Acts 23:10 - And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
And when there arose a great dissension, and in the Greek, it says war. When war arose, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force.
And that phrase "take him by force" is the same word used in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 for the rapture, HARPADZO!
They snatched him out of there as fast as they could from amongst them, and to bring him into the castle.
Acts 24:1 - And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
The term orator is the official Greek word for a lawyer. This is a professional lawyer. And his name is Tertullus in English. It is actually TERTULLOS in Greek.
The Jews often hired professional lawyers because the lawyers had to be proficient in Hebrew and Greek, and proficient in Roman law as well as Jewish law.
So, in hiring this attorney, they were better equipped to bring charges against Paul in what's turning out to be a very professional presentation against him.
Acts 24:5 - For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow. That's one Greek word that means disease or a plague.
So not only are they calling him a pest, but basically, he's like a plague in our land.
Acts 25:11 - For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
He's putting it in the negative. In the Greek text where it says "if," that is the condition of the first class assumed to be true. He's doing this and he's saying "Let's assume that I am an offender and that I have committed something worthy of death. I'm not going to refuse to die. I'll die if that's my sentence!" But if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
Roman citizens have the right to appeal to Caesar. That's like us saying I appeal to the Supreme Court! He knows he's innocent and that's why they have to shift him up to Jerusalem. But he knows that his life is going to be in danger. But he says no, I appeal to Caesar. So therefore, Festus cannot send him to Jerusalem. Festus must send him to Rome!
Acts 25:19 - But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
It's interesting that this is the Roman word for religion. Some bibles actually have the translation religion instead of superstition.
And here's what the word means:
Worshipping demon deities! That's what the Romans felt about Jewish religion, that they worship demon deities. That is very interesting!
But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, or religion, and of one Jesus, who had died. Please notice how I translated it. It is in the Perfect Tense in Greek. Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive!
Paul says that this Jesus had died, and now he's alive. And that's why they are all upset with him. He's telling the king! So, it's their own religious stuff. He hasn't committed any crime that anybody in Rome should get involved about.
Acts 25:6 - And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
The judgment seat is the Bema Seat. This means that it is the official Roman tribunal. And they pull out this movable chair and he sits on this throne and that makes it an official Roman trial.
Acts 25:7 - And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
Interesting, the term could in the phrase "could not" in Verse 7, it's not your normal word for ability. This is the word for strength. There wasn't any substance, no clout, in their presentation against Paul at all, just empty words.
"Here's our complaint." It's like, okay!
Acts 25:8 - While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
And while Paul answered for himself, he says neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
The word offense, HAMARTON, it's the word sin in the bible. Literally Paul says I haven't sinned. And the word sin is also a part of the judicial system. If a person has broken a law, they have sinned, HAMARTIA. They have fallen short of being a law-abiding citizen.
And that's how Paul is using it here. He's using professional language that's used in the Roman judicial system. And he says I have not offended the law of the Jews, I have not offended anything against the temple, nor yet against Caesar. Nothing at all!
Acts 24:24 - And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
The term "the faith in Christ," is literally translated the into Christ faith. It has a very special meaning. In Greek, it is in the Attributive Position. It is the faith into Christ. Not in Him, but into Him. The preposition always shows a shift in transfer of trust from oneself to someone else. Not believing psychological truth or the mental truth about Christ, but rather entrusting one's life to Christ.
Acts 24:25 - And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Paul ministered to them about three things:
First, righteousness. When you're speaking to a Roman authority, righteousness means lined up with the justice system. Second, of temperance (or self-control). The word for self-control, EGKRATOS, means to be gripped from within, to be held or controlled from within. Galatians 5:22 tells us that EGKRATOS is a fruit of God's Spirit.
Interesting because he's talking to Felix and his wife Drusilla. Drusilla at this time according to historical documents is not even 20 years old yet. Felix was struck with her beauty. Over a period of time, he talked her into divorcing her husband and coming and living with him. So, here's a man who's been told about righteousness, what's right, and self-control. Obviously, the man has no self-control. He is impulsive. He has to have what he wants.
Third thing is judgment to come. The Greek indicates any moment. You can imagine Felix is feeling a little shaky! In fact, it tells us that Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; (literally for now), and when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Acts 24:14 - But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
But this I do confess unto thee, and there are three things here to look at that Paul is going to say in his confession: that after the way which they call heresy. Remember the Christians are now called "The way."
The Jews would not call them Christians at this point. They would not even acknowledge that they are a religious group and that's why they called them "The way," because Christianity was not a religion, it was a way of life. I kind of like that myself!
But this way, which they call heresy, so worshipping I the God of my fathers. Now the word worshipping is the Greek word LATRUO. It is a Greek word used for the service of the high priest in the temple.
And so, Paul is saying I am in service like a high priest, I and the God of my fathers. That's the second thing. Thirdly, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
So, then he presents himself as a Jew who is fulfilling Judaism. The sect is "The way." I serve the God of my fathers, and I believe everything in the law and in the prophets. So, I'm not a side group. I am very much the real thing!
Acts 24:17 - Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
The term "bring alms" literally means acts of mercy. That's what almsgiving is. It comes from the Greek word for mercy. So, to give an alm is an act of mercy.
And what he is talking about is that he has come to Jerusalem with the offering from Macedonia and Greece and all the churches.
Remember he went back through and collected, and he brought some people from those churches with him over to Jerusalem so that they could deliver the offerings.
So, he says first of all, I came worshipping. And secondly, I came with an offering. That's why I came here. I didn't come here to stir up a riot.
(Acts Part 51):
Acts 23:10 - And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
And when there arose a great dissension, and in the Greek, it says war. When war arose, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force.
And that phrase "take him by force" is the same word used in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 for the rapture, HARPADZO!
They snatched him out of there as fast as they could from amongst them, and to bring him into the castle.
Acts 24:1 - And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
The term orator is the official Greek word for a lawyer. This is a professional lawyer. And his name is Tertullus in English. It is actually TERTULLOS in Greek.
The Jews often hired professional lawyers because the lawyers had to be proficient in Hebrew and Greek, and proficient in Roman law as well as Jewish law.
So, in hiring this attorney, they were better equipped to bring charges against Paul in what's turning out to be a very professional presentation against him.
Acts 24:5 - For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow. That's one Greek word that means disease or a plague.
So not only are they calling him a pest, but basically, he's like a plague in our land.
Acts 25:11 - For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
He's putting it in the negative. In the Greek text where it says "if," that is the condition of the first class assumed to be true. He's doing this and he's saying "Let's assume that I am an offender and that I have committed something worthy of death. I'm not going to refuse to die. I'll die if that's my sentence!" But if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
Roman citizens have the right to appeal to Caesar. That's like us saying I appeal to the Supreme Court! He knows he's innocent and that's why they have to shift him up to Jerusalem. But he knows that his life is going to be in danger. But he says no, I appeal to Caesar. So therefore, Festus cannot send him to Jerusalem. Festus must send him to Rome!
Acts 25:19 - But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
It's interesting that this is the Roman word for religion. Some bibles actually have the translation religion instead of superstition.
And here's what the word means:
Worshipping demon deities! That's what the Romans felt about Jewish religion, that they worship demon deities. That is very interesting!
But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, or religion, and of one Jesus, who had died. Please notice how I translated it. It is in the Perfect Tense in Greek. Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive!
Paul says that this Jesus had died, and now he's alive. And that's why they are all upset with him. He's telling the king! So, it's their own religious stuff. He hasn't committed any crime that anybody in Rome should get involved about.
Acts 25:6 - And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
The judgment seat is the Bema Seat. This means that it is the official Roman tribunal. And they pull out this movable chair and he sits on this throne and that makes it an official Roman trial.
Acts 25:7 - And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
Interesting, the term could in the phrase "could not" in Verse 7, it's not your normal word for ability. This is the word for strength. There wasn't any substance, no clout, in their presentation against Paul at all, just empty words.
"Here's our complaint." It's like, okay!
Acts 25:8 - While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
And while Paul answered for himself, he says neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
The word offense, HAMARTON, it's the word sin in the bible. Literally Paul says I haven't sinned. And the word sin is also a part of the judicial system. If a person has broken a law, they have sinned, HAMARTIA. They have fallen short of being a law-abiding citizen.
And that's how Paul is using it here. He's using professional language that's used in the Roman judicial system. And he says I have not offended the law of the Jews, I have not offended anything against the temple, nor yet against Caesar. Nothing at all!
Acts 24:24 - And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
The term "the faith in Christ," is literally translated the into Christ faith. It has a very special meaning. In Greek, it is in the Attributive Position. It is the faith into Christ. Not in Him, but into Him. The preposition always shows a shift in transfer of trust from oneself to someone else. Not believing psychological truth or the mental truth about Christ, but rather entrusting one's life to Christ.
Acts 24:25 - And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Paul ministered to them about three things:
First, righteousness. When you're speaking to a Roman authority, righteousness means lined up with the justice system. Second, of temperance (or self-control). The word for self-control, EGKRATOS, means to be gripped from within, to be held or controlled from within. Galatians 5:22 tells us that EGKRATOS is a fruit of God's Spirit.
Interesting because he's talking to Felix and his wife Drusilla. Drusilla at this time according to historical documents is not even 20 years old yet. Felix was struck with her beauty. Over a period of time, he talked her into divorcing her husband and coming and living with him. So, here's a man who's been told about righteousness, what's right, and self-control. Obviously, the man has no self-control. He is impulsive. He has to have what he wants.
Third thing is judgment to come. The Greek indicates any moment. You can imagine Felix is feeling a little shaky! In fact, it tells us that Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; (literally for now), and when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Acts 24:14 - But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
But this I do confess unto thee, and there are three things here to look at that Paul is going to say in his confession: that after the way which they call heresy. Remember the Christians are now called "The way."
The Jews would not call them Christians at this point. They would not even acknowledge that they are a religious group and that's why they called them "The way," because Christianity was not a religion, it was a way of life. I kind of like that myself!
But this way, which they call heresy, so worshipping I the God of my fathers. Now the word worshipping is the Greek word LATRUO. It is a Greek word used for the service of the high priest in the temple.
And so, Paul is saying I am in service like a high priest, I and the God of my fathers. That's the second thing. Thirdly, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
So, then he presents himself as a Jew who is fulfilling Judaism. The sect is "The way." I serve the God of my fathers, and I believe everything in the law and in the prophets. So, I'm not a side group. I am very much the real thing!
Acts 24:17 - Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
The term "bring alms" literally means acts of mercy. That's what almsgiving is. It comes from the Greek word for mercy. So, to give an alm is an act of mercy.
And what he is talking about is that he has come to Jerusalem with the offering from Macedonia and Greece and all the churches.
Remember he went back through and collected, and he brought some people from those churches with him over to Jerusalem so that they could deliver the offerings.
So, he says first of all, I came worshipping. And secondly, I came with an offering. That's why I came here. I didn't come here to stir up a riot.
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