Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, " Men _and_ brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. " 1. Paul looks his audience in the eye. He speaks directly to them. 2. Conscience is: 1. A trained reflex. We are trained (learn) to be attracted to or avoid ce... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HIGH PRIEST ANANIAS COMMANDED THOSE WHO STOOD BY HIM TO STRIKE HIM ON THE MOUTH. 1. Now the high priest, leader of this council, commands that Paul be struck in the mouth. 2. Not because his conscience was clear while persecuting Christians, but because his conscience was clear while conve... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Paul said to him, " God will strike you, _you_ whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law? " 1. Paul responds in anger and pain. While the words are strong and harsh, they are truth. 2. We must be reminded that it is... [ Continue Reading ]
And those who stood by said, " Do you revile God ' S HIGH PRIEST? " 5 THEN PAUL SAID, " I DID NOT KNOW, BRETHREN, THAT HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST; FOR IT IS WRITTEN, _‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE._ '"__ 1. Paul is accused of speaking against the high priest of God. 2. Paul imme... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN PAUL PERCEIVED THAT 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; CONCERNING THE HOPE AND RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD I AM BEING JUDGED! " 1. Paul sees that the possibility of having a rational discu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, A DISSENSION AROSE BETWEEN THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES; AND THE ASSEMBLY WAS DIVIDED. 1. The council is now divided on this matter. Instead of being united against Paul, they are now divided against each other. 2. They were united - Now they are untied. Their unity h... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SADDUCEES SAY THAT THERE IS NO RESURRECTION-AND NO ANGEL OR SPIRIT; BUT THE PHARISEES CONFESS BOTH. 1. Sadducees - In Matthew 22:23 they came to Jesus with a "trick" question about the resurrection. 1. DENY RESURRECTION - They believe in "this life only" and when you die, that is the end. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THERE AROSE A LOUD OUTCRY. AND THE SCRIBES OF THE PHARISEES ' PARTY AROSE AND PROTESTED, SAYING, " WE FIND NO EVIL IN THIS MAN; BUT IF A SPIRIT OR AN ANGEL HAS SPOKEN TO HIM, LET US NOT FIGHT AGAINST GOD. " 1. A huge, loud, clamor arises as both sides try to out shout the other. 2. Suddenly,... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN THERE AROSE A GREAT DISSENSION, THE COMMANDER, FEARING LEST PAUL MIGHT BE PULLED TO PIECES BY THEM, COMMANDED THE SOLDIERS TO GO DOWN AND TAKE HIM BY FORCE FROM AMONG THEM, AND BRING _HIM_ INTO THE BARRACKS. 1. Now the Roman commander needs to step in. He does not care about their discussi... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE FOLLOWING NIGHT THE LORD STOOD BY HIM AND SAID, " BE OF GOOD CHEER, PAUL; FOR AS YOU HAVE TESTIFIED FOR ME IN JERUSALEM, SO YOU MUST ALSO BEAR WITNESS AT ROME. " 1. Paul is instructed and informed by Jesus. 1. HAVE COURAGE - Be of good cheer. We would say, "Cheer up." The Greek word used h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN IT WAS DAY, SOME OF THE JEWS BANDED TOGETHER AND BOUND THEMSELVES UNDER AN OATH, SAYING THAT THEY WOULD NEITHER EAT NOR DRINK TILL THEY HAD KILLED PAUL. 1. Some Jews are now more determined that before that Paul must die. 2. They take an oath. They will not eat or drink until Paul is dead... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THERE WERE MORE THAN FORTY WHO HAD FORMED THIS CONSPIRACY. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, " We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 1. This band of more than forty men now report to the chief priests and elders.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW YOU, THEREFORE, TOGETHER WITH THE COUNCIL, SUGGEST TO THE COMMANDER THAT HE BE BROUGHT DOWN TO YOU TOMORROW, AS THOUGH YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE FURTHER INQUIRIES CONCERNING HIM; BUT WE ARE READY TO KILL HIM BEFORE HE COMES NEAR. " 1. To accomplish their mission, they needed some help from the cou... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WHEN PAUL ' S SISTER ' S SON HEARD OF THEIR AMBUSH, HE WENT AND ENTERED THE BARRACKS AND TOLD PAUL. 1. We now learn that Paul has a sister. We also learn that Paul has a nephew. 2. Paul's nephew becomes aware of this plan. He must have heard some of the men discussing the plan. 3. The nephew g... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PAUL CALLED ONE OF THE CENTURIONS TO _HIM_ AND SAID, " TAKE THIS YOUNG MAN TO THE COMMANDER, FOR HE HAS SOMETHING TO TELL HIM. " 18 SO HE TOOK HIM AND BROUGHT _HIM_ TO THE COMMANDER AND SAID, " PAUL THE PRISONER CALLED ME TO _HIM_ AND ASKED _ME_ TO BRING THIS YOUNG MAN TO YOU. HE HAS SOMETHING... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE COMMANDER TOOK HIM BY THE HAND, WENT ASIDE, AND ASKED PRIVATELY, " WHAT IS IT THAT YOU HAVE TO TELL ME? " 20 AND HE SAID, " THE JEWS HAVE AGREED TO ASK THAT YOU BRING PAUL DOWN TO THE COUNCIL TOMORROW, AS THOUGH THEY WERE GOING TO INQUIRE MORE FULLY ABOUT HIM. 1. The commander is ready to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT DO NOT YIELD TO THEM, FOR MORE THAN FORTY OF THEM LIE IN WAIT FOR HIM, MEN WHO HAVE BOUND THEMSELVES BY AN OATH THAT THEY WILL NEITHER EAT NOR DRINK TILL THEY HAVE KILLED HIM; AND NOW THEY ARE READY, WAITING FOR THE PROMISE FROM YOU. " 1. More than 40 men are ready to ambush and kill Paul. 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THE COMMANDER LET THE YOUNG MAN DEPART, AND COMMANDED _HIM,_ " TELL NO ONE THAT YOU HAVE REVEALED THESE THINGS TO ME. " 1. The commander requests the Paul's nephew tell no one about what has been revealed. 2. Telling anyone could put this young man in danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CALLED FOR TWO CENTURIONS, SAYING, " PREPARE TWO HUNDRED SOLDIERS, SEVENTY HORSEMEN, AND TWO HUNDRED SPEARMEN TO GO TO CAESAREA AT THE THIRD HOUR OF THE NIGHT; 1. Two centurions (and all 200 soldiers under them) are called to action. 2. The commander also lines up 70 horsemen. Then he adds... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PROVIDE MOUNTS TO SET PAUL ON, AND BRING _HIM_ SAFELY TO FELIX THE GOVERNOR. " 1. Paul is now placed on a horse (or donkey) in the middle of this huge company of soldiers. 2. The command - Get Paul safely to Felix the governor.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WROTE A LETTER IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: 26 Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 1. A letter is written to give the gover... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN I WANTED TO KNOW THE REASON THEY ACCUSED HIM, I BROUGHT HIM BEFORE THEIR COUNCIL. 1. He was allowed a hearing before the council of Jewish leaders.... [ Continue Reading ]
I FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS ACCUSED CONCERNING QUESTIONS OF THEIR LAW, BUT HAD NOTHING CHARGED AGAINST HIM DESERVING OF DEATH OR CHAINS. 1. The charges were dealing with their law. 2. None of the charges were matters of death. There are not charges worthy of even an arrest. Paul has committed no felon... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN IT WAS TOLD ME THAT THE JEWS LAY IN WAIT FOR THE MAN, I SENT HIM IMMEDIATELY TO YOU, AND ALSO COMMANDED HIS ACCUSERS TO STATE BEFORE YOU THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. FAREWELL. 1. The commander now explains the plot to kill Paul. 2. Paul is now in the hands of the Roman governor in Caesarea.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE SOLDIERS, AS THEY WERE COMMANDED, TOOK PAUL AND BROUGHT _HIM_ BY NIGHT TO ANTIPATRIS. 1. This huge company travels about 35 miles to the city of Antipatris. 2. Albert Barnes says, " This town was anciently called Cafar-Saba. Josephus says that it was about 17 miles from Joppa. It was abou... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEXT DAY THEY LEFT THE HORSEMEN TO GO ON WITH HIM, AND RETURNED TO THE BARRACKS. 33 When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 1. The horsemen continue with Paul. 2. The 200 soldiers return to Jerusalem. 3. It is assumed that th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAD READ _IT,_ HE ASKED WHAT PROVINCE HE WAS FROM. AND WHEN HE UNDERSTOOD THAT _HE WAS_ FROM CILICIA, 1. Paul arrives without incident in Caesarea. 2. The governor reads the letter, learns that Paul is Roman and asks where he is from. 3. Paul tells him he is from Cilicia.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAID, " I WILL HEAR YOU WHEN YOUR ACCUSERS ALSO HAVE COME. " AND HE COMMANDED HIM TO BE KEPT IN HEROD ' S PRAETORIUM. 1. The governor understands that he is dealing with a Roman citizen who has been accused by the Jews. 2. He decides to hold Paul until the accusers are able to come and make for... [ Continue Reading ]