Teaching (no posting) The Acts of The Apostles

[SpiritPsalmist]

The Case Against Paul
Act 24:1-9


It was five days later that the High Priest Ananias and some of his elders and their attorney, Tertullus, and the Judean leaders showed up to report to Felix. Tertullus began his speech with flattery. which was customary and usually quite the opposite of the facts regarding Felix. Then Tertullus began his accusations against Paul.

His argument is brief: 1. Paul is a pest. (not a criminal offense) 2. Stirring up riots among all the Jewish people in the world. (The jurisdiction of Felix does not go beyond his district and it wasn't "All" the Jews since there were thousands of Jewish believers in Yeshua). 3. A ring leader of the sect of the Natzratim. (Tertullus was painting a picture of Paul being a supporter of another King):

• The sect of the Natzratim, a Hebrew word derived from "Natzeret" (Nazareth), the town where Yeshua the Messiah lived most of his life. The Greek word used here is "Nazoraios"; it is used six times in Acts and five times in the Gospels as descriptive of Yeshua himself, and in these places the JNT renders it "from Natzeret." Today a similarly derived Hebrew word, "Notzrim," is the ordinary word for "Christians"; after two thousand years it no longer refers to a group considered to be within Judaism. Most English translations use the term "Nazarenes" in this verse. See also Mt 2:23&N. Greek airesis gives us the English word "heresy," but its meaning here is "sect." It is used in Jewish literature to refer to other groups, including the P 'rushim — it does not necessarily have a negative connotation. ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~

4. He said Paul tried to defile the Temple (they earlier accused him of defiling but knew it was not true so now they say, "tried", which was not true either.). He told Felix that if he examined Paul himself he'd find that all the accusations were true. The Judean leaders joined in agreement with the accusations too.

• What is shown as vers 7 in many Bibles is an added verse and not in the original manuscripts. See footnotes of whatever version you use.
  1. Acts 24:8 Some mss. add 24:6b-8a: We wanted to judge him according to our own Torah. But the commander Lysias came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, ordering his accusers to come before you.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul Defends Himself
Act 24:10-21

After Tertullus finishes speaking Felix nods to Paul that he may respond to the accusations made against him. He lets Felix know that he is aware that Felix has been judge over the nation for many years and that he would gladly defend himself. Paul touched on each point that Tertullus had made.

Paul states that it had only been twelve days since he had arrived in Jerusalem of which his purpose was to worship. The Jewish leaders did not find him arguing or starting a riot with anyone...not in the temple, the synagogue or anywhere else. He says his accusers cannot prove any of their accusations.

He said that in reference to "The Way", which the Jewish leaders called a sect, "I worship the God of our fathers (see Ex 3:15). I believe everything written in the Torah and the Prophets." He said that his hope was in God and that just like these men believed he too was waiting for a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous.

1. Paul did not teach against Torah. He did not ever say it was old and out of date and that Yeshua had done away with it. There is more to Torah than just what we see and understand in our own culture. I encourage adding to your study the perspective of the Jewish viewpoint. Don't just listen to the "Christian perspective" because they too, sadly only apply what they have limited themselves to...that of only the western perspective. There are many Messianic, Hebrew Roots, etc. sites out there too.
2. You don't have to accept everything you read. There are many thoughts and opinions from the Jewish view that I do not accept. I try to get many opinions and thoughts and I hash it out with research and discussing it with God and what I think I already know.
3. At least hear the other thought and do not limit yourself to just the "Christian" opinion. While the person may be Christian, they may also be incorrect on their information. Even on the things of the NT make sure the understanding you have coincides with what God says in Torah. God is not double-minded and when He declared something to be "forever", He meant it. When it doesn't, it's not God's words that are wrong, it's your understanding.
4. There is more to Torah than meets the eye. Some parts of it are not applicable because of life situations and Torah gives space for that. Search, dig, excavate and never be satisfied to the point that you stop searching, even when you think you've "got it". Actually, if you think that you've got it, you don't.

Paul said that before God and man he always does his best to keep a clear conscience. He makes sure that he does everything God has told him to do and that he does it thoroughly. He does not put off until tomorrow what he can do today.

Paul continues with after several years of being gone he came to Jerusalem to bring tzedakah (charity to the poor) and to present offerings. The leaders had found him in the Temple presenting his offerings to the Lord. He had gone through the purification process and there was no crowd or uproar. There were some Jewish people from Asia in the Temple though, who are not here but should be, and that is where they found me.

Even before the Sanhedrin Paul said he had done nothing wrong other than when he yelled out, "It is about the resurrection of the dead that I stand before you."


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul Held In Custody
Act 24:22-27

Felix already knew a great deal about The Way. After Paul finished with his defense, Felix put off his decision saying he would wait until the Commander Lysias came...there is no evidence that Lysias ever came. Felix commanded the centurion to keep Paul in custody yet give him some freedom and allow his friends to come and go in order to meet Paul's needs.

A few days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. Felix sent for Paul and discusses Paul's faith in Yeshua. As well as Paul's faith in Yeshua, they went over many subjects, such as righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. The subject of the coming judgment, frightened Felix so he sent Paul back to his cell, telling him he would call for him again when he found time.

• Righteousness, self-control and the coining Judgment. Sha'ul delivered a complete salvation message suited to the condition of his hearer: the past, when Yeshua through his atoning death made righteousness available to everyone (Ro 3:21-26, 5:8); the present, when the Holy Spirit empowers believers to lead increasingly holy lives, with self-control being not only necessary but possible (Ga 5:22-23); and the future, when everyone — including Felix, you and me — will be judged (1С 3:10-15).
  
  Felix was frightened enough not to want to hear more about judgment, but not frightened enough to believe the Gospel, which offers an alternative to the divine penalty for sin, death. "How will we escape if we ignore such a great deliverance?" (MJ 2:3) (Heb 2:3) ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~
• It is my thought that Paul led the conversation with his Faith in Yeshua. His message was not, "You're going to hell" but it was coming judgment of which we ALL will experience. Either we will be sentenced to "life" or "death".Felix knew his own heart and what his actions deserve.

At the same time as his curiosity about Paul's faith and his teachings, Felix was also hoping that Paul would give him money to set him free so he sent for Paul frequently to talk with him. He's remembering how Paul had testified of the tzedakah (charity to the poor) that he had brought with him to Jerusalem.

After two years though, Felix is replaced by Porcius Festus and desiring to satisfy the Judean leaders, he left Paul in prison.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul Appeals To Caesar
Act 25:1-12

Three days after Festus assumed his duties in Caesarea he went to Jerusalem. The religious leaders and big wigs among the Jews bombarded him with formal charges against Paul. They asked Festus for "a favor". "Would he transfer Paul to Jerusalem to be tried there"? Their plan was the same as before: attack the group Paul was being guarded by and kill Paul.

Perhaps Festus was more aware of the situation than the Jewish leaders hoped. His response was "I'm returning to Caesarea in a few days, why don't you come to Caesarea with me. If the man has broken any laws you can bring the charges against him there".

When Festus returned to Caesarea and took his seat on the bench as judge, and he ordered for Paul to be brought before him. When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders encircled him and began making their charges against him...many of them serious crimes. However, they had no proof of their accusations.

In his defense, Paul said, "I have done nothing wrong. I've committed no offense against Jewish law, or against the Temple, nor against Caesar". Festus wanted to get favor among the Jewish people so he asked Paul, "Are you willing to go with me to Jerusalem to be charged with these charges?"

• Remember Paul was a Roman citizen, it was his right to refuse.

Paul responded, "I am standing in Caesar's court, this is where I should be tried. As you know I have done nothing wrong to the Jews. If I have committed a crime worthy of death, I won't seek to escape the penalty of death. But if none of their charges are true, no one has the right to hand me over to them.", and he appealed to Caesar.

After discussing it with the members of his council Felix said, "Since you have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you will go!” The unbelieving Jewish leader's plan foiled again. LOL

See notes in the Jewish New Testament Commentary for other notes on the events. I felt there are too many to just copy and paste here.



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[SpiritPsalmist]

Agrippa and Bernice
Act 25:13-22

It was several days later when King Agrippa and Bernice (Agrippa's sister) came to Caesarea to celebrate his promotion. While there Felix told Agrippa about Paul and asked for council on his trial.

He told him of the trial he'd held and how the accusations of the Jewish leaders against Paul could not be proven and they were charges mainly that dealt with the Jewish religion and the sect of The Way....believers who followed Judaism, and believed in Yeshua as Messiah.

Felix told of how Paul had requested to stand before Ceaser and Paul is still in prison until he can see Ceaser. Agrippa said he would like to hear Paul for himself and Felix told him, "Tomorrow you will hear him".


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul Brought Before Agrippa and Bernice
Act 25:23-27

The next day Agrippa and Bernice (link is a differing opinion from previous notes of their relationship) arrived with great pageantry. The commanders and all the most important men of the city were there as well. When Felix gave the order Paul was brought in. So, there were a lot of people there.

The speech Felix gave was basically, "Here's the man I told you about. The Judean's have all petitioned me about him and say that he should die, but I don't find that he has done any crimes that call for the death penalty. He has appealed to his majesty so I decided to send him to you I have no specific report to give you because I don't see that he has done anything wrong. I'm hoping that after he has been investigated, I will have something to put in the report, for it seems illogical to send a prisoner without having written the charges against him."

• Paul had already been held in prison for over two years without formal charges made by the ruler. His friends and family were freely allowed to come and go though.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul Defends Himself Before Agrippa
Act 26:1-11

In the first part of Paul's defense, it should now be noted that he is making his defense and as usual declaring the gospel, to not only the common people in the court, but to the leading elite. They all see him as a prisoner, but he sees himself as a bearer of the Good News of the gospel.

Paul addresses Agrippa by saying he (Paul) is fortunate to be standing before Agrippa since Agrippa is well informed of Jewish teaching.

• Agrippa himself was a Jew (his father Agrippa I wasn't but his mother was, since his mother's mother's mother was Mariamne, the Hasmonean princess and second of King Herod the Great's ten wives; see 16:1N). The reason Sha'ul says he considers himself fortunate to be making his defense before him is that Agrippa, who is not only Jewish by birth but well informed about all the Jewish customs and controversies. will appreciate the situation. Sha'ul is talking to a landsman (Yiddish: "fellow Jew") and knows he can dispense with the sort of detailed explanations that would be necessary to get himself understood by pagans. The irony of vv. 6-7 would be lost on Festus. ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~

Paul addresses the fact that everyone knows that from his (Paul's) youth he has been part of the strictest Jewish group, a Pharisee, and he lived his life accordingly. Yet, now he stands before Agrippa being charged for the hope of the promise of the resurrection of the dead given to their fathers. He's being accused by Jewish people (the Judean leaders) because of his hope that God raises the dead...which is a key teaching of the Pharisees.

He states of how he did everything he could to come against the name of Yeshua and how in Jerusalem he was commissioned to hunt those of The Way down and torment and/or kill them and deliver those he didn't kill to prison. He tried to cause those of The Way to blaspheme in the synagogue by punishing them and in furious rage, he punished them often. He told how when they were being judged he was part of those who signed their death warrants. He was well known and an important person among the Pharisees.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul's Testimony of The Change of His Life
Act 26:12-23

Paul continues on from who he was to who he now is. He tells of his trip toward Damascus with his approval papers to arrest and/or kill all the believers in Yeshua he could find. However, while on the road a bright light blinded him and a voice spoke from the light and asked him why he was persecuting him. The voice revealed himself as Yeshua, whom Paul was persecuting.

Paul told of how Yeshua told him he was going to anoint him as a servent and a witness of all the things of what he had seen and what would be revealed to him. Yeshua would rescue him not only from his own people but also from the Gentiles to whom he was especially being sent.

Paul declares to Agrippa that he did not disobedient to the heavenly voice. He declared the message everywhere he went, beginning in Damascus, then Jerusalem and throughout the whole region of Judea. He also went to the Gentiles, telling them to repent and turn to God and do the deeds that are consistent with repentance.

• This is Sha'ul's third version of his encounter with Yeshua on the road to Damascus, the others being at 9:3-19 and 22:5-16. Some details in the reports differ. In Chapter 9 the light is said to have flashed around Sha'ul and his companions; in the other tellings, it surrounded Sha'ul. In Chapter 9 his companions stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one; in Chapter 22 they saw light but did not hear the voice of the speaker; and here, in Chapter 26, they all fell to the ground. Each telling, having its own purpose and being directed to a particular audience, emphasizes different aspects of what happened. Here is a composite consistent with all three versions. The light surrounded both Sha'ul and his companions. They all saw the light, but only Sha'ul saw Yeshua. They all heard some sort of sound, but only Sha'ul heard distinct words. All fell to the ground, but Sha'ul's companions got up again. Understood as what it is described as being, a supernatural event, no further explanation is needed. But some who do not believe in supernatural events have attempted to "demythologize" Sha'ul's "conversion experience" as a combination of coincidences, psychotic or epileptic seizures, and embellishments. (The very term "conversion experience" subtly prejudges the matter by focussing on subjective aspects, whereas in all three reports Sha'ul emphasizes the objective.) ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~

Paul tells Agrippa that it was for this reason that some of the Judeans seized him while he was in the temple and tried to put him to death. Since he has had God's help from then to now he has stood before great and small giving his testimony.

Paul says he's saying nothing different from anything that the Prophets and Moses said would happen. Messiah was to suffer and rise from the dead and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and all the nations.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul Urges Agrippa's Belief
Act 26:24-32

While in the middle of Paul's defense, Felix yells out that Paul is crazy...that all his studying has made him crazy. Paul responds saying he's not crazy and that Agrippa understands fully what he is talking about. Agrippa's mother was Jewish and taught her children the scriptures, Agrippa understood quite well what Paul was talking about.

Agrippa told Paul that in the short time he had been there he was trying to persuade him to believe Yeshua is Messiah. Paul's response was whether it was a short time or a long time he would pray to God that all who heard him in that courtroom would be as he is...except for the chains.

Then the King stood up and everyone else stood up too and the court was dismissed. Talking among themselves, Felix, Agrippa, and Bernice were staying that Paul had done nothing wrong, nothing worthy of death or of chains. Then Agrippa said, "if he had not appealed to Ceaser, he could have been set free.

• Since Felix had publically accepted (before his accusers) Paul's appeal, it could not be annulled.

• See further commentary notes at Jewish New Testament Commentary.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Setting Sail for Rome
Act 27:1-2

It does not give us the time span to when it was finely decided to send Paul to Rome. Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a Centurian named Julius who was from the Augustan Cohort. They were boarded onto a ship (probably looked something like this) from Adramyttium which was going to sail along the coastal areas. The text says, "we" set sail so Luke was with them and also Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.

• I like it that Paul's friends were able to go with him, it was not just him with other prisoners, although, Paul was probably friends with them and a few if not all of them had possibly put their faith in Yeshua too. See the lower part of map on the dotted red line where they were starting and would sail along the coastal ports.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul Receives Care in Sidon
Act 27:3-6

So they were on the ship for the night and the next day they set down in Sidon. Julius, the Centurian treated Paul with great kindness and allowed him to go to a friend's house to receive care. I think it quite possible that the Centurian had become a believer.

• I think this time at friends turned into a time of brief fellowship and praying for Paul as well as tending to any physical needs he may have had like medical, food, and clothing.

From Sidon, they sailed out to sea and because the winds were against them, they went between Cyprus and Asia Minor, leaving Cyprus to the left. From there they sailed across the open sea along the coasts of Cilicia and Pamphylia. Then they came down to Myra in Lycia. There, the Centurian found a ship from Alexandria that was sailing to Italy, and he put them on board.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

High Winds At Sea
Act 27:7-12

After they all got on board the ship from Alexandria, they (the scripture says "we" so Luke is still with them) sailed slowly for many days and with great difficulty, finely made it to Cnidus (approx 130 miles and #4 on the map below).

The winds would not allow them to sail into the port at Cnidus, they sailed leeward of Crete off Salmone (#5). They coasted along until they came to a place called Fair Haven (#6), which was near the city of Lasea.

Luke, mentions that considerable time had past and measures it by mentioning that Yom Kippur (the fast), which they observed, had passed during their time of travel.

Paul kept warning them that it was too dangerous to be trying to travel and that if they continued it would be disastrous and there would be great loss of not only the cargo but lives.

• It's possible that Paul was prophesying or maybe just giving his opinion as an experienced sea traveler. (See notes in Jewish New Testament Commentary)

Apparently though, the ship's pilot and captain convinced the Centurian that all was ok and he decided to not give heed to what Paul said.

The harbor at Fair Haven was unsuitable for them to dock for the winter so they took a majority vote and the majority decided they should sail back on out to sea to try and reach Phoenix and spend the winter there.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Fighting With The Wind
Act 27:13-20

Finely, the wind settled down and it was assumed that it was safe to continue on the journey. They raised the anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.

It wasn't long before the winds started up again though and became what is called a "Northeaster". The ship could not be faced into the wind so they just gave way to the wind and it blew them wherever it wanted to blow them. The wind blew them under the shelter of a small island called Cauda and they were barely able to get control of the dingy. They hoisted the dingy up then used ropes to undergird the ship.

Then they became afraid that they might run aground in the Syrtis. They let down the anchor and were just blown along at the will of the wind. They blew along all night and by daylight they found the ships so battered they began to throw the ship's cargo overboard.

On the third day of the storm, they threw out the ship's gear. For many days the storm blew violently and there was no sun or stars, and they began to give up hope of survival.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul's Encouraging Words Tp Crew and Passengers
Act 27:21-26

It's been several days now that they've been drifting at sea and they have not eaten. We cannot know Paul's intentions of his statements to them if they are an "I told you so" or just a reminder of them not listening to his warnings that it would have been better to have remained at Crete and they should listen to him from now on. I see his words as more than "just" an "I told you so" though, they were also encouraging.

Paul told them he'd had an angel visit him that night and the angel told him that all would be safe, only the ship would be lost.

• The angel had told Paul, "do not be afraid". I personally don't think the angel would have said that if Paul was not afraid. t's normal to feel fear in the situation they were in. They were drifting in the open sea. Their food was gone and the ship was breaking apart, they were being blown willy nilly by the winds, and they had no idea where they were. Any items the crew and passengers had as well as any items Paul may have received at the stopover at his friend's house in Sidon were gone. All they had left was what they were wearing and that was probably ripped and wind-blown and wet.

The angel told Paul he was to stand before Ceasar and also that all the souls on board the ship would be safe. Paul told them all to, "Take heart (be encouraged), I trust God that it will work out exactly as I have been told and we will run aground on some island"

• In the situations we may find ourselves we may feel like we are being tossed "willy-nilly". We may have made the wrong choices that put us in the situation or we may be at the mercy of the choices of others, but either way, God is with us when we call on Him. God sent an angel to comfort. God always comforts those who call on Him. He may not always send an angel that I can see but He always gives His comfort and encouragement.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Sailors Attempt to Abandon Ship
Acts 27:27-38

So now it's the fourteenth day drifting across the Adriatic Sea.

It was about midnight and the sailors began to sense they were near land. They took soundings and found the water was twenty fathoms deep. After some time, another sounding was done and it was about fifteen fathoms deep. Fearing they would run aground on the rocks they threw out four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight to come.

The sailors then, pretending they were going to put out more anchors began to lower the dingy into the sea so they could escape, leaving the rest of the people on board to fend for themselves. However, Paul knew what was going on and told the Centurian and the soldiers that if the sailors left, it could not be expected that any of the rest of those on board could expect to be saved from the sea.

The soldiers quickly cut away the ropes holding the dingy before the sailors could escape in it and they allowed it to drift away from the ship. Daylight was about to break and Paul urged everyone to eat some food.

• It seems not all the food was gone. It could have been for fear and depression that they had not eaten for days, it does not really say, just that they had not eaten. They needed their strength though and Paul encouraged them to eat. "You will not lose a hair from your head".

After Paul said this they took bread, gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and began to eat. They all were encouraged as they ate. In all, the number of people on board the ship was 276. When they had all eaten they felt better, then they began to throw the wheat from the ship into the sea.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

The Ship Runs Aground
Act 27:39-28:1

When it became daylight, they saw land but did not recognize it. They saw a bay with a beach and the plan was to run it ashore but they struck a sandbar and the ship was immovable and the stern began to break up from the pounding of the waves.

• This verse says, literally, "And coming upon a place between two seas they drove the vessel; and while the prow, having run aground, remained immovable, the stem was broken by the force." The sense is not exactly clear from the text. I have surfed for over thirty years; and this gives me some knowledge of how the sea works, which, 1 hope, helps solve the mystery. When a swell reaches an island, its waves split to pass it, and they may meet head-on at the far end of the island. At this place, the sand carried along by the currents from both directions is deposited as a sandbar or sand spit, on which the waves break from two nearly opposite directions, sometimes even running straight into each other. Such a spot makes for lively surfing but is very treacherous for ships and boats. My translation reflects this understanding, based on my experience surfing the islands off the coast of Southern California. ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~

The soldiers were concerned about the prisoners getting away so their plan was to kill all of them. However, the Centurian, wanting to save Paul, kept the solderers from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who were able to swim to jump overboard and swim to land and all the others were to hold on to whatever they could find that floated and go on ashore. It was by this action that all on board were saved and brought safely to land.

Once everyone was ashore, they learned that the land they were on was called Malta (#7 on the map below).

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[SpiritPsalmist]

The Island of Malta
Act 28:2-10

Luke writes that the people of Malta were unusually hospitable. They welcomed all the shipwrecked. I guess there was some sort of shelter and a fire was built to get everyone warm. Paul had gone out and gathered firewood and while putting the wood into the fire a "viper" came out and bit into him, hanging from his hand.

When the people of the island saw the snake hanging from his hand, they thought that he must really be an evil person and now the snake had come to make sure that he died. However, Paul just shook the snake off into the fire and went on about his business. It says he suffered no harm, so there was no snake bite that had to heal either.

• It seems that Paul did not even flinch at the snake biting him. God had come to him previously and told him he was going to stand before Ceasar and Paul knew that if God said it, then it would happen.

The people of the island were expecting Paul to keel over and die so obviously the viper was poisonous but after waiting for some time and Paul not dying they started claiming that he was a "god".

Some of the land on the island belonged to a very prominent man named Publius. For three days he hosted the shipwrecked, giving them all food and shelter. Publius' father was lying in bed sick with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and laid hands on him and prayed and he was healed. When the people of the island heard about it all the sick of the island started coming and getting prayer and they were healed. They heaped many honors on Paul and his friends and when they finely did sail on from Malta they put on board all the supplies that were needed.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Syracuse, Sicily
Act 28:11-12

It was not until three months later that they finely set sail again. They were on a ship from Alexandria and it had wintered in Malta. This ship had the Twin Brothers (Castor and Pollux, the mythical twin sons of Zeus & Leda) as it's figurehead.

It could have looked something like this:

They sailed from Malta to Syracuse, #8 on the map below:

They stayed in Syracuse for three days.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

On To Rome
Act 28:13-16

From Syracuse, they pulled up the anchors and sailed on to Rhegium (#9 on the map below). A day later a south wind came up and on the second day, they reached Puteoli (#10 on the map below).

It was there that they found some brothers and sisters in the Lord and they invited them to stay with them for seven days. Luke writes that that was the course they took to get to Rome (#11 on the map). It had been several months since they had begun the journey. The term "we" is used, so Luke and Aristarchus are still with him.

Now the brothers in Rome, when they heard about Paul and Luke and Aristarchus coming they came from as far away as Forum of Appiusto (about 43 miles away) and the Three Taverns (about 35 miles away) to meet them. When Paul saw them he was overjoyed to see them and he gave thanks to God and was greatly encouraged.

When they entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay in his own quarters with only a soldier guarding him.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Paul Meets With Jewish Leaders
Act 28:17-22


After three days Paul called the prominent Jewish leaders (non-believers) together. He denied that he had done or taught anything against the Jewish teachings.

• We should remember this statement of Paul the next time we teach and/or hear teaching that Paul taught against Torah, he didn't. Re-learn and re-think the scriptures you think Paul is denying Torah and it's benefits to you and your walk with God. It's not about following Jewish laws and being saved by them (we're not). It's about learning from the instruction manual God gave us so that we know whether we should go to the left or the right and not be floundering around with no idea of what to do. Adonai did not leave us to our own methods and means of figuring out what is best for us.

He told them he had done nothing that was deserving of death but that he was delivered to the Romans anyway. When the Romans had examined him they found him to not be guilty of the accusation of the Judean Jews (not ALL Jews). It was because of the uproar of the Judean Jews that Paul was forced to appeal to Ceasar. He makes certain to state that he has nothing against his own people though. He tells them he has called them together so that he may speak to them, that it was for the "hope of Israel".

• Jer 17:13 Adonai, You are the hope of Israel!
  All who forsake You will be ashamed.
  Those who depart from You
  will be written in the dirt,
  for they have forsaken Adonai,
  the fountain of living waters.
• Eze 37
• Lamb: Hope of Israel

The leader's response was that none of them had received any letters from Judea regarding him and none of the brothers coming from Judea had spoken any evil against him (Paul).

• I'm thinking that they (the Judean Jews) thought he (Paul) was no longer a threat since he was imprisoned so they no longer were raising a fuss. It doesn't say though.

The leaders continued saying, "We think it appropriate for us to hear for ourselves what it is that you think". They had not heard anything bad about Paul, but they had, however, heard of the "sect" of Judaism that Paul was a part of and that everyone was speaking against it.


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