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Acts of the Apostles
A book of the New Testament found immediately after the Gospels. It is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, by the same author. Acts tells the story of the Spirit-led mission of the Church after Jesus' Ascension, the beginning of its emergence from Judaism and its spread in parts of the Roman Empire.
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Apocalypse/Apocalyptic literature
A literary style more common in the ancient world than the modern one. It involves unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and which could not be known before this story was told. “Apocalypse”, a Greek word, equates to the Latin-originated English word “revelation”. Describing major change-events involving great destruction as “apocalyptic” has nothing to do with the original meaning of the word but derives from some such events being found in the last book of the Bible called the Book of Revelation or the Book of the Apocalypse.
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Apocrypha / Deuterocanonicals
Seven Old Testament books that Martin Luther and other 16th century Protestant reformers decided should not form part of the canon (see below) of Scripture but which the Catholic Church retained. The books are Judith, 1&2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach (sometimes called Ecclesiasticus) and parts of Daniel and Esther.
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Apostle
One sent by Jesus to continue his work. Originally “The Twelve” were men called by Jesus from among his disciples to be especially close followers of his. All Christians are, through their baptism, called to be both disciples and apostles of Jesus. “Apostle” (Greek) and “Missionary” (from Latin) both mean “Someone sent away with a task to do”.
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- Foundations
- Commentaries
- The Gospel of Matthew
- The Gospel of Mark
- The Proclamation of John the Baptist Mark 1:1-8
- Jesus’ Baptism – Mark 1:9-11
- The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry – Mark 1:14-20
- Jesus heals many at Simon’s House – Mark 1:29-34
- Jesus cleanses a Leper – Mark 1:40-45
- The True Kindred of Jesus – Mark 3:31-35
- The Purpose of Parables – Mark 4:10-20
- The parable of the Growing Seed – Mark 4:26-29
- Jesus stills a storm – Mark 4:35-41
- Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac – Mark 5:1-20
- A Girl Restored to Life & a Woman Healed – Mark 5:21-43
- The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth – Mark 6:1-6
- The Mission of the Twelve – Mark 6:6b-13
- Jesus walks on the water – Mark 6:45-52
- Feeding Stories – Mark 6:30-44 & Mark 8:1-10
- Jesus cures a deaf man – Mark 7:31-37
- Jesus’ Declaration about Peter – Mark 8:27-30
- The Transfiguration – Mark 9:2-13
- The Healing of a boy with a spirit – Mark 9:14-29
- Who is the Greatest – Mark 9:33-37
- Jesus blesses the little Children – Mark 10:13-16
- The Rich Man – Mark 10:17-31
- The Request of James and John – Mark 10:35-45
- The First Commandment – Mark 12:28-24
- The Widow’s offering – Mark 12:41-44
- The Necessity for Watchfulness – Mark 13:32-37
- Jesus Prays in Gethsemene – Mark 14:32-42
- The Resurrection of Jesus – Mark 16:1-8
- The Gospel of Luke
- The Birth of Jesus – Luke 2:1-21
- The Boy Jesus in the Temple – Luke 2:41-52
- The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry & The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth – Luke 4:14-30
- Jesus teaches and heals – Luke 6:17-26
- The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37
- The Lord’s Prayer – Luke 11:1-13
- The Parable of the Lost Coin – Luke 15:8-10
- The Parable of the Prodigal and his Brother – Luke 15:11-32
- Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers – Luke 17:11-19
- The Widow’s Gift – Luke 21:1-4
- The Road to Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35
- The Coming of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:1-12
- Glossary
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