God's Story: A Narrative Adaptation of the Bible

Though under house arrest, Paul remained dedicated to supporting followers of Jesus all over that part of the world. Though he had never visited them in his many travels, he wrote one such letter to the church in Colossae: To God’s people in Colossae, grace and peace to you from God our father. I always thank God for you when I pray because I have heard of your faith in Jesus, our savior, and the love you have for all God’s people, which comes from the hope you have in heaven that you first learned about when you heard the story of Jesus. This story is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it did among you when you first heard it. I continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will that comes from the wisdom given by the Holy Spirit, so that you can live a life that always pleases God, doing good work and growing in knowledge of God. I also pray that you will grow in God’s strength so you will have great endurance and patience. Jesus, the son, is the ima...

Paul travelled to Phillipi before setting sail for Jerusalem, where he hoped to celebrate the anniversary of when the Holy Spirit first came to the followers of Jesus. His ship stopped at several ports in Asia Minor along the way. While he was docked he sent for the elders of the Ephesian church and when they arrived he said to them, “You remember when I first came here. I served God humbly and had to go through a lot of struggles because people were plotting against me. I never hesitated to publicly tell you everything I could think of to help you in your faith. I have told both Jews and Greeks the story of Jesus. But my life is nothing when compared to the task Jesus has given me, to tell everyone the good news of forgiveness, and that is a task I plan to finish. “Now I know that I am never going to see any of you again. But I am okay leaving you because I know that I have clearly said what God wants from all of you. Take care of yourselves and this church that you are a part o...

One day while Paul was speaking in the Ephesian synagogue, some of the Jews stubbornly refused to believe no matter how persuasive he was. So he decided to leave and travel throughout the region. For the next two years everyone that lived in Asia Minor heard the story of Jesus. During that time God did amazing miracles through Paul. Even handkerchiefs he touched could heal the sick or those controlled by demons if it was taken to them. Some Jews tried to heal people from demon possession by using the name of Jesus and Paul. One day, a demon answered them, “Jesus and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who was demon possessed attacked them so savagely that they ran away naked and bleeding. Many heard this story and Jesus’ name became highly respected. Many others who performed magic came and publicly burned their spellbooks. But it would not last because of Demetrius, an Ephesian silversmith who made idols of the Greek god, Artemis. He called together all the other ...

Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, originally from Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an intelligent scholar who knew the story of Jesus and spoke passionately and accurately about him. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak, they invited him into their home to talk about God with him more thoroughly. When Apollos wanted to go to Corinth, some others encouraged him and wrote to the followers there to welcome him. When he arrived he was very helpful because he was able to effectively prove that Jesus was their savior using the words of the prophets whenever a Jewish opponent argued with him. While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul began his third journey by returning to Ephesus, with Timothy and Titus joining him. He asked the followers there, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they said, “We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what kind of baptism did you have?” Paul asked. “The kind done by John the Baptist.” Paul said, “John’s baptism was f...

Eventually Paul left Corinth and headed back east along with Priscilla and Aquila. They stopped in Asia Minor on the coastal town of Ephesus where he spoke at the synagogue. Paul told the believers in Ephesus that he needed to move on. When they asked him to stay longer, he had compassion on them and asked Priscilla and Aquila to stay with them in his place. He travelled to Caesarea Maritima, then south to Jerusalem, before heading back north to Antioch where he stayed for three years, concluding his second journey. While there, Paul heard some troubling reports and wrote a letter which was read aloud to, not just the church of Antioch, but Lystra, Iconium Derbe, indeed all of Galatia. To all the churches who read this, grace and peace to you from God our father and our savior Jesus, who sacrificed himself for our sins to save us from the evil of the world we live in, fulfilling God’s plan. I am shocked to learn that you are so quickly turning away from the story of Jesus to embrace...

While in Athens, Paul sent word for Timothy to return to Thessalonica to check in on the church there. When Paul finally left Athens he went to Corinth where he met a man named Aquila who had left Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave. Paul assisted them in their work making tents along with speaking regularly at the synagogue. Paul sent word to Silas and Timothy in Macedonia. After Timothy recounted his time in Thessalonica, Paul felt called to reach out and encourage the church with a letter, on behalf of Silas, Timothy, and himself. To the church in Thessalonica, grace and peace to you. I always thank God for you when I am praying because of the work you have been doing, motivated by your faith, love, and hope in Jesus. I know that God has chosen you because when you heard the story of Jesus it wasn’t just words, it came with the power of the Holy Spirit. When I lived with you you welcomed my words with joy even though you were suffering...

By this time Saul had changed his name to Paul, which means humble. In Antioch, he was praying with the other believers, including a young gentile named Titus, when they heard the holy spirit say, “Barnabas and Paul should be sent out to do the work I have for them.” So with their blessing, the two soon sailed to Cyprus, bringing John Mark with them. They traveled across the island sharing the story of Jesus in the synagogues. In the town of Paphos they met a sorcerer and false prophet named Elymas, who was an advisor to a local official. The official was an intelligent man and he sent for Barnabas and Paul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas opposed them and tried to turn the official against them. Then Paul looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of Satan and an enemy of the truth. You are full of tricks and lies. Now God’s is against you and you will go blind for a time.” Immediately darkness came over him. When the official saw this, he believ...