Acts 23:1
"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
Paul said, "I have lived in all good conscience..." That statement is a mouth full. To be able to say that you have a good conscience is to say that you have no skeletons in the closet that you are trying to hide. A good conscience is not what you portray to others, but knowing you've done right in private at all times.
Acts 17:16
"Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry."
Have you ever had something that hits your hot button and stirs your spirit? Paul experienced this when he went to Athens. When he was brought to Athens, he saw the people given to idolatry. The whole city worshipped idols. Everywhere he went he saw these people who were devout in their idol worship. When he saw the people given to idolatry, it stirred him because he saw the need of the people.
Acts 4:31
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
The boldness of the Apostles is clearly seen in this chapter as they preached about Jesus Christ. After the crowds heard their preaching, five thousand people accepted Christ as their Saviour. This troubled the religious leaders because they were quickly losing influence. This caused them to take Peter and John and hold them until they were questioned. Peter did not back down, but testified that Jesus was crucified by their hands, and that Jesus was the very One Who could save them from their sins. After being threatened and warned not to preach about Jesus, they were let go.
Acts 2:41
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
The results that happened on the day of Pentecost in the Book of Acts have been studied, taught and preached about for decades. This one event is one of the most talked about events in the Scriptures. Certainly, every preacher has preached about the three thousand souls that were saved.
John 5:15
"The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole."
One of the more disturbing responses to Jesus' miracles is the story about the man who was crippled for thirty-eight years. For thirty-eight years this man was confined to a bed. For thirty-eight years this man was totally dependent upon others taking him places. Yet, when Jesus passed by his way, He had compassion on him and healed him.
Luke 18:8
"I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"
As Jesus told the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, He wondered aloud if when He came back to take us to Heaven if He would find faith on the Earth. He tells the story of a widow who approached a judge who had no fear of God and didn't care what man thought. This widow lady went to the judge to ask him to avenge her of her adversary. This judge wanted nothing to do with her, yet because she kept on wearying him with her request, he finally gave in and granted her request. In this parable Jesus shows us what it will take for Him to find faith.
Luke 12:15
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
In the verse above, a man came to Jesus requesting that He would talk to his brother about dividing the inheritance. Apparently, the parents of this young man had passed away and left everything they had to his brother. This man thought that Jesus would be able to persuade his brother to split the inheritance. Instead, Jesus rebuked the young man by saying, "beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Jesus wanted this man to understand that life filled with things will ultimately mean nothing.
Luke 5:5
"And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net."
The disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. They were back at shore cleaning their nets when Jesus walked by and told them to "Launch out into the deep" because they there was a great draught of fish they would catch. Peter, being a professional fisherman, told Jesus that they had fished all night and caught nothing. It was as if Peter was telling Jesus, "Leave the fishing to the professionals."
The Meaning of the Cross
Mark 15:30
" Save thyself, and come down from the cross."
The cross is more than a Christian symbol, the cross carries meaning. When Jesus chose the cross, He showed the Christian how they should live their life. It is commanded in the Scriptures that the Christian should carry their cross in Mark 8:34 when it says, "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." You will never be the Christian God wants you to be until you learn to carry your cross. So, what is the meaning of the cross?
Mark 12:1
"And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country."
In the verse above, Jesus taught a parable about a man who planted a vineyard. There were many things this man did in planting a successful vineyard, but there were also some things this man did that hurt it. The desire of this man was that his vineyard would be able to produce grapes and juice for many people.