Acts 22
(Verses 1-21: Paul addressed the people after being bound by the Jews and given to the Romans. He told them of his life and his conversion.)
1 Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
2 And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,
(He spoke in Hebrew which caused them to keep silent.)
3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:
(Gamaliel taught Paul. Gamaliel was a doctor of the Law and a Pharisee (see Acts 5:34) that was respected enough to convince the Jews' council to consider that the Disciples may be hearing from God and the Jews would actually be fighting God. Some scholars say that Paul being taught by Gamaliel was comparable to Moses growing up and being taught in the Egyptian culture. Meaning Paul and Moses both were taught by the same people who they eventually would speak against.)
4 and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
(Paul admitted he persecuted believers before his conversion, even to martyring Christians. Do not forget, Paul was, in his words, "the chief of sinners": 1 Timothy 1:15.)
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 journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
(Paul first shared his life before he met Christ. Then, Paul began to share his conversion experience.)
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 beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
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, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,
13 came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him.
(Paul recognized Ananias, the man who God sent to Paul, was a devout man with a good reputation.)
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
(Finally, Paul spoke of his life after meeting Christ: Ananias told Paul what God's purpose was for him. Paul shared his testimony by sharing:
1) his life before Christ,
2) his conversion experience, and
3) his life after conversion.)
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
17 And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
18 and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.
(Paul himself confessed that he approved of Stephen's death (Acts 8:1) and kept the garments (coats) of those who killed Stephen.)
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.
(Paul stated that God told him to go to the Gentiles. How would the Jews respond?)
22 And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
(The mob listened to Paul until he said God told him to go to the Gentiles. Then they cried out that he should be taken away and he should be killed.)
23 And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,
24 the chief captain commanded him be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.
(The government stepped in and prepared to scourge Paul.)
25 And when they had tied him up with the 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 asked if it was lawful (Roman Law) for a Roman to be scourged without being first condemned. They did not know Paul was a Roman.)
26 And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.
27 And the chief captain came and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am a Roman born.
(Paul was born in Tarsus which Julius Caesar granted Roman citizenship to all its inhabitants. This may have been a factor in Paul being selected by Jesus Christ to spread His Gospel. How many other high level Jewish religious leaders were also Roman citizens?)
29 They then that were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
(The Roman soldier in charge was afraid when he found out Paul was a Roman. It was unlawful to judge a Roman citizen before he was tried. The authorities would have been imprisoned and perhaps sentenced to death, which was why the Roman chief captain was afraid.)
30 But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
(The Roman chief captain had Paul set before the chief priests and their council so that he could find out what it was that Paul was specifically accused.)
Acts 23
1 And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.
(Paul "looked steadfastly" (to fix the eyes on, gaze upon) on the council and pleaded his case.)
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
(Ananias commanded that Paul was struck on the mouth.)
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
(Paul showed Ananias that he was contradicting the Law. Judging is the act of equaling out Justice. Ananias had judged Paul when he commanded Paul to be struck.)
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
(They asked Paul if he was disrespecting the high priest. Paul stated he did not know Ananias was the high priest and then quoted Exodus 22:28 to prove he would not disrespect any ruler (leader/administrator) over God's people.)
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
(Paul realized the council was made up of two groups that were divided by a key Doctrine: the resurrection of the dead. Paul changed his strategy and presented the Gospel in light of this Doctrine.)
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly 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 clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?
(Paul was speaking of Jesus' resurrection. However, the Pharisees used Paul to justify their Doctrine, and they said they found no evil in Paul.)
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.
(The Roman chief captain then had to rescue Paul from this crowd because they began fighting with each other and the captain was afraid Paul would get killed.)
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
(Jesus stood by Paul in the night and assured him that he would bear witness in Rome. Christ gave Paul confirmation that he would enter Rome. Again, Paul would not have been able to do this if he was not a Roman citizen.)
12 And when it was day, 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 that made this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.
(Forty men vowed to not eat or drink until they killed Paul. These men went to the chief priests and elders telling them to request a meeting with Paul from the chief captain.)
16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.
(Paul's nephew told Paul of the conspiracy against him.)
17 And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.
19 And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.
21 Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.
(Paul sent his nephew to tell the chief captain about the conspiracy.)
22 So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:
24 and he bade them provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
(The chief captain took extra care to protect Paul by sending him to Felix in Caesarea. Felix was a Roman governor of Judea appointed by the emperor Claudius in A.D. 53.)
(**From Jerusalem to Caesarea started Paul's Journey to Rome.** Click on the map to enlarge...)
25 And he wrote a letter after this form:
(The chief captain even wrote a letter.)
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.
27 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
28 And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:
29 whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.
(The chief captain's name was Claudius Lysias. In his letter to Felix we learn Claudius also told Paul's accusers to go to Felix to speak against Paul. Claudius' account matched Luke's account.)
31 So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
(Paul was brought by the soldiers at night to Antipatris which was on their way to Caesarea.)
34 And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,
35 I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.
(Felix would not hear until Paul's accusers were also there. Paul was kept in Herod's palace. Herod's judgment hall which was the palace built at Caesarea by Herod and was occupied by the Roman governors.)
Acts 24
1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, and with an orator, one Tertullus; and they informed the governor against Paul.
(After five days, Ananias the high priest and the elders came to Caesarea with Tertullus who spoke against Paul.)
2 And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by the providence evils are corrected for this nation,
3 we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words.
(Tertullus, like all good orators, began by praising Felix.)
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
(Tertullus attempted to facilitate the judging of Paul according to Roman law. His accusations were that Paul was pestilent, a mover of insurrections, and a ringleader of the Nazarenes. Tertullus did not accuse Paul of any specific actions that were against the Roman Law. Would these abstract accusations be enough to warrant a punishment against Paul?)
6 who moreover assayed to profane the temple: on whom also we laid hold: [and we would have judged him according to our law.
(Tertullus also stated in a parenthetical comment that the Jewish religious leaders would have liked to judge Paul according to their own law, which implied they were not allowed to do this. Why? This parenthetical comment continued into verse 8...)
7 But the chief captain Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 commanding his accusers to come before thee.] from whom thou wilt be able, by examining him thyself, to take knowledge of all these things whereof we accuse him.
(Tertullus indirectly accused Claudias Lysias of "police brutality" in his handling of Paul, and of preventing the religious leaders from judging Paul according to their law. Tertullus closed with an assurance that Felix would agree with them.)
9 And the Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that these things were so.
(The Jews there agreed with Tertullus' accusations against Paul.)
(Verses 10-21: Paul's defense before Felix.)
10 And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I cheerfully make my defense:
11 Seeing that thou canst take knowledge that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem:
12 and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.
(Paul began with the start of his account of the events: He went to Jerusalem to worship. He was not found disputing with any man.)
13 Neither can they prove to thee the things whereof they now accuse me.
(Paul declared his accusers would not be able to prove anything of which they abstractly accused him. Paul pointed out the accusations were abstract. Next, Paul used the opportunity to witness to Felix.)
14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;
15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.
(Paul declared his faith was in God as was his service to all things written according to the Law of Moses and the prophets.)
16 Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.
(Doctrine: When your service and faith are towards God, your conscience will be clear.)
17 Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:
18 amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but there were certain Jews from Asia--
19 who ought to have been here before thee, and to make accusation, if they had aught against me.
20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing they found when I stood before the council,
(Paul stated the people who began the conflict with him were not present, and that ought to have proven he had not done anything wrong, that it was them who ought to be punished.)
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 before you this day.
(The only reason the Jews had for Paul being there was his belief and preaching of the resurrection of the dead.)
22 But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will determine your matter.
(Felix had heard of "the Way" and wanted to learn more. Felix decided to wait for Lysias, the chief captain, before he would give his answer so that he could have more time with Paul.)
23 And he gave order to the centurion that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his friends to minister unto him.
(Paul was kept but with indulgence. Being kept a prisoner "with indulgence" meant that Paul had liberty; a more tolerable condition in captivity; to be held in less vigorous confinement. This was essentially "minimum security." Felix wanted to give Paul every opportunity to witness more to Felix.)
24 But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.
(Felix specifically brought his wife to hear Paul. Perhaps it was because she was a Jewess and Felix saw an opportunity for them to have the same faith.)
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.
26 He hoped withal that money would be given him of Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
(However, Paul's message of right living and a coming judgment scared Felix. Felix did not want to hear any more because he was feeling convicted and did not want to cease from his life of authority and pleasure. However, Felix hoped to make money off of Paul because Paul had many friends and Felix wanted one of them to bribe him to let Paul go.)
27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.
(Paul was held there for two years while Felix apparently avoided Paul and waited to be bribed. Eventually, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus.)
(This post covered the beginning of Paul's journey to Rome, his trial before Felix, and his two year "minimum security" imprisonment in Caesarea.)
Day 320
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