Acts of the Apostles 2: 42-47 Luke’s Acts of the Apostles paints a vivid portrait of the communities of first believers.  We see those who had seen and heard the Risen Christ as well as those who heard their testimony … Continue reading →

Acts of the Apostles 2: 14a, 36-41 In his Acts of the Apostles, the writer of the Gospel of Luke implies that Peter is addressing some of the same people who were in the mob who called for the execution … Continue reading →

Acts of the Apostles 2: 14a, 22-32 As the Acts of the Apostles demonstrates, the proclamation– that Jesus, whose execution was public knowledge, but had been raised from the dead by God– saturated the self-identity of the early church.  Familiar … Continue reading →

Acts of the Apostles 10: 34-43 This excerpt is a confession of faith by first witnesses to the announcements of the resurrection of Jesus who feel compelled to testify to what they have heard and seen. OR Jeremiah 31: 1-6 … Continue reading →

THE LITURGY OF THE PALMS Matthew 21: 1-11 Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for the climax of his public ministry.  As Matthew reports the event, ancient expectations are fulfilled in very specific details.  Only Matthew’s narrative says that these details fulfill … Continue reading →

Deuteronomy 30: 15-20 Robert Alter writes that in this thirtieth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, “the mythological and heroic era [which valued secret, esoteric knowledge from another world]…is at an end, for God’s word, inscribed in a book, has … Continue reading →

II Kings 5: 1-14 Powerful men, large egos, a humiliating stigma, a self-effacing representative of God, and, finally a deeply moving conclusion to the story of Namaan.  As a successful and respected military leader and favorite of his king, Naaman … Continue reading →

Micah 5:2-5a Like his contemporary, Isaiah, the prophet Micah sees in current events a reckoning day of God’s judgment fast approaching.  The fall of the Northern Kingdom was a dire warning to the South (Judah/Jerusalem).  Given his harsh judgments, the … Continue reading →

Zephaniah 3:14-20 The boy-King, Josiah, had grown into a great reformer and restorer of Temple worship in Jerusalem. (It was during his reign that the Book of Deuteronomy was ‘discovered’ in a box and read publicly on the King’s orders.)  … Continue reading →

Baruch 5:1-9 This poem included in the collection given the title “Baruch” announces to Jerusalem that now is the time to take off the drab clothing of “sorrow and affliction” and put on “the beauty of the glory from God.”  … Continue reading →