Acts 27:1-20

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul on his way to Rome. Luke is back to his “we” and “us” writings. It’s intriguing to have this first-hand account of Paul’s ministry. As we begin the trip to Rome in today’s reading, I recall my first time reading through Acts and feeling like I was on board ship with Paul and Luke. Especially intriguing to me is Luke having been through it all personally. Certainly he had the same fears for his own safety as all the others on board, but he could look to Paul for leadership in a way that the others could not.

And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. (v. 3b) Because Luke is on this journey with Paul, we are able to see this more intimate relationship between Paul and his centurion keeper. Luke even calls him by name, Julius, in verses 1 and 3, and mentions him as “the centurion” in verses 6 and 11. What’s interesting in verse 3b is the trust that Julius has for Paul. Presumably there’s no reason for Paul to escape – since he appealed to Caesar and he had already wanted to go to Rome he’s getting a free ride! But still, Julius letting him go off on his own is nice.

Blessings!

Acts 26:19-32

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul before King Agrippa and Bernice in Caesarea. Four verses stood out for me today.

First, “…that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.” (v. 20b) In our world today there are discussions about salvation by grace alone vs. working one’s way to heaven. And often imbedded therein is a sub-topic discussion of works in general. Why do we perform works? What is the purpose behind Christians doing good things? We’re not working our way to heaven; rather, Paul seems to suggest a tit-for-tat. As God has done for us such a great deed as forgiving us and allowing us to have fellowship with Him, in return we need to do the same for others – deeds worthy of our salvation. I like that explanation.

Second, “…that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (v. 23) Left unsaid in Paul’s statement is that Jesus, the Christ, …being the first to rise from the dead…, was, in fact, the first, and that there would be others: us!!

Third, “For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.” (v. 26b) This verse takes me back to the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), where Jesus joined two men who were walking along the road discussing Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection – specifically, … about everything that had happened. (Luke 24:14). When Jesus asked what they were talking about, One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (Luke 24:18) That is, as with Paul in the decades following his conversion, the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection … had not been done in a corner!

Finally, Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” (v. 24) I have long remembered this verse as “…your great learning is driving you mad.” Back in the early summer of 2003 I was Assistant Treasurer for the Diocese of Lexington (Episcopal) and the Diocesan Convention was just weeks or months away. I was walking with Bishop Stacy Sauls after a meeting at the Cathedral Domain, talking about homosexuality and the upcoming ordination of the gay bishop from New Hampshire. I was citing Scripture to him, arguing against homosexuality in general and this upcoming ordination in particular when he said, “Fred, I can give you dozens of books on this topic in support of homosexuality.” I recall my response, “If it’s that complicated, Stacy, I don’t think it’s from God. Jesus’ message was much simpler than that.” Our conversation continued, but I remember thinking, “Stacy, your great learning is driving you mad!” Sometimes I wonder if my great learning is driving me mad, but my most intense “great learning” has been the Bible, so I don’t dwell on the question!

Blessings!

Acts 26:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul before King Agrippa and Bernice in Caesarea. Carol and I are on family vacation in Tennessee this week, so I’m a bit out of my element – and not nearly such an early riser when on vacation!!

It’s interesting that Paul makes his claim to be a Pharisee, because King Agrippa would likely be siding with the Sadducees! It was up to the king to appoint the High Priests, and all of those for whom we have record in that first century were Sadducees. So if Paul is stating his Pharisee background, he knows that he might be going against King Agrippa. But then again, he is also speaking to Jews in the audience who are Pharisees and Sadducees. My guess is that he is simply making the strongest point that he can make as to the zeal with which he had lived his former life.

It’s a curious interlude, in the midst of Paul’s recounting his life prior to his conversion: Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? (v. 8) Here Paul is making an introductory point that is leading to his later claim that Jesus had been raised from the dead. But he asks it as a question instead of simply making a statement. To me this is a noteworthy item in that he is directly appealing to each and every one of the members of his audience, making it personal for them. I think that’s a good model for our own witnessing – asking questions instead of “preaching”.

…to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God… (v. 18a) I don’t often think of Satan’s influence on the Jews in Jesus’ time and in prior Old Testament times. Yes, I think of their ups and downs, of their following after the gods of the nations around them. And yes, we know that we are born with a sin nature (after the Fall), but I think we can also say that all sin is from Satan’s influence on us. It’s a truth that the Lord makes explicit here, that Paul’s contemporary Jews are in Satan’s power and that they need to turn to Him. Paul is couching that sentence as coming during his visit from Jesus, but I can imagine the audience reaction to Paul making that statement!! Like throwing a match on spilled gasoline!!

Blessings!

Acts 25:13-27

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul before Festus in Caesarea. Festus and Felix… Dramatic differences in these two leaders. In more than two years Felix did nothing with Paul, his prisoner, except to please the Jewish people by keeping him confined, all the while hoping for a bribe from him. Felix is called back to Rome and Festus comes to Caesarea. Three days after his arrival he goes to Jerusalem, the leading city in his region and meets with the religious authorities there. He accommodates their wishes by ordering a hearing in Caesarea, whereupon Paul appeals to Rome rather than allow himself to be examined by the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. All this has happened with Festus in about two weeks! Now while Festus has Paul “on hold”, waiting to send him on to Rome, an opportunity presents itself when King Agrippa pays him a visit. Festus can now examine Paul in a civil setting (non-judicial) so he can better understand why he has this prisoner in his custody – and what to write to the Roman authorities when he sends Paul off to Rome. Festus is doing his job well!!

Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. (v. 13) Just reading through the text in the past, I had assumed that Agrippa and Bernice were husband and wife, king and queen. However, it turns out that they were brother and sister – with some rumors of an incestual relationship between them. As for how Agrippa fits into this picture with Festus, it’s much the same relationship as some years prior with King Herod and Pontius Pilate. When Jesus was tried, Pilate was a governor serving under King Herod. Now with Paul, Festus is a governor serving under King Agrippa.

Festus is the new kid in town. He acknowledges his shortcomings in today’s last two verses: But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him. (vv. 26-27) So Festus is quite the opportunist – saving face and trying to look competent!! But maybe that’s not so bad. He’s new to the area, unfamiliar with the people and their customs. He is making use of an authority figure so that he can better understand a complicated situation. Festus may be something of an opportunist here, but I think he is also making the best use of the resources at his disposal. Not a bad model to follow…

Blessings!

Acts 24:22-25:12

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul before Felix and Festus in Caesarea. …wishing to do the Jews a favor… (twice, Acts 24:27, 25:8). The Roman governor of Judea and Samaria needed the support of the leading Jews in order to maintain peace in the region. This is not the first time that we have seen this accommodation: About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James … and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also… (Acts 12:1-3a)

More than two years have passed since Paul stood before Felix while the Jews brought charges against him. So Festus arrives as the new governor and very quickly takes a trip to Jerusalem. There he visits the Jewish council and (presumably) asks what issues they want to discuss. So first and foremost, these leaders want Paul tried before their council. More than two years have gone by and Paul is still foremost in their minds. Unbelievable!! The fear that the Jewish leaders had of this new religion and this powerful preacher…

So Paul was being tried before Festus in Caesarea, when Festus asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” (v. 9b) Those charges were charges by the Jewish leaders, presumably that Paul had committed crimes against the Law or the temple or Caesar (v. 8) But Paul was already before Festus’ tribunal in Caesarea and his Jewish accusers were before him. Why was this situation not sufficient for a trial? Why would Festus offer Jerusalem, except to appease the Jews? And why would Paul say, “I appeal to Caesar.” (v. 11b) Why would he not say that he was already before a Roman tribunal in Caesarea, with no need to go elsewhere? Or was this appeal Paul’s ticket to get to Rome – where he had long desired to go? Interesting…!

Blessings!

Acts 24:1-21

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul before Felix in Caesarea. And after five days… (v. 1a) would be two days for a messenger from Caesarea to Jerusalem, one day of planning by the Jewish authorities, and another two days of travel back to Caesarea.

If you are reading an ESV translation, you will notice a numerical gap between verses 6 and 8. My Study Bible has a note that the following verses (6b-8a) are missing in the earliest translations: “…and we would have judged him according to our law. ⁷But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, ⁸commanding his accusers to come before you.” These verses are absent in the ESV and other translations, but are included in the NASB (the one that I mostly read) and other translations.

Tertullus speaking: “For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” (v. 5) Tertullus is trying to convince the Roman governor that Paul is a serious troublemaker. So first he creates the sense that Paul is something of a terrorist – leading riots throughout the world. Second, he refers to the Christians as Nazarenes. I recall that the Roman authorities had seen the Christians as simply an offshoot of the Jewish religion. Tertullus, however, is trying to claim that there is a new religion in the Roman world, one not acknowledged as legitimate by the Roman authorities.

Paul speaking: “But some Jews from Asia – they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.” (vv. 18b-19) The “Jews from Asia” again…! Go back to Acts 21:27, When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him… It just dawned on me – recall that Paul wanted to get to Jerusalem before Pentecost. (Acts 20:16) I’m guessing that he made it and that other faithful Jews from around the world, including “the Jews from Asia” (probably Antioch, Lyconium, Derbe) had also made the trip, to be in Jerusalem on one of the three required trips to Jerusalem. That’s why they were there in the temple when they saw Paul. They (not Paul) were the ones creating the “riot” in the temple. Stay tuned!

Blessings!

Acts 23:11-35

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul’s departure from Jerusalem. Again, as we saw in Corinth and Ephesus, the political authorities rescue Paul. Clearly the Lord was watching over him as He had promised, The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (v. 11) It’s always been strange to me that the Lord is promising Paul a trip to Rome, when that has long been Paul’s desire! (See Acts 19:21. Also, I have long maintained that it would have been Paul’s desire in Acts 17 to continue west to Rome after Thessalonica, except that for his own safety he was taken south to Berea.)

I’m impressed in verses 17-19 with the influence that Paul has with the Roman authorities. A centurion is in charge of 100 soldiers, but Paul is able to call in this centurion and tell him to take the young boy to the commander, a man in charge of 1000 soldiers. And the centurion does what Paul asks, not even knowing what the message might be. Then the tribune immediately takes Paul’s nephew aside and listens to what he has to say. Paul has the Roman authorities doing what he asks, simply by asking. Impressive!!

When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. … They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.” (vv. 12, 14) At first glance these two verses seem to have the Jews plotting against Paul just as they had plotted against Jesus. However, there are two important differences here. First, with Jesus it was the Jewish leaders who hatched the plot to have Him killed. Here it appears to be regular Jews (maybe Zealots?) who are planning Paul’s murder. These “commoners” go to the Jewish leaders with their plan, not for approval, but to further what they have already plotted. Second, with Jesus it was the Jewish leaders’ plan to have Jesus killed legally by the Roman authorities, leaving themselves clear of any charge of murder. Here, the Jews are taking it upon themselves to murder Paul – presumably with little regard as to the consequences for any one man or for all forty conspirators. So they succeeded with Jesus and look what happened!

My Study Bible has a note that “spearmen” could also be translated “additional mounts and pack animals”. I like the second translation better. The traveling guard already contained 200 soldiers and 70 horsemen, with Paul also on a horse. Surely the 200 Roman soldiers could withstand incursions by small or even medium-size bands of attackers. And even against a large force the 70 horsemen could get Paul out of danger very quickly. By way of comparison, our Pony Express riders had stations every 10 to 15 to 20 miles, the distance a horse could reasonably run before tiring. So Paul and the 70 horsemen could be free and clear in short order.

Blessings!

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See also: December 15 (2023) / Acts 21:17-24:27

Acts 22:30-23:10

Dear RTB’ers, 

Paul in Jerusalem, continuing. We have a hint today concerning yesterday’s confusion. Recall my comment yesterday: “Up to this word they listened to him. (v. 22a) It’s confusing to me also why the Jews listened to Paul ‘Up to this word…’, and then turned against him.” What “word” bothered them? Today we read that …some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” (v. 23:9b) Reading this verse, it seems that yesterday’s “Up to this word…” had to do with Paul twice claiming that he had spoken directly with God (Paul speaking): “And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me…” (v. 22:8a); and “And the Lord said to me…” (v. 22:10b) Presumably Paul’s claiming to have spoken directly with God amounted to blasphemy for them. My thoughts…

And Paul said, “ … it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” (v. 23:5) Since I am clearly guilty of Paul’s admonishment in this verse, I looked up that Old Testament quote (Exodus 22:28). Specifically, it says, You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. So thankfully, even though I have spoken evil of (some of) our leaders, I have not specifically cursed them. In fact, I have made it a point to pray for them whenever I think about it, as we do every Sunday at church. In this day and age, our political leaders in both parties are clearly in need of prayer!!

Blessings!

Acts 22:17-29

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul in Jerusalem, continuing his speech to the Jewish crowd. Up to this word they listened to him. (v. 22a) It’s confusing to me also why the Jews listened to Paul “Up to this word…”, and then turned against him. I had the same question back in 2020 when we were reading Acts and the Epistles. Why “Up to this word…”? Are they charging him with blasphemy (since they want to kill him)? “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” (v. 22b) But where is the blasphemy? Is it Paul’s claim of the Lord speaking directly to him? (vv. 18, 21) But the Lord spoke directly to so many of the Old Testament prophets. Again, Jesus’ words come to mind, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” (Matthew 23:37a) Or “… from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.” (Luke 11:51a) Why “Up to this word…”? Strange.

So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. (v. 29) Paul was a Roman citizen. This item was also important back in Acts 16 when Paul and Silas had been jailed in Philippi. Carol and I have felt similar protections as U.S. citizens when traveling abroad. We move around confidently, knowing that we have the U.S. government behind us. Our blue passports are “gold”. Without providing all the details, there was an occasion early in our first year in Slovakia (2004-2005) when someone reported to us that a high official had said, “Give these people what they want; the Embassy is involved.” Such was the power of the U.S. presence in Slovakia – and elsewhere around the world. Paul had that same coverage from Rome and it served him well on a number of occasions – including some reading in the next few chapters.

Blessings!

Acts 21:37-22:16

Dear RTB’ers,

Paul in Jerusalem, speaking to the riotous crowd: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death…” Paul is relating to his audience. They had dragged him out of the temple, and … were intent on killing him… (Acts 20:30b-31a). He knows how they felt. He had been there when they stoned Stephen (Acts 7). He had been one of them! But now he is a changed man.

Today’s reading is one of at least four accounts that we have of Paul’s conversion. The first account takes up most of Acts chapter 9. Later we will see him relating his conversion in Acts 26:9-18. Finally Paul also recounts his conversion in Galatians 1:13-17. The same exact details are not mentioned in all four accounts, so it is difficult to work completely through his conversion, but it seems that he spent some time in Damascus after his conversion preaching in the synagogues until he escaped from the city after the Jews sought to kill him. Then he spent three years in Arabia before returning to Damascus and finally then coming to Jerusalem, as noted in verse 17. Reading that one verse ahead, in Paul telling the story there is a major gap between verses 16 and 17 (Paul quoting Ananias in v. 16): And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. (Then Paul continuing with his story in v. 17) When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance… I wonder why Paul left out that 3+ year gap. My sense is that Paul felt that his Damascus/Arabia activities were not relevant to this Jerusalem audience. Again, Paul relating to his audience!

Blessings!

Fred