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)
17. The Apostles before the High Council (Acts 5:26-33)
God loves His enemies, and has more mercy on the evil than our minds can imagine. This hearing turned into a call to repentance uttered by twelve apostolic voices. It was a call for all the rulers of the Jews to turn to their Lord. Not only was the committee of inquiry present, but also the entire council.
The captain of the temple went and besought the ambassadors of Christ, with all gentleness, to go with him to the council. They went with him not as bound criminals, but as respectable, free men. The captain of the temple dared not arrest them, for he was afraid the people might revolt in support of God’s messengers and stone the guards. The apostles followed the temple police willingly.
The seventy elders were gathered together in the house of the high priest. The latter was impatient and restless, his heart charged with hatred, grudge, and rancor. He was particularly indignant that the troublemakers had brought shame upon him before the representatives of the people, by way of their strange exit from prison. Thus he scolded them harshly when they came before him, asking: “Why did you persist in teaching in the name of Jesus, even though we commanded you not to utter the name of this man? In spite of our severe orders, you have filled the entire city of Jerusalem with your silly, senseless doctrine. Your design was nothing but to insult and offend us before the people, and to make us appear as unjust judges, as if Jesus was righteous and we were criminals. That young man of Nazareth was nothing but a deceiver and blasphemer. He died, his body was placed in the earth, and we had rest from him. But you have chosen to mock the high council, insult us, and trespass against us with lies, superstitions, and deception.
Following this charge, Peter and the other apostles rose up together and spoke with all boldness, guided by the Holy Spirit, saying: “We do not follow devised fables, nor do we have evil intent, but we have received God’s revelation, and therefore obey the Lord by our testimony. It is impossible for us to obey you, for God is greater than you are. He is our Lord. Woe to us if we hold our tongue from speaking about His truths! Our lips would be scorched if we failed to speak. We speak on account of God’s direct revelation to us.”
It may be that the elders then asked them: “And what is the content of God’s revelation to you?” One of the apostles would have well answered: “We have no revelation except the truth of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He did not appear to us as a ghost, but God had raised Him up in the flesh, for Jesus had been with God for all time and eternity, and God with Him.
Then one of the judges cried out: “So you speak like that, as if we were the enemies of God?” Peter answered him boldly and confidently: “It was you, and no one else, that condemned Jesus, the Righteous. You compelled Pilate, the ruler, to crucify Him. Yes, you murdered Christ, and are the enemies of God. Jesus is holy, yet you nailed Him to the accursed cross by the hands of unclean men.
In spite of the gnashing of teeth among the judges, one of the apostles went on to say: “God, however, did not only raise Him from the dead, but also exalted him to His right hand. He made Him the head of the church, the Savior of the whole world. Jesus is the Lord Himself, having the very characteristics of God in Him. He is your expected Messiah, and He lives at the right hand of God, just as He previously spoke to you: “Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
When the council members heard this, some of them got ready to jump. Nevertheless, they controlled themselves, shaking with rage, while waiting for the remaining part of the apostles’ defense. One of them asked: “What more remains than for you to call us to worship your Lord?” One of the disciples answered: “In fact, Jesus will not reject you, but He calls you to repentance. He expects the turning of the whole people of Israel, for he is LOVE. He is prepared to forgive you your sins completely. Come to Him, for His mercy is greater than your hatred. God will forgive you if you truly repent.
It is possible that some man from among the audience, in consternation, asked the fishermen: “Where did you get such daring and impudence to find your judges guilty, while, at the same time, you yourselves offer forgiveness? Who are you, and who do you think you are? Are you yourselves gods?”
The Holy Spirit guided the disciples that they not get caught in the trap of temptation, pride or blasphemy. Therefore, they responded: “We are but witnesses to the truth of Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension to heaven. The Holy Spirit dwells effectively in us, for we are believers in Christ, who ascended to on high. This Holy Spirit confirms to us that our knowledge is true, and that we are living in harmony with God.”
One of the elders laughed and said: “What have you, illiterate men as you are, understood about the Holy Spirit?” He immediately received the response to his candid question: “God gives His Spirit only to him who obeys His word, to him who receives Christ’s revelation. He who does not believe will perish, because he disobeys the Holy Spirit in his testimony. All sins will be forgiven to man, but the sin against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.
Each one of the statements of the apostles shot through the seventy elders, like an arrow of divine truth piercing their hearts. Most of the venerable members, whose dignity had been hurt, grew furious over their insult. They jumped up to consume the ones they considered to be blasphemers, hoodlums, and arrogant braggarts. The atmosphere grew darker and darker. Hell was ready to attack the leaders of the Christian church, to consume them in stoning.