Acts 28:1-7 — They Shall Take Up Serpents

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last Post, Paul and Co (276 passengers in all) were shipwrecked on the island of Malta. As Dr Luke picks back up in Chapter 28, they are making their way to shore.

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

Acts 28:1-7
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita [Malta].
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

Hospitality seems to me to be a natural worldwide custom, especially among rural people. In America, before there were Howard Johnson’s, when people were traveling and it was time to stop for the night, they simply knocked on a door. The women were usually welcomed into the house to sleep on beds or couches, while the men slept in the barn.

In the ancient Greek world, hospitality was an honored custom known as Xenia, derived from the Greek word for stranger, xenos. Hospitality honored Zeus (Xenios), or Athena (Xenia), both of whom were patrons of strangers.

The Sanskrit proverb, Atithi Devo Bhava, translates to ‘The guest is akin to God’. This ancient proverb has become a code of conduct in Hindu culture. In the Shona culture, if a stranger asks for directions, one is obligated to walk with him up to 1 mile to take him where he is going. As Christians, we are instructed to show hospitality as well. (Heb 13:2)

The word Dr Luke uses here, barbaros, literally means a ‘non-Greek’. They were not what we typically think of as ‘barbarians’. They were very hospitable hosts.

3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance [Gk dike] suffereth not to live.

The KJV translators chose to translate dike (thee-kee) as vengeance rather than justice, undoubtedly because divine vengeance was understood to be the way justice was meted out in the ancient world. Nemesis’ name is from the Greek word némein, which literally means “to give what is due.” (Incidentally, Nemesis was the mother of Castor and Pollux, who are mentioned later in Chapter 28.)

While looking into this, I was not a little surprised to find that Invidia was sometimes considered the Roman counterpart to Nemesis. Invidia was more commonly associated with the evil eye, which explains the eye in the logo of the modern tech company Nvidia. However, the Latin word invidia was most commonly associated with justice, particularly in cases of shameless abuse of authority or undeserved wealth. Now if the Romans associated Invidia with vengeance or divine justice, that sheds a whole new light on the controversy surrounding the data centers that are currently being built. The company that is most entwined in these buildouts is Nvidia, the chip maker. According to Grokipedia, Invidia was sent by other gods to “enforce moral balance,” and moral balance is definitely out of balance in these last days.

It started in the sixties with ‘sex, drugs, and rock and roll’, which by the nineties had morphed into ‘AIDS, crack, punk and rap’. These things did not happen organically. They were sown into society by the powers that be, whose tyranny is now on full display. They shifted gears and accelerated their plans on September 11, 2001, then put them in overdrive in March of 2020. AI will be their next change of pace, going into warp drive in 2030, if their schedule holds.

Years ago, Elon Musk famously likened the rise of AI to a witch conjuring a demon and thinking that it could be controlled, when in fact it never could. More recently, the engineers at Anthropic have predicted that AI could kill us all. Evan Hubinger posted on X that there is a greater than 10% chance of this within the decade. He posted this after the resignation of his colleague, Jacob Coxon, who claimed the AI engineers at Anthropic “earnestly believe” AI poses an existential threat to humanity by 2030. More here.

The Christians have been predicting the end for decades now, simply because the Bible says that is what is coming. Now the techies are in agreement with us. A little late to the party perhaps, but in agreement with us nevertheless.

5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

Paul, always cool, calm, and collected, does not make a fuss about the viper. He simply shakes it off in the fire. I suspect he may have even seen it coming, a Romans 8:28 that he could use as an evangelistic tool. Now that the island people think Paul is a god, he can tell them about Mark 16:18 and the one true God: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
Acts 28:1-7

The Roman, Publius, though probably more refined and cultured than the island people who first received Paul, is likewise very hospitable and courteous. He will become a believer, and according to tradition, the first bishop of Malta, and one of the first bishops of Athens.

Paul performed the first part of Mark 16:18 in this post. In our next post, Paul will perform the last part of Mark 16:18.

In closing, just as surely as Jesus’ prediction about taking up serpents came to pass, so will what He said about the end of the world as we know it. (Matt 24 et al) Jesus is going to restore the ‘moral balance’. Jesus is going to punish the injustices that we all see. Maybe Nvidia is just one of his tools. In Romans 12:19, Paul cited Isaiah and Ezekiel, writing, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Tick … tock.

Finally, if you want to escape the coming judgment, simply receive Christ as your personal Saviour and then do what He says. (Jam 1:22) For example, For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matt 25:35-40) And, Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)

Acts 27:27-44 — Shipwreck!

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul and Co were riding out the storm in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Dr Luke and the others thought all was lost (v 20), but Paul, cool as a cucumber, told them everything was going to be okay. I’m sure by now Paul knew about how Jesus stayed calm in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. (Luke 8) Plus, Paul has been in three shipwrecks by now. (II Cor 11:25) He’s an old pro and he knows Jesus can handle this. Paul told everyone that Jesus told him that not a single one of them is going to die. Not only so, but Jesus also told Paul that He was going to save each of their souls. (v 24)

This is a textbook example of Romans 8:28. They are caught in a horrible tempest that has been dragging on for two weeks (v 27). The inevitable seasickness has a hold of many of the passengers and maybe even some of the crew. I can almost smell the vomit. But again, as a result of this ordeal, all 276 of them will become believers in the gospel of grace. (v 24)

As we pick back up, they are still being driven towards Italy. They may have been blown off their intended course towards Phenice, but they are being driven straight to where God wants them.

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

Acts 27:27-44
27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria [1 ], about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
28 And sounded [ie, let down their sounding line, or plummet ], and found it twenty fathoms [120 feet ]: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms [90 feet ].
29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

The sailors are about to sneak away as deserters, when Paul intervenes.

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

In Jonah 1, the sailors who were on their way to Tarshish were caught in a storm because Jonah was on their ship. They had to listen to Jonah and throw him overboard to be saved. This resulted in the salvation of that crew’s souls as well. (Jonah 1:16)

The sailors on Paul’s ship are in a storm because they did not listen to Paul, but they are probably only spared because Paul is on their ship. Yet, like in the case of Jonah, they had to listen to Paul to be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat [skiff], and let her fall off.

Now they are listening to Paul. They abandon their plans to jump ship. 

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

How ironic. These rough, tough sailors and soldiers are taking their orders from the old Jewish prisoner who was on his way to Rome to stand trial. Paul is the de facto captain now.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

40 And when they had taken up [ie cast off] the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

Incidentally, the anchors they cut off have been found in St Thomas Bay, Malta. 

41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Acts 27:27-44

As Acts 27 ends, we see that Paul’s prophecies have come true. They have been through a perfect storm, but they are still alive.

Most of us will never be in a shipwreck, but ‘storms’ will come our way in life. According to Wiersbe:

Sometimes we get ourselves into storms for the same reasons [that this crew did]: impatience (Acts 27:9), accepting expert advice that is contrary to God’s will, following the majority, and trusting “ideal” conditions (Acts 27:13). “He that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa 28:16). It pays to listen to God’s word. (2)

In The Odyssey, Odysseus’ servant, Eumaeus, tells him, “Meanwhile let us two, here in the hut, over our food and wine, regale ourselves with the unhappy memories that each can recall. For a man who has been through bitter experiences and travelled far can enjoy even his sufferings after a time.” (3)

I wonder if, just maybe, Paul was thinking about Homer when he wrote, I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Phil 4:11b)

In any case, I think we do well to consider both Paul and Homer when the storms of life come our way. If we remember that Jesus is with us in the midst of the storm (Matt 28:20), that He may have even sent us into the storm on purpose (Luke 8:22), that He can turn the curse into a blessing (Neh 13:2), and that He will use it to work together for good (Rom 8:28), we will see the reason in it and move on. If we murmur and complain, we might have to go through it again. In other words, don’t say, Get me out of this! Say, What am I supposed to get out of this?

In closing, my takeaway from Acts 27 is how Paul the prisoner took charge and kept everyone safe in the midst of the storm. Paul could have felt sorry for himself because he was a political prisoner. He could have been bitter because they did not listen to him when he told them to stay in port at The fair havens. But instead, he thought of the other passengers. He took charge and got everyone to safety with a servant’s heart.

In our next post, we will see what happens on the island of Melita (Malta).

Father, thank You not only for our mountaintop experiences, but our valleys. When storms come our way, help us to respond as Paul did, with faith in You, and a servant’s heart for others. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 According to Ellicott, the Adria, or Adriatic Sea, included the Ionian Sea, ie the area between Sicily and the Peloponnese.
2 The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 1, p 509.
3 Homer, The Odyssey, Book 15.

Acts 27:13-26 Stormy Weather

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Julius the centurion was in agreement with the sailors who wanted to leave The fair havens (today called Kali Limenes) on Crete and set sail for Phenice. Paul warned them against this, but what does Paul know? Paul is just a Christian — and a prisoner to boot.

As we pick back up in this post, they set sail, and it looks like smooth sailing ahead. 

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

Acts 27:13-26
13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

I can almost see the self-satisfied looks on the faces of the sailors who thought they were smarter than Paul. But in the next verse, we have a but.

14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

Euroclydon was a violent northeast wind. They are at the mercy of the elements now.

15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, [today called Gavdos] we had much work to come by the boat:

17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

It seems the only thing missing here is ‘battening down the hatches’. They are doing everything they can to weather the storm.

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

This is an all-hands-on-deck situation. Dr Luke uses another ‘we’ showing he was working alongside the sailors.

20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
Acts 27:13-26

In the section before us, we have what may be the biggest problem throughout the entire Bible. People always think they are smarter than God. Whether they be God’s people, like the rebellious Israelites who stoned the prophets in the Old Testament, or the pagans who chose to worship other gods, the followers of Jesus who were always trying to tell Him what to do, or his enemies who had Him killed, people always seem to think they are smarter than God.

Paul could have gotten bitter over the trouble they were in because they didn’t listen, but he didn’t. Paul knows God is in control and He can handle this. Paul knows this is a Romans 8:28.

As Christians, we are like the poor lepers in II Kings 7 who were going to die but were saved. When their lives were saved, they found immeasurable riches, but they didn’t just keep it to themselves. They were wise and went and told everyone. We all have leprosy, so to speak: a disease called sin that desensitizes us and kills us. We also all have the cure available to us, with untold riches for all who want to come. Through faith in Christ, our sins are washed away, and we are given eternal life.

We cannot convince anyone with bitterness and anger over their unwitting agreement with the new world order, or their unbelief concerning the gospel. But we can be patient with them like Paul was, then try to win them over later when they see we are right.

Paul is winning over the soldiers and the crew of the ship. They are starting to see Paul for who he really is – God’s spokesman. In chains, yes, but patient and forgiving, trusting God, and spreading the gospel to all who will listen.

The certain island that they are heading for is Melita (Malta), but that will come in a later post. Paul’s prophecy about Melita will come to pass, just like everything else he has been telling them. They are starting to see that now.

Father, help us all to navigate our storms as patiently and prayerfully as Paul did. Help us to be as patient with those who doubt us as Paul was with those who doubted him. Direct our paths, give us the wisdom to make good decisions, and please account us worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before your Son, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 27:1-12 – Anchors Away!

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left off in our last post, Paul had just finished his testimony before Agrippa and Bernice (and Festus) in Caesarea. In this post, Paul finally leaves for Rome. Dr Luke and Aristarchus are with him.

We are in the last ‘we’ section of Acts. Dr Luke has been following closely with Paul ever since they arrived in Jerusalem following Paul’s third missionary journey. (Acts 21:17) Yet after Paul’s arrest, we did not see ‘we’ for a while because Paul was being held in Prison. However, Dr Luke is still nearby in Caesarea when it is time to go. (Acts 27:1) According to Dr Halley, Dr Luke probably wrote his gospel Epistle to Theophilus while Paul was in prison in Caesarea. Paul’s imprisonment gave Dr Luke more than two years to meet with many of the first-hand witnesses to Jesus’ ministry. He probably also met Mary, Jesus’ mother, to gather information about the birth of Jesus.

Father, thank You for the precious bread that came down from heaven. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 27:1-12
And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.

Augustus’ band (Lat Cohors Augusta) was either an honorary title or a specific unit of the army like the Cohors Italica (Acts 10:1). Here we have yet another centurion appearing in our narrative. Julius appears to be an honorable man, just like the other centurions in the Bible. I believe Dr Luke tells us Julius’ name as a hint that he eventually became a believer.

2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.

Adramyttium, today known as Edremit, was a town near the northwest tip of Anatolia (what we know as Turkey). This ship from Adramyttium went up and down the coast of Anatolia, Syria, and Israel.

But who was Aristarchus? Why does Dr Luke mention him? In his Epistle to the Colossians, written while he was in prison in Rome, Paul mentions Aristarchus my fellowprisoner. In his Epistle to Philemon, also one of the prison Epistles, Paul mentions a fellow laborer named Aristarcus. Is this the same Aristarcus mentioned in Acts 19:29 and Acts 20:4? Was Aristarcus arrested for his association with Paul? Was Aristarcus guilty of the same thing as Paul? Faith in Jesus Christ? This all seems to be the case, but what about us? If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.

Julius lets Paul go ashore to meet with friends from church in Sidon. By now, Paul had Christian friends all along the coast of the Mediterranean.

4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.

Lycia was a peninsula on the south side of Anatolia on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Dr Luke’s precise records allow us to follow their exact course. Myra was one of the coastal cities.

6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.

This was a bigger ship carrying grain from Egypt to Rome (Acts 27:38), with enough room for 276 passengers. (Acts 27:37)

7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

The ‘fast’ Dr Luke references here is the Jewish Day of Atonement. According to Ellicott, the fast fell on Sept 24 that year (the 10th of Tisri). The Jews’ sailing season was from the feast of Pentecost to the feast of Tabernacles, five days after the day of Atonement. The Romans’ sailing season was longer, extending to the Ides of November (Nov 13).

10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.

Paul had already been in three shipwrecks by now. (II Cor 11:25) He can see that the windy conditions they have been fighting, together with the fact that the stormy season is upon them, are red flags telling them to stay in The fair havens.

11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

It is not clear whether the master and the owner are one and the same person, or two different people, but we will proceed as if Dr Luke means one person.

12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
Acts 27:1-12

As our section ends, we see the centurion deciding that the owner of the ship was a more reliable source of information than Paul. He seems to be persuaded by what is known as an ‘argument from authority’. Since the owner of the ship was a professional sailor, he ought to know what he is talking about. We do not know what exactly those things which were spoken by Paul were (v 11), but as Christians, we are inclined to think ‘Julius should have listened to Paul’ for the same reason he listened to the owner of the ship: an argument from authority.

In my opinion, the argument from authority is usually one of the weakest arguments one can make, but not always. It depends on the authority. If the authority is Jesus or the Bible, then an argument from authority is the strongest argument one can make. Paul, an author of the Bible, would be another person I would accept an argument from authority from.

I was once told (by the smartest friend I’ve ever had) that the most prestigious job one can have is Supreme Court justice. That may still be true, who knows, but whether someone is a judge, a doctor, or a rocket scientist, I am more inclined to accept an argument that is evidence-based than an argument I am supposed to accept simply because someone is supposedly smart, or an authority figure. Considering some of the things we have heard from the Supreme Court, I am somewhat inclined to put less faith in one of their statements than more. I am a believer in the old adage: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. I believe that goes for deciding what to believe, as well. If you want to find the truth, you have to investigate, weigh evidence, and make an informed decision. If you decide to let the ‘officials’ or the talking heads on TV decide what you believe for you, you are going to find yourself in big trouble.

There were other voices as well, “the more part” (v 12), who agreed with the owner of the ship, but the truth is not found in a majority either. At the Diet of Worms in 1521, Martin Luther famously said, “One with God is a majority.”

Julius believes the owner of the ship now, but it won’t be long before he realizes his mistake. By the time they are done, Paul is going to be calling the shots on this trip. We are all in a similar situation to that of Julius. Should we believe Paul? Is Paul’s gospel true? You better believe it is. The sooner you accept it, the better. Do not be like Julius, and find out the hard way that Paul can be trusted. Or worse yet, put it off until after you die, and then spend eternity wishing you had listened to Paul. When we stand before Jesus one day, we can either stand before Him clothed in the clean white robe of his righteousness, which is a free gift, or we can stand before Him in our own righteousness, which is like filthy rags. Jesus’ righteousness will be accepted. Our righteousness will not. If you want to do the wise thing and start believing now, pray this prayer:

Father, I receive your Son as my personal Saviour; Lord Jesus, please come into my heart. Take control of my life. Thank You for the precious blood You shed for me on Calvary. I pray this in your holy and precious name. Amen.

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.