Paul Witnesses to King Agrippa - Part II - Acts 26

¹⁹ “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰ First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. ²¹ That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. ²² But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— ²³ that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Paul again is leaning in here.  After such a profound experience, he followed the instructions.  He has been preaching to the Gentiles just as he was shown to do.  And this is why the Jews want to kill him.

²⁴ At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

Festus, knowing the peculiarity of the Jews to believe God’s blessings are for them alone, erupts against Paul’s claim that Moses said God’s Message is to the Gentiles.  No Jew would say that the Messiah they have been waiting on came not just for them, but for everyone also.  Blasphemy!  But it is the what Jesus did as He is the Truth.

²⁵ “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶ The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Paul, who anyone would reason should be more interested in making his defense to not be in chains and a prisoner, is working to witness directly to the king and whoever is willing to hear the Message of salvation.  He is singularly focused on presenting the gospel in any way that he can.  Verses 28 and 29 are better presented in my opinion in the NKJV:

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

²⁹ And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

These two interpretations have different meanings in my opinion.  One infers that the king is tempted and intrigued regarding belief.  One only mentions that he recognizes that Paul is trying to convince him.  One mentions time, yet one doesn’t mention it at all.

³⁰ The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. ³¹ After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

³² Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Paul has now spoken to kings and he has suffered much for Christ.  He has once again witnessed to Jesus and testified of Jesus in his life.  He has simply presented his story of how Jesus met him and changed him.  Paul’s story is part of Jesus’ story.  There is still more suffering to bear unfortunately.  He has been found innocent by the king and governor of the region.  How does Jesus in your life add to the story of Jesus?  If you were put on trial, what would be your witness and testimony?  Is Jesus in it?

No matter what the king decides about the gospel, it is clear that Paul is going to Rome now.

Paul Witnesses to King Agrippa - Part I - Acts 26

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: ² “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

His defense is for any Jew from anywhere that might have something to say against him.

⁴ “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. ⁵ They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. ⁷ This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. ⁸ Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

He is on trial because of his hope in a promise from the God of the Jews, his God.  This hope is in the resurrection of the dead.  King Agrippa knew the Mosaic Law and the Jewish background.  He knew they were awaiting a Messiah, a Savior. 

⁹ “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.  ¹¹ Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

He worked for them and did their work.  They know him well.  He was very diligent in opposing those who follow Jesus.  He was more diligent than even the chief priests were prosecuting those of the Way. 

¹² “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

Paul leans in as he tells this part of his testimony.  He refers to “King Agrippa” several times.  He is speaking directly to him and it infers how personal this part of the story is to him.  It is as if he is saying ‘listen closely to this’, it is miraculous.  Paul is also witnessing directly to the king.

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Paul centers his testimony on the intervention of Jesus into his life.  He is the center of Paul’s story.

Who is in the center of your testimony?  Is it you?  Is it others?  Or is it Jesus?  If you are a Christian, it should the intervention of Jesus into your life.  He should be at the center of your story.

Festus Consults King Agrippa and Paul Stands Before Agrippa - Acts 25

¹³ A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. ¹⁴ Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. ¹⁵ When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.

¹⁶ “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. ¹⁷ When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. ¹⁹ Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. ²⁰ I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. ²¹ But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”

²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

Now, Paul will witness to a king, just as he had been told he would by Jesus when he was in Damascus. 

²³ The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. ²⁶ But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. ²⁷ For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Paul gets to witness to the king and rulers with all the pomp and circumstance of it.  This had to be a regal setting.

Festus is in a bind here.  If Paul is guilty of sedition he should be put to death.  If he is not guilty, he should be freed.  Festus admits that there is no proof of the charges against this man.  He has appealed to Caesar but I have no charges to list.  He is also saying, I don’t want to rule him innocent when all of the Jews hate him and cause riots and mobs against him.  This is what he is really saying and he is putting that decision up the ladder.  He would rather the Jews despise Agrippa whom they never see rather than him who they will see often and have to respect his authority daily.

Paul is given this regal setting before this king.  He does not use it to defend himself.  He uses it to present the gospel message.  He is intent upon presenting Jesus to the king and all who are present.

Paul's Trial Before Festus - Acts 25

25 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, ² where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. ³ They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. ⁴ Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. ⁵ Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”

Two years later, Paul gets to defend himself in another trial with another regional leader.  The Jewish leaders again come to make charges.  Festus makes a very diplomatic visit with the Jewish leaders as a means for peaceful leadership change and in an effort to maintain peace.

⁶ After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. ⁷ When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.

⁸ Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

⁹ Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” 

Even though none of the charges against Paul can be proven and the fact that Paul is a Roman citizen, Festus's desire to be liked having just spent over a week in Jerusalem with these Jewish leaders, persuades him to try to do this.  He is rewarded when the people in his region have order.  He is seeking to do them this favor of transferring Paul to Jerusalem.  

¹⁰ Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹ If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

¹² After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Paul says to heck with these Jews and their court.  I’m in a Roman court and it can be ruled here now.  But since no one will rule because it is not politically expedient, Paul takes it out of their hand.  He is using his Roman citizenship to do the will of God.  Paul was told with encouragement from God that he would go to Rome.  This appeal to Caesar is the ticket to Rome.  Also, the further away from the Jewish leaders he gets, the less their accusations have meaning.  They are unable to stir up riots and create mobs outside of Jerusalem and around Roman authority.  Like it is, they’ve had two years to get witnesses from Asia to witness to his sedition there and do not have any.  The Roman authority care about their laws and courts, not about Jewish law which is outside of the Roman law.  Without a mob, the Jewish leaders know they will not get Paul convicted.  This is the last time we hear from the Jewish leaders.

Paul Witnesses to Felix and Drusilla - Acts 24

²² Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” ²³ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

Paul is in prison, but he is given a lot of liberties.  Felix wanted to hear more about the Way.  The Jewish position was very non-compelling to Felix and since they brought up the commander Lysias, he would hear from him.  I don’t know if Felix ever talked to Lysias because Felix never decided on Paul’s case.  Felix should have freed Paul because there is no proof he has broken a Roman law.  But Felix is a politician and he wants peace in his region.

History writes that Felix was a freed slave.  He had forged his way to the front through cruelty and brutality.  The Roman historian, Tacitus, says that Felix “through all cruelty and licentiousness he exercised the authority of a king with the spirit of a slave.”  He as a brutal person who enjoyed great pleasures.

Drusilla, his wife, was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I.  Her father killed James as is recorded in Acts 12.  Her great uncle killed John the Baptist and her great grandfather tried to kill the Lord Jesus Christ.  (per J. Vernon McGee commentary)

This is the judge for Paul.

²⁴ Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” ²⁶ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

Paul is now witnessing to those in regional authority.  He has access to the those with the most power in that region.  He is also witnessing to someone who has interest in this Way.  Somehow, a seed has been planted in their life so they want to hear more.

Why does teaching about righteousness, self-control and judgment scare people?  Because everyone knows they aren’t righteous, they don’t have self-control, and a judgment could be true!  Felix and Drusilla get a personal witness from Paul about Jesus.  This is an amazing demonstration of God’s grace to provide this opportunity to them. 

Felix postpones his decision to believe in Jesus for a more “convenient time”.  It should be noted that there is never a convenient time for sinners to believe.  “Today is the day of salvation.” Unfortunately, he cannot let go of the world of politics and there is no mention of Felix believing.

²⁷ When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Two years.  And we think our court system is slow.  Two years in prison “as a favor” to the Jews.  How would you like to be in prison as a favor for someone else for nothing more than believing and preaching about Jesus?  The real question is, would you be willing to do that for your Lord?

Paul's Trial before Felix - Acts 24

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. ² When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. ³ Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. ⁴ But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

The Jews are spending a good amount of time indicating to Felix that they have had a long period of peace under him, which is good for Felix, and they lift up Felix so he is flattered and can see the benefit of prolonged friendship with the Jewish council.  They play on the ambitions of Felix as a politician that he wants this peace for his own benefit.  In a sense, it is a form of blackmail.  They are saying that he needs a good relationship with them or they can make trouble, the very thing they are accusing Paul of doing.  It is incredibly ironic, but it shows their hearts.  The same was true in their prosecution of Jesus.  They hung Him on a cross because He claimed to be God.  Yet, as Jesus pointed out to them, they take the role of God by making their own rules so they can do what they want to do and be in a separate class above the people.  They worshiped themselves and they killed Jesus for the crime they were actively doing.

This is very true today for those who oppose Christianity or the principles of the Bible.  They accuse Christians of many things and in so doing are always doing the exact action of their accusation.  For example, many say that Christians are judging others when they refuse to let homosexual persons be leaders in their church.  Yet, they judge Christians and their beliefs when they say Christians are guilty of judging.  This is only possible when people do not have a singular truth.  For Christians, the Truth is a person and that is Jesus Christ.  For those who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of the one true living Lord, the truth moves on a sliding scale and is not stable.

⁵ “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect ⁶ and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.  ⁸ By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

⁹ The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

The charge they make against Paul is that he is a mover of sedition.  He purposely incites riots through speech or organization.  So they start with flattery to Felix with regard for the peace they’ve enjoyed (good for Felix) and charge Paul with the opposite (bad for Felix).  They know that Roman leaders are ambitious and they are playing their prosecution of Paul to it.

There is a missing verse 7 in the NIV version of the Bible.  This verse makes a slight complaint regarding the commander Lysias saying the violence associated with the riot was his cause not theirs.  They would have handled Paul among themselves (killed him).  They unknowingly show that they have no respect for Roman law, but think they are saying how peace would have been maintained.

¹⁰ When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. ¹¹ You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. ¹³ And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. ¹⁴ However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, ¹⁵ and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Paul defends himself as before the court, they must have proof of their accusation, of him committing this crime.  He further describes to the Romans that he has the same hope his accusers have, but believe differently and this is the real disturbance.  Romans would be familiar with this aspect of overreaction from the Jews regarding their beliefs against those who disagree. 

Paul also centers on resurrection, this is the central topic of the Christian church.  The resurrection of Jesus and this is the argument with which they disagree.

The real disappointment is that there are not defenders of Paul from the church in Jerusalem, or Antioch.  They have left Paul to defend himself.  Obviously Luke is there, and maybe a few others with Luke, but the larger Christian church doesn’t send representatives.  If they are there, there is no mention of it.

¹⁷ “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. ¹⁸ I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. ¹⁹ But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— ²¹ unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

Now Paul acknowledges he has been in Asia and indicates that they might have something against him since that is where he has been for many years.   If he has stirred up sedition there, where are those accusers and why aren’t they in the room?  Why aren’t they here if these accusations are true. He hasn’t been in this area long enough to have done what they are saying.

Paul Transferred to Caesarea - Acts 23

²³ Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. ²⁴ Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

This is a huge detachment for the protection of just one man in custody.  This is more of a show to the Jews that they will not get to Paul and he will be tried by their law.  This is Romans protecting a Roman citizen.  I can associate this with the American military coming to rescue a citizen from the jihadist with a lot of force and then escorting the citizen out with a lot of force.  The commander moves Paul out by cover of darkness and gives him a horse to ride on so they can move quickly.

²⁵ He wrote a letter as follows:

²⁶ Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency, Governor Felix:

Greetings.

²⁷ This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. ²⁸ I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. ²⁹ I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. ³⁰ When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.

³¹ So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. ³² The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. ³³ When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. ³⁴ The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.

Paul awaits trial in a much nicer place than a prison.  The commander has done well to remove Paul from the mob so that his case can be heard in a much less violent location.  The commander never understood what Paul was guilty of except that it was of a Jewish law.  In his eyes, Paul was not guilty of any Roman law.  However, his job is to maintain order, so moving Paul does exactly that.  It also allows him to move the responsibility up the chain of command.  It is now in the hands of Governor Felix.

The Plot to Kill Paul - Acts 23

¹² The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ More than forty men were involved in this plot. ¹⁴ They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

¹⁶ But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” ¹⁸ So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

¹⁹ The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

²⁰ He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. ²¹ Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

²² The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Here we learn that Paul had a sister and a nephew.  They obviously kept in touch. 

We also learn that 40 Jews agreed not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.  That is a large group to make such a dedicated stand.  They obviously had judged Paul’s soul and found it wanting, something they were unqualified to do and had no authority to do.  Only Jesus can judge a man’s soul, and He will.  Since the text mentions the chief priests and the Sanhedrin, it is reasonable to assume that all of them are working together to murder Paul.

Paul is hated because he follows Jesus.  They violently protest against him directly and have now plotted to kill him.  All because he follows Jesus.  What has following Jesus cost you?  Should you ask yourself, are you following Jesus with all your heart, mind, and spirit?

Paul Speaks to the Chief Priests - Acts 23

³⁰ The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

Since the commander knows that Paul is a Roman citizen and is being accused by the Jews, he wants to know what crime he has committed and if he will be in trouble for holding a Roman without cause.  I wonder if the Jews knew that Paul was a Roman citizen and would have this influence regarding his treatment.  The commander is forcing an unofficial "trial" to see if there is any validity with regard to Roman law for holding Paul.

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” ² At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

⁴ Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

⁵ Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

Paul again begins by saying “my brothers”.  He has done this before as a point telling them that he is a fellow Jew.  He says that he has in good conscious followed God’s instruction to that very moment.  How many of us can say the same?  Why can't we?  We should endeavor everyday to fulfill our duty to God in all good conscious.  Are you looking for a purpose today?  There it is.  Look no further.

At just Paul saying that the high priest demands he be struck.  This is an appalling rudeness.  Paul's criticism of the high priest is nearly the same as Jesus's criticism in Matthew 23.  Paul rebuts this action as a point of order.  In Roman law, no man could be punished until there had been a judgment.  There had been no judgment.  Paul is catching the high priest at odds with the laws of Rome.

Paul then quotes the law.  The same law that the high priest should have followed and not indicated for Paul to be struck.  This is also an indication for the Romans that these Jews are following their own laws above the Roman law.  This would put the Romans against the words of the Jews.

⁶ Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷ When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

Paul, who knows all of their theologies, gets them to argue violently among themselves.  This is a genius method that shows they do not know what they are doing to the Romans.  As ordered as the Romans are in their law, this would have looked like wild children to them and this would lead them to a better reverence towards Paul and away from the Sanhedrin.

⁹ There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰ The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

The Jews are so confused that they cannot maintain order and conduct themselves reasonably at this time of supposed unity against Paul and the followers of Jesus.  Again, to the western style of learning of the Romans, this had to look like untrained children, chaos.  The single purpose of discovering what the crime was against Paul has only revealed the incompetent leadership of the chief priests and Sanhedrin.

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

This personal encouragement from the Lord is a good indication that Paul was not outside of God’s will and was indeed following the Spirit.  It must have also been a great assurance to him from God to know that God had a purpose for him where he was, which was a prisoner hated by his own people.

Paul the Roman Citizen - Acts 22

²³ As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. ²⁵ As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

²⁶ When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

²⁷ The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

²⁸ Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

²⁹ Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

Paul is misunderstood by everyone.  His own people, the Jews, don’t understand him and believe he is a violator of their religious laws.  His nationality by birth, the Romans, don’t understand him, has him in chains, and can’t figure out what he has done for the public to want his death.  He has to feel like a man without a country.

Paul had brought this up before under a similar circumstance in a different city.  I tend to think that Paul is tired of being beaten.  I also believe that he is very cleaver and knows that he can put pressure on the Jews through the Romans.  I personally even wonder if he believes that this is the only way he can reach the message of Jesus to the Jews since his testimony will be forced on them through the Roman military power.  They will have to listen if they take him to trial.

He as a citizen of Rome will have more rights than the Jews.  Since he was born a citizen he has a higher claim of being a Roman than someone who had to "buy" their citizenship as the commander referenced.  Therefore, the commander has no intention, nor does the centurion, of harming Paul in any way lest they be put in prison for falsely accusing and punishing a Roman citizen without a trial.

Paul Gives His Defense - His Witness - Acts 22

22 ¹ “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”

² When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Now Paul speaks in Aramaic, the Hebrew language, this gets their attention quickly and they listen.  He calls out to them as brothers and fathers.  They are of the same race and all kin through Adam.

Then Paul said: ³ “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. ⁴ I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, ⁵ as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

Paul explains that he was just as they are and he too persecuted followers of the Way.  He has sympathy towards them as he was one of them.

⁶ “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

⁸ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.

“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ⁹ My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.

¹⁰ “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.

“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ ¹¹ My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

¹² “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. ¹³ He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.

¹⁴ “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. ¹⁵ You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

¹⁷ “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance ¹⁸ and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’

¹⁹ “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. ²⁰ And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

²¹ “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

Is this a defense for his supposed crime or is this a witness to the Jews?  Paul has told his story exactly how it has happened to him.  He has witnessed to his encounter with Jesus and to how he was a well-studied student of their own religion and why he had to leave Jerusalem.  He includes the event of the death of Stephen.  How he was there and it was done under his approval.  This obviously had a tremendous impact on Paul.

If you had to provide a defense of your actions for believing and following Jesus, would you provide your witness, your testimony?  I hope that you do, for it is your testimony of your salvation and encounter with Jesus that makes your life's purpose and should define all the other actions you've taken.  If not, how can you reorganize your life and remember your salvation so that your actions are oriented towards following your Savior?

²² The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”

Why is it that the Jews go into a rage when he says that the Lord sent him to the Gentiles?  Isn’t this a manner of a type of racism?  Isn’t this the same as the Nazi’s hating the Jews?  Except here it is the Jews hating everyone who isn’t a Jew?  In fact, this sounds a lot like the Islam jihadists of today, as they reject and have no respect for anyone who is not a “follower” of their perception of their religion.

Just as they hated Jesus and crucified Him, they cry out that Paul should be killed and “is not fit to live”.  The Jews are very far away from knowing Jesus or the Lord they claim to follow. 

The Commander Listens to Paul - Acts 21

³⁷ As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. ³⁸ “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?”

³⁹ Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

Because Paul speaks to the commander in Greek, and since the public is trying to kill him, he starts reasoning that Paul might be associated with the worst crime that they have, which is a group of assassins (“dagger men” sicarii) that covertly kill people who are leaders in society for money in order to create chaos.  They are Hebrew zealots.  (According to first-century historian Flavius Josephus.)  

The point here is that the commander believed that Paul must be associated with the worst criminal they knew for the city to be in such a violent uproar as it was and for him to be wanted to be killed by the people.  But when Paul spoke to him in Greek he immediately knew that Paul wasn’t that criminal. 

The allowance that the commander gives Paul here is significant.  He obviously believes Paul and is willing to let him speak if it'll settle down the disruption in the city.

Violence in Jerusalem - Acts 21

²⁷ When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, ²⁸ shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” ²⁹ (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

³⁰ The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. ³¹ While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³² He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

³³ The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. ³⁵ When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. ³⁶ The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”

Again, we see a mob working on assumption and misinformation.  

When I read about the quickness of the gathering of the mob, the yelling towards and beating of Paul in the streets, I am reminded of the pictures and video from the Middle East that I see in the news as recently as today.  I do not see how the culture is any different today than it was then.  The culture then consists of emotional men who live devoutly to their religion, as it is today.  This makes it very hard for a western educated and cultured person to understand as they have been taught to bind emotion and make logical decisions.  I do believe that the western culture has a strength in this regard relating to an ordered society, however, I believe the eastern culture has a strength with regard to their zeal to stand on their belief, however misplaced it seems to so often be put.  

What we see here are the Jews violently opposing Jesus through Paul.  He is renowned for his work in Asia and knowledge of that work concerning the teaching and preaching of Jesus and the establishment of the churches of the "Way" have traveled into Jerusalem. 

Here we see that the prophet's message to Paul was correct.  Paul is bound.  From this day forward, as far as the book of Acts indicates, Paul is never a free man again.  He will give an account of his defense several times as we follow him to the end of Acts.