Dr Paul Allen

English: Roman Triumphal arch panel copy from Beth Hatefutsoth, showing spoils of Jerusalem temple. עברית: העתק של שער הניצחון של טיטוס (מוצב במוזיאון התפוצות) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Gessius Florus loved money and hated Jews. As Roman procurator , he ruled Judea, caring little for their religious sensibilities. When tax revenues were low, he seized silver from the Temple. In 66, as the uproar against him grew, he sent troops into Jerursalem to crucify and massacre some of the Jews. Florus’s action sparked the explosion of a rebellion that had been sizzling for some time. For the previous century, Rome had not handled the Jews very well. First Rome had propped up the hated usurper Herod the Great. For all the beautiful public buildings he erected, Herod could not buy his way into the people’s hearts. Herod’s son and successor, Archelaus, was so bad that the people cried to Rome for relief. Rome obliged by sending a series of governors—Pontius Pilate, Felix, Festus, and Flo...

Without the Roman Empire , Christianity might never have spread so successfully. You could say the empire was a tinderbox awaiting the spark of Christian faith . The empire’s unifying elements aided in the expansion of the Gospel: Roman roads made travel easier than it had ever been before; throughout the realm, people spoke Greek; and the mighty Roman army kept peace. As a result of the increased mobility, pockets of migrant craftsmen settled for a time in a major city— Rome , Corinth, Athens, or Alexandria—then moved on to another. Christianity stepped into an open climate, religiously. In a sort of “new age” movement many people had begun to embrace eastern religions—the worship of Isis, Dionysus, Mithras, Cybele, and others. Worshipers searched for new beliefs, but some of these religions had been declared illegal, because they were suspected of offensive rituals. Other faiths were officially recognized—like Judaism, which had enjoyed a protected position since the days of J...

… I will fear no evil, for You are with me …(Ps. 23:4). Just how important is trust in the life of a Christian? Let us consider some relevant verses: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” ( Prov. 3:5); “Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the word of His servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon his God ” (Isa. 50:10); “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion , which cannot be moved but endures forever” (Ps. 125:1); and “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25). With just these few verses we learn how vital trusting God is to our salvation. Unless we believe in His Word and trust in Him, we cannot hope to enter His everlasting kingdom. We need to be constantly reminded of this because we are so prone to trust in ourselves, to allow fear and past experiences to inhibit us from trusting in God, to refuse to depend upon ...

JUDAEA, Bar Kochba Revolt. 132-135 CE. AR Sela – Tetradrachm (28mm, 14.07 g, 11h). Undated issue (year 3 - 134/5 CE). Temple facade, the Ark of the Covenant within; star above / Lulav with etrog. Mildenberg 85.12 (O127/R44´); Meshorer 233; Hendin 711. Near EF, toned, light deposits. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 17:24–27 “Go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel” ( v. 27 ). Continuing His march southward to Jerusalem , Jesus returns to Capernaum , the home base for much of His ministry ( Matt.17:24 ; see 4:12–17 ). Here our Lord will give the fourth of His five major discourses (in chapter 18 ). Before Jesus does this, however, He discusses the temple tax . This passage likely takes place in Peter’s house, which is in Capernaum ( 8:5–17 ). We assume this to be the case because “the collectors of the half-shekel tax” approach the apostle outside the home to inquire of Jesus ( 17:24 ). First-cent...

English: Illumination of Christ before Pilate Deutsch: Jesus vor Pilatus (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Acts 20:24 “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course…that I received from the Lord Jesus , to testify to the gospel of the grace of God ” (v. 24). Since Jesus’ proclamation of the Gospel involved telling people that “the  kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:14–15), His commissioning of the disciples to preach the same message in Matthew 10:1 –15 gives us a chance to consider the Gospel and the church ’s spread of it in missions and evangelism. Our English term gospel comes from the Greek word euangelion, which literally means “good news.” In the secular Greek culture of the first century, one who delivered euangelion might be speaking of the birth of a royal heir, a victory in battle, or news about an electoral victory. The New Testament reclaims the common use of this word and invests it with ...

The Reformed Church of France, Paris, France (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left (Isa. 24:6). Chapter 24 of Isaiah often is referred to as an apocalypse, and many believe that Isaiah was prophesying about the Last Judgment . John Calvin , however, takes an opposing position and maintains that this chapter and the ones following are a conclusive summary of all the previous chapters. Calvin argues that Isaiah was speaking about the destruction, not of the whole earth in the Last Judgment, but of all the nations known to the Jews —Moab, Assyria , Egypt , and other nations in their vicinity, as well as many that were far off. These nations would be judged by the Lord—judgments that are recorded in detail in earlier chapters. Though the term “earth” is used in these passages, Calvin says that this was a common designation for the “known” ...

JUDAEA, First Jewish War. 66-70 CE. AR Shekel (22mm, 13.19 g, 12h). Dated year 3 (68/9 CE). "Shekel of Israel," Omer cup with pearled rim; date above / "Jerusalem the Holy," sprig of three pomegranates. Meshorer 202; Hendin 662. EF, attractive dark gray toning. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 17:24–27 “Go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel” ( v. 27 ). Continuing His march southward to Jerusalem , Jesus returns to Capernaum , the home base for much of His ministry ( Matt. 17:24 ; see 4:12–17 ). Here our Lord will give the fourth of His five major discourses (in chapter 18 ). Before Jesus does this, however, He discusses the temple tax . Today’s passage likely takes place in Peter’s house, which is in Capernaum ( 8:5–17 ). We assume this to be the case because “the collectors of the half-shekel tax” approach the apostle outside the home to inquire of Jesus ( 17:24 ). First-ce...

Shaded relief map of the Sinai Peninsula, 1992, produced by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to be an example of a charismatic religious leader. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less shall we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”  And this expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. (12:25–29) After giv...