The Bible Year

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 23, 1916

Assignment for November 26 to December 2

November 26: Acts 17 to 19. November 27: Acts 20 to 22. November 28: Acts 23 to 25. November 29: Acts 26 to 28. November 30: 1 Peter 1 to 3. December 1: 1 Peter 4, 5. December 2: 2 Peter.

For Further Study

Learn what you can about Herod, Felix, Festus, and Agrippa.

Outline Paul's three missionary journeys,—(1) with Barnabas and John Mark; (2) with Silas; (3) with Timothy; also the incidents of his arrest and trial, and the voyage to Rome.

First Peter

Simon Peter, a fisherman of Bethsaida, was called to his apostleship early in Jesus’ ministry. His whole subsequent history is an example of what the grace of God can do in subduing the natural heart, and in working through human instruments to bring men to a knowledge of salvation. Under Peter’s ministry, by the blessing of God, three thousand persons were converted on the day of Pentecost, and by him the first Gentile family was baptized and admitted to the household of faith. He preached the gospel to the Jews scattered throughout the various countries of Asia Minor, and it is thought that he suffered martyrdom at Rome about the same time as the apostle Paul. “All agree that he was crucified. Origen says that Peter felt himself to be unworthy to be put to death in the same manner as his Master, and was therefore, at his own request, crucified with his head downward.”

The first epistle of Peter is thought to have been written at Babylon about A. D. 60-67. It was addressed to the Jewish Christians of Asia Minor,—“strangers” in the lands in which they were living,—and was written to encourage and strengthen them in a time of severe persecution. They were urged to live lives of practical godliness, warned against special temptations, and reminded of the “soundness and completeness of the religious system which they had already received.”