Acts 25
(The journey to Rome continued. Click on the map to enlarge…)
1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
(Festus replaced Felix while Paul had been in prison for two years. Festus went from Caesarea to Jerusalem three days after he became governor.)
2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,
3 asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.
(The high priest and the chief of the Jews tried persuading Festus to send for Paul so that they could kill Paul on the way to Jerusalem.)
4 Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart thither shortly.
5 Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.
(Festus said he would leave for Jerusalem but that those of the accusers should come to Jerusalem with him. Festus was actually giving them a way to kill Paul. However, they would have to present proof of Paul's wrong doing.)
6 And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.
7 And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;
(Paul stood before Festus and the Jews accused Paul of things they could not prove.)
8 while Paul said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.
9 But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10 But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.
11 If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is true whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
(Festus tried to gain favor with the Jews by encouraging Paul to be tried in Jerusalem. Paul stated his innocence and then appealed to Caesar, a right he had as a Roman citizen.)
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.
(Festus agreed to Paul's appeal to Caesar.)
(Verses 13-21: Festus informed King Agrippa about the events surrounding Paul.)
13 Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus.
("Bernice" was with Agrippa. Bernice was the oldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I (see Acts 12:1). She was first married to her uncle Herod, King of Chalcis, and after his death (A.D. 48) she lived under circumstances of great suspicion with her own brother, Agrippa II, whom was the man she accompanied during this investigation.)
14 And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the King, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
(Festus made Agrippa and Bernice aware of Paul being in prison by Felix.)
15 about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence against him.
16 To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
(Festus made them aware that he was following Roman law.)
17 When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.
18 Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;
19 but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
(Festus told Agrippa and Bernice that the accusers brought no charge against Paul that offended Roman Law but they charged Paul with offences against their own religion, especially concerning Jesus.)
20 And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.
22 And Agrippa said unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.
(Agrippa wanted to hear Paul himself.)
23 So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.
(This chapter ended with Festus presenting the background of Paul's examinations.)
24 And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.
(Festus found nothing in Paul's actions that warranted death and would send him to Caesar.)
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, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.
(Festus wanted King Agrippa to help him know what to write to Caesar about Paul since Festus was sending Paul to Caesar without any charges in the eyes of Rome.)
Acts 26
(Verses 1-23: Paul's defense before Herod Agrippa.)
1 And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:
3 especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
(Agrippa gave Paul the freedom to speak which made Paul happy. Paul, like all good orators, began by praising his audience.)
4 My manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among mine own nation and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
(Verses 4-5 covered Paul's background as a Pharisee.)
6 And now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;
7 unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!
(Paul gave Agrippa the cause for the judgment coming against him from the Jews: Paul was being judged because of his hope of the promise God made to his fathers. Paul then asked the king a question to make him conscious.)
8 Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?
(Verses 9-11: Paul's experiences as a persecutor - his life before meeting Jesus.)
9 I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.
11 And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.
(Verses 12-19: Paul's conversion experience.)
12 Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
13 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.
(Unlike the description in Acts 9, the line "it is hard for thee to kick against the goad" was included in Paul's experience with Christ on the road to Damascus.)
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee;
17 delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee,
18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.
19 Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
(Verses 20-23: Paul's missionary events - his life after his meeting with Jesus.)
20 but declared both to them of Damascus first and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
21 For this cause the Jews seized me in the temple, and assayed to kill me.
22 Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should come;
23 how that the Christ must suffer, and how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he thus made his defense, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad.
(Festus accused Paul of being mad.)
25 But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness.
(Paul said he was not mad but he spoke "words of truth and soberness." Paul was intentional with his words, he was completely aware of the words he spoke and the words he spoke had a right how/why.)
26 For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
(Paul praised the king and then asked Agrippa if he believed the prophets, then stated that he knew Agrippa did believe the prophets.)
28 And Agrippa said unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.
(Paul almost persuaded Agrippa to be a Christian.)
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.
(Paul replied that whether it took a little persuasion or a lot, he would want all that hear him to be like him except the fact he was in prison.)
30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 and when they had withdrawn, they spake one to another, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 And Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
(Festus, Bernice, and Agrippa agreed that Paul was innocent. And if Paul had not appealed to Caesar he may have been set free. However, the Lord told Paul that he would go to Rome (Acts 23:11) so this may be the exact way that He wanted Paul to get there.)
Acts 27
1 And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.
(It was determined that Paul would be sent to Italy (Rome) in the custody of a centurion named Julius.)
2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
3 And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.
(They made it to Sidon and Julius treated Paul well.)
4 And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
(They sailed under the island of Cyprus because of harsh winds.)
5 And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
(They sailed by Cilicia and Pamphylia and land in Myra.)
6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein.
7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;
(They sailed off of Cnidus and then off Salmone, Crete. The winds were not helping them, which made this trip take longer than expected.)
8 and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
(They came to a place called Fair Havens near Lasea, Crete.)
9 And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,
10 and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives.
(They were now sailing after the Day of Atonement (our October) and the Mediterranean was very treacherous to sail during the winter months.)
11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.
12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there; which is a haven of Crete, looking northeast and south-east.
(Paul advised against leaving right then because of bad weather. The centurion wanted to make it to Phoenix and spend the winter there.)
13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.
14 But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo:
(The weather looked favorable. However, it did not take long for a tempestuous wind called "Euraquilo" to come against them. The word Euraquilo meant "a violent agitation.")
15 and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven.
(They now were at the mercy of this hurricane-like wind.)
16 And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:
17 and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.
(In verse 16, "the boat" was what we would call "the life-boat." They wrapped cables around the hull to ease the strain so that the mast would not break.)
18 And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the freight overboard;
19 and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.
20 And when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.
(The hurricane-like storm was large and unwavering so that hope of surviving was diminishing.)
21 And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.
22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
(Paul told them they should have listened to him but he assured them that no man would lose his life. Why was Paul sure?)
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve,
24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.
(Paul received a message from an angel of God that he would make it to Caesar, and the rest of the people would be saved because of God's purpose for Paul.)
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.
26 But we must be cast upon a certain island.
(Paul warned them that they would end up running the ship aground on an island.)
27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country:
28 and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.
29 And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.
30 And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship,
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
(They were getting nearer to land. Some sailors were attempting to use the life-boat for themselves. Paul told the centurion and the soldiers that the only people who would survive were those who remained in the ship.)
32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
(The soldiers listened to Paul and set the empty life-boat free so no one would use it.)
33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.
34 Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.
(Again, Paul assured them they would survive the storms and asked them to eat. They did not need to fast in order to survive so the food was needed for strength.)
35 And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.
36 Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food.
37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
(There were 276 people on board.)
38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.
40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.
(They picked a spot to run the ship aground.)
41 But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
(The ship began to break apart once it ran aground. The soldiers on the ship advised that the prisoners be killed so they would not escape. This included Paul.)
43 But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;
(The centurion did not want Paul to die so he kept the soldiers from their plan to kill the prisoners.)
44 and the rest, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.
(Paul's prophecy was fulfilled: They had a shipwreck and they all escaped safe to the land.)
Acts 28
1 And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita.
(The island they were on was called Melita, which we know today as Malta. Today, St. Paul's Bay fits the description given in Acts chapter 27 about the site of the ship running aground.)
2 And the barbarians showed us no common kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
(The natives showed them great kindness.)
3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
(Paul was bitten on the hand by a snake.)
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.
5 Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm.
(The natives understood Justice. They thought Paul must have been guilty. However, Paul was not harmed by the poisonous snake.)
6 But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
(The natives changed their minds about Paul being a criminal and thought he was a god.)
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.
8 And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.
9 And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured:
10 who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.
(Paul healed many at Melita. When they finally made to set sail, the natives provided much of the supplies.)
11 And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers.
12 And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.
(They remained on Melita three months and then in January/February, they sailed for Syracuse, the capital of Sicily.)
13 And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli;
(Then to Rhegium and Puteoli, two more cities of southern Italy.)
14 where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to Rome.
15 And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
(The believers in Puteoli. Verse 14 in the KJV ended with "...and so we went toward Rome." These brethren continued with Paul until he got about thirty miles from Rome.)
16 And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.
(Finally, they made it to Rome. However, Paul was separated from Luke and everyone else. After three days, Paul sent for the leaders in the synagogues in Rome so that he could explain his circumstances.)
17 And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:
18 who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught whereof to accuse my nation.
20 For this cause therefore did I entreat you to see and to speak with me: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
(Paul concluded his explanation.)
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.
(The leaders in the synagogues stated they had not heard anything about Paul and wanted to learn more about the Gospel.)
23 And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded the matter, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.
(From morning till evening, Paul preached in Rome about Jesus, the Law of Moses, and the prophets.)
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
(Some believed and some did not.)
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,
26 saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
27 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest, haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
(Paul referenced Isaiah 6:9-10, which Jesus also referenced in response to why some people believe and some do not.)
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.
(Paul referenced Psalm 67:2.)
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much disputing among themselves.
(The meeting ended and the people continued to debate their points.)
30 And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him,
31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.
(Paul stayed there for two years preaching to the Romans as a free man.)
(The fifth book of the New Testament was the second book written by St. Luke. The Book of Acts was written about thirty years after Christ's resurrection. The Book of Acts documented the transition from the Dispensation of the Law to the Dispensation of Grace via the Holy Spirit. The main themes of this book were the giving of the Holy Spirit, the growth of the New Testament Church, and the struggle over observing the Law of Moses. Some people consider the Book of Acts to be a non-doctrinal book: a book of the Bible that should not be used to determine Doctrine. The reasons for this were:
1) This book was a historical account that did not have a conclusion
2) This book introduced the Holy Spirit as a main focus.
In the same way these early Christians struggled with the conflict of keeping the Law of Moses, the Christian Church of today is still struggling with the conflict of keeping everything spoken of about the Holy Spirit by this book as well as the rest of the New Testament. We saw how the Holy Spirit was the main personality of this book. We also saw that conflicts between people were handled in a rational manner. Each side was allowed to present their premise and reason with their support from scripture. The methods used by these earlier leaders of the New Testament Church ought to guide us today.)
Day 321
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