Contemplative Bible Reading

Acts 14:16-17 (New Living Translation) 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” Paul is talking to a group of […]

[Read more →]

Acts 11:2-3 (Christian Standard Bible) 2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” The above verses were written about the early days of the church, i.e., the followers of Jesus. There was a group of persons in the church known […]

[Read more →]

Acts 6:1 (New Living Translation) 1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. The church was born. Everyone was excited, cut to the heart, ready to explode, all in […]

[Read more →]

Acts 5:24 (Christian Standard Bible) 24 As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this. The Apostles were teaching and healing and doing all sorts of things that drew large crowds of people. Filled with jealousy, the High Priest […]

[Read more →]

Acts 3:6 (New Living Translation) 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” This is part of the (hi)story of Peter healing a man who was lame. The man asked for […]

[Read more →]

Acts 17:27 (New Living Translation) 27 His (God’s) purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. Paul is speaking to the educated people in Athens. Paul is telling these smart folks about the God that […]

[Read more →]

Acts 5:12-13 (New Living Translation) 12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Miracles […]

[Read more →]

Acts 22:16 (New Living Translation) 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’ In this verse, Paul is retelling the story of how he came to follow Jesus as the Christ. Ananias is talking to Paul. He tells Paul […]

[Read more →]

Acts 17:30 (New Living Translation) “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him…” In the sentences preceding this, the readers are informed of God’s history with mankind. In this sentence, we read the prior ignorance was overlooked. No […]

[Read more →]

Acts 19:23-24 (New Living Translation) 23 About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. Here is Demetrius. He works with silver to fashion all sorts of things […]

[Read more →]