The apostles Peter and John have just healed a lame beggar at the temple's Beautiful Gate, causing amazement among the gathered crowd. Peter seizes this opportunity to preach to the astonished onlookers, explaining that the healing occurred through faith in Jesus Christ, whom the Jewish leaders delivered to Pilate and crucified despite Pilate's willingness to release him. Peter calls the people to repentance, declaring that Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses' prophecies and God's covenant with Abraham, sent first to bless Israel by turning them from their sins. While Peter continues speaking, the priests, temple captain, and Sadducees arrive, disturbed by the apostles' teaching about resurrection through Jesus, and arrest Peter and John, detaining them overnight since evening has fallen. Peter is addressing the crowd gathered at Solomon's Portico in the temple.
[22] For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. [23] And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ [24] Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. [25] You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ [26] To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
[1] Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, [2] being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [3] And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. [4] However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
[5] And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, [6] as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
[8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: [9] If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, [10] let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. [11] This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ [12] Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Two disciples are traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the same day that several women discovered Jesus's empty tomb and reported seeing angels who declared He had risen. Peter also confirmed the tomb was empty. The disciples are discussing the recent events surrounding Jesus's crucifixion and the confusing reports about His resurrection. As they walk, a stranger joins them on the road, though they do not recognize Him as the resurrected Jesus due to their eyes being prevented from knowing Him. The stranger asks what they are discussing, prompting them to recount the events of the past few days, including their dashed hopes that Jesus would redeem Israel and the puzzling testimony of the women about the empty tomb and angelic vision.
[13] Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] And they talked together of all these things which had happened. [15] So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. [16] But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
[17] And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
[18] Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
[19] And He said to them, “What things?”
So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. [21] But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. [22] Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. [23] When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. [24] And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”
[25] Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” [27] And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
[28] Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. [29] But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
[30] Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
[32] And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” [33] So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [34] saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” [35] And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
James, identified as a servant of Jesus Christ, writes to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations, likely referring to Jewish Christians dispersed throughout the Roman Empire following persecution in Jerusalem. This letter emerges from the early church period when believers faced various trials and needed practical guidance for living out their faith. The epistle addresses communities experiencing hardship and testing, providing instruction on how to respond to difficulties with spiritual maturity. James writes as a leader in the Jerusalem church, offering pastoral wisdom to fellow believers who are navigating the challenges of maintaining their faith while living as minorities in predominantly pagan societies.
[1] James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.
[2] My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. [4] But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. [6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
[9] Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, [10] but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. [11] For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
[12] Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Jesus has just risen from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. Earlier that morning, women discovered the empty tomb and angels announced his resurrection. Two disciples walking to Emmaus encountered the risen Jesus but only recognized him when he broke bread with them, after which he vanished. These two disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell the eleven apostles and other gathered believers what happened. While they are reporting that Jesus appeared to Simon Peter and describing their own encounter on the road, Jesus himself suddenly materializes in their midst despite the doors being locked. Jesus is addressing the eleven apostles and other disciples gathered with them in Jerusalem.
[36] Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” [37] But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. [38] And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? [39] Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
[40] When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.