Friday, April 8, 2016
ACTS 24 Trial before Felix
ACT 24 NLT
1 Five days later Ananias, the high
priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to
present their case against Paul to the governor.
2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus
presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:
“You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have
enacted reforms for us.
3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very
grateful to you.
4 But I don’t want to bore you, so please
give me your attention for only a moment.
5 We have found this man to be a
troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the
world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes.
6 Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate
the Temple when we arrested him.
7
8 You can find out the truth of our
accusations by examining him yourself.”
9 Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring
that everything Tertullus said was true.
10 The governor then motioned for Paul to
speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs
for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you.
11 You can quickly discover that I arrived
in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple.
12 My accusers never found me arguing with
anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets
of the city.
13These men cannot prove the things they accuse
me of doing.
14 “But I admit that I follow the Way,
which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly
believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
15 I have the same hope in God that these
men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.
16 Because of this, I always try to
maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
17 “After several years away, I returned to
Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.
18 My accusers saw me in the Temple as I
was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no
rioting.
19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were
there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against
me!
20 Ask these men here what crime the Jewish
high council found me guilty of,
21 except for the one time I shouted out,
‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the
dead!’”
22 At that point Felix, who was quite
familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the
garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.”
23 He ordered an officer to keep Paul in
custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and
take care of his needs.
24 A few days later Felix came back with
his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told
them about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 As he reasoned with them about
righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became
frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll
call for you again.”
26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him,
so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
27 After two years went by in this way,
Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor
with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.
Proverbs 13
Proverbs 13 (New International Version)
Proverbs 13
1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.
3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. [a]
16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25 The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
Proverbs 13
1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.
3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. [a]
16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.
24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25 The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
Revelation 4
Revelation 4 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 4
The Throne in Heaven
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,'[b] who was, and is, and is to come."
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
Revelation 4
The Throne in Heaven
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,'[b] who was, and is, and is to come."
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
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