving God; torment you could avoid by compromise. Jesus wasn’t looking for adherents; he was looking for martyrs. He wanted not admirers but imitators - volunteers who could shoulder a gibbet of pain. The person more concerned about his neck than the exaltation of God, is unworthy of ministry. Many are called, but few rise to the challenge. ‘Let me first establish my business.’ ‘Let me first raise my family.’ ‘Let me first ...’ Not surprisingly, few are chosen (Matthew 22:14, Luke 9:59-62).

Those who shrink from hardship or danger shrivel up inside; dead, long before their hearts stop. The easy path leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). If Jesus suffered for us when we didn’t deserve it, how can we refuse to suffer for him when he does deserve it? If your God is not worth suffering for, you don’t know the God and Father of the Lord Jesus.

Joseph planned on breaking the engagement when he found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus (Matthew 1:19).

God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-2) as a test of faith, because he lacked faith to trust God’s power to bring him a son from the womb of his wife (Genesis 16:1-3). So, to justify himself killing his son, Abraham figured God would resurrect Isaac to fulfill His promise that Isaac would be heir to a country (Genesis 15:4,18). Hebrews 11:17-19 records how Abraham, by faith, reasoned that God was able to raise Isaac up from the dead. He even told his servants that Isaac would be back (Genesis 22:5). The act of Abraham sacrificing his son is symbolic of the Father sacrificing Jesus, His only begotten Son!

When Jesus announced there was a traitor in their midst, the apostles were so selfish that they were arguing which one of them was the greatest apostle instead (Luke 22:21-24).

Even though Peter saw, with his own senses, tremendous evidence that Jesus was the Messiah, he says the words of prophesy are more certain, and are more to be trusted, than are the senses. In 2 Peter 1:19, Peter is referring to the transfiguration that happened in Matthew 17:1-8.

The greatest threat to the Christ's assembly is to come from among the leaders in the assembly (Acts 20:28-31).

It is not sufficient that we merely confess our sins (Mark 1:15), we must also forsake them (Isaiah 55:7) and sin no more (John 5:14; 8:11).

The works you do bear witness of you and of whom you are led and sent (John 5:36; 10:35). Every man’s destiny is determined by deeds done in the body (2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:12; 22:12). Every act of life, no matter how secret, will be judged (Job 42:2, Ecclesiastes 12:14, Luke 12:2-3, Romans 2:16). Every word we speak will be judged as well (Matthew 12:36-37) because it is an index to our heart and thoughts (Matthew 12:34).

A messenger of Satan was sent to Paul to keep him from exalting himself (2 Corinthians 12:7). And pride is what allowed Satan to sift Peter (Luke 22:31).

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the oldest standing city it the world, and never had mass destruction (Isaiah 17:1).

Jesus could have had 12 legions of angels when he was arrested, but then scripture would not have been fulfilled (Matthew 26:53).

Men and women are forbidden to wear one another's clothing (Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Baptism happened during the Old Covenant also, and they had the same spiritual meat and drink as Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).

In the Old Covenant, people also confessed their sins to the Lord and were forgiven (Psalm 32:5).

Jeremiah never married (Jeremiah 16:1-2).

Job speaks of a future resurrection from death (Job 14:13-15), and he knew Jesus would walk on the earth in the latter days and that he would see God some day (Job 19:25-27 ). And in the very last verse of the book of Job, in the Septuagint, it says, “And Job died, an old man and full of days: and it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up.” David speaks of his soul being redeemed from the grave (Psalms 49:15).

2 Kings 2:23-24 is a curse on the youths of Bethel. For it was Elisha's character, as God's prophet, that the children abused. They bade him "go up," reflecting on the taking up of Elijah into the sky (2 Kings 2:1,11). The prophet acted by Divine impulse. If the Holy Spirit had not directed Elisha's solemn curse, the providence of God would not have followed it with judgment. The Lord must be glorified as a righteous God who hates sin, and will reckon for it. Let young persons be afraid of speaking wicked words, for God notices what they say. Let them not mock at any for defects in mind or body; it is at their peril if they scoff at any for well doing. Let parents train them up well, and do their best to drive out the foolishness that is bound up in their hearts.

Today, the meaning of the word "believe" has been weakened. In the eyes of most, it has become a mere acknowledgment of a certain fact. To many, it has nothing to do with obedience. But in 1 Peter 2:7, the words "believe" and "disobedient" are represented as opposites. In other words, to believe is to be obedient, while unbelief is synonymous with disobedience. The Scriptures exhort "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). As a result of the way we view the word "believe", many think that all they are required to do is believe that Jesus existed and died at Calvary, and they are in good standing with God. If this were the only requirement, the demons would be in good standing with Him (James 2:19). But there is no salvation for them! "Faith" is Greek word #4102, pistis. This word comes directly from a primary verb (#3982 peitho), so is itself ACTIVE. "Believe" is the same, as it comes directly from pistis. Faith and belief is some action based on God's word of promise.

Servants of God should look upon worldly wealth with a holy contempt (2 Kings 5:15-16).

The use of cosmetics for women is recorded in 2 Kings 9:30.

Christians are not to fear any man (Psalm 56:4; 118:6, Proverbs 29:25, Hebrews 13:6, Matthew 10:28).

A good tree brings forth good fruit, a bad tree bad fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). Galatians 5:16-26 describes these fruits. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 describes these bad trees.

To follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves (Matthew 16:23, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23-24, 2Timothy 2:13) and die daily the death of self (1 Corinthians 15:31).

God revealed His will through prophets (Amos 3:7, Hosea 12:10, Hebrews 1:1) because sin is such an integral part of man himself that man cannot bear the presence of God (Exodus 20:18-19).

Women were blessed with the spiritual gift of prophesy also (Acts 21:8-9, Luke 2:36-38). Here are other prophetesses (Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4, 2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 34:22, Nehemiah 6:14, Isaiah 8:3). But there’s also false prophetesses (Revelation 2:20).

Noah’s ark rested in the seventh month (Genesis 8:4), it rested on the sabbath! (Leviticus 23:24,27,34,39,41).

Nations that forget God will be turned into a living hell (Psalm 9:17), a place of darkness.

Moses lacked faith (Exodus 3-6), but was willing (Exodus 3:11,13; 4:1,10,18(lied),25).

Just like Moses (Exodus 4:10), Paul did not have excellent speech either (1 Corinthians 2:1, 2 Corinthians 10:10; 11:6).

As far as authority is concerned, first is God, then comes Christ, then the man, then the woman (1 Corinthians 11:3).

The Apostle Peter, shortly before he died, referred to Paul’s Epistles as Scripture and in such a way as to indicate that at least the beginning of such a collection had already been made (II Peter 3:15-16).

We’re not to take away/add to God’s Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32, Proverbs 30:6, Jeremiah 26:2, Revelation 22:18-19).

Jesus is heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2). Christians are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Christians have obtained this inheritance (Ephesians 1:11).

God ruled over all the heathen nations, not just Israel (2 Chronicles 20:6).

Jacob had a dream about a ladder that reached to heaven with the angels of God ascending and descending on it, with the Lord standing above it (Genesis 28:12-13). This foreshadowed Jesus’ statement that heaven would open up with the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (John 1:51). Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28). This foreshadowed the nation of the true Israel, Jesus Christ, because Israel is another name for Jesus (Matthew 2:15, Hosea 11:1). Israel is the chosen servant of God, and Jesus is the chosen servant of God.

God will supply you with all your needs; clothes, food, and shelter (Matthew 6:31-33, Luke 12:22-31, Philippians 4:19, Psalms 34:10). In Mark 8:14-21, the disciples apparently failed to realize from the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44) and from the feeding of the four thousand, that Jesus can certainly provide for their needs.

The theory that Moses wrote Genesis, and the other four books of the Pentateuch, is not supported by the internal evidence. For one thing, Moses never identifies himself as the author. For another, he is always referred to in the third person. And lastly, there is an account of his death at the end of Deuteronomy. I hardly think that a man could write about his own death.

It was customary to have registers of citizenship, in which were entered the names of citizens, both natural and adopted (Luke 2:1-5). Heaven is represented as a city (Revelation 3:12; 21:2,10), and its inhabitants are registered (Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27). When one was deprived of citizenship his name was erased from the roll of citizens (Exodus 32:32, Psalms 69:28, Revelation 3:5). Christians are citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19, Phillippians 3:20).

Godly people are not to let anyone in their house who is not godly themselves (2 John 1:10, Proverbs 24:15, Ecclesiasticus 11:29,34).

Jesus' only double miracle is recorded in Mark 8:22-25, when he healed the man in Bethsaida. After he healed his blindness the first time, the man could not see clearly, and could not distinguish trees from man. Since he was blind at birth, his mind needed to be able to make the connection as to what shapes, colors, textures, etc. belonged to what. Only someone who was blind at birth would perceive the world as confusing in this way. This shows that the blind man could not have been faking his blindness. After Jesus healed him the second time, the man was able to see clearly. Some may ask why Jesus needed to heal this man twice, and why he did not complete it the first time he healed this man. This miracle pictures the disciples slow but progressive spiritual comprehension, which climaxes in verse 29 with their confession of Jesus as Messiah.

The word "immortal" appears only one time in the entire bible. Only God is immortal (1 Timothy 1:17).

During the persecution of the early Christians, they communicated with each other by drawing a symbol of a fish consisting of two intersecting curved lines. When two would meet, one would draw half the symbol upon the ground with the foot. The other, to show like belief, would complete the drawing. The Greek acronym "IXThUS" (meaning 'fish') derives from the first letters of this early statement of belief: "Iesous Xristos Theos Uios Soter." Meaning, "Jesus Christ God's Son Saviour."

Adam and Eve didn't have just two children, as is usually believed. There were three named sons; Cain, Abel and Seth, but had an additional unspecified number of sons and daughters (Genesis 5:4). Not surprising considering Adam lived 930 years (Genesis 5:5).

There is a great deal revealed in the scripture about angels. Angels can speak as man does, and can eat food (Genesis 18:8; 19:3,16); they are capable of direct physical combat (Genesis 19; 32:24-30, Exodus 12, 2 Kings 19:35); they are principle forces behind government powers (Daniel 10); They don't marry in heaven (Matthew 22:30); they are capable of much mischief (Genesis 6:1-2, 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6); they are limited, like men, in respect to certain things (Revelation 5:2-4); they can appear in human form (Acts 11:13, Hebrews 13:2); an angel took Lot and his family by the hand and placed them outside the city because Lot was hesitant to leave Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:5,10,16); an angel freed Peter from Prison (Acts 12:6-11). Nowhere in scripture does it mention that people turn into angels after they die. Nowhere in scripture does it mention that angels have wings. Even though angels are usually presented as feminine figures, scriptural angels are always referred to in the masculine gender.

It is usually assumed by most people that Christ is the last name (surname) of Jesus. This is not true. Christ is not a name, but a title. Last names were virtually unknown during the time that Jesus lived. In fact, last names did not appear as a regular custom until the tenth century after the Normans conquered England. Prior to that, second names were not really names at all. If anything followed someone's name, it was usually an indication of the geographic origin or description of the man. Thus, Jesus was frequently referred to as Jesus of Nazareth. Christ is an early Hebrew word used as a title and means "the anointed one."

The Old Testament standard of justice of an "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:24) was not intended as a justification for revenge, as is popularly believed When originally framed and set forth by Moses, this code was intended to attain equal and consistent justice and to limit vengeful retaliation. Under most ancient legal systems, noblemen and higher classes received less punishment than did servants or slaves who committed similar offenses. It was also common for a lower class person to be killed or seriously injured in retaliation for a very minor injury caused to someone of a privileged class. As part of the law of retaliation, this ordinance was meant to check passionate vengeance for a slight injury, and was meant to limit retaliation only to the extent of the first wrongful act and to provide equal justice for everyone.

There is only one reference to Lucifer in the scripture (Isaiah 14:12), and it does not refer to Satan or the Devil, but to the king of Babylon, who was Nebuchadnezzar at the time.

It is not true that Samson lost his strength because Delilah cut off his hair. Samson's hair was never cut off, it was shaved, and it was not even shaved by Delilah, but by another man (Judges 16:19).

The scripture makes no mention of a snake in the Garden of Eden, it was a "serpent" that tempted Eve and convinced her to eat the "fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." A serpent in antiquity refers to any creeping thing that was especially noxious or venomous.

The feast of the passover was the first feast on the Jewish yearly calendar and was kept in commemoration of the national deliverance from Egypt in the Exodus under Moses. Passover takes its name from the Hebrew term related to the death angel passing over those who had applied the blood of a lamb to their homes (Exodus 12). During the last supper, "Jesus took bread" (Matthew 26:26). The head of the Jewish household was accustomed to doing this during the passover feast. Jesus gave a completely new significance to the action by saying "This is my body." During the Passover feast, the Jewish householder took bread in his hand and said, "This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt," meaning that the one represented the other. By His words, our Lord changed the whole significance and emphasis of the feast from looking back to the typical redemption from Egypt to faith in the redemption from sin accomplished by His death.
Jesus' final prediction about his death was made two days before passover (Matthew 26:1-2, Mark 14:1, Luke 22:1-2), which was eaten on the evening of Nisan 14. Thus the prediction was made on the twelfth of the month (April).

King Zimri had the shortest reign for a king, seven days (I Kings 16:15)

The man who helped carry Jesus' cross to his crucifixion, was called Simon (Matthew 27:32). He was from Cyrene (North Africa), and is also called “Niger” in Acts 13:1, which means “the black” in Greek. Simon had two sons, Alexander and Rufus, who later became well-known Christians (Mark 15:21).

Scripture does not portray Jesus as an unmoved problem solver sweeping serenely and unemotionally from incident to incident, but Jesus was moved with compassion, as in Mark 1:41; 6:34, when he healed those in need.

Jesus friends and family thought Jesus insane and mentally unsound, so they tried to quiet Jesus' controversial operations with some demands or service (Mark 3:21,31).

We should give careful attention to what we hear. For according to the proportion of study given God's Word, a corresponding amount of knowledge will be given you, and generously multiplied at that. God's truth, instead of being divinely hidden from man, will be understood in proportion to ones attention to and study of it (Mark 4:24-25).

Jesus, in Mark 4:34-41, fulfilled Psalm 107:23-31.

Contrary to normal human assumptions, greatness is not a matter of dominance but of service – of being dominated by the will of God (Mark 9:33-35).

Even though Paul wrote most of the books in the New Testament, Luke's 2 books (Luke and Acts) make up over half of the New Testament writings.
The Apostle Paul was called Saul before his conversion and missionary journeys (Acts 7:58 – Acts 13:9). He was the most prominent apostle in the first century due to his effectiveness in forming so many assemblies. Paul was from Tarsus of Cilicia and was born into a well-to-do home. Paul, as a rabbi and Pharisee (Acts 23:6; 26:5), was required to learn a trade and so laboured in the low paying, menial task of tent making (Acts 18:3). But two facts demonstrate the social status of his family: 1) his Roman citizenship (Acts 22:28); 2) his opportunity to study in Jerusalem under the foremost teacher, Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).
Paul's primary attribute, however, was not his education but his zeal, which was as much a part of his life before his conversion as afterward. Paul was the first to martyr the Christians (Acts 7:58) and to wreak havoc for believers in Jerusalem (Philippians 3:4-5, Acts 8:1-4; 22:4; 26:10), pursuing them even as far as Antioch. At that time God graciously saved him and commissioned him (Acts 9, Galatians 1:13-17). Paul became the apostle to the gentiles (Galatians 2:9, Romans 11:13) and immediately preached in Damascus, Jerusalem, Tarsus, and throughout Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21-23). About ten years later while serving in Antioch, Paul was sent to Cyprus and Galatia in what is called his first missionary journey (Acts 13-14). He later evangelized Greece (Acts 16-18) and then Asia Minor (called Asia in Acts 19). When he returned to Jerusalem he was arrested and imprisoned: two years in Caesarea (Acts 23-26) and two years in Rome (Acts 28). During his missionary journeys he wrote Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Romans. While in Rome he wrote the so-called Prison Epistles: Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.
The books of Acts and 2 Timothy (along with the statements of church history) imply that Paul was released from prison, preached in Spain and the Aegean Sea area, wrote 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, was rearrested, and was finally martyred by Nero. Paul was neither physically impressive nor an orator (2 Corinthians 10:10), but his unquenchable zeal and love, plus his powerful pen, have endeared him not only to Christians of the first century, but also to those of the last 20 centuries.

The “swaddling clothes” that Mary put on Jesus when he was a baby (Luke 2:7) were bandage like strips of cloth wrapped around an infant to ensure that the limbs would grow straight. Not to swaddle a child would be a form of abuse (Ezekiel 16:2-4). This wrapping would aid the shepherds in identifying Jesus (Luke 2:12).

It was the practice in Old Testament days for a newly married man to be absolved from military service in Israel for one year so that he could spend time with his new bride (Deuteronomy 24:5). Whether this was to give them time to have children or, as it seems from the text, simply to "enjoy themselves", is not clear. But perhaps the intent was that a couple could develop a close relationship for a year before having children with its great demands on the marriage relationship.

There's a revealed will of God, and a hidden will of God (Deuteronomy 29:29).

When acting in Christ's name, and doing things in His name, we should always try to take at least one other brother or sister with us (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1).

There were only 15 crimes that had the death penalty imposed upon man: premeditated murder, kidnapping, adultery, homosexuality, incest, bestiality, persistent disobedience to parents and authority, striking or cursing parents, offering human sacrifices, false prophesy, blasphemy, profaning sabbath, sacrificing to false gods, magic and divination, rape of a betrothed woman.

Some people say that the Cerastes hides himself in the sand, in order to bite the horse's foot, that he might throw off his rider. Jacob makes an allusion to this in the blessing he gave to Dan. "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward" (Genesis 49:17).

Did you know the word for "witness" in the Greek is "martyr"? Speaking to His apostles, Jesus said, in Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." This is Greek word #3144, “martus.” What he is really saying is, “I want you to be martyrs.”
Today, we believe the word “martyr” means somebody who died a terrible death for believing in the Christ. But the word “martyr” doesn't really mean someone who is tortured to death; the word “martyr” means “witness.” And how did we come to feel that the word martyr means killed? Because a lot of believers, down through history, have been killed for their witness about Jesus.
One of the apostles, Judas, killed himself. And he had to be replaced with another apostles.

Acts 1:21-22, "Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."

That word “witness” above is martyr. We need another martyr here.

2 Corinthians 13:1, "This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."

This is not a new command given by Paul, this was quoted from Deuteronomy 19:15. You will notice that the apostles went out two by two in the first century. Why? Because they were giving a witness, a testimony, of Jesus. And it was necessary that it was established in the mouth of two or three witnesses, so they went out by two! And when you have eleven apostles, somebody wouldn't have a partner.

Matthew 18:15-16, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established."

So, by being a witness today, we are a martyr!

Here are words and phrases that do not appear in scripture: sermon, original sin, second coming, rapture, trinity, denominations, Jewish sabbath, Christian sabbath, immortal soul, bible, theocracy, millenium, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, the unpardonable sin, physical resurrection, end of time.

Acts 19:19-20 records a book burning. The burning of these occultist books, valued at over one million dollars by current standards, might be considered a senseless waste by some. The sale of these scrolls could only provide financial resources. The rejection of and separation from them resulted in God's blessing, and "so mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."

When the psalmist wrote Psalm 90:10, he declared that man's average lifespan was seventy to eighty years. Today, over 3,000 years later, we find that our average life span is essentially the same! It is sobering to realize that despite all the money spent recently on biomedical research, we have not increased our lifespan.

Under God's Law, an accessory to a crime is just as guilty as the one perpetuating the crime (Psalms 50:18, 1 Timothy 5:22). Scripture also shows that those who participate in evil through somebody else are guilty of the act themselves. For example, David gave orders to Joab and instructed him to have Uriah killed. Even though David did not kill him himself, but had another do it for him, God placed the sin of murder on David himself (II Samual 11:14 - 12:9). In addition, if a man has seen a crime, or has heard of a crime, and does not bear witness of this crime as a witness, then this man shall bear the criminals iniquity (Leviticus 5:1).

Egyptian magicians withstood Moses (Exodus 7:11 - 9:11). Their names are never mentioned in the book of Exodus. Nor are their names mentioned anywhere in the entire Old Testament books. Their names are revealed in 2 Timothy 3:8 as Jannes and Jambres!
It is not certain where the apostle obtained their names; but they are frequently mentioned by the Hebrew writers, and also by other writers; so that there can be no reasonable doubt that their names were correctly handed down by tradition. Nothing is more probable than that the names of the more distinguished magicians who attempted to imitate the miracles of Moses, would be preserved by tradition; and though they are not mentioned by Moses himself, and the Jews have told many ridiculous stories respecting them, yet this should not lead us to doubt the truth of the tradition respecting their names. A full collection of the Jewish statements in regard to them may be found in Wetstein, in loc. They are also mentioned by Pliny, Nat. Hist. xxx. 7; and by Numenius, the philosopher, as quoted by Eusebius, ix. 8; and Origen, against Celsus, p. 199. See Wetstein. By the rabbinical writers, they are sometimes mentioned as Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses in Egypt, and sometimes as the sons of Balaam. The more common account is, that they were the princes of the Egyptian magicians. One of the Jewish rabins represents them as having been convinced by the miracles of Moses, and as having become converts to the Hebrew religion. There is no reason to doubt that these were, in fact, the leading men who opposed Moses in Egypt, by attempting to work counter miracles.

1st day - God divides light from darkness	4th day - God makes lights in the heaven (Sun, moon, stars)
2nd day - God divides the waters	5th day - God creates life in the waters
3rd day - God creates land and vegetation	6th day - God creates life on land