Epistles

How Nave’s arranged it

• From the congregation at Jerusalem to the GentilesActs 15:23–29
• Of Luke to TheophilusLuke 1:1–4Acts 1:1
• Of Paul, see the Biblical books of ROMANS, FIRST CORINTHIANS, SECOND CORINTHIANS, GALATIANS, EPHESIANS, PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS, THESSALONIANS, TIMOTHY, TITUS, and PHILEMON
• Of JAMES, PETER, and JOHN, see books of the N. T. which bear their names
• See Letters

The passages, in Bible order (3)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 3 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Luke 1:1–4

   Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

   ›Commentary on Luke 1:1–42 voices

   “(Expos. Ev. Luc. l. i. c. i.) For as many among the Jewish people prophesied by inspiration of the Spirit of God, but others were false prophets rather than prophets, so now also have many attempted to write Gospels which the good moneychanger refuses to pass. One gospel is mentioned which the twelve Apostles are said to have written; another Basilides presumed to write; and another is said to have been by Matthias. Now they who have attempted to set forth these things in order have laboured by themselves, and have not succeeded in what they attempted.

   “Forasmuch as many - It has been doubted who are referred to here by the word “many.” It seems clear that it could not be the other evangelists, for the gospel by “John” was not yet written, and the word “many” denotes clearly more than “two.” Besides, it is said that they undertook to record what the “eye-witnesses” had delivered to them, so that the writers did not pretend to be eye-witnesses themselves. It is clear, therefore, that other writings are meant than the gospels which we now have, but what they were is a matter of conjecture.

   Everything gathered on Luke 1:1–4→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Acts 1:1

   In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,

   ›Commentary on Acts 1:12 voices

   “The former treatise - In that important season which reached from the resurrection of Christ to his ascension, the former treatise ends, and this begins: this describing the Acts of the Holy Ghost, (by the apostles,) as that does the acts of Jesus Christ.

   “The former treatise - The former book. The Gospel of Luke is here evidently intended. Greek: the former λόγος logos, meaning “a discourse,” or “a narrative.” O Theophilus - See the notes on Luk 1:3. Since this book was written to the same individual as the former, it was evidently written with the same design to furnish an authentic and full narrative of events concerning which there would be many imperfect and exaggerated accounts. See Luk 1:1-

   Everything gathered on Acts 1:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Acts 15:23–29

   and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

   ›Commentary on Acts 15:23–292 voices

   “And they wrote . . . by them--This is the first mention in the New Testament history of writing as an element in its development. And the combination here of written and oral transmission of an important decision reminds us of the first occasion of writing mentioned in the Old Testament, where a similar combination occurs (Ex 17:14).

   The twelve, having called together the multitude of the disciples, said, "It is not meet for us to leave the word of God and serve tables." If they avoided this, much more did they shun gluttony. And the apostles themselves, writing to the brethren at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, said: "It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no other burden than these necessary things, to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, from which, if you keep yourselves, ye shall do well."

   Everything gathered on Acts 15:23–29→

   Verse page →Original language →