Thematic Bible: Orator


Thematic Bible



A Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was an Alexandrian who had a comprehensive knowledge of the scriptures and spoke eloquently. This man had been instructed in God's way. Being fervent in spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John. He spoke boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him home and explained God's word more accurately. read more.
When he decided to travel to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him. They wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived he was a great help to those who by grace believed. He powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.


Jonah began to enter into the city, a day's journey walking, and he shouted: Nineveh will be overthrown in Forty days. The people of Nineveh believed God and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. The news reached the king of Nineveh. He left his throne, and took off his robe and covered himself with sackcloth. Then he sat in ashes. read more.
He made proclamation and published it in Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not eat, nor drink water. Let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast. Let them sincerely call on God! Let them turn away each one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows whether God will turn back and change his mind, and turn away from his fierce anger that we will not perish? God saw their works! That they turned from their evil way. God turned back from the deed that he said he would do to them. He did not do it.


When the day of Pentecost came, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind. It filled the house where they were sitting. Tongues of fire that sat on each of them appeared. read more.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit moved them to speak. Devout Jews from every nation under heaven were dwelling at Jerusalem. When they heard this sound a crowd came together in confusion, because men heard them speak in their own language. And they were all amazed and marveled. They said to each other: Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? How do we each hear them in our own language? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we hear them speak in our language the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed and were in doubt. They asked each other: What does this mean? Others mockingly said: These men are full of new wine. But Peter, stood up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them: You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem let me explain this to you. Listen to my words. These men are not drunk as you suppose for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel spoke about: It will come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out from my Spirit upon all flesh. (Greek: apo, from) Your sons and your daughters will prophesy (proclaim God's Word). Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out (a portion from) (some of) my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy: (Joel 2:28) I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable (awesome) Day of Jehovah arrives. (Joel 2:31) It will come to pass, that whoever will call on the name of Jehovah will be saved. (Joel 2:32) You men of Israel hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God came among you with miracles and wonders and signs. God did these by him in your midst, as you also know: You took this man and delivered him by the determined counsel (purpose) and foreknowledge of God. With wicked hands you impaled and murdered him. God resurrected him, loosing the pains of death. This is because it was not possible that he should be held fast by it. David spoke concerning him: 'I had Jehovah always before my face, for he is at my right hand, that I should not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because you will not leave me in the grave, neither will you allow your Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10) You have made known to me the ways of life, and you will fill me with joy with your presence.' Men and brothers let me freely speak to you about the patriarch David that he is dead and buried. His grave is with us to this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. He seeing this before spoke about the resurrection of Christ. That he would not be left in the grave and his flesh did not see corruption. God resurrected Jesus and we all witnessed this! He is exalted to the right hand of God. He has received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father. So he poured out what you now see and hear. For David has not ascended into heaven and yet he said: 'Jehovah said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.' (Psalm 110:1) Therefore let all the house of Israel know for sure that God has made that same Jesus, whom you impaled, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 10:36) Now when they heard this, they were stabbed to the heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles: Men and brothers, what shall we do? Then Peter said: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as Jehovah our God calls. (Micah 4:5) (Deuteronomy 6:4) He gave a thorough witness with many words and exhorted them, saying: Save yourselves from this indecent generation. Those who gladly received his word were baptized. About three thousand persons were added the same day.


After five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders. They brought an orator, Tertullus, who made a statement to the governor against Paul.