Acts 4 sets the pattern for gospel courage: Spirit-filled speech, Scripture-shaped prayer, and generous unity. The name of Jesus stands alone as the cornerstone and the only way of salvation.
Bible Themes and Doctrines
This free resource includes detailed commentary on each book of the Bible (66) as well as a chapter-by-chapter study of each chapter of the Bible (1,189). The chapter studies are excluded from the normal search results and are best found by selecting from the list below.
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Genesis
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50.
Exodus
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40.
Leviticus
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
Numbers
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.
Deuteronomy
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34.
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Joshua
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Judges
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
Ruth
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
1 Samuel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.
2 Samuel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
1 Kings
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.
2 Kings
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25.
1 Chronicles
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.
2 Chronicles
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.
Ezra
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Nehemiah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Esther
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
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Job
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
Psalms
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150.
Proverbs
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Ecclesiastes
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Song of Songs (Song of Solomon)
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
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Isaiah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.
Jeremiah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52.
Lamentations
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Ezekiel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48.
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Daniel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Hosea
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Joel
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Amos
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Obadiah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
Jonah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Micah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Nahum
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Habakkuk
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Zephaniah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Haggai
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2.
Zechariah
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Malachi
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
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Matthew
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.
Mark
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
Luke
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
John
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
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Acts (of the Apostles)
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.
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Romans
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
1 Corinthians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
2 Corinthians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
Galatians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Ephesians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Philippians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Colossians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
1 Thessalonians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 Thessalonians
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
1 Timothy
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 Timothy
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Titus
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
Philemon
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
Hebrews
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
James
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
1 Peter
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 Peter
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3.
1 John
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2 John
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
3 John
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
Jude
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1.
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Revelation
Overview or Chapter Studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.
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Here’s a plain-language orientation to Dispensational Theology—what it is, why I’m using it beneath the surface of these chapter studies, and how to spot its thread even when the label itself doesn’t appear.
At heart, dispensationalism is a way of reading the Bible that pays close attention to God’s unfolding plan across history, takes promises and prophecies at face value (according to normal grammar and context), and keeps Israel and the church distinct without breaking the unity of God’s salvation in Christ. It notices that God has administered His will in recognizable stages—each with revealed responsibilities, clarifying tests, and fresh light—yet salvation is always by grace through faith because there has only ever been one Savior. The approach expects real fulfillment of God’s covenants to Israel in the future, while recognizing genuine foretastes of the kingdom in the present through the Spirit.
The classic stages (“dispensations”) at a glance
Writers describe the stages with minor variations; the classic seven are:
The point of mapping these stages is not to box God into charts but to recognize how Scripture itself marks turns in the road—from Eden to exile to Pentecost—and to let each passage speak within its historical setting while tracing the one plan that moves toward Christ’s reign and renewal.
Think of these as the load-bearing beams you’ll see throughout my essays:
The Chapter Studies do not to use the word dispensational (or its variants) in the body of each chapter study. That’s intentional. Labels can distract; Scripture should lead. Instead, I’ll use plain phrases that carry the same freight: “stage in God’s plan,” “administration under Moses,” “future fullness,” “the King’s rule tasted now,” and so on. You’ll also see a dedicated Redemptive-Plan Thread woven through each essay—especially in the “Theological Significance” section—that quietly does this work:
Within the dispensational family there are intramural debates (e.g., timing of the rapture, certain prophetic sequences). Those questions matter, but the pillars above are the bedrock beneath my essays. Where timing questions arise, I’ll keep the focus on what the passage clearly teaches, majoring on the hope of Christ’s return, the integrity of God’s promises, and our present calling.
Dispensational Theology, as I’m using it, is not a grid pasted on the Bible; it’s a commitment to let the Bible’s own storyline, covenants, and categories stand as written, to hear every text in its time, and to follow the thread to Christ—the one Savior for all who believe. You’ll rarely see the label. You will see the fruit: context-honoring exposition, covenant confidence, present power by the Spirit, and durable hope in the King who will keep every promise.
Acts 4 sets the pattern for gospel courage: Spirit-filled speech, Scripture-shaped prayer, and generous unity. The name of Jesus stands alone as the cornerstone and the only way of salvation.
Acts 3 pairs a public healing with a Scripture-rich sermon that calls Israel to repent and promises seasons of refreshing and a future restoration. The name of Jesus lifts the needy, and the covenant hope widens toward all peoples.
Pentecost fulfills promise and launches mission. Peter preaches Jesus as Lord and Messiah, thousands repent and are baptized, and a Spirit-shaped community forms around teaching, table, prayer, and praise.
Acts 1 anchors the church’s mission in the risen and ascended Jesus. The Spirit’s promised power, a global map for witness, and Scripture-shaped leadership prepare a praying community to carry good news to the ends of the earth.
Paul charges Timothy to preach the word under the Judge’s gaze, with patience when ears itch for myths. A poured-out life ends in hope: the crown of righteousness for all who love Christ’s appearing.
Romans 16 turns doctrine into names and homes—honor the ordinary saints, guard unity, and worship the only wise God. The revealed mystery now summons all nations to the obedience of faith.
Romans 15 calls the strong to carry the weak, the church to welcome as Christ welcomed, and the nations to praise the God who keeps his promises. Hope fills and overflows by the Spirit as mission and mercy travel together.
Romans 14 shows how a Spirit-led church lives together when consciences differ: welcome without quarrels, limit liberty for love, and keep the kingdom’s priorities at the center. Each servant stands before the same Lord.
Romans 13 places public life under God’s hand: honor rulers within their lane, pay what you owe, and owe love without end. Live awake, clothed with Christ, because the day is near.
Romans 12 turns mercy into motion: offer your body, renew your mind, and serve as one body with sincere love. In a harsh world, overcome evil with good.
Romans 11 answers whether God has rejected Israel and shows his plan: remnant by grace, Gentile inclusion, and future mercy. The only fitting response is worship.
Romans 10 moves the law’s aim into open view in Christ. The near word creates faith, the mouth confesses the risen Lord, and the church is sent.
Romans 9 shows that God’s saving purpose runs by promise and mercy, not pedigree or effort. The result is humility, assurance, and courage for mission.
Romans 8 moves from no condemnation to no separation. The Spirit secures a new way of life now and a certain hope that includes bodily resurrection.
Romans 7 holds up the law as holy while exposing sin’s deceit and our need for Christ. It leads us to honest confession, Spirit-led obedience, and hope.