Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11, AV) When you meet someone of noble character, you meet someone who stands above the crowd in some way. Yet, it is not inContinue reading “Mark of Nobility (Acts 17:10-15)”

“But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” (Acts 17:5, AV) The phrase “Green Eyed Monster” seemsContinue reading “Green Eyed Monster (Acts 17:5-9)”

“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”” (Acts 17:2-3, ESV) When IContinue reading “Authority of Truth (Acts 17:1-4)”

“And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.” (Acts 16:40, AV) There was a time when I managed a plant that printed shipping containers. The third shift operator had printed a lot of material that was offContinue reading “Wrong & Right (Acts 16:35-40)”

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30–31, AV) While I was attending a church in Savannah Georgia, something unusual happened. it was during a Wednesday evening prayer meeting. asContinue reading “What Must I Do (Acts 16:26—34)”

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” (Acts 16:25, AV) I once heard a report of a boy who was part of an evangelism team at his church. He faithfully went every week with the team. Now, this does not seem too exceptional when mostContinue reading “Light in Darkness (Acts 16:19-25)”

“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way ofContinue reading “Distractions (Acts 16:16-18)”

“And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” (Acts 16:10, AV) When I was in the military, I often heard the following. “There was the right way, the wrong way, and the captain’s way.”Continue reading “Better Plans (Acts 16:6-15)”

“Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.” (Acts 16:3, AV) In the 1850’s, a missionary named Hudson Taylor went to China. In China, he took a revolutionary approach toContinue reading “Bring No Offense (Acts 16:1-5)”

“And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” (Acts 15:39–41, AV) WhenContinue reading “Imperfect Servant (Acts 15:36-40)”