Thread: Bible Reading: The Book of Acts Chapter 24
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Bible Reading: The Book of Acts Chapter 24
Posted : 24 Aug, 2011 10:20 AM
Bible Reading from the Book of Acts Chapter24, for all those who may not have a Bible from Biblegateway.com
New International Version (NIV) Acts Chapter 24
Paul�s Trial Before Felix Verses 1-27
1. Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: �We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. �We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.�
9. The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.10. When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: �I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. �After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin� unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: �It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.��
22. Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. �When Lysias the commander comes,� he said, �I will decide your case.� 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24. Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, �That�s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.� 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. 27. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
I know how Paul felt --have the faintest hint of the intellectual scent of John Calvin and you are the blood enemy of a fair number of contributors to this forum .
You know Itasca, I've been the blood enemy of many on this forum for the past 4 or 5 years that I have been on here, and as Jesus and Paul and the apsotle were blood enemies of many, I know I'm in great comany... couldn;t ask for better:laugh:...and I would care less who consdier me as their enemy. maybe if they had somethng to say of spiritual value, they would hold such resentment and hate and envy inside.
God teaches us not to worry about those who oppose the truth or us when we are speaking God word in His wisdom, they don't understand spiritual things becasue they are carnal this is why I would care less, because firstly, they can't affrim nothing they speak. And secondly, because I have never been one who was a spiritual coward, as many are on this forum. Thirdly, I refuse to hold my peace from speaking what I believe and/or what I know to be true, just becasue they don't know what I know or undestand.
And Jesus forewarned us of these things. And Yes, Paul was condemned on every side and so was Jesus, and they had "many blood enemies", as you say... but the objective is to go with what you know and not worry about being anyone's enemy especially on this forum.
Most people on this forum don't even attend church, and most don't even know or understand the word or Calvin's theology. They just go online for a topic and find answers and spot read just enough to make a paraphrase comment on the topic. And then when ask a question to take the discussion to the next level, they become hostle and speak out personal attacks. Only because they can't find the answer to a qiestion online, that has been asked of them.
So they run out of where to go, and must then bow out of the topic because they can't find anymore answers online. Much spot reading and paraphrasing is going on, but not many really understand Calvin's theology or what he taught. Just as many don't understand what Jesus or Paul or the apostle taugh in the Word. They juts quote scriptures and can't explain not one or tell you where to find it, if its not online.
This is also why many can't answer anything spiritually from scripture if it does not pretain to some man's theology or church doctrine. They have no God given knowkledge or wisdom or unde, if it can't be found online. And if it can be found online they become exprets in the subject until they run out of answers. Not many can answer to topics about scriptures especially if the is not online, becasue they have no personal spiritual insight or understanding as the word touching them as some have on this forum. Many don't PERSONALLY KNOW for themselves , they KNOW ABOUT JESUS from what they have HEARD and the few verses they have read.
This is the same as Paul faced in this chapter Acts 24, he was talking and defendingg himself against those Jews who THOUGHT they knew about God, but were persecuting him and the things of God. But they did not have a clue as to what Paul was even speaking about even when he spoke about righteousness, self control and the judgment day of God that is to come.
Yes, Calvin and Arminians left us with some good gospel writngs, but many of their writings I find to be twisted and are not in agreemnet with what God speaks, and we are also taught NOT to argue about His Word, and when man's doctrine and theology comes into play, and tries to fit into God's word there are arguements and hostle comments and anger. This let's you know it is not a theology or doctrine of God when there are agruments becasue we are taught that God ain't in the mess of confusion.
The doctrines and theologys of man wherein you find Christians debating and siding with Calivmism or Arminianism and identifying themselves as being such as a Calivinst or Arminiansist, Paul says this is carnal and is not of God. This is also no different than what the Mormons JW's, Buddists, and Muslins do, and will fight and kill you for speaking out against their spiritual leader and their false theological doctrine and teachings. Yet, not one can spiritually explan scripture and discuss what God is saying, or who Jesus is spiritually in thier lives or the meaning of the scritpures....
So why be a whinner, worrying about who enemy you belong to, I just keep the faith and speak what I know to be truth, and if those who don't like me don't like what I say, I do stand to be corrected, but the problem is they have not been able to even tell me what God says on a topic in orderTO correct me, or any of those who do have spiritual insight into God's word. Of course, there are many opposing negative and disagreeing comments, but nothing sould and solid.
And you know something, I love being their enemy, this lets me know I'm doing something right beside murmuring and complaining... and I have something to say!:glow::applause::yay: PRASIE THE LORD!
There are a few of us on this forum we already know we are blood enemies to many on this froum, AND we know to whom we are enemies, and still the great things about it, they have nothing to say...:laugh: terefore, we shall continue to speak:ROFL:
