Family Bible Reading

  Monday, July 28 Acts 5:12-42   Commentary           In the rest of chapter 5, we see the church’s popularity grow as the apostles perform miracles and the church worships at the temple. People respected the believers, but were afraid to join them because of the Jewish opposition (and perhaps the Annanias/Saphira incident as well). Yet folks brought their sick and demon-possessed to the church, so much so that the high priest and Sadducees arrested the apostles for their Jesus-preaching and spotlight-taking. A few months ago, Peter cut off someone’s ear when Jesus was being arrested, now he calmly surrenders to arrest for the second time. God works through our “character flaws,” those traits we pretend are not sinful because we are unwilling to change or uncertain we can change. He will sanctify us if we submit ourselves to his work in our lives.           An angel miraculous...

  Monday, July 21 Luke 24:28-53           Commentary           Today’s verses continue the scene from yesterday’s reading – Jesus is with the two unnamed disciples, continuing towards Emmaus. They urge him to stay with them and as they eat together, the disciples finally realize this traveler is Jesus. Even after being with Jesus face-to-face, hearing him expound on how the whole Bible pointed to Christ, and feeling a “burning” in their hearts while talking to him, they still could not fully understand without God’s gracious help. Jesus disappears and the two disciples go to see the eleven apostles in Jerusalem.           Jesus reappears with the disciples in Jerusalem. They think he is a ghost at first, but Jesus assures them he is a real, physical person by showing them the holes in his hands and feet and eating food. Why did Jesus app...