Ananias and Sapphira
The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is difficult, striking many readers as harsh and a return to Old Testament retribution. While no opining can likely explain away the unsettling nature of the tale, one can at least begin to understand the motivations of God by giving attention to some of the scriptural details.
Where Were Sodom and Gomorrah?
From childhood, many children have learned the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, two ancient cities that were destroyed by God because of their wickedness. For some readers, this tale seems unbelievable, prompting them to consider the report little more than an allegorical fable. But can modern science and archeology provide any evidence in support of such a story?
Who was Joseph of Arimathea?
Joseph of Arimathea is a Biblical figure who took responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion. Three of the four canonical Gospels identify him as a member of the Sanhedrin. According to the Gospel of Matthew. he was a rich, secret disciple of Jesus.
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- page 1 of 8 -While some Bible narratives can be taken at face value, others require some knowledge of the places, times and customs involved in order to be fully appreciated. Absent such context, scripture can sometimes leave the reader with an inaccurate view of the event.
Where knowledge of translational difficulties can help our understanding, it is also true that one must resist the understandable temptation to look at the text through the lens of a modern cultural context.
In this section, narratives are presented that we hope may bring a clearer picture of certain Bible stories.