Monday, April 11, 2016
ACTS 25 and 26 ~ Trial before Festus (25:1-12) and Hearing before Festus and Agrippa (25:13;26:32
ACTS 25 NLT
1 Three days after Festus arrived in
Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem,
2 where the leading priests and other
Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul.
3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul
to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way).
4 But Festus replied that Paul was at
Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.
5 So he said, “Those of you in authority
can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your
accusations.”
6 About eight or ten days later Festus
returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and
ordered that Paul be brought in.
7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders
from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t
prove.
8 Paul denied the charges. “I am not
guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman
government,” he said.
9Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked
him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me
there?”
10 But Paul replied, “No! This is the
official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I
am not guilty of harming the Jews.
11 If I have done something worthy of
death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn
me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”
12 Festus conferred with his advisers and
then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will
go!”
13 A few days later King Agrippa arrived
with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus.
14 During their stay of several days,
Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told
him, “whose case was left for me by Felix.
15 When I was in Jerusalem, the leading
priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn
him.
16 I pointed out to them that Roman law
does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to
confront their accusers and defend themselves.
17 “When his accusers came here for the
trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul
brought in.
18 But the accusations made against him
weren’t any of the crimes I expected.
19 Instead, it was something about their
religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive.
20 I was at a loss to know how to
investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand
trial on these charges in Jerusalem.
21 But Paul appealed to have his case
decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could
arrange to send him to Caesar.”
22 “I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa
said. And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice
arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and
prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all
who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both
here and in Jerusalem.
25 But in my opinion he has done nothing
deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have
decided to send him to Rome.
26 “But what shall I write the emperor? For
there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you,
and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have
something to write.
27 For it makes no sense to send a prisoner
to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”
ACTS 26
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may
speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his
defense:
2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you
are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the
Jewish leaders,
3 for I know you are an expert on all
Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
4 “As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I
was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own
people and in Jerusalem.
5 If they would admit it, they know that I
have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.
6 Now I am on trial because of my hope in
the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors.
7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes
of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I
have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope!
8 Why does it seem incredible to any of
you that God can raise the dead?
9 “I used to believe that I ought to do
everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.
10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem.
Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to
prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.
11 Many times I had them punished in the
synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that
I even chased them down in foreign cities.
12 “One day I was on such a mission to
Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.
13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on
the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my
companions.
14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice
saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless
for you to fight against my will. ’
15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the
Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.
16 Now get to your feet! For I have
appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you
have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.
17 And I will rescue you from both your own
people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles
18 to open their eyes, so they may turn
from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will
receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who
are set apart by faith in me.’
19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that
vision from heaven.
20 I preached first to those in Damascus,
then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all
must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the
good things they do.
21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for
preaching this, and they tried to kill me.
22 But God has protected me right up to
this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest.
I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen—
23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the
first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and
Gentiles alike.”
24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are
insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most
Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.
26 And King Agrippa knows about these
things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for
they were not done in a corner!
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the
prophets? I know you do—”
28Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can
persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”
29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I
pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the
same as I am, except for these chains.”
30 Then the king, the governor, Bernice,
and all the others stood and left.
31 As they went out, they talked it over
and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or
imprisonment.”
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could
have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.”
Proverbs 16
Proverbs 16 (New International Version)
Proverbs 16
1 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth should not betray justice.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12 Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.
14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it.
15 When a king's face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. [a]
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.
23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. [b]
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26 The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.
27 A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16
1 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.
2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster.
5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth should not betray justice.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.
12 Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.
14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it.
15 When a king's face brightens, it means life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. [a]
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.
23 A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. [b]
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26 The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.
27 A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Revelation 7
Revelation 7 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'[a] nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'[b] 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'[c]"
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'[a] nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'[b] 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'[c]"
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