Isaiah 32:181NIV New International Version Translations
18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.
Background2http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/isaiah1-6-gc-lbw.htm
There are 66 chapters in Isaiah’s book. The book is easier to understand if we divide it into parts. Below is one way to do it. Isaiah was a prophet. A ‘prophet’ tells people what God is saying. The words ‘king’, ‘servant’ and ‘messiah’ do not always mean the same people in Isaiah’s book. That often confuses people who read it. The notes will help to explain those things. A messiah is a leader, like a king. However, Christians believe that Jesus is the special Messiah, whom God sent. So he is the Messiah, with a capital M!
We can divide Isaiah’s book into 5 parts.
- Chapters 1 to 5 – Isaiah describes the people that live in Judah and Jerusalem.
- Chapter 6 – God makes Isaiah into a prophet.
- Chapters 7 to 40 – God’s king rules God’s people.
- Chapters 41 to 55 – God’s servant saves God’s people.
- Chapters 56 to 66 – God’s messiah beats God’s enemies.
Biblical Truths3http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/isaiah31-39-lbw-nh.htm
This verse simply means that there will be a new security for all to enjoy.
Items for Discussion
- With all of the wars and lack of peace in the Middle East, how would you interpret Isaiah’s claim for security and peace in their homes?
- Why is God’s promise so important to have or to reach?
- How does security in a home affect a family, especially the children?
- What is necessary for Isaiah’s prophecy to be possible?
Acts 16:14-15
14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
Background4http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/acts-lbw.htm
Most people agree that Luke wrote Acts. Luke also wrote the third Gospel. In Acts, he told how the good news about Jesus Christ spread. It spread to the world beyond Jerusalem. Luke was a Gentile and he was a doctor (Colossians 4:14). He worked with Paul and he travelled with Paul (Philemon 1:24). Luke was very careful about what he wrote. He knew that some things were true. And he wrote only those things. At the beginning of his Gospel, he wrote this. ‘You have heard many things. I am writing this account so that you will know the truth about them’ (Luke 1:4). In Acts, he continued with this account.
Luke was travelling with Paul. Luke wrote about what happened during that time (Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16). In these verses, he used ‘we’ instead of ‘they’ or ‘he’. So, we know that Luke was there at those times.
After Luke had arrived in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17), he stayed in Judea. He stayed there for two years. Then he left to travel to Rome (Acts 27:1). He went to Rome with Paul. While Luke was in Judea, he probably spoke to other witnesses. They told him about the other events that he describes.
Luke had several reasons why he wrote Acts. People were telling false stories about Christians. They were afraid that Christians wanted to make trouble. Luke wanted the Roman rulers to know that this was not true. Christians helped other people to behave well. He wanted to show that to the rulers. It was good for the Roman government.
Luke wrote about many miracles. God gave to Christians the power to cure people, for example. Also, God rescued Peter from prison by a miracle. So, anyone who opposed the Christians was opposing God. He also wanted to show to the Jews that the Christian faith was not a separate religion. Instead, it made Judaism complete, because Jesus is the Messiah.
However, Luke had one main reason why he wrote this book. The good news about Jesus had travelled from Jerusalem to Rome. Luke wanted to record how that happened. Rome was the most important city in the world. Luke showed that the gospel was for all people in every nation. It was for Jews and it was also for Gentiles.
Bible Truths5http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/acts/16.htm
Lydia, a seller of purple – She probably had her name from the province of Lydia, in which the city of Thyatira was situated. The Lydian women have been celebrated for their beautiful purple manufactures.
Which worshipped God – That is, she was a proselyte to the Jewish religion; as were probably all the women that resorted hither.
Whose heart the Lord opened – As she was a sincere worshipper of God, she was prepared to receive the heavenly truths spoken by Paul and his companions; and, as she was faithful to the grace she had received, so God gave her more grace, and gave her now a Divine conviction that what was spoken by Paul was true; and therefore she attended unto the things – she believed them and received them as the doctrines of God; and in this faith she was joined by her whole family, and in it they were all baptized.
Items for Discussion
- As this is mother’s day, what were those good attributes that the Apostle Luke saw in Lydia that he chose to record this visit to her home?
- How do you think Lydia changed after accepting Paul’s’ message of faith in Christ?
- Lydia was much like the modern women of today, she was a working mother. What were the challenges of being a “working woman” that she probably had to overcome?
- Why is it so important to “invite people into one’s home?”
- Why is the faith of the mother so important to the faith of the household?
Discussion Challenge
- How can every gathering of believers become like Lydia’s household?
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