Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me

For Whom Was the Book of Revelation Written and Why?

Richard D. Draper

The Revelation of John the Apostle, (2013), BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Jan. 2014)

The book of Revelation is the story of Christ’s work through the end of time. It shows the active involvement of the Lord in the ongoing progress and, unfortunately, regress of his Church and its people. Fortunately, it also tells of its restoration and describes its mission in the last days. Thus, Revelation was not just for John and the Saints of the seven Churches but for other Saints then and now. Indeed, as we will see, the book speaks to our time even more than that of the seven churches.

Peter and Paul in Antioch

Gaye Strathearn

The Ministry of Peter, the Chief Apostle, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 46 (2014)

An analysis of Paul’s teachings on faith, justification, and salvation, including various interpretations of pistis Christou.

Special Witnesses of Christ

Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, Henry B. Eyring, Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen, Ronald A. Rasband, Gary E. Stevenson, Dale G. Renlund, Gerrit W. Gong, Ulisses Soares

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles present short videos of themselves in holy places, bearing testimony of Christ. Some videos are from the series created in 2000 and some are new.

The “Same” Organization That Existed in the Primitive Church

Grant Underwood

Go Ye into All the World: Messages of the New Testament Apostles, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 32 (2002)

The article discusses the sixth Article of Faith of the Church, which refers to the organization of the Primitive Church, including apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists.

The Book of Acts: A Pattern for Modern Church Growth

Jared W. Ludlow

Shedding Light on the New Testament: Acts–Revelation (2009)

Acts presents challenges faced by the early Christian church, comparable to those faced by Latter-day Saints today.

The Life of the Apostle Paul, an Overview

Nicholas J. Frederick

New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament (2019)

Paul’s early life details can be inferred from Acts and his epistles.

The Western Text of the Book of Acts: a Mirror of the Doctrinal Struggles in the Early Christian Church

J. Phillip Schaelling

Apocryphal Writings and the Latter-day Saints (1986)

Variations in ancient manuscripts of Acts highlight the continuity of the scriptural record.

What Do We Know about “the Sixth Month” in the Infancy Story?

S. Kent Brown

BYU New Testament Commentary website (Dec. 2013)

What We Can Learn About the Pentecost Festival in Acts

S. Kent Brown

LDS Living (Jul. 2023)

Pentecost in Acts is described as a significant event where divine manifestations seized the attention of many, leading to the spread of divine light.

And Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly

Gordon B. Hinckley

New Era 12, no. 3 (Apr. 1982)

President Hinckley likens Peter’s denial of the Savior and his subsequent repentance to our own loss of faith and need to return to the truth.

Chart 13-11: Miracles in Acts

John W. Welch, John F. Hall

Charting the New Testament (2002)

A list of sixteen miracles performed by the apostles in the book of Acts.

Peter, My Brother

Spencer W. Kimball

BYU Speeches (Jul. 1971)

Peter denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus forgave him. We also can forgive Peter and admire his strengths. The transcript can be found here: https://rsc.byu.edu/ministry-peter-chief-apostle/appendix-peter-my-brother

The Book of Acts: A Pattern for Modern Church Growth

Jared W. Ludlow

Shedding Light on the New Testament: Acts–Revelation (2009)

Acts presents challenges faced by the early Christian church, comparable to those faced by Latter-day Saints today.

The Western Text of the Book of Acts: a Mirror of the Doctrinal Struggles in the Early Christian Church

J. Phillip Schaelling

Apocryphal Writings and the Latter-day Saints (1986)

Variations in ancient manuscripts of Acts highlight the continuity of the scriptural record.

What We Can Learn About the Pentecost Festival in Acts

S. Kent Brown

LDS Living (Jul. 2023)

Pentecost in Acts is described as a significant event where divine manifestations seized the attention of many, leading to the spread of divine light.

Acts 3–7

New Testament Student Manual: Religion 211–212 (2018)

Describes the organization of the early church, Stephen’s speech, and key Jewish identity pillars.

And Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly

Gordon B. Hinckley

New Era 12, no. 3 (Apr. 1982)

President Hinckley likens Peter’s denial of the Savior and his subsequent repentance to our own loss of faith and need to return to the truth.

Chart 13-11: Miracles in Acts

John W. Welch, John F. Hall

Charting the New Testament (2002)

A list of sixteen miracles performed by the apostles in the book of Acts.

Healing, Wholeness, and Repentance in Acts 3

Jennifer C. Lane

The Ministry of Peter, the Chief Apostle, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 45 (2014)

Acts 3 narrates a healing symbolic of wholeness, cleanliness, and access to the temple and God’s presence.

Peter, My Brother

Spencer W. Kimball

BYU Speeches (Jul. 1971)

Peter denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus forgave him. We also can forgive Peter and admire his strengths. The transcript can be found here: https://rsc.byu.edu/ministry-peter-chief-apostle/appendix-peter-my-brother

The Chronicles of Zacharias and Elisabeth: Part One of Three, the Angel Comes to the Priest Zacharias

S. Kent Brown

The Testimony of Luke, BYU New Testament Commentary, excerpted on the BYU New Testament Commentary website (Dec. 2014)

When Zacharias goes into the temple to offer incense, he is entering the Sanctuary, which is distinct from the larger temple grounds. The angel “was seen,” indicating seeing in a firsthand, sensory way. Three elements stand out in the angel’s words to this man. The first is embedded in the expression “thy prayer is heard.” The prayer that the angel points to is likely not a prayer for a son. The pronoun is singular and therefore does not include Elisabeth; besides, she is past childbearing. So why pray for a child? Rather, the prayer is one for the redemption of Israel that Zacharias offers in his priestly role as a matter of private but set worship. Hence, the angel is promising the fulfillment of his prayer for Israel’s redemption.

The Power of Elijah

Theodore M. Burton

General Conference (Apr. 1974)

If Elijah’s power was important regarding temporal affairs (the famine and the miracles), think of the spiritual power he possessed. He could bind or seal on earth and have it bound in heaven.

The Western Text of the Book of Acts: a Mirror of the Doctrinal Struggles in the Early Christian Church

J. Phillip Schaelling

Apocryphal Writings and the Latter-day Saints (1986)

Variations in ancient manuscripts of Acts highlight the continuity of the scriptural record.

What We Can Learn About the Pentecost Festival in Acts

S. Kent Brown

LDS Living (Jul. 2023)

Pentecost in Acts is described as a significant event where divine manifestations seized the attention of many, leading to the spread of divine light.

“Honor the King”: Submission to Civil Authority

Eric-Jon K. Marlowe

The Ministry of Peter, the Chief Apostle, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 49 (2014)

Explores Peter’s teachings on submission to civil authority in 1 Peter 2.

Acts 3–7

New Testament Student Manual: Religion 211–212 (2018)

Describes the organization of the early church, Stephen’s speech, and key Jewish identity pillars.

And Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly

Gordon B. Hinckley

New Era 12, no. 3 (Apr. 1982)

President Hinckley likens Peter’s denial of the Savior and his subsequent repentance to our own loss of faith and need to return to the truth.

Theological Underpinnings of Baptism for the Dead

David L. Paulsen, Roger D. Cook,, Brock M. Mason

BYU Studies Quarterly 55, no. 3 (2016)

“If Jesus was not resurrected, then what is Christianity? In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reminds us that there were many who saw, with their own eyes, the gloriously embodied, resurrected Jesus.”

“Honor the King”: Submission to Civil Authority

Eric-Jon K. Marlowe

The Ministry of Peter, the Chief Apostle, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 49 (2014)

Explores Peter’s teachings on submission to civil authority in 1 Peter 2.

Acts 3–7

New Testament Student Manual: Religion 211–212 (2018)

Describes the organization of the early church, Stephen’s speech, and key Jewish identity pillars.

Chart 13-11: Miracles in Acts

John W. Welch, John F. Hall

Charting the New Testament (2002)

A list of sixteen miracles performed by the apostles in the book of Acts.

Peter, My Brother

Spencer W. Kimball

BYU Speeches (Jul. 1971)

Peter denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus forgave him. We also can forgive Peter and admire his strengths. The transcript can be found here: https://rsc.byu.edu/ministry-peter-chief-apostle/appendix-peter-my-brother

The Life of the Apostle Paul, an Overview

Nicholas J. Frederick

New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament (2019)

Paul’s early life details can be inferred from Acts and his epistles.