Dr Paul Allen

Peter's Denial by Rembrandt, 1660. Jesus is shown in the upper right hand corner, his hands bound behind him, turning to look at Peter. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The priests and elders were “astonished” (marveled, wondered) when they saw the “courage” (Gk. parrēsian, confident openness and freedom in speech) of Peter and John; they perceived they were “unschooled,” not having attended a rabbinical school47 or having sat under a great rabbi like Gamaliel,48 and were “ordinary men,” nonprofessionals, laymen, amateurs. This does not mean they were totally unschooled. They had gone to the synagogue schools in their hometowns, but they were not professional teachers or trained speakers like the scribes and lawyers. Ordinary laymen did not speak with authority like this. It must have been hard for Peter and John to face such snobbishness. But the key to their courage and freedom in speaking was not their own talent or ability. It was, of course, the new fresh filling with the Spir...

Guido Reni's archangel Michael (in the Capuchin church of Santa Maria della Concezione, Rome) tramples Satan (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Spiritual warfare is real. It might not make the news; but it ought to. Paul acknowledges this in Ephesians 6 : 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. But the weapons of this warfare are often somewhat misunderstood.  In some church circles, for example, it is commonplace to hear pastors and their people talk of “binding Satan ” or “renouncing the devil’s presence” or some such display of confidence. Reasons why this maybe misguided. 1. Satan is (most probably) not in earshot There is a pernicious paranoia that permeates churches today: folks think Satan can hear them speak. Some people unwittingly pad Satan’s résumé to include God ’s unique attributes of omniscience a...