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Chapter 28—Days of Toil and Trial This chapter is based on Acts 19:21-41; 20:1. For over three years Ephesus was the center of Paul’s work. A flourishing church was raised up here, and from this city the gospel spread throughout the province of Asia, among both Jews and Gentiles. The apostle had now for some…

Chapter 27—Ephesus This chapter is based on Acts 19:1-20. While Apollos was preaching at Corinth, Paul fulfilled his promise to return to Ephesus. He had made a brief visit to Jerusalem and had spent some time at Antioch, the scene of his early labors. Thence he traveled through Asia Minor, “over all the country of…

Chapter 26—Apollos at Corinth This chapter is based on Acts 18:18-28. After leaving Corinth, Paul’s next scene of labor was Ephesus. He was on his way to Jerusalem to attend an approaching festival, and his stay at Ephesus was necessarily brief. He reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue, and so favorable was the impression…

Chapter 25—The Thessalonian Letters This chapter is based on the Epistles to the Thessalonians. The arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia, during Paul’s sojourn in Corinth, had greatly cheered the apostle. They brought him “good tidings” of the “faith and charity” of those who had accepted the truth during the first visit of the…

Chapter 24—Corinth This chapter is based on Acts 18:1-18. During the first century of the Christian Era, Corinth was one of the leading cities, not only of Greece, but of the world. Greeks, Jews, and Romans, with travelers from every land, thronged its streets, eagerly intent on business and pleasure. A great commercial center, situated…

Chapter 23—Berea and Athens This chapter is based on Acts 17:11-34. At Berea Paul found Jews who were willing to investigate the truths he taught. Luke’s record declares of them: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether…

Chapter 22—Thessalonica This chapter is based on Acts 17:1-10. After leaving Philippi, Paul and Silas made their way to Thessalonica. Here they were given the privilege of addressing large congregations in the Jewish synagogue. Their appearance bore evidence of the shameful treatment they had recently received, and necessitated an explanation of what had taken place.…

Chapter 21—In the Regions Beyond This chapter is based on Acts 16:7-40. The time had come for the gospel to be proclaimed beyond the confines of Asia Minor. The way was preparing for Paul and his fellow workers to cross over into Europe. At Troas, on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, “a vision appeared…

Chapter 20—Exalting the Cross This chapter is based on Acts 15:36-41; 16:1-6. After spending some time in ministry at Antioch, Paul proposed to his fellow worker that they set forth on another missionary journey. “Let us go again,” he said to Barnabas, “and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word…

Chapter 19—Jew and Gentile This chapter is based on Acts 15:1-35. On reaching Antioch in Syria, from which place they had been sent forth on their mission, Paul and Barnabas took advantage of an early opportunity to assemble the believers and rehearse “all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the…