21: Once again, Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the woman’s child. He doesn’t say that Joseph took his son back to Israel, but that he took the child and his mother.
22: Archelaus was much like his father, Herod. So, Joseph obviously wanted to avoid another move in the near future. God guided him to Galilee. In that region Archelaus’ brother Antipas now ruled. He was of a milder disposition and mainly busied himself with the building of a couple of new cities.
23: Apparently it had been Joesph’s plan to return to Bethlehem, but God intervened. Nazareth was Joseph’s original home, before the taxation. This brought Joseph’s family to a safe place, put them among relatives, and fulfilled prophecy, all at the same time. In several places in the Old Testament, Jesus is referred to as the Branch. He is so as the Messiah, but also as a Nazarene. Nazareth comes from the Hebrew for branch.

Personal Journal Entry #120104
Prayer Journal Entry #12104
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 23:1-24:25
Praise Journal Entry #12064: Heavenly Father, thank You for Scripture. It gives us such a sure foundation. Starting from it we can have a guide to the Truth in any subject. Thank You for the certainty that it brings to life. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

20: It is said here that ‘they’ were dead that wanted to kill Jesus. This is strange since it seemed to be the design only of Herod at that time. So, this may be a case of using the plural when the singular is meant. However, it is more likely that both Herod and his son, Antipater, were meant here. Antipater was much like his father, and would likely have the same plans concerning any potential king other than himself. By this time, both men were dead. Herod had killed his son, and died himself a few days later.

Personal Journal Entry #12103
Prayer Journal Entry #12103
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 20:1-22:51
Praise Journal Entry #12063: Heavenly Father, bring revival to Your people! Lord, You are the One who renews our lives daily if we will but turn to You for that renewal. Father, draw Your people closer to You in this age that we may be witnesses to so many who are dying without hope. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

19: Even the fact that Jesus was in Egypt for a time was the fulfillment of prophecy. Everyhting about his life fulfilled prophecy.

Personal Journal Entry #12102
Prayer Journal Entry #12102
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 17:1-19:43
Praise Journal Entry #12062: Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus. His life is so clearly for us. He lived and died and rose again for our salvation. To God be the glory! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

2: In this verse, Luke reviews the end of his gospel, catching the reader up to the present events. Jesus is said to give commandments through the Holy Spirit. This is not to say that Jesus had no authority to make commands. Indeed, it shows that he had the authority to include the power of the Spirit for the performance of the commands. The disciples could go forth with this power.

Personal Journal Entry #120101
Prayer Journal Entry #12101
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 14:1-16:23
Praise Journal Entry #12061: Heavenly Father, may we always depend upon your strength in our lives! I must not try to work in my own strength, but in You. Thank You for that boundless source of energy and holiness called the Holy Spirit. You are a blessing to me. Your Spirit lifts me from the bottom and sets me high. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

1: Luke is, of course, referring back to his gospel. Many have suggested that Theophilus is not a particular person. However, it seems that he was indeed an actual individual. In his gospel, Luke refers to Theophilus with a title that indicates the man was a magistrate or officer of some type. Acts is the natural sequel to the gospel of Luke.

Personal Journal Entry #12100
Prayer Journal Entry #12100
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-13:39
Praise Journal Entry #12060: Heavenly Father, I thank You for making Your Word so personal. You have not given us a book that is so far above the understanding of the common man that we could never attain to its secrets. Instead, You guide us into its meaning by Your Spirit. Thank You! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

10: The joy of the Lord can be found in the midst of business. Great works for God can bring a great joy to the heart of the worker.

Personal Journal Entry #12099
Prayer Journal Entry #12099
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 8:1-11:27
Prasie Journal Entry #12059: Heavenly Father, Your Joy is perfect. Your way is a blessing. Following You brings our lives into perfect balance with Your creation. I praise You for Your ability to balance the order and spontenaity of Your universe. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

17: The quotation comes from Jeremiah 31:15.
18: Before the birth of Christ, Bethlehem, and the nearby city of Rama, were though of in connection with the death of Rachel. Just as in the captivity, Rachel is seen figuratively as the mother of the nation, who weeps for her children. She is ‘heard’ here because Bethlehem is where she was buried.

Personal Journal Entry #12098
Prayer Journal Entry #12098
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 4:1-7:29
Praise Journal Entry #12058: Heavenly Father, thank You for being the Person that You are. You know we need something more than a meaningless force, or impersonal being. You know that we need someone who knows and understands us. You have revealed about Yourself just what we need. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

14: It is quite likely that the gift of the Magi enabled Joseph to take this trip. Otherwise, there is a good chance that he would not have been able to afford it. They took their journey at night to avoid anyone knowing exactly what way they had gone.
15: This is from Hosea 11:1, which speaks of both Israel and the Messiah prophetically. Herod died sometime around 4 B.C.
16: Assuming that Herod’s memory was correct, and it surely was, Jesus was around two when they left for Egypt. Though there is no historical record outside of scripture of this slaughter in Bethlehem, that is hardly a surprise. Herod’s crimes were numerous and well-known. Thus, the murder of a few children in Bethlehem would likely not even make it into a list of his crimes.

Personal Journal Entry #12097
Prayer Journal Entry #12097
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-3:39
Praise Journal Entry #12057: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your working in spite of evil people. You have often caused the light of the Truth to shine where despots rule. Thank You for Your mercy in making Truth available. You are worthy of so much praise for Your beautiful plan of salvation! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

13: On four occasions Joseph received communication from God in a dream. The whole plan had already been thought out. God knew exactly what would happen, and exactly how it would happen.


Personal Journal Entry #12096
Prayer Journal Entry #12096
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 28:1-31:13
Praise Journal Entry #12056: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your knowledge. It provides us with such security! We can know that You know everything, and that You have our best interest at heart. We can have the knowledge from You that we need to face the challenges of life. Thank You for knowing just exactly what we need. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

10: These men were happy to see the star again. Not only had they lost sight of it for a time, and had now regained it; but also, it was obviously indicating the exact location of their destination.
11: The presents were those fit for a king. The wise men, however, being led by the star, were not surprised to find the king in a humble place. He was not still in a stable, but Mary and Joseph were hardly living in a palace at the time. Their worship shows at the very least homage to a king who came from Jehovah God. Being from the east, these men would be familiar with the God of such men as Daniel, Nehemiah, or Mordecai.
12: These wise men were wise enough to listen to Almighty God when he warned them not to turn back to Jerusalem. They, at the very least, had the same sensitivity to God as did the Babylonian or Persian kings who came into contact with God’s people, or even the gentile nations who have been neighbors to the Jews all along.

Personal Journal Entry #12095
Prayer Journal Entry #12095
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 25:1-27:12
Praise Journal Entry #12055: Heavenly Father, thank You for making Yourself known to the world. The Truth concerning You is made more available every day. Send laborers into the harvest, Father. So many need to be saved! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.