Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



But when Cephas came to Antioch [of Syria], I confronted him personally [about a matter] for which he deserved to be condemned. For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him]. Then the rest of the Jews also discontinued [eating with Gentiles] along with Peter, until even Barnabas was influenced to go along with this hypocritical practice. read more.
But, when I saw that they did not act in harmony with [the principles of] the truth of the Gospel [message], I said to Cephas in front of everyone, "If you, being a Jew, act like a Gentile [by showing such discrimination], how do you expect to persuade Gentiles to live like Jews [i.e., like Christian Jews who are taught to love all people]?" Although we are Jews by natural birth, and not sinful Gentiles [who do not have a relationship with God],

And he said to them, "You people know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with, or even go near a person from another [i.e., non-Jewish] country, and yet God showed me that I should not consider any person ordinary or [ceremonially] unacceptable. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessGentiles, In NtClean, Spiritual UseequalityRacial PrejudiceBigotryRacismDisfellowshipPeople Being UncleanAvoiding ForeignersUnrelated PeopleBreaking Man's LawJews Separate From GentilesLack Of Holiness

saying, "You went in and ate with non-Jewish people, did you not?" Verse ConceptsRacial PrejudiceUncircumcision

For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him]. Verse ConceptsCowardiceExclusivenessRacial PrejudiceFear Of ManInstabilityRelations With ForeignersCircumcision PartyNecessity Of CircumcisionFear Of Enemies

But when Cephas came to Antioch [of Syria], I confronted him personally [about a matter] for which he deserved to be condemned. For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him]. Then the rest of the Jews also discontinued [eating with Gentiles] along with Peter, until even Barnabas was influenced to go along with this hypocritical practice. read more.
But, when I saw that they did not act in harmony with [the principles of] the truth of the Gospel [message], I said to Cephas in front of everyone, "If you, being a Jew, act like a Gentile [by showing such discrimination], how do you expect to persuade Gentiles to live like Jews [i.e., like Christian Jews who are taught to love all people]?"

I am astonished that you people are so quickly abandoning God [i.e., by rejecting His truth], who called you [to Himself] through the unearned favor bestowed [on us] by Christ. [You are turning] to a different "gospel," Verse ConceptsBacksliding, Christian ExamplesWarnings Against ApostasyDisappointments, Examples OfDesertionRashnessInstabilityGod's Call, ResultsShallownessThe Purity Of The GospelDifferent TeachingsConsider Your Call To SalvationThe Grace Of Christsurprises

For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him]. Verse ConceptsCowardiceExclusivenessRacial PrejudiceFear Of ManInstabilityRelations With ForeignersCircumcision PartyNecessity Of CircumcisionFear Of Enemies


But when the sun came up these tender sprouts were scorched and, since they had such tiny roots, they [quickly] withered away. Verse ConceptsThe SunInstabilityPeople WitheredScorchingRoses

Now Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos and arrived at Perga [a town in the province] of Pamphylia. [It was here that] John Mark left the party [of evangelists and attendants] and returned to [his home in] Jerusalem. [See 12:12]. Verse ConceptsSeafaringProvincesInstabilityPeople Abandoning PeopleMissionaries

Is not he the carpenter's [i.e., Joseph's] son? [And] is not his mother named Mary, and his brothers [named] James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Verse ConceptsCraftsmenCarpentersOccupationsWork, As Ordained By GodHumility Of ChristChrist, Names ForChrist's Earthly FamilyWho He Might BeMothers And Sonsnegativity

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters living here among us?" And they were led to doubt His true identity. Verse ConceptsCraftsmenCarpentersArts And Crafts, Types ofSonsRejection Of ChristWork, As Ordained By GodProphecies Concerning ChristChrist, Names ForChrist, Humanity OfChrist's Earthly FamilyStumbling Over ChristWho He Might BeHalf brothersSiblingswoodworking

Also, when they perceived that this [special] favor [of preaching to Gentiles] was granted to me, James, Cephas [i.e., Peter] and John, the highly regarded pillars [i.e., leaders of the church] extended to me and Barnabas their right hands [signifying an agreement] to share [in the preaching of the Gospel], with us going to the Gentiles and they going to the circumcised ones [i.e., Jews]. Verse ConceptsFellowship, In Christian ServiceFellowship, Among BelieversApostles, Function In Early ChurchGrace, And Christian LifePaul, Apostle To GentilesPillarsCompanionshipMissionary WorkMetaphorical PillarsBlessings For The Right HandThe Gospel To Jew And Gentilepartnership

But [on this trip] I did not see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. [Note: This "James" was not one of the original twelve apostles. See Matt. 10:2-4]. Verse ConceptsApostles, DescriptionChrist's Earthly FamilyThe Apostles In ActionHalf brothers

For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him]. Verse ConceptsCowardiceExclusivenessRacial PrejudiceFear Of ManInstabilityRelations With ForeignersCircumcision PartyNecessity Of CircumcisionFear Of Enemies

Now the women who told these things to the apostles were Mary from Magdala; Joanna [Note: This was the wife of Chuzas, Herod's property manager. See Luke 8:3], and other women who were with them. Verse ConceptsThe Apostles In Action

Among them were Mary from Magdala; Mary, the mother of James and Joseph [i.e., probably the wife of Clopas. See John 19:25]; and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee [i.e., Salome. Mark 15:40]. Verse ConceptsFriendship, Examples OfMothers And Sons

For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him]. Verse ConceptsCowardiceExclusivenessRacial PrejudiceFear Of ManInstabilityRelations With ForeignersCircumcision PartyNecessity Of CircumcisionFear Of Enemies

But when Cephas came to Antioch [of Syria], I confronted him personally [about a matter] for which he deserved to be condemned. For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him]. Then the rest of the Jews also discontinued [eating with Gentiles] along with Peter, until even Barnabas was influenced to go along with this hypocritical practice. read more.
But, when I saw that they did not act in harmony with [the principles of] the truth of the Gospel [message], I said to Cephas in front of everyone, "If you, being a Jew, act like a Gentile [by showing such discrimination], how do you expect to persuade Gentiles to live like Jews [i.e., like Christian Jews who are taught to love all people]?"

Therefore, the Samaritan woman asked Him, "Why is it that you, being a Jew, would ask a Samaritan woman [like me] for a drink?" (For Jews do not have any fellowship with Samaritans). [Note: The reason for this stemmed from longstanding religious, cultural and ethnic prejudices]. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessAskingJews, TheRacial PrejudiceLonelinessOutsidersSamaritansDisfellowshipDiscourtesyOutcastsMan Providing WaterJews Separate From GentilesNo Dealings

And he said to them, "You people know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with, or even go near a person from another [i.e., non-Jewish] country, and yet God showed me that I should not consider any person ordinary or [ceremonially] unacceptable. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessGentiles, In NtClean, Spiritual UseequalityRacial PrejudiceBigotryRacismDisfellowshipPeople Being UncleanAvoiding ForeignersUnrelated PeopleBreaking Man's LawJews Separate From GentilesLack Of Holiness

saying, "You went in and ate with non-Jewish people, did you not?" Verse ConceptsRacial PrejudiceUncircumcision

For, before certain [leaders] came from James [i.e., Jesus' brother, a leader of the Jerusalem church, See Acts 12:17; 15:13-22], he had eaten [a social meal] with some Gentiles. But when these men came, he abruptly discontinued this practice out of fear of the circumcised ones [i.e., out of concern for what the Jews would think of him]. Verse ConceptsCowardiceExclusivenessRacial PrejudiceFear Of ManInstabilityRelations With ForeignersCircumcision PartyNecessity Of CircumcisionFear Of Enemies

And these Samaritans did not welcome Him because He was heading for Jerusalem. [Note: They perceived He was a Jew and Samaritans did not associate with Jews]. Verse ConceptsInhospitalityRacial PrejudiceNot Welcoming Christwelcome

But when the crowd realized that he was a Jew, they all joined together for about two hours shouting, "Great is [the goddess] Artemis, of the Ephesians." Verse ConceptsHourRacial PrejudiceVoicesTwo Hours