Judging by the movies we watch, we’re drawn to big cities. More than a thousand movies have been filmed in New York alone. In Paul’s day, Ephesus was a big city, with a third of a million people. And it drew him—not only to visit but to linger. It was one of the cities where he honed his strategy fo

“The book of Acts—starring the apostle Paul!” ... If Paul were here today, he’d never let us get away with saying that. The real star of Acts is the Holy Spirit, and he does his work through every believer. Keep listening as Dr. James Boice introduces us to a few of the ordinary believers God used t

It was a cosmopolitan city. It was a commercial city. And it was a corrupt city. In short, it was very much like many of our big cities today. It was Corinth, a melting pot of people, a center of trade, and home to ten thousand prostitutes serving at the temple of Aphrodite. It was also a turning po

Athens, the city of the Epicureans: “If it feels good, do it.” Athens, the city of the Stoics: “If it doesn’t feel good, grin and bear it.” Athens, the city of idols: “If it looks good, worship it.” And Athens, the city of Paul’s most famous sermon, a closely reasoned message about an unknown God wh

Jesus began and ended the 14th chapter of John with a similar command: that His followers were not to let their hearts be troubled. And in between, He gives them—and us—the reasons why we should have peace, even in the midst of dire circumstances. Join Dr. James Boice next time on The Bible Study Ho

Long ago and far away, the apostle Paul and a few friends traveled from place to place for months at a time. Everywhere they went, they preached about Jesus, attracted attention, drew crowds, ... and eventually got kicked out of town. But they also left behind, in place after place, a new community

It’s one of the most famous questions in the Bible. It comes from a prison guard who’s having such a bad night with earthquakes and broken locks that he’s about to take his own life. Looking for a reason to live, he speaks the famous words: “What must I do to be saved?” And Paul just happens to be t

Paul’s second mission trip got off to a rocky start as he and Barnabas argued and finally split to go their separate ways. But Paul set out with Silas instead, and picked up Timothy along the way. And as they traveled, they also picked up a new vision—a vision that led them farther west, into a bran

Is faith alone enough to make you a child of God—or is there more to it? Do you have to do, or not do, certain things? Follow certain laws or traditions? These were hot questions for the early church, and they finally had a summit meeting to hash it out. Everybody who was anybody was there. To supp

Another city, another Sabbath, another synagogue, another sermon. Ah, the life of a traveling evangelist! And in each new city, Paul and his companions see a pattern: enthusiastic crowds but also hostile opponents; the seed of a new church but also growing persecution. To support this ministry fina

As the angels appeared over the fields of Bethlehem and revealed themselves to the shepherds, a great fear came over them. Yet, at the same time, a great feeling of joy filled their hearts as they witnessed that momentous event. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as he studies the reasons

It’s one of the most famous questions in the Bible. It comes from a prison guard who’s having such a bad night with earthquakes and broken locks that he’s about to take his own life. Looking for a reason to live, he speaks the famous words: “What must I do to be saved?” And Paul just happens to be t

Paul’s second mission trip got off to a rocky start as he and Barnabas argued and finally split to go their separate ways. But Paul set out with Silas instead, and picked up Timothy along the way. And as they traveled, they also picked up a new vision—a vision that led them farther west, into a bran

Is faith alone enough to make you a child of God—or is there more to it? Do you have to do, or not do, certain things? Follow certain laws or traditions? These were hot questions for the early church, and they finally had a summit meeting to hash it out. Everybody who was anybody was there. To supp