PT-1 "The Defense" (Acts 24:10-21)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/31/2018 9:28 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  PT-1 “The Defense”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 24:10-21

           

            Message of the verses:  “10 When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11  since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 “Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. 13 “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15  having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 “Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia- 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 “Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21 other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ’For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’"”

 

            Paul’s defense does not begin with flattery as did Tertullus’ did, for all Paul was doing was stating a fact that Felix had been in this region of the world ruling long enough to understand what was going on with the Jewish people and their “religion.”  He had been governor for five years and before that he served under Cumanus, governor of Samaria for several years.

 

            When Paul brings up the fact that 12 days ago that he went up to Jerusalem to worship, and for the last five days he had been in Caesarea, and before that he came to fulfill a vow which we saw in Acts 21:23-37, thus he certainly did not have enough time to start some kind of rebellion against Rome.  Paul’s goal in coming to Jerusalem was to worship the Lord in the temple and to bring money for the hurting church of Judah. 

 

            More proof is given by Paul as he speaks:  ““Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot.’”  Paul did not engage in any public debate with anyone during this time, thus he could not have been causing a riot.  MacArthur adds “In fact, he had not gone to Jerusalem on an evangelistic mission but to bring an offering for the poor.” 

 

            Paul shows that the Sanhedrin could not prove any of the political charges against him, and as far as the religious charges these were something that was outside the competence of a Roman court to judge, so Felix should have dismissed the charges at this point, but he did not.

 

            One of the charges that the lawyer for the Jews spoke of was the fact that Paul was a member of “the way” as Paul describes it in his defense.  Paul does not deny this, but turns it against the members of the Sanhedrin here by stating “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve that God of our Fathers.”  The Jews thought that Christianity was a dangerous sect, Paul emphatically declared, “I do serve the God of our fathers” and this was the historic title for the God of Israel as seen in the OT.  For instance the Jews put their hope in Abraham and also Moses, but both Abraham and Moses would have turned against them if they had been alive in that day and would have defended Paul because Paul was teaching the truth and the Jews were teaching their tradition which was totally wrong.

 

            I want to begin with a quote from John MacArthur to further talk about this issue that Paul was serving the God of their Fathers in our next SD.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I desire at all time to live and to talk about the truth that is found in Scripture, and not to put my hope in traditions unless they follow what Scripture has to say.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To continue to learn from the Word of God as I study it each day.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “This world” (Romans 12:2).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “What did Jesus advise if one brings a gift and remembers that his brother has something against him?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/31/2018 10:05 AM  

PT-2 "The Prosecution" (Acts 24:1-9

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/30/2018 9:49 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                          Focus:  PT-2 “The Prosecution”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 24:1-9

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. [[We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.]] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.”

 

            We pick up today talking about verse 5b “a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world.”  Tertullus was not talking to Felix about some specific charges that the Jews were bringing against Paul, as he has stopped his flattery.  The truth is that the Sanhedrin really wanted the destruction of Rome, but what they were doing here at this time was to use the power of Rome to get rid of one of their enemies.  We have been earlier talking about the providence of God and one of those is seen here in that Paul was a citizen of Rome, for if he had not been then they would have already killed him.

 

            I want at this time to quote what I believe is a important quote by John MacArthur:  “Tertullus cleverly avoided naming any specific instance.  Had he done so, Felix could have transferred Paul’s case to the jurisdiction in which that riot occurred.  Not wanting Paul tried by a governor over whom they had no influence, the Jewish leaders contented themselves with the vague general charge of seditious insurrection.  But as is the case throughout Acts when Christianity is the issue in a Roman court, that charge could not be proven.  The Holy Spirit recorded those trials, in part, to refute the charge that Christians were political revolutionaries and to make clear that they did not violate Roman civil law (cf. Rom. 13:1-7; Titus 3:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17).  The real issue, as Gallio correctly perceived (18:12-16), was Jewish hostility to the gospel.  Because of his ‘more exact knowledge about the Way’ (v. 22), and Lysias’s evaluation charges, and he found its vague unsubstantiated charges inadmissible as evidence.” 

 

            We now move to the second charge which was leveled against Paul, and that was sectarianism, or heresy.  Tertullus stated that Paul was a “ringleader’ of the sect of the Nazarenes.  MacArthur states “Protostates (‘ringleader’) is a military term meaning ‘one who stands in the front rank.’”  The irony of this is that although Tertullus did not make this statement as a compliment, Paul actually was a leader of the Church.  When we speak of being a Nazarenes we are talking about where Jesus was brought up, thus speaking of the followers of Jesus.  This is the only time that this term, “Nazarenes” is seen in the book of Acts, however we can be sure that Felix knew what it meant.

 

            The third charge was the one that really got Paul in trouble with the Jews, even though it was not true, was that Paul “tried to desecrate the temple.”  I also find irony in this in that there will come a day when Antichrist will be the one to desecrate the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, and I have to believe that that would probably not bother these Jews because they, like the Antichrist are not believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

            “We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.”  This is the last part of verse six, all of seven, and a part of verse eight, and it is omitted in by many ancient manuscripts, which is the reason that it is in brackets.  At any rate the prosecution ends it case by stating “The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.”

 

            I am in no position to say whether or not this bracket verses are a part of the real text or not, so I will not comment on it any further.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Spies” (Genesis 42:9).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “To what are we not to be conformed?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/30/2018 10:36 AM

 

 

PT-1 "The Prosecution" (Acts 24:1-9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/29/2018 9:56 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                          Focus:  PT-1 “The Prosecution”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 24:1-9

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. [[We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.]] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.”

 

            We see in the first verse that it only took five days for the high priest Ananias to put together a team of both political and religious people, and to also hire a lawyer to go down to meet with the governor, Felix.  Now much is really know about the lawyer except that he probably was chosen because he was well versed in Roman law.  This kind of thing was really not unusual for Jews to do.  He may have been a Roman or he may have been a Hellenistic Jew.

 

            John MacArthur writes “The hearing began ‘after Paul had been summoned.’  Before ‘Tertullus began to accuse him,’ he addressed Felix with the type of flowery, flattering, complimentary speech (known as the capitation benevolentiae) customary in such situations.  Unfortunately, there was not much good that could be said about Felix, procurator (governor) of Judea from A. D. 52-59.  A former slave, Felix owed his position to the influence of his brother Pallas, a favorite of Emperor Claudius.  The Roman historian Tacitus disdainfully dismissed him with the comment ‘He exercised the power of a king with the mind of a slave’ (F. F. Bruch).”

 

            The lawyer for the Jews, Tertullus continued the flattery stating things that were actually half-truths.  The way that Felix maintained peace was not exactly a good way, but in the end did promote some sort of peace in Judah during his reign as governor. 

 

            After that he then turned to the case at hand that is against Paul.  I have to say that the leaders that came down to accuse Paul must have really been frightened of him or else they would have been content to have him out of Jerusalem, but they wanted him dead, and so their lawyer begins to address why this should happen to governor Felix. 

 

            The first charge against Paul to be brought up is the charge of sedition or insurrection, or rebellion, which was probably the most serious of charges to be brought up.  This was the first of three charges and this one was against Roman law. The next was sectarianism which was a violation of Jewish law, and the third was sacrilege, a violation of God’s law.  This all sound pretty good considering they did this in probably less than three days considering it took probably two days to get there given the fact that it was 65 miles from Jerusalem.

 

            As I said the first charge of rebellion was against Roman law because it went against what is known as Pax Romana.  In just a few years the very Jews who are charging Paul with the breaking of this Roman law will face the furry of how the Romans dealt with those why were causing trouble, as beginning with 66 A. D. and then going to 70 A. D. the Romans will eventually destroy Jerusalem and the temple, something very precious with the Jews, but resulted in the fact that they had surely broken God’s law in crucifying our Lord Jesus Christ, something they are still paying for.

 

            I was wondering what this charge of Paul being a real pest meant and John MacArthur writes “That description of Paul accurately reflects the Sanhedrin’s hatred for him but was not a specific charge.”  With that we will stop this SD and Lord willing pick up tomorrow with the remaining verses concerning “The Prosecution.”

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “James.”

 

Today’s Bible question:  “What did Joseph call his brothers when they first came to Egypt?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/29/2018 10:32 AM

Introduction to Acts 24

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/28/2018 8:46 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                    Focus:  Introduction to Acts 24

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 24:1-27

 

            Message of the verses:  “1 After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being

carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 “And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. [[We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.]] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

 

            “10 When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 “Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. 13 “Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 “Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18  in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia- 19 who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 "Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, 21 other than

for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ’For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’"

 

            “22 But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him. 24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you." 26 At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send

for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.”

 

            It has been a while since we have looked at an entire chapter of the Bible in one of the chapters in John MacArthur’s commentary.  He entitles this chapter in his commentary “Paul on Trial Phase One: Before Felix.”

 

            As we read over this section from the book of Acts it kind of reminds me of the section in the Gospels that talk about John the Baptists imprisonment and how Herod would come and talk with him, but did not believe that John was telling the truth although he was actually coming under some kind of conviction, he did not take advantage of it.  Felix would come and talk to Paul concerning salvation through Jesus Christ, and did this for two years, and yet because he was looking for money from Paul instead of salvation through Jesus Christ there is no evidence that he every became saved.  The eventual outcome of John the Baptist and Paul the apostle was death through having their heads cut off, although Paul’s life ended much later that Johns as John was killed after having not much time in jail as seen in Matthew chapter 14.

 

            We can go through the Bible, especially the New Testament and see other lost opportunities of coming to know Jesus Christ as Savior.  When Paul was in Athens we saw not many were saved.  Take a look at Luke 9:57-62 with me:

 

“57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." 59 And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." 60 But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." 61 Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." 62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

 

            In the parable that Jesus gives in Matthew 25 about the foolish virgins who did not take enough oil with them we find another lost opportunity.

 

            There is one lost opportunity that tops them all and that is Judas who lived with Jesus for three years, actually ministering with the other eleven, and yet in the end betrayed our Lord.  What a tragic loss. 

 

            Well we can add another one and that would be Felix as we have already written about.

 

            As our usual way of introducing different chapters from MacArthur’s outline we quote his last introductory paragraph:  “Paul’s hearing before Felix, like any trial, consisted of three parts:  the prosecution, the defense, and the verdict.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is always a difficult time that when I speak to someone about the Lord and they really don’t want anything to do with it, and that is what we are looking at in this section of Scripture.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Not to give up telling others about the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Pharaoh and his army” (Exodus 14:28).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Who wrote the book of James?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/28/2018 9:27 AM

PT-2 "The Plot Frustrated" (Acts 23:23-35)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/27/2018 7:46 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                     Focus:  PT-2 “The plot Frustrated”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:23-35

 

            Message of the verses:  “23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

 

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. 27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 “And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; 29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. 30 “When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

 

 31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers

arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”

 

            As we look at the letter that Lysias wrote to Felix we can see that he left a few things out, and he probably did this to embellish these things to make himself look better in the eyes of his boss, Felix who was the governor over Judah.  He left out the part that he was going to scourge Paul, which is how he found out that he was a Roman.  I suppose that all in all he did what he wanted to do in order to get Paul away from him, as I don’t think that he actually wanted to deal with this problem.  After all the Jews had some sway over the political things that went on in Judah, and it was probably best to get Paul to the governor. 

 

            The troops got Paul out of danger as they spent the night in Antipatris, and so the next day only those on horseback continued to Caesarea where they delivered Paul and the all important letter to those in charge there.  The verdict was that Felix would give a hearing to Paul once those who were accusing him arrived.  MacArthur adds “The stage was thus set for the first in Paul’s series of Roman trials.”

 

            He goes on to conclude his writings on this chapter:  “God’s providential protection of His servant demonstrates His faithfulness.  Based in part on his own experiences, Paul could declare to the Corinthians that ‘God is faithful’ (1 Cor. 1:9; cf. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18; 2 Thess. 3:3).  The first step in that direction occurred the day after God’s promise to bring Paul to Rome.  He also showed His care for Paul by sovereignly providing a safe and comfortable trip to Caesarea and providing the best of accommodations when he arrived there.  Paul experienced the truth expressed by Peter:  ‘Casting all you anxiety upon Him because He cares for you’ (1 Pet. 5:7).

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Upon the earth.”

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Who were the drowned in the Red Sea while pursuing the Israelites?” 

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/27/2018 8:07 AM

PT-1 "The Plot Frustrated" (Rev. 23:23-35)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/26/2018 8:13 PM

 

My Worship Time                                                                     Focus:  PT-1 “The Plot Frustrated”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:23-35

 

            Message of the verses:  “23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

 

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. 27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 “And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; 29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. 30 “When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

 

 31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers

arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”

 

            Lysias’ actions as seen in the first part of this section show that he was a really good commander.  He had to get Paul out of Jerusalem for if he was assassinated then he would have been responsible for the death of a Roman citizen.  He decided to pass the problem onto his supervisor who was the Roman governor Felix.

 

            I have always thought that it was overkill as far as the amount of soldiers that would take Paul to Caesarea, which was a 65 mile trip, and was the seat of the Roman government in Judea, and this was where Felix was headquartered.  Perhaps it was with good reason that he had so many troops because of the threat that he had heard about with the Jews. 

 

            Lysias did not even wait for morning as they left at 9:00 P. M.  He also provided a mount for Paul so that they could move faster. 

 

            John MacArthur writes “As was required when a Roman officer sent a prisoner to his superior (Everett F. Harrison, Interpreting Acts: The Expanding Church [Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1986], 373), Lysias ‘wrote a letter’ of explanation to Felix, which Luke summarizes:”  The letter can be seen above verses 26-30, the indented part of our Scripture reading for this section. 

 

            “Claudius was the Roman name he took (perhaps in honor of Emperor Claudius) when he obtained his citizenship (22:28).  Since Lysias is a Greek name, it signifies he was probably a free-born Greek by nationality.”

 

            We will end here as I have mentioned that Sunday’s I do a shorter SD because of my responsibilities of teaching Sunday school.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Pilate” (John 18:31).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Where did the first angel in Revelation 16:2 pour out his vial?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/26/2018 8:36 PM

 

 

 

 

The Plot Found Out (Acts 23:16-22)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/25/2018 10:39 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Plot Found Out

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:16-22

 

            Message of the verses:  “16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him." 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you." 19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 “So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you." 22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things."”

 

            I learned some things here that I did not know before reading this section of Scripture for the first time, and that is that Paul had a sister, and a nephew.  How old his nephew is I do not know, but old enough to come to Paul on his own and tell him what he had learned.  More of the providence of God displayed here.

 

            There are some questions that John MacArthur brings up about Paul’s family.  What were his sister and nephew, and probably husband doing in Jerusalem?  Was his nephew studying to become a Rabbi like his uncle?  If his family disowned him after he became a believer did they now become believers and are supporting him.  Well the Bible does not tell us all of these answers, so my thoughts are that God did not want us to know, but like all human beings we are curious in wondering about these things.

 

            Because there were forty people involved in this plot one has to believe that the word would get out, and so it did, but how Paul’s nephew heard about it is not told.  Once he found out about the plot he came and told Paul about it right away.  After that Paul called a soldier to him and asked him to take his nephew to see the commander.  We can see that Paul did not tell Lysias out of respect for him, but asked a soldier and because Paul was a Roman citizen the soldier did as Paul asked him to do.

 

            The commander still did not know what to do with Paul, and as we will see it seems that he was eager to hand him off to someone higher in the Roman world.  Because of this he listened to what Paul’s nephew said.  The boy told him what he had heard, and then after hearing from him he told the young man not to breathe a word to anyone about what he had told him.

 

            John MacArthur concludes his comments on this section by writing:  “If the conspirators realized that their plot had been uncovered, they would undoubtedly have abandoned it and formulated another.  And if that one were not discovered, Lysias reasoned, Paul might be killed.  Further, if the Jews did not know that he knew of the plot, they could not question his motives for sending Paul to Caesarea.  Then he took the necessary measures, without imaging he was carrying out God’s providential protection of Paul.”

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “To seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Who said, ‘Take him, and judge him according to your law’?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/25/2018 11:01 AM

The Plot Formulated (Acts 23:12-15)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/24/2018 11:14 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Plot Formulated

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:12-15

 

            Message of the verses:  “12 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 “Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place."”

 

            First of all I want to remind you the name that John MacArthur gives this chapter in his book that begins at verse 12 of Acts 23 and goes to the end of the chapter:  “Providential Protection.”  We have mentioned that there is no doctrinal issues found in this section with the exception of what we call providential meaning found here, similar to the book of Ester, a book that is all about the providential care of God’s people Israel.  Ester has no mention of God in it, but you know he is there when you read that book similarly to what is seen in this last part of the 23^rd chapter of the book of Acts.

 

            As we can see from this section, particularly in verse one that the Jews were disappointed that Paul was still alive, and therefore they formed a plot to kill Paul, even stating that they would not eat or drink until Paul was dead.  John MacArthur states “The Greek text reads, “They anathematized themselves’ (cf. Gal. 1:8,9), thus invoking divine judgment if they failed to carry out their oath.  They probably spoke words to the effect of ‘May God do so to us and more if we eat or drink anything until Paul is dead’ (cf. 1 Sam. 14:44; 2 Sam. 3:35; 19:13; 1 Kings 2:23; 2 Kings 6:31).”

 

            As we look at what is happening to Paul in this situation we can compare what happened to our Lord Jesus Christ.  Both were Jews, preachers of the Gospel to their people and both were guilty of no crime.  Yet both were plotted against, both stood before a confused Sanhedrin, and both were prisoners in Fort Antonia.  MacArthur adds “Paul shared in ‘the fellowship of His sufferings’ (Phil. 3:10; cf. Gal. 6:17).”

 

            What was the reason that the Jews acted in such hostility to Jesus and then to Paul?  I have mentioned this in previously SD’s and that is that there are two kinds of people in this world, only two.  Those who are lost and those who are saved through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the lost people who are spiritually dead do dead things, and these are two examples of spiritually dead people doing spiritually dead things.

 

            Luke goes on to say that there were forty people involved in this plot.  It would take forty people to kill Paul because they knew that the Romans would have a heavy guard on him, and they also knew that the Romans would not kill him.

 

            Luke goes on to talk about the role that the Sanhedrin played in this role, and that was that they were to ask the commander to bring Paul back to the Sanhedrin in order to question him more thoroughly, and then on the way they would have him killed.  In our next SD we will see the providential way God works in having this plot found out. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Even though there are no theological themes in this chapter it is enough for me to realize that God is caring for me in a providential way, His way.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord as He leads me so that my life will bring honor and glory to His Son.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The rich” (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “According to Luke, why did Jesus come to earth?”

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/24/2018 12:04 PM

Intro to Acts 23:12-25 ("Providential Protection")

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/23/2018 9:50 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                        Focus:  Intro to Acts 23:12-35

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:12-35

 

            Message of the verses:  “12 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13  There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 “Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place." 16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him." 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you." 19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately,

"What is it that you have to report to me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 “So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you." 22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things." 23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

 

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. 27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 “And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; 29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. 30 “When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

 

 31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”

 

            As I look at this section of Scripture, the last part of chapter 23 I can’t help but think about what the Lord had just told Paul in a vision that He was thankful that Paul was obedient to Him in Jerusalem, testifying to the Jews, and now the Lord tells Paul that he must testify of Him in Rome too.  It will take a while before Paul goes to Rome, but he will get there, as the book of Acts closes while Paul is in Rome.

 

            Another thing I think about is what the Lord had told to Peter found in the 21^st chapter of the book of John where He tells him exactly how he will die to the glory of the Lord, and then later on we found Peter in a cell chained between two soldiers where he was to be executed the next morning.  Peter was asleep, and I believe he was asleep because of the assurance of what the Lord had told him earlier how he would die, and it was not by the sword.

 

            In John MacArthur’s commentary he introduces this section by talking about how perhaps Paul may have been thinking about King David and the ten years that he was on the run, running from King Saul, but David was assured that he would become King of Israel because the prophet Samuel had anointed him to be king when he was a young man.  As we look at these three Biblical characters they all have in common that the Lord had given them promises and they all believed them.  I suppose that the dream that Joseph had when he was a young man also fits into this category too. 

 

            MacArthur writes that perhaps Paul was thinking about a psalm that David wrote which I will include in this SD.  Psalm 56:1-13 is the psalm quoted in his commentary.

 

1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me. 2 My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me. 3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? 5 All day long they distort my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life. 7 Because of wickedness, cast them forth, In anger put down the peoples, O God! 8 You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, In the LORD, whose word I praise, 11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. 13 For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living.”

 

            John MacArthur writes:  “This narrative passage contains no doctrinal truths or practical exhortations; it merely recounts an event in Paul’s life.  Yet no passage of Scripture could more clearly illustrate the providence of God.

 

            “God’s providence is His sovereign control over and ordering of natural circumstances to accomplish His will.  It is also illustrated clearly in the Old Testament in the book of Ester, where God providentially protected His people, Israel, from their destructive enemies.  God’s providence underlies such familiar and comforting passages as Philippians 4:4-7; Hebrews 13:6; and Luke 12:22-34.

 

            “God’s dramatic, providential deliverance of Paul plays out in three scenes; the plot formulated, found out, and frustrated.” 

 

            Lord, willing, we will begin by looking at Acts 23:12-15 in our next SD, “The Plot Formulated.” 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have always believed that God is in control of all things and that He will use these things to bring about His will upon the earth.  In believing this it makes me think just how great, and how powerful God is as He takes even sinful things and causes them to bring glory to His name.  For instance, as we look at what happened in World War Two we see that out of all the mass killing and terrible things that happened out of that war came the re-birth of the nation of Israel, something that was prophesied in Ezekiel chapters 36-37.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord even in times when things do not seem to be going the way I would want them to go as I know He is working things out for His glory and for my good.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “First day of the first month of the second year” (Exodus 40:2, 17).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Whom did Paul counsel to be rich in good works?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/23/2018 10:32 AM