Acts 26:1-32 – Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, we come to Paul’s witness to king Herod Agrippa II and his sister, Bernice — Paul’s longest address on record. Agrippa was Rome’s client king over the Northern Territories, parts of Galilee, and Perea. He also had jurisdiction over the temple in Jerusalem.

Historians generally agree that Agrippa II and Bernice lived as husband and wife. At the time, it was a public scandal. Bernice married Polemon II, the king of Cilicia, ostensibly to quell the rumors circa 64 AD. However, she soon left him and returned to her brother. Like her sister Drusilla, Bernice was renowned for her beauty. Officially known as Bernice of Cilicia or Julia Bernice, Bernice was the Jezebel of her day. She acquired power in Rome through her support of Vespasian and her on-again, off-again relationship with his son, Titus. However, the Romans resented the power and influence that Bernice garnered through her relationship with Titus. This led to Bernice being expelled from Rome — the first time circa 75 AD and the second in 79 AD.

Paul, the chief of sinners, does not judge Agrippa and Bernice. He shares the gospel with them. This should be our attitude as well. Christians are not supposed to judge. (Matt 7:1)

In Acts 9, Jesus said Paul is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: Paul is fulfilling his destiny. His hearing is a high-society gala event. Paul is a celebrity in chains, on trial with Roman fanfare, pomp, and ceremony.

When we left off in our last post, Festus had just finished calling the court to order. The purpose of the hearing is to find something to charge Paul with. Fill each of us with your Holy Spirit, Father, and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 26:1-32
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

Although Agrippa was a student of Scripture, faith in Christ is a matter of the heart, not head knowledge. Paul wisely begins by asking Agrippa to be patient and hear him out.

4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

Paul is using the same witnessing technique on Agrippa, the Edomite and Jewish proselyte, that I have often used on Jewish people. The crux of the issue is the promise made from the beginning. (Gen 3:15)

7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

It always comes down to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. [cattle prods]
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Verse 18 is a concise encapsulation of the gospel. Through faith alone in Christ alone, we are brought out of darkness into light, saved from Satan and accepted by God, who forgives our sins and gives us an inheritance. We then begin the process of sanctification.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Paul wrote about the importance of faith in Hebrews 11. (Feel free to disagree, but if you want to be right, Paul was the author.) Hebrews 11 says over and over, by faith, by faith, by faith, by faith… But then after Hebrews, we have James. (Faith without works is dead.) Like James, Paul does not leave off with faith when presenting the gospel. We are saved by faith alone, but faith that saves is not alone. Faith that saves is faith that works.

21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. [Isa 49:6]

Again, Paul is emphasizing that the hope of the Scriptures has been fulfilled in Christ.

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

I think the reason for Festus’ accusation against Paul is that Paul is hitting the mark. Festus listened patiently while Paul talked about putting the Jews in prison, putting them to death (v 10), and punishing them in their own synagogues (v 11). But when Paul said he was sent to the Gentiles (that means you, Festus), he accused Paul of being mad. (Mention of the Gentiles is the same thing that got Paul in trouble in the first place at the temple in Jerusalem.) It’s been said that if you throw a brick over a fence into a lot full of dogs, the one that yelps is the one you hit. Paul’s testimony is hitting home with Festus.

25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

Everyone knows what Paul is talking about. The death and resurrection of Jesus is being talked about everywhere. That is why Paul’s trial is such a big event.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. [Jam 2:19]
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

I have been at such an impasse myself. I remember one coworker in Southern California whom I used to work on all the time. He drove a classic 59 Corvette. He was a funny guy and liked by everyone. One day I could see that he was right on the edge, considering the gospel, but like Agrippa, he was only almost there, not altogether.

29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

Rather than give careful consideration to what Paul was saying, Agrippa ended the hearing. Like a child who plugs his ears and starts singing when he hears something he does not want to listen to, Agrippa does not like the uncomfortable feeling he has. So he calls it quits.

31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

Just as Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, Agrippa knows Paul is innocent.

32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.
Acts 26:1-32

Whether Festus was right about Paul possibly being set at liberty, I do not know. What I do know is that Agrippa does not understand the real reason for his meeting with Paul.

I used to believe that the struggle between Jacob and Esau ended with Jesus standing before Herod Antipas, the uncle of Agrippa. (The Herods were Edomites, descendants of Esau.) However, after meditating on Acts 26, I now see that the struggle between Jacob and Esau ended with Paul standing before Agrippa II, the last of the Herods to rule. God’s grace is truly amazing. Just as Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to repent, his grace and mercy extend to the descendants of Esau until the very end.

The same is true for us. God’s grace is extended to us to the end. Our purpose in life is not to garner power and influence like Agrippa and Bernice. It is not to collect toys or trophy women like Jerome of Southern California. We all have to decide what we are going to do with Jesus Christ. Receiving Him is all that really matters in this life. Otherwise, the apostles would not have been willing to suffer and be martyred the way they were. They understood the riddle of life. Do you?

In closing, Paul is on his way to Rome, which is what he prayed for. (Rom 1:10)

When you pray for something, expect it to come to pass.

Acts 25:1-27 — Slow Justice

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul had already been languishing in prison in Caesarea for two years. Antonius Felix did at least allow Paul visitors and “liberty” (special privileges). Porcius (Pors•ē•əs) Festus had just arrived to replace Felix as governor (procurator) of Judea.

Gladstone once said, “Justice delayed is justice denied.” That is one way to look at Paul’s circumstances. On the other hand, God is at work. (Phil 1:12) It is not justice that God is concerned with so much as the proliferation of the gospel. Paul still has to present the gospel to Festus, king Agrippa II, and Agrippa’s sister, Bernice. This is why Paul is having to wait so long in prison. Acts 25 picks up where Acts 24 left off. 

Fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding, Father, as we read your precious word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 25:1-27
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.

As his first order of business, Festus goes up to Jerusalem to see if the leadership there has any matters of special importance they want addressed. They do:

2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

The high priest is Ishmael ben Fabus. Agrippa II appointed him after Felix had his predecessor, Jonathan, assassinated in 58 AD. Ishmael, along with the ‘chief’ among the Jews (the rulers and elders), is still seeking to kill Paul for the crime of telling the truth. Have you ever noticed how much the truth offends people? 

The kneejerk reaction people usually have to the gospel these days is, “That’s your truth,” but that logic falls apart upon examination. People who say this would never apply it in any other situation. They would not say, “That red traffic light is your truth. I’m going to ignore it.” They would not say, “That law is your truth, judge. I’m going to ignore it.” They would not say, “That thing about having to put gasoline in the tank is your truth. I can ignore it.” Jesus created this world. (Eph 3:9 KJV) If this is true, evolution and all other religions are lies. We fell in sin, but Jesus died and rose again to redeem this world — and us. These things either happened, or they did not.

Someday, we will all stand before Jesus. Nobody will be able to say, “The gospel is your truth, Jesus,” because the truth is the truth. Period. I once had someone counter that “Everyone sees color differently,” which is common knowledge in the printing business. But then another Christian in the room astutely commented, “That doesn’t matter. Color can be measured with a spectrophotometer.”

Eventually every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord, whether at the judgment seat of Christ (for believers), or the great white throne of judgment (for non-believers). Everyone will receive either mercy or justice. Slow justice, but justice nonetheless.

4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

To his credit, Festus did not hand Paul over to the Jews. On the other hand, he kept Paul in prison, which was politically expedient. Festus is in a tight spot. If he sides with Paul, he will upset the high priest and the rest of the Sadducees. On the other hand, Paul is a Roman citizen — and innocent.

5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down [from Jerusalem to Caesarea] with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat [Gk bema] commanded Paul to be brought.

In Acts 18, it was Gallio on the bema seat looking down on Paul. Now it is Festus on the bema seat. Paul calls it Caesar’s judgment seat (v 10), but Paul knows Festus has no real power over him. (I Cor 2:15) Paul knows that one day he will stand before the true Judge at the judgment seat [bema] of Christ. (II Cor 5:10)

7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
8 While he [Paul] answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.
9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

There’s that same phrase again that Dr Luke used in Chapter 24, when Felix kept Paul bound: “willing to shew the Jews a pleasure.” (Incidentally, the Jews had other grievances apart from their differences with Paul. Festus made more attempts to appease the Jews than any of the other procurators, but they still revolted in 66 AD.)

10 Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

Can you just see the looks on the faces of Paul’s accusers as they realize Paul has slipped through their fingers yet again? Oooh, that pestilent Paul!!!!

At first glance, it does not appear that Paul presented the gospel to Festus, but when we read a little further we will see he did (v 19). That was Paul’s way. But Paul will still have to spend more time waiting. After ‘certain days’, Paul is still in his cell:

13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus.

Agrippa II, the client king of Rome, comes to greet the new procurator, Porcius Festus. Much like when kings and politicians meet today, there were extravagant dinners, other events, and business was discussed. One item of business was the case of the Roman citizen and prisoner, Paul the apostle.

14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

This is still a basic principle of law in the West today.

17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar.

The Augustus referred to here is Nero, not the Augustus of Luke 2:1. Nero’s full name was Nero Claudius Augustus Germanicus Caesar.

It has always been a question of mine as to why Paul would appeal to a madman like Caesar Nero. There are a few things to consider here: At this time, 60 AD, Nero had not yet begun to display the erratic and perverse behavior he is infamous for. In fact, circa 58 AD, when Paul wrote Romans 13, his treatise on good citizenship and respect for governmental authority, Nero was still being guided by his tutor Seneca and Agrippina, his mother. Nero charmed the Romans with live performances on his harp. He was well-liked by the common people. Nero murdered his mother in 59 AD (who had murdered others herself for the same reason — in a struggle for power), but the news had probably not even reached Paul yet. Nero did not go mad until later, circa 64 AD.

I believe that it was Paul’s encounter with Nero that drove him over the edge. Paul surely presented the gospel to Nero (Acts 23:11), just as he always did when given the opportunity. I believe Paul’s gospel presentation to Nero must have been his masterpiece, his magnum opus, the greatest witness Paul ever gave anyone.

I believe when Nero rejected the gospel, God removed a hedge of protection from Nero. In his patience and mercy, God gave Nero the gospel and an opportunity to repent, but when Nero rejected Christ, I believe he became demon-possessed — the infamous Nero we remember from history; the Nero who would use crucified Christians covered with pitch as human torches to light his garden.

22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.

This is not the typical courtroom that we are used to today. Paul’s hearing is in a throne room. The throne room is filled with a who’s who of Caesarea — the upper-crust elite of the capital of Roman Judea. This is what the Holy Spirit has been planning and preparing for all the time Paul was in prison.

The first Gentiles were added to the church in Caesarea, ie, Cornelius the centurion along with his friends and family. (Acts 10:24) It would seem that the gospel continued to grow and stir interest in Caesarea. Paul now stands before this august assembly of Romans, who are ready to hear what he has to say.

24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

Festus is pandering to Paul’s accusers by saying “all the multitude of the Jews” were crying that Paul ought not to live any longer. The record shows it was mainly the Sadducees in power who did so.

25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
Acts 25:1-27

As Acts 25 ends, court is in session and Porcius Festus is announcing the case on the docket. King Agrippa II is presiding as judge. Paul has broken no laws, so they are holding a special hearing to find something to charge him with. If that does not make Paul a political prisoner, I do not know what would. Stalin’s secret police chief, Lavrentiy Pavlovich Beria, famously said, “Show me the man, and I will show you the crime.” The real crime was usually criticizing Stalin, or in other words, telling the truth — the same thing Paul is guilty of.

We will have to wait until next time to see what happens.

In closing, Solomon wrote, there is no new thing under the sun. Our legal system is just as flawed as the system of Paul’s day, because the laws are only as good as the people who administer them. When I see something wrong, I want justice. For example, the pandemic, among other things, initiated one of the greatest transfers of wealth in world history. Many small-business owners went bust and lost everything they worked for their entire lives to the big corporations (who were allowed to stay open). All some of them want at this point is an apology, but no apology is forthcoming. Yet the villains of that story, who are ostensibly rich and on top, are in reality victims of their own greed. Like the rich fool of Luke 12 who built bigger barns to store his goods, they are facing judgment. One fortuitous result of the lockdowns was that many people found faith in Christ when they otherwise may not have. In the final analysis, God is in control and He knows what He is doing. Although we want justice, what we need is mercy. God doesn’t always give us what we want, but He gives us what we need. (Phil 4:19)

I think of the slaves who lived in the South before the Civil War. Many of them were Christians. According to Ahlstrom, 16% of them were church members; the percentage of slaves who did not belong to a church yet believed in Christ, which was much higher, “no one will ever know.” (1) Their rich owners, on the other hand, were pseudo-Christians for the most part. So truth be told, the slaves were the ones who were free, not their masters

Paul may be a prisoner and a subversive now, but after Christianity triumphed over paganism, Paul was a hero. The Greek philosopher Sextus Empiricus said, “The mills of the gods grind late, but they grind fine.”

In other words, slow justice for Paul is epic grace and mercy for others. Without Paul’s suffering and time in prison, he would not have received the revelations he did, or had the time to write them all down.

Judgment day will come someday, and those who refuse God’s mercy will get the justice they deserve. I thank God I am not going to get what I deserve. When I stand before the bema seat of Christ someday, I am going to get mercy.

1. A Religious History of the American People, p 707.

Acts 24:1-27 — Paul Before Felix

~ mikethemissionary

Law.

Roman law – the basis of Western law — is the focus of Acts 24.

In this post — and throughout the remainder of Acts — we will look at a case history from the annals of Roman history: the case of the apostle Paul. The parallels to our current legal system are unmistakable. Corruption is evident at every level. From the lawfare among elites competing for power, to the lawfare directed against the American people, to the farcical Fauci show trial (Senate hearing) this week, the corruption is on full display.

End of prologue.

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul was being kept in Caesarea in Herod’s Judgement Hall.

After a plot to kill Paul was uncovered (in a quite extraordinary way, by a child), Paul received a massive military escort to Caesarea, by way of Antipatris. Paul is on his way to Rome, and Rome is paying for his mission trip.

Five days have passed since our previous post, as Paul’s accusers are arriving from Jerusalem. Paul, a man of exceptional learning and impeccable integrity, is now standing before Felix Antonius, a former slave remembered mostly for his corruption, which led to increased crime in Judea. Tacitus famously said that, “Antonius Felix, indulging in every kind of barbarity and lust, exercised the power of a king in the spirit of a slave.” (The Histories, Book V, Chapter IX)

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 24:1-27
1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended [from Jerusalem] with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

Tertullus was no doubt aware of the corruption Felix was notorious for. Yet he is still not above using flattery to build his case.

4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

Of the four charges Tertullus leveled against Paul, only the third one is true. Paul was indeed a ringleader of the ‘sect of the Nazarenes’, but that was not a crime. It was an honorable privilege.

7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

Paul does not flatter Felix the way Tertullus did. He knows the case is in God’s hands and he will use the opportunity to give his personal testimony of the gospel.

11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.

Paul points out that the witnesses are not present. Therefore, what Tertullus alleges is hearsay.

20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down [from Jerusalem], I will know the uttermost of your matter.
23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

Josephus said Drusilla had an unequalled beauty. (Pr 11:22) We will meet Drusilla’s brother and sister, Agrippa II and Bernice, in Chapter 25. Drusilla was a member of the infamous Herod family. Her great-grandfather tried to kill Jesus. (Matt 2) Her great-uncle killed John the Baptist. (Luke 23) Her father killed the apostle James. (Acts 12) Through an intermediary, Felix, the pagan Roman, convinced Drusilla, a Jewess, to divorce her first husband in order to marry him. Curiously, the intermediary was a ‘sorcerer’ (or at least posed as one) named Simon. Felix and Drusilla were perfect for each other. 

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled [lit was frightened], and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
Acts 24:1-27

Two years have passed in this chapter. The year is now 60 AD.

The key verse in Acts 24 is verse 25. Felix is convicted by Paul’s testimony, but too scared to receive Christ, which is a common phenomenon. Sadly, the ‘convenient’ time never came for Felix. His heart grew harder as the years passed by. As far as we know, he died in his sins. In reality, Felix was the prisoner while Paul was free. Felix and Drusilla, like Antony and Cleopatra, Mary I and Philip II, or Bonnie and Clyde, could have repented and been forgiven. Paul did his part. Jesus did his part. The Holy Spirit did his part, and so did God the Father. Therefore, Drusilla and Felix are without excuse. What about the rest of us? If you are a Christian like Paul, have you done your part? If you are still on the fence like Felix, will you die in your sins, without excuse?

In closing, with respect to Fauci’s hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee mentioned above, I believe Dr Simone Gold (who incidentally was caught up in the January 6 lawfare against the American people and ended up serving 60 days in federal prison for nothing more than going to DC to give a presentation) put it most succinctly:

Fauci was wrong about virtually everything. We were right all along.

-Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine worked—safe, early treatments that were deliberately suppressed.

-Masks were theater, not science.

-Lockdowns caused far more harm than good.

-Remdesivir was, and remains, harmful.

-The mRNA injections carried serious risks that were never honestly disclosed.

-Six-foot “social distancing” was an arbitrary invention with no rigorous basis.

-PCR testing was massively overused and produced huge numbers of false positives that were treated as real infections.

-The case fatality rate for most people was low.

-COVID originated from the Wuhan lab, and NIH funding flowed into gain-of-function research there.

Fauci funded and defended that research while publicly denying it.

He lied to protect his position, his funding streams, and his power. He harmed ordinary Americans—patients, families, children—to advance his own money and control.

This man should face real accountability. Put the villain in prison.

Incidentally, despite everything Dr Gold said being proven and public knowledge, her Wikipedia page maintains the Jim Jones version of events and implies that Dr Gold is a quack. I thank God for Dr Gold and others like her who were willing to tell the truth and accept the consequences.

Finally, they continue to tell us another pandemic is coming, more or less admitting they are going to do it to us all over again. Their depopulation agenda was published as far back as 1977 in Ecoscience by Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren. The Fauci hearing is a red herring. The real crime was the Covid shots, which are not being talked about and are still being dispensed to this day, despite the VAERS data, which plainly shows the shots kill. I am attending my second memorial in as many weeks today. Yesterday, I learned an acquaintance from high school died suddenly. I lost two family members immediately after the shots were rolled out, and the losses continue to mount. We all see it, not just in deaths but in disabilities. The only question is whether we deny it or whether we face the facts. God help us.

Thank You, Father, that the truth about what they did to us in 2020 continues to come out and is there for anyone who cares to see it. Thank You more over that those who ask have it given unto them, those who seek find, and those who knock have the door opened unto them. Thank You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 23:12-35 — Kill Paul!

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Jesus told Paul to be of good cheer, because he must bear witness in Rome, just as he had testified in Jerusalem. Paul is a prisoner now. The rest of Acts will follow Paul’s case as it moves through the Roman justice system. In the section before us, the Jews will not be content to leave the matter to the Romans. They will seek to kill him. This is nothing new, of course. Paul is probably used to it by now. (Acts 9:22-25, 29; 14;19f, 20:3)

To recap, Paul was arrested when he made his address to the Jews from the stairs leading to the Antonia Fortress. (Acts 21:35, 40) There is debate over where the Praetorium was (Mark 15:16), but tradition says (and many Protestants believe) that the stairs from which Paul made his speech were the same stairs that Jesus stood on at his trial. These same steps were purportedly taken to Rome in the 4th Century by Helena, the mother of Constantine:


The Scala Sancta in Rome

Rome is notorious for fake artifacts, but the Scala Sancta may be genuine. If so, it should probably be broken to pieces the same way Hezekiah broke down the brazen serpent that Moses made. (II Kings 18:4)

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 23:12-35
12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

Conspiracy is a Bible word. If you don’t believe in conspiracy theories, you don’t believe the Bible.

14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

They would have done well to have listened to Yeshua, who said, But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (Matt 5:37; cf Jam 5:12)

15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

Now the Sanhedrin is in on the conspiracy. But they forgot the cardinal rule of espionage: absolute secrecy. Paul’s nephew was nearby, and unbeknownst to the conspirators, he heard them discussing their plot.

16 And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle [Antonia Fortress], and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

I think this centurion must have been a Christian. Paul gives him an order, and he follows it without question.

18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

Notice how the chief captain embellishes the truth here to make himself look good. He did not know Paul was a Roman when he rescued him. In fact, he was planning on scourging Paul to elicit a confession before he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen. (Acts 22)

28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

This is the third time that Paul had to escape by night because of a plot to kill him.


An escort of 470 soldiers

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 And when the governor [Antonius Felix] had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
Acts 23:12-35

So, now Paul is in Caesarea Maritima again (Acts 21:8), the capital of Roman Judea, waiting for his accusers to come down from Jerusalem so Felix can hold a hearing to determine the nature of the case against Paul.

Throughout Paul’s ordeal, he keeps his faith and embraces his situation. Paul did not seek hardship, like the Holy Fool in the Christian tradition, or like the Sannyasi in the Hindu tradition. Paul wrote I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Phil 4:12) Part of our sanctification is to deny ourselves (Matt 16:24), but in the case of Paul (and Jesus), suffering seems to be a consequence of Holiness, not a means or method to attain holiness. When suffering does come, however, it leads to a greater understanding and closeness to God for the child of God. For others, it can drive them away from God. The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay.

For the Christian, suffering is merely transitory. We understand that all our shortcomings, sufferings, and failures in this life are merely training tools. In the millennium, everyone who has received Christ as his personal Saviour will get a do-over. The people of New Haven, Connecticut, understood this. In 1796 they organized plans for a community cemetery. Located in the middle of the Yale University campus, the lintel to the arch over the entrance of the Grove Street Cemetery, completed in 1845, still bears the prophetic words, “THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED,” taken from I Corinthians 15:52.

It will be five days before the high priest and the elders come down from Jerusalem and arrive at Caesarea, along with their attack dog and lead prosecutor, Tertullus. We will see what happens next in our next post.

Father, help us to follow your will in all things and to embrace whatever Providence allows to come our way, that we may keep things in perspective, knowing that this life is but a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)

Acts 22:25-23:11 — Paul’s Defense Before the Sanhedrin

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul was about to be examined by scourging after causing an uproar. It was Paul’s comment about being sent to the Gentiles that caused the uproar, if not an all-out riot. Not knowing Hebrew, the chief captain did not know what Paul said to the crowd to get them so riled up. So, he decided to scourge Paul until he confessed whatever it was he had said. (Acts 22:24)

The year is 58 AD.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 22:25-23:11
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

Paul knows how to talk to people. Instead of saying, “You cannot scourge me! I’m a Roman!” He simply asks a question, one he already knows the answer to. (When you need something from someone, it is often better to word it as a question than as a command. ‘Can we’, ‘Can you’, or ‘Can I’ sounds better than ‘Give me this’ or
‘Do that’.)

26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

As a Roman citizen, Paul had something in common with the chief captain, Claudius Lysias, except Claudius was an ex-slave, while Paul was ‘free born’. Claudius had purchased his freedom and worked his way up through the ranks in the army.

As a citizen, Paul had rights afforded to him by Roman law. If Paul had been a Roman from Rome, I believe he probably would have been released. However, since Paul was a Jewish Roman, he was still stuck in the system (according to God’s will), being accused by the Jews.

29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The guy holding the whip immediately walks away. Even Claudius is worried he might be in trouble now.

30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

Paul always wanted an audience before the Sanhedrin. Paul himself used to be a member. This is the same council that had Jesus crucified, had Stephen stoned, and now is seeking to kill Paul, one of their own.

AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

Not a very receptive audience, to say the least. Paul is just beginning his opening statement when Ananias has someone hit him in the mouth. It looks like Paul’s claim to have lived in all good conscience before God is what upset Ananias, the high priest. Paul’s conscience was cleansed by the blood of Christ (Heb 9:14), while Ananias’ conscience was evil. (Heb 10:22)  A good conscience convicts you when you do bad. An evil conscience convicts you when you do good.

3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

God did smite Ananias. According to Wiersbe, history remembers Ananias as a corrupt ruler who favored Rome over Israel. During the revolt of 66 AD, when Ananias fled for his life to Rome, he was captured by the Jews and executed.

4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?
5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Just as Jesus pointed out that He was being abused contrary to the law at his trial (John 18:23), Paul points out that it was illegal for them to hit him. But when Paul is told he is addressing the high priest, he corrects himself for calling the high priest a whited wall. This is one of the scriptures that indicates Paul had eye trouble. If Paul could see well, they should not have had to tell him he was speaking to the high priest.

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Realizing that they are not going to listen, Paul makes the best of a bad situation. He gets the Pharisees on his side by bringing up the doctrine of the resurrection and reminding them that he is a Pharisee too.

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Paul even has some of the scribes on his side. While it was the Pharisees that persecuted Jesus, it will be the Sadducees that persecute Paul now.

10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. [fortress Antonia]
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Acts 22:25-23:11

Here is one of the main reasons that I believe Paul was in God’s will when he went up to Jerusalem. Jesus tells him to be of good cheer, because as he testified in Jerusalem, he must bear witness also in Rome. That doesn’t sound like something Jesus would say to someone who was out of his will.

From here on out, Paul knows he is on his way to Rome. This is good news as Paul has been wanting to go there. (Acts 19:21; Rom 1:13; 15:24) It will not happen right away, but having received his instructions from the Lord, Paul knows it is as good as done. They say getting there is half the fun, and Paul will have a lot to do before he arrives in Rome. It may not sound like much fun, but I think Paul enjoyed some of it. Not only was it an adventure, but the Lord was with him, and Paul knew he was doing his duty.

Paul will be a prisoner throughout the rest of Acts. Having testified to the Sanhedrin, Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, will now use his court case to share the gospel with the Roman authorities. Paul began sharing the gospel with Roman officials in Acts 13:

In closing, one thing that struck me in this section was how they arbitrarily struck Paul on the mouth. Imagine going into court, and just as you are getting your first sentence out, they have someone hit you in the mouth. This sounds foreign to us because we enjoy the benefits of living in a society with individual rights derived from the Christian worldview. We have Paul to thank for that, yet things are changing. Francis Schaeffer saw this change taking place over 40 years ago. He detailed his concerns in A Christian Manifesto (Crossway Books, 1982). Schaeffer delivered the message below in 1982, based on the thesis of his book.

A PDF of Schaeffer’s remarks is available here.

When we appear before the Bema seat, hopefully we will be able to say with Paul, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:10) Doing your duty may sound like a lot of work, but there is no greater feeling than the thrill you get when you lead someone to Christ.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit day by day. Help us to focus on your Son, and not on the distractions from the world. Protect us from evil. Help us to be salt and light to those You send us to. Help us to be as patient with others as You are with us. Help us to forgive others as You have forgiven us, that we may do our duty, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 22:1-24 — Paul’s Speech to his Brethren in Jerusalem

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul was rescued by Roman guards just before being torn to pieces by the Jews in Jerusalem. He had been falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. When Paul asked the chief captain to let him address the people, he consented. We pick back up as Paul begins his speech.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your precious word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 22:1-24
MEN, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

Some commentators say Paul was speaking Aramaic, which was the common tongue in Israel in that day, but I am not so sure. An Israeli friend of mine once told me when his Israeli son saw The Passion of the Christ (with dialogue in Aramaic), he did not need the subtitles. He understood the Aramaic just fine. I suspect that Paul may have chosen to speak Hebrew, and the people understood him. In any case, hearing Paul speak in Hebrew calmed the crowd down. They are intently listening now that they hear him speaking Hebrew.

3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

It has not been all that long since Jesus was teaching in the temple in Jerusalem. Paul’s audience knew who Jesus was. They knew what this way was. When Paul says he persecuted them unto the death, they continue listening intently.

5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

In Acts 9:7, Dr Luke said that those who journeyed with Paul heard ‘a voice’ but saw no man. It does not say ‘what’ voice they heard. It certainly does not say they heard the voice of him that spake to [Paul]. (See John 12:29, for a similar scenario.)

10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

Again, as Paul tells about the murder of Stephen, they stay silent and continue to listen.

21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

They gave Paul audience unto “this word.” What word? Gentiles. The mention of the word Gentiles set the crowd off like a match to gasoline, the same way they went off when Paul was accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. Paul knew what would happen when he told them he was sent to the Gentiles, but he did not care. All Paul cared about was being a faithful witness and telling the truth. The gospel is for everyone, both Jew and Gentile. (John 3:16; Rom 1:16)

23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
Acts 22:1-24

This chapter opens the door to one of the hottest topics of the 21st Century: ‘racism’. It is also one of my least favorite topics to discuss. On a problem scale of 1 to 10, I think the greatest problem this world faces is a lack of Bible knowledge at number 10. Racism would be somewhere down around number 1. That being said, racism is a problem, although not necessarily one of the major problems facing us today. One of the best ways to fight racism, according to Morgan Freeman, is to “Quit talking about it.”

That being said, like most of our problems, the answer to the racism problem is Jesus. I recall seeing the testimony of a South African man who admittedly ‘hated’ black people for most of his life, ever since his dad had an affair with a Zulu lady. He then explained how immediately after receiving Christ, his racism was gone, and he no longer hated black people.

I can still recall the first time I saw someone who was not the same color as me. I was about four years old, and I saw a choir of inner-city children on TV singing “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” At first, I was suspicious as they looked much different than anyone I had ever seen before, but in very short order, I noticed the quality of their song. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. When I realized they were singing about Jesus, whom I had just recently met, I decided they were just like me. I was no longer suspicious of them.

Then there is the old anecdote about having your car break down in a very bad neighborhood. It’s dark; the streetlights are not working; seedy characters milling about. As you make your way down the street looking for a gas station, you see six big guys heading your way. You get a lump in your throat; your heart is beating fast now. But wait, then you notice they just came out of a church.

Views are shaped by experiences, and the Jews of Paul’s day had their share of bad experiences with Gentiles. From being slaves in Egypt, to being raided by the Assyrians, to having their city and their temple destroyed by the Babylonians, to seeing their fellow countrymen crucified by the occupying Romans, the Jews had plenty of reasons to hate Gentiles. Why didn’t Paul hate them? Because Paul knew Jesus.

Jesus is the way, the [TRUTH], and the life. To know Jesus is to know the truth. If you embrace and tell the truth, you will be considered an idiot, like Prince Myshkin in Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot. The Idiot was Dostoyevsky’s personal favorite among his own writings. A commentary on the way people naturally lie to navigate their way in polite society, The Idiot shows what happens to someone who always tells the truth. In the end, Prince Myshkin, the idiot, went mad. Paul was beheaded. Jesus was crucified. But that was not really the end, now, was it. Paul went to heaven. (II Cor 5:8) Jesus rose again, and ascended into heaven as his disciples watched. Myshkin was a fictional character, but had he been real, he would be in heaven too.

So as for the racist nature of the Jews in Chapter 22, the problem was not ‘racism’. That was only a symptom of the larger problem: they needed Jesus.

You need Jesus. I need Jesus. Everyone needs Jesus. We will see what happens next in our next post, but in the meantime, if you still have not received Jesus as your personal Saviour, say this prayer:

Father in heaven, I realize I am a sinner. Thank You for sending your Son to die for me. Lord Jesus, thank You for the precious blood You shed for me at Calvary. Please come into my heart; I receive You as my personal Saviour. Lord, I repent of my sins and ask You to take control of every area of my life. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 21:15-40 — Paul Goes up to Jerusalem – Happy Birthday America!

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, Paul returned to Israel. In this post, Paul will come full circle back to Jerusalem, from whence he began his third mission trip. We are entering the last section of Acts now. In this post, we will set the table for everything else that follows. Paul’s return to Jerusalem will set off a chain of events that will lead to Paul’s witness before Caesar Nero.

Give us understanding, Father, and fill us with your Holy Spirit, that we may assimilate your precious word into our hearts, that we may be transformed, that our minds may be renewed, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 21:15-40
15 And after those days we took up our carriages [luggage], and went up to Jerusalem.
16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

Paul returns to Jerusalem with an entourage of fellowservants. He is bearing a gift from the brethren in Macedonia and Achaia for the poor saints at Jerusalem. (Rom 15:26; Acts 24:17) This shows how the Christians in Jerusalem were having a tough time because of persecution, and also how their Gentile brethren were able to help. (Rom 15:27)

18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James [the half-brother of our Lord]; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Dr Luke skips over the part about them glorifying the Lord for the Gentile believers so fast it is easy to miss. In the same sentence, Dr Luke goes into their concerns that Paul may be misunderstood, which, of course, he will be.

21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

None of this is true, of course. Paul circumcised Timothy for this very reason, so people would not get the wrong impression. He is in Jerusalem to keep the feast of Pentecost. (Acts 20:16) However much Paul tried to make matters clear, though, there were always those who made themselves Paul’s enemies.

22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

This shows why Paul may have taken the vow in Acts 18. Paul said he was all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (1 Cor 9:22)

25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Again we see the declaration from Acts 15 for Gentile believers. At this time, the Jewish believers in the early church were still very much keeping the law. As long as they were trusting Jesus for their salvation, they were free to do so.

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed [assumed] that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

Jesus said My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer, citing Isaiah 56:7, but Gentiles were strictly forbidden beyond the Court of the Gentiles, on pain of death. The Romans allowed the Jews to enforce this custom.

Like the pagan temples Paul has been preaching against, the temple in Jerusalem had become an abomination, since the administrators rejected Christ and continued to trust in the blood of beasts brought for sacrifice. Jesus therefore said the temple would be destroyed (Matt 24), which, of course, it was in 70 AD.

They have been preparing to rebuild the temple for a long time now. Eventually, the temple will be rebuilt (Rev 11), and the Antichrist will be worshiped in it. (II Thess 2:4) In the millennium, however, Jesus will be glorified in the temple in Jerusalem. (Hag 2:9)

31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.

Ironic, is it not, that Paul is rescued from the Jews by the Romans?

33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. [ie, the Antonia Fortress]
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

Paul was just as comfortable with Greek as he was with Hebrew, being from Tarsus. The chief captain was surprised to hear Paul speaking Greek, since he mistook Paul for an Egyptian dissadent who had been causing problems in Judea:

38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean [ordinary] city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

Being from Tarsus afforded Paul the approval of the chief captain, Claudius Lysias. (Acts 23:26) He allowed Paul to speak to the crowd when he realized Paul was not who he thought he was.

40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Acts 21:15-40

I’m afraid we will have to leave off here. In our next post, we will look at Paul’s speech to his fellow countrymen. In this post, we saw the beginning of the persecution that the Holy Spirit has been warning Paul would meet him in Jerusalem. Jesus said Paul would bear his name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel (Acts 9:15). Paul has already taken the gospel to some Roman officials. Now he is getting to know the chief captain in Jerusalem, Claudius Lysias. Before he is done, Paul will also stand before Antonius Felix, Porcius Festus, and king Agrippa II, together with his sister, Bernice. He will also meet Publius of Malta before finally standing before the emperor of the Roman Empire, Caesar Nero. This is one of the reasons I believe Paul was in God’s will in going to Jerusalem. Paul is fulfilling his destiny. All together, Paul will witness to eight important Romans in government that we know of:

In closing, Happy Birthday America! As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of our sacred Declaration of Independence, I am heartened to see people from around the world changing their opinions about us after getting to know us a little better.

The World Cup visitors are a reality check for Americans who are not thankful for all God has blessed us with, like the girl at the beginning of the video below:


Finally, Whitney Houston started singing in the choir at Newhope Baptist Church in Newark when she was five years old. She went on to sing the greatest rendition of our national anthem ever recorded (IMO). Rest in peace, Whitney.

Father, thank You for 250 years of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; please give us one last Great Awakening, for your glory, Father. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 21:1-14 — Paul Returns to Israel, Stands by his Convictions, Prepares to go up to Jerusalem

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

Throughout this study in Acts, we have seen how the Holy Spirit speaks to his people and leads his church. I recently finished reading The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee, and the last part of the book proved to be most interesting. It shows how our spirits not only receive leadings from the Holy Spirit, but how the enemy can place thoughts in our minds as well. This explains a lot about human behavior, especially among those who do not know Christ. (II Tim 2:26)

Understanding this is fundamental if we are to take control of our own thoughts. (II Cor 10:5) In doing so, we can quash petty squabblings and arguments that seem to come out of nowhere. When we rebuke the enemy, we can then take control of the situation and let the Holy Spirit have his way. This works for evangelism, too.

It used to be that when I would ask people if they wanted to receive Christ, if they said no, I just accepted it. It was while reading Rebecca Brown, who had read Nee, that I realized we do not have to accept the negative reply. If we rebuke Satan out loud, then change the subject (since the person we are evangelizing will be taken aback), we remove Satan’s control over his mind, which keeps him from receiving Christ. (II Cor 4:4) Then I say, I feel like I should ask you one more time, do you want to receive Christ? Then he says yes. I have seen it work this way over and over.

At the same time, we must also learn to overcome our flesh and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is easier said than done, of course, but essential if we are to be victorious and live an abundant Christian life. (John 10:10)

In our last post, Paul gave his farewell address to the elders who came down to Miletus from Ephesus. We pick back up here, going into Chapter 21.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your precious word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 21:1-14
1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them [in Miletus], and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos [Cō•os], and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:

Passing by Rhodes, Paul may have seen the ruins of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. When Paul saw the ruins of his day, he must have felt he was living in the modern age, the same as we do.

2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

Paul was traveling on a cargo ship. His accommodations were probably quite minimal. We never read about Paul riding a horse or travelling in a carriage. We do read about him walking a lot and getting thrown in jail. Paul was a rugged man, a working man. Paul was the David Livingstone of his day.

4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

Herein arises the question of whether Paul was in God’s will, going to Jerusalem. My take on the situation is this: These disciples knew through the Spirit that bonds and afflictions awaited Paul in Jerusalem. However, I believe it was their own opinion, not God’s, that Paul should not go. The Holy Spirit had already been telling Paul what awaited him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:22f), and would continue to make it known (see below). In verse 14, when Paul pushes back, Paul’s companions will stop trying to persuade him, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city [ie, Tyre]: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

We left Philip in Acts 8. He met a nice girl in Caesarea and settled down. Now he has four daughters. Dr Luke reminds us that Philip was one of the seven deacons chosen in Acts 6. Paul was involved with the murder of one of the others, Stephen. Paul is forgiven, and Philip is happy to host him. This is true Christianity. 

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Not only does Philip have four daughters, but they prophesy. That could mean they make prophecies, or it could mean they were able to open the understanding of the Scriptures to others, show others the mind of Christ.

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

The last time we heard from Agabus, he prophesied that a famine was coming. (Acts 11) His prophecies do not exactly tickle the ears, but someone has to be willing to say the things people do not want to hear. I respect Agabus for that.

12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Acts 21:1-14

We are at the end of Paul’s third missionary journey now. In our next post, Paul returns to Jerusalem against the pleas of his fellowservants who have been telling him not to go. The ‘we’ in verse 14 shows even Dr Luke was against it, but the truth is not found in a majority. Christians disagree about all sorts of things, but we are still family. I believe Paul knew what he was doing. Paul was willing to go all the way for God. He forsook all to fulfill God’s call on his life, which meant suffering:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Acts 9:16

Paul is the New Testament Job. Paul had a more impressive set of credentials than any of those beseeching him not to go to Jerusalem. (Eg, II Cor 11:23-28) Therefore, I trust Paul’s discernment and decision-making above those who told him not to go to Jerusalem. Paul was a man who had learned to crucify his flesh and let the Spirit lead. The Holy Spirit is a Gentleman, and He warned Paul what was coming. He did not force Paul to go. He let Paul make up his own mind. Would to God that we could let the Spirit lead us as Paul did.

Father, thank You for the apostle Paul. Help us to follow his teachings and submit to You and your Son and your Spirit in all things, that we may please You and be ready for your Son when You send Him back for us. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

In closing, I have never suffered for the gospel like those we read about in the Bible, but I have certainly been misunderstood like many of them. I have had some of the nastiest lies imaginable said about me. Why? Simply for telling the truth. Recently, I watched The Mauritanian, and for the first time since publishing Dragon Slayer in 2014, I felt like someone finally told me I was right. (Thank God for attorneys Nancy Hollander and Stuart Couch.) Another film that I found inspiring was Superspreader. Sean Feucht stood against a host of people telling him he was wrong, including his own wife, to do what he knew was right in 2020. Again, I felt like someone told me I was right about what I wrote in 2014; right about the shots, right about the warped view being taught about Romans 13, right about how Christians need to tell the truth, even when everyone tells them to stop, right that the government is not God. Finally, in Dragon Slayer, I wrote that Noah’s ark has been found, and the site in question is finally getting some attention as recent experiments are confirming that it very well could be the location where the ark landed. See here also. These are just a few of the many things I wrote about that have aged well since I published Dragon Slayer 12 years ago. Whatever trials I may face for telling the truth are worth it, but telling the truth always comes with a price. Jesus was crucified for it. Then He rose again, and ascended into heaven. And He is coming back.

Acts 20:18-38 — Farewell to Ephesus

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, Paul sent for the elders in Ephesus. In this post, they come down to Miletus to hear Paul’s message to them before he leaves for Jerusalem.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 20:18-38
18 And when they [the elders from Ephesus] were come to him [Paul], he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,


Ephesus, West Side

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations [Gk peirasmos], which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

Peirasmos is the same word that Matthew used to describe Jesus’ temptation by the devil, which was a test. (Matt 4:1) Likewise, our trials are tests, and they cannot come unless God allows them. (Job 1:8-2:6) Among these trials, or temptations, that befell Paul by the lying in wait of the Jews (or certain zealots among them) was being beaten with thirty-nine stripes, on five different occasions. (II Cor 11:24)

The Bible is straightforward and unapologetic about the facts. Paul was persecuted by certain of his own countrymen. He was also persecuted by Gentiles. The church began with the Jews in Jerusalem before it shifted to the Gentiles. I mention this because antisemitism is starting to snowball once again in our day, and I beseech you not to get caught up in it. For every example they give you of something bad some Jewish person or persons did, give them an example of something bad a Gentile or Gentiles did. 

The Jews gave us the Bible. The Jews gave us Jesus. Although most of them have still not seen the light yet, the day is coming soon when they will. (Rev 7) The bottom line is that God made us all, and if you don’t like the way He did it, take it up with Him.

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul had a public ministry, as well as house churches. His message was the same to both the Jews and the Gentiles: repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide [Gk menō] me.

In our next post, we will learn more about how the Holy Spirit has been telling Paul that bonds and afflictions abide him. Modern translations say await, but abide is the literal meaning. While the word connotes that bonds and afflictions await, Paul has already been experiencing these things. Literally, the Spirit is saying these things are here to stay.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Paul knew, through the witness of the Spirit, I believe, that this was the last time they would see him.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

Why?

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Paul was pure from the blood of all men because he did his duty to teach the full counsel of God. Paul taught Leviticus. Paul taught Obadiah. He taught everything from Acts (by living it) to Zephaniah.

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

By exhorting the elders to feed the church, he meant to feed them the word of God. Verse 28 says that Jesus is God. It says God purchased his church with his own blood. Jesus shed his blood for the church. Therefore, Jesus is God. (God the Son, the second Person in the Godhead.)

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

The warning about grievous wolves is not something new. Paul had been warning them about it for three years. The wolves are still with us. If they squeeze you for money, they are wolves. (Paul said feed the flock, not fleece the flock.) If they question the word of God, they are wolves. If they demote the deity of Christ in any way, they are wolves. Is there love in their church? (John 13:35) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matt 7:20)

32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

This verse reminds me of a song I learned in Goa:

Oh, the best book to read is the Bible,
The best book to read is the Bible.
If you read it every day,
It will help you on your way.
Oh, the best book to read is the Bible.

33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

Paul reminded them that he worked and paid his own way. This was Paul leading by example:

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The liberal Jesus Seminar voted on which verses Jesus actually said, and the only thing they agreed Jesus definitely said was this above. They either questioned or rejected everything else Jesus said. Satan has attacked the word of God in this way from the very beginning (Gen 3), because the gospel is how Jesus brings life and immortality to light. (II Tim 1:10) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Pet 1:25)

36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Paul was a man of prayer. To effectively minister the word of God, one must be a man of prayer.

37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Acts 20:18-38

The emphasis in this section is on the grace of God and the word of God. Specifically, the gospel of the grace of God (v 24) and the word of his grace (v 32).

By declaring unto the Ephesians all the counsel of God (v 27), Paul fortified them with the gospel of grace. Grace (unmerited favor) tells me I am forgiven. (I John 1:9) The gospel of grace tells me I can eat meat if I want to. (I Tim 4) The gospel of grace tells me that God loves me on my worst day. (Rom 7:24f) The gospel of grace tells me that Jesus will never leave me or forsake me because of my faith in Him — not because of how good I am. (Thank God, because I’m not good.) The gospel of grace tells me There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom 8:1) If you have doubts, read Hebrews 11 and notice how over and over it says by faith (not works) they were able to accomplish all they did. If you still have any further doubts, consider this:

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:16

The more I abide in the word of God, the more I increase my faith (Rom 10:17), which is why Paul taught all the counsel of God.

In this section, we also see an emphasis on Paul’s suffering and how the Spirit had been testifying that Paul’s suffering would continue (v 23). It was this suffering that produced the revelations Paul gave us. The plain truth is that although our flesh resists suffering with all its strength, suffering produces fruit.

When the missionaries were kicked out of China in the early 1950s, there were less than a million Protestant Christians in China. (Far less, conservative scholars tell us.) Today, after years of persecution and suppression of the church under Communist rule (and no missionaries), there are over 100 million Protestant Christians in China. According to the Bible, it’s good to suffer. (Gal 5:22; Phil 3:10; II Tim 2:12; 3:12; Heb 5:8; Jam 5:10; I Pet 2:21; 3:14; 4:1, 13; et al)

We are coming to the end of Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul’s first three missionary journeys took place over about ten years, circa 48-58 AD. In our next post, Paul will continue on his way to Jerusalem. We will see the Holy Spirit continue to testify about the persecution that is in store for Paul. That persecution came, just as God said it would. In our day, the Holy Spirit is testifying that the great tribulation period is coming. We do well to heed this warning and prepare accordingly by abiding in Christ.

Father, help us to abide in your word and to abide in your Son through trusting in the gospel of his grace, that we may be prepared against the day of his coming. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 20:13-17 — Paul Goes to Miletus, Calls the Elders from Ephesus

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, Paul went through Macedonia and Greece, then doubled back and went to Troas, where he taught an all-night Bible study and performed a miracle when Eutychus fell from the third-story loft.

As we pick back up in Acts 20, Paul’s company is leaving Troas for Assos by ship, but Paul felt like going to Assos by himself on foot, which is about a fifteen-mile hike.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 20:13-17
13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.

I would like to know why Paul went alone on foot to Assos. Unfortunately, it is impossible to know since Dr Luke does not tell us. It may have been for the witnessing opportunities, or it could just be that Paul needed some alone time. They say that smart people need more time alone. I suppose that may apply to highly spiritual people as well, and Paul was both.

14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

Paul is now in the Area of the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3. Ephesus, the first church on the list, is where Paul spent three years teaching and preaching. The harbor where Miletus was located was eventually filled in with silt, the same as the harbor where Ephesus was located. Today, they are both miles inland from shore, but in Paul’s day, they were on the coast. When Paul called for the elders of the church (v 17), they probably came down by ship from Ephesus to Miletus. Ephesus is about 36 miles north of Miletus.

16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Acts 20:13-17

Paul has become well-acquainted with suffering by now, and he still has a lot more to come, but is that a bad thing? I recently listened to The Gulag Archipelago (an abridged audio version), something I have been meaning to do for a long time now. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was a stalwart believer in Marxism-Leninism when he was imprisoned in 1945, but after years of unimaginable suffering in the Soviet GULAG system, Solzhenitsyn embraced Christianity. He considered his time suffering in prison a blessing, as it made him understand the importance of the development of his soul and the unimportance of everything else he used to think was important. Solzhenitsyn’s revelations on the nature of the soul and the human condition are truly Pauline in their depth of wisdom. For example:

“If only it were all so simple. If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

To know Jesus is to invert one’s thinking on just about everything. Nobody would suppose that suffering is a blessing without divine revelation (Phil 1:29; 3:10; II Tim 2:12; 3:12 et al), but that is precisely how Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn attained his wisdom. Likewise, that is how Paul attained his wisdom, beginning with the blindness he was struck with on the road to Damascus. Before Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus, he was like Nabal, such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. (1 Sam 25:17) It was only after being struck blind that Paul saw he was wrong about Jesus. After years of suffering, Paul had the mind of Christ. (I Cor 2:16)

What I find so salient about The Gulag is how it shows where the human heart goes apart from Christ. It gives insight into how this fallen world works, what really matters in life, and why Christians are persecuted for telling the truth. Jesus told the church in Smyrna,

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:10

Like Paul, many of the other authors of the Bible spent time in prison. Countless other Christians have likewise been imprisoned or suffered for their faith in other ways. Solzhenitsyn found his faith in prison, but many of his fellow prisoners were there simply for the crime of believing in Christ. That was the cause of all Paul’s suffering, yet the fruit of that suffering is worth far, far, far more than any comfort Paul could have had by denying Christ. Every believer from Adam to Job to Paul to you and I get insight and understanding from suffering. I like the mountain top, but I grow in the valley.

Paul is going to impart his wisdom to the church in Ephesus in our next post. When the elders from the church in Ephesus come down to Miletus, Paul will give them an update on his current situation, a recap of his ministry to Ephesus in particular, and a prophetic warning about what is coming after his departure. I look forward to unpacking what Paul has to say to the elders from Ephesus.

Father, thank You for the suffering You allow in our lives. It is more precious than we understand or know. It draws us closer to You and gives us understanding. We love You, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Thorn

by Martha Snell Nicholson

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne

And begged Him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own

I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart

I cried, “But Lord, this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.

“This is a strange, a hurtful gift which Thou has given me.”

He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”

I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,

As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.

I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,

He take the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.