Commentaries
Arabic
- إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير متى
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير مَرْقُس
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إنجيل المسيح حسب البشير لوقا
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - إِنْجِيْلُ المَسِيْحِِِ حسبَ البَشير يُوْحَنَّا
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه) - أعمال الرسل حسب البشير لوقا
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - رِسَالةُ بُولُسَ الرَّسُولِ إِلَى أَهْلِ رُوْمِيَة
(عَبدُ المَسِيْح وزُمَلاؤه) - رسالة بُوْلُس الرَّسُوْل إلى أهْلِ غَلاَطِيَّة
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه) - رِسالةُ بُولُسَ الرَّسُول إِلَى أَهْلِ كَنِيْسَةِ فِيْلِبِّي
(عبد المَسِيْح وزملاؤه) - رِسالةُ بولس الرَّسول إِلَى الكَنِيْسَةِ في كُوْلُوْسِّيْ
(عبد المسيح وزملاؤه) - رِسَالَةِ بولس الرَّسول إلى العِبْرَانِيِّيْنَ
(عَبد المسِيح وزُملاؤُه) - رِسَالةُ يَعْقُوب
(عَبد المسِيح وزُملاؤُه) - رُؤْيا يوحنا اللاهوتي
(عَبْدُ المَسِيْح وَزُمَلاؤُه)
English
- The Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to Mark
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to Luke
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - The Gospel of Christ according to John
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - Acts of the Apostles
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues) - Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Romans
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues)
German
- Die Offenbarung des Johannes
(Abd al-Masih and Colleagues)
PREFACE
PART I – THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE EARLY CHURCH IN JERUSALEM
(ACTS 1-7)
(ACTS 1-7)
1. The Introduction of the Book and the Last Promise of Christ (Acts 1:1-8)
2. Christ’ Ascension to Heaven (Acts 1:9-12)
3. The Select Group That Waited For the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13-14)
4. Matthias Chosen in Place of the Sinful Judas (Acts 1:15-26)
5. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)
6. Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36)
7. Edification by the Ministry of the Apostles (Acts 2:37-41)
8. Spiritual Life in the Believers’ Church (Acts 2:42-47)
9. The Healing of a Cripple (Acts 3:1-10)
10. Peter’s Sermon in the Temple (Acts 3:11- 26)
11. Peter and John Imprisoned and Taken to Court for the First Time (Acts 4:1-22)
12. The Common Prayer of the Church (Acts 4:23-31)
13. Church Members having all Things in Common (Acts 4:32-37)
14. The Death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
15. Revival and many Healings (Acts 5:12-16)
16. The Apostle´s Imprisonment, and their Release by an Angel (Acts 5:17-25)
17. The Apostles before the High Council (Acts 5:26-33)
18. Gamaliel’s Advice and the Whipping of the Apostles (Acts 5:34-42)
19. The Organization of the Church and the Choosing of the Seven Deacons (Acts 6:1-7)
20. Stephen’s Effective Testimony (Acts 6:8-15)
21. Stephen’s Defense (Acts 7:1-53)
a) A Description of the Days of the Patriarchs (Acts 7:1-19)
a) A Description of the Days of the Patriarchs (Acts 7:1-19)
b) The Days of Moses (Acts 7:20-43)
c) The Tabernacle of Meeting, and the Establishment of the Temple (Acts 7:44-50)
d) The Complaint against the Stubborn People (Acts 7:51-53)
e) Stephen’s Gazing into the Opened Heaven and his Stoning; his becoming the First Martyr (Acts 7:54- 8:1)
PART II – THE EXTENSION OF THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION TO SAMARIA AND SYRIA AND THE BEGINNING OF GENTILE CONVERSIONS
(ACTS 8- 12)
(ACTS 8- 12)
1. The First Persecution of the Christian Church at Jerusalem and the Believers’ Scattering throughout Samaria (Acts 8:1- 8)
2. Simon the Sorcerer and the Work of Peter and John in Samaria (Acts 8:9-25)
3. Conversion, and Baptism of the Ethiopian Treasurer (Acts 8:26-40)
4. Christ’s Appearance to Saul near Damascus (Acts 9:1-5)
5. Saul Baptized at the Hand of Ananias (Acts 9:6-19)
6. Saul’s Preaching in Damascus and his Persecution by the Jews (Acts 9:19-25)
7. The First Meeting Between Paul and the Apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-30)
8. The Wonderful Works of Christ at the Hand of Peter (Acts 9:31-43)
9. The Beginning of Preaching to the Gentiles through the Conversion of Cornelius the Centurion (Acts 10:1-11:18)
10. The Establishment of a Gentile Church at Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)
11. King Agrippa´s Persecution of the Churches in Jerusalem (Acts 12:1-6)
12. Peter’s Deliverance at the Hand of an Angel (Acts 12:7-17)
13. Herod’s Rage and Death (Acts 12:18-25)
PART III – REPORTS ABOUT PREACHING AMONG THE GENTILES AND THE FOUNDATION OF CHURCHES FROM ANTIOCH TO ROME
(ACTS 13-28)
(ACTS 13-28)
A – The First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:1-14:28)
1. The Separation of Barnabas and Saul for the Work (Acts 13:1-3)
1. The Separation of Barnabas and Saul for the Work (Acts 13:1-3)
2. Preaching in Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12)
3. Preaching in Antioch of Anatolia (Acts 13:13-52)
4. The Founding of the Church at Iconium (Acts 14:1-7)
5. The Founding of the Church at Lystra (Acts 14:8-20)
6. The Ministry in Derbe and the Return to Strengthen the Infant Churches (Acts 14:21-23)
7. The Return to Antioch in Syria and Presenting an Account of the Ministry to the Brothers there (Acts 14:24-28)
B – THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM (ACTS 15:1-35)
C – THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 15:36-18: 22)
1. Paul’s Separation From Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41)
1. Paul’s Separation From Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41)
2. The Strengthening of the Churches of Syria and Anatolia: Choosing Timothy for Service (Acts 16:1- 5)
3. The Holy Spirit Prevents the Apostles from Entering Bithynia, in the Province of Asia (Acts 16:6-10)
4. The Founding of the Church at Philippi (Acts 16:11-34)
5. The Founding of the Church in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9)
6. The Founding of the Church in Berea (Acts 17:10-15)
7. Paul at Athens (Acts 17:16-34)
8. The Founding of the Church in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17)
9. Paul’s Return to Jerusalem and Antioch (Acts 18:18-22)
D – THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY (ACTS 18:23-21:14)
1. Paul in Anatolia – Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth (Acts 18: 23-28)
1. Paul in Anatolia – Apollos in Ephesus and Corinth (Acts 18: 23-28)
2. Spiritual Revival in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20)
3. The Apostle plans to Return to Jerusalem, and then go on to Rome (Acts 19:21-22)
4. The Riot of the Silversmiths in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41)
5. Paul´s Last Journey to Macedonia and Greece (Acts 20:1-3)
6. The plot to kill Paul in Corinth – the names of traveling companions accompanying him towards Jerusalem (Acts 20:3-5)
7. The Night Sermon, and the Lord’s Supper at Troas (Acts 20:6-12)
8. From Troas to Miletus (Acts 20:13-16)
9. Paul’s Parting Sermon to the Bishops and Elders (Acts 20:17-38)
10. The Sailing From Anatolia to Lebanon (Acts 21:1-6)
11. From Tyre to Caesarea (Acts 21:7-14)
E – PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT IN JERUSALEM AND IN CAESAREA (ACTS 21:15-26:32)
1. Paul arrives in Jerusalem and tells the brothers about his ministry (Acts 21:15-20)
1. Paul arrives in Jerusalem and tells the brothers about his ministry (Acts 21:15-20)
2. Paul’s Acceptance of Circumcision According to the Law (Acts 21:20-26)
3. The Jews attack Paul, the Roman soldiers rescue him (Acts 21:27-40)
4. Paul’s defense before his countrymen (Acts 22:1-29)
5. Paul before the High Council of the Jews (Acts 22:30-23:10)
6. Christ’s Appearance to Paul at Night (Acts 23:11)
7. The zealots’ plot against Paul (Acts 23:12-22)
8. Paul Transferred From Jerusalem to Caesarea (Acts 23:23-35)
9. The First Hearing of the Trial in Caesarea (Acts 24:1-23)
10. Paul Alone With the Governor and His Wife (Acts 24:24-27)
11. The Second Hearing of Paul’s Trial Before the New Governor (Acts 25:1-12)
12. Paul Before Agrippa II and His Royal Retinue (Acts 25:13-26:32)
F – THE SAILING FROM CAESAREA TO ROME (ACTS 27:1-28:31)
1. Moving to Sidon and Then to Crete (Acts 27:1-13)
1. Moving to Sidon and Then to Crete (Acts 27:1-13)
2. The storm at sea, and the shipwreck on Malta (Acts 27:14-44)
3. Wintering at Malta (Acts 28:1-10)
4. Continuing the Journey to Rome in Spring (Acts 28:11-14)
5. The Beginning of Paul’s Ministries at Rome (Acts 28:15-31)
9. The First Hearing of the Trial in Caesarea (Acts 24:1-23)
Ananias, the high priest at Jerusalem, was angered, and knew that Paul had been rescued from his hands. So he got ready to go after him at once, in order to eradicate Christianity by killing Paul. He did not take the forty rebels with him to Caesarea, that he might not show his violent and criminal intent, but took an eloquent speaker as a companion, that he might flatter the Romans with his bombastic language, and convince them of the necessity of destroying Paul immediately.
When Paul, the prisoner, was brought to the hearing, the eloquent orator began his speech with expressions of flattery and compliment, in order to draw the governor over to his side. He spoke as if the Roman peace had come to Palestine through him, as if the governor´s personal insight and prudence had brought development, security, prosperity and order to the Jewish nation. He played fast and loose, claiming that the highest council of the Jews was prepared to support him in his accusations and cooperate with him fully.
The character traits and virtues he spoke of were already known to Felix. They were as clear as the sun. Thus, he chose not to bore the governor by elaborating on the high degree and excellencies of his virtues. Instead, he moved immediately to describe Paul, the prisoner, as a very dangerous man. He charged him with three international crimes: First, that he troubled the peace, not only in Palestine, but also throughout the provinces of the Roman Empire, creating dissension, sedition, and quarrels among the Jews. Second, that the accused was the ringleader of all Christianity, its head and heart. This shows that the highest Jewish council had accurately recognized Paul, and not Peter, John or James, to be the impetus behind Christianity, and the reason for the internationalization of Jewish religious thought, which was changing into a universal message based on the free grace of Christ offered to all men. Third, the charge that Paul had despised and profaned the temple, even while the Roman governors had honored it, preserved its rights, and respected the center of the Jewish culture. The Jewish accusers did not bring any essential information to the governor, such as a discussion over judicial righteousness or the coming of Christ. Instead, they described the apostle of the Gentiles as a destroyer of the peace of the state, and a spoiler of the holiness of the temple.
Moreover, the Jews complained against Lysias, the commander at Jerusalem, for taking Paul by force out of their hands, thus placing Roman order over Jewish law. This complaint, in its heart, was a hidden demand for freedom of Jewish rights, for the Romans had taken away from the Jews the right to execute sinners in accordance with their law. All the chief priests had supported this complaint, and they called Paul a plague in the world, out of which grew infection and mortal danger for all men. Therefore, it was up to the governor to destroy this danger immediately and eradicate this plague from the body of the world. This complaint shows blind fanaticism, which is unable to recognize the love of Christ, calling the fountain of blessing a source of death. Satan is the father of all liars, who deceitfully falsify the truth, and in their hardheartedness think that they are upright.